Newsline 18 June 2010: Geert Wilder’s hopes to enter government are dashed, poverty and corruption drive Mexico’s relentless drugs war, and a ‘green wall’ of trees could stop the advance of the Sahara Desert.

Listen to today's programme

Or click here

Wilders out of coalition talks
Geert Wilders' far-right Freedom Party, the PVV, won't be joining a coalition government after all. Talks with the winners of last week's general election, the free-market liberal VVD party broke down when the centre-right Christian Democrats refused to join in.
Radio Netherlands Worlwide's political editor John Tyler says it doesn’t really come as a surprise.

Poverty and fuels Mexico’s drugs war
In Mexico drugs-related violence is a part of daily life. Radio Netherlands Worldwide’s correspondent in Mexico, Marta Durán de Huerta Patiño explains what draws young people to join the cartels.

‘Green wall’ plan to hold back the Sahara
Leaders of 11 African countries have approved a plan to build a giant "green wall" through the continent to stop the Sahara Desert from literally blowing south. Climate change expert Professor Pier Vellinga explains.