Erstellt am: 5. 2. 2016 - 14:55 Uhr

The wider risks of the refugee crisis

Reality Check. Why the refugee crisis could threaten Middle East stability, Germany's money laundering measures, Hong Kong's "disappearing" booksellers, the dangers of the lack of shipping controls, why trade in bees is wiping them out.

As tens of thousands of people flee renewed heavy fighting in Aleppo, Syria, countries in the region say they cannot cope with any more people.

AFP / SHABHA PRESS / STRINGER

Thousands of refugees from Aleppo stream towards the border with Turkey.

Lebanon and Jordan, in particular, have said they desperately need international help to deal with the refugee crisis. But the problem is not just one of providing shelter for those fleeing. International security expert, Paul Rogers, explains why refugees could potentially further destabilize the region.

Germany cracks down on money laundering

Germany is considering imposing a limit of Euro 5,000 on cash transactions in an effort to combat money laundering. Berlin correspondent, Kerstin Fischer, reports on the plan and how it is expected to work.

Hong Kong's "disappearing" booksellers

AFP/ANTHONY WALLACE

Books published by Mighty Current are popular, but it seems a dangerous place to work.

Five Hong Kong booksellers who went missing late last year are believed to be imprisoned in China.

The five worked for the Mighty Current publisher, which was due to print a provokative book about Chinese leader, Xi Jinping.

Tony Cheng reports on the Chinese government's handling of dissidents in Hong Kong and even in other countries.

The terror threat on the high seas

Gerry Northwood of the maritime security organization, MAST, explains why lack of control of shipping presents a major security threat.

AFP / PHILIPPE HUGUEN

Bumblebees are a crucial link in the food chain.

The trade in bees

The worldwide trade in bees is posing a threat to bees everywhere.

While the dangers of moving most animals and plants from one part of the planet to another are well known, people do not seem to realize that moving bees around could be slowly destroying their chances of survival

Dr Lena Bayer-Wilford talks about her research into the decline in bee populations.

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