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This time last year journalists were flooding into Cyprus just as money was flooding out. The island became the latest Eurozone economy to require an international bailout, and this time the emergency funds came with unique strings attached – for the first time, people with money sitting in the affected banks stood to lose at least half or even all of their deposits. Nigel Cassidy was on the scene then and he recently returned – so are people in Nicosia still blaming Germany and outsiders for their economic ruin?

Also in the programme, travel writer Diana Darke owns a house in Damascus. But for some time now she's been unable to get to her home in the Syrian capital. Instead, for the day-to-day management of her property, she relies on visitors willing to brave a trek to Lebanon… and the mundane paperwork they bring with them gives her insight into the way Syrians are coping in the midst of the conflict.

Presenter: Pascale Harter
Producer: Mike Wendling