Putin and Russia's new normal

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Pascale Harter introduces stories from Russia, Japan and Nagaland in northeastern India. The Kremlin has recently increased security measures around President Vladimir Putin after a spate of assassinations of top Russian military figures. This comes as internet controls have made life less convenient, and the economic impact of Russia's war in Ukraine affects ordinary people more directly. Steve Rosenberg observes the shift in the country’s mood. Japan has taken a major step away from its post-war pacifist stance, lifting long-standing restrictions on arms exports. The government says it’s a necessary step to meet new strategic realities in Asia - but it’s raising some alarm among the public. In recent weeks there have been protests in major cities across the country. Kurumi Mori reports from Tokyo. Nagaland, in northeastern India, looks and feels very different from much of the rest of the country. Most of its territory is inhabited by tribal peoples - many of them Christian - and it has its own particular traditions and rituals. In the village of Tuophema, Simon Broughton witnessed one of the most impressive annual ceremonies: a rite where hundreds of men join forces to drag, raise and carve a huge standing stone to mark their collective effort. Producer: Polly Hope Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith Production co-ordinator: Katie Morrison (Image: President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin in Moscow, spring 2026. Credit: Mikhail METZEL / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)