New programmes for the channel will include a revealing account of the secret war between the Western intelligence agencies and Al-Qaeda's networks in The Third World War - Al-Qaeda. Another unique special is One Day of War. This was filmed simultaneously in 16 different conflict zones on 22 March 2004. There will also be full coverage of the US Presidential elections on 2 November.

The three-part series The Third World War - Al-Qaeda will air in November. It looks at the growing global threat from the perpetrators of terror. Soon after 9/11, it became clear that a global enemy could only be countered by an international global response. That would mean unprecedented international co-operation and, critically, the sharing of intelligence between governments and counter-terrorism agencies.

Presented by Peter Taylor, who has covered international security matters for three decades, these programmes focus on the response of the US, Western Europe and South East Asia.

One of the beeb's major current affairs specials is The World Uncovered. This will confront strong, hard-hitting stories that are affecting people's lives around the world. Next month, the channel will continue its exclusive investigations into the most contentious global issues. In Ethiopia - A Journey with Michael Buerk, the award-winning journalist returns to the east African country to see what has happened in the 20 years since his reports highlighted the devastating famine there.

The above mentioned One Day of War in December follows the lives of individuals involved in 16 widely different conflicts across the world. Filmed simultaneously by video producers over a single 24-hour period, the two-part documentary reveals shocking stories of the modern world at war.

From Shusila in Nepal to Mukhtar in Somalia, these people reveal their reasons for fighting and their hopes for the future to paint an intimate portrait of the fear, the excitement and, often, the sheer banality of life at war.

In the last week of December, the channel will air World Review. This is a series of programmes that look back at the main stories of 2004 and focusing on some of the key regional issues. On the sports front, the channel will air Spirit of Golf. The four-part series encapsulates the heritage, tradition, nostalgia and competitive skills of the royal and ancient game of golf.