SATURDAY 31 JANUARY 2026

SAT 00:00 BBC News (w172zwx32cyt9qg)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 00:06 Unexpected Elements (w3ct72xb)
Are you still with us?

Are You Dead?

That’s the name of an app that’s gone massively viral in China. Every two days, you click a green button to confirm you’re alive and well – but if you miss it, an emergency contact is alerted.

The app is aimed towards those who live alone, so it’s got us contemplating the science of connection and loneliness. First, we take a look at the most isolated trees on Earth and how they act as important recorders of history. We also discuss NASA’s space probe Voyager 1, and how we can connect with a device that’s 25 billion kilometres away from us.

We’re joined by glaciologist Liz Morris, who shares what it was like to do research far from civilisation, in Antarctica.

Then we reunite with a species that we thought was lost for ever, and answer an important question: just how big can spiders get?

All that, plus many more Unexpected Elements.

Presenter: Marnie Chesterton, with Candice Bailey and Ogechi Ekeanyanwu
Producers: Ella Hubber, with Lucy Davies, Imy Harper, Tim Dodd, Sophie Ormiston and Margaret Sessa-Hawkins


SAT 01:00 BBC News (w172zwx32cytfgl)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 01:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlk6lcstgz)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SAT 01:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxj3khsqz)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 01:32 The Global Story (w3ct715f)
How Palantir became indispensable

Palantir isn’t just another tech firm - it’s reach cuts across almost every aspect of modern life, from AI to healthcare to Formula 1 racing.

Founded in 2003 to support US counter-terrorism efforts, the company has since grown into a global powerhouse and is central to the Trump administration's policies, from its military to immigration enforcement.

At the centre of it all is billionaire co-founder Alex Karp – the philosopher turned tech-CEO who built the company from the ground up.

So how did this software company built for bad times become indispensable to governments across the globe, and what does its rise reveal about the future of politics?

We speak to journalist Michael Steinberger whose book The Philosopher in the Valley charts Karp’s life and Palantir’s rise.

Producer: Aron Keller

Mix: Travis Evans

Executive producer: China Collins

Senior news editor: China Collins

Photo: Palantir co-founder & CEO Alex Karp. Credit: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters.


SAT 02:00 BBC News (w172zwx32cytk6q)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlk6lcsy73)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SAT 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxj3khxh3)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 02:32 Stumped (w3ct6zkj)
Men's T20 World Cup: Bangladesh replaced by Scotland

Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Sunil Gupta are joined by Bangladesh cricket journalist Tawhid Qureshi who reflects on The Tigers decision to withdraw from the tournament after the ICC rejected a request to move their games from India to co-hosts Sri Lanka. Bangladesh had cited safety concerns amid growing tensions between the countries. The ICC refused, saying there was an "absence of any credible security threat".

Scotland have replaced Bangladesh so we hear about their preparations from Cricket Scotland CEO Trudy Lindblade.

A baggy green cap worn by Don Bradman has been sold for 460,000 Australian dollars. It is the highest price for a cap worn by Bradman. So the team discuss if they have any cricket memorabilia.

Photo: Players of Bangladesh cut dejected figures following the ICC Men's T20 Cricket World Cup West Indies & USA 2024 match between South Africa and Bangladesh at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium on June 10, 2024 in New York, New York. (Credit: Getty Images)


SAT 03:00 BBC News (w172zwx32cytnyv)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 03:06 Outlook (w3ct6wj4)
Outlook Mixtape: Master keys

Archaeologists Dariusz Polinski and Magdalena Zagrodska are drawn to a remote hill in Poland. Dariusz is searching for a medieval castle and Magda is searching for the bones of a bird associated with mythical powers. But instead, a series of strange events leads them to discover an unmarked grave containing the body of a young woman held down by a padlock and a sickle. This leads them to investigate the life of a supposed 350-year-old ‘vampire’, and the padlock becomes an important emblem of their experience. They spoke to Asya Fouks in January 2025.

Pianist Chloe Flower went from playing Bach to performing with Cardi B, one of rap music's biggest stars. She told Outlook's Nawal Al-Maghafi in April 2019 about their show-stopping performance at the 61st Grammy Awards that year.

Humberto Restrepo from Medellin in Colombia was a locksmith by day but outside his working hours he played Cupid by writing love letters for other couples. As Outlook's Clayton Conn heard in November 2018, Humberto has saved many relationships in trouble.

Presenter: Jo Fidgen
Producer: Hetal Bapodra
Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com or WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707

(Photo: A transparent 60-minute cassette tape on a white background with a white label with the words: The Outlook Mixtape. Credit: Getty Images)


SAT 03:50 Witness History (w3ct7453)
Ötzi: The Iceman of Bolzano

In September 1991, two German hikers found a dead body while walking through Europe’s Ötzal Alps. It turned out to be a perfectly preserved 5,000-year-old mummy.

The archaeologist Konrad Spindler inspected the body along with the assemblage of items recovered from the gravesite.

A person of this age had never been found before in such exceptional condition.

They’d lived during the transition between the stone and copper ages, and provided a snapshot into early human culture, medicine and genetics.

Hunter Charlton tells the story through archive interviews with the archaeologist Konrad Spindler and forensic pathologist Rainer Henn who were involved in recovering, analysing and preserving the mummy. An Ember production.

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 hikers with the mummy they discovered in September 1991. Credit: Paul Hanny/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)


SAT 04:00 BBC News (w172zwx32cytspz)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 04:06 Unexpected Elements (w3ct72xb)
[Repeat of broadcast at 00:06 today]


SAT 05:00 BBC News (w172zwx32cytxg3)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 05:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlk6lct9gh)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SAT 05:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxj3kj8qh)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 05:32 The Dark Is Rising (w3ct4lzv)
7. The Besieging

Christmas Day. The snowfall is intense as Will walks. The Dark has surrounded the church. Will fights back and discovers a Fourth Sign. On the journey home, a rook leads Will to a man freezing in the snow. Listen on headphones for 3D immersive sound. #TheDarkIsRising

Will Stanton: Noah Alexander
John Smith/Paul Stanton/Mr Beaumont: Thomas Arnold
Bus Conductor/Jamaican Old One/James Stanton: Danny Bailey
Stephen Stanton: Simon Bubb
Mrs Stanton/Mrs Pettigrew/Dr Armstrong: Amanda Hadingue
The Walker/Hawkin: Toby Jones
Narrator: Simon McBurney
The Rider/Mr Mithothin/Mr Stanton/Farmer Dawson: Tim McMullan
Merriman: Paul Rhys
Maggie Barnes/Mary Stanton: Natasha Stone
The Lady/Miss Greythorne: Harriet Walter
Herne: Miles Yekinni
The chorister: Vinay Singh
Radio announcer: Samuel West

Soundscape design: Gareth Fry
Music: Josh Sneesby
Original songs by Johnny Flynn, Luisa Gerstein and Héloïse Tunstall-Behrens

Adapted for audio by Robert Macfarlane and Simon McBurney
Dramaturg: James Yeatman

Director: Simon McBurney
Producers: Catherine Bailey and Tim Bell

A Complicité and Catherine Bailey Production for BBC World Service
Commissioned by Simon Pitts


SAT 05:50 More or Less (w3ct6w05)
Could Europe use its financial muscle to strong-arm the US?

Could European Nato members use their large holdings of US shares and bonds to put pressure on America? It’s a question that some in Europe found themselves asking as the geopolitical crisis over Greenland escalated and leaders desperately tried to think of ways to dissuade Donald Trump.

It is true that trillions of dollars of American financial assets are held in Europe. But the devil, as ever, is in the detail.

Tim Harford talks to Toby Nangle, a journalist with the Financial Times, to drill down into the numbers.

Presenter: Tim Harford
Producer: Nathan Gower
Series Producer: Tom Colls
Editor: Richard Vadon
Programme Coordinator: Brenda Brown
Sound Engineer: James Beard


SAT 06:00 BBC News (w172zwx32cyv167)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 06:06 Weekend (w172zw8kjmm2lx6)
US Justice department releases millions of Jeffrey Epstein files

The US government releases three million more files relating to the sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, and insists there has been no White House interference.

Also in today’s programme: We hear the latest from Minneapolis, a week since the death of protestor Alex Pretti at the hands of federal immigration officers; and, the Emmy-winning actress, comedian and screenwriter Catherine O’Hara -  best known for her roles in Home Alone and Schitt’s Creek - has died at the age of seventy-one. 

Presenter Paul Henley is joined by Eric Albert, European economic correspondent for the French newspaper Le Monde, and Olga Oliker, programme director for Europe and Central Asia at the International Crisis Group, which works to prevent and resolve conflict around the world.

(Photo Credit: Photo of U.S. President Trump and Jeffrey Epstein displayed by activist groups on the National Mall, in Washington. 15 Dec 2025/ Reuters)


SAT 07:00 BBC News (w172zwx32cyv4yc)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 07:06 Weekend (w172zw8kjmm2qnb)
United Nations on brink of collapse, Secretary General warns

The United Nations warns the international peace organisation is at risk of financial collapse - over unpaid dues from member countries.

Also in today's programme: President Trump says he's sending 'very big and very powerful' ships to Iran; and, we speak one of China's greatest artists Ai Wei Wei.

Presenter Paul Henley is joined by Eric Albert, European economic correspondent for the French newspaper Le Monde, and Olga Oliker, programme director for Europe and Central Asia at the International Crisis Group, which works to prevent and resolve conflict around the world.

(Photo Credit:United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks during a press conference in New York)


SAT 08:00 BBC News (w172zwx32cyv8ph)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 08:06 Weekend (w172zw8kjmm2vdg)
Justice department releases three million pages

The US government releases three million more files relating to the sex offender Jeffrey Epstein -- and insists there's been no White House interference.

Also on today's programme: why NASA mission to the moon could be a chance to heal international tensions; and, the Cuban band who say the Trump administration's tough immigration policies have got it second guessing a planned tour America.

Presenter Paul Henley is joined by Eric Albert, European economic correspondent for the French newspaper Le Monde, and Olga Oliker, programme director for Europe and Central Asia at the International Crisis Group, which works to prevent and resolve conflict around the world.

(Photo Credit: Art Installation depicting Epstein birthday message on the National Mall, Washington, USA - 20 Jan 2026. Will Oliver/EPA)


SAT 09:00 BBC News (w172zwx32cyvdfm)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 09:06 BBC Conversations (w3ct6rnv)
ICE in Minnesota

Over the past year, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have become a visible force on American streets. Accused of using aggressive tactics, they often cover their faces and have cast a shadow of fear over migrant communities.

In the city of Minneapolis, some 3000 agents have made hundreds of arrests, and two US citizens have been shot dead. In our conversations, we hear from migrants in the city – including a man arrested by ICE agents – and bring together people in the local community.

“It feels like we’re under siege from our own federal government here in Minnesota,” says Ann, the head of a local preschool.

“I felt like I was in the Middle East – tear gas, hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of ICE officers and border patrol all clad out,” says Jeff, who runs a pub in the city. “It was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced.”

President Trump was elected on a platform of cutting illegal immigration and, with efforts in recent days to reduce tensions in the State, we also get the perspective from Republican party supporters.

Presenter: James Reynolds
BBC producers: Lindsay Brown, Shea Conduct, Ben Davis and Ash Mohamed
Boffin Media producer: Richard Hollingham
Editors: Arja Haikonen and Harriet Oliver
A Boffin Media production in partnership with BBC OS.

(Photo: Federal officers load an injured protester onto a pickup truck during a confrontation with police in Minneapolis. Credit: Craig Lassig/EPA/Shutterstock)


SAT 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxj3kjrq0)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 09:32 Americast (w3ct8bz2)
Can Trump really save the midterms for the Republicans?

Can Republicans win the midterm elections and keep control of both houses of Congress? It’s the biggest political event of the year, and this week Donald Trump kicked off the Republican’s campaign in Iowa, telling voters the odds are against him, but Republicans “need to win”. The president’s chief of staff says this is just the start, and Trump will be campaigning for the midterms as if it were a presidential race because he’s good at driving voter turnout.
In this episode, Sarah and Anthony discuss why the midterm elections matter, what the stakes are, and Republican chances of winning. They’re joined by a former campaign adviser to Donald Trump, Bryan Lanza, who sets out why ICE immigration protests and worries over the economy shouldn’t stop a Republican victory.
We also hear from Mary in Kentucky as we build our own “United States of Americast”, finding Americasters in every US state. Listen out for what you might not already know about Kentucky…

HOSTS:
• Sarah Smith, North America Editor
• Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent

GUESTS:
• Bryan Lanza, Former senior advisor to Donald Trump

GET IN TOUCH:
• Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB
• Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480
• Email Americast@bbc.co.uk
• Or use #Americast

This episode was made by Purvee Pattni, Grace Reeve and Kris Jalowiecki. The technical producer was Jack Graysmark. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app.

You can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers.

US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155

Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Americast also makes lots of other podcasts, including Newscast and Ukrainecast. If you enjoy Americast (and if you're reading this then you hopefully do), then we think that you will enjoy some of our other pods too. See links below.

Newscast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/p05299nl
Ukrainecast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0bqztzm
Radical: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0gg4k6r
The Global Story: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/w13xtvsd


SAT 10:00 BBC News (w172zwx32cyvj5r)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 10:06 Not by the Playbook (w3ct878z)
Flying the flag

February, the month of love, the one with the fewest days and the in the northern hemisphere the last month of winter, but what you might not have realised is that February might also be the most exciting month of the year. And we have the guests to prove it! February hosts two massive sporting events, the Winter Olympics in Italy and the Super Bowl in California. So wrap up warm as we head to the ice and snow of Lombardy, and then get your sun lotion as we head to the Bay area and the Super Bowl

Iranian skier Samaneh Beyrami Baher is all set to compete in the grueling cross country skiing event at the Winter Olympics in Italy. This is the second time Samaneh has qualified for the Games. When Iran's flag barer at the 2018 Games she caused a sensation with her emotional entrance at the Opening Ceremony. She tells us about her rigorous training, the challenges she's has had to overcome and why she's so confident in a new set of skis she's just received from Olympic champion Jessica Diggins.

American Football and Politics... One is a brutal, winner takes all, adversarial, adrenaline fueled contest, where everyone has an opinion. The other is American Football! and the idea that sport and politics don't mix has been debated long and hard over recent years. Some believe players should stick to playing, others that they have a responsibility to use their platform to speak about matters that are important to them. Colin Allred has played both games. He made it to the NFL the hard way going undrafted, before being signed up to the Tennessee Titans. After playing he went back to school to study law and in 2018 was elected as a member of the House of Representative from his home state of Texas. His victory, a Democrat beating the incumbent Republican, was something of an upset. Having lost his seat in 2024, he's trying to regain it later this year.

We have managed to find a story that neatly moves neatly from the Winter Olympics to the Super Bowl. Kind of! Think Ice Bowl. Back to New Year's Eve 1967, when the Green Bay Packers played the Dallas Cowboys in one of the most famous games in American Football history. Played in Arctic temperatures, the match elevated the reputation of Packers' coach, Vince Lombardi stature. We hear from former Packers' lineman, Jerry Kramer.

Photo: Iran's Samaneh Beyrami Baher practicing in Italy ahead of the Winter Olympics which start in February 2026 (Credit: Samaneh Beyrami Baher)


SAT 11:00 BBC News (w172zwx32cyvmxw)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlk6lcv0y8)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SAT 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxj3kk068)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 11:32 Unspun World with John Simpson (w3ct78c5)
Is Europe toughening its stance on Trump?

This week John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses the relationship between the EU and the United States after the row over Greenland, explores how the UK is trying to improve ties with China, and looks at the challenges facing the first female head of the Anglican Church.

Producer: Kate Cornell
Executive producer: Benedick Watt
Commissioning editor: Vara Szajkowski


SAT 12:00 BBC News (w172zwx32cyvrp0)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 12:06 The Documentary (w3ct8xs1)
Shepherd's eye in the sky

Africa's 250 million nomadic herders, or pastoralists, are the invisible keystone of the continent's food system. They provide 50% of Africa's meat and 75% of its milk, moving livestock across vast rangelands in response to seasons, weather and grazing patterns that have sustained communities for millennia.

Yet pastoralists are routinely dismissed as backwards, a relic in the way of progress and modernisation. Climate change, land grabs, and conflict force them off ancestral routes. Their knowledge is often ignored, their contribution unrecognised.

But in the UN International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, a different story emerges - one where these herders are not obstacles to climate solutions but pioneers of them.

Bola Mosuro speaks with pastoralists using informal collectives and cutting-edge digital technology like the Shepherd's Eye In The Sky satellite systems that track grazing, predict drought, and help communities adapt to a rapidly changing climate. These are not romantic traditions; they are living, evolving systems that could offer crucial lessons for sustainable food production worldwide.

With Sarli Sadu Nana, Dr Dorice Agol, Joshua Laizer, Tahira Mohamed, Mark Kaigwa and Aminu Nyako.

Presenter: Bola Mosuro
Producer: Alexandra Quinn and Freya Hellier
Executive producer: Rami Tzabar
A Loftus Media Production for BBC World Service

Thanks to SPARC (Supporting Pastoralism and Agriculture in Recurrent and Protracted Crises)

(Photo Joshua Laizer feeds his goats some leaves. Credit: Mathias Tooko)


SAT 13:00 BBC News (w172zwx32cyvwf4)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 13:06 Newshour (w172zssk89h00zr)
At least 200 dead in DR Congo mining collapse, authorities say

More than 200 people have been killed in a mine collapse in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, rebel authorities have said.

Women and children were among those mining coltan - a mineral used to manufacture electronics such as smartphones and computers - at the time in the town of Rubaya.

Also in the programme: The search for truth and justice continues after more than three million new documents related to the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein are released; we'll hear about the legacy of the Nigerian musician and political activist Fela Kuti, who has been awarded a Lifetime Achievement Grammy; and we'll discuss the implications of AI being used to create new forms of life.

(File photo of labourers working at the Rubaya coltan mine in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo March 24, 2025. Credit: Zohra Bensemra/Reuters)


SAT 14:00 BBC News (w172zwx32cyw058)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 14:06 Sportsworld (w172ztqzkw7hmjq)
Live Sporting Action

There’s live Premier League commentary of Leeds United against Arsenal, who are looking to get back to winning ways. Lee James will be joined by former Liverpool. Aston Villa and USA goalkeeper Brad Friedel and the former Wolves and England midfielder Matt Jarvis. We’ll also have updates of Brighton against Everton and Wolves versus Bournemouth

We’ll look ahead to what could be a title deciding match in the Women’s Super League as leaders Manchester City face champions Chelsea.

Away from football, we’ll be in Melbourne for the Women’s Singles Final at the Australian Open and also look ahead to the Men’s Singles Final on Sunday. And with the Winter Olympics just days away, we’ll discuss if the games in Milan-Cortina are the most diverse ever and also who the big stars of the games could be.


Photo: Bukayo Saka of Arsenal takes on Ilia Gruev of Leeds during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Leeds United at Emirates Stadium on August 23, 2025 in London, England. (Credit: Getty Images)


SAT 18:00 BBC News (w172zwx32cywh4s)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 18:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlk6lcvw55)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SAT 18:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxj3kkvf5)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 18:32 The Dark Is Rising (w3ct4lzv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:32 today]


SAT 18:50 Sporting Witness (w3ct7zsx)
Playing rugby during Syria’s civil war

In 2004 a rugby union team was formed in the Syrian capital Damascus. It consisted of British and French players working in the country, and one Syrian: Mohamad Jarkou.

As protests against Syria’s government in 2011 were met with violent crackdowns by the authorities, foreign workers began to leave the country.

But it didn't spell the end for the sport, in that same year a team formed exclusively of Syrians, including Mohamad Jarkou, won the Men’s Gulf Open at the Dubai Sevens tournament.

Mohamad then formed the Syrian High Rugby Committee and set about growing the game, he is now the General Secretary of Syrian Rugby.

He’s been speaking to Tim O’Callaghan about how the sport thrived in a country that had become engulfed by civil war.

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: The Damascus Zenobians celebrating their win at the Dubai Sevens in 2011. Credit: Mohamad Jarkou)


SAT 19:00 BBC News (w172zwx32cywlwx)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 19:06 The Documentary (w3ct8yx6)
US foreign policy in five doctrines

Looking back at five big US foreign policy shifts from the Monroe doctrine in the 19th Century to the post-9/11 strategies of the Bush doctrine in the early 2000s. Justin Webb and his guests examine how America’s approach to the world has constantly changed over time, to help answer a really big question - how radical is the way President Donald Trump deals with the world? Is he really an outlier in US history? Or do his actions reflect the changing patterns of American power?

Includes extracts from Truman's address courtesy of the Harry S Truman Library and Columbia Broadcasting System, Nixon’s Silent Majority Speech courtesy of the Richard Nixon Foundation, Reagan’s State of the Union Address courtesy of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Bush’s Graduation Speech at West Point courtesy of the George W. Bush Presidential Library.

Presenter: Justin Webb
Producers: Caroline Bayley and Kirsteen Knight
Researcher: Helena Warwick-Cross
Editor: Jon Bithrey
Sound engineer: Tom Brignell


SAT 20:00 BBC News (w172zwx32cywqn1)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 20:06 The Arts Hour (w3ct6zvk)
Film-maker Akinola Davies Jnr

Nikki Bedi is joined by film-maker Akinola Davies Jnr and film critic Larushka Ivan Zadeh to discuss cultural highlights of the week:

Oscar winning Mexican director Guillermo del Toro on the influence of a religious upbringing on his films

American singer and actor Andra Day on her role in the movie Is This Thing On....and the day Stevie Wonder telephoned her

German film-maker Werner Herzog on his survival films

US director Paul Feig talks about adapting the bestselling book The Housemaid for the big screen

British Nigerian writer director Akinola Davies Jnr tells Nikki about the making of his debut feature film, My Father’s Shadow, set on the day of the 1993 Nigerian elections

And British actor Claire Foy discusses training with birds of prey for her role in H is for Hawk.


SAT 21:00 BBC News (w172zwx32cywvd5)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 21:06 Newshour (w172zssk89h0zys)
Doubts over next round of Ukraine peace talks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that US-mediated talks planned to take place in Abu Dhabi on Sunday may be delayed. In his Sunday. Zelensky said Kyiv was prepared to work on peace plans and that Kyiv was preparing for them to take place next week. His remarks came as Ukraine faced rolling power cuts amid freezing temperatures.

Also on the programme: the renowned Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei tells us about his first return to China in ten years; and new evidence about the world’s earliest pandemic, the Plague of Justinian.

PICTURE: President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Kyiv, Ukraine January 16, 2026 CREDIT:REUTERS/Thomas Peter/File Photo


SAT 22:00 BBC News (w172zwx32cywz49)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 22:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlk6lcwc4p)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SAT 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxj3klbdp)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 22:32 This Is Africa (w3ct72f6)
Noura Mint Seymali

Noura Mint Seymali is Mauritania’s biggest female star. She comes from a family of griots - traditional storytellers and praise singers who are custodians of the culture and oral historians. Her stepmother, Dimi Mint Abba, is one of the most famous Mauritanian musicians of all time – and one of the first to bring traditional Mauritanian music to a global audience.

Noura Mint Seymali is following in those big footsteps, and consciously making her music more accessible internationally by mixing in modern instruments and genres. She is however fiercely proud of the tradition she represents, and as she tells TIA, all her songs include the ardin, a stringed instrument unique to Mauritania and exclusively played by women.

Noura’s latest album, which dropped in November 2025, is called Yenbett.

Also in 2025, she was honoured with the Worldwide Music Expo – Womex – Artist of the Year Award.


SAT 23:00 BBC News (w172zwx32cyx2wf)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 23:06 Not by the Playbook (w3ct878z)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:06 today]

SUNDAY 01 FEBRUARY 2026

SUN 00:00 BBC News (w172zwx32cyx6mk)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 00:06 BBC Conversations (w3ct6rnv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:06 on Saturday]


SUN 00:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxj3klkwy)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 00:32 The Documentary (w3ct8xsz)
Hungary: The alternative to Orban

In April 2026, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban faces fresh parliamentary elections. He has been in power since 2010, and his party's grip on the Hungarian media and civil society means many felt his place in office was permanently secure. However, discontent over allegations of corruption and his brand of "illiberal democracy" has been growing, led by a new challenger, Peter Magyar. His growing party, Tisza, has shown signs of being able to unite wide swathes of Hungary's disjointed opposition, and Orban is suddenly well behind in the polls.

Magyar himself is a former member member of Orban's party, Fidesz. He has promised to root out corruption and bring in term limits for future leaders. But questions remain over whether he can stably maintain a wide anti-Orban coalition, and about what a Magyar government would really look like.

Nick Thorpe travels across Hungary meeting activists and voters mobilising for the contest.

Producer: Artemis Irvine
A Whistledown production for the BBC World Service

(Photo: Peter Magyar, Tisza Party leader. Credit: Noemi Bruzak/EPA/Shutterstock)


SUN 01:00 BBC News (w172zwx32cyxbcp)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 01:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlk6lcwqd2)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SUN 01:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxj3klpn2)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 01:32 The Dark Is Rising (w3ct4lzv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:32 on Saturday]


SUN 01:50 Sporting Witness (w3ct7zsx)
[Repeat of broadcast at 18:50 on Saturday]


SUN 02:00 BBC News (w172zwx32cyxg3t)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlk6lcwv46)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SUN 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxj3kltd6)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 02:32 Health Check (w3ct6vkm)
South African coming-of-age initiations

For some communities in South Africa coming-of-age initiations are a hugely significant moment, but there have been rising concerns over the safety of the circumcisions at the heart of this ritual. Forty-eight young men died last year and the government are now introducing measures to tackle the issue. BBC’s southern Africa correspondent Pumza Fihlani reports on the latest.

Research suggests our hair does not grow by pushing up and out but by being pulled by a coordinated network of moving cells. Our studio guest Graham Easton, professor of clinical communication skills and former family doctor discusses the significance.

What is the best way to encourage more people to give blood? New research from China evaluates system where donors were offered incentives such as free access to public bus services. Professor of Health Psychology Eamonn Ferguson puts this in the context of different approaches used worldwide.

And should doctors use emojis in communications with patients? A new paper analyses how many are used and which ones by clinicians and patients in Michigan, USA. We discuss the pros and cons of their use.

Presenter: Claudia Hammond
Producer: Hannah Robins
Assistant producer: Jonathan Blackwell
Researcher: Anna Charalambou


SUN 03:00 BBC News (w172zwx32cyxkvy)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 03:06 The Documentary (w3ct8xs1)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Saturday]


SUN 04:00 BBC News (w172zwx32cyxpm2)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 04:06 From Our Own Correspondent (w3ct6tsr)
Myanmar's stage-managed election

Pascale Harter introduces correspondents' and writers' stories from Myanmar, Iran, South Africa and France.

The final round of elections took place in Myanmar last weekend, five years after a coup returned the military junta to power - though many observers saw the whole affair process as a sham. Jonathan Head was given rare permission to report from inside Myanmar - though in Shan State, he found fear and surveillance at every turn.

The number of Iranians killed by government forces in the crackdown on recent protests is now estimated to be at least 6000, with thousands more deaths being investigated by human rights groups. BBC Persian’s Parham Ghobadi has been speaking to people in Tehran about what they witnessed during the protests - and what they saw in the aftermath.

Over the last decade, South Africa has made steady progress on bringing down its rates of infection and mortality from tuberculosis. It's also a global centre for medical research into the disease. But that progress is now under threat as foreign aid cuts begin to bite. Sandra Kanthal reports from Cape Town.

The rise, fall and flow of the Allier river, a tributary of the Loire, have left their mark across France over the millennia. But they've had a particular impact on the residents and the buildings of the village of Lavoûte-Chilhac in the Auvergne. Sara Wheeler reflects on how the waters have shaped the history of this unique spot.

Producer: Polly Hope
Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith
Production co-ordinator: Katie Morrison
(Image: People holding election campaign pamphlets as they leave a campaign event ahead of Myanmar's general election in Nawnghkio in Myanmar's northern Shan State. Credit: Sai Aung MAIN / AFP via Getty Images)


SUN 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxj3km1wg)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 04:32 Unspun World with John Simpson (w3ct78c5)
[Repeat of broadcast at 11:32 on Saturday]


SUN 05:00 BBC News (w172zwx32cyxtc6)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 05:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlk6lcx6cl)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SUN 05:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxj3km5ml)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 05:32 The Documentary (w3ct8xsz)
[Repeat of broadcast at 00:32 today]


SUN 06:00 BBC News (w172zwx32cyxy3b)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 06:06 Weekend (w172zw8kjmm5ht9)
Second Epstein victim claims she was sent to UK for sex with Andrew - lawyer

A second victim of Epstein claims she was sent to the UK to have sex with the former Prince Andrew. We hear from her lawyer.

Also in today's programme: we hear from students in Minneapolis fearful of attending school because of ongoing ice raids; and, tennis great, Novak Djokovic, is on the verge of making history at the Australian Open.

Presenter Paul Henley is joined by Georgina Goodwin, a Zimbabwean-born broadcaster and journalist and Manas Chawla, a geopolitical risk expert and chief executive of the London Politica consultancy in the studio.

Photo Credit: Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor I © Under licence to London News Pictures


SUN 07:00 BBC News (w172zwx32cyy1vg)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 07:06 Weekend (w172zw8kjmm5mkf)
Gaza's Rafah border crossing to open

Israel said Gaza's Rafah border crossing with Egypt would open, in accordance with second phase of the ceasefire deal. More than a thousand Palestinians have died waiting for treatment, according to Israeli NGO Physicians for Human Rights Israel.

Also in today's programme: a judge in the United States has ordered the release of a five- year- old boy and his father, who were detained by immigration agents in Minneapolis.; and why European cinema is enjoying a new wave of success amongst audiences and critics.

Presenter Paul Henley is joined by Georgina Goodwin, a Zimbabwean-born broadcaster and journalist and Manas Chawla, a geopolitical risk expert and chief executive of the London Politica consultancy in the studio.

(Photo credit: Trucks carrying humanitarian aid and fuel line up at the Rafah border to cross into the Gaza Strip, on the Egyptian side, in Rafah /Reuters)


SUN 08:00 BBC News (w172zwx32cyy5ll)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 08:06 Weekend (w172zw8kjmm5r9k)
Iran announces military drills near US warships amid tensions

The US and Iran say talks are continuing despite high tensions over possible US military action. We’ll look at how the situation could unfold in the coming days.

Also on today’s programme: a second Jeffrey Epstein victim says she was sent to the UK to have sex with Prince Andrew, and a new BBC radio documentary on American musicologist and broadcaster Leo Sarkisian, whose love of African music is explored by journalist Maria Margaronis.

Presenter Paul Henley is joined by Georgina Goodwin, a Zimbabwean-born broadcaster and journalist and Manas Chawla, a geopolitical risk expert and chief executive of the London Politica consultancy in the studio.

(Photo Credit: Anti-US billboard in Tehran following US threats against Iran, 31 Jan 2026. Abedin Taherkenareh /EPA)


SUN 09:00 BBC News (w172zwx32cyy9bq)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 09:06 From Our Own Correspondent (w3ct6tsr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:06 today]


SUN 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxj3kmnm3)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 09:32 The Food Chain (w3ct70zr)
Fermented foods: A beginner's guide

Fermented foods are fashionable – kimchi, kefir, kombucha – they're all having a moment, many thousands of years on from where they were first produced. But how much do you know about how they're made? Do you know your SCOBY from your kefir grain?

In this episode, fermenting novice Ruth Alexander goes on a quest to find out more about this ancient way of preserving food; how to do it yourself, why you might want to, and what it's doing for our guts.

Follow along as she experiments with making her own kefir, and talks to fermentation guru Sandor Katz about how to get started and whether there's anything that can't be fermented.

Scientist Professor Gabriel Vinderola explains what's known about the microbes behind it all and how they affect our health while Kheedim Oh and his mum Myung Oh talk about how they've brought the family recipe for kimchi to a US audience via their business, Mama O's Kimchi. (Kimchi on pizza anyone?)

And with the help of Adam Goldwater from UK based Loving Foods Fermented, Ruth discovers how kombucha is made, and the alien like SCOBY powering the process.

Produced by Lexy O'Connor. The sound engineer was Andrew Mills.

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

Image: A woman in an apron is holding a jar of brightly coloured fermenting vegetables, with orange carrots and purple cabbage tightly packed in. Credit Getty/Migrogen


SUN 10:00 BBC News (w172zwx32cyyf2v)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 10:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct6xyv)
Helping prisoners become better parents

An innovative scheme in Scotland is helping dads in prison become better parents. Myra Anubi visits Barlinnie jail in Glasgow to meet the prisoners taking part. First they are taught parenting skills and then their children are brought into the jail for sessions of active physical play. Supporters of the programme say it is not just about benefits for prisoners - it is helping to create strong family bonds which might then reduce rates of reoffending.

It is based on a successful scheme in Australia called Healthy Dads, Healthy Kids. This was set up to get people fit and tackle high levels of obesity in the wider population. We talk to the founder who explains how it has improved the lives of hundreds of fathers and their families.

People Fixing The World from the BBC is about brilliant solutions to the world's problems. We release a new edition every Tuesday. We'd love you to let us know what you think and to hear about your own solutions. You can contact us on WhatsApp by messaging +44 8000 321721 or email peoplefixingtheworld@bbc.co.uk. And please leave us a review on your chosen podcast provider.

Presenter: Myra Anubi
Producer: Richard Kenny
Editor: Jon Bithrey
Sound mix: Annie Gardiner

(Image: Prisoners and their children at Barlinnie prison in Scotland, Scottish Prison Service)


SUN 10:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxj3kmsc7)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 10:32 The Fifth Floor (w3ct70v7)
Archaeology and war

A top Russian archaeologist is currently under arrest in Poland. Alexander Butyagin is waiting for courts to decide on a request from Ukraine for him to be extradited. He is a scholar at the Hermitage, Russia's largest art museum in St Petersburg, and has been digging in an ancient site in Crimea since 1999. Ukrainian authorities claim that he is criminally damaging and looting the site, making the most of Russian occupation, Butyagin himself denies all charges. It is a story that Grigor Atenesian of BBC Russian has been looking into.

The Kalbeliya community is a nomadic tribe from Rajasthan in India, known for its distinctive folk music and the Kalbeliya dance form. Traditionally, Kalbeliya families have led a nomadic life, though some have settled permanently over the years. They follow a type of Hinduism in which burial, rather than cremation, is a religious requirement after death. Community members say that even those who are settled often do not have legal access to land for burial, leaving families struggling to perform last rites. Ashay Yegde, who reports for the BBC in India, recently travelled to meet the Kalbeliya to hear their story.

AI-generated caricatures of middle-aged men decked out in street wear, clutching an iPhone have gone viral on social media in South Korea. They are being called 'Young 40s' by younger generations. Teasing of an older person is very unusual in South Korea, where age difference, even by a year, forms the basis of social hierarchy. But the Young 40 memes also represent Korean youth's growing scepticism of this reverence for elders. Hyojung Kim of BBC Korean has been looking into the internet phenomenon, and shares what it tells us about South Korean society today.

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.

Presented by Faranak Amidi

Produced by Laura Thomas and Caroline Ferguson


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


SUN 11:00 BBC News (w172zwx32cyyjtz)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlk6lcxxvc)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SUN 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxj3kmx3c)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 11:32 The Dark Is Rising (w3ct4lzv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:32 on Saturday]


SUN 11:50 More or Less (w3ct6w05)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:50 on Saturday]


SUN 12:00 BBC News (w172zwx32cyynl3)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 12:06 The Documentary (w3ct8yx6)
[Repeat of broadcast at 19:06 on Saturday]


SUN 13:00 BBC News (w172zwx32cyysb7)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 13:06 Newshour (w172zssk89h2xwv)
Trump says Iran talking 'seriously' with US about nuclear curbs

President Trump says the Iranians are talking "seriously" with the United States about curbs on their nuclear programme. Iran's supreme leader warns if America attacks, there'll be regional war.

We'll be asking where concessions might be made to prevent a military confrontation.

Also in the programme: A second woman says she was trafficked to the UK by Jeffrey Epstein for sex with the former prince, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor; a new exhibition explores the legacy of Japan's Samurai warriors; and Carlos Alcaraz triumphs over Novak Djokovic to become the youngest man to win a career Grand Slam in tennis.

(Photo shows Donald Trump speaking after disembarking from Air Force One in West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., January 31, 2026. Nathan Howard/Reuters)


SUN 14:00 BBC News (w172zwx32cyyx2c)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 14:06 The Climate Question (w3ct7035)
What is climate anxiety and how can you cope with it?

Fear, anxiety, sadness, anger, dread and powerlessness are some of the many emotions associated with what’s called climate anxiety.

A global survey of 10,000 young people aged between 16–25 years, found that 60% were very worried about climate change, and nearly half said that their anxiety negatively effects their daily life.

Psychologists say these are rational responses to our changing climate, experienced in many different ways around the world.

Graihagh Jackson asks how people can manage these difficult emotions and whether climate anxiety itself can be motivational.

Graihagh chats to:

Svetlana Chigozie Onye who leads the Eco-anxiety in Africa Project, which looks at the mental health impact of climate change and solutions across Africa.

Dr Daniella Watson, Chartered Health Psychologist and a Research Associate at the The Climate Cares Centre, Imperial College London.

Got a question you’d like us to answer? Send an email to: TheClimateQuestion@bbc.com or whatsapp us on +44 8000 321 721

Presenter: Graihagh Jackson
Production Team: Diane Richardson, Nik Sindle, Maria Ogundele
Sound Engineers: Jonny Hall and Tom Brignell
Editor: Simon Watts

Image Credit: Dried up dam. Mike Hutchings, Reuters.


SUN 14:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxj3kn8br)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 14:32 Happy News (w3ct6tzk)
The Happy Pod: What makes people instinctively kind?

We meet a woman whose near death experience as a teenager inspired her to study why some people are willing to risk their lives for others. Dr Abigail Marsh was rescued by a stranger after a car accident and wanted to understand what drove him to help her. She says altruists, those who instinctively help without expecting anything in return, are more sensitive to the needs of other people -- but we can all learn to be kinder.

Also: we hear from a man whose willingness to help others led him to donate a kidney. It went to a woman he'd become friends with after he supported her through a personal tragedy.

We find out about an Australian scheme to help dads and their kids be healthier, which also showed the benefits of rough and tumble play. And it's inspired a project at a prison in Scotland that aims to make dads better role models by playing with their kids. It's hoped that helping them become better parents will make them less likely to reoffend.

Plus, why a crying horse soft toy has been a surprise hit with young workers in China, and what its like to be a patient helping to develop new medical treatments by volunteering for a clinical trial.

Presenter: Jannat Jalil
Music: Iona Hampson

(Photo: Dr Abigail Marsh. Credit: Georgetown University)


SUN 15:00 BBC News (w172zwx32cyz0th)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 15:06 Sportsworld (w172ztqzkw7ln5y)
Live Sporting Action

Delyth Lloyd presents live Premier League commentary of Tottenham Hotspur against Manchester City from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Delyth will be joined by Sportsworld's Mani Djazmi and the Leicester City and Bosnia and Herzegovina goalkeeper Asmir Begovic to preview our commentary game, as well as discussing Sunday's other three Premier League games and Saturday's big talking points.

We'll also reflect on the men's final at tennis's Australian Open and preview cricket's men's T20 World Cup.

Photo: Erling Haaland of Manchester City heads over the crossbar during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur at Etihad Stadium on August 23, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Credit: Getty Images)


SUN 19:00 BBC News (w172zwx32cyzht0)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlk6lcywtd)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SUN 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxj3knw2d)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 19:32 The Global Jigsaw (w3ct8yx8)
Ukraine: Whose peace?

Can diplomacy alone end the war in Ukraine in the absence of a compromise? After nearly four years of fighting and countless deaths, top diplomats from Russia, Ukraine, the US and Europe have been hard at work trying to hammer out a peace deal. Indeed, this work has produced several multi-point peace plans amid proclamations of “productive talks”, creating the impression that peace is around the corner. We compare the Russian and Ukrainian wish lists to reveal two parallel realities of peace that cannot coexist. What are the peace negotiations achieving?

Producer: Kriszta Satori
Presenter: Krassi Ivanova Twigg
Music: Pete Cunningham


SUN 20:00 BBC News (w172zwx32cyzmk4)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 20:06 Unexpected Elements (w3ct72xb)
[Repeat of broadcast at 00:06 on Saturday]


SUN 21:00 BBC News (w172zwx32cyzr98)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 21:06 Newshour (w172zssk89h3wvw)
US president 'hopeful' of Iran deal

Donald Trump says Iran negotiating 'seriously' as Supreme Leader in Tehran warns of regional war if US attacks. Iran's foreign minister says "fruitful" talks are taking place on his country's nuclear programme, even as American military forces continue to build in the Middle East.

Also in the programme: French tech giant Capgemini to sell US subsidiary working for ICE; and a new exhibition reveals the peaceful side of the Samurai.

(Picture: US President, Donald Trump. Credit: REUTERS/Nathan Howard)


SUN 22:00 BBC News (w172zwx32cyzw1d)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 22:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlk6lcz81s)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SUN 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxj3kp79s)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 22:32 The Fifth Floor (w3ct70v7)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:32 today]


SUN 23:00 BBC News (w172zwx32cyzzsj)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 23:06 The Climate Question (w3ct7035)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:06 today]


SUN 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxj3kpc1x)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 23:32 Assignment (w3ct6rct)
Nigeria: Killings, land and cattle

On Christmas Day 2025, the US carried out missile strikes on suspected Islamist militants in Nigeria. They came after President Trump said he would intervene to protect Christians amid controversial claims of a “Christian genocide” in the country. The Nigerian government rejects such claims, saying both Muslim and Christian communities have been affected by insecurity in the country.

Alex Last visits Plateau state in central Nigeria one area where ethnic and sectarian violence that has been the focus of US concern, to hear from both sides and meet those trying to bring peace.

Producer/presenter: Alex Last
Sound engineer: James Beard
Production co-ordinator: Katie Morrison
Editor: Penny Murphy

(Photo: A local man herding cows. Credit: Alex Last)

MONDAY 02 FEBRUARY 2026

MON 00:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn83yst)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 00:06 From Our Own Correspondent (w3ct6tsr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:06 on Sunday]


MON 00:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxwcvtb26)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 00:32 BBC Inside Science (w3ct8txx)
Should we rethink navigating by GPS?

This week 14 European countries warned that “maritime safety and security” was being put in jeopardy by Russian interference. The Royal Institute of Navigation says GPS is so vulnerable to so called ‘spoofing’ and ‘jamming’ that we need to rethink the navigation systems on which shipping relies. Tom Whipple speaks to Ramsey Faragher, CEO of the Institute.

Something else with the potential to affect navigation systems are solar storms. Tom visits Professor Tim Horbury and Helen O’Brien at Imperial College London whose instrument strapped to the Solar Orbiter probe, and speeding through space, is giving us more warning about solar activity which could affect us here on earth.

And science journalist Caroline Steel brings you the latest scientific research.

To discover more fascinating science content, head to bbc.co.uk, search for BBC Inside Science and follow the links to The Open University.


MON 01:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn842jy)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 01:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlkkvp3gkb)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 01:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxwcvtftb)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 01:32 Discovery (w3ct6sx7)
The Life Scientific: Peter Knight

There are problems and tasks so hard and complicated that it would take today’s most powerful supercomputers millions of years to crack them. But in the next decade, we may well have quantum computers which could solve such problems in seconds.

Professor Sir Peter Knight is a British pioneer in the realms of quantum optics and quantum information science. During his three decades as a researcher at Imperial College London, he has advanced our understanding of the physics which underpins how quantum computers work.

Quantum optics was a new field of physics at the start of Peter Knight’s career in the early 1970s and he tells Jim Al-Khalili about the excitement and opportunities for a young scientist at the birth of a new scientific discipline. He also talks about the UK National Quantum Technologies Programme. Since his retirement in 2010, Peter Knight has been the driving force behind this £1 billion government-funded endeavour which has positioned the UK as a world leader in the development and commercialisation of quantum computing and other revolutionary quantum inventions.


MON 02:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn84692)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlkkvp3l9g)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxwcvtkkg)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 02:32 CrowdScience (w3ct6stz)
Why do I tan more in the US?

CrowdScience listener Namrata and presenter Chhavi Sachdev have something in common. They both get more tanned in the summer in the United States than back home in India. Namrata wants to know why she came back from her run in Boston with such a deep tan and doesn’t have the same experience in India. She’s got quite a few theories herself and wonders if it’s to do with the angle of the sun, pollution or humidity.

Chhavi talks to dermatologist Neelam Vashi, who’s based in Boston, to find out how we tan and what protects us from the sun.

She meets Julian Groebner at the World Radiation Centre in Switzerland who compares the data in India and the United States for CrowdScience and comes up with a surprising answer.

She also talks to Indians in Mumbai who share their attitudes to tanning and what steps they take to protect themselves from the heat of the sun.

Presenter Chhavi Sachdev

Producer Jo Glanville

Editor Ben Motley

(Photo: Woman sunbathing on sun lounger by swimming pool. Credit: IndiaPix/Getty Images)


MON 03:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn84b16)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 03:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct6xyv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:06 on Sunday]


MON 03:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxwcvtp9l)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 03:32 The Fifth Floor (w3ct70v7)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:32 on Sunday]


MON 04:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn84fsb)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 04:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlkkvp3tsq)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxwcvtt1q)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 04:32 The Conversation (w3ct709z)
Telling the story of pioneering women in politics

Datshiane Navanayagam brings together two women from the US and Australia to discuss the art of writing a political biography and whether women in politics are placed under more scrutiny than men.

Helene Cooper is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and New York Times correspondent who fled Liberia with her family following the military coup of 1980. Her biography Madame President documents the life and political career of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf – the first democratically elected female head of state in Africa who served as president of Liberia from 2006 to 2018.

Dr Lekkie Hopkins is a feminist academic who lead the women’s studies programme at Edith Cowan University in Perth for 25 years. Utilising her skills as an archivist and oral historian, she pieced together the story of May Holman - a pioneering Australian politician who became the first female Labour politician to be elected to the Western Australian Parliament in 1925.

Produced by Hannah Dean

(Image: (L) Lekkie Hopkins, credit Robert van Koesveld. (R) Helene Cooper credit William B. Plowman/NBC via Getty Images.)


MON 05:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn84kjg)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 05:06 Newsday (w172zsq2y3p2yk1)
BBC investigates testimonies of abduction and torture in Tanzania

Victims who spoke to the BBC Africa Eye investigation named Faustine Jackson Mafwele, an assistant commissioner of police, as their interrogator in a police station in Dar-es-Salaam. Neither he nor the Tanzanian police force responded to the allegations.


We'll also get the latest on the Rafah border crossing -- between Gaza and Egypt -- which is due to re-open for Palestinians on Monday.

Officials in Ukraine say at least twelve people were killed after a Russian drone hit a bus carrying miners, just hours after Russian drones hit a maternity hospital, injuring six people.

(Photo: Demonstrators participate in violent protests that marred the election following the disqualification of the two leading opposition candidates; Credit: Onsase Ochando/Reuters)


MON 06:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn84p8l)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 06:06 Newsday (w172zsq2y3p3295)
Rafah border crossing is reopening after almost two years

Thousands of sick and wounded Palestinians are waiting to leave Gaza for treatment. Israel says only those who left during the two- year war would be allowed back in.

Tensions are rising in the region as Iran's supreme leader warns that an attack on the country would sparks a wider conflict. We'll hear the view from Israel

Ukrainians are bracing for the coldest day amid an energy crisis triggered by Russian attacks on the energy infrastructure. Will the so-called energy truce hold? We'll hear from our correspondent.

(Photo: Trucks carrying humanitarian aid and fuel line up at the Rafah border crossing into the Gaza Strip, on the Egyptian side; Credit: Reuters)


MON 07:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn84t0q)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 07:06 Newsday (w172zsq2y3p3619)
Palestinians are due to start passing through the Rafah crossing

The long-delayed reopening of the Rafah crossing is a key part of President Trump’s ceasefire plan for Gaza. It will come as a relief to many Palestinians who see it as a lifeline to the world.

Bad Bunny, the shape-shifting Puerto Rican musician, makes Grammy history as he wins best album with a record sung entirely in Spanish. And the ceremony was full of speeches by winners, railing against Trump's immigration crackdown.

(Photo: Ambulances wait on the Egyptian side of the Rafah Border Crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, in Rafah. Credit: Shutterstock)


MON 08:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn84xrv)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 08:06 The Interview (w3ct7x0x)
Hind Kabawat, Syrian Minister: It is hard to be the only woman, I feel lonely

'It's hard to be the only woman, I feel lonely sometimes because I’d like to have another woman colleague to talk to.’

The BBC’s Chief international correspondent, Lyse Doucet speaks to Hind Kabawat, Syria’s Minister for Social Affairs and Labour. and the only female minister in the transitional government.

She was born in India and grew up across the Middle East and Europe. Her life has been shaped by movement, exile and conflict. She studied economics in Damascus, law in Beirut, and later continued her education in the United States.

During Syria’s war, she worked abroad on diplomacy and legal reform, advising on negotiations and pushing for greater representation of women in public life. After the fall of the Assad regime and the creation of a transitional authority, she returned home to take up public office.

In this conversation, she talks about power, responsibility, and what leadership means in a country still reckoning with more than a decade of conflict.

Thank you to the Global Women team for their help in making this programme.

The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC, including episodes with the Colombian president Gustavo Petro, the Palestinian-American human rights lawyer Noura Erekat and Mexican actor Diego Calva. You can listen on the BBC World Service on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 0800 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out three times a week on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts.

Presenter: Lyse Doucet
Producers: Lina Shaikhouni, Farhana Haider
Editor: Justine Lang

Get in touch with us on email TheInterview@bbc.co.uk and use the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.

(Image: Hind Kabavat Credit: Beyza Comert/Getty Images)


MON 08:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxwcvv917)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct6ryx)
Can Starbucks regain its buzz?

It’s probably the world’s best-known coffee chain but just over a year ago, business wasn’t doing well. Sales had slipped, customers were drifting away and the buzz had gone.

Newly-arrived CEO Brian Niccol was handed a tough task: stop the fall and make the coffee shops somewhere people wanted to return to.

In an interview with our North America business correspondent Michelle Fleury, he explains why customers are returning and seem to be giving the company another shot.

If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Producers: John Mervin and Justin Bones


Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, why bond markets are so powerful, China's property bubble, and Gen Z's experience of the current job market.

We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include the CEO of Google Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and billionaire founder Judy Faulkner of Epic Systems, one of the world's largest medical record software providers.

(Picture: Brian Niccol, CEO of Starbucks, sitting in one of the company's coffee shops in downtown New York.)


MON 08:50 Witness History (w3ct747d)
The 'Jugroom Fort' rescue mission

In 2007, four British servicemen perched on the wings of an Apache helicopter in Afghanistan, in an audacious mission to rescue a fallen comrade.

Lance Corporal Mathew Ford was part of a unit which had attacked Jugroom Fort - a major Taliban command and control centre in Helmand Province, but he was left behind after a frantic withdrawal.

Volunteers put themselves forward for a risky rescue attempt, which would become legendary in military circles.

Captain Chris Fraser-Perry was a 19-year-old British Royal Marine who took part in the mission. He speaks to Kevin Core.

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: Captain Dave Rigg (l) and Captain Chris Fraser-Perry strapped to an Apache helicopter, Afghanistan 2007. Credit: Sgt Gary Stanton)


MON 09:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn851hz)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 09:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlkkvp4fjc)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxwcvvdsc)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 09:32 CrowdScience (w3ct6stz)
[Repeat of broadcast at 02:32 today]


MON 10:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn85583)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 10:06 The History Hour (w3ct71x2)
Chile’s Penguin Revolution and the 5,000-year-old frozen mummy

Max Pearson presents a collection of the week's Witness History interviews from the BBC World Service.

We travel back to Chile in 2006 where more than 600,000 schoolchildren are marching through the streets to protest about their schools. The nationwide demonstrations will become known as the "Penguin Revolution".

Our guest Dr Laura Tisdall, a historian from Newcastle University, explains why this isn’t the first time children have challenged authority.

And we examine another protest in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, in 1979 which became a seminal moment in the country’s transition to democracy.

Plus, one of the most defining moments of World War Two – the liberation of Auschwitz, the Nazis’ largest death camp in 1945.

And the remarkable story of the 5,000-year-old mummy found frozen and perfectly preserved in Europe’s Ötzal Alps in 1991.

In sport, we explore the inspiring story of how rugby union came to thrive in Syria - despite mass protests and violent government crackdowns during 2011...

Finally, we celebrate 100 years since a technological breakthrough that would change the world. The start of television.

Contributors:

Karina Delfino – one of the leaders of the Penguin Revolution.

Dr Laura Tisdall - lecturer in Modern British History, Newcastle University.

Yao Chia-wen – protester in the Kaohsiung Incident.

General Vasily Petrenko – Soviet army commander who helped liberate Auschwitz.

Konrad Spindler – archaeologist.

Rainer Henn - forensic pathologist.

Mohamad Jarkou – Syrian rugby union player.

Iain Logie Baird – grandson of John Logie Baird, the inventor of television.

(Photo: High school students in Santiago, 2006. Credit: Claudio Pozo/AFP via Getty Images)


MON 11:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn85907)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlkkvp4p0m)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxwcvvn8m)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct717q)
Is ISIS having a resurgence in Syria?

The US military has begun to transfer up to 7000 Islamic State (IS) group detainees held in prisons in Syria to Iraq, which officials say is to prevent prisoners breaking out and regrouping. The transfer comes weeks after the US led large-scale strikes on IS group targets in Syria.

The move comes after clashes between the Syrian government and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, which last week ended in a deal that would see the gradual integration of Kurdish forces and institutions into the state, and transfer control of the prisons to Damascus.

Today we talk to Josh Baker, investigative journalist and host of the BBC podcast I Am Not A Monster, about the state of the IS group, and whether the country’s instability could lead to a resurgence in Syria


Producers: Sam Chantarasak and Lucy Pawle

Senior news editor: China Collins

Mix: Travis Evans


Photo: A member of the Syrian security forces stands in front of the gate of the Al-Hol camp, which houses families of suspected Islamic State (IS) group fighters. Credit: Mohammed al-Rifai/EPA/Shutterstock


MON 12:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn85drc)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 12:06 Outlook (w3ct6wqy)
Colm Tóibín: How an Irish boy with a stammer found his voice

Colm Tóibín is a celebrated Irish writer, but as a child words didn't come easily. Navigating grief as a boy when his father died, he developed a stammer. Instead of talking, Colm watched and listened, collecting stories that wove their way into his novels. He's won a string of awards and been nominated for the prestigious Booker Prize three times. His novel Brooklyn was made into a movie starring Saoirse Ronan and was up for several Oscars. He finds it hilarious that although he was invited to the event he had to be ushered in through a back door – the red carpet is apparently not for novelists. Beyond his writing, Colm was a vocal campaigner for the legalisation of same-sex marriage in Ireland. He’s also breaking taboos by speaking openly about testicular cancer and highlighting some of the comedy moments from those bleak times.

His latest book is called A Long Winter.

Presenter: Jo Fidgen
Producer: Andrea Kennedy

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

(Photo: Colm is looking straight in to the camera with a thoughtful expression. He's wearing a white, open-necked shirt. Credit: Emanuele Spina)


MON 12:50 Witness History (w3ct747d)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


MON 13:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn85jhh)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 13:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlkkvp4xhw)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 13:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxwcvvwrw)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 13:32 The Conversation (w3ct709z)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


MON 14:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn85n7m)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 14:06 Newshour (w172zsskmks9st7)
Israel allows limited re-opening of the crossing point between Gaza and Egypt

It will come as a relief to many Palestinians who see it as a lifeline to the world, although there is frustration that only small numbers of people and no goods will be allowed through. Israeli reports say only 50 patients - accompanied by one or two relatives - will be allowed to exit each day. We hear from two women, one who wants to leave Gaza and one who wants to return.

Also on the programme: damaging new revelations about the links between a former British government minister and the American sex offender Jeffrey Epstein; and the dress rehearsal for the forthcoming mission to the moon.

(Photo: Palestinian patients prepare to travel for medical treatment to Egypt Credit: Haitham Imad/EPA/Shutterstock)


MON 15:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn85rzr)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 15:06 The Interview (w3ct7x0x)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


MON 15:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxwcvw484)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 15:32 Business Daily (w3ct6ryx)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:32 today]


MON 15:50 World Business Express (w3ct886q)
The rise and fall of Gold

This precious metals rally has been tarnished after a sudden slide in prices.

So what does this tell us about metals like gold, known to be the ultimate safe haven.

Can we still call it a refuge when things get rocky?

Presenter: Leanna Byrne
Producer: David Cann
Editor: Justin Bones


MON 16:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn85wqw)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 16:06 Outside Source (w1730687vnn7rvv)
Israel reopens Gaza-Egypt Rafah crossing

Israel says the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt is now "fully open" after being largely closed for almost two years. However, only about 50 Palestinians in need of medical care will be allowed to leave each day. We speak to our correspondent and hear from Gazans inside the territory.

We bring you the biggest talking points from last night’s Grammys.

And with The Devil Wears Prada 2 trailer now out, we explore what has changed in the fashion industry and magazine world in the 20 years since the first film was released.

An investigation has been launched in Italy after claims were made that an angel in a landmark church in Rome was restored in the likeness of the Italian prime minister, Giorgia Meloni. Our Rome bureau reporter explains.

Presenter: Rahul Tandon

(Photo: A Palestinian patient, accompanied by a relative, waits to leave Gaza for treatment abroad through the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt. 2 February, 2026. Credit: Ramadan Abed/Reuters)


MON 17:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn860h0)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 17:06 Outside Source (w1730687vnn7wlz)
What have the latest Epstein files revealed?

The British prime minister has ordered an investigation into contact between Jeffrey Epstein and the politician, Peter Mandelson, during his time in the UK government. Emails released in the United States suggest Mr Mandelson leaked official information to the late sex offender in 2009. We speak to our political correspondent in the UK and to our Washington correspondent.

Israel says the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt is now "fully open" after being largely closed for almost two years. However, only about 50 Palestinians in need of medical care will be allowed to leave each day. We hear from Gazans inside the territory.

We bring the biggest talking points from last night’s Grammys and invite Latino artists to reflect on the global impact of Bad Bunny’s rise.

We talk to our Russia Editor, Steve Rosenberg, who is the focus of a new BBC documentary that followed him over the course of a year.

Presenter: Rahul Tandon.

(Photo: Undated Jeffrey Epstein image released by US Department of Justice as they release more files related to Jeffrey Epstein. Image issued December 19th 2025. Credit: US Department of Justice)


MON 18:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn86474)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 18:06 Outlook (w3ct6wqy)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 today]


MON 18:50 Witness History (w3ct747d)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


MON 19:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn867z8)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlkkvp5mzn)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxwcvwm7n)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct6z68)
2026/02/02 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 (w172zwx3fn86cqd)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 20:06 From Our Own Correspondent (w3ct6tsr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:06 on Sunday]


MON 20:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxwcvwqzs)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 20:32 Discovery (w3ct6sx8)
The Life Scientific: Eleanor Schofield

In July 1545, King Henry VIII watched from Southsea Castle on England's south coast as his fleet sailed out to face the French - only to witness his prized warship, the Mary Rose, sink before his eyes. Raised from the Solent in 1982, the ship is now the centrepiece of the Mary Rose Museum, along with thousands more artefacts that were recovered from the seabed. But keeping the 500-year-old ship and its associated Tudor relics in good condition is no small task, which is where Dr Eleanor Schofield comes in. As Director of Collections at the Mary Rose Trust and a materials engineer by training, Eleanor has spent years tackling the unique scientific challenges of conserving centuries-old wood and metal. From the United States to Portsmouth, Eleanor's research is helping ensure this iconic vessel remains 'ship-shape' for generations to come. In a special edition of The Life Scientific, recorded in front of an audience at the museum in Portsmouth's Historic Dockyards, Professor Jim Al-Khalili discovers how cutting-edge science is keeping history afloat.


MON 21:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn86hgj)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 21:06 Newshour (w172zsskmksbn14)
Israel reopens Gaza's key Rafah border crossing

The Rafah crossing reopens between Gaza and Egypt. Are enough Palestinians in urgent need of medical treatment able to use it? We hear from the family of one injured boy.

Also on the programme: the detention of a five-year-old in an immigration raid in Minnesota enrages a judge; and why seeing the iconic Trevi Fountain in Rome is now going to cost you.

(Photo: A Palestinian patient, accompanied by relatives, waits to leave Gaza for treatment abroad through the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt. Credit: Reuters)


MON 22:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn86m6n)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 22:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlkkvp6071)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxwcvwzh1)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 22:32 World Business Report (w3ct76v2)
A US–India trade deal: What's in it?

Ed Butler examines the latest trade deal announced between the United States and India and what each side stands to gain.

We also look ahead to President Trump’s meeting with Colombia’s president amid rising tensions.

And is Latin pop music coming of age in mainstream American culture?


MON 23:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn86qys)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 23:06 The Interview (w3ct7x0x)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


MON 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxwcvx375)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 23:32 The Conversation (w3ct709z)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]

TUESDAY 03 FEBRUARY 2026

TUE 00:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn86vpx)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 00:06 The History Hour (w3ct71x2)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:06 on Monday]


TUE 01:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn86zg1)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 01:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlkkvp6cgf)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 01:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxwcvxbqf)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 01:32 The Global Story (w3ct717q)
[Repeat of broadcast at 11:32 on Monday]


TUE 02:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn87365)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlkkvp6h6k)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxwcvxggk)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 02:32 Assignment (w3ct6rcv)
India's sportswomen playing to be seen

How sport is giving some young women in India a way out of child marriage and allowing them to be seen.

Officially, the practice of child marriage is illegal in the country. But UNICEF estimates that over 200 million girls and women in India have been married before they turned 18. Take Munna as an example. Her mother was fifteen when she married and Munna herself was only 14 when she was told she would be a child bride. However, she fought back, using football as her weapon. She broke social norms and took up the sport, including wearing shorts on the pitch, and fended off various attempts to marry her off early. Now her rebellion has spread to her youngest sister, who has felt emboldened by her elder sister and has made it to the state football team.

Sport has also helped members of a marginalised community - the Siddis, who were originally brought to India from Africa mainly as slaves - to battle against discrimination. For Shahin her route was via judo.

Divya Arya reports on how sport is helping some young women to break free from the bonds of early marriage and to forge an identity for themselves.

Producer: John Murphy
Programme mix: James Beard
Programme co-ordinator: Katie Morrison
Series Editor: Penny Murphy

(Image: Munna Vaishnav from Rajasthan - football saved her from being a child bride. Credit: BBC)


TUE 03:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn876y9)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 03:06 Outlook (w3ct6wqy)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Monday]


TUE 03:50 Witness History (w3ct747d)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 on Monday]


TUE 04:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn87bpf)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 04:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlkkvp6qpt)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxwcvxpyt)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 04:32 In the Studio (w3ct6vvp)
Liberation Radio

Matthew Sweet reports from an exhibition in Sweden about American conscripts who sought refuge there during the war in Vietnam. He hears from sound artist Nhung Nguyen and film-maker Esther Johnson about their work on archival documents and extracts from the station known as Liberation Radio.

(Credit: Bettmann)


TUE 05:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn87gfk)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 05:06 Newsday (w172zsq2y3p5vg4)
Musk merges his space and artificial intelligence interests

Musk said it would work to install AI data centres in space, where they could harness power from the Sun while avoiding the expense of cooling.

Bill and Hillary Clinton have agreed to testify in Congress about Jeffrey Epstein -- days before a vote on whether to hold them in criminal contempt.

Israel reopens Gaza's key Rafah border crossing with Egypt. We hear from a Palestinian who is hoping to go back to Gaza.

(Photo: Tesla CEO Elon Musk boards Air Force One; Credit:Nathan Howard/Reuters)


TUE 06:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn87l5p)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 06:06 Newsday (w172zsq2y3p5z68)
SpaceX to take over Elon Musk's AI firm

Musk told Tesla investors that he envisioned xAI functioning as an "orchestra conductor" for Tesla factories employing autonomous robots.

Palestinians have started using the Rafah crossing connecting the Gaza strip to Egypt for the first time in nearly two years. Thousands of sick and wounded people are hoping to seek medical treatment abroad but Israel says only 50 will be allowed to exit per day. We'll speak to a Palestinian whose relative are in desperate need of evacuation.

(Photo: A 3D-printed miniature model of Elon Musk and the X logo are seen in this illustration taken January 23, 2025; Credit: Dado Ruvic/Reuters)


TUE 07:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn87pxt)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 07:06 Newsday (w172zsq2y3p62yd)
SpaceX and XAI will create the world's largest private company

The world's richest man, Musk has been streamlining his businesses ahead of a potential stock market listing for SpaceX, in which he is the largest shareholder.

Bill Clinton -- the former US president -- and his wife Hillary have agreed to testify before a Congressional investigation into the late sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein. We'll speak to someone who says she was one of Epstein's victims . she says she is not happy with the Department of Justice.

(Photo: Tesla CEO Elon Musk attends the Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum, in Riyadh; Credit: Hammad I Mohammed/Reuters)


TUE 08:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn87tny)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 08:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct6xyw)
Family Friendly Cities

Cities are growing and developing at a faster rate than at any time in history. More than half the world’s population now live in cities. But cities don’t always offer the best opportunities for those living within them. They can be polluted, congested and often don’t have enough green spaces or playgrounds.

We find out about two cities trying to change that. The mayor of Addis Ababa in Ethiopia say she wants her city to be the best in Africa to raise a child and be a mother. We find out what she’s trying to do.

And in the Colombian capital, Bogota, we’ll visit the city’s ‘Care Blocks’ where people are given the opportunity to learn new skills - or just relax - while their children or dependents are looked after.

People Fixing The World from the BBC is about brilliant solutions to the world's problems. We release a new edition every Tuesday. We'd love you to let us know what you think and to hear about your own solutions. You can contact us on WhatsApp by messaging +44 8000 321721 or email peoplefixingtheworld@bbc.co.uk. And please leave us a review on your chosen podcast provider.

Presenter: Myra Anubi
Producer: Claire Bowes
Colombia reporter: Laura Ubate
Editor: Jon Bithrey
Sound mix: Andrew Mills

(Image: Caregivers and children in Bogota, Colombia, learn to ride bikes, Laura Ubate/BBC)


TUE 08:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxwcvy5yb)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct6s7y)
Gates Foundation CEO on cuts to global aid

As governments cut back on how much they spend on global aid, the head of the Gates Foundation Mark Suzman speaks exclusively to Business Daily about how the world’s poorest are being affected.

He tells us world governments “should be embarrassed” that the Foundation has overtaken them to become the largest financial backer of the WHO.

When governments reduce their air spend, the organisation inevitably becomes more prominent. But is there too much reliance on the Gates Foundation globally for an institution with little democratic accountability? And are its priorities the right ones?

If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Sam Fenwick
Producer: Matt Lines

Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, why bond markets are so powerful, China's property bubble, and Gen Z's experience of the current job market.

We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include the CEO of Google Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and billionaire founder Judy Faulkner of Epic Systems, one of the world's largest medical record software providers.

(Photo: Gates Foundation CEO Mark Suzman speaking at an event in New York City. Credit: Getty Images)


TUE 08:50 Witness History (w3ct74nz)
Cuba's Mariel boatlift

In April 1980, thousands of Cubans tried to escape the country by claiming asylum at the Peruvian embassy in Havana.

In response, Cuban President Fidel Castro opened the port of Mariel to anyone who wanted to leave, including criminals. From April until October more than 100,000 Cubans left for the US. Mirta Ojito was one of them. She spoke to Simon Watts in 2011.

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: Cuban refugees in 1980. Credit: Bettmann/Contributor via Getty Images)


TUE 09:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn87yf2)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 09:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlkkvp7bfg)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxwcvy9pg)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 09:32 Assignment (w3ct6rcv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 02:32 today]


TUE 10:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn88256)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 10:06 The Arts Hour (w3ct6zvk)
[Repeat of broadcast at 20:06 on Saturday]


TUE 11:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn885xb)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlkkvp7kxq)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxwcvyk5q)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct71d7)
How China beat the US on green energy

President Trump has withdrawn the US from the Paris climate agreement for the second time and also announced plans to leave the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. In his first year back in office, Trump has rolled back restrictions on oil, gas and coal – and has urged other countries to do the same.
China, meanwhile, has spent the past decade consolidating its expansion into clean energy technologies, even as it remains the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gasses.
In today’s episode, BBC climate editor Justin Rowlatt explains how the growing energy rivalry between the world's biggest superpowers will shape the future of geopolitics and have profound consequences for the planet’s ability to cut carbon emissions.

Producers: Aron Keller and Hannah Moore
Mix: Travis Evans
Executive producers: James Shield and Bridget Harney
Senior news editor: China Collins

(Photo: A wind turbine and solar panels in Yancheng, China. Credit: Alex Plavesvski/ EPA)


TUE 12:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn889ng)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 12:06 Outlook (w3ct6x5m)
Being Skepta’s Mum: Raising a rap icon

Ify Adenuga is parent to a musical powerhouse. Her son Skepta is a seminal figure in British culture, helping to propel grime into the mainstream. Ify has always been supportive of her son’s music career, nurturing a creative environment for all her children to thrive – a direct contrast to her own challenging childhood in Nigeria. Ify was a young girl when the Biafran War began in 1967, as government forces fought attempts by the Igbo people in the southeast of Nigeria to claim an independent Biafran state. As the conflict spread, Ify’s Igbo family had to flee their home in Lagos with nothing. They arrived in a remote village with no electricity or food. Ify remembers foraging for lizards, crickets and snakes to survive. Over a million people would die in the war, mostly from famine, including several of Ify’s own relatives. After the war, Ify managed to escape to the traditional life her strict parents had mapped out for her and moved to London. In the UK, she met the love of her life, Joe, and had four children. Living on a housing estate, Ify and Joe rejected the harsh parenting style they had each endured for a more a supportive approach and encouraged their children to be inventive. When their son Joe Jr began making music and experimenting with grime, a genre of music that was emerging from the electronic dance scene, their home became a makeshift studio with Joe Sr even providing technical computer support. Meanwhile Ify started driving Joe Jr to warehouses and venues across north London to collaborate with other young grime artists. Now, Joe Jr is known to the world as Skepta, an award-winning grime MC, rapper, and producer who collaborates with huge international names. Ify has a memoir out now called Endless Fortune.

Nikki is a kindergarten teacher in the US. When her dad Bobby died unexpectedly, she inherited his vast record collection. To process her grief, she started listening and was so amazed by what she found, that she began sharing her dad's eclectic taste on social media, on an account called Dad's Vinyl Stash. Within days, it had amassed thousands of followers, allowing Nikki to have a conversation with a growing online audience whilst digging through her fathers passion, song by song.

The late Domenic DiBernardo had hundreds of gramophones in his barn in Canada. He began collecting after being inspired by his father, who built his own gramophone while he was a prisoner of war during World War Two. Reporter Michelle Macklem went to meet Domenic in 2017.

Presenter: Mobeen Azhar
Producers: Rachel Oakes, Zoe Gelber, Saskia Collette

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

(Photo: A collage of two photos of Ify Adenuga with her son Skepta. On the left, a close up of Ify smiling at the camera with Skepta as a toddler. On the right, a more recent picture of Ify sitting with Skepta. Credit: Ify Adenuga)


TUE 12:50 Witness History (w3ct74nz)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


TUE 13:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn88fdl)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 13:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlkkvp7tdz)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 13:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxwcvysnz)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 13:32 In the Studio (w3ct6vvp)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


TUE 14:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn88k4q)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 14:06 Newshour (w172zsskmksdpqb)
The stain of Epstein: Now the Clintons say they will testify

We hear from a former senior adviser to President Bill Clinton, Sidney Blumenthal and also from one of the survivors of sexual assault by Jeffrey Epstein, Lisa Phillips who was a young model at the time.
 
Also on the programme: China bans hidden car door handles, and the heroic Australian teenager who swam miles to save his family.
 
(Photo: Former US President Bill Clinton and former US. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrive for Donald Trump's inauguration Credit: Shawn Thew/Reuters)


TUE 15:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn88nwv)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 15:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct6xyw)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


TUE 15:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxwcvz157)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 15:32 Business Daily (w3ct6s7y)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:32 today]


TUE 15:50 World Business Express (w3ct888s)
X offices raided in France

French prosecutors raided Elon Musk’s X offices in Paris as part of a cybercrime investigation into alleged illegal data extraction and possible links to child pornography.

Also, US and India reach trade deal to slash US tariffs on the nation's goods to 18% from 50%.

And the European Union has told the BBC it was unacceptable for the US to threaten trade tariffs during its row over the future of Greenland.

Presenter: Leanna Byrne
Producer: David Cann
Editor: Justin Bones


TUE 16:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn88smz)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 16:06 Outside Source (w1730687vnnbnry)
Epstein files latest

As the former US President Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary Clinton, the former Secretary of State, agreed to testify in the congressional investigation into late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, we take a look at how the BBC is covering the story.

The son of Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit has pleaded not guilty to four counts of rape at the beginning of his trial in Oslo. Our reporter there explains more.

And as countries around the world consider social media or phone bans in schools, we speak to teachers.

OS presenter: Rahul Tandon

(Photo: Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein are seen in this image released by the Department of Justice in Washington, DC. on 19 December, 2025 as part of its investigations into the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Credit: US Justice Department/Reuters)


TUE 17:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn88xd3)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 17:06 Outside Source (w1730687vnnbsj2)
Colombia's Petro meets Trump at White House

The Colombian President Gustavo Petro is in Washington for a high-stakes trip to meet US President Donald Trump, the first in-person meeting between the two after months of escalating tensions and angry rhetoric. We get the latest and speak to our Senior International Correspondent Orla Guerin who has been to Colombia to look at the war on drugs.

The 13-year-old Australian boy who swam for hours to get help for his family after they were swept out to sea has told the BBC "I didn't think I was a hero - I just did what I did". We hear the story.

And as countries around the world consider social media or phone bans in schools, we speak to teachers.

OS presenter: Rahul Tandon.

(Photo: A screen shows Colombian President Gustavo Petro and U.S. President Donald Trump shaking hands, as people attend a rally, called by the Colombian government, in support of Petro during his ongoing visit to the U.S., at Plaza Bolivar in Bogota, Colombia, February 3, 2026. Credit: Reuters/Nathalia Angarita)


TUE 18:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn89147)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 18:06 Outlook (w3ct6x5m)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 today]


TUE 18:50 Witness History (w3ct74nz)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


TUE 19:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn894wc)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlkkvp8jwr)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxwcvzj4r)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct6zbs)
2026/02/03 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 (w172zwx3fn898mh)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 20:06 Assignment (w3ct6rcv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 02:32 today]


TUE 20:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxwcvzmww)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 20:32 Tech Life (w3ct6zq2)
Driverless cars in the fast lane

Autonomous taxis are already part of everyday life in some cities. What will it be like when self-driving car tech gets up to full speed ? And we find out how scientists are using quantum sensing technology to peer inside soldiers' brains on the firing range.

Presenter: Chris Vallance
Producer: Tom Quinn

(Image: A Zoox robotaxi containing passengers is stationary on a road. The skyscrapers of San Francisco are in the background. Credit: Zoox, Inc.)


TUE 21:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn89dcm)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 21:06 Newshour (w172zsskmksfjy7)
Trump and Colombia's Petro hold talks

After trading insults on social media, President Trump and Colombia's President Petro meet for the first time today, at the White House in Washington. We also report from Colombia, where our correspondent has been out with the anti-narcotics police, known as the Jungle Commandos.

Also in the programme: Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the second son of Libya's former leader, Muammar Gaddafi, is reported to have been killed at his home in Zintan - we hear from a journalist who met him; as Sudan's army claims to have re-taken another besieged city, Jan Egeland of the Norwegian Refugee Council describes a “forgotten horrific conflict” and a “starvation crisis beyond belief”; plus the Australian scientist who helped invent the cochlear implant which now allows hundreds of thousands to hear – and who has just won a prize for his lifetime’s work.

(IMAGE: U.S. President Donald Trump and his Colombian counterpart Gustavo Petro meet at the Oval Office at the White House, in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 3, 2026 / CREDIT: Colombia Presidency/Handout via REUTERS)


TUE 22:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn89j3r)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 22:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlkkvp8x44)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxwcvzwd4)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 22:32 World Business Report (w3ct76cc)
Disney appoints a new CEO

There’s a major shift at the top of the Walt Disney Company, as one of entertainment’s most iconic brands welcomes a new leader. Ed Butler examines who Josh D’Amaro is, why he’s been chosen, and what his appointment reveals about the wider state of the industry.

Plus, how high street giant Walmart grew into a trillion dollar business.

And the reasons behind strike action by port workers in Bangladesh.

(Photo: Josh D'Amaro, Disney Experiences Chairman, who was named next CEO of The Walt Disney Company, poses for a picture in this undated handout image, obtained by Reuters on February 3, 2026. Credit: REUTERS)


TUE 23:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn89mvw)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 23:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct6xyw)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


TUE 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxwcw0048)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 23:32 In the Studio (w3ct6vvp)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]

WEDNESDAY 04 FEBRUARY 2026

WED 00:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn89rm0)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 00:06 The Arts Hour (w3ct6zvk)
[Repeat of broadcast at 20:06 on Saturday]


WED 01:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn89wc4)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 01:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlkkvp98cj)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 01:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxwcw07mj)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 01:32 The Global Story (w3ct71d7)
[Repeat of broadcast at 11:32 on Tuesday]


WED 02:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8b038)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlkkvp9d3n)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxwcw0ccn)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 02:32 The Climate Question (w3ct7035)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:06 on Sunday]


WED 03:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8b3vd)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 03:06 Outlook (w3ct6x5m)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Tuesday]


WED 03:50 Witness History (w3ct74nz)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 on Tuesday]


WED 04:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8b7lj)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 04:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlkkvp9mlx)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxwcw0lvx)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 04:32 The Bomb (w3ct8vc7)
Kennedy and Khrushchev

10. Fallout

Can Khrushchev and Kennedy stop a spiral into nuclear devastation? Khrushchev realises he has lost control of the crisis, as an American plane is shot down over Cuba. With the Americans preparing for war, can the two leaders communicate quickly enough to avoid it? Nina Khrushcheva and Max Kennedy, relatives of the superpower leaders, reflect on what might have been, in this extraordinary chapter in 20th Century history.


WED 05:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8bcbn)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 05:06 Newsday (w172zsq2y3p8rc7)
Son of Libya's late dictator Gaddafi killed

Saif al- Islam Gaddafi, the second son of the late Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi, is reported to have been assassinated in Western Libya. His office said he was killed by four unidentified gunmen who broke into his home in Zintan.

The US Department of Justice has removed thousands of documents related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein from its website, after complaints by victims that their identities had been compromised.

President Trump and the Colombian leader Gustavo Petro have smoothed over their differences in a meeting at the White House, after months of tension and social media insults. The talks focussed on combating drug production in Colombia which is the largest producer of cocaine in the world. We report on Colombia's anti-narcotics police, on the frontline of their war on drugs.

Presenters: James Copnall and Anne Soy

(Photo: Former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi"s son, Saif al-Islam. Credit: Chris Helgren/Reuters).


WED 06:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8bh2s)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 06:06 Newsday (w172zsq2y3p8w3c)
Ukraine and Russia peace talks to resume

Ukraine and Russia are to resume peace talks in Abu Dhabi, under the auspices of the US. Yesterday, President Zelensky said Russian air-strikes on the Ukrainian energy network showed Moscow was choosing terror over diplomacy. We get a view from Norway's Foreign Minister.

The US president has met his Colombian counterpart Gustavo Petro in Washington. They have seemingly de-escalated tensions in a meeting at the White House. The encounter followed months of mutual insults on social media and threats of military action. Washington had previously accused the Colombian President of not doing enough to combat cocaine production. We speak to somebody from President Petro's party.

And we speak to Kenyan athlete Faith Kipyegon who is building a maternity unit in her hometown of Keringet.

Presenters: James Copnall and Anne Soy.

(Photo: An emergency service truck stands next to an apartment building, hit by Russian drone strikes in the town of Bilohorodka, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in the Kyiv region. Credit: Alina Smutko/Reuters).


WED 07:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8bltx)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 07:06 Newsday (w172zsq2y3p8zvh)
Ukraine Russia peace talks

Ukraine and Russia are to resume peace talks in Abu Dhabi today, under the auspices of the United States. President Zelensky has said Russian air-strikes on Ukraine showed Moscow was choosing terror over diplomacy. We get the view of the Norwegian foreign minister.

Seif al Islam Gaddafi - the son of the late Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi - has been killed in Western Libya.

And thousands of documents related to the late convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epsteine, have been removed from official websites. It follows complaints by victims that their identities had been compromised. But what are we learning from the millions of new files? We speak to a group of citizen journalists trying to make sense of it all.

Presenters: James Copnall and Anne Soy.

(Photo:Ukrainian rescuers work at the site of a drone strike on a residential building in Kharkiv, northeastern Ukraine. Credit: Sergey Kozlov/EPA


WED 08:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8bql1)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 08:06 The Interview (w3ct7x7p)
Julie Inman Grant, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner: Keep kids away from social media until they are ready

Katy Watson speaks to Julie Inman Grant, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner about the country’s social media ban for under 16s: “To keep kids away until they're ready, I think that is the monumental circuit breaker move that we need to move to,” she says.

Brought up in Seattle, North America Julie has spent her career in the technology sector working for Microsoft, Twitter and Adobe in public policy and safety before moving into government.

She moved to Australia more than 25 years ago and from 2017 Julie has been working on online safety. In her role as commissioner she has become the target of free speech absolutists like Elon Musk, wh have accused of her trying to censor the internet.

No stranger to controversy and abuse, she’s now the public face of Australia’s landmark social media ban for children under 16 which came into force in December.

Now countries around the world are considering similar bans as cases of online addiction, self harm and abuse are reportedly on the rise.

The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC, including episodes with Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations and Taiwan’s cyber ambassador Audrey Tang. You can listen on the BBC World Service on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 0800 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out three times a week on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts.

Presenter: Katy Watson
Producer: Dan Soekov, Clare Williamson, Farhana Haider
Editor: Justine Lang

Get in touch with us on email TheInterview@bbc.co.uk and use the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.

(Image: Julie Inman Grant Credit: Reuters)


WED 08:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxwcw12vf)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct6sdg)
Spain's economic case for more migration

The Spanish government has announced plans to legalise the status of half a million undocumented migrants. Many arrive with student or tourist visas but overstay and start working on the black market.

Migration is a polarising issue in western Europe, so why is Spain keen to hurry up the process of regularisation? One reason is that Spain’s economy has been outstripping its European Union partners. In 2024 the economy grew by 3.5% but in sectors that struggle to recruit enough workers, so Spain wants its migrant population to work in a legal way to keep its economic momentum going.

We meet some of the people the Spanish government wants to give legal status to and speak to organisations that are helping them to work legally.

If you'd like to get in touch with the team, you can send us an email to businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Ashish Sharma

Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, why bond markets are so powerful, China's property bubble, and Gen Z's experience of the current job market.

We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include the CEO of Google Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and billionaire founder Judy Faulkner of Epic Systems, one of the world's largest medical record software providers.

(Photo: View of Madrid city skyline from a sky bar terrace where people are gathered. Credit: Getty Images)


WED 08:50 Witness History (w3ct74r7)
Jimmy Carter visits Cuba

In May 2002, former US President Jimmy Carter paid a controversial visit to Cuba, which had been subject to a US trade embargo for more than 40 years.

The trip culminated in a speech, broadcast live on Cuban radio and television, in which Carter called for the US to lift economic sanctions, while he encouraged President Fidel Castro to embrace democracy and uphold Cubans' civil liberties.

Jennifer McCoy accompanied Carter on the trip. She speaks to Ben Henderson.

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.

(Archive courtesy of The Carter Center)

(Photo: Jimmy Carter and Fidel Castro after a game of baseball. Credit: Jorge Rey via Getty Images)


WED 09:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8bvb5)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 09:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlkkvpb7bk)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxwcw16lk)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 09:32 The Climate Question (w3ct7035)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:06 on Sunday]


WED 10:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8bz29)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 10:06 The Documentary (w3ct8xs1)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Saturday]


WED 11:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8c2tf)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlkkvpbgtt)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxwcw1g2t)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct71gh)
What could happen if the US strikes Iran?

For three weeks, the world has been watching to see whether Donald Trump will order military strikes on Iran. The US military has been building up forces close to the Islamic Republic, including an aircraft carrier and several warships which President Trump has been calling an “armada.”

Trump says he wants to do a deal with Iran, and the two sides appear to be talking. White House special envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to meet with the Iranian Foreign Minister on Friday in Istanbul. But Trump has threatened that if no agreement is reached, he’s ready to order US forces into action.

Frank Gardner, the BBC’s security correspondent, lays out what could happen if talks fail, and Trump decides to strike Iran. He describes several scenarios that might have major consequences for the Iranian leadership, its people, the wider region and the world.

Producers: Viv Jones

Executive producer: Bridget Harney

Sound engineer: Travis Evans

Senior news editor: China Collins

(Photo: Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei. Credit: Iran’s Supreme Leader Office/EPA/Shutterstock)


WED 12:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8c6kk)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 12:06 Outlook (w3ct6xdj)
How searching for the missing, led me back to my roots

Haley Omeasoo grew up on the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana, but disconnected from her Native American culture. Her grandparents and great-grandparents had been forced away to school and were made to give up their traditional beliefs, practices and language. Like a lot of their generations, they came back home traumatised. The practice left a legacy of substance abuse, violence and mental health issues and Haley grew up with the consequences of that. Another feature of the reservation is the disproportionately high number of people, especially women and girls, who go missing. And it was this that led Haley into her career. She trained as a forensic anthropologist, specialising in identifying human remains and causes of death. She wanted to use her expert knowledge to set up a DNA database for communities in the area, to help identify and repatriate bodies, but the idea was met with fury from some of the local elders. The search for a solution led Haley to reconnect with her lost roots and traditions. She now works with families and the police, and patrols the reservation with a team of volunteers searching for missing and murdered people.

After giving birth Eunju O was exhausted and feeling depressed. Previously a keen walker, she began hiking in the mountains carrying her newborn and started sharing her experience on social media. Her posts resonated with other mothers, who joined in, and eventually the Baby Hiking Club was born. Since its founding in 2024, the club has grown to more than 2,000 members. Our reporter Yujin Choi joined the mothers and babies on a hike to discuss how the club has helped its members both physically and mentally.

Presenter: Jo Fidgen
Producers: Rachel Oakes & Julian Siddle

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

(Photos: Haley in traditional regalia with her sister in law / as a girl in her jingle dress. Credit: Haley Omeasoo)


WED 12:50 Witness History (w3ct74r7)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


WED 13:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8cb9p)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 13:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlkkvpbqb2)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 13:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxwcw1pl2)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 13:32 The Bomb (w3ct8vc7)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


WED 14:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8cg1t)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 14:06 Newshour (w172zsskmkshlmf)
Ukraine and Russia meet for fresh talks

Ukraine and Russia are due to hold two more days of peace talks in Abu Dhabi, which have been co-ordinated by the United States. Also on the programme, the war surgeon recently returned from Myanmar's civil war; and, the 66-year old man who fought off a shark.

(Photo: World Central Kitchen staff hand out free soup in a neighbourhood that experiences electricity and heating outages following recent Russian attacks on Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure during subzero temperatures in Kyiv, Ukraine February 3, 2026. REUTERS/Thomas Peter)


WED 15:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8cksy)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 15:06 The Interview (w3ct7x7p)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


WED 15:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxwcw1y2b)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 15:32 Business Daily (w3ct6sdg)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:32 today]


WED 15:50 World Business Express (w3ct88bv)
Wegovy maker, Novo Nordisk, warns of price squeeze

The maker of Ozempic says tougher competition from generics in India and China will hit profits this year. Leanna Byrne speaks to its chief financial officer.

Plus, Spain moves closer to banning social media for under-16s.

And the United States renews a trade deal giving 32 African countries duty-free access to its market.


WED 16:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8cpk2)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 16:06 Outside Source (w1730687vnnfkp1)
Fallout continues from release of Epstein files

The British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has accused the man he made ambassador to the United States of lying repeatedly about the extent of his relationship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Our former North America correspondent explains the fallout from the Epstein files in the UK and around the world.

We also speak to BBC Verify about new details of Jeffrey Epstein's post-mortem released in the latest files.

A first day of talks between Ukraine, Russia and the United States has ended, with delegations scheduled to hold further discussions on Thursday. We speak to volunteers and aid workers on the ground in Ukraine who are helping people struggling with no electricity or power in the freezing cold.

The BBC World Service has launched a temporary emergency lifeline radio programme for Iran in response to the ongoing turmoil in the country and the unprecedented crackdown on protests. We visit the team to find out what they have been working on today.

Presenter: James Reynolds.

(Photo: Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell are seen in this image released by the Department of Justice in Washington, DC, US, on 19 December, 2025. Credit: Reuters)


WED 17:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8ct96)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 17:06 Outside Source (w1730687vnnfpf5)
US, Ukraine and Russia discuss peace plan

A first day of talks between Ukraine, Russia and the United States has ended, with delegations scheduled to hold further discussions on Thursday. Our colleagues from BBC Russian and BBC News Ukrainian join to give the latest. Meanwhile, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky says more than 200 repair crews are working to restore power in Kyiv following widespread deadly Russian attacks targeting the country's energy sector. We speak to volunteers and aid workers on the ground in Ukraine who are helping people struggling with no electricity or power in the freezing cold.

The Trump administration is withdrawing 700 federal agents from its immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota. We speak to our correspondent.

Gunmen in central Nigeria are reported to have killed more than 160 in a remote village in Kwara state. We speak to our report in Lagos.

Saudi Arabia has announced plans to issue passports to the Kingdom's millions of camels, to help better manage the country's prized herds. Our newsroom reporter has more details.


Presenter: James Reynolds.



(Photo: Jared Kushner, United States Special Envoy, Steve Witkoff, and other members of the U.S. delegation attend the second round of trilateral talks between the U.S., Russia and Ukraine, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, February 4, 2026. Credit: UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs/REUTERS)


WED 18:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8cy1b)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 18:06 Outlook (w3ct6xdj)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 today]


WED 18:50 Witness History (w3ct74r7)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


WED 19:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8d1sg)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlkkvpcfsv)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxwcw2f1v)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct6zf1)
2026/02/04 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 (w172zwx3fn8d5jl)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 20:06 The Climate Question (w3ct7035)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:06 on Sunday]


WED 20:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxwcw2jsz)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 20:32 Health Check (w3ct6vkn)
Why do some people hoard?

Many of us can empathise with that feeling of keeping stuff for years and years. We might keep treasured objects with real sentimental value, or we might have items for a long time - and yet we can't really explain why. For those of us who don’t like getting rid of our belongings, life can feel very full of stuff. But when does a tendency to hold on to things become more worrying? It can be difficult to put a figure on just how many people have what's known as hoarding disorder. So what causes this complex and little discussed issue – and is it more than just a problem of too much stuff? Claudia visits a woman who describes how hoarding has taken over her life to the extent that she doesn’t let anyone into her home. We also meet her psychologist to understand what underpins hoarding disorder and how it’s treated.

And joining us in the studio is Catherine Loveday, Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Westminster to look at whether our state of mind when we get vaccinated affects how well the vaccine works. They also discuss why the menopause might be bad for the brain whereas grandparenting might be good for the brain.

Presenter: Claudia Hammond
Producer: Jonathan Blackwell & Gerry Holt


WED 21:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8d98q)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 21:06 Newshour (w172zsskmksjfvb)
Ukraine describes first day of talks with Russia as 'substantive'

Ukrainian representatives at the talks with Russia on a possible end of the war have described the first day of negotiations as "substantive and productive". Newshour hears from injured Ukrainian soldiers and gauges public opinion inside the country.

Also in the programme: the New START nuclear treaty expires; and iguanas on the menu in Miami.

(Picture: An elderly woman pulls a sled with her belongings during the distribution of humanitarian aid brought by volunteers to a church amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict, near the town of Popasna (Popasnaya) in the Luhansk region, a Russian-controlled area of Ukraine, February 4, 2026. Credit: Reuters)


WED 22:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8df0v)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 22:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlkkvpct17)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxwcw2s97)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 22:32 World Business Report (w3ct76k1)
US hosts critical minerals landmark summit

Ed Butler finds out why the United States is ramping up efforts to secure supplies of critical minerals, especially those essential for electrical vehicles, semiconductors and defence systems. Plus, what's the outlook for weight-loss jabs from Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly? And, what Washington wants as it renews the African Growth and Opportunity Act.

(Picture: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio holds a press conference during the Critical Minerals Ministerial at the State Department in Washington D.C., U.S., February 4, 2026. Credit: REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst)


WED 23:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8djrz)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 23:06 The Interview (w3ct7x7p)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


WED 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxwcw2x1c)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 23:32 The Bomb (w3ct8vc7)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]

THURSDAY 05 FEBRUARY 2026

THU 00:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8dnj3)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 00:06 The Documentary (w3ct8xs1)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Saturday]


THU 01:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8ds87)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 01:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlkkvpd58m)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 01:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxwcw34jm)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 01:32 The Global Story (w3ct71gh)
[Repeat of broadcast at 11:32 on Wednesday]


THU 02:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8dx0c)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlkkvpd90r)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxwcw388r)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 02:32 The Documentary (w3ct8yw9)
Game of clones

In Argentina, cloning polo horses is transforming the sport. There are big companies, big profits and big ambitions. Against the backdrop of the Argentine Open, (the crown jewel of the Polo season,) presenter Marnie Chesterton talks to scientists and key figures in this tale of how cloning conquered Polo, and where the genetic interventions are heading.

(Photo: Before the start of the Triple Crown match, teams present their cloned horses during a ceremony dedicated to Cuartetera, the most important mare in the history of polo, 18 November, 2023. Credit: Sebastián López Brach/The Washington Post/Getty Images)


THU 03:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8f0rh)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 03:06 Outlook (w3ct6xdj)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Wednesday]


THU 03:50 Witness History (w3ct74r7)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 on Wednesday]


THU 04:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8f4hm)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 04:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlkkvpdjj0)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxwcw3hs0)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 04:32 The Food Chain (w3ct70zs)
Can you learn to love the foods you hate?

Most of us have foods we refuse to eat - think coriander, or maybe olives. But where do those strong dislikes come from, and is it possible to change them?

In this episode of The Food Chain, Ruth Alexander sets out to find out whether you really can learn to love the foods you hate. From first encounters that go wrong to memories that linger, she explores why food preferences can feel so fixed, and whether anything might help shift them.

Ruth speaks to neuroscientist Dr Dana Small, professor and Canada Excellence Research Chair at McGill University, about what’s happening in the brain and body when we eat, and how unconscious reward signals shape what we come to like or avoid.

She also hears from psychologist Dr Rachel Herz, an expert on the science of smell and author of Why We Eat What We Eat, about the powerful role odour, memory and emotion play in food dislike, often before we’re even aware of it.

And registered dietitian Clare Thornton-Wood shares practical, low-pressure techniques used with both children and adults to build tolerance - and sometimes even enjoyment - for foods they can’t stand.

Producer: Izzy Greenfield
Sound engineer: Annie Gardiner
Picture: A woman holding a fork with a piece of broccoli in front of her, looking unsure (credit: Getty)


THU 05:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8f87r)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 05:06 Newsday (w172zsq2y3pcn8b)
US-Russia nuclear weapons treaty has expired

The New START treaty, the last remaining nuclear arms control agreement between the United States and Russia, has expired. Signed in 2010, the treaty limits how many strategic nuclear warheads and long range missiles each side can deploy and allows for inspections to verify compliance. Its lapse removes the final legal cap on the world’s two largest nuclear arsenals at a time of heightened tensions over Ukraine and growing global instability. We speak to Nina Khrushcheva, the great grandaughter of the Soviet Leader Nikita Khrushchev.

We speak to Gloria Allred, one of America's most high-profile lawyers, who is representing some of the women who say they were sexually abused by Jeffrey Epstein.

And we continue in our coverage of the death of the 26-year-old Nigerian musician, Ifunanya Nwangene. She tragically died over the weekend after being bitten by a snake at her home in Abuja. We hear from her father Christopher Nwangene.

Presenters: James Copnall and Anne Soy.

(Photo: A still image taken from a handout video made available by the Russian Defence Ministry press service shows a Yars intercontinental ballistic missile being launched as part of nuclear deterrence forces drills from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, in Arkhangelsk Oblast, northwestern Russia. Credit:
Russian Defence Ministry Press Service Handout/via EPA).


THU 06:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8fczw)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 06:06 Newsday (w172zsq2y3pcs0g)
US-Russia nuclear arms treaty expires

It's the first time in more than half a century the two superpowers are without binding restrictions on their arsenals. The New START treaty limited each side to about fifteen hundred long-range warheads. Its lapse removes the final legal cap on the world’s two largest nuclear arsenals at a time of heightened tensions over Ukraine and growing global instability.

US President Donald Trump has said immigration agents could use a "softer touch" as his administration begins pulling about a quarter of its force out of Minnesota, where two American citizens died last month in confrontations with federal officers. The killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal agents caused heightened tensions in Minnesota and across the United States, raising questions about the conduct of the Administration's immigration policy. We speak to Ben Cohen, co-founder of the ice cream brand Ben & Jerry. The brand has created a new flavour in honour of Ms Good and Mr Pretti.

And our reporter looks at the state of maternity care in Gaza and the dangers faced by mothers and their new born in the territory.

Presenters: James Copnall and Anne Soy.

(Photo: A Yars intercontinental ballistic missile launches from the Plesetsk military launchpad in northwestern Russia. Credit: Russian Defence Ministry Press Service via EPA/EFE).


THU 07:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8fhr0)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 07:06 Newsday (w172zsq2y3pcwrl)
US-Russia nuclear agreement expires

The last nuclear arms control agreement between the US and Russia has expired. We speak to Nina Kruscheva, the great grand daughter of a former Soviet leader.

The fallout continues after the release of millions of documents related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. We hear from Gloria Allred, a prominent lawyer who represents many of Epstein's victims. She tells us the brave survivors of abuse have been betrayed by the government and justice department in the United States.

And we continue our coverage of the death of the 26-year-old Nigerian musician, Ifunanya Nwangene. She tragically died over the weekend after being bitten by a snake at her home in Abuja. We hear from her father.

Presenters: James Copnall and Anne Soy.

(Photo: A still image taken from a handout video made available by the Russian Defence Ministry press service shows a Yars intercontinental ballistic missile being launched as part of nuclear deterrence forces drills. Credit: Russian Defence Ministry Press Service/EPA)


THU 08:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8fmh4)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 08:06 The Inquiry (w3ct723w)
What does the national election mean for the future of Bangladesh?

Bangladesh will hold a national election in February, after years of political turmoil and the ousting of long-time leader Sheikh Hasina. Her rule of more than a decade delivered strong economic growth but was also accompanied by tighter political control and repeated confrontations with protesters.

Sheikh Hasina’s party, the Awami League, has been banned. This has brought renewed focus on the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s leader Tarique Rahman, who is the son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia, as well as several emerging challengers.

Following years of unrest, the vote is seen as a test of whether Bangladesh can move towards political stability.

This week on The Inquiry, we’re asking: What does the national election mean for the future of Bangladesh?

Contributors:
Shaheen Mamun, Executive Director of the Jargoron Foundation, London, UK
Zia Chowdhury, journalist, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Rounaq Jahan, Distinguished Fellow at the Centre for Policy Dialogue, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Constantino Xavier, Senior Fellow at the Centre for Social and Economic Progress, New Delhi, India

Presenter: Tanya Beckett
Producer: Matt Toulson
Researcher: Evie Yabsley
Editor: Tom Bigwood
Technical Producer: Cameron Ward
Production Management Assistant: Liam Morrey

This programme has been updated since the original broadcast.

(Photo: A woman casting her ballot during the 2024 national election in Bangladesh. Credit: Ahmed Salahuddin/NurPhoto via Getty Images)


THU 08:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxwcw3zrj)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct6s3f)
Japan's economic crossroads

As Japanese people prepare to head to the polls, economic concerns are back at the centre of public life.

We explore how inflation, wages, demographics and geopolitics are shaping expectations, and whether the country can finally move beyond the "lost decades".

To get in touch with the team, send us an email to businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Rahul Tandon
Producer: David Cann


Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, why bond markets are so powerful, China's property bubble, and Gen Z's experience of the current job market.

We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include the CEO of Google Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and billionaire founder Judy Faulkner of Epic Systems, one of the world's largest medical record software providers.

(Picture: Office workers cross a road near Tokyo station in Tokyo, Japan, on the second of December 2025. Credit: Getty Images)


THU 08:50 Witness History (w3ct74kk)
Austria's wine scandal

In 1985, government scientists discovered anti-freeze in bottles of fine Austrian wine.

No one died or fell ill from drinking the poisoned wine, but the scandal nearly destroyed the country's wine-making industry.

In 2015, Susan Hulme spoke to Heidi Schroek, a young Austrian wine-maker at the time.

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: Vineyards in Sulztal, Austria. Credit: Franz Marc Frei/Getty)


THU 09:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8fr78)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 09:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlkkvpf47n)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxwcw43hn)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 09:32 The Documentary (w3ct8yw9)
[Repeat of broadcast at 02:32 today]


THU 10:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8fvzd)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 10:06 The Explanation (w3ct7ytb)
The Media Show: The Epstein files

The latest batch of documents linked to the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein has been released by the US Department of Justice. There are millions of files for journalists to go through, and coverage has focused on what they reveal and how responsibly they can be reported, particularly when powerful figures are named. Journalists Tina Brown and Jim Pickard talk about how the material is being handled and the pressures on newsrooms.

NASA has postponed its planned Artemis II mission to the Moon at the last minute after a technical issue during rehearsals. For space journalists, major launches are among the biggest stories of the year, but delays are common and difficult to plan for. BBC Science Editor Rebecca Morelle and astrophysicist Professor Chris Lintott reflect on the challenges of covering space missions when plans change.

This programme was edited on 05/02/2026.

Presenters: Katie Razzall and Ros Atkins
Producer: Lisa Jenkinson
Content Producer: Emily Channon
Production Coordinator: Ruth Waites
Technical Coordinator: Ozgur Cevik
Sound: Allyson Purcell-Davis


THU 10:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxwcw477s)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 10:32 Happy News (w3ct6tzk)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:32 on Sunday]


THU 11:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8fzqj)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlkkvpfcqx)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxwcw4bzx)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct719z)
Will Bad Bunny take on MAGA at the Super Bowl?

On Sunday, Bad Bunny will perform at the Super Bowl half time show to an audience of more than 100 million people across the world. But the NFL’s choice of the Puerto Rican star has proven controversial, because he has long been outspoken in his criticism of the US government, including most recently at the 2026 Grammy Awards, when he called for ICE agents to be removed from the streets.

In today’s episode, Puerto Rican cultural critic Carina del Valle Schorske, who profiled Bad Bunny for The New York Times Magazine, explains how the artist’s pride in his homeland is infused throughout his music, and considers how he might use the US’ biggest stage this weekend to challenge the president’s policies.

This episode was updated on 5 February 2026 for music rights reasons.

Producers: Hannah Moore and Xandra Ellin

Mix: Travis Evans

Senior news editor: China Collins

Photo: Bad Bunny poses on the red carpet during the 68th Annual Grammy Awards. Credit: Mario Anzuoni/Reuters


THU 12:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8g3gn)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 12:06 Outlook (w3ct6wyq)
Rescuing my twin, the famous artist we might never have known

Born in 1943, twins Joyce and Judith Scott shared a childhood of togetherness in rural Ohio. But at the age of seven, Judith was taken from their shared bed. Joyce woke up to a new world – where her beloved twin lived in an institution. This was because Judith had Down’s Syndrome and in 1950s America it was common for doctors to recommend sending children with disabilities away.

For the next three decades, Joyce’s life was punctured by grief and secrets. She moved away to California, and helped mothers who had babies with disabilities, while missing and dreaming about her twin. In her forties, Joyce resolved to rescue her sister from a life inside an institution, unaware that their joyous reunion would spark the emergence of Judith as a world-renowned artist.

Joyce Scott has written two books about her sister, Entwined: Sisters and Secrets in the Silent World of Artist Judith Scott, and Unbound: The Life and Art of Judith Scott. Judith's art can be seen in the permanent collection at New York’s Museum of Modern Art and Paris’s Pompidou Centre. This programme was first broadcast in July 2024.

Presenter: Helena Merriman
Producer: Sarah Kendal

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

(Photo: Sepia photo of twins Joyce and Judith Scott sitting at a table together as very young children in 1940s Ohio. Credit: Joyce Scott)


THU 12:50 Witness History (w3ct74kk)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


THU 13:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8g76s)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 13:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlkkvpfm75)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 13:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxwcw4lh5)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 13:32 The Food Chain (w3ct70zs)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


THU 14:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8gbyx)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 14:06 Newshour (w172zsskmkslhjj)
Britain's Prime Minister apologises to Epstein victims

Britain's Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has apologised to the victims of the sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, saying he is 'sorry for having believed' his former US ambassador Peter Mandelson. Emails released in the US suggest Mandelson forwarded market-sensitive information to Epstein. The prime minister accused Mandelson of lying during the vetting process, saying he gave the impression he 'barely knew' the disgraced financier.

Also in the programme: The second day of peace talks over the Russia-Ukraine war conclude with no sign of agreement; and a sketch of a lion by the Dutch grand master Rembrandt has sold at auction for $18 million.

(Picture: Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer speaking during a visit to East Sussex. Credit: Peter Nicholls/PA Wire)


THU 15:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8ggq1)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 15:06 The Inquiry (w3ct723w)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


THU 15:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxwcw4tzf)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 15:32 Business Daily (w3ct6s3f)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:32 today]


THU 15:50 World Business Express (w3ct88r7)
Is AI putting software at risk?

Almost $1 trillion has been knocked off the value of software and services companies as investors weigh whether artificial intelligence has been hit particularly hard, so we ask: what does that mean for the profession itself.

We also look at why interest rates in Europe and the UK are on hold

And why Kenya’s central bank has banned the use of banknotes in decorative bouquets.


THU 16:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8glg5)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 16:06 Outside Source (w1730687vnnjgl4)
Trilateral talks on Ukraine conclude

Special US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, have held talks with Russian and Ukrainian negotiators in the capital of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi, in an effort to try and thrash out the details of the US-proposed peace deal. We hear from Ukrainian MPs on what they believe are the realistic prospects for peace.

BBC Verify reporter joins us to discuss the circulation of unredacted images and videos containing nudity found in the Epstein files.

We also speak with two friends, one inside Gaza and one outside, about their hopes of being reunited as some people are now being allowed to cross the Rafah border.

The Winter Olympics begin with a brand‑new event on the programme this year - ski mountaineering. We speak to athletes who compete in it to find out what the sport is actually like.

Presenter: James Reynolds.

(Photo: Ukrainian rescuers work at the site of a drone strike on a residential building in Kharkiv, northeastern Ukraine, 03 February 2026, amid the Russian invasion. Credit: SERGEY KOZLOV/EPA/Shutterstock)


THU 17:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8gq69)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 17:06 Outside Source (w1730687vnnjlb8)
US anchor's mother still missing

US news anchor Savannah Guthrie has posted a video message tearfully pleading for the return of her abducted mother and seeking proof from her captors that the 84-year-old is still alive. We speak to local reporters covering the story.

Two days of talks between Ukraine, Russia and the United States aimed at ending Moscow's war in Ukraine have ended without a significant breakthrough. We'll hear from our correspondent who has been gauging the mood in Ukraine.

The United States and Russia have agreed to resume high-level military dialogue, four years after contact was broken off following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Our diplomatic correspondent explains.

The Winter Olympics begin with a brand‑new event on the programme this year, ski mountaineering. We speak to athletes who compete in it to find out what the sport’s actually like.

Presenter: James Reynolds.

(Photo: U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, accompanied by her siblings Annie and Camron, speaks in a video message, addressing anyone who might be holding her elderly mother, Nancy Guthrie,February 4, 2026. Credit: Savannah Guthrie via Instagram/Reuters)


THU 18:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8gtyf)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 18:06 Outlook (w3ct6wyq)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 today]


THU 18:50 Witness History (w3ct74kk)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


THU 19:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8gypk)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlkkvpgbpy)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxwcw59yy)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct6z8j)
2026/02/05 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 (w172zwx3fn8h2fp)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 20:06 The Documentary (w3ct8yw9)
[Repeat of broadcast at 02:32 today]


THU 20:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxwcw5fq2)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 20:32 BBC Inside Science (w3ct8txy)
Where do forever chemicals come from?

This week the UK Government decided it was worried enough about so called ‘forever chemicals’ to bring in it’s first ever plan to tackle them. Environment Minister Emma Hardy called PFAS "one of the most pressing chemical challenges of our time". Stephanie Metzger, policy adviser at the Royal Society of Chemistry talks us through where all these chemicals have come from, and Lucy Hart, researcher at Lancaster university, brings us new science on their sources.

Technology journalist Gareth Mitchell is in the studio with his take on this week’s brand new discoveries.

And as future winter Olympians ready themselves atop Italy’s snow-covered peaks, Victoria Gill hears how the chemical make up of ski wax can make or break a gold medal winning run. She hears from Jostein Vinjerui, manager of the British cross-country team, and Pat Sharples, Head Coach for GB Snowsports.

To discover more fascinating science content, head to bbc.co.uk, search for BBC Inside Science and follow the links to The Open University.

Presenter: Victoria Gill
Producer: Alex Mansfield, Katie Tomsett, Kate White and Clare Salisbury
Editor: Martin Smith
Production Co-ordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth


THU 21:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8h65t)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 21:06 Newshour (w172zsskmksmbrf)
US and Russia agree to re-establish dialogue between armed forces

The agreement would re-establish high level dialogue for the first time since President Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine. Also in the programme: cuts at the Washington Post; a rare Michelangelo is auctioned in New York; BBC Persian creates a 'face wall' of those who have died in the Iran protests; and the director of the multi-Oscar nominated Sentimental Value - Joachim Trier - talks to us about his new family drama.

(Photo: Members of the U.S. delegation attend the second round of trilateral talks between the U.S., Russia and Ukraine, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, February 4, 2026.UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs Handout via Reuters)


THU 22:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8h9xy)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 22:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlkkvpgpyb)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxwcw5p6b)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 22:32 World Business Report (w3ct75yy)
Could the tech bubble burst?

After a week of significant drops across many AI and tech-related stocks, we speak to Nobel Prize winner Daron Acemoglu, and economist Cary Leahey of Columbia University in New York, to examine whether the tech bubble could be set to burst.

With Nike under investigation by Donald Trump's administration over claims it has hidden evidence that the company is using its so-called diversity, equity and inclusion policies to discriminate against white workers, Ed Butler speaks to Stefan Padfield of the Free Enterprise Project.

Elsewhere, Beijing says Panama will pay 'a heavy price' for a court ruling against a Hong Kong port owner, and we look at how a growing trend has led to Kenya's central bank banning people from using bank notes to make floral-like bouquets and decorations.

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

(Picture: A sign marks Wall Street near the New York Stock Exchange in New York, NY, USA. Credit: Sarah Yenesel/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock.)


THU 23:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8hfp2)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 23:06 The Inquiry (w3ct723w)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


THU 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxwcw5syg)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 23:32 The Food Chain (w3ct70zs)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]

FRIDAY 06 FEBRUARY 2026

FRI 00:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8hkf6)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 00:06 The Explanation (w3ct7ytb)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:06 on Thursday]


FRI 00:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxwcw5xpl)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 00:32 Unspun World with John Simpson (w3ct78c6)
Is time running out for Iran’s supreme leader?

This week John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, looks at the dangers facing the Iranian clerical regime, explores whether peace talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine can succeed, and analyses who is actually governing Venezuela.

Producer: Kate Cornell
Executive Producer: Benedick Watt
Commissioning Editor: Vara Szajkowski


FRI 01:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8hp5b)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 01:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlkkvph25q)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 01:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxwcw61fq)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 01:32 The Global Story (w3ct719z)
[Repeat of broadcast at 11:32 on Thursday]


FRI 02:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8hsxg)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlkkvph5xv)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxwcw655v)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 02:32 Tech Life (w3ct6zq2)
[Repeat of broadcast at 20:32 on Tuesday]


FRI 03:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8hxnl)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 03:06 Outlook (w3ct6wyq)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Thursday]


FRI 03:50 Witness History (w3ct74kk)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 on Thursday]


FRI 04:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8j1dq)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 04:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlkkvphff3)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxwcw6dp3)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 04:32 Heart and Soul (w3ct6vq5)
From American Pastor to Whirling Dervish

Former Christian Minister Craig Fenter was in the midst of a deep spiritual void when he first picked up a book of Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi’s poetry in his local LA bookshop. The writings of Rumi, a 13th-century Persian poet, Islamic scholar, and Sufi mystic have long inspired people across faiths. And Rumi’s poetry on divine love and the soul’s journey toward God would captivate Craig, inspiring him to leave behind his Californian home, to begin a new life as a whirling dervish in Turkey.

The BBC’s Emily Wither travelled to meet Craig Fenter - now known as Ismail - in the Central Anatolian city of Konya. Konya is known as Rumi’s resting place and is now an important pilgrimage site for his followers. It is here where Ismail joined the Mevlevi order, became a disciple of Rumi and converted to Islam.

Ismail is now working on a new English translation of Rumi’s most famous work, the Masnavi-yi Maʿnavi, 25,000 verses of rhymed couplets in Persian. Ismail believes it is his calling to work on a modern translation of Rumi’s greatest work, for which he has the blessing of Rumi’s 22nd generation direct descendants.

[Photo Description: Whirling dervish Ismail Fenter stands in front of the Mevlana Museum and tomb site of 13th century Persian poet and Islamic scholar, Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi in Konya, Turkey. Photo Credit: Emily Wither]

Producer/presenter: Emily Wither
Series Producer: Rajeev Gupta
Editor: Chloe Walker
Production Coordinator: Mica Nepomuceno
Music: Ismail C Fenter


FRI 05:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8j54v)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 05:06 Newsday (w172zsq2y3pgk5f)
US and Iran talks set to begin in Oman

Senior US and Iranian officials are expected to meet in Oman later for direct talks amid a crisis that has raised fears of a military confrontation between the two countries.

The discussions come after a US military build-up in the Middle East in response to Iran's violent repression of nationwide anti-government protests.

The fallout continues after the release of millions of documents related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, we'll speak to one of the victims' lawyer to get her take on how this scandal has sent ripples across the global centres of power.

(Photo: Satellite imagery taken on February 1, 2026, shows a new roof over a previously destroyed building at Isfahan nuclear site, Iran; Credit; Reuters)


FRI 06:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8j8wz)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 06:06 Newsday (w172zsq2y3pgnxk)
US and Iran hold talks to avoid confrontation

Iran has said its willing to discuss the nuclear issue, but not additional demands to curtail its missile programme and support for militant groups as talks start in Oman.

The fallout continues after the release of millions of documents related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, we'll speak to our correspondent to look at how this scandal has sent ripples across the global centres of power.

The people of Thailand get ready to head to the polls on Sunday in an election that could see the progressives come on top again.

(Photo: Veiled Iranian women walk past an antiUS mural showing a negotiation table; Credit: Abedin Taherkenareh/EPA/Shutterstock)


FRI 07:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8jdn3)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 07:06 Newsday (w172zsq2y3pgsnp)
US and Iranian envoys meet to discuss Iran's nuclear programme

Senior US and Iranian officials are expected to meet in Oman later for direct talks amid a crisis that has raised fears of a military confrontation between the two countries.

The fallout continues after the release of millions of documents related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, we'll speak to one of the victims' lawyer to get her take on how this scandal has sent ripples across the global centres of power.

The Winter Olympic games Milano Cortina start in Italy today. We go live there to bring you the latest.

(Photo: Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is welcomed by an Omani official upon his arrival in Muscat, Oman; Credit: WANA/Reuters)


FRI 08:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8jjd7)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 08:06 The Interview (w3ct8c4d)
Henrique Capriles, Venezuelan opposition leader: What comes next for Venezuela?

“Most Venezuelans are thinking about the future: Will things improve? Will deep changes come? Will we reunite as a people with our history, dreams, and hopes?”

BBC correspondent Norberto Paredes speaks to Henrique Capriles, a Venezuelan opposition leader, about his vision for a new Venezuela.

In the aftermath of President Maduro’s capture by the United States, Henrique Capriles is one of the key political voices emerging - an alternative to the high-profile Maria Corina Machado, Nobel-prize winner and vocal supporter of Trump’s intervention.

Now it is time for Venezuela’s opposition to unite, he says, and bring democracy to the country.

Henrique Capriles narrowly lost out on the presidency in both 2012 and 2013, before being banned from standing for public office for many years. In 2025, he was elected to the National Assembly.

Thank you to the BBC Mundo team for its help in making this programme.

The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC, including episodes with Colombian President Gustavo Petro, the President of Ecuador Daniel Noboa and President Lula da Silva of Brazil. You can listen on the BBC World Service on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 0800 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out three times a week on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts.

Presenter: Norberto Paredes
Producers: Nathalia Passarinho and Lucy Sheppard
Editor: Justine Lang

Get in touch with us on email TheInterview@bbc.co.uk and use the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.

(Image: Henrique Capriles Credit: REUTERS/Marco Bello)


FRI 08:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxwcw6wnm)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct6rtd)
The ex-ballerina betting big on prediction markets

In our first edition of Meet the Founders, we meet Luana Lopes Lara, creator of Kalshi, a prediction markets startup that allows users to trade on the outcome of real-world events - from inflation and interest rates to elections and geopolitics.

Kalshi drew attention for showing Zohran Mamdani as a favourite in the NYC mayoral race, as prediction markets gain traction as political barometers. But the wider industry has also faced scrutiny: a trader on rival platform Polymarket reportedly made nearly half a million dollars betting on the capture of Venezuela’s former president Nicolás Maduro before it was announced.

The controversy around prediction markets has placed Lopes Lara and her company at the centre of a growing regulatory and ethical debate in the US. In this episode, the Brazilian founder explains how the discipline and resilience of ballet has shaped her approach to building a business, and why she believes markets can often forecast the future better than experts.

If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Sam Fenwick
Producer: Amber Mehmood
Sound mix: Toby James

Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, why bond markets are so powerful, China's property bubble, and Gen Z's experience of the current job market.

We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders - like Luana Lopes Lara - and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include the CEO of Google Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and billionaire founder Judy Faulkner of Epic Systems, one of the world's largest medical record software providers.

(Picture: Luana Lara Lopes, founder and Chief Operating Officer of Kalshi.)


FRI 08:50 Witness History (w3ct7454)
My dad created Mr Men and Little Miss

In 1971, advertising writer Roger Hargreaves's eight-year-old son Adam asked him an unusual question: 'What does a tickle look like?'

Inspired, Roger got out his marker pens and created an orange character with a round body, long stretchy arms and a blue bowler hat.

That character would become Mr Tickle, one of the first Mr Men books.

Adam Hargreaves tells Megan Jones how his late father's children's books became a worldwide success.

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: Roger Hargreaves with Mr Wrong. Credit: Gerrit Alan Fokkema/Fairfax Media via Getty Images)


FRI 09:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8jn4c)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 09:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlkkvpj14r)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxwcw70dr)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 09:32 BBC Inside Science (w3ct8txy)
[Repeat of broadcast at 20:32 on Thursday]


FRI 10:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8jrwh)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 10:06 Unexpected Elements (w3ct72xc)
Let the games begin

The Winter Olympics has the Unexpected Elements team looking into some of the incredible science behind the sports. First up, the tale of India’s lone luge pilot: how did using old train tracks as sled runners give him a competitive edge? Then, we look at the physics behind a cheating scandal that has rocked the ski jumping world. Scientific studies tell us exactly how much difference changing a single stitch in a costume can make.

Did you know there are different types of ice? Professor Christoph Salzmann has discovered three of them, and tells us what makes them unique. Plus dinosaurs, disease, and whether we laugh with an accent. All on this week’s Unexpected Elements.

Presenter: Marnie Chesterton, with Chhavi Sachdev and Tristan Ahtone
Producers: Margaret Sessa-Hawkins, with Lucy Davies, Imy Harper and Tim Dodd


FRI 11:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8jwmm)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlkkvpj8n0)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxwcw77x0)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct715g)
Could the Epstein scandal topple the British Prime Minister?

Warning: this episode contains themes of sexual abuse.

Following the release of the latest tranche of Epstein files, renewed scrutiny has fallen on the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s links to powerful figures in the United States. In the UK, attention has shifted to a related controversy that is now sending tremors through Westminster.

Newly surfaced email exchanges between Epstein and former UK ambassador to the US Peter Mandelson - also known as Britain’s “Prince of Darkness”, have raised questions about the nature of their relationship and its political ramifications, triggering a police investigation and threatening the position of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

George Parker, the Financial Times Political Editor and BBC Radio Presenter, has known the man in question for over three decades. He talks about the seismic implications the Epstein files are having on British politics.


Producers: Samantha Chantarasak, Valerio Esposito and Cat Farnsworth

Mix: Travis Evans

Senior news editor: China Collins

Photo: Peter Mandelson and Keir Starmer. Credit: Carl Court/PA Wire


FRI 12:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8k0cr)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 12:06 Outlook (w3ct6wj5)
Outlook Mixtape: The boyband edition

Willis Chimano is one of Kenya’s biggest pop stars. With the boyband Sauti Sol, he’s won a string of awards and even performed for President Barack Obama. But behind the success, Chimano had a secret: being gay in a country where gay sex is criminalised and people who identify as LGBT+ can experience violence and harassment. Since his childhood, Chimano had been hiding his sexuality but then in 2018 he was outed. Suddenly his career stood its toughest test as he was caught in a media frenzy and dealing with exposure that threatened to derail his entire life – and his relationship with his conservative family. But Chimano emerged from the storm as role model for LGBT+ people, becoming Kenya’s most famous openly gay singer.

Growing up in New York, Robert Leonard fell in love with soul and Motown harmony singing. When he arrived at Columbia University in 1968, he joined an a cappella group devoted to 1950s doo-wop, a nostalgic sound from his childhood that felt gentler than the turbulent moment he and his fellow students were living through. When the group's performances around campus became wildly popular, Robert’s older brother saw an opportunity. He decided to style them into a band – called Sha Na Na – complete with choreographed moves and ironic outfits, and soon they were performing in the coolest venues across New York City. Sha Na Na’s upbeat ’50s revival act, wildly out of step with the psychedelic and folk rock of the era, became an unlikely hit with young people angry and heartbroken by the Vietnam War. Jimi Hendrix was a fan, and helped land them a slot at the now legendary Woodstock festival, where Sha Na Na’s gold lamé-clad performance would become iconic.

In the late 80s, the British group Bros was one of the most successful pop acts in the world. Made up of lead singer Matt Goss, his twin brother Luke, and childhood friend Craig Logan, Bros quickly achieved multi-platinum selling albums and legions of adoring fans. But behind the scenes not everything was as it seemed. By 1992 the band had collapsed, and the relationship between the brothers never fully recovered. Matt told Mobeen Azhar in 2021 how the split affected his mental health, and how he eventually made his way back to music.

Presenter: Mobeen Azhar
Producer: Zoe Gelber

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

(Photo: A transparent 60-minute cassette tape on a white background with a white label with the words: The Outlook Mixtape. Credit: Getty Images)


FRI 12:50 Witness History (w3ct7454)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


FRI 13:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8k43w)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 13:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlkkvpjj48)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 13:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxwcw7hd8)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 13:32 Heart and Soul (w3ct6vq5)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


FRI 14:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8k7w0)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 14:06 Newshour (w172zsskmkspdfm)
Iranian and US negotiators meet in Oman

President Trump is seeking to curb Tehran's nuclear and missile programme; he has threatened to use military force if Tehran doesn't make big concessions.

Also in the programme: Venezuela's parliament takes the next step towards an amnesty for political prisoners; and how babies can anticipate rhythmic surprises in music composed by Johann Sebastian Bach.


(Photo: Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is welcomed by an Omani official upon his arrival in Muscat, Oman, on February 6, 2026. Credit: Iranian Foreign Ministry/WANA via REUTERS)


FRI 15:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8kcm4)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 15:06 The Interview (w3ct8c4d)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


FRI 15:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxwcw7qwj)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 15:32 Business Daily (w3ct6rtd)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:32 today]


FRI 15:50 World Business Express (w3ct88gz)
The key questions on tech sell off

We answer the basic questions you want answering about the AI-Induced sell off of tech stocks this week

You'll hear why one of the world's biggest car makers Stellantis has seen its value cut by a fifth

And as the Winter Olympics gets under way - we meet the owner of the company making the curling stones on a small Scottish island

Presenter: Leanna Byrne
Editor: Justin Bones


Get the latest money and work news delivered straight to your inbox to listen to each day by hitting subscribe now.


FRI 16:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8khc8)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 16:06 Outside Source (w1730687vnnmch7)
US and Iran have agreed to more negotiations

The Iranian foreign minister says the US and Iran have agreed to proceed with more negotiations after the resumption of talks in Oman. Abbas Araghchi described the meeting as a "good beginning". We speak to our Iran expert and to our Washington correspondent.

We bring details of a BBC investigation that has uncovered a network of hidden spy cameras in China, secretly filming people in hotel rooms without their consent.

We look back at what we learnt from the latest Epstein files that were released a week ago.

Presenter: James Reynolds.

(Photo: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visits Oman ahead of Iran - US talks, Muscat - 06 Feb 2026. Credit: Iranian Foreign Ministry/Handout/EPA)


FRI 17:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8km3d)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 17:06 Outside Source (w1730687vnnmh7c)
The Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics open

It's the opening day of the Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina in Italy, the most geographically spread‑out Games in Winter Olympic history. Athletes from more than 90 countries chase 116 gold medals across 16 sports, with new events like ski mountaineering making their Olympic debut. We speak to journalists about the main talking points so far.

The European Union has threatened to fine TikTok if it does not alter what it called the video sharing app's addictive design. Our tech reporter explains.

Moscow has accused Ukraine of responsibility for the attempted assassination of General Vladimir Alexeyev, the deputy head of Russian military intelligence. Our Russia expert gives more details.

The Wuthering Heights star Jacob Elordi has revealed how he practised a Northern accent for the role — we hear from dialect coaches on how they help actors master authentic pronunciation.

Presenter: James Reynolds.

(Photo: Alysa Lui of USA performs in the Women Single Skating - Short Program of the Figure Skating Team Event at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games, in Milan, Italy, 06 February 2026. Credit: WU HAO/EPA)


FRI 18:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8kqvj)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 18:06 Outlook (w3ct6wj5)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 today]


FRI 18:50 Witness History (w3ct7454)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


FRI 19:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8kvln)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlkkvpk7m1)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxwcw86w1)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct6z40)
2026/02/06 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 (w172zwx3fn8kzbs)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 20:06 BBC Conversations (w3ct6rnw)
Returning to Gaza

For the first time since May 2024, people have been allowed to cross between Gaza and Egypt through the Rafah crossing – seen by many Palestinians as a lifeline to the world. Israel reopened the border after the body of the last Israeli hostage was returned.

So far, only a few of an estimated 20,000 sick and wounded people in the territory have been allowed through for medical treatment abroad. People are also coming back into Gaza but the numbers allowed are also very limited.

In our conversations, Gazans share experiences of their daily lives and their plans to see their families again. We also bring together Gazans living abroad who want to go back home.

“My body is in Ireland, but my soul is still in Gaza,” Rawanda, a student currently in Ireland tells us. “In every single moment I imagine myself in Gaza with my family and friends – I might return to rubble, but Gaza is still my home that I will never give up.”

And friends reunited - we bring together (on the phone at least) two friends remembering a happier time.

Presenter: James Reynolds
BBC producers: Lindsay Brown and Ben Davis
Boffin Media producer: Richard Hollingham
Editors: Arja Haikonen and Harriet Oliver
A Boffin Media production in partnership with the BBC Outside Source

(Photo: Palestinians coming from Rafah crossing arrive at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. Credit: Ramadan Abed/Reuters)


FRI 20:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxwcw8bm5)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 20:32 CrowdScience (w3ct6sv0)
Do multiple choice questions make us biased?

CrowdScience listener Griffith in Ghana, isn’t JUST a CrowdScience listener. He’s also a listener to our sister show on the World Service, Unexpected Elements. But he’s noticed something funny.

 

In the weekly Unexpected Elements multiple-choice quiz, the answer is almost NEVER ‘a’. It’s nearly always ‘b’, or ‘c’. Why is this? When we set the quiz, why are we so reluctant to choose option ‘a’?

 

His question leads presenter Alex Lathbridge on a journey into the murky depths of our brain, where he discovers the cognitive biases which so often trip us up in games of chance, or probability. Your brain might be a marvellous machine when it comes to figuring out how to understand the world, but sometimes, in the name of efficiency, it takes clever little short-cuts to the answer.



This pragmatic approach to problem solving helps us manage an incredibly complicated world. But occasionally, especially when it comes to mathematics, chance, and probability, it leads us in the wrong direction. With the help of mathematician Kit Yates from the University of Bath in the UK, and some rather stale sweets, Alex will be finding out how to win at games of chance.

 

Alex also explores the world of gaming, and gambling. Games of chance in which our intuition sometimes lets us down, and makes us choose unwisely. Rachel Croson, Professor of Economics at the University of Minnesota, USA, talks us through how the human brain can work against us.



But can knowledge of those human pitfalls help us to win? Alex hears from Maria Konnikova, who turned her research on the psychology of poker into a successful gambling career. Can we really use maths to beat our brains, and learn how to win more often?

 
Presenter Alex Lathbridge

Producer Emily Knight

Editor Ben Motley

(Photo: Close up image of multiple choice question. Credit: BBC)


FRI 21:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8l32x)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 21:06 Newshour (w172zsskmksq7nj)
US announces new oil sanctions on Iran immediately after Oman talks

Indirect talks between the US and Iran took place in Oman as the US seeks to curb Iran's nuclear and missile programmes. The talks were mainly procedural: was anything achieved? We hear from Iran nuclear expert Professor Sina Azodi, Director of the Middle East Studies Program at George Washington University.

Also in the programme: a deadly suicide attack on a Shia mosque in the Pakistani capital Islamabad; the EU orders TikTok to redesign its 'addictive' features; and the opening of the 25th Winter Olympics in northern Italy.

(Photo: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visits Oman ahead of Iran-US talks. Credit: OMANI MINISTRY OF INFORMATION/HANDOUT/EPA/Shutterstock)


FRI 22:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8l6v1)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 22:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlkkvpklvf)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxwcw8l3f)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 22:32 World Business Report (w3ct76pk)
The EU gets tough with TikTok

With TikTok being told by the EU to change what it believes is an 'addictive design' or face fines, we speak to cyber-psychologist Dr Sarah Hodge, and France's ambassador for digital affairs and AI, Clara Chappaz, on whether the continent is set to follow Australia's lead and ban children below the 16-years-old from using social media.

Will Grant reports on the latest as the critical fuel crisis in Cuba worsens and Havana's fuel pumps run dry.

Elsewhere, we look to Japan as the nation heads to the polls this weekend, and Ed Butler hears from Professor Maria Rodas on what it takes to make the perfect Superbowl commercial.

Global business news, with live guests and contributions from Europe, Latin America and the USA.

(Picture: A TikTok logo is seen in front of the headquarters of the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium. Credit: Olivier Hoslet / EPA / Shutterstock.)


FRI 23:00 BBC News (w172zwx3fn8lbl5)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 23:06 The Interview (w3ct8c4d)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


FRI 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxxwcw8pvk)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 23:32 Heart and Soul (w3ct6vq5)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]