SATURDAY 09 AUGUST 2025

SAT 00:00 BBC News (w172zwwr5blq7gk)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 00:06 Unexpected Elements (w3ct72wc)
Floods, mangroves and rampaging tractors

This week, floods have hit the global headlines. First up, we delve into the various reasons why floods form.

After learning about the causes of floods, we discover a nature-based solution in the form of mangrove forests. Laura Michie from the Mangrove Action Project tells us why these ecosystems are important, and how they can protect coastal zones.

We also find out that humans have moved so much water around the planet that we’ve shifted the location of the geographic North Pole.

Plus, a rare flooding event is currently taking place in the Australian Outback, awakening an ecosystem after years of dormancy.

And what could happen when hackers take control of tractors?

All that, plus many more Unexpected Elements.

Presenter: Marnie Chesterton, with Andrada Fiscutean and Sandy Ong
Producers: Alice Lipscombe-Southwell, with Lucy Davies, Debbie Kilbride and Margaret Sessa Hawkins


SAT 01:00 BBC News (w172zwwr5blqc6p)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 01:06 Business Matters (w172zrs6btxqhpv)
Global business news, with live guests and contributions from Asia and the USA.


SAT 02:00 BBC News (w172zwwr5blqgyt)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl69k0pvz6)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SAT 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkm26dv76)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 02:32 Stumped (w3ct6zjk)
Alana King: The queen of spin on the Hundred and World Cup

Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma reflect on the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy and debate their standout moments. They discuss how Shubman Gill has elevated himself in the eyes of the Indian public and celebrate the heroics of Chris Woakes.

Plus with eight weeks to go until the Women's World Cup in India, we will be hearing from a representative from each of the eight countries competing to discuss their prospects. This week it is Australia's Ashes hero, spinner Alana King!

Photo: Alana King of Trent Rockets celebrates taking the wicket of Heather Knight of London Spirit during The Hundred match between Trent Rockets Women and London Spirit Women at Trent Bridge on August 07, 2024 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Nathan Stirk - ECB/ECB via Getty Images)


SAT 03:00 BBC News (w172zwwr5blqlpy)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 03:06 Outlook (w3ct6wh5)
Outlook Mixtape: The Key Ingredients

Today's mixtape is all about humble ingredients made special by the people who lavish them with love.

Usha Prabakaran is India's 'Queen of pickles'. She learnt the art of pickle-making from her in-laws, a family from the Komiti Chettiar community known as the Arya Vysyas and famed in India for their culinary skills. After demand from friends and family grew for her creations, she began hunting down and compiling over 5000 pickle recipes, some of them closely-guarded secrets. But just as she released her first cookbook, Usha was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour and became a recluse. Unbeknown to her the book became a global hit - drawing in foodie fans desperate to try her recipes. After her recovery years later, Usha would gain new fame and status with her jars of joy.

Slobodan Simić is a former Serbian parliamentarian turned donkey farmer. He runs a nature reserve which produces a rare delicacy - Balkan donkey cheese. Priced at over $1,000 per kilogram, this cheese is possibly the most expensive in the world. This interview was first broadcast in 2019.

Gerald Stratford is a British gardening enthusiast whose photos and videos of his produce have earned him the nickname ‘the undisputed king of giant veg'. This interview was first broadcast in 2021.

Dave Benscoter is a former FBI investigator now known as the 'apple detective.' He's taken it upon himself to find lost varieties of American apples, inspired by his father's love of the fruit. This interview was first broadcast in 2018.

Presenter: Mobeen Azhar
Producer: Tommy Dixon

Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com or WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707

(Photo: Cassette tape. Credit: Getty Images)


SAT 03:50 Witness History (w3ct7444)
1965 Singaporean independence

On 9 August 1965 Singapore announced it had left the Federation of Malaysia and become an independent sovereign state. Explaining the separation at a news conference, the prime minister, Lee Kuan Yew, was overcome with emotion.

Fifty years later in 2015, Catherine Davis spoke to Manjeet Kaur who was 15-years-old when Singapore became independent.

Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there.

For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more.

Recent episodes explore everything from the death of Adolf Hitler, the first spacewalk and the making of the movie Jaws, to celebrity tortoise Lonesome George, the Kobe earthquake and the invention of superglue.

We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: Eva Peron – Argentina’s Evita; President Ronald Reagan and his famous ‘tear down this wall’ speech; Thomas Keneally on why he wrote Schindler’s List; and Jacques Derrida, France’s ‘rock star’ philosopher.

You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the civil rights swimming protest; the disastrous D-Day rehearsal; and the death of one of the world’s oldest languages.

(Photo: Lee Kuan Yew, Prime Minister of Singapore, announcing secession from the Federation of Malaysia. Credit: John Cantwell/AP Photo)


SAT 04:00 BBC News (w172zwwr5blqqg2)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 04:06 Unexpected Elements (w3ct72wc)
[Repeat of broadcast at 00:06 today]


SAT 05:00 BBC News (w172zwwr5blqv66)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 05:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl69k0q76l)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SAT 05:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkm26f6gl)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 05:32 Dear Daughter (w3ct7zqs)
Advice for partying

Every year Norwegian high school graduates paint the town red for “russefeiring”. It’s a month long period of intense partying to celebrate the end of high school – students buy party buses, wear matching overalls and dare each other to stay up all night or kiss a policeman. And it all happens right before they take their exams…

Anja’s daughter went through russ last year. Anja didn’t sleep much during that month, because she was worried that her daughter might drink too much or get into trouble.

But when she looks back at her own russ experience, she remembers how much fun she had. She made friends for life, and it was an important milestone on the way to adulthood.

How can Anja help her daughter balance being responsible with having fun?

Letter writer: Anja

Dear Daughter is an award-winning podcast from the BBC World Service about love, life, family, and raising children. It is the brainchild of Namulanta Kombo, a mother on a quest to create a ‘handbook to life’ for her daughter, through the advice of parents from all over the world.

Each episode, a guest reads a letter they’ve written to their children (or their future children, or the children they never had) with the advice, life lessons, and personal stories they’d like to pass on. Expect extraordinary true stories, inspirational advice for parents, and moving accounts of families, relationships and raising daughters.

Share your letter! What do you want to say to your kids? Or the next generation? Do you have thoughts on motherhood, fatherhood, or parenthood to share? Whether you are a mum or mom, dad or papa, grandparent, uncle, aunt, daughter, son or just want to write a letter, send us a Whatsapp message on +44 800 030 4404 or visit https://www.bbcworldservice.com/deardaughter


SAT 05:50 More or Less (w3ct6vz6)
Why it matters that Trump fired data chief

On Friday 1st August the US Bureau of Labor Statistics put out their job report data for August. It included revisions to their estimates for the jobs created in May and June which stated there were 258,000 fewer jobs than they had previously estimated.
This news was not received well by the White House. President Trump fired the head of the bureau, Erika McEntarfer, calling the numbers ‘phony, rigged, a scam’ and spreading conspiracy theories that McEntarfer had fudged the data.
We speak to economist Michael Strain from the American Enterprise Institute, to understand why the revisions happened and the potential consequences of throwing doubt on one of the US’s most important statistical agencies.
If you’ve seen a number in the news you think we should take a look at, email the team: moreorless@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Lizzy McNeill
Producer: Lizzy McNeill
Series Producer: Tom Colls
Production Co-ordinator: Rosie Strawbridge
Sound mix: Neil Churchill
Editor: Sam Bonham


SAT 06:00 BBC News (w172zwwr5blqyyb)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 06:06 Weekend (w172zw86ml7zjn9)
A review of the week with the latest news.


SAT 07:00 BBC News (w172zwwr5blr2pg)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 07:06 Weekend (w172zw86ml7zndf)
A review of the week with the latest news.


SAT 08:00 BBC News (w172zwwr5blr6fl)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 08:06 Weekend (w172zw86ml7zs4k)
A review of the week with the latest news.


SAT 09:00 BBC News (w172zwwr5blrb5q)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 09:06 BBC OS Conversations (w3ct6rmw)
Israelis and the war in Gaza

Israel faces growing international pressure to end the war in Gaza. But on Thursday night Israel's security cabinet approved plans to expand military operations, with the aim of defeating Hamas and returning the hostages. The decision has been criticised by world leaders, the United Nations and even the country’s own military leadership.

In conversations recorded over the past week, we hear from people in Israel including 18-year-old David, who is shortly to join the Israel Defense Forces. He tells us why he believes the war is necessary:

“I think it’s horrible that there are citizens of Gaza that are dying, I think it’s horrible that there are hostages in Gaza that are starving, it’s horrible for all sides,” David says. “But I think it’s still necessary, at least until we have our hostages back, and I think it’s necessary to ensure it won’t happen again.”

We also bring together the families of two hostages who were killed by Hamas. They want an immediate ceasefire so their loved ones’ bodies can be returned. And we hear from three rabbis grappling with a solution to the conflict.

Presenter: Emma Vardy
BBC producers: Iqra Farooq, Ben Davis, Kira Fomenko
Boffin Media producer: Richard Hollingham

An EcoAudio certified Boffin Media production in partnership with the OS team.

(Photo: Jerusalem protest demands release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza. Credit: EPA/Shutterstock)


SAT 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkm26fpg3)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 09:32 Pick of the World (w3ct7z53)
The balloon record that went wrong - and right

Why the American city of Cleveland's attempt at making history was good - in the end - for the environment. Plus, why young people in China are pretending to get married, the woman who tracks wolves - and The Food Chain grabs a handful of 7,000-year-old salty snacks.


SAT 09:50 Over to You (w3ct6xvm)
Getting to grips with a new BBC App, part 2

Part two of our conversation with a senior BBC executive about the switch from BBC Sounds to using a new BBC app and BBC.com for international listeners.
Among the questions listeners ask is the subject of paying a subscription - might that give access to what used to be available before? And we get the definitive answer as to how to keep listening to the World Service now the switchover is complete.

Plus a listener gives us his critique of the BBC Eye investigation The Battle for Bangladesh.

Presenter Rajan Datar
Producer Howard Shannon
A Whistledown Production for the BBC World Service


SAT 10:00 BBC News (w172zwwr5blrfxv)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 10:06 Not by the Playbook (w3ct7z0l)
The fight back

In 2001 Wojtek Czyz had just signed his first professional contract with the German football side Fortuna Köln. His career was set for take-off but in his very first season he suffered an injury which ultimately resulted in the amputation of his left leg. Determined to stay active Wojtek trained hard and became one of the leading lights of the Paralympic movement. He won seven track and field medals, including three golds at the Athens games of 2004. When his athletics career came to an end, the question like for so many was what next ? For Wojtek that was settling sail on a boat with cargo of prosthetic legs handing them out to anyone in need. His destination was New Zealand, where he was struck by the lack of support for para sport. So, by the time of the Paris Games in 2024 Wojtek had qualified to represent his new country in Badminton. Why? Well, to prove a point and change people's views on disability rights! Cheering from the stands was his good friend and former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp no less.

In 1992, the Algerian runner, Hassiba Boulmerka, won gold in the women's 1500m at the Barcelona Olympics. Before the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, her success had made her a political opponent for extremists. An imam had told her that running in shorts was anti-Islam. "My image didn't fit in at all with their ideology," is how she describes it. She was forced to do all her training abroad. She defied death threats from Islamist extremists to win one of the best women's middle-distance races of all time.

Laurence Fisher is a former world karate champion who hung up her black belt and medals years ago, but she is now using the sport to help women who are survivors of sexual and physical violence re-discover their self-respect and confidence. The karate lessons they attend are not about self-defence but re-appropriating their bodies after years of abuse. We went to one of the classes in the southern French city of Toulouse.

The perfectly manicured fairways of Augusta National - the home of golf's Masters - with its rolling greens and vibrant colours of the azaleas, is one of the perfect images of sport. Contrast that with poverty and struggle experienced by some residents of Sand Hill, just a long drive off the tee from the exclusive golf club. That's where Carl Jackson grew up, but he would go onto experience the highs of Augusta National, winning The Masters twice whilst caddying for Ben Crenshaw.


Photo: Wojtek Czyz of Team New Zealand and Jürgen Klopp poses for a picture on day one of the Paris 2024 Summer Paralympic Games (CREDIT: Kevin Voigt/GettyImages)


SAT 11:00 BBC News (w172zwwr5blrknz)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl69k0qypc)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SAT 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkm26fxyc)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 11:32 What in the World (w3ct73t4)
Has Ghana's 'Year of Return' been a success?

Helping you make sense of what’s happening in your world. Big stories, small stories and everything in between. Understand more, feel better. Five days a week, Monday to Friday.


SAT 12:00 BBC News (w172zwwr5blrpf3)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 12:06 The Documentary (w3ct812c)
The Engineers: Exploring the Human

Engineering has moved inside the body to innovate like never before. In neuroscience, implants can read brain waves and turn them into communication for people with locked-in syndrome. In medication, a new technology aims to deliver chemotherapy and other drugs directly to the parts that need them by bubbles in the blood stream. And ingestible electronics are being made to fight disease by sending hormone and antibody-directing messages straight from the gut to the brain.
Three world-leading biomedical engineers come to London to join presenter, Caroline Steel, and an audience at a special event staged with the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851.

Guests:
Tom Oxley (Australia): Neurologist, and brain implant innovator. Professorial Fellow Melbourne Medical School. CEO of Synchron

Eleanor Stride, OBE (UK): Biomedical Engineer, bubble technology innovator. Professor of Biomaterials at the University of Oxford

Khalil Ramadi (UAE): Nanoroboticist, ingestible electroceuticals innovator. Director of the Ramadi Lab for Advanced Neuro-engineering and Translational Medicine in Abu Dhabi. Assistant Professor of Bioengineering, New York University

Producer: Charlie Taylor

(Image: 3D render of human brain. Credit: Palmihelp/Getty Images)


SAT 13:00 BBC News (w172zwwr5blrt57)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 13:06 Newshour (w172zss6c83wyqv)
Interviews, news and analysis of the day’s global events.


SAT 14:00 BBC News (w172zwwr5blrxxc)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 14:06 Sportsworld (w172ztqmntwdk8t)
Live Sporting Action

With the start of the Premier League season a week away, John Bennett will be joined by the former USA, Tottenham and Aston Villa goalkeeper Brad Friedel and the former England, Liverpool and Everton striker Natasha Dowie to preview the campaign. Can Liverpool retain the title? Will Manchester City win a trophy? Will Manchester United bounce back from a disappointing campaign? And will any of the promoted teams avoid the drop? All these questions will be attempted to be answered.

John Bennett visits Egypt to assess the impact and legacy of one of the nation’s biggest icons - Mohamed Salah. We chart his journey from his home village to becoming one of the best footballers in the world with Liverpool.

We’ll bring you the best of the interviews from the new series of our podcast series On The Podium, which returns this month. Eliza Skinner and Ed Harry find out what it takes to make it to the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

We’ll talk about the former Zimbabwe captain Brendon Taylor, who is playing his first international after a serving a three-year ban for failing to report a match fixing approach. There will be the latest from The Hundred cricket, Cincinnati Open tennis and the final warm up games for some of the major players ahead of the Women’s Rugby World Cup. We’ll check in on the WNBA season and the Africa Nations Championships.

Photo: A detailed view of the golden Lion on the handle of the Premier League Trophy, as the red Premier League ribbons can be seen for Liverpool FC prior to the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Crystal Palace FC at Anfield on May 25, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Credit: Getty Images For The Premier League)


SAT 18:00 BBC News (w172zwwr5blsdww)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 18:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl69k0rsx8)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SAT 18:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkm26gs58)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 18:32 Dear Daughter (w3ct7zqs)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:32 today]


SAT 18:50 More or Less (w3ct6vz6)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:50 today]


SAT 19:00 BBC News (w172zwwr5blsjn0)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 19:06 BBC Proms on the World Service (w3ct80h3)
Symphonic Jazz and Dances

Clarinet virtuoso Martin Frost lends his artistry to a lively jazz concerto written by Artie Shaw, one of the finest clarinettists of the 20th century. Just a few months before Shaw’s concerto was included in the score of a Fred Astaire Hollywood comedy, Sergei Rachmaninov completed his final masterpiece, the Symphonic Dances, on the opposite coast of the United States. Both works are infused with the spirit of dance: boogie-woogie in the Shaw, waltz in the Rachmaninov.

Presented by Andrew McGregor and Katy Hamilton.

Broadcast programme:
Artie Shaw - Clarinet Concerto
Sergei Rachmaninov - Symphonic Dances

Performers:
Martin Frost, clarinet; BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Joshua Weilerstein, conductor

(Photo: Clarinettist Martin Frost at the 2025 BBC Proms. Credit: BBC/Chris Christodoulou)


SAT 20:00 BBC News (w172zwwr5blsnd4)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 20:06 The Arts Hour (w3ct6ztl)
Elizabeth Lo on her documentary Mistress Dispeller

Nikki Bedi and cultural critic Bidisha discuss cultural highlights of the week.

Oscar winning actor and singer Barbra Streisand on finally singing with Bob Dylan, for her latest album of collaborations.
British author Gurnaik Johal reveals how a mythical Indian river inspired his novel Saraswati.
Grammy award winning German performer Ute Lemper remembers meeting German megastar, Marlene Dietrich.
Film director Elizabeth Lo takes Nikki through the making of Mistress Dispeller, her documentary about ending love triangles in China.
Fargo showrunner and author Noah Hawley explains how he has tuned Alien into a new TV series format.

Main image: Elizabeth Lo
Photo credit: Tom Tang 2024


SAT 21:00 BBC News (w172zwwr5blss48)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 21:06 Newshour (w172zss6c83xxpw)
Interviews, news and analysis of the day’s global events.


SAT 22:00 BBC News (w172zwwr5blswwd)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 22:06 Not by the Playbook (w3ct7z0l)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:06 today]


SAT 23:00 BBC News (w172zwwr5blt0mj)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 23:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl69k0sdmx)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SAT 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkm26hcwx)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 23:32 This Is Africa (w3ct72d7)
Hevi and Assia

Both Assia from Morocco and Hevi from Tanzania tell TIA that their most important musical influence is a female artist from the USA. But they also both proudly represent their respective countries, sing in their native languages and draw upon traditional music.

In the case of Assia, who describes her sound as "interior music", her musical hero is Billie Eilish. Assia loves Eilish's soft voice, and the way she talks in detail about emotions and lays herself bare in her songs. Assia says her song Layli represents her best. It's a soulful, soaring love song to the night.

Hevi is shaking up the bongo flava-dominated musical landscape of Tanzania. Her sound is a mixture of bongo flava, afrobeats, amapiano, rumba and RnB, and she says she admires American rapper and singer Doja Cat because she too mixes up genres. Hevi's popular songs include My Rider, Trabaye and Only You.

SUNDAY 10 AUGUST 2025

SUN 00:00 BBC News (w172zwwr5blt4cn)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 00:06 BBC OS Conversations (w3ct6rmw)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:06 on Saturday]


SUN 00:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkm26hhn1)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 00:32 The Documentary (w3ct80hg)
New Zealand: Heading across the ditch

New Zealand citizens, particularly young professionals and graduates, are leaving the country in record numbers. Most are heading across the Tasman Sea – known colloquially as "the ditch" - to Australia, lured by better job opportunities and higher wages. However, immigration is also at an all-time high, with migrant arrivals from India the largest group, followed by the Philippines and China.

Ruth Evans reports on what lies behind this Kiwi 'brain drain', and asks what the rapidly changing demographics mean for the country's future.

A Ruth Evans Production for the BBC World Service.

Image: The coastline of Wellington, New Zealand (Credit: Ruth Evans)


SUN 01:00 BBC News (w172zwwr5blt83s)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 01:06 The Inquiry (w3ct722w)
What does Syria’s recent conflict tell us about al-Sharaa’s presidency?

In July, a brutal highway hijacking in southern Syria sparked tit-for-tat clashes between Druze and Bedouin fighters.

During the week-long violence, over a thousand people were killed and more than 125,000 displaced. Syrian government forces and Israel also entered the conflict.

The latest hostilities come less than a year after Syrians celebrated the end of dictatorship and the promise of renewal. The resurgence of sectarian violence raises urgent questions about interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s leadership and whether his government can truly unify a fractured nation.

What does Syria’s recent conflict tell us about al-Sharaa’s presidency?

Contributors: Dr Rim Turkmani, Research Fellow at Director of Syria Conflict Research Programme (CRP); Makram Rabah, Assistant professor of history at the American University of Beirut; Dr Rahaf Aldoughli, Middle East and North African Studies at Lancaster University; Dr Burcu Ozcelik, Senior Research Fellow for Middle East Security at the Royal United Services Institute.

Presenter: Tanya Beckett
Producer: Matt Toulson
Researcher: Evie Yabsley
Technical Producer: Richard Hannaford
Editor: Tara McDermott


SUN 01:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkm26hmd5)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 01:32 Dear Daughter (w3ct7zqs)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:32 on Saturday]


SUN 01:50 Sporting Witness (w3ct7zry)
Shuttlecock scandal

At the London 2012 Olympics, a women’s doubles badminton match between China and South Korea caused controversy when the four players were disqualified for deliberately underperforming.

This incident, which marred the spirit of the games, saw the players serving into the net and hitting shots out of bounds in a blatant effort to manipulate the draw for the knockout stage. The sound of the shuttlecocks was drowned out by boos from the spectators and the commentators called the game a disgrace.

The match referee Torsten Berg talks to Sean Allsop about what went down on the court that day. An Audio Always production.

Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive and testimony. Sporting Witness is for those fascinated by sporting history. We take you to the events that have shaped the sports world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes, you become a fan in the stands as we take you back in time to examine memorable victories and agonising defeats from all over the world. You’ll hear from people who have achieved sporting immortality, or those who were there as incredible sporting moments unfolded.

Recent episodes explore the forgotten football Women’s World Cup, the plasterer who fought a boxing legend, international football’s biggest ever beating and the man who swam the Amazon river. We look at the lives of some of the most famous F1 drivers, tennis players and athletes as well as people who’ve had ground-breaking impact in their chosen sporting field, including: the most decorated Paralympian, the woman who was the number 1 squash player in the world for nine years, and the first figure skater to wear a hijab. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the tennis player who escaped the Nazis, how a man finally beat a horse in a race, and how the FIFA computer game was created.

(Photo: Tournament referee Torsten Berg speaks to players from China and South Korea during their women's doubles match at the London 2012 Olympic Games. Credit: Reuters/Bazuki Muhammad)


SUN 02:00 BBC News (w172zwwr5bltcvx)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl69k0srw9)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SUN 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkm26hr49)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 02:32 Health Check (w3ct6vjn)
Malnutrition in Gaza

UN-backed experts – the IPC - say the "worst-case scenario of famine is currently playing out" in Gaza and that there is mounting evidence that widespread malnutrition is driving a rapid rise in hunger-related deaths among the 2.1 million Palestinians there. Aid worker Olga Cherevko shares what she’s witnessed on the ground and Claudia is also joined by specialist Dr Marko Kerac to understand the health impacts of malnutrition and what interventions are urgently needed.
In a world-first the UK have begun to rollout a vaccine for gonorrhoea, an infection that if left untreated can lead to infertility. We ask what impact this vaccine might have on a global level.

The WHO has issued an urgent call for action to tackle mosquito-borne Chikungunya virus that has seen increasing cases since the beginning of the year. Professor Trudie Lang explains how the hardest hit countries are responding.

Using virtual reality, scientists have discovered that our immune system kicks into action at just the sight of a sick person. Matt and Claudia look at the unusual methods used to understand how our brains prepare for contact with a pathogen.

Presenter: Claudia Hammond
Producer: Hannah Robins
Assistant Producers: Alice McKee & Katie Tomsett


SUN 03:00 BBC News (w172zwwr5blthm1)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 03:06 The Documentary (w3ct812c)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Saturday]


SUN 04:00 BBC News (w172zwwr5bltmc5)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 04:06 From Our Own Correspondent (w3ct6trs)
Ukraine's summer camp for children of the missing

Pascale Harter introduces stories from Ukraine, Japan and Croatia.

Nestled in the forest, far away from falling bombs is a pioneering summer camp for Ukrainian children whose parents have gone missing during the war. A Ukrainian charity is working to give them some relief – and much needed support – to help them cope with the ongoing uncertainty of not knowing where their parents are. Will Vernon visited the camp where art, exercise and self-expression are central to the healing process.

It’s 80 years since the US dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, leading to the end of World War II. Some 200,000 people were killed - but the bombing had other long-lasting effects. Jordan Dunbar travelled to Hiroshima to speak to survivors who shared their stories of discrimination and social stigma.

And finally the tiny Croatian island of Krapanj has long been renowned for its tradition of sponge diving, shaping the island’s identity for hundreds of years. Today, this trade is under threat from climate change and over-fishing. Mary Novakovich met one of the island’s remaining divers, determined to keep the culture alive.

Image: Children hug each other after a group therapy session in Ukraine’s Carpathian Mountains. Credit: John Murphy/BBC


SUN 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkm26hzmk)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 04:32 On the Podium (w3ct80k1)
Derrick Loccident: A new challenge, a new life

Derek Loccident was a college American football player when, in 2018, an accident changed the course of his life. But despite becoming a below-the-knee amputee, he refused to give up on returning to the football field, and ended up exceeding everyone's expectations. Then another opportunity arose that set him on a path he'd never expected - competing at the 2024 Paris Paralympics.

Eliza Skinner and Ed Harry hear Derek's story, from why he draws inspiration from his Haitian mother to how he rebuilt his mentality as he faced new challenges. He also explains what it's like to compete in the unusual pairing of high jump and long jump, and why the brilliance of his biggest rival, German long-jumper Markus Rehm, is inspiring him to see just how far he can go.

On the Podium is the podcast that sits down with Olympic and Paralympic medallists to discover the real stories behind their success. Pole vault pioneer Stacy Dragila talks about her battle to get her sport on the Olympic programme, and triathlete Jess Learmonth reveals what led her back to sport after walking away as a teenager. Basketball champion Breanna Stewart and shot-putter Raven Saunders explain why they use the platform sport gives them to act as advocates. Swimmer Anastasia Pagonis and rower Brigit Skarstein share how sport helped them rebuild their futures after life-changing events, while Markus Rogan and Maarten van der Weijden talk about the lives they have found after leaving competition behind. Multi-sport stars like Oksana Masters and Jana Pittman reveal what it's like to compete at both the summer and winter Games. There's stories of memorable victories, like the moment high jump champion Gianmarco Tamberi chose to share his gold medal, and Shaunae Miller-Uibo putting everything on the line to reach the top step of the podium. Plus, the triumphs nobody predicted, including Molly Seidel's shock marathon bronze, and the day Anna Kiesenhofer rode away from cycling's biggest names to claim gold in Tokyo.


SUN 05:00 BBC News (w172zwwr5bltr39)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 05:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl69k0t43p)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SUN 05:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkm26j3cp)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 05:32 The Documentary (w3ct80hg)
[Repeat of broadcast at 00:32 today]


SUN 06:00 BBC News (w172zwwr5bltvvf)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 06:06 Weekend (w172zw86ml82fkd)
A review of the week with the latest news.


SUN 07:00 BBC News (w172zwwr5bltzlk)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 07:06 Weekend (w172zw86ml82k9j)
A review of the week with the latest news.


SUN 08:00 BBC News (w172zwwr5blv3bp)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 08:06 Weekend (w172zw86ml82p1n)
A review of the week with the latest news.


SUN 09:00 BBC News (w172zwwr5blv72t)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 09:06 From Our Own Correspondent (w3ct6trs)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:06 today]


SUN 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkm26jlc6)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 09:32 The Food Chain (w3ct70ys)
The anti-dementia diet

The World Health Organisation says close to 60 million people are living with dementia; and there are 10 million new cases every year. But could what we eat help to prevent it?

Three guests who've been exploring the potential for diet to help prevent dementia tell Ruth Alexander about their findings. We hear from Professor Christy Tangney of Rush University System for Health in the United States – she co-created the MIND diet; Anne-Marie Minihane, Professor of Nutrition and Genetics or Nutrigenetics as it’s known, at Norwich Medical School at the University of East Anglia in the UK; and Dr Lizette Kuhn, a dietitian in Pretoria, South Africa.

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: thefoodchain@bbc.co.uk

Produced by Izzy Greenfield and Alistair Kleebauer

(Image: two sides of a brain; one made up of fruits and vegetables, and the other a sketch. Credit: Getty Images)


SUN 10:00 BBC News (w172zwwr5blvbty)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 10:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct80hk)
Safer streets in Cairo

What if reimagining how cities are designed could make women safer? In Cairo, sexual harassment and violence against women on the streets has been endemic. Women don't feel safe enough to walk or take public transport. A pioneering programme called Safer Cities, is hoping to find the solution through radical urban redesigns, women friendly spaces and raising awareness about sexual harassment.

Salma El-Wardany, who was born in Cairo, visits a women’s only park in Imbaba, Giza and meets Samaha who runs the park. She not only oversees the children playing, but also organises events for local women with advice and support.

Salma visits Zenein Market in Giza, which was redesigned to better support the majority of female sellers there. They show Salma the older part of the market which is yet to be regenerated.

Salma also speaks to Caroline Nassif, who worked as Project Officer at UN Women, as well as local NGOs, and Minister Manal Awad Mikhail who was one of the driving forces behind the scheme across locations.


SUN 10:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkm26jq3b)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 10:32 The Fifth Floor (w3ct70t8)
Why are Chinese micro-dramas so popular?

Secret billionaire husbands, blood-thirsty vampire lovers and being reborn as your great-grandmother: these are some of the outrageous plotlines that can be found in Chinese micro-dramas like My Royal Secret Lover, by producer Yicheng Lin. Micro-dramas are a Chinese short form video trend that has expanded globally, racking up hundreds of millions of downloads in the US, Asia, Latin America and Africa. It’s big business: in China last year, the micro-drama industry grossed the equivalent of seven billion US dollars, which exceeds the entire Chinese box office for 2024. A number of these series are now also being filmed overseas for English-speaking and global audiences, most of which are adapted from Chinese scripts. Mengchen Zhang from the BBC's Global China Unit explains what's behind the success of this format.

Also on the show: two BBC Language Services coming together to tackle disinformation. The relationship between neighbours India and Pakistan is well known around the world for going through periods of extreme hostility and even aggression. A deadly attack in Indian-administered Kashmir in April led to the two countries exchanging missile and drone attacks in one of the biggest escalations for about 50 years. And in times of tension, disinformation is rife. Sana Gulzar of BBC Urdu and Jugal Purohit who reports for BBC Hindi join Faranak Amidi to talk about it.

This episode of The Documentary comes to you from The Fifth Floor, the show at the heart of global storytelling, with BBC journalists from all around the world. This is an EcoAudio certified production.

Clips are from Spoiled by My Vampire Uncle and My Royal Secret Lover.

(Photo: Faranak Amidi. Credit: Tricia Yourkevich.)


SUN 11:00 BBC News (w172zwwr5blvgl2)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl69k0tvlg)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SUN 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkm26jtvg)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 11:32 Dear Daughter (w3ct7zqs)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:32 on Saturday]


SUN 11:50 More or Less (w3ct6vz6)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:50 on Saturday]


SUN 12:00 BBC News (w172zwwr5blvlb6)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 12:06 BBC Proms on the World Service (w3ct80h3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 19:06 on Saturday]


SUN 13:00 BBC News (w172zwwr5blvq2b)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 13:06 Newshour (w172zss6c83zvmy)
Interviews, news and analysis of the day’s global events.


SUN 14:00 BBC News (w172zwwr5blvttg)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 14:06 Sportsworld (w172ztr50w42l15)
Live Sporting Action

Sportsworld has live commentary of the Community Shield, the traditional curtain-raiser to the new English Premier League season. Former Cameroon defender Seb Bassong joins John Bennett to look ahead as Premier League champions Liverpool take on FA Cup winners Crystal Palace.

The new football seasons in the other top European leagues are also fast approaching, so the EuroStars team is back to see who might be lifting silverware next summer.

Away from the football, there will be the latest from the Cincinnati Open tennis, and with the new NFL season less than a month away, we look at the prospects of the teams hoping to become Super Bowl champions.

Photo: The FA Community Shield trophy at Wembley Stadium Stadium. (Credit: Leicester City FC via Getty Images)


SUN 19:00 BBC News (w172zwwr5blwfk3)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl69k0vtkh)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SUN 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkm26ksth)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 19:32 What in the World (w3ct73t4)
[Repeat of broadcast at 11:32 on Saturday]


SUN 20:00 BBC News (w172zwwr5blwk97)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 20:06 Unexpected Elements (w3ct72wc)
[Repeat of broadcast at 00:06 on Saturday]


SUN 21:00 BBC News (w172zwwr5blwp1c)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 21:06 Newshour (w172zss6c840tlz)
Interviews, news and analysis of the day’s global events.


SUN 22:00 BBC News (w172zwwr5blwssh)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 22:06 The Climate Question (w3ct7026)
How do we fight the risks of melting glaciers?

Climate change is melting thousands of glaciers in the Himalayas and having a devastating impact on the people who live there. In 2024, the BBC's Caroline Davies visited the Pakistani side of the world's highest mountain range: she told Graihagh Jackson how villagers are coping, and how they are determined to stay put despite the risks of floods and the disruption to their traditional way of life.

You can watch Caroline's reporting from Pakistan here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m00246nx/from-above-melting-glaciers

Got a climate question you’d like answered? Email: TheClimateQuestion@BBC.com or WhatsApp: +44 8000 321 721

Presenter: Graihagh Jackson
Reporter in Pakistan: Caroline Davies
Producers in Pakistan: Fakhir Munir, Usman Zahid, Kamil Dayan Khan
Producers in London: Ellie House and Osman Iqbal
Sound Mix: Rod Farquhar and Tom Brignell
Editor: Simon Watts


SUN 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkm26l51w)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 22:32 Pick of the World (w3ct7z53)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:32 on Saturday]


SUN 22:50 Over to You (w3ct6xvm)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:50 on Saturday]


SUN 23:00 BBC News (w172zwwr5blwxjm)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 23:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl69k0w9k0)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SUN 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkm26l8t0)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 23:32 The Fifth Floor (w3ct70t8)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:32 today]

MONDAY 11 AUGUST 2025

MON 00:00 BBC News (w172zwwr5blx18r)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 00:06 From Our Own Correspondent (w3ct6trs)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:06 on Sunday]


MON 00:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkm26ldk4)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 00:32 Science In Action (w3ct6yfp)
An end to allergic reactions?

As the United States secretary of health and human services, Robert F Kennedy Jr., announces a $500 million cut to mRNA vaccine research in the United States, we hear a statement from the Nobel Prize winning biologist who made mRNA vaccines possible.

A team of scientists from Northwestern University have uncovered the pathway believed to protect some people from allergic reactions (even when they are sensitive to an allergen) and have tested a drug which could protect the most severely allergic.

Also this week, satellite data shows that large parts of the Earth are running dangerously low on ground water.

And although people often believe scientific fraud is committed by a few bad actors, a new paper uncovers networks of journals, editors, and authors who are allegedly cooperating to publish fraudulent papers.

Presenter: Roland Pease
Producer: Ella Hubber and Alex Mansfield
Assistant Producer: Minnie Harrop
Production Coordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth

(Image: Allergy testing. Credit: Peter Dazeley via Getty Images)


MON 01:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx1091)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 01:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl6ntb0d9f)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 01:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkzbhqckf)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 01:32 Discovery (w3ct6sw8)
The Life Scientific: Anthony Fauci

Welcome to a world where medicine meets politics: a space that brings together scientific research, government wrangling, public push-back and healthcare conspiracies…

Dr Anthony Fauci was the Director of America’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for nearly four decades, during which time he not only helped study, treat and prevent viruses such as HIV/AIDS and Covid-19; he also advised seven US Presidents, from Ronald Regan through to Joe Biden.

Along the way, Tony Fauci's picked up a public profile and taken a fair amount of flack; not least because of his complicated relationship with President Donald Trump. But he's also made great strides in medical research and policy, from working with activists who initially challenged him on the government response to HIV/AIDS - to spearheading the USA's PEPFAR project to share vital medication with developing nations.

In a candid conversation with Professor Jim Al-Khalili, Tony discusses his childhood in Brooklyn, the dark early days of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and lessons from the Covid-19.

Presented by Jim Al-Khalili
Produced for BBC Studios by Lucy Taylor
Reversion for World Service by Minnie Harrop


MON 02:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx1415)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl6ntb0j1k)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkzbhqh9k)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 02:32 CrowdScience (w3ct6st0)
Can we stop the rain?

CrowdScience listener Rit, from Pune in India, is staring out of his window at the falling rain. It’s been pouring for four days now, and shows no sign of stopping. The laundry is piling up, all his shoes are wet, and he’s worried about the effect it’s having on the environment, and on agriculture. When it rains like this, the animals suffer, and the crops are destroyed.

Cloud seeding and Weather Engineering are hot topics right now, and can bring the rain to places that need it. But Rit wants to know whether we can artificially stop the pouring rain, especially in an emergency. Following the devastating floods in Texas, it’s clearly not just a problem for countries with a monsoon season.

Presenter Chhavi Sachdev is also sitting in a downpour at home in Mumbai. She dons her rain jacket and rubber boots to try and find out whether science can help Rit with his question. From controlling the clouds in India, to bringing rain to the deserts of the UAE, to firing high-powered lasers into the skies above Geneva, we find out what weather engineering is really capable of.

With thanks to:

Dr Thara Prabhakaran, from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology

Alya Al Mazroui, Director of the UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science

Jean-Pierre Wolf, Applied Physics Department of the University of Geneva

Presenter: Chhavi Sachdev
Producer: Emily Knight
Series Producer: Ben Motley

(Image: Girl carrying umbrella while standing on road against trees during rainfall. Credit: Cavan Images via Getty Images)


MON 03:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx17s9)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 03:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct80hk)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:06 on Sunday]


MON 03:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkzbhqm1p)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 03:32 Pick of the World (w3ct7z53)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:32 on Saturday]


MON 03:50 Over to You (w3ct6xvm)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:50 on Saturday]


MON 04:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx1cjf)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 04:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl6ntb0rjt)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkzbhqqst)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 04:32 The Conversation (w3ct7090)
Women designing affordable homes

The global housing crisis continues to grow, with the UN’s urban development agency estimating 40% of people worldwide lack access to adequate housing. Datshiane Navanayagam talks to female architects in Tanzania and Spain designing cheaper, more sustainable homes.

Victoria Heilman founded the Tanzania Women Architects for Humanity (TAWAH), a group of architects, engineers, quantity surveyors and scientists. TAWAH tackles housing poverty and gender inequality by teaching women construction skills. The training enables them to build affordable, environmentally friendly homes for elderly residents who would otherwise be living in unsafe and uncomfortable housing, at a time in their lives when they are most vulnerable.

Cristina Gamboa is a Spanish architect and co-founder of Lacol, a cooperative of 14 architects established in 2014 in Barcelona. The group design homes, offices, community buildings and art spaces that are environmentally sustainable, affordable and bring people together.

Produced by Jane Thurlow

(Image: (L) Victoria Heilman courtesy Tanzania Women Architects for Humanity. (R) Cristina Gamboa credit Lacol.)


MON 05:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx1h8k)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 05:06 Newsday (w172zspr129zw94)
Live news, business and sport from around the world.


MON 06:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx1m0p)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 06:06 Newsday (w172zspr12b0018)
Live news, business and sport from around the world.


MON 07:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx1qrt)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 07:06 Newsday (w172zspr12b03sd)
Live news, business and sport from around the world.


MON 08:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx1vhy)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 08:06 The Interview (w3ct7wzy)
Pieter Engelbrecht, CEO of Shoprite Holdings: we have a purpose to help people survive

Pieter Engelbrecht, CEO of South Africa’s largest supermarket group Shoprite Holdings, is interviewed by Jewel Kiriungi, BBC Africa Business Correspondent. His company employs 163,000 people, the largest in the country’s private sector, with three thousand stores across nine African countries. Pieter Engelbrecht describes to Jewel how he believes the company helps people on low incomes by producing food at prices they can afford, in a country where a quarter of all South Africa children don’t eat enough protein. He says they have a purpose to help people survive. He talks about the success of the company’s loyalty card programme and how everything they do is data driven. He says he sees potential to grow the business in South Africa and beyond despite Shoprite having closed its operation in several parts of the continent, including Nigeria and Kenya.

(Image: Pieter Engelbrecht, Credit: Getty Images/Bloomberg)


MON 08:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkzbhr6sb)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct6rxy)
Bolivia's ongoing economic crisis

The country was the economic success story of the 2000s. But declining natural gas production has lead to a downturn.

Now, fuel and food prices are soaring and Bolivian businesses are floundering. Inflation is around 15% - one of the highest rates in the region.

There are protests in the streets - so what could help this once prosperous country?

And will the upcoming general election change things?

Produced and presented by Jane Chambers

(Image: El Alto shoe salesman Fernando Gutierrez in his store. He says business is slow)


MON 08:50 Witness History (w3ct746f)
The Santa Cruz Massacre

On 12 November 1991, Indonesian troops opened fire on independence activists in East Timor's capital, Dili.

During a protest march to the Santa Cruz cemetery after a memorial service for an independence supporter, Indonesian troops opened fire, killing 271 people.

In 2015, Marco Silva spoke to British cameraman Max Stahl who filmed the attack on unarmed demonstrators.

Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there.

(Photo: The Santa Cruz cemetery. Credit: Giulio Paletta/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more.

Recent episodes explore everything from the death of Adolf Hitler, the first spacewalk and the making of the movie Jaws, to celebrity tortoise Lonesome George, the Kobe earthquake and the invention of superglue.

We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: Eva Peron – Argentina’s Evita; President Ronald Reagan and his famous ‘tear down this wall’ speech; Thomas Keneally on why he wrote Schindler’s List; and Jacques Derrida, France’s ‘rock star’ philosopher.

You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the civil rights swimming protest; the disastrous D-Day rehearsal; and the death of one of the world’s oldest languages.


MON 09:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx1z82)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 09:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl6ntb1c8g)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkzbhrbjg)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 09:32 CrowdScience (w3ct6st0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 02:32 today]


MON 10:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx2306)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 10:06 The History Hour (w3ct71w3)
Nagasaki bomb and Brazil’s biggest bank heist

Max Pearson presents a collection of the week’s Witness History interviews from the BBC World Service. Our guest is Simone Turchetti, Professor of the History of Science and Technology, at The University of Manchester in the UK.

It's 80 years since the US dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, forcing Japan to surrender at the end of the Second World War. We hear from a British prisoner of war who was in Nagasaki at the time.

Then, the son of musician Dmitri Shostakovich tells of his famous father’s confrontation with Stalin in the 1930s.

Also, the story of a man who survived an 8.6 magnitude earthquake that shook the Himalayan mountains in 1950.

Plus, Singapore's tense and tearful 1965 separation from the Federation of Malaysia and the detective who tracked down the gang responsible for Brazil's biggest bank heist.

Contributors:
Simone Turchetti - Professor of the History of Science and Technology, at The University of Manchester.
Maxim Shostakovich – son of musician Dmitri Shostakovich
Manjeet Kaur- remembering Singapore independence in 1965.
Antonio Celso Dos Santos – detective in Brazil
Plus, archive recording of Geoff Sherring, a British prisoner of war in Nagasaki and Frank Kingdon-Ward who survived an earthquake that shook the Himalayan mountains in 1950.

(Photo: Nuclear explosion over Nagasaki. Credit: Pictures from History/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)


MON 11:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx26rb)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl6ntb1lrq)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkzbhrl0q)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 11:32 The Conversation (w3ct7090)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


MON 12:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx2bhg)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 12:06 Outlook (w3ct6wpz)
The ragtag boy who was taken in by a football icon

The incredible story of the football icon who changed a boy's life.

Craig Bromfield's start in life was difficult: there was often no electricity in his childhood home, and he didn’t even own a coat. He was in and out of the social care system, and would ask for money on the street. This is what 11-year-old Craig was doing with his brother Aaron, one fateful day in 1984, on a windswept seafront in the North East of England when he crossed paths with the era’s most famous football manager, Brian Clough - and his life was changed forever.

Brian Clough was manager of Nottingham Forest at the time, but his character transcended sport and regularly delighted UK television audiences. After a few meetings with Craig, Brian’s public persona as an opinionated and uncompromising football boss melted away. Behind the studio lights and the bravado, Brian was a secret softie. He wanted to give Craig a better life, and incredibly, invited him to live with him and his family. Only Craig's early years would come back to haunt him when at 19 he made a decision that put the two men’s friendship on the line.

Craig's published a memoir called Be Good, Love Brian: Growing up with Brian Clough.

Presenter: Asya Fouks
Producers: Elena Angelides and Edgar Maddicott

Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com or WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707

(Photo: Craig Bromfield (L) and his brother Aaron with Brian Clough on their first visit to Nottingham Forest’s City Ground. Credit: Courtesy of Craig Bromfield)


MON 12:50 Witness History (w3ct746f)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


MON 13:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx2g7l)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 13:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl6ntb1v7z)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 13:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkzbhrthz)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 13:32 CrowdScience (w3ct6st0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 02:32 today]


MON 14:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx2kzq)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 14:06 Newshour (w172zss6qjf6qkb)
Interviews, news and analysis of the day’s global events.


MON 15:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx2pqv)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 15:06 The Interview (w3ct7wzy)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


MON 15:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkzbhs207)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 15:32 World Business Report (w3ct76qv)
First broadcast 11/08/2025 14:32 GMT

The latest business and finance news from around the world, on the BBC.


MON 16:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx2tgz)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 16:06 BBC OS (w173067wym94ply)
2025/08/11 15:06 GMT

BBC OS gives a vibrant account of the day’s events with explanation and reaction from those involved.


MON 17:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx2y73)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 17:06 BBC OS (w173067wym94tc2)
2025/08/11 16:06 GMT

BBC OS gives a vibrant account of the day’s events with explanation and reaction from those involved.


MON 18:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx31z7)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 18:06 Outlook (w3ct6wpz)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 today]


MON 18:50 Witness History (w3ct746f)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


MON 19:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx35qc)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl6ntb2kqr)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkzbhsjzr)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct6z59)
2025/08/11 GMT

BBC sports correspondents tell the story behind today's top sporting news, with interviews and reports from across the world.


MON 20:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx39gh)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 20:06 From Our Own Correspondent (w3ct6trs)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:06 on Sunday]


MON 20:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkzbhsnqw)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 20:32 Discovery (w3ct6sw9)
The Life Scientific: Liz Morris

A frozen, white world at the far-reaches of the globe, where you're surrounded by snow and silence, might sound rather appealing. Factor in temperatures that drop to -57°C and a few of us might be put off - but for glaciologist Liz Morris, that's very much her happy place.

Liz is an Emeritus Associate at the University of Cambridge’s Scott Polar Research Institute, and was among the first British women scientists to work on the planet’s coldest continent, Antarctica. Over the course of her career, Liz has gathered vital data on polar ice sheets and how they’re affected by climate change. She's also made numerous research trips across the Greenland Ice Shelf, and has a glacier named after her in Antarctica.

In conversation with Professor Jim Al-Khalili, Liz discusses her fascination with glaciers and ice - and explains her unwavering determination to break into what was once a heavily male-dominated field.

Presented by Jim Al-Khalili
Produced for BBC Studios by Lucy Taylor
Reversion for World Service by Minnie Harrop


MON 21:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx3f6m)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 21:06 Newshour (w172zss6qjf7ks7)
Interviews, news and analysis of the day’s global events.


MON 22:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx3jyr)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 22:06 The Interview (w3ct7wzy)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


MON 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkzbhsx74)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 22:32 The Conversation (w3ct7090)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


MON 23:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx3npw)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 23:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl6ntb31q8)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkzbht0z8)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 23:32 World Business Report (w3ct76t3)
First broadcast 11/08/2025 21:32 GMT

The latest business and finance news from around the world, on the BBC.

TUESDAY 12 AUGUST 2025

TUE 00:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx3sg0)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 00:06 The History Hour (w3ct71w3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:06 on Monday]


TUE 01:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx3x64)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 01:06 Business Matters (w172zrs6q3741p9)
Global business news, with live guests and contributions from Asia and the USA.


TUE 02:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx40y8)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl6ntb3dyn)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkzbhtd6n)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 02:32 Assignment (w3ct6rbw)
Tajikistan’s last, lonely hyenas

For decades, conservationists in Tajikistan assumed that the striped hyena – a shy, less vocal cousin of the spotted hyena – was extinct there. But in 2017 a motion-sensitive camera trap in the country’s south-western corner, near the borders with Afghanistan and Uzbekistan, detected the presence of a female with cubs. The discovery stunned local observers, and ever since, one man and his colleagues have struggled to find out more about the few remaining Tajik striped hyenas with a view to saving them from oblivion. The challenges are immense, including the international animal parts trade, competition between animals and humans for habitat, and often-negative public perceptions of the hyena itself. Eight years on, Antonia Bolingbroke-Kent travels to the grassy lowlands of Tajikistan to join the small team in their fight to save these elusive, persecuted mammals, and in doing so learns how vital hyenas are to both the ecosystem and human health.

Producer: Mike Gallagher
Production Coordinator: Gemma Ashman
Sound mixer: Neil Churchill
Series editor: Penny Murphy

(Image: An adult Striped Hyena. Credit: aaprophoto via Getty)


TUE 03:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx44pd)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 03:06 Outlook (w3ct6wpz)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Monday]


TUE 03:50 Witness History (w3ct746f)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 on Monday]


TUE 04:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx48fj)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 04:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl6ntb3nfx)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkzbhtmpx)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 04:32 In the Studio (w3ct6vtq)
Yoko Nishina: Japanese calligraphy

Yoko Nishina likes to use black Japanese Sumi ink in her calligraphy work because of the variety of colours , from blues through to browns. Craftsmen still use traditional methods to create the ink from vegetable oil lamps with wicks made of reeds. She creates both large and small works - and is collaborating with photographer Kenro Izue for an exhibition in Osaka - as well as preparing a special exhibition for her upcoming 60th birthday, an age which is considered a "re-birth" in Japanese culture.


TUE 05:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx4d5n)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 05:06 Newsday (w172zspr12b2s67)
Live news, business and sport from around the world.


TUE 06:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx4hxs)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 06:06 Newsday (w172zspr12b2wyc)
Live news, business and sport from around the world.


TUE 07:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx4mnx)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 07:06 Newsday (w172zspr12b30ph)
Live news, business and sport from around the world.


TUE 08:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx4rf1)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 08:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct80hl)
Speaking Out

Sean Allsop, who was diagnosed with a speech disorder at age 3 explores the innovative technologies revolutionising communication for those with speech and language challenges. From brain chips that turn thoughts into speech; to voice banking sessions that preserve your unique voice for the future and accessible technology that is providing more people with the human right to communicate.

An Audio Always production.


TUE 08:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkzbhv3pf)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct6s6z)
Business Daily

The daily drama of money and work from the BBC.


TUE 08:50 Witness History (w3ct74n0)
Borobudur Temple

In 1983, Borobudur Temple in Indonesia reopened.

The worlds’ largest Buddhist monument is in the shadows of an active volcano and was once lost to the jungle.

In 1973, major restoration work started on the temple. One of the workers on the project, Werdi, explains his role in the restoration and describes why the temple has left a deep impression on him.

Presented by Gill Kearsley and produced by Daniel Raza.

Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there.

For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more.

Recent episodes explore everything from the death of Adolf Hitler, the first spacewalk and the making of the movie Jaws, to celebrity tortoise Lonesome George, the Kobe earthquake and the invention of superglue.

We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: Eva Peron – Argentina’s Evita; President Ronald Reagan and his famous ‘tear down this wall’ speech; Thomas Keneally on why he wrote Schindler’s List; and Jacques Derrida, France’s ‘rock star’ philosopher.

You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the civil rights swimming protest; the disastrous D-Day rehearsal; and the death of one of the world’s oldest languages.

(Photo: Borobudur. Credit: David Cumming/Eye Ubiquitous/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)


TUE 09:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx4w55)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 09:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl6ntb485k)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkzbhv7fk)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 09:32 Assignment (w3ct6rbw)
[Repeat of broadcast at 02:32 today]


TUE 10:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx4zx9)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 10:06 The Arts Hour (w3ct6ztl)
[Repeat of broadcast at 20:06 on Saturday]


TUE 11:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx53nf)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl6ntb4hnt)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkzbhvgxt)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 11:32 In the Studio (w3ct6vtq)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


TUE 12:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx57dk)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 12:06 Outlook (w3ct6x4n)
Outlook

True stories of ordinary people and the extraordinary events that have shaped their lives.


TUE 12:50 Witness History (w3ct74n0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


TUE 13:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx5c4p)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 13:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl6ntb4r52)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 13:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkzbhvqf2)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 13:32 Discovery (w3ct6sw9)
[Repeat of broadcast at 20:32 on Monday]


TUE 14:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx5gwt)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 14:06 Newshour (w172zss6qjf9mgf)
Interviews, news and analysis of the day’s global events.


TUE 15:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx5lmy)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 15:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct80hl)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


TUE 15:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkzbhvyxb)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 15:32 World Business Report (w3ct7670)
First broadcast 12/08/2025 14:32 GMT

The latest business and finance news from around the world, on the BBC.


TUE 16:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx5qd2)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 16:06 BBC OS (w173067wym97lj1)
2025/08/12 15:06 GMT

BBC OS gives a vibrant account of the day’s events with explanation and reaction from those involved.


TUE 17:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx5v46)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 17:06 BBC OS (w173067wym97q85)
2025/08/12 16:06 GMT

BBC OS gives a vibrant account of the day’s events with explanation and reaction from those involved.


TUE 18:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx5ywb)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 18:06 Outlook (w3ct6x4n)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 today]


TUE 18:50 Witness History (w3ct74n0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


TUE 19:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx62mg)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl6ntb5gmv)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkzbhwfwv)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct6z9t)
2025/08/12 GMT

BBC sports correspondents tell the story behind today's top sporting news, with interviews and reports from across the world.


TUE 20:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx66cl)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 20:06 Assignment (w3ct6rbw)
[Repeat of broadcast at 02:32 today]


TUE 20:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkzbhwkmz)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 20:32 Tech Life (w3ct6zp3)
Tech Life

Tech Life discovers and explains the ways technology is changing our lives, wherever we are in the world.


TUE 21:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx6b3q)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 21:06 Newshour (w172zss6qjfbgpb)
Interviews, news and analysis of the day’s global events.


TUE 22:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx6fvv)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 22:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct80hl)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


TUE 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkzbhwt47)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 22:32 In the Studio (w3ct6vtq)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


TUE 23:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx6klz)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 23:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl6ntb5ymc)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkzbhwxwc)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 23:32 World Business Report (w3ct76bd)
First broadcast 12/08/2025 21:32 GMT

The latest business and finance news from around the world, on the BBC.

WEDNESDAY 13 AUGUST 2025

WED 00:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx6pc3)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 00:06 The Arts Hour (w3ct6ztl)
[Repeat of broadcast at 20:06 on Saturday]


WED 01:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx6t37)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 01:06 Business Matters (w172zrs6q376yld)
Global business news, with live guests and contributions from Asia and the USA.


WED 02:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx6xvc)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl6ntb69vr)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkzbhx93r)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 02:32 The Climate Question (w3ct7026)
[Repeat of broadcast at 22:06 on Sunday]


WED 03:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx71lh)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 03:06 Outlook (w3ct6x4n)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Tuesday]


WED 03:50 Witness History (w3ct74n0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 on Tuesday]


WED 04:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx75bm)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 04:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl6ntb6kc0)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkzbhxjm0)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 04:32 13 Minutes Presents: The Space Shuttle (w3ct80bm)
The Space Shuttle

The Space Shuttle: 4. The 35 new guys

Nasa recruits women and ethnic minorities for the first time to its astronaut class. In the beginning of American spaceflight, all astronauts selected for the programme came from the same background. They were all male, all white – all test pilots.

But now, with a revolutionary new spacecraft, and changing views in society, Nasa needs to change. They’re not just looking for people to pilot the shuttle, but engineers, scientists, and medical doctors.

Can Nasa change its culture?

This episode contains strong language.

Some scenes in this series use recreated sound effects.

13 Minutes Presents: The Space Shuttle is a BBC Audio Science Unit production for the BBC World Service.

Hosted by space scientist Maggie Aderin-Pocock.

Theme music by Hans Zimmer and Christian Lundberg, and produced by Russell Emanuel, for Bleeding Fingers Music.

Archive:
Mercury seven press conference, Nasa Archives, 1959
Nichelle Nichols Nasa advertisement, Nasa Archives, 1977
Where dreams come true, Nasa Archives, 1979
First female and African-American astronauts train at Nasa, ABC News, 1978
Ronald Reagan declares Space Shuttle open for business, Reagan Library, 1982
Sally Ride interview, ITN, 1983
Mission audio and oral histories, Nasa History Office


WED 05:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx792r)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 05:06 Newsday (w172zspr12b5p3b)
Live news, business and sport from around the world.


WED 06:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx7dtw)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 06:06 Newsday (w172zspr12b5svg)
Live news, business and sport from around the world.


WED 07:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx7jl0)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 07:06 Newsday (w172zspr12b5xll)
Live news, business and sport from around the world.


WED 08:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx7nb4)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 08:06 The Interview (w3ct7x6q)
The Interview

Conversations with people shaping our world. The best interviews from the BBC.


WED 08:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkzbhy0lj)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct6sch)
The cost of reconstructing Ukraine

It is three and a half years since Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine began. Homes, businesses, transport and energy infrastructure have been severely damaged or destroyed.

Amid Russia’s onslaught, economists are compiling a list of what has been destroyed and are attaching a value to its rebuilding. They put the cost of reconstructing Ukraine at more than $500 billion.

We look at how companies are preparing for the moment they can rebuild.

If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, email businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Rob Young

(Picture: Rubble of a service station building destroyed by a Russian drone strike in Pisochyn, Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine. Credit: Getty Images)


WED 08:50 Witness History (w3ct74q8)
Discovery of the 'Hobbit'

In 2003, archaeologists on the island of Flores, in Indonesia, discovered the skeleton of a new species of human - Homo floresiensis.

It was nicknamed the 'Hobbit', because they were just over a metre in height, and it's thought they became extinct around 70,000 years ago.

Rachel Naylor spoke to Peter Brown, the Australian paleoanthropologist who identified it.

Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there.

For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more.

Recent episodes explore everything from the death of Adolf Hitler, the first spacewalk and the making of the movie Jaws, to celebrity tortoise Lonesome George, the Kobe earthquake and the invention of superglue.

We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: Eva Peron – Argentina’s Evita; President Ronald Reagan and his famous ‘tear down this wall’ speech; Thomas Keneally on why he wrote Schindler’s List; and Jacques Derrida, France’s ‘rock star’ philosopher.

You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the civil rights swimming protest; the disastrous D-Day rehearsal; and the death of one of the world’s oldest languages.

(Photo: The skull of Homo floresiensis (centre). Credit: Jim Watson / AFP via Getty Images)


WED 09:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx7s28)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 09:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl6ntb752n)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkzbhy4bn)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 09:32 The Climate Question (w3ct7026)
[Repeat of broadcast at 22:06 on Sunday]


WED 10:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx7wtd)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 10:06 The Documentary (w3ct812c)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Saturday]


WED 11:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx80kj)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl6ntb7dkx)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkzbhyctx)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 11:32 13 Minutes Presents: The Space Shuttle (w3ct80bm)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


WED 12:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx849n)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 12:06 Outlook (w3ct6xck)
Outlook

True stories of ordinary people and the extraordinary events that have shaped their lives.


WED 12:50 Witness History (w3ct74q8)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


WED 13:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx881s)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 13:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl6ntb7n25)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 13:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkzbhymb5)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 13:32 Tech Life (w3ct6zp3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 20:32 on Tuesday]


WED 14:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx8csx)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 14:06 Newshour (w172zss6qjfdjcj)
Interviews, news and analysis of the day’s global events.


WED 15:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx8hk1)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 15:06 The Interview (w3ct7x6q)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


WED 15:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkzbhyvtf)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 15:32 World Business Report (w3ct76ft)
First broadcast 13/08/2025 14:32 GMT

The latest business and finance news from around the world, on the BBC.


WED 16:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx8m95)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 16:06 BBC OS (w173067wym9bhf4)
2025/08/13 15:06 GMT

BBC OS gives a vibrant account of the day’s events with explanation and reaction from those involved.


WED 17:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx8r19)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 17:06 BBC OS (w173067wym9bm58)
2025/08/13 16:06 GMT

BBC OS gives a vibrant account of the day’s events with explanation and reaction from those involved.


WED 18:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx8vsf)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 18:06 Outlook (w3ct6xck)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 today]


WED 18:50 Witness History (w3ct74q8)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


WED 19:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx8zjk)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl6ntb8cjy)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkzbhzbsy)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct6zd2)
2025/08/13 GMT

BBC sports correspondents tell the story behind today's top sporting news, with interviews and reports from across the world.


WED 20:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx938p)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 20:06 The Climate Question (w3ct7026)
[Repeat of broadcast at 22:06 on Sunday]


WED 20:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkzbhzgk2)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 20:32 Health Check (w3ct6vjp)
Health Check

Health issues and medical breakthroughs from around the world.


WED 21:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx970t)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 21:06 Newshour (w172zss6qjffclf)
Interviews, news and analysis of the day’s global events.


WED 22:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx9bry)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 22:06 The Interview (w3ct7x6q)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


WED 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkzbhzq1b)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 22:32 13 Minutes Presents: The Space Shuttle (w3ct80bm)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


WED 23:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx9gj2)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 23:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl6ntb8vjg)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkzbhztsg)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 23:32 World Business Report (w3ct76j2)
First broadcast 13/08/2025 21:32 GMT

The latest business and finance news from around the world, on the BBC.

THURSDAY 14 AUGUST 2025

THU 00:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx9l86)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 00:06 The Documentary (w3ct812c)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Saturday]


THU 01:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx9q0b)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 01:06 Business Matters (w172zrs6q379vhh)
Global business news, with live guests and contributions from Asia and the USA.


THU 02:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx9trg)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl6ntb96rv)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkzbj060v)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 02:32 The Documentary (w3ct80hh)
Birding The Gender Gap

During the annual World Series of Birding, teams compete to see who can identify the most bird species in 24 hours. For 'Team Galbatross’ the goal is different (and much harder): they only identify female birds. This self-imposed restriction is a form of activism, calling into question centuries of ornithology that has focused primarily on male birds, with their bright plumage, elaborate dances, and loud songs. ‘Birding the Gender Gap’ explores how the study of female birds is reshaping our understanding of nature and why this new knowledge is crucial for conservation.


THU 03:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlx9yhl)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 03:06 Outlook (w3ct6xck)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Wednesday]


THU 03:50 Witness History (w3ct74q8)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 on Wednesday]


THU 04:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlxb27q)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 04:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl6ntb9g83)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkzbj0fj3)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 04:32 The Food Chain (w3ct70yt)
The Food Chain examines the business, science and cultural significance of food, and what it takes to put food on your plate.


THU 05:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlxb5zv)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 05:06 Newsday (w172zspr12b8l0f)
Live news, business and sport from around the world.


THU 06:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlxb9qz)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 06:06 Newsday (w172zspr12b8prk)
Live news, business and sport from around the world.


THU 07:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlxbfh3)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 07:06 Newsday (w172zspr12b8thp)
Live news, business and sport from around the world.


THU 08:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlxbk77)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 08:06 The Inquiry (w3ct722x)
How are drones changing the landscape of modern warfare?

When the war in Ukraine began back in February 2022, the remote-controlled unmanned aerial vehicle or drone as its commonly known, was peripheral to the conflict. But three years on, the drone in all its shapes and sizes has taken on a central role in this battle, in the air, on land and at sea, for surveillance, reconnaissance, combat and other purposes. Now drone technology is evolving even further into the area of autonomous weapons.
But whilst the drone can offer greater strategic and operational flexibility and a possible reduction in the number of military casualties, there are concerns that the drone, particularly in Ukraine’s case, has prolonged the war.
Only last year the United Nations reported that 118 countries now had military drones, along with at least 65 non-state actors. And as an increasing number of countries have begun to manufacture and export their own array of military drones, many are concerned about how drone technology is presenting a big challenge in terms of defensive measures.
So, on this week’s Inquiry, we’re asking ‘How are drones changing the landscape of modern warfare?
Contributors:
James Patton Rogers, Author and Executive Director, Brooks Tech Policy Institute, Cornell University, New York State, USA.
Dr Oleksandra Molloy, Senior Lecturer in Aviation, University of New South Wales, Canberra, Australia
Stacie Pettyjohn, Director of the Defence Programme, Centre for A New American Security, Washington DC. USA.
Dr. Elke Schwarz, Professor of Political Theory, Queen Mary University, London, UK

Presenter: Gary O’Donoghue
Producer: Jill Collins
Researcher: Maeve Schaffer
Editor: Tara McDermott
Technical Producer: Toby James
Production Management Assistant: Liam Morrey


THU 08:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkzbj0xhm)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct6s2g)
Is the B Corp bubble about to burst?

B Corp certification is meant to signal that a company is socially and environmentally conscious. The logo graces the packaging and advertising of anything, from shoes and snacks, to steak houses. But as the movement nears nearly 10,000 companies globally, and includes multinational food and beverage giants, is it getting too big to be meaningful?

If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, email us at businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Josh Martin

(Picture: Close-up of a "Certified B Corporation" label. Credit: Getty Images)


THU 08:50 Witness History (w3ct74jl)
Jakarta’s ban on dancing monkeys

In 2013, Jakarta's governor moved to outlaw the use of dancing monkeys on the city’s streets.

The Indonesian tradition saw macaques made to perform for passers-by - often restrained by chains and dressed in plastic masks. Campaigners said the animals were frequently subjected to harsh treatment and poor living conditions.

Animal rights activist Femke den Haas played a key role in securing the ban.

She tells Vicky Farncombe that it was the suffering of one particular monkey, Johnny, that spurred her to take action.

Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there.

For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more.

Recent episodes explore everything from the death of Adolf Hitler, the first spacewalk and the making of the movie Jaws, to celebrity tortoise Lonesome George, the Kobe earthquake and the invention of superglue.

We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: Eva Peron – Argentina’s Evita; President Ronald Reagan and his famous ‘tear down this wall’ speech; Thomas Keneally on why he wrote Schindler’s List; and Jacques Derrida, France’s ‘rock star’ philosopher.

You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the civil rights swimming protest; the disastrous D-Day rehearsal; and the death of one of the world’s oldest languages.

(Photo: A dancing monkey in Jakarta. Credit: Getty Images)


THU 09:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlxbnzc)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 09:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl6ntbb1zr)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkzbj117r)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 09:32 The Documentary (w3ct80hh)
[Repeat of broadcast at 02:32 today]


THU 10:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlxbsqh)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 10:06 The Explanation (w3ct7ysc)
The Media Show

Where the world is explained. Making sense of the big stories - looking behind the spin. Exploring the important questions about long-running stories and the latest global news. An honest, unvarnished, explanation of the world.


THU 10:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkzbj14zw)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 10:32 On the Podium (w3ct80k2)
Marit Bouwmeester: Perfection and parenthood

Marit Bouwmeester is the most decorated female sailor in Olympic history, winning medals at four consecutive Games, including two golds. She credits her success to the mental strength she amassed over the course of two decades, committing herself to constant improvement, and succeeding where people she regarded as more talented failed.

But has becoming a mother changed the way she sees sport and the world?

Eliza Skinner and Ed Harry talk to Marit about how she worked to build a champion's mentality, including deliberately using worse equipment in her training to force her to improve her skills, and how difficult it can be to pursue perfection in a sport where so many factors can be out of your control. She also reveals why she doesn't keep her medals at home, and shares her thoughts on the future of sailing - and how her sport has brought her face-to-face with the climate crisis.

On the Podium is the podcast that sits down with Olympic and Paralympic medallists to discover the real stories behind their success. Pole vault pioneer Stacy Dragila talks about her battle to get her sport on the Olympic programme, and triathlete Jess Learmonth reveals what led her back to sport after walking away as a teenager. Basketball champion Breanna Stewart and shot-putter Raven Saunders explain why they use the platform sport gives them to act as advocates. Swimmer Anastasia Pagonis and rower Brigit Skarstein share how sport helped them rebuild their futures after life-changing events, while Markus Rogan and Maarten van der Weijden talk about the lives they have found after leaving competition behind. Multi-sport stars like Oksana Masters and Jana Pittman reveal what it's like to compete at both the summer and winter Games. There's stories of memorable victories, like the moment high jump champion Gianmarco Tamberi chose to share his gold medal, and Shaunae Miller-Uibo putting everything on the line to reach the top step of the podium. Plus, the triumphs nobody predicted, including Molly Seidel's shock marathon bronze, and the day Anna Kiesenhofer rode away from cycling's biggest names to claim gold in Tokyo.


THU 11:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlxbxgm)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl6ntbb9h0)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkzbj18r0)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 11:32 The Food Chain (w3ct70yt)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


THU 12:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlxc16r)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 12:06 Outlook (w3ct6wxr)
Outlook

True stories of ordinary people and the extraordinary events that have shaped their lives.


THU 12:50 Witness History (w3ct74jl)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


THU 13:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlxc4yw)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 13:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl6ntbbjz8)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 13:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkzbj1j78)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 13:32 Health Check (w3ct6vjp)
[Repeat of broadcast at 20:32 on Wednesday]


THU 14:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlxc8q0)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 14:06 Newshour (w172zss6qjfhf8m)
Interviews, news and analysis of the day’s global events.


THU 15:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlxcdg4)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 15:06 The Inquiry (w3ct722x)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


THU 15:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkzbj1rqj)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 15:32 World Business Report (w3ct75vq)
First broadcast 14/08/2025 14:32 GMT

The latest business and finance news from around the world, on the BBC.


THU 16:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlxcj68)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 16:06 BBC OS (w173067wym9fdb7)
2025/08/14 15:06 GMT

BBC OS gives a vibrant account of the day’s events with explanation and reaction from those involved.


THU 17:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlxcmyd)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 17:06 BBC OS (w173067wym9fj2c)
2025/08/14 16:06 GMT

BBC OS gives a vibrant account of the day’s events with explanation and reaction from those involved.


THU 18:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlxcrpj)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 18:06 Outlook (w3ct6wxr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 today]


THU 18:50 Witness History (w3ct74jl)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


THU 19:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlxcwfn)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl6ntbc8g1)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkzbj27q1)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct6z7k)
2025/08/14 GMT

BBC sports correspondents tell the story behind today's top sporting news, with interviews and reports from across the world.


THU 20:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlxd05s)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 20:06 The Documentary (w3ct80hh)
[Repeat of broadcast at 02:32 today]


THU 20:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkzbj2cg5)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 20:32 Science In Action (w3ct6yfq)
Science in Action

The BBC brings you all the week's science news.


THU 21:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlxd3xx)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 21:06 Newshour (w172zss6qjfj8hj)
Interviews, news and analysis of the day’s global events.


THU 22:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlxd7p1)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 22:06 The Inquiry (w3ct722x)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


THU 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkzbj2lyf)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 22:32 The Food Chain (w3ct70yt)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


THU 23:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlxdcf5)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 23:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl6ntbcrfk)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkzbj2qpk)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 23:32 World Business Report (w3ct75xz)
First broadcast 14/08/2025 21:32 GMT

The latest business and finance news from around the world, on the BBC.

FRIDAY 15 AUGUST 2025

FRI 00:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlxdh59)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 00:06 The Explanation (w3ct7ysc)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:06 on Thursday]


FRI 00:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkzbj2vfp)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 00:32 On the Podium (w3ct80k2)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:32 on Thursday]


FRI 01:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlxdlxf)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 01:06 Business Matters (w172zrs6q37drdl)
Global business news, with live guests and contributions from Asia and the USA.


FRI 02:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlxdqnk)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl6ntbd3ny)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkzbj32xy)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 02:32 Tech Life (w3ct6zp3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 20:32 on Tuesday]


FRI 03:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlxdvdp)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 03:06 Outlook (w3ct6wxr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Thursday]


FRI 03:50 Witness History (w3ct74jl)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 on Thursday]


FRI 04:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlxdz4t)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 04:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl6ntbdc56)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkzbj3bf6)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 04:32 Heart and Soul (w3ct5tgl)
Ayahuasca and the new spiritual tourism

For centuries, ayahuasca has been a sacred plant for the Shipibo-Konibo peoples of the Peruvian Amazon. Part medicine, part spiritual ceremony, ayahuasca and other plant medicines are revered practices. But in recent years, a boom in Western interest in psychedelics has started to reshape ayahuasca ceremonies and practise. Fuelled by celebrity endorsements, a new wave of tourists are heading to purpose-built resorts in the Peruvian jungle to take ayahuasca, guided by shamans from the Shipibo-Konibo tribes.

In this episode of Heart and Soul, reporter Janak Rogers travels to the Peruvian Amazon to explore this so-called ‘psychedelic renaissance’. From candlelit jungle ceremonies to bustling tourist strips, Rogers uncovers the allure of ayahuasca for Westerners seeking help and healing. But as the ayahuasca boom transforms local communities, challenges arise: the rise of unscrupulous shamans, the commercialisation of Indigenous knowledge, and risks faced by vulnerable travellers.

Through the eyes of shamans, researchers, and spiritual tourists, Rogers witnesses the profound connections ayahuasca fosters between body, mind, and spirit — and, how tourism is redefining it all.

[Photo credit: Ayahuasca Ceremony by Carlos Alvarez Suarez]

Producer/presenter: Janak Rogers
Series producer: Rajeev Gupta
Editor: Chloe Walker
Production coordinator: Mica Nepomuceno


FRI 05:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlxf2wy)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 05:06 Newsday (w172zspr12bcgxj)
Live news, business and sport from around the world.


FRI 06:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlxf6n2)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 06:06 Newsday (w172zspr12bclnn)
Live news, business and sport from around the world.


FRI 07:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlxfbd6)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 07:06 Newsday (w172zspr12bcqds)
Live news, business and sport from around the world.


FRI 08:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlxfg4b)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 08:06 Americast (w3ct7t5s)
Join Americast for insights and analysis on what's happening inside Trump's White House.


FRI 08:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkzbj3tdq)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct6rsf)
Business Daily

The daily drama of money and work from the BBC.


FRI 08:50 Witness History (w3ct7445)
Pramoedya Ananta Toer: The banned author of Indonesia

In 1969, Indonesian writer Pramoedya Ananta Toer was imprisoned without trial in the notorious labour camp on Buru Island. He spent 10 years there.


He is best known for his novels about the rise of Indonesian nationalism. He wrote much of his work in captivity. As he was denied pen and paper on the island, his most famous work, the Buru Quartet, began as oral storytelling. He narrated the stories to fellow prisoners until he was eventually allowed to write them down himself.

His powerful story is told through archive interviews. Produced and presented by Gill Kearsley.


Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there.

For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more.

Recent episodes explore everything from the death of Adolf Hitler, the first spacewalk and the making of the movie Jaws, to celebrity tortoise Lonesome George, the Kobe earthquake and the invention of superglue.

We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: Eva Peron – Argentina’s Evita; President Ronald Reagan and his famous ‘tear down this wall’ speech; Thomas Keneally on why he wrote Schindler’s List; and Jacques Derrida, France’s ‘rock star’ philosopher.

You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the civil rights swimming protest; the disastrous D-Day rehearsal; and the death of one of the world’s oldest languages.


FRI 09:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlxfkwg)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 09:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl6ntbdywv)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkzbj3y4v)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 09:32 Science In Action (w3ct6yfq)
[Repeat of broadcast at 20:32 on Thursday]


FRI 10:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlxfpml)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 10:06 Unexpected Elements (w3ct72wd)
Unexpected Elements

The news you know, the science you don’t. Unexpected Elements looks beyond everyday narratives to discover a goldmine of scientific stories and connections from around the globe. From Afronauts, to why we argue, to a deep dive on animal lifespans: see the world in a new way with Unexpected Elements.


FRI 11:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlxftcq)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl6ntbf6d3)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkzbj45n3)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 11:32 Heart and Soul (w3ct5tgl)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


FRI 11:59 VJ Day Silence (w3ct81r9)
Two-minute national silence to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VJ Day.


FRI 12:06 Outlook (w3ct6wh6)
Outlook

True stories of ordinary people and the extraordinary events that have shaped their lives.


FRI 12:50 Witness History (w3ct7445)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


FRI 13:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlxg1vz)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 13:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl6ntbffwc)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 13:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkzbj4f4c)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 13:32 Science In Action (w3ct6yfq)
[Repeat of broadcast at 20:32 on Thursday]


FRI 14:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlxg5m3)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 14:06 Newshour (w172zss6qjflb5q)
Interviews, news and analysis of the day’s global events.


FRI 15:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlxg9c7)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 15:06 Americast (w3ct7t5s)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


FRI 15:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkzbj4nmm)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 15:32 World Business Report (w3ct76lb)
First broadcast 15/08/2025 14:32 GMT

The latest business and finance news from around the world, on the BBC.


FRI 16:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlxgf3c)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 16:06 BBC OS (w173067wym9j97b)
2025/08/15 15:06 GMT

BBC OS gives a vibrant account of the day’s events with explanation and reaction from those involved.


FRI 17:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlxgjvh)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 17:06 BBC OS (w173067wym9jdzg)
2025/08/15 16:06 GMT

BBC OS gives a vibrant account of the day’s events with explanation and reaction from those involved.


FRI 18:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlxgnlm)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 18:06 Outlook (w3ct6wh6)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 today]


FRI 18:50 Witness History (w3ct7445)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


FRI 19:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlxgsbr)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl6ntbg5c4)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkzbj54m4)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct6z31)
2025/08/15 GMT

BBC sports correspondents tell the story behind today's top sporting news, with interviews and reports from across the world.


FRI 20:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlxgx2w)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 20:06 BBC OS Conversations (w3ct6rmx)
BBC OS Conversations

How major news stories are affecting the lives of people around the world


FRI 20:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkzbj58c8)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 20:32 CrowdScience (w3ct6st1)
Can we trap light in a box?

Galaxy GN-z11 is the most distant object ever observed. Its light travels an astonishing 33.6 billion light-years to reach us. But what we see isn't the galaxy as it exists now — we're seeing it as it was 13.4 billion years ago. That light has been racing through space since nearly the dawn of time, a kind of cosmic postcard from the ancient universe.

CrowdScience listener Robert wants to know: How long can light last? Can it live forever? And could he trap it in a box?

To find out, Anand Jagatia heads to the Sphinx Observatory high in the Swiss Alps. Up here, researchers peer deep into space and time, detecting the fingerprints of alien atmospheres by analysing the light that passes through them. It's a reminder that light is capable of travelling across massive distances — but it also transports information.

But what is light, really? In a physics lab, Anand gets close and personal with the photon, the fundamental particle of light. It has no mass, doesn't age, and in the right conditions — like the vacuum of space — it could travel forever. Photons don’t decay or wear out. They’re effectively immortal, unless something gets in their way.

And if it is immortal, could be trapped forever? Not quite — but scientists can come close. Using near-perfect mirrored cavities, researchers have managed to bounce photons back and forth for seconds, even minutes in some quantum experiments. That may not sound long, but for a photon moving at light speed, it’s millions of laps around its tiny cage.

Can Anand really help Robert to trap light in a box?


FRI 21:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlxh0v0)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 21:06 Newshour (w172zss6qjfm5dm)
Interviews, news and analysis of the day’s global events.


FRI 22:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlxh4l4)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 22:06 Americast (w3ct7t5s)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


FRI 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkzbj5hvj)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 22:32 Heart and Soul (w3ct5tgl)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


FRI 23:00 BBC News (w172zwwrjlxh8b8)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 23:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl6ntbgnbn)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxkzbj5mln)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 23:32 World Business Report (w3ct76nl)
First broadcast 15/08/2025 21:32 GMT

The latest business and finance news from around the world, on the BBC.