蜜芽传媒

Insight, wit and analysis from 蜜芽传媒 correspondents, journalists and writers from around the world. Introduced by Pascale Harter. In this edition;

The true costs of warfare

Every day brings new headlines from Syria. The conflict that's already killed thousands of people is escalating - as well-equipped government forces push back rebel incursions into major cities. But where are these rebels sourcing their arms? And how much does it really cost to fight the regime?

In the city of Antakya - the Antioch of antiquity - in neighbouring Turkey, Mark Lobel met a rebel fighter who used his savings from living the American dream to finance a long-delayed rebellion.

Artistic differences

The Bayreuth Festival in the hills of Bavaria in Germany is one of the major events on the world's arts calendar. It's a prestige event, attended by the cultural (and some of the political) elite of northern Europe. And it takes place in the opera house created by Richard Wagner, the composer perhaps as well-known for his anti-semitic views as for his music.

It's become something of an annual ritual to have a controversy of some sort at every festival - and this year's has been particularly heated, as it involved the sort of politics linked with Wagner's music since its creation. Hitler was once guest of honour at the festival, and its relationship with German nationalism is still thorny even today. So, Steve Evans asks, is it possible simply to enjoy the music?