Foreign Correspondent

When a former Al Qaeda commander and his allies swept the brutal Assad regime from power with stunning speed, it caught the world by surprise.  There was jubilation over the fall of the Syrian dictator, but huge questions about what comes next.  Ongoing outbreaks of violence between those allied to the new government and groups still loyal to Assad have only added to the uncertainty. 

On Foreign Correspondent reporter Stephanie March travels to Syria on a journey that would have been unthinkable only a few short months ago.  She sees first-hand the "new" Syria.  With an economy in ruins largely due to imposed sanctions, she meets the people who are trying to recover from decades of Assad's cruel dictatorship as well as those who have the most to lose if actions of revenge and retribution are allowed to continue. 

Australian tourists are visiting Japan in record numbers, with one million travelers expected to arrive this year. In Tokyo visitors are increasingly attracted by the nation's food – the city has become the number one destination for food lovers with more Michelin star restaurants than its nearest rival Paris. 

On Foreign Correspondent the ABC's north Asia correspondent James Oaten sets out to discover what's driving this foodie obsession. He meets a world expert on tuna, one of the country's best sushi chefs and a 96-year-old eel master to see first-hand what it takes to be the best. From the onigiri lunch shops to the world's best ramen restaurant James goes in search of the secret to Japan's culinary success. 

After more than half a century of armed conflict in Colombia more than a hundred thousand people are still missing, presumed dead. Decades of violence between leftist guerillas and right-wing paramilitary groups left large parts of the country lawless. The brutality of the notorious drug cartels only made the violence worse. 

Now the Colombian government has made it it's mission to find the bodies of the missing. On Foreign Correspondent reporter Natashya Gutierrez embeds with the CSI squad determined to find closure for the loved ones left behind. She visits the dig sites where searches are underway and meets the criminal forensic team using new technology to build replica images from skeletal remains. Natashya also talks to a former paramilitary soldier, forcibly recruited as a teenager, who admits his involvement in assassinations and murders. 

It's the world's largest island and one of the most remote places on earth. And now the most famous global property developer wants to buy it. The Danish territory of Greenland has become a sought-after piece of real estate and US President Donald Trump has declared that one way or another America is going to own it. 

On Foreign Correspondent the ABC's North America Correspondent Lauren Day travels to the icy territory to find out why it's become such hot property. It's strategic location and abundance of rare minerals is driving US interest, but Denmark is adamant Greenland is not for sale. While most Greenlanders ultimately want to be independent, they know they can't financially go it alone for now. But relations with their colonial ruler are far from ideal and some are wondering if this is the moment to strike a deal of their own.