SATURDAY 24 MAY 2025

SAT 00:00 BBC News (w172zwwm5d44lsb)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 00:06 Unexpected Elements (w3ct72w0)
Story time

Much ado was made about a cancelled auction of an ultra-rare set of Shakespeare’s folios, which could have fetched millions of dollars.

This headline – along with Shakespeare being one of the world’s most well-known playwrights – inspired the Unexpected Elements team to delve into the science of stories.

First up, we find out why your brain loves a tale. We then discover that some people can’t see images in their mind when they read, and reveal the impact this could have.

Shakespeare’s folios are almost 400 years old, but how have they survived that long? We get on the line with Kathryn Kenney, a book and paper conservator, to find out how she keeps precious books safe.

We also find out about a disappearing island, whether climate change needs a new narrative and if you could eat books to survive.

All that, plus many more Unexpected Elements. 
  
Presenter: Marnie Chesterton, with Camilla Mota and Tristan Ahtone
Producer: Margaret Sessa Hawkins, with Alice Lipscombe-Southwell, Imaan Moin and Minnie Harrop
Studio Manager: Rhys Morris


SAT 01:00 BBC News (w172zwwm5d44qjg)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 01:06 Business Matters (w172zrs2bwg4w0m)
EU promises to defend itself from US tariff threat

The European trade commissioner says the EU will defend its interests in trade talks with the United States. President Trump has threatened the bloc with fifty percent tariffs.

Boeing is to avoid prosecution in a deal with the US Justice Department over a number of crashes. The deal includes the company admitting to obstructing federal aviation officials and paying $1.1 billion in fines.

Presenter Rahul Tandon examines these stories and also hears how the murder of George Floyd inspired US banks to invest in small black businesses.


SAT 02:00 BBC News (w172zwwm5d44v8l)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl29lk478z)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SAT 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfm3qv6jz)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 02:32 Stumped (w3ct6zj6)
England's 2025: A defining year for Bazball?

Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma look ahead to a defining year for England's men's Test team with a home series against India and an away Ashes to come.

We hear from Zimbabwe's Managing Director, Givemore Makoni, on the team playing a remarkable 11 Tests this year and what that means financially. He also tells Stumped why cricket at the Olympics must be different and not solely about the big nations like the Champions Trophy.

Plus, a new era for England's women is underway. We discuss what fans can expect from new head coach Charlotte Edwards and her captain Nat Sciver-Brunt.

Photo: England captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum during the team group during nets ahead of the 3rd Test Match between Pakistan and England at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on October 23, 2024 in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. (Credit: Getty Images)


SAT 03:00 BBC News (w172zwwm5d44z0q)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 03:06 Outlook (w3ct6wgt)
Outlook Mixtape: When daddy kept his cool

The story of three defiant daughters and the adventures sparked by their fathers.

Sulome Anderson was born in 1985 three months after her father, the American reporter Terry Anderson, was taken hostage while working in Beirut. He wouldn't be released until she was six. Now a journalist herself, Sulome experienced a remarkable coincidence when a seemingly routine interview turned out to be the start of a surprising relationship with her father's captor.

Native American Navajo poet Laura Tohe went to a school for indigenous kids, who faced punishment if they spoke their native language. For years Laura didn't know how the forbidden language of Navajo had actually shaped her father Benson's life. When he was just 16 years old, Benson had enlisted as a marine and joined the ranks of the Navajo Code Talkers. The Code Talkers was a group created by the US military as part of a World War Two wartime strategy where the Navajo language formed the basis of an unbreakable code, credited with having saved countless lives. It was key to America's success in the South Pacific. It would take Laura years to piece together fragments of her father's life and uncover his role as a Navajo Code Talker.

In 2014, Swedish-Iranian artist Nadia Tehran recorded an attitude-packed, punk-laden illegal music video in Tehran. Born in Sweden, Nadia's parents were born and bred in Iran. In 2010 when an anti-immigration group rose to prominence in Sweden, Nadia turned to music, writing a song called Refugee. Nadia wanted the video for their protest anthem recorded on the streets of Tehran, where performing music in public is forbidden for women. Nadia's father, Toomaj, said he would come along for protection and support and brought them even closer together. The video received international acclaim but the success had its challenges, and in the heady aftermath, Nadia experienced a mental health breakdown. After coming out as non-binary, with their dad's unwavering support, Nadia began to recover.

Presenter: Mobeen Azhar
Producer: Sarah Kendal

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


SAT 03:50 Witness History (w3ct743s)
Vivian Maier: Secret street photographer

It is only since Vivian Maier's death in 2009 that the 150,000 photographs she rarely showed to anyone have come to light.

Working as a nanny in the suburbs of Chicago in the United States in the 1950s and 1960s, she captured extraordinary street scenes on a Rolleiflex camera. But she did not always develop the photos. With no permanent home of her own, she paid for storage units where her life’s work was kept. The archives were auctioned when she died and she is now considered one of the best street photographers of the 20th century.

Josephine McDermott presents accounts from the BBC archive from the people who found themselves in Vivian Maier’s orbit.

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 football in Brazil, the history of the ‘Indian Titanic’ and the invention of air fryers, to Public Enemy’s Fight The Power, subway art and the political crisis in Georgia. We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: visionary architect Antoni Gaudi and the design of the Sagrada Familia; Michael Jordan and his bespoke Nike trainers; Princess Diana at the Taj Mahal; and Görel Hanser, manager of legendary Swedish pop band Abba on the influence they’ve had on the music industry. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the time an Iraqi journalist hurled his shoes at the President of the United States in protest of America’s occupation of Iraq; the creation of the Hollywood commercial that changed advertising forever; and the ascent of the first Aboriginal MP.

This programme has been updated since the original broadcast.

(Photo: Vivian Maier self-portrait. Credit: Vivian Maier/ Alamy)


SAT 04:00 BBC News (w172zwwm5d452rv)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 04:06 Unexpected Elements (w3ct72w0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 00:06 today]


SAT 05:00 BBC News (w172zwwm5d456hz)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 05:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl29lk4ljc)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SAT 05:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfm3qvksc)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 05:32 Trending (w3ct72tb)
Brazilian farmers are (very) online

Being a farmer in Brazil has never been cooler - at least, that’s the impression you might get from social media.

Music videos featuring cowboy hat wearing farmers, driving tractors and boasting about their wealth, have garnered millions of views online. Meanwhile, farmers turned influencers offer a window into rural life, insisting Brazil is not just a country of football and Carnival, but of farming.

Critics say social media has become the latest battleground in a long-running effort by Brazil’s powerful agribusiness industry to improve the way it is perceived. They say posts and videos like these are part of a public relations push meant to distract from the sector’s poor environmental track record.

But farmers argue their livelihoods are being targeted by “ideologues” and “activists”, who fail to grasp where their food really comes from. Do they have a point? And as Brazil prepares to host COP30, how does this idealized image of agribusiness fit into a world facing climate change?

Reporter: Marco Silva
Editor: Flora Carmichael


SAT 05:50 More or Less (w3ct6vyv)
Is the UN underestimating the global fall in fertility?

Every two years, the UN release their predictions for the future population of humanity – currently expected to peak in the 2080s at around 10.3 billion people.

One of the things they use to work this out is the fertility rate, the number of children the average woman is expected to have in her lifetime. When this number falls below 2, the overall population eventually falls.

In this episode of More or Less, we look at the fertility estimates for one country – Argentina. The graph of the real and predicted fertility rate for that country looks quite strange.

The collected data – that covers up to the present day – shows a fertility rate that’s falling fast. But the predicted rate for the future immediately levels out.
The strangeness has led some people to think that the UN might be underestimating the current fall in global fertility.

To explain what’s going on we speak to Patrick Gerland, who runs the population estimates team in the United Nations Population Division.

Presenter / producer: Tom Colls
Production co-ordinator: Brenda Brown
Sound mix: Sue Maillot
Editor: Richard Vadon


SAT 06:00 BBC News (w172zwwm5d45b83)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 06:06 Weekend (w172zw82mmsdwz2)
US threatens 50% tariff on all European Union goods

Trade disputes between the United States and the European Union continue as President Trump threatens a 50% tariff on all EU goods starting June 1st. We go to Brussels to hear the reaction from the European Union.

Also in the programme: We will be discussing the humanitarian criticism from the international community to Israel over the worsening situation in Gaza, and we reflect on the life and work of Sebastiao Salgado, the Brazilian photographer and environmental campaigner, who has died at the age of 81.

Joining presenter Paul Henley are Sari Bashi, an American-Israeli human rights lawyer and former Programme Director at Human Rights Watch and Shaun walker, Guardian correspondent for Ukraine and Russia.

(Picture: U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office, White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 23, 2025. REUTERS/Kent Nishimura)


SAT 07:00 BBC News (w172zwwm5d45g07)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 07:06 Weekend (w172zw82mmsf0q6)
UN Chief : Gaza war in "cruellest phase"

The UN Chief Antonio Guterres said the war in Gaza was entering its “cruellest phase” as Israel eased its 11 week blockade. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization says thousands need medical treatment outside of Gaza.

Also in the programme: We hear from Banu Mustaq, the Indian author who won this year's International Booker Prize for her book Heart Lamp and the director of the British-Nigerian movie that has caught critics’ attention at Cannes Film Festival.

Joining presenter Paul Henley are Shaun Walker, Guardian correspondent for Ukraine and Russia and Sari Bashi, an American-Israeli human rights lawyer and former Programme Director at Human Rights Watch, speaking from Israel.

(Photo: Wounded Palestinian children in a Gaza hospital. Credit: Reuters/Hatem Khaled)


SAT 08:00 BBC News (w172zwwm5d45krc)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 08:06 Weekend (w172zw82mmsf4gb)
Ukraine and Russia achieve biggest prisoner exchange since 2022

Russia and Ukraine had agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners and most recently had their biggest swap yet with over 390 soldiers and civilians each. Since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022, there have been dozens of smaller-scale exchanges, but none that involved this many civilians.

Also in the programme: Ukrainian officials say Russia launched a heavy drone attack overnight in Kyiv, our correspondent in Ukraine joins us for more; and we hear from the director of the film 'My Father's shadow', the first Nigerian film to feature in the Cannes Film Festival's official selection.
Joining presenter Paul Henley are Sari Bashi, an American-Israeli human rights lawyer and former Programme Director at Human Rights Watch and Shaun walker, Guardian correspondent for Ukraine and Russia.
(Picture: A Ukrainian soldier recently released from Russian captivity is reunited with his family on his arrival in Chernigiv Oblast, Ukraine, 23 May 2025. Photo by MARIA SENOVILLA/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)


SAT 09:00 BBC News (w172zwwm5d45phh)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 09:06 BBC OS Conversations (w3ct6rmj)
Living with prostate cancer

It’s called the silent killer and it is the second most common form of cancer among males in the world. Yet, despite the fact that it only affects men, many are reluctant to talk about it.

Following former president Joe Biden’s announcement that he has an aggressive form of the disease, we hear from two men about their diagnosis, their fears, the stigma and the reality of dealing with side effects like erectile dysfunction and incontinence after surgery.

“Sometimes I’m a bit nervous when I’m going out, especially if I’d had a lot of water to drink in the day,” said Leslie, a 46-year old DJ in Britain. “So I’m always calculating how much to drink, depending on where I’m going to, which is quite frustrating. Also if I’ve had coffee or if I’ve had alcohol, then I notice that I’m more concerned.”

Leslie is black and he discusses why black men are at higher risk from the disease with an oncology specialist from Nairobi, Kenya. We also hear from a 65-year old Guy Jenkins in Biden’s home state of Pennsylvania. He also has prostate cancer and his daughter, a pharmacist, is helping her father cope with the condition.

Hosted by Mark Lowen.

A Boffin Media production with producer Sue Nelson in partnership with the BBC OS team and producers Virginia Kelly, Akwasi Sarpong, Laura Cress.

(Photo: Leslie in the UK. Credit: Leslie)


SAT 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfm3qw1rw)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 09:32 Pick of the World (w3ct7z4r)
The female Afghan bodybuilder

The women in Afghanistan who refuse to stay unseen and unheard. Plus, the Danish scientist who discovered the truth about Earth’s core - and how to cook rice properly.


SAT 09:50 Over to You (w3ct6xv8)
Analysis on what is happening in American politics

We go behind-the-scenes with the team from Americast, the show that gives you an insight and analysis on what is happening in American politics and beyond. We talk to presenter Justin Webb and the series editor Purvee Pattni and hear your feedback.

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


SAT 10:00 BBC News (w172zwwm5d45t7m)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 10:06 Not by the Playbook (w3ct7z07)
Scratching the surface

Not by the Playbook’s Katie Smith is scouring the world’s surface for extraordinary stories – from the depths of the ocean to an extreme triathlon to the top of the world.

Italian freediver Alessia Zecchini speaks from the Philippines where she has set her 40th world record, so what is it like descending down to depths of over 100 metres below the surface without oxygen? Alessia continues to dive in memory of her partner, Stephen Keenan who was killed diving in 2017. Their story is the subject of the Netflix film The Deepest Breath.

Mitch Hutchcraft reflects on his gruelling seven month triathlon – from England to the top of Everest. To get there he swam, cycled, ran and trekked for over 13,000 kilometres across 20 different countries, taking 240 days to complete. Strong currents, near fatal accidents and stray dogs were just some of the challenges he encountered, but why did he do it?

Runner Mirna Valerio swapped the classroom as a Spanish teacher for the rough and rugged terrain of the outdoors and the rough world of scrutiny on social media. Mirna opens up about the trolling she faces online, the community she’s created and the message she wants to share about how we view ourselves and others on and beneath the surface.

This week is all about surfaces on Not by the Playbook and if there is anyone who knows all about different surfaces then it's tennis players. 2016 Olympic women's singles champion Monica Puig reveals all about what it’s like having to adapt to the clay, grass and hard courts of the tennis tour.

Listen to Not by the Playbook on the BBC World Service every Saturday at 0900 GMT, or find it as a podcast wherever you get your BBC podcasts.
Get in touch with us via email and use the hashtag #NBTP on social media.

Image: Alessia Zecchini starting the descent of a freedive in the ocean. (Photo by Kurt Wang)


SAT 11:00 BBC News (w172zwwm5d45xzr)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl29lk5b04)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SAT 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfm3qw984)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 11:32 Unspun World with John Simpson (w3ct78bm)
Can the UK-EU reset deal move Britain on from Brexit?

James Landale, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses the UK’s new deal with the EU, looks at the possible impacts of the lifting of US sanctions on Syria, and examines scientists’ attempts to discover the origin of life itself.

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


SAT 12:00 BBC News (w172zwwm5d461qw)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 12:06 The Forum (w3ct712r)
What makes us nostalgic?

Nostalgia is one of those complicated emotions: we long to be transported to a place or moment in the past that we have loved but at the same time feel sad that it has gone forever. It is also a bit of a slippery intellectual concept: regarded as a malady when the term was first coined in the 17th century, nostalgia is now thought to be benign or even mildly therapeutic. And beyond personal recollections, business uses it to sell all manner of things and some politicians skilfully deploy it to hide their real objectives. So what actually is nostalgia?

Iszi Lawrence explores the past and present of nostalgia with Dr. Agnes Arnold-Forster , author of Nostalgia: A History of a Dangerous Emotion, Prof. Krystine Batcho who devised the Nostalgia Inventory and Dr. Tobias Becker author of Yesterday, A New History of Nostalgia. We also hear WS listeners’ views on nostalgia.

(Photo: Vintage photographs with a dried rose. Credit: Alicia Llop/Getty Images)


SAT 13:00 BBC News (w172zwwm5d465h0)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 13:06 Newshour (w172zss2c9nbb1m)
Russia, Ukraine conduct biggest prisoner swap to date

The biggest prisoner swap to date has continued for a second day, with three hundred and seven POWs released from each side. A total of 2,000 prisoners could be allowed to return to their homes over three days. A Ukrainian official involved in coordinating the treatment of those returning home says over 95% of them were tortured.

Also in the programme: the Gaza doctor and mother who’s lost nine children in an airstrike; and could the Vatican have a role in bringing peace to Ukraine?

Photo: A Ukrainian soldier released from Russian captivity is reunited with his family Credit: MARIA SENOVILLA/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock


SAT 14:00 BBC News (w172zwwm5d46974)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 14:06 Sportsworld (w172ztqhnwdtxll)
Live Sporting Action

It’s the final weekend of the Premier League season and ahead of the final day on Sunday, Lee James is joined by guests to look back on a season which has seen Liverpool become champions, all three promoted clubs relegated and the battle for European places go down to the final day.

Everton goalkeeper Asmir Begovic, former Aston Villa and West Ham United midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker and Washington Spirit and England defender Esme Morgan discuss and debate the main talking points from the season and present Sportsworld’s very own end of season awards.

Also, hear from Premier League winning boss Arne Slot as the Liverpool manager speaks to BBC’s sports editor Dan Roan, plus an interview with Brentford and Cameroon forward Bryan Mbeumo.

Maz Farookhi will be live in Lisbon for the Women’s Champions League final and before kick-off hear what it takes to win the competition with the behind-the-scenes documentary ‘Olympique Lyonnais: The Champions League trailblazers’.

There will also be the latest from the Championship play-off final, the CAF Champions League final first leg and reaction to the Serie A title race in Italy.

Away from football, there will be previews to the French Open tennis and Diamond League athletics in Rabat, plus reaction to qualifying at Formula 1’s Monaco Grand Prix.

Photo: Arsenal players hold a guard of honour for Liverpool players as they enter the pitch prior to the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Arsenal FC at Anfield on May 11, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Credit: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)


SAT 18:00 BBC News (w172zwwm5d46s6n)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 18:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl29lk6571)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SAT 18:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfm3qx4h1)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 18:32 Trending (w3ct72tb)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:32 today]


SAT 18:50 More or Less (w3ct6vyv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:50 today]


SAT 19:00 BBC News (w172zwwm5d46wys)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 19:06 The Inquiry (w3ct722j)
What does Japan’s rice crisis say about its economy?

A domestic rice shortage in Japan has caused supermarket shelves to empty and prices to double. Rice is more than a staple food in Japan—it carries deep cultural, historical and even spiritual significance.

The rice crisis highlights broader weaknesses in Japan’s economy. Japan imports over half of its food and has experienced persistent inflation. The country’s economic resilience is being tested by supply chain pressures, demographic shifts, and increased trade tensions.

Efforts to address the shortage have focused on auctioning rice reserves, but underlying economic challenges persist.

Contributors:
• Yi-Chun Ko, Professor, Asian Growth Research Institute, Fukuoka, Japan
• Emiko Ohnuki-Tierney, William F. Vilas Research Professor, University of Wisconsin–Madison, US
• Stefan Angrick, Senior Economist, Moody’s Analytics, Tokyo, Japan
• Norihiro Yamaguchi, Lead Economist, Oxford Economics, Tokyo, Japan

Presenter: Charmaine Cozier
Producer: Louise Clarke
Researcher: Katie Morgan
Editor: Tara McDermott
Technical producer: Richard Hannaford
Production Management Assistant: Liam Morrey

Photo was supplied by Yukari Sakamoto, author of Food Sake Tokyo


SAT 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfm3qx875)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 19:32 Happy News (w3ct6ty7)
The Happy Pod: The unlikely duo getting men talking about mental health

We hear how a man travelling the world with a cuddly duck has encouraged thousands to open up about mental health problems. Also, a roaring success for India's lions and Kermit the Frog urges graduates to leap together.

Presenter: Valerie Sanderson
Music: Iona Hampson


SAT 20:00 BBC News (w172zwwm5d470px)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 20:06 The Arts Hour (w3ct6zt7)
Ziddi Girls director Vasant Nath

Nikki Bedi is joined by Indian writer and director Vasant Nath and critic Rhianna Dhillon to discuss cultural highlights of the week.

Cynthia Erivo, British star of stage and screen and Elphaba in Wicked, gives us a singing lesson.

French director Mehdi Idir talks about his film Monsieur Aznavour, a biopic of the legendary French crooner Charles Aznavour.

Indian actor Freida Pinto reflects on her career after Slumdog Millionaire.

Stars of Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning, Simon Pegg and Hayley Atwell, discuss teamwork, stamina and Tom Cruise’s stunts.

Vasant Nath describes the making of his screen series Ziddi Girls, set in a college in Delhi.

And, after being part of the incredible Kenyan band Sauti Sol, musician Bien celebrates going solo.

Producer: Nicki Paxman
Main image: Deeya Damini in Ziddi Girls
Photo credit: Amazon Prime Video and Mayank Sharma


SAT 21:00 BBC News (w172zwwm5d474g1)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 21:06 Newshour (w172zss2c9nc90n)
Gazan doctor loses nine children in Israeli strike

A Palestinian doctor was at work in Nasser hospital in Khan Younis when nine of her ten children were killed and her husband wounded by an Israeli airstrike. It is the latest tragedy as Israel’s military campaign continues to place a huge toll on the civilian population. The Israeli military says “the claim regarding harm to uninvolved civilians is under review”. We hear from a Bulgarian doctor who is working at the hospital.

Also in the programme: The dissident Iranian director Jafar Panahi has won the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival for "It Was Just an Accident" -- a movie shot in secret and inspired by his own experience in prison; and Five years after American author Jenine Cummins was vilified for her novel American Dirt, she tells us why she wrote her new book.

(Picture: Civil defence teams carry a body after the strike in Khan Younis. Credit: Getty)


SAT 22:00 BBC News (w172zwwm5d47865)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 22:06 Not by the Playbook (w3ct7z07)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:06 today]


SAT 23:00 BBC News (w172zwwm5d47cy9)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 23:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl29lk6ryp)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SAT 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfm3qxr6p)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 23:32 This Is Africa (w3ct72cw)
James BKS

Imagine this: you are an up-and-coming music producer in your 20s forging your own way in the industry. Then one day your mother tells you your birth father is one of the most famous African musicians of his generation, Cameroonian saxophonist Manu Dibango.

That is the true story of James BKS. Hear how he met his father for the first time, and how getting to know Dibango has had a profound influence on his own music.

James BKS, who has worked with big names such as Idris Elba, Little Simz, Snoop Dogg, Ja Rule and Booba, says that his new EP, See Us Rise, is his most personal to date.

Image: James BKS (Credit: Fifou)

SUNDAY 25 MAY 2025

SUN 00:00 BBC News (w172zwwm5d47hpf)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 00:06 BBC OS Conversations (w3ct6rmj)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:06 on Saturday]


SUN 00:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfm3qxvyt)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 00:32 The Documentary (w3ct7y7s)
TikTok and the digital pimps: Eye Investigates

With its dancing challenges and comedy sketches, it’s no surprise why Tiktok is popular with young Kenyans. It’s also a way for them to make money through the app’s gifting service. But there’s a darker side, where young women – and girls as young as 15 – are selling sexual content on livestreams, with some being recruited and exploited by “digital pimps”. Africa Eye’s Debula Kemoli investigates who is profiting.

A spokesperson for Tiktok said in a statement that they have zero tolerance for exploitation. And they enforce strict safety policies, including robust live content rules and moderation in 70 languages, including Swahili.

Producers: Nalini Sivathasan and Patrick Clahane
Editors: Pete Murimi and Rebecca Henschke
Sound engineer: Neil Churchill


SUN 01:00 BBC News (w172zwwm5d47mfk)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 01:06 The Inquiry (w3ct722j)
[Repeat of broadcast at 19:06 on Saturday]


SUN 01:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfm3qxzpy)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 01:32 Trending (w3ct72tb)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:32 on Saturday]


SUN 01:50 Sporting Witness (w3ct6ykv)
Revolutionising sumo: The Mongolian influence

In 2000, Mongolian wrestlers began to transform the traditional Japanese sport of sumo, introducing innovative techniques and reshaping the competitive landscape.

Mokonami Sakae, one of the pioneers, overcame cultural and physical challenges to make his mark in the ring. But the rise of Mongolian sumo wrestlers was not without controversy. A Made in Manchester production presented by Ashley Byrne.

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.

(Photo: Sumo tournament Credit: David Mareuil/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

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.


SUN 02:00 BBC News (w172zwwm5d47r5p)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl29lk7462)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SUN 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfm3qy3g2)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 02:32 Health Check (w3ct6vj9)
A promising new antimalarial

A new anti-malarial compound has been designed to target disease-causing parasites responsible for up to 90% of malaria cases in humans.

Stephanie Tam reports on a new online training programme designed to help address the mental health care gap in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq that is heavily impacted by conflict.

Donald Trump has signed a new executive order aimed at lowering the price the US pays for medicines. We look at what is included in the order, why drug prices vary around the world, and what impact this motion could have on US and global prices paid for medicines.

Dr Cecilia Kanyama and Professor Thomas Harrison share their decades-long effort to improve treatment options for cryptococcal meningitis. The refined treatment regimen, discovered alongside Joe Jarvis and their team, gives hope to the hundreds of thousands of HIV-positive patients who are diagnosed with this fungal infection each year.

Finally, ‘scorpionism’ - or the medical condition caused by a scorpion sting, is rapidly on the rise in Brazil, we look at what is driving this increasing health threat.

Presenter: Claudia Hammond
Producers: Hannah Robins & Katie Tomsett
Studio Managers: Gavin Wong & Steve Greenwood


SUN 03:00 BBC News (w172zwwm5d47vxt)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 03:06 The Forum (w3ct712r)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Saturday]


SUN 04:00 BBC News (w172zwwm5d47zny)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 04:06 From Our Own Correspondent (w3ct6trf)
Turkey's chance for peace

Pascale Harter introduces dispatches from Turkey, the Philippines, the USA and Italy.

More than forty thousand people were killed during the PKK's fight for an independent Kurdish state. Now the militant group, which is considered a terrorist organisation by many countries, has announced it's disarming and disbanding. But what do Turkish Kurds make of it? Orla Guerin has been to the city of Diyarbakir to ask what future they see ahead.

In the South China Sea lies a tiny island called Pagasa that's the centre of a complex territorial dispute with China. For the past 10 years, China has been expanding its presence in this region, building up strategic airbases on coral reefs and deploying a huge number of ships. Jonathan Head gained rare access to the Philippines-controlled island and spoke to some of its residents - as a string of Chinese vessels loomed on the horizon.

In the southwest of the United States, Arizona is a major centre of Native American culture - like the foodways, languages and festivals of groups including the Navajo, Hopi and Apache nations. Stephanie Theobald heard from some local leaders about a new plan for a healing centre, which hopes to build bridges between the tribes – and with non-Indigenous Americans.

And: the Italian city of Venice is nicknamed La Serenissima - 'the most serene' - but whoever called it that wasn't visiting in the middle of a 21st-century tourist season. These days the place is awash in tourists - so many of them there's barely room for real life to go on for Venetians themselves. Simon Busch
reports on how the city is trying to hold back the visiting hordes.

Image: Families whose children joined the PKK (Kurdish Workers Party), hold their images as they sit in front of the headquarters of the Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party after the PKK announced its dissolution, in western Turkey. (Photo by ILYAS AKENGIN/AFP via Getty Images)


SUN 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfm3qybyb)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 04:32 Unspun World with John Simpson (w3ct78bm)
[Repeat of broadcast at 11:32 on Saturday]


SUN 05:00 BBC News (w172zwwm5d483f2)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 05:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl29lk7hfg)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SUN 05:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfm3qygpg)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 05:32 The Documentary (w3ct7y7s)
[Repeat of broadcast at 00:32 today]


SUN 06:00 BBC News (w172zwwm5d48756)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 06:06 Weekend (w172zw82mmshsw5)
Russian air strikes on Ukraine kills 13

Russia and Ukraine have had the biggest prisoner swap with each side handing over 390 soldiers and civilians. The agreed plan is to complete a 1000-person prisoner exchange, but drone attacks have continued according to regional officials, with Russian air strikes killing at least 13 people and injuring 56 civilians in Ukraine. Last week, Russia said Ukraine had launched hundreds of strikes across the country including over Moscow. Russia's defence ministry said a total of 485 drones were shot down.

Also in the programme: An update on the crisis in Gaza with growing concerns of famine and more casualties; and an Iranian film about corruption and state violence in Iran, has won this year's prestigious Palme D'or at the Cannes Film Festival.

Joining presenter Paul Henley are Faiqa Mansab, a Pakistani writer and novelist and Paul Mason, British writer, journalist, and associate fellow at the Council on Geostrategy think-tank.

(Picture: An explosion of a drone lights up the sky over the city during a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine May 25, 2025. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich)


SUN 07:00 BBC News (w172zwwm5d48bxb)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 07:06 Weekend (w172zw82mmshxm9)
Nine children from one family dead from Israeli strike, Gaza hospital says

Israeli military says it's reviewing reports that one of its airstrikes killed nine children from the same family in southern Gaza. The children's mother, Alaa al-Najjar, is a paediatrician at Nasser Hospital in the city of Khan Younis, where they say only one of her children and her husband survived.

Also in the programme: Trump reveals plans for a 'Golden Dome' defence system to protect the United States from aerial threats and wants Canada to do the same. Also, we discuss football and the pride of wearing your teams' colours in light of Liverpool winning the Premier league title.

Joining presenter Paul Henley are Faiqa Mansab, a Pakistani writer and novelist and Paul Mason, British writer, journalist, and associate fellow at the Council on Geostrategy think-tank.

(Picture: A rescuer walks over rubble to assess damage and look for survivors, in Khan Younis, Gaza, May 23, 2025, in this screengrab taken from video. Palestinian Civil Defence/Handout via REUTERS. WATERMARK FROM SOURCE)


SUN 08:00 BBC News (w172zwwm5d48gng)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 08:06 Weekend (w172zw82mmsj1cf)
Israeli strike kills nine of Gazan doctor’s 10 children

Alaa al-Najjar, a paediatric specialist at Nasser Hospital in the city of Khan Younis, has lost nine of her 10 children in an Israeli airstrike. The hospital says only her 11-year-old son, Adam, and her husband, Hamdi, survived with substantial injuries. The conflict has been ongoing since 2023, with UN Secretary-General António Guterres warning that people in Gaza are enduring what may be "the cruellest phase" of the war, and criticising Israel's blockade on humanitarian aid.

Also in the programme: Spain is hosting a meeting in Madrid for a number of countries to discuss restoring peace in Gaza, and we reflect on the aftermath of George Floyd's killing by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin on May 25th , 2020.

Joining presenter Paul Henley are Faiqa Mansab, a Pakistani writer and novelist and Paul Mason, British writer, journalist, and associate fellow at the Council on Geostrategy think-tank.

(Picture: Rescuers look for survivors and bodies among the rubble inside a destroyed building, in Khan Younis, Gaza, May 23, 2025. REUTERS. WATERMARK FROM SOURCE)


SUN 09:00 BBC News (w172zwwm5d48ldl)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 09:06 From Our Own Correspondent (w3ct6trf)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:06 today]


SUN 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfm3qyynz)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 09:32 The Food Chain (w3ct70yf)
Let food do the talking

Does food have the power to send messages when words aren’t enough? This week Ruth Alexander finds out how food can sometimes speak much louder than words.

Lecturer in Chinese Cultural Studies Dr Zhaokun Xi explains why gifting a pear in China can quietly suggest separation — and how it still carries weight today. Chef Beejhy Barhany reflects on the role of Ethiopian food in expressing care and welcome through gursha, the act of feeding people with your hands.

We find out how food can be used as a signal of protest from historian and food researcher Aylin Oney Tan. From the Janissaries tipping their cauldrons of soup to signal unrest, to black pepper in a wedding dish to symbolise the role of the mother in law. And we learn about the power of food in mourning; Greek food writer Aglaia Kremezi tell us about koliva, a sweet dish served at funerals in Greece — and how it attempts to soften the bitterness of loss.

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

Presenter: Ruth Alexander
Producer: Izzy Greenfield


SUN 10:00 BBC News (w172zwwm5d48q4q)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 10:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct6xxj)
Working with our minds

Mindfulness meditation, which involves becoming aware of the breath in the present moment, has been a core part of Eastern contemplative practices for thousands of years. Over recent decades however, it’s ‘exploded’ throughout the West as scientists have sought to prove the physical and mental benefits of regular practice - like feeling calmer, less stressed and feeling better able to manage emotions.

This week we look at some of the more surprising places where these simple techniques are having a big impact.

In Kenya, we learn about the ‘mindfulness revolution’ that took place in a men’s high security prison outside Nairobi after a group of inmates and guards were taught mindfulness techniques in 2015. They soon started teaching each other and ten years later it’s spread to prisons throughout the country and beyond.

And we visit Baltimore in the US, where a non-profit organisation has been teaching mindfulness and yoga in inner city schools for over twenty years, giving children growing up with violence and deprivation the tools to manage their emotions and heal trauma.

People Fixing The World from the BBC is about brilliant solutions to the world's problems. 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: Zoe Gelber
US reporter: Ben Wyatt
Editor: Jon Bithrey
Sound mix: Gareth Jones

(Image: Students in Baltimore practicing yoga, Holistic Life Foundation)


SUN 10:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfm3qz2f3)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 10:32 The Fifth Floor (w3ct70sx)
The reality of reporting in Syria

During the last year of Bashar al-Assad’s rule of Syria, Reporters Without Borders ranked the country second to last in the World Press Freedom Index. The country was incredibly dangerous for journalists who had to manage strict government censorship. But in December 2024, Assad’s rule was toppled by a swift rebel offensive that took the capital city Damascus within a few days. The country then experienced a level of press freedom it hadn’t seen for decades. Dalia Haidar of BBC Arabic worked as a journalist in Syria whilst Assad was in power, she joins us to describe what it was like and what the hopes are for the future. Plus, a tour of Chiclayo, the Peruvian city Pope Leo XIV used to call home, with José Carlos Cueto from BBC Mundo; and how a Ferrari flag became a symbol of protest, with Slobodan Maričić from BBC Serbian.

Presented by Faranak Amidi
Produced by Caroline Ferguson and Alice Gioia

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


SUN 11:00 BBC News (w172zwwm5d48twv)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl29lk86x7)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SUN 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfm3qz657)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 11:32 Trending (w3ct72tb)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:32 on Saturday]


SUN 11:50 More or Less (w3ct6vyv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:50 on Saturday]


SUN 12:00 BBC News (w172zwwm5d48ymz)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 12:06 BBC OS Conversations (w3ct6rmj)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:06 on Saturday]


SUN 12:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfm3qz9xc)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 12:32 Assignment (w3ct6rbh)
Colombia's webcam women

Colombia’s second largest city, Medellín, is booming and one of the biggest industries revolves around the city’s webcam studios which live stream women performing sex acts.  It’s estimated there are hundreds of studios in the city employing thousands of women and turning over millions of pounds as men – primarily in the US and Europe – pay to watch the women. The work is legal with studios running glossy websites to attract models and even hosting their own annual trade show. Crossing Continents meets two women who have contrasting experiences working in the industry. Sofia Bettiza asks if their work is exploitation or a pragmatic way to earn a living in a country where wages for women are often low and opportunities limited.

Presented and produced by Sofia Bettiza
Produced by Bob Howard
Production coordinator: Gemma Ashman
Editor: Penny Murphy and Richard Fenton-Smith

(Image: Webcam model in Medellin. Credit: BBC/ Sofia Bettiza)


SUN 13:00 BBC News (w172zwwm5d492d3)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 13:06 Newshour (w172zss2c9nf6yq)
Israeli government responds to deaths of children in Gaza

We get the latest accounts of the deaths of nine children in one medical family in Gaza - we speak to a doctor who recounts what the mother of these children told her. And we hear a response from the Israeli government to the deaths of the children.
Also on the programme:
Is Israel beginning to lose the backing of some Western governments? Grammy-nominated musician Anoushka Shankar tells us about her latest album; five years after the death of George Floyd, how much has changed as a result of the Black Lives Matter Movement? And the South Korean woman whose daughter was kidnapped and then traced to the US 44 years later.

(Photo: Tents of internally displaced Palestinians who fled from the northern Gaza Strip are set up next to the beach in the west of Gaza City, 25 May 2025. Credit: EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)


SUN 14:00 BBC News (w172zwwm5d49647)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 14:06 The Climate Question (w3ct701v)
Can the past teach us how to fight climate change?

Climate change is making weather more extreme and threatening crops and wildlife. But could old solutions help us tackle these challenges? Around the world, farmers and scientists are reviving ancient crops, and reintroducing ancient animals to build resilience against climate impacts.

In this episode, reporter Beth Timmins travels to the Peruvian Andes to meet the ‘Potato Guardians’, while Jordan Dunbar visits London’s Natural History Museum. Curator Lottie Dodwell-Williams introduces the museum's first climate-focused exhibit, Fixing Our Broken Planet, which includes a plan to bring bison back to Britain.

Host Graihagh Jackson chats to Jordan and Beth about how traditional knowledge and techniques from the past are being used to combat the effects of climate change today.

Presenter: Graihagh Jackson
Reporters: Beth Timmins and Jordan Dunbar
Production Co-Ordinator: Brenda Brown
Sound Engineer: Tom Brignell
Editors: Sophie Eastaugh and Simon Watts

If you have a question, email us at theclimatequestion@bbc.com or leave a WhatsApp message at + 44 8000 321 721


SUN 14:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfm3qzkdm)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 14:32 Happy News (w3ct6ty7)
[Repeat of broadcast at 19:32 on Saturday]


SUN 15:00 BBC News (w172zwwm5d499wc)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 15:06 Sportsworld (w172ztqhnwdxy7t)
Live Sporting Action

It’s the final day of the English Premier League season, with all 10 games kicking off at 1500 GMT. The title and relegation places are already decided, but there are still European places available.

Sportsworld will have commentary of two teams with Champions League hopes as Nottingham Forest take on Chelsea, and the team will keep you across all the goals as they go in elsewhere, and what it means for the final table.

The former DR Congo captain Gabriel Zakuani is with Delyth Lloyd ahead of kick-off, while ex-Tottenham and Newcastle defender Sébastien Bassong is on afterwards to look back over all the day’s action.

Sportsworld will also be live in Paris for the opening day of the French Open tennis; there will be reaction to Formula 1’s Monaco Grand Prix; and we’ll be across the action at the Diamond League athletics in Rabat.

Photo: A detailed view of the Premier League trophy is seen prior to the Premier League match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on September 20, 2020 in London, England. (Credit: Getty Images)


SUN 19:00 BBC News (w172zwwm5d49svw)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl29lk95w8)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SUN 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfm3r0548)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 19:32 In the Studio (w3ct6vtb)
Esben Holmboe Bang: The art of food

Every flavour is a note, the secret is to build those notes into a symphony. Esben Holmboe Bang is a three Michelin-starred chef working in Norway. He only uses local produce and collects some of his ingredients from the local forest. His aim is to tell the story of Norway through food.


SUN 20:00 BBC News (w172zwwm5d49xm0)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 20:06 Unexpected Elements (w3ct72w0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 00:06 on Saturday]


SUN 21:00 BBC News (w172zwwm5d4b1c4)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 21:06 Newshour (w172zss2c9ng5xr)
Spain calls for arms embargo against Israel

Spain's foreign minister has called for an arms embargo against Israel, at the start of a meeting in Madrid aimed at bringing an end to the war in Gaza.

Also in the programme: Events across the United States are marking the fifth anniversary of the death of George Floyd - whose murder by police sparked mass protests for racial justice; and Venezuela is holding parliamentary and regional elections - but opposition leaders have urged people not to vote, calling the process a sham.

(Photo: Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares addresses the media ahead of the second meeting of the so-called 'Madrid Group', in Madrid, Spain, 25 May 2025. The 'Madrid Group' is integrated by European and Arab countries that promote the two-state solution as a way to overcome the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and achieve a ceasefire in Gaza. Credit: JJ Guillen/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)


SUN 22:00 BBC News (w172zwwm5d4b538)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 22:06 The Climate Question (w3ct701v)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:06 today]


SUN 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfm3r0jcn)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 22:32 Pick of the World (w3ct7z4r)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:32 on Saturday]


SUN 22:50 Over to You (w3ct6xv8)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:50 on Saturday]


SUN 23:00 BBC News (w172zwwm5d4b8vd)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 23:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl29lk9nvs)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SUN 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfm3r0n3s)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 23:32 The Fifth Floor (w3ct70sx)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:32 today]

MONDAY 26 MAY 2025

MON 00:00 BBC News (w172zwwm5d4bdlj)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 00:06 From Our Own Correspondent (w3ct6trf)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:06 on Sunday]


MON 00:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfm3r0rvx)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 00:32 Science In Action (w3ct6yfb)
WHO Pandemic Agreement reached

This week, 124 countries agreed at the World Health Assembly in Geneva on measures aimed at preventing a future pandemic. The agreement very strongly favours a “One Health” approach, appreciating how so many potential pathogens originate in human-animal interactions. Still to agree on the terms of how to share pathogens and information with global science and vaccine researchers, eventually the treaty will need to be signed by at least 60 countries. But can the inequity between countries of the global south and north, and issues of intellectual property, be bridged?

A new study on origins of the Nigerian mpox epidemic points strongly to zoonotic crossovers and mobility of wildlife in West Africa. Edyth Parker of Redeemer’s University in Nigeria describes their phylogenetic tree.

Can the bovine form of H5N1 flu infect pigs, and could domestic pig populations then provide a crucible for further variants to develop? Jürgen Richt of Kansas State University and colleagues have been investigating. We need to keep up vigilance.

Lucy van Dorp of University College London, working with a consortium including London’s Crick Institute, has been looking at a moment in the past when human activity provided an opportunity for a bacterial human pathogen to change its lifestyle. According to their phylogenetic tree, the bacterium Borrelia recurrentis (which causes louse-borne relapsing fever in humans) adapted and moved from ticks to human body lice around about the same time as humans started using woollen clothing.

And Susan Lieberman, VP for International Policy at the Wildlife Conservation Society, was in the trenches of the Pandemic Agreement negotiations, and shares some of her hopes for its success.

Image: World Health Assembly formally adopts by consensus world's first Pandemic Agreement, Geneva, Switzerland - 20 May 2025
Image Credit: Magali Girardin via EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Presenter: Roland Pease
Producer: Alex Mansfield


MON 01:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfgclt)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 01:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl2nvvfrm6)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 01:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfzd14qw6)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 01:32 Discovery (w3ct5rmk)
Unstoppable: Hedy Lamarr

Dr Julia Ravey and Dr Ella Hubber both have a love of science, but it turns out there’s a lot they don’t know about some of the leading women at the front of the inventing game. In Unstoppable, Dr Julia and Dr Ella tell each other the hidden, world-shaping stories of the engineers, innovators and inventors they wish they’d known about when they were starting out as scientists. This week, the story of the Hollywood starlet whose brilliant ideas would go on to revolutionise the way we live.

Known as the ‘most beautiful woman in film’ during the 1940s, Hedy Lamarr was one of the most in demand Hollywood actresses of her time. But she wasn’t just a movie star. From a young age, she also had a knack for inventing – she liked to take her toys apart just to see how they worked. And she carried this passion into her adult life – creating an invention that laid the groundwork for technology many of us couldn’t live without: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS.

But it didn’t come without struggle. Dr Julia and Dr Ella take us through Hedy’s remarkable journey, and we get a first-hand look into Hedy’s life from her daughter Denise Loder-DeLuca.

Presenters: Dr Ella Hubber and Dr Julia Ravey
Producers: Ella Hubber and Julia Ravey
Assistant producer: Sophie Ormiston
Production Coordinator: Elisabeth Tuohy
Editor: Holly Squire

(Photo: Hedy Lamarr, Austrian-born American actress and inventor. Credit: Eric Carpenter/John Kobal Foundation/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)


MON 02:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfghby)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl2nvvfwcb)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfzd14vmb)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 02:32 CrowdScience (w3ct6ssn)
Can eating honey help save bees?

CrowdScience listener Saoirse is vegan and doesn’t eat honey. But she’s been wondering - might honey actually have environmental benefits, by giving bee populations a boost?

To find out, presenter Anand Jagatia dons a bee suit and opens up some hives with biologist Dave Goulson, who reveals that there are over 20,000 bee species on earth – and not all of them need saving. Honeybee researcher Alison Mcafee talks about the importance of beekeeping for crop pollination, and why honeybee colonies around the world are collapsing. Although, as she explains, in some places beekeeping might actually be bad for endangered wild bees. We travel to Kenya to meet Loise Njeru and Lucy King, who show how the humble honeybee can be a powerful tool for conservation – helping to protect the mighty elephant. And, on a rooftop in London, former beekeeper Alison Benjamin explains how we can support the wild bee species that need our help.

Producer and presenter: Anand Jagatia
Location recording: Sophie Ormiston
Series Producer: Ben Motley
Production Co-ordinator: Ishmael Soriano


MON 03:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfgm32)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 03:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct6xxj)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:06 on Sunday]


MON 03:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfzd14zcg)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 03:32 Pick of the World (w3ct7z4r)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:32 on Saturday]


MON 03:50 Over to You (w3ct6xv8)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:50 on Saturday]


MON 04:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfgqv6)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 04:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl2nvvg3vl)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfzd1533l)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 04:32 The Conversation (w3ct708n)
Crime, children and custody

What happens when children break the law - and how does juvenile punishment vary across countries? Ella Al-Shamahi speaks with two women from the Netherlands and Finland about what’s working, what isn’t and what needs to change to better support young people in the justice system.

Marlen Salonen from Finland used to be a personal trainer but two years ago became a prison officer at Vantaa Prison in Finland, a remand facility for male prisoners awaiting trial or sentencing. She works on the juvenile ward supporting boys held in custody.

Fleur Souverein is a psychologist from the Netherlands. She currently works as a senior researcher at the Academic Collaborative Centre for Youth at Risk and as a postdoctoral researcher at Erasmus University Rotterdam. Her research focuses on youth delinquency - particularly organized crime - youth justice institutions, restorative justice and the impact of inequality and institutional racism within the justice system.

Produced by Emily Naylor

(Image: (L) Marlen Salonen courtesy Marlen Salonen. (R) Fleur Souverein courtesy Fleur Souverein.)


MON 05:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfgvlb)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 05:06 Newsday (w172zspm13vf7lx)
Israeli airstrike kills twenty Palestinians

More Palestinians are dead after Israeli airstrikes overnight in Gaza, one hitting a school sheltering families. As aid continues to trickle, not pour, into the territory, we'll hear from our special correspondent on the plight of Gaza's youngest.

We'll also speak with a former Israeli government spokesperson, as international pressure on Israel grows. After a summit for European and Arab countries held in Madrid, the Spanish government has called for Israel to be sanctioned.

Donald Trump says Vladimir Putin is crazy. We'll hear from a top Ukrainian politician as many hope Russia's massive and deadly airstrike at the weekend will force a shift in US policy.

(Photo: Israeli airstrike near Gaza City, 23 May 2025; Credit: EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)


MON 06:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfgzbg)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 06:06 Newsday (w172zspm13vfcc1)
Israel kills dozens in Gaza

Health officials in Gaza say at least twenty-four Palestinians have been killed in two separate Israeli airstrikes overnight. One reportedly hit a school that had been sheltering displaced families.

This comes as Spain held a meeting on Sunday with European and Arab nations to push for a ceasefire and increased humanitarian aid in Gaza. We'll speak to a Spanish Member of the European Parliament.

The opposition in Venezuela boycott local elections as media reports of low turnout. What does this mean for the country and its politics. We'll hear from a key opposition figure.

And why is Texas pushing for the ten commandments from the Bible into classrooms across the state..

(Photo: Israeli airstrike near Gaza City, 23 May 2025; Credit: EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)


MON 07:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfh32l)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 07:06 Newsday (w172zspm13vfh35)
Trump rebukes Putin

US president Donald Trump has threatened Russia with more sanctions after a series of deadly strikes across Ukraine. We'll turn to a resident of Kyiv who survived the latest wave of Russian attacks.

More Palestinians are dead after Israeli airstrikes overnight in Gaza, one hitting a school sheltering families. As aid continues to trickle, not pour, into the territory, we'll hear from our correspondent in Jerusalem.

We'll also speak to the brother of a Palestinian man who was injured in an Israeli strike on Friday which killed nine of his ten children.

Five years on from the murder of George Floyd by a police officer, what is happening with racial justice in the US?

(Photo: Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump at the G20 leaders summit in Japan, 28 June 2019; Reuters)


MON 08:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfh6tq)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 08:06 The Interview (w3ct7wzl)
Surviving Syria’s sectarian violence

Tim Franks speaks to a British-Syrian Alawite who came under attack, along with her family, during the sectarian violence on Syria’s coast in March.

The Alawite sect is an offshoot of Shia Islam and its followers make up around 10 per cent of Syria's population, which is majority Sunni.

The recent violence came after fighters loyal to the country's overthrown former president, Bashar al-Assad, who is an Alawite himself, led deadly raids on the new government’s security forces.

Those attacks resurrected deep-seated anger over Assad’s repressive dictatorship, with Alawite civilians seen by some as complicit in the crimes of his regime - and as part of the insurgency that followed his fall.

The new Sunni Islamist-led government had called for support from various military units and militia groups to respond to the attacks on its security forces – which then escalated into a wave of sectarian anger aimed at Alawite civilians.

Human rights groups estimate that around 900 civilians, mainly Alawites, were killed by pro-government forces across Syria's coastal region in early March.

The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC. You can listen on the BBC World Service, Mondays and Wednesdays at 0700 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out twice a week on BBC Sounds, Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

Presenter: Tim Franks
Producer: Ben Cooper
Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith


MON 08:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfzd15l33)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct6rxl)
Critical minerals: The global race is on

They’re essential to the green transition, modern tech, and defence systems—and global demand is soaring.

In the first part of our series on critical minerals, we ask what they are, where they're found and why they matter?

As countries scramble to secure supplies, we explore the rising geopolitical tensions shaping this fast-growing industry—including the Oval Office standoff between Presidents Trump and Zelensky over a landmark minerals deal.

Presenter: Sam Fenwick
Producer: Lexy O’Connor

(Image: Hands holding rock samples of critical minerals)


MON 08:50 Witness History (w3ct7462)
'I wrote the Champions League anthem'

In 1992, European football was at a turning point. The European Cup was going to be replaced with a new format: The Champions League.

European football’s governing body, Uefa wanted a classical theme to accompany the new competition, in an attempt to try and fix the image of football which was mired by hooliganism at the time.

Tony Britten was the man tasked with writing such a piece of music. He tells Tim O’Callaghan how he did it.

Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more.

Recent episodes explore everything from football in Brazil, the history of the ‘Indian Titanic’ and the invention of air fryers, to Public Enemy’s Fight The Power, subway art and the political crisis in Georgia. We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: visionary architect Antoni Gaudi and the design of the Sagrada Familia; Michael Jordan and his bespoke Nike trainers; Princess Diana at the Taj Mahal; and Görel Hanser, manager of legendary Swedish pop band Abba on the influence they’ve had on the music industry. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the time an Iraqi journalist hurled his shoes at the President of the United States in protest of America’s occupation of Iraq; the creation of the Hollywood commercial that changed advertising forever; and the ascent of the first Aboriginal MP.

(Photo: Tony in his studio. Credit: Mark Fawcet)


MON 09:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfhbkv)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 09:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl2nvvgql7)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfzd15pv7)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 09:32 CrowdScience (w3ct6ssn)
[Repeat of broadcast at 02:32 today]


MON 10:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfhg9z)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 10:06 The History Hour (w3ct71vr)
The history of photography

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

The expert guest is Dr Mirjam Brusius, a research fellow in colonial and global history at the German Historical Institute.

First, we hear about Martín Chambi - Peru's pioneering documentary photographer.

Then Amaize Ojeikere talks about his father, JD 'Okhai’ Ojeikere, who created an iconic collection revealing the elaborate ways African women styled their hair.

Plus, the story of Magnum Photos – the picture agency started up by World War Two photographers.

And, Vivian Maier, the nanny who - since her death - has been hailed as one of the best street photographers of the 20th century.

Finally, the mystery behind Lunch Atop a Skyscraper – the famous photograph showing 11 ironworkers eating lunch nearly 70 storeys high.

Contributors:

Roberto Chambi – grandson of photographer Martín Chambi
Dr Mirjam Brusius - research fellow in colonial and global history at the German Historical Institute
Amaize Ojeikere – son of photographer JD 'Okhai’ Ojeikere
Christine Roussel – Rockefeller Center archivist
Jinx Rodger - widow of George Rodger, one of the founders of Magnum Photos
Inge Bondi - Magnum Photos employee

This programme has been updated since the original broadcast.

(Photo: Two books of photographs in the exhibition 'Martin Chambi and his contemporaries’. Credit: Getty Images)


MON 11:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfhl23)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl2nvvgz2h)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfzd15ybh)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 11:32 The Conversation (w3ct708n)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


MON 12:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfhpt7)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 12:06 Outlook (w3ct6wpm)
José Mujica: Guerilla, president and occasional romantic

Remembering the former president of Uruguay: José 'Pepe' Mujica. He started life as a flower farmer on the outskirts of Montevideo. As a young man he became politically active, part of the left-wing guerilla group the Tupamaros, who were bent on revolution through armed struggle that involved bank heists and kidnappings. With the authorities on his tail Pepe was eventually captured, he was shot six times and later staged what became a record-breaking prison escape. When he was captured and imprisoned again, he was held for 13 years in horrendous conditions but he says the pain and loneliness of that time was when he learned the most about life. A year after the military regime stepped down, Pepe was released and joined formal politics and in 2010 he was voted in as president of Uruguay. He shunned the presidential palace and car for his crumbling farmhouse and old VW Beetle and brought in laws legalising gay marriage and abortion. He had his critics but when he died earlier this month, thousands of people lined the streets to pay their respects. We spoke to Pepe alongside his wife Lucia Topolansky in 2023 and they talked about how their love had changed over their decades together.

Presenter: Andrea Kennedy
Producer: Louise Morris

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

(Photo: José Mujica. Credit: Laura Lezza/Getty Images)


MON 12:50 Witness History (w3ct7462)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


MON 13:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfhtkc)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 13:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl2nvvh6kr)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 13:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfzd165tr)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 13:32 CrowdScience (w3ct6ssn)
[Repeat of broadcast at 02:32 today]


MON 14:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfhy9h)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 14:06 Newshour (w172zss2qkyn2w3)
Israel orders Palestinians to evacuate Khan Younis

Israel orders Palestinians to evacuate Khan Younis in southern Gaza ahead of what it calls an "unprecedented attack". We hear the latest from Jerusalem as the fighting - and suffering - intensifies.

Also in the programme: President Trump accuses Vladimir Putin of going "absolutely crazy" for attacking Ukraine, and repeats his threat of more sanctions. We ask what effect new sanctions might have on Russia’s economy? And we remember German-French film-maker Marcel Ophuls, whose work revealed the extent of French collaboration with the Nazis.


(IMAGE: A girl crying during the funeral of Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes on Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip on 25 May 2025 / CREDIT: Hatem Khaled/Reuters)


MON 15:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfj21m)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 15:06 The Interview (w3ct7wzl)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


MON 15:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfzd16fb0)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 15:32 World Business Report (w3ct76qh)
The trillion dollar court battle

Two of the world's biggest energy firms are in court fighting over a new oil project that could be worth a trillion dollars.

We hear why the International Energy Agency says the worlds is becoming too dependent on just a few countries for critical minerals that power clean energy technologies.

Plus, Will Bain finds out why there’s been a five-fold increase in streaming subscriptions in India.


MON 16:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfj5sr)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 16:06 BBC OS (w173067ryntl1xq)
Israel orders Gazans to evacuate Khan Younis

The Israeli military has issued a new evacuation order for Khan Younis in southern Gaza, telling Palestinians to leave immediately. Meanwhile, a senior Hamas official has told the BBC it's agreed to a new ceasefire proposal based on a plan from the US envoy Steve Witkoff. We speak to our BBC Arabic colleagues about the developments.

Russia has launched a record number of drones into Ukraine, in defiance of an angry outburst from President Trump. We speak to our colleagues from BBC Ukraine and BBC Monitoring.

Human Rights Watch says Uganda's LGBTQ community has faced worsening persecution since it passed one of the world's harshest anti-gay laws two years ago. We speak to people from the country's LGBTQ community.

President Emmanuel Macron's office has been forced to play down a video in which his wife, Brigitte, appeared to slap or push him in the face. Our reporter explains.

Presenter: Mark Lowen.

(Photo: A girl reacts during the funeral of Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes, at Nasser hospital, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, May 25, 2025. Credit: Hatem Khaled/Reuters)


MON 17:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfj9jw)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 17:06 BBC OS (w173067ryntl5nv)
Ukrainians react to Russia's record drone strike

Ukraine says Russia sent in more than 350 attack drones overnight - the biggest number since it launched its invasion. Earlier, President Trump said Vladimir Putin had gone "absolutely crazy". We brought together three Ukrainians - in Lviv, Kyiv and Kherson - to share how they feel about the escalation and about the continuing war.

The Japanese government is to release an extra 300,000 tons of rice from its stockpiles to bring down sky-high prices. Our newsroom reporter explains.

The Israeli military has issued a new evacuation order for Khan Younis in southern Gaza, telling Palestinians to leave immediately. We speak to our colleagues with BBC Arabic.

Human Rights Watch says Uganda's LGBTQ community has faced worsening persecution since it passed one of the world's harshest anti-gay laws two years ago. We speak to people from the country's LGBTQ community.

Presenter: Mark Lowen.

(Photo: Tetiana Maksymenko leaves her house that was destroyed in a Russian rocket strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Markhalivka, Kyiv region, Ukraine, May 25, 2025. Credit: Thomas Peter/Reuters)


MON 18:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfjf90)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 18:06 Outlook (w3ct6wpm)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 today]


MON 18:50 Witness History (w3ct7462)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


MON 19:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfjk14)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl2nvvhy1j)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfzd16x9j)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct6z4y)
2025/05/26 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 (w172zwwmjnfjns8)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 20:06 From Our Own Correspondent (w3ct6trf)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:06 on Sunday]


MON 20:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfzd1711n)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 20:32 Discovery (w3ct5rml)
Unstoppable: Nzambi Matee

Dr Julia Ravey and Dr Ella Hubber both have a love of science, but it turns out there’s a lot they don’t know about some of the leading women at the front of the inventing game. In Unstoppable, Dr Julia and Dr Ella tell each other the hidden, world-shaping stories of the engineers, innovators and inventors they wish they’d known about when they were starting out as scientists. This week, the story of an engineer who turned plastic into gold, all starting from her mother’s backyard.

Every day, around 500 tonnes of plastic waste is generated in the Kenyan city of Nairobi. Hardly any of it is recycled – but engineer Nzambi Matee is on a mission to change that. Frustrated by the level of pollution, in 2017 Nzambi constructed a laboratory in her mother’s backyard. It was here that she used her self-taught engineering skills to convert plastic waste into bricks that are stronger and more eco-friendly than concrete.

Since then, Nzambi’s backyard operation has grown into a company – Gjenge Makers – and the bricks are widely used across Nairobi. And at only 31, Nzambi is just getting started. As Dr Julia and Dr Ella trace Nzambi’s journey, we hear from Nzambi herself about what it took to get to this point, as well as her ambitions for the future.

Presenters: Dr Ella Hubber and Dr Julia Ravey
Producers: Ella Hubber and Julia Ravey
Assistant producer: Sophie Ormiston
Production Coordinator: Elisabeth Tuohy
Editor: Holly Squire

(Photo: Nzambi Matee, Kenyan entrepreneur and inventor, holds plastic polymer recycled to make bricks. Credit: SIMON MAINA/AFP via Getty Images)


MON 21:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfjsjd)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 21:06 Newshour (w172zss2qkyny30)
Inside a hospital in Southern Gaza bracing for a new Israeli offensive

Also in the programme: English police have arrested a man after a car ploughed through a crowd after the victory parade for Liverpool football club. And as Venezuela's government congratulates itself on a huge victory's in Sunday's election, the leader of the opposition tells us why she ordered a boycott of the vote.

(Photo: Palestinian girl suffering from malnutrition is watched over by her grandmother at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, 26th May 2025. Credit: Haitham Imad/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)


MON 22:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfjx8j)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 22:06 The Interview (w3ct7wzl)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


MON 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfzd178jx)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 22:32 The Conversation (w3ct708n)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


MON 23:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfk10n)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 23:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl2nvvjf11)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfzd17d91)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 23:32 World Business Report (w3ct76sr)
Optimism over US-EU trade talks

The United States President, Donald Trump, has agreed to drop his threat to impose 50% tariffs on European Union imports and extend a deadline to negotiate tariffs with the EU by more than a month.

They’re often in the headlines. We take an in-depth look at critical minerals, where they're found and why they matter.

And Rahul Tandon will look at how Disney's live-action Lilo and Stitch remake beat Tom Cruise at the US box office. Lilo and Stitch, which revisits the 2002 animated family favourite, exceeded expectations with takings of $341m (£252m) around the world.

TUESDAY 27 MAY 2025

TUE 00:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfk4rs)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 00:06 The History Hour (w3ct71vr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:06 on Monday]


TUE 01:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfk8hx)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 01:06 Business Matters (w172zrs2q4rkf02)
Optimism over US-EU trade talks

The United States President, Donald Trump, has agreed to drop his threat to impose 50% tariffs on European Union imports and extend a deadline to negotiate tariffs with the EU by more than a month.

In Argentina, the government has announced that its easing currency reporting rules to deal with dollars kept under mattresses. The Argentine government aims to unleash some $271 billion stashed away in mattresses, safes and foreign bank accounts.

And Rahul Tandon will look at how Disney's live-action Lilo and Stitch remake beat Tom Cruise at the US box office. Lilo and Stitch, which revisits the 2002 animated family favourite, exceeded expectations with takings of $341m (£252m) around the world.

Throughout the programme, we will be joined by two guests on opposite sides of the world: Sushma Ramachandran, an independent journalist and columnist with the Tribune newspaper in India, and Fermin Koop, a reporter on environmental and climate change in Argentina.


TUE 02:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfkd81)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl2nvvjs8f)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfzd17rjf)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 02:32 Assignment (w3ct6rbj)
Spain: Can an algorithm predict murder?

In the Spanish seaside town of Benalmadena, Catalina, a 48-year-old mother of four, was killed at home – the building was set on fire. Her ex-partner was arrested and remains in custody. In January, Lina had reported her ex-partner to the police for ill-treatment and threatening behaviour. By doing so, she became one of around 100,000 cases of gender-based violence active in Spain’s VioGen system.

VioGen is an algorithm used by the police – it is a risk assessment tool. Based on a woman’s answers to a series of questions, it calculates the likelihood she will be attacked again so police resources can be allocated to protect those most in danger. The level of risk could be negligible, low, medium, high or extreme. Lina was recorded as being at ‘medium’ risk of a further attack by the man who was her ex-partner. Three weeks later, she was dead. VioGen’s critics are concerned about the number of women registered on the system who are then murdered by men who are former or current partners. Its champions claim that without VioGen there would be far more violence against women.

With AI in the ascendency, and governments increasingly turning to algorithms to make decisions affecting society, Linda Pressly and Esperanza Escribano investigate the story of VioGen and domestic violence in Spain.

Presenter/producer: Linda Pressly and Esperanza Escribano
Sound engineer: Nigel Appleton
Production co-ordinator: Gemma Ashman
Series editor: Penny Murphy

(Photo: Photograph of Lina. Credit: Family handout)


TUE 03:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfkj05)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 03:06 Outlook (w3ct6wpm)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Monday]


TUE 03:50 Witness History (w3ct7462)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 on Monday]


TUE 04:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfkmr9)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 04:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl2nvvk0rp)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfzd1800p)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 04:32 In the Studio (w3ct6vtc)
Kenyan artist Mika Obanda

Mika Obanda is a Kenyan artist who creates vibrant and personal mosaics using egg shells sourced from local hotels. Cleaning, drying and colouring them, before painstakingly placing each individual tiny piece onto his canvases.

Frenny Jowi visits him in his studio in the Nairobi slum of Mukuru as he works on his latest collection. It’s a series called Trying to Blossom, in which he often places himself at the centre of his art works, showing not only his own journey as an artist and a person, but also as an activist, reflecting spirituality, love and the wider issues facing himself and his community.

Producer: Andrea Kidd

(Image: Mika Obanda. Credit: BBC)


TUE 05:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfkrhf)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 05:06 Newsday (w172zspm13vj4j0)
Car ploughs into Liverpool crowd

We'll hear about an incident at the parade for Liverpool football club in which a car ploughed into pedestrians, injuring at least twenty-seven people.

As a controversial new aid supply mechanism begins work in Gaza, we look into a deadly attack on a Gaza City school turned shelter, which Israel says was a Hamas command centre. Women and children were among those killed.

We'll head to the Moscow Security Summit, to look at the growing African presence there.

And in our business slot, giant fashion retailer, Shein, is given an ultimatum by the EU over fake discounts and consumer's rights.

(Photo: The scene in Water Street near the Liver Building in Liverpool, 26 May 2005, Credit: PA)


TUE 06:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfkw7k)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 06:06 Newsday (w172zspm13vj884)
Gaza aid distribution starts

Israel demands that people evacuate another area of Gaza. The call comes as a new, controversial aid supply group, which bypasses the UN, delivers its first consignment of food.

A car ploughs into crowds at the victory parade for Liverpool football club, injuring dozens. Police have made an arrest.

Germany's chancellor announces there are no longer any range restrictions on weapons supplied to Ukraine by its western allies. If Ukrainians are welcoming the move, the Kremlin says this would be a dangerous move.

(Photo: Aid truck reaches Gaza City, 25 May 2025; Credit: EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)


TUE 07:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfkzzp)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 07:06 Newsday (w172zspm13vjd08)
Aid group says Gaza operations have begun

Israel demands that people evacuate another area of Gaza. The call comes as a new, a controversial US-backed group tasked with supplying aid to Gaza says it has begun operations. We'll speak to an aid worker in Gaza.

A car ploughs into crowds at the victory parade for Liverpool football club, injuring dozens of people. Police have made an arrest and ruled out terrorism. We'll talk to a local MP.

We'll head to southern Lebanon, six months after the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

And Carlo Ancelotti has been appointed head coach of the Brazil national football team.

(Photo: Trucks carrying aid at the Kerem Shalom, 25 May 2025; Credit: Reuters)


TUE 08:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfl3qt)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 08:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct6xxk)
Malawi's waste warriors

What do you do with your waste if you live somewhere that doesn’t have the infrastructure to deal with it? Turns out there are some really simple solutions. Presenter Myra Anubi is in Malawi where she meets the cafe owner in the capital Lilongwe who has set up a recycling hub as well as the women making valuable compost from food scraps and animal dung. Plus Myra visits the Kibébé workshop in the Dzaleka refugee camp where refugees are finding employment and meaning by turning used materials into clothing and toys.

People Fixing The World from the BBC is about brilliant solutions to the world's problems. 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
Malawi producer: Marie Segula
Sound engineer: Hal Haines
Editor: Jon Bithrey

(Photo: Norah Baziwell and her team of compost makers in Lilongwe)


TUE 08:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfzd18h06)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct6s6m)
China: The mineral superpower

The country dominates the global processing of critical minerals - materials essential to clean energy, defence, and modern manufacturing.

In the second part of our series on the global race to secure these resources, we explore how China built its control over the supply chain, from strategic state investment to partnerships abroad.

We also head to Indonesia, where Chinese firms are leading the charge in nickel processing. Has one country gained too much power over the world’s green transition?

Presenter: Sam Fenwick
Producer: Lexy O’Connor

(Image: Labourers work at the site of a rare earth metals mine at Nancheng county, Jiangxi province in 2010. Credit: Getty Images)


TUE 08:50 Witness History (w3ct74mn)
The Tragically Hip's final gig

In 2015, rockstar and Canadian icon Gord Downie was given months to live, after doctors found he had a terminal brain tumour.

But instead of quietly exiting the stage, Gord and his band, the Tragically Hip, came up with a plan to play 15 shows across 10 of Canada’s major cities.

Megan Lawton speaks to lead guitarist Rob Baker about the tour and the remarkable final gig that was watched by millions across the country.

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 football in Brazil, the history of the ‘Indian Titanic’ and the invention of air fryers, to Public Enemy’s Fight The Power, subway art and the political crisis in Georgia. We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: visionary architect Antoni Gaudi and the design of the Sagrada Familia; Michael Jordan and his bespoke Nike trainers; Princess Diana at the Taj Mahal; and Görel Hanser, manager of legendary Swedish pop band Abba on the influence they’ve had on the music industry. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the time an Iraqi journalist hurled his shoes at the President of the United States in protest of America’s occupation of Iraq; the creation of the Hollywood commercial that changed advertising forever; and the ascent of the first Aboriginal MP.

(Photo: Gord and the Tragically Hip performing on their final tour. Credit: Andrew Chin/Getty Images)


TUE 09:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfl7gy)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 09:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl2nvvkmhb)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfzd18lrb)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 09:32 Assignment (w3ct6rbj)
[Repeat of broadcast at 02:32 today]


TUE 10:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnflc72)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 10:06 The Arts Hour (w3ct6zt7)
[Repeat of broadcast at 20:06 on Saturday]


TUE 11:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnflgz6)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl2nvvkvzl)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfzd18v7l)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 11:32 In the Studio (w3ct6vtc)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


TUE 12:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfllqb)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 12:06 Outlook (w3ct6x49)
The story of a Queen, the Mau Mau and a life-saving uniform

Wilson Maina grew up in Kenya with a grandfather who loved to tell stories. But one day a tale of Mau Mau oaths of allegiance, forced interrogation by the British, and an unassuming khaki uniform made Wilson really sit up and listen. His grandfather wore that uniform as a volunteer emergency responder for the charity St. John and prided himself on helping save the lives of others. But one day, that uniform would end up saving his own life - and represent a story of an ordinary man treading a fine line during the growing fight for Kenyan independence from British colonial rule.

Rebecca Ntsanwisi, affectionately known as Mama Beka, was a dedicated community worker and former radio host in Limpopo, South Africa. After a cancer diagnosis left her unable to care for herself and others, she was encouraged to exercise as part of her recovery. This led her to form a walking club with elderly women in her area, which soon evolved into a soccer team, Vakhegula Vakhegula ("Grannies Grannies"), after they were inspired by local boys playing the game. Their unexpected sporting journey challenged stereotypes about older women and gained widespread attention. After playing in the Veteran's Cup in 2010, Mama Beka expanded her vision and created the Soccer Grannies World Cup, an international tournament celebrating senior women in sports.

Presenter: Asya Fouks
Producer: Anna Lacey and Tommy Dixon

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

(Photo: Wilson Maina wearing his grandfather's uniform, with his grandfather by his side. Credit: Wilson Maina)


TUE 12:50 Witness History (w3ct74mn)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


TUE 13:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnflqgg)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 13:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl2nvvl3gv)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 13:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfzd192qv)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 13:32 Discovery (w3ct5rml)
[Repeat of broadcast at 20:32 on Monday]


TUE 14:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnflv6l)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 14:06 Newshour (w172zss2qkyqzs6)
Aid group backed by US and Israel claims to have delivered food in Gaza

The controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation aid group, backed by Israel and the US, claims to have started delivering food to Gaza - but who's actually running it, and why? We also hear from a doctor in Gaza on the impact of the shortages, and from one of over 800 British lawyers calling on the UK government to fulfil its international legal obligations in relation to Israel.

Also in the programme: King Charles prepares to address the Canadian parliament -- in what's been seen as a show of support for the country in its dispute with President Trump; and high expectations for a new antibiotic to counter growing resistance.

(Photo: Trucks carrying aid are seen at the Kerem Shalom crossing between Israel and Gaza, on its Israeli side, 27 May, 2025. The US and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation announced it had started delivering aid to Gaza. Credit: Shafiek Tassiem/Reuters)


TUE 15:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnflyyq)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 15:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct6xxk)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


TUE 15:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfzd19b73)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 15:32 World Business Report (w3ct766n)
Shein accused of breaking EU law

Global fast-fashion retailer, Shein, has been accused of breaking EU law with manipulative sales tactics. We hear from the Director General of the European Consumer Organisation.

In Africa, the search for the new president of its top financial institution is almost over. Who could be the new leader for the African Development Bank and what could that mean for the continent?

Plus, Will Bain finds out why business leaders are rushing to apply for New Zealand's golden visas.


TUE 16:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfm2pv)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 16:06 BBC OS (w173067ryntnytt)
UK police investigate after car ploughs into Liverpool crowds

Britain's prime minister, Keir Starmer, says the whole country stands with the city of Liverpool, after a car drove through crowds celebrating Liverpool Football Club's Premier League victory parade on Monday. Almost fifty people were injured. We speak to BBC Verify who are analysing videos posted on social media that show what happened. We also hear from eyewitnesses and members of the community.

A new US-backed aid supply group claims to have distributed truckloads of food in Gaza. We speak to our BBC Arabic colleagues.

President Donald Trump and European Union foreign ministers recently announced they will lift sanctions on Syria. It is a major boost to efforts to stabilise the country by interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa after his Islamist militant group ousted Bashar al-Assad's regime. We bring together three Syrian artists to share their hopes for the future after 13 years of civil war.

King Charles is delivering the Throne Speech to open the 45th session of Canada’s parliament. We dip into the live event.

The BBC has been given rare access to an operation by UN troops in Lebanon searching for positions that were used by the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah to carry out attacks against Israel. We are joined by our reporter Hugo Bachega.

Presenter: Mark Lowen
(Photo: Forensic officers place numbered evidence markers at the scene of an incident where a car plowed into a crowd of Liverpool fans during a parade celebrating their side's Premier League soccer title, in central Liverpool, Britain. May 27, 2025. Credit: REUTERS/Vitalii Yalahuzian)


TUE 17:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfm6fz)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 17:06 BBC OS (w173067ryntp2ky)
King Charles speaks in Canada's parliament

King Charles has delivered the Throne Speech to open the 45th session of Canada’s parliament. We speak to people in Canada about their relationship and history with the UK.

We speak to eyewitnesses in Liverpool after almost 50 people were injured, including four children, when a car ploughed into a crowd during Liverpool FC's Premier League victory parade.

A controversial new aid distribution site in Gaza backed by the US and Israel has been briefly over-run, according to reports. Hamas sources say people stormed the site because they were desperate for food. We speak to our newsroom reporter.

And we have a conversation on what it takes to climb Mount Everest, after a record breaking climb by a Sherpa.

Presenter: Mark Lowen
(Photo: Prime Minister of Canada Mark Carney speaks to King Charles III in the Senate Chamber at the Senate of Canada Building, Ottawa, for the State Opening of the Parliament of Canada, May 27, 2025. Credit: Aaron Chown/PA Wire)


TUE 18:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfmb63)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 18:06 Outlook (w3ct6x49)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 today]


TUE 18:50 Witness History (w3ct74mn)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


TUE 19:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfmfy7)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl2nvvltym)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfzd19t6m)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct6z9g)
2025/05/27 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 (w172zwwmjnfmkpc)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 20:06 Assignment (w3ct6rbj)
[Repeat of broadcast at 02:32 today]


TUE 20:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfzd19xyr)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 20:32 Tech Life (w3ct6znr)
The digital afterlife business

This week we're looking at a growing digital industry which allows people to interact - in a way - with the likeness or the voice of someone they care about who has passed away. It's not science fiction, and it does involve AI chatbots.

Also on Tech Life this week, we'll be finding out about two tech solutions to the problem of food which goes to waste. Tech Life's Alasdair Keane explores the challenge of making a Formula 1 racing car more eco friendly. And what is digital art ?

We enjoy reading your messages about the one item of tech you simply can't do without. If you want to tell us about your must-have piece of tech, please get in touch by emailing techlife@bbc.co.uk or send us a Whatsapp message or voice memo on +44 330 1230 320.

Presenter: Graham Fraser
Producer: Tom Quinn
Editor: Monica Soriano

Image: An illustration of a human hand reaching toward the unknown. Science fiction becoming reality. Credit: Yana Iskayeva/Getty Images


TUE 21:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfmpfh)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 21:06 Newshour (w172zss2qkyrv03)
Crowds storm Gaza aid distribution hub

Palestinians crowds storm a Gaza aid distribution hub, backed by the US and Israel, on its first full day of operation; and the former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert tells Newshour that Israel is committing war crimes.

Also in the programme: King Charles III address Canada's parliament; the forty-thousand-year-old fingerprint.

(Picture: A man carries a box as Palestinians seeking aid gather near an aid distribution site run by the U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, May 27, 2025. Credit: Reuters)


TUE 22:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfmt5m)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 22:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct6xxk)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


TUE 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfzd1b5g0)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 22:32 In the Studio (w3ct6vtc)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


TUE 23:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfmxxr)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 23:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl2nvvm9y4)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfzd1b964)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 23:32 World Business Report (w3ct76b1)
US-Japan steel deal?

Japanese-owned steelmaker Nippon Steel is expected to close its “partnership” with U.S. Steel at $55 per share, as the US media have reported. On Friday, last week, President Donald Trump said that he has cleared the deal.

Zimbabwe's president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, has signed into law a contentious bill that requires all drivers to buy a car radio licence before a vehicle can legally be on the road.

And Rahul Tandon hears how one woman’s quest to buy only US made goods has been surprisingly difficult.

WEDNESDAY 28 MAY 2025

WED 00:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfn1nw)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 00:06 The Arts Hour (w3ct6zt7)
[Repeat of broadcast at 20:06 on Saturday]


WED 01:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfn5f0)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 01:06 Business Matters (w172zrs2q4rn9x5)
US pauses student visas

The US President, Donald Trump's administration, has ordered its embassies abroad to pause new applications for student and exchange visitor visas as it prepares to expand social media vetting of foreign students. We hear from former US Education Secretary Arne Duncan – who was in office during Obama’s presidency.

Japanese-owned steelmaker Nippon Steel is expected to close its “partnership” with U.S. Steel at $55 per share, as the US media have reported. On Friday, last week, President Donald Trump said that he has cleared the deal.

And Rahul Tandon hears how one woman’s quest to buy only US-made goods has been surprisingly difficult.

Throughout the programme, we will be joined by two guests on opposite sides of the world: Erin McLaughlin, Senior Economist, The Conference Board in the US, and Simon Littlewood, President of ACG Global or a business consultant based in Singapore.


WED 02:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfn954)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl2nvvmp5j)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfzd1bnfj)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 02:32 The Climate Question (w3ct701v)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:06 on Sunday]


WED 03:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfndx8)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 03:06 Outlook (w3ct6x49)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Tuesday]


WED 03:50 Witness History (w3ct74mn)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 on Tuesday]


WED 04:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfnjnd)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 04:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl2nvvmxns)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfzd1bwxs)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 04:32 Good Bad Billionaire (w3ct7q8y)
Markus Persson: Minecraft maker

Minecraft is the most successful computer game ever. It's sold 300 million copies, built an active community of fans and there's now even a Minecraft movie. So how did one man - Markus Persson - create it all by himself, before selling it for billions?

BBC business editor Simon Jack and journalist Zing Tsjeng find out how a high school dropout, obsessed with Lego and gaming, became a computer game hero. The Swedish programmer, known by the nickname Notch, built a virtual 3D world where, with the help of a pickaxe, players could harness their creativity to build almost anything, one block at a time. Persson founded the video game development company Mojang Studios, before selling it to Microsoft, but then came a spectacular downfall.

Good Bad Billionaire is the podcast exploring the lives of the super-rich and famous, tracking their wealth, philanthropy, business ethics and success. There are leaders who made their money in Silicon Valley, on Wall Street and in high street fashion. From iconic celebrities and CEOs to titans of technology, the podcast unravels tales of fortune, power, economics, ambition and moral responsibility, before inviting you to make up your own mind: are they good, bad or just another billionaire?

Audio for this episode was updated on 20 May 2025.


WED 05:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfnndj)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 05:06 Newsday (w172zspm13vm1f3)
US pauses applications for student visas

The message from the US administration said social media vetting would be stepped up for student and foreign exchange visas, which would have "significant implications" for embassies and consulates. US says that the state department was also preparing for an "expansion of required social media screening and vetting" applicable to all student visa applications.

A food distribution ended in chaos in Gaza with more efforts planned today to bring aid. We'll hear from residents affected by the hunger crisis after 3 months of aid blockade.

Photo: Harvard students cheer during a rally in support of the international student population; Credit: EPA-EFE/Shutterstock


WED 06:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfns4n)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 06:06 Newsday (w172zspm13vm557)
US embassies halt new student visas

The state department memo, viewed by the BBC's US partner CBS News, directed US embassies on Tuesday to remove any unfilled appointments from their calendars for students seeking visas, but said those with appointments already scheduled could go ahead.

We speak to the United Nation's Rapporteur for Gaza who tells us about deliberate mass starvation.

And we hear from former Israeli Prime minister Ehud Olmert who says Israel is committing war crimes.

(Photo: A supporter with a sign reading 'We Love Our International Students" ; Credit: EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)


WED 07:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfnwws)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 07:06 Newsday (w172zspm13vm8xc)
US says no new student visas for now

The Trump administration pauses new applications for student visas, and prepares to expand social media vetting of foreign students. We hear from a student who has decided to return home


The New US backed group is set to continue its controversial aid distribution in Gaza a day after desperate Palestinians overwhelmed one centre in Rafah in the south. We will get reactions from one of the founders of the Gaza soup kitchen

(Photo: Tourists outside the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 27 May 2025; Credit: EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)


WED 08:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfp0mx)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 08:06 The Interview (w3ct7x6c)
Matt Garman, CEO of Amazon Web Services - what is the future of big tech?

Simon Jack, the BBC’s business editor, speaks to Matt Garman, chief executive of Amazon Web Services - part of the retail giant Amazon, and the world’s largest cloud computing company.

Mr Garman started his career at AWS as an intern, and has risen to oversee a global network of huge data centres, providing IT resources for businesses worldwide. In this conversation, he shares his vision for the future of big tech through cloud computing and artificial intelligence, and the potential for economic growth and opportunity he believes they hold.

He also sets out his support for the role for nuclear technology in powering the data centres at that sit at the heart of big tech - and the risks of over-regulation, dismissing claims that the industry is uncompetitive and dominated by huge corporations such as his.

The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC. You can listen on the BBC World Service, Mondays and Wednesdays at 0700 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out twice a week on BBC Sounds, Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

Presenter: Simon Jack
Producers: Lucy Sheppard, Viv Jones
Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith

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


WED 08:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfzd1ccx9)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct6sc4)
Can Europe build a mineral supply chain?

China’s headstart in market dominance is significant, and its grip on critical mineral supply chains remains tight.

The question now is whether other governments can move fast enough — and smart enough — to build something more secure, more sustainable, and less dependent.

We head to La Rochelle in western France for a rare look inside one of the world’s biggest rare earth processing plants, and find out what it reveals about Europe’s efforts to build a supply chain of its own.

Presenter: Jonathan Josephs
Producer: Matt Lines

(Image: A rare earth processing plant in La Rochelle, France, owned by chemicals giant Solvay)


WED 08:50 Witness History (w3ct74px)
Chinua Achebe’s revolutionary book Things Fall Apart

In 1958 Nigerian writer, Chinua Achebe, published his first book, Things Fall Apart.

Set in pre-colonial rural Nigeria, it examines how the arrival of foreigners led to tensions within traditional Igbo society.

The book revolutionised African writing, and began a whole new genre of world literature.

In 2016, Rebecca Kesby spoke to Achebe's youngest daughter, Nwando Achebe.

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 football in Brazil, the history of the ‘Indian Titanic’ and the invention of air fryers, to Public Enemy’s Fight The Power, subway art and the political crisis in Georgia. We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: visionary architect Antoni Gaudi and the design of the Sagrada Familia; Michael Jordan and his bespoke Nike trainers; Princess Diana at the Taj Mahal; and Görel Hanser, manager of legendary Swedish pop band Abba on the influence they’ve had on the music industry. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the time an Iraqi journalist hurled his shoes at the President of the United States in protest of America’s occupation of Iraq; the creation of the Hollywood commercial that changed advertising forever; and the ascent of the first Aboriginal MP.

(Photo: Chinua Achebe in 2013. Credit: Leonardo Cendamo via Getty Images)


WED 09:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfp4d1)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 09:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl2nvvnjdf)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfzd1chnf)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 09:32 The Climate Question (w3ct701v)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:06 on Sunday]


WED 10:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfp845)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 10:06 The Forum (w3ct712r)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Saturday]


WED 11:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfpcw9)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl2nvvnrwp)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfzd1cr4p)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 11:32 Good Bad Billionaire (w3ct7q8y)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


WED 12:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfphmf)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 12:06 Outlook (w3ct6xc6)
Kidnapped at four: How I found my way home

Antonio Salazar-Hobson was four years old when he was kidnapped from his Mexican migrant worker family in Arizona by the white couple who lived next door. From Phoenix, he was taken more than 300 miles away to California, where he grew up suffering terrible abuse. Throughout his ordeal, he replayed the memories he had of his family over and again - especially of his beloved mother Petra - and swore to himself that one day he would make it back to her. As a teenager, he sought out other Mexican-American families to hold on to his roots, and threw himself into left-wing activism on behalf of workers like his family back home. There, he met renowned labour union leader Cesar Chavez who encouraged him to study and become a lawyer; it was an encounter which would change the course of his life. After going to college, and finally escaping his abductors, he began to track down the family he'd been stolen from so many years before.

This programme contains references to child sexual abuse and suicide.

Presenter: Jo Fidgen
Producer: Zoe Gelber

Photo: Antonio Salazar-Hobson. Credit: Billy Douglas


WED 12:50 Witness History (w3ct74px)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


WED 13:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfpmck)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 13:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl2nvvp0cy)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 13:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfzd1czmy)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 13:32 Tech Life (w3ct6znr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 20:32 on Tuesday]


WED 14:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfpr3p)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 14:06 Newshour (w172zss2qkytwp9)
US halts student visa appointments

The Trump administration regard many of the US’s most prestigious universities as hotbeds of antisemitism and left-wing ideology. In addition to threatening to remove millions of dollars in funding the State Department has now issued a ban to American embassies around the world to stop holding student visa appointments. Social media vetting is also expected to be introduced for prospective students from abroad.

Also on the programme: the V&A museum in London is giving the public the opportunity to choose which objects they want to see at the brand-new East Storehouse, a site that combines storage space with art exhibitions. And; about 2.5 billion people around the world are overweight. Weight-loss drugs such as Wegovy have made it easier for people to lose the extra kilos, but how safe are these drugs? Former commissioner for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Dr David Kessler, visits the studio to discuss our relationship with food.

(Photo: A supporter with a sign reading 'We Love Our International Students,' arrives to a rally in support of the international student population at Harvard and other US Universities, outside the Science Center on the Harvard University campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, 27 May 2025. Credit: CJ GUNTHER/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)


WED 15:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfpvvt)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 15:06 The Interview (w3ct7x6c)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


WED 15:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfzd1d746)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 15:32 World Business Report (w3ct76fg)
State of emergency in Panama

US banana giant Chiquita has laid off around 5,000 workers following a month-long strike as part of nationwide industrial action. Workers are protesting against new social security laws lowering pensions. In 2023, Panama exported $273m of bananas, making it the 13th largest exporter of bananas in the world. What do the layoffs mean for Panama and the wider banana industry?

In Africa, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) celebrates its 50th anniversary amid recent exits from prominent member states. David Harper looks at the latest market developments from Shein, Temu and Nissan.


WED 16:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfpzly)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 16:06 BBC OS (w173067ryntrvqx)
Temperatures to remain high the rest of the decade

Climate experts have warned that the latest forecasts for global temperatures suggest that the Earth is "profoundly ill". The World Meteorological Organisation says it expects high or record levels of heat to continue for the next five years. We hear from people affected by high temperatures and speak to our climate editor.

A doctor thought to be France's most prolific ever paedophile has been sentenced to a further 20 years in jail. Our online reporter gives an update.

The EU's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, has strongly criticised the new aid distribution system imposed on Gaza by Israel. We speak to BBC Verify about the situation. With international pressure mounting on Israel, we hear views by two people in the country.

Presenter: Mark Lowen.

(Photo: Global temperatures likely to be above 1.5C threshold over next five years. Credit: Victoria Jones/PA Wire)


WED 17:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfq3c2)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 17:06 BBC OS (w173067ryntrzh1)
French paedophile surgeon sentenced to 20 years in jail

Joel Le Scouarnec, the former surgeon who has admitted sexually abusing hundreds of patients, mostly children, between 1989 and 2014 has been sentenced to a maximum term of 20 years in jail. We speak to journalists who have been following the case.

President Donald Trump's administration has ordered US embassies around the world to stop scheduling appointments for student visas as it prepares to expand social media vetting of applicants. Our Washington reporter explains.

A judge in Argentina has stood down from the trial of Diego Maradona's medical staff after being criticised for taking part in a documentary about the case. Our colleague in Argentina explains.

Our correspondent Yogita Limaye has been on the eastern frontline in Ukraine to see evidence of the Russian advance there.

Some universities in Canada have started teaching "adulting 101" classes, where Gen Z students can learn life skills including how to change a car tyre, roast a chicken, and budget for rent. Young members of the OS team share their experiences.

Presenter: Mark Lowen.

(Photo: French ex-surgeon Joel Le Scouarnec, accused of rape and sexual assault against hundreds of children over several decades, is seen during his trial in this courtroom sketch at the courthouse in Vannes, France, February 24, 2025. Credit: ZZIIGG/Reuters)


WED 18:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfq736)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 18:06 Outlook (w3ct6xc6)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 today]


WED 18:50 Witness History (w3ct74px)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


WED 19:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfqbvb)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl2nvvpqvq)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfzd1dq3q)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct6zcq)
2025/05/28 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 (w172zwwmjnfqglg)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 20:06 The Climate Question (w3ct701v)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:06 on Sunday]


WED 20:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfzd1dtvv)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 20:32 Health Check (w3ct6vjb)
A new way to screen for cancer in dense breasts

Women with dense breasts are four times more likely to develop breast cancer than women with low breast density and it’s also harder for cancer to be detected with existing screening methods. But now, the findings in a new study could dramatically improve the chances of having the disease spotted early on. We speak to the study’s lead author is Professor Fiona Gilbert to find out more.

The 2025 World Health Assembly has just concluded, Devex Correspondent Andrew Green was there and tells us what the main takeaways were.

Dr Cecilia Kanyama and Professor Thomas Harrison share their decades-long effort to improve treatment options for cryptococcal meningitis. The refined treatment regimen, discovered alongside Joe Jarvis and their team, gives hope to the hundreds of thousands of HIV-positive patients who are diagnosed with this fungal infection each year.

Finally, researchers have developed contact lenses that enable to wearer to see near-infrared light. How do they work and what could they be useful for?

Presenter: Claudia Hammond
Producers: Hannah Robins & Louise Orchard
Studio Managers: Mike Mallen & Andrew Garratt


WED 21:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfqlbl)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 21:06 Newshour (w172zss2qkyvqx6)
France's sentences most prolific paedophile ever

A French court has sentenced a doctor thought to be the country's most prolific ever paedophile to a further twenty years in jail. Joel Le Scouarnec had admitted abusing nearly three hundred people, many of them children under sedation.

Also in the programme: on the front line in the east of Ukraine; and the Czechs accuse the Chinese of a state-sponsored cyber attack.

(Picture: A man carries a banner reading 'Listen to us' during a demonstration in support of Joel Le Scouarnec's victims on the verdict day of the trial of the French surgeon in Vannes, France, 28 May 2025. Credit: EPA)


WED 22:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfqq2q)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 22:06 The Interview (w3ct7x6c)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


WED 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfzd1f2c3)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 22:32 Good Bad Billionaire (w3ct7q8y)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


WED 23:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfqttv)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 23:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl2nvvq6v7)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfzd1f637)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 23:32 World Business Report (w3ct76hq)
Nvidia earnings boom despite tariffs

Nvidia, a huge success in the tech world, reported its latest quarterly earnings. The chipmaker, vying with Apple for the position of the world's richest company, beat expectations despite export controls.

Elon Musk, , the billionaire and co-founder and CEO of Tesla, has criticised one of the signature policies of President Donald Trump, marking a break from the US president who he helped to win re-election in 2024.

And the meat of brown bears, a protected species in the EU, could soon be available to eat in Slovakia after the populist government approved plans for sale. Roger hears from a food tour guide who tested the meat before.

THURSDAY 29 MAY 2025

THU 00:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfqykz)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 00:06 The Forum (w3ct712r)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Saturday]


THU 01:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfr2b3)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 01:06 Business Matters (w172zrs2q4rr6t8)
Nvidia earnings boom to 70% despite tariffs

Nvidia, a huge success in the tech world, reported its latest quarterly earnings. The chipmaker, vying with Apple for the position of the world's richest company, beat expectations despite export controls.

Elon Musk, , the billionaire and co-founder and CEO of Tesla, has criticised one of the signature policies of President Donald Trump, marking a break from the US president who he helped to win re-election in 2024.

And the meat of brown bears, a protected species in the EU, could soon be available to eat in Slovakia after the populist government approved plans for sale. Roger hears from a food tour guide who tested the meat before.

Throughout the programme, we will be joined by two guests on opposite sides of the world: Michael Malone, a veteran Silicon Valley journalist and host of the Silicon Insider podcast in the US, and Zyma Islam, senior reporter for The Daily Star in Dhaka, Bangladesh.


THU 02:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfr627)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl2nvvql2m)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfzd1fkbm)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 02:32 The Documentary (w3ct7zjl)
America: The human plasma factory

Journalist Kathleen McLaughlin needs $15,000-a-dose medication to treat her rare autoimmune condition. While she sits for hours at a time, just down the block is one of over 1000 commercial blood donation centres in the USA extracting plasma, which forms an essential part of her treatment.

Kathleen investigates the multibillion-dollar global plasma industry behind her life-enhancing medication. Through donor and patient testimonies, expert insights and personal experiences, she tries to make sense of the world’s reliance on one country’s blood, a reliance that only continues to grow.

Kathleen learns why people are resorting to plasma donation to stay out of debt, whether patients around the world have sufficient access to this medication, and why the burden of global production is rooted in the US.

Presenter: Kathleen McLaughlin
Producer: Hester Cant
Executive producer: Jane Long
A Hidden Flack production for BBC World Service

(Photo: Journalist Kathleen McLaughlin)


THU 03:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfr9tc)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 03:06 Outlook (w3ct6xc6)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Wednesday]


THU 03:50 Witness History (w3ct74px)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 on Wednesday]


THU 04:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfrfkh)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 04:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl2nvvqtkw)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfzd1fstw)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 04:32 The Food Chain (w3ct70yg)
May contain: The food allergy risk

What it’s like for your child to be diagnosed with life-threatening food allergies? Ruth Alexander explores the realities of shopping, socialising and eating out with a food allergy, and discusses what needs to change to make food safer for everyone.

Amanda Bee and her daughter Vivian, 13, tell us how they navigate her allergies to milk, beef and dragonfruit.

We hear from Dr Alexandra Santos, a professor of paediatric allergy at King's College London, about why food allergies are rising across the world.

In which parts of the world is it most difficult to have a food allergy? Deshna in Coimbatore, India, tells us what it’s like to have a lactose allergy in a country that uses so much milk and cheese.

Chief of the food allergy committee at the World Allergy Organisation, Alessandro Fiocchi, and head of allergy at the paediatric hospital Bambino Gesu in Rome, explains the problems around ‘may contain’ labelling and how confusing they can be to consumers. And how despite the challenges, medicine is providing more and more solutions to those living with food allergies.


THU 05:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfrk9m)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 05:06 Newsday (w172zspm13vpyb6)
Hungry palestinians break into a warehouse

WFP said that food supplies had been pre-positioned at the warehouse for distribution when broken into. The programme added: "Gaza needs an immediate scale-up of food assistance. This is the only way to reassure people that they will not starve."

A US federal court has ruled that President Donald Trump overstepped his authority by imposing global tariffs, in a major blow to a key element of his economic policies - we'll speak to a former Treasury Official.

We'll head to Ukraine and speak to someone heading home to the frontline region of Sumy as President Trump sets a deadline on peace for President Putin.

(Photo: Palestinians gather at an aid distribution center in Deir Al-Balah; Credit: Obtained/Reuters)


THU 06:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfrp1r)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 06:06 Newsday (w172zspm13vq22b)
WFP: Humanitarian needs in Gaza 'out of control'

Israeli authorities said on Wednesday that 121 trucks belonging to the UN and the international community carrying humanitarian aid including flour and food were transferred into Gaza.

A federal court in New York has ruled that President Donald Trump overstepped his authority by imposing global tariffs, in a major blow to a key part of his economic policies.

(Photo: A World Food Programme (WFP) truck, which will be sent into Gaza empty for logistical purposes; Credit: Reuters)


THU 07:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfrssw)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 07:06 Newsday (w172zspm13vq5tg)
WFP calls on Israel to allow more aid in Gaza

Thousands of people have broken into a warehouse operated by the UN World Food Programme in Gaza's Deir el-Balah area, with at least four people reported dead. The organisation says humanitarian needs in Gaza had "spiralled out of control" and calls for more aid to be allowed.


We hear from an American surgeon who recently worked in the territory, describing starving families coming under constant fire by Israeli airstrikes.


A US federal court rules that President Donald Trump overstepped his authority by imposing global tariffs.

(Photo: Displaced Palestinians gather at a market near the rubble of destroyed buildings in Jabalia; Credit: EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)


THU 08:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfrxk0)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 08:06 The Inquiry (w3ct722k)
Can we stop killer fungi?

Fungal diseases are becoming more common, more dangerous, and more difficult to treat. There’s concern that they may cause the next global pandemic.

Rising global temperatures, better survival rates for vulnerable patients, and increased medical interventions contribute to the rise in fungal infections. Access to effective diagnostics and treatment remains limited, with significant disparities between high and low-income countries.

Treating fungal infections is becoming more challenging as they build resistance
to the drugs used to treat them. New therapies are being developed, including treatments that disrupt fungal DNA replication or interfere with essential proteins, offering some hope for long-term control.

Contributors:
Adilia Warris, Professor in Paediatric Infectious Diseases, University of Exeter, UK

Rita Oladele, Professor of Clinical Microbiology, University of Lagos and Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria

Arturo Casadevall, Professor and Chair of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, US

Michael Bromley, Professor in Fungal Disease, University of Manchester, UK



Presenter: Tanya Beckett
Producer: Louise Clarke
Researcher: Maeve Schaffer
Editor: Tara McDermott
Technical Producer: Richard Hannaford
Production co-ordinator: Tammy Snow

(Image: Aspergillus fumigatus, seen under an optical microscope. Credit: BSIP/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)


THU 08:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfzd1g8td)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct6s23)
The environmental impact of mineral mining

Rising demand for critical minerals to fuel the green energy transition means an expansion of mining around the world.

New mines are opening, existing mines are being scaled up.

In the fourth programme in our series, we find out about the impact of mineral mining on the planet and for those people both working in the mines and living nearby.

We head to the Democratic Republic of the Congo where there are claims that child labour is being used in so called ‘artisanal’ mines and there is little scrutiny of the supply chain.

Presenter: Sam Fenwick
Producer: Lexy O'Connor

(Image: Artisanal miners carry sacks of ore at a mine near Kolwezi in 2022. Credit: Getty Images)


THU 08:50 Witness History (w3ct74j7)
The legacy of The Pirate Bay

On 31 May 2006, police launched one of the largest raids in Swedish history, seizing servers from The Pirate Bay - a hugely popular but highly controversial file-sharing website.

Co-founder Peter Sunde managed to copy a backup meaning the site could relaunch just days later. He became a folk hero among internet users who relied on the platform for free access to pirated films and music.

Sunde and his fellow founders were eventually jailed for assisting in the unauthorised distribution of copyrighted content.

He’s been speaking to Maddy Savage about The Pirate Bay’s battle with Hollywood and the global music industry.

A PodLit 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 football in Brazil, the history of the ‘Indian Titanic’ and the invention of air fryers, to Public Enemy’s Fight The Power, subway art and the political crisis in Georgia. We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: visionary architect Antoni Gaudi and the design of the Sagrada Familia; Michael Jordan and his bespoke Nike trainers; Princess Diana at the Taj Mahal; and Görel Hanser, manager of legendary Swedish pop band Abba on the influence they’ve had on the music industry. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the time an Iraqi journalist hurled his shoes at the President of the United States in protest of America’s occupation of Iraq; the creation of the Hollywood commercial that changed advertising forever; and the ascent of the first Aboriginal MP.

(Photo: Peter Sunde speaking to reporters outside court in Stockholm during his trial. Credit: Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP via Getty Images)


THU 09:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfs194)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 09:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl2nvvrf9j)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfzd1gdkj)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 09:32 The Documentary (w3ct7zjl)
[Repeat of broadcast at 02:32 today]


THU 10:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfs518)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 10:06 The Explanation (w3ct7ys0)
The Media Show: NYT editor Joe Kahn, and travel presenter Simon Reeve

Joe Kahn, Executive Editor of the New York Times, outlines how the newsroom prioritises stories, handles editorial pressure, and navigates the challenges posed by political figures like Donald Trump.
Also on the show, Simon Reeve, BBC travel presenter, and Alfie Watts, a digital travel content creator, reflect on the changing landscape of travel media. Reeve shares the motivations behind his new BBC series on Scandinavia and how he integrates current affairs into travel storytelling.

Presenter: Katie Razzall
Producer: Lisa Jenkinson
Assistant Producer: Lucy Wai


THU 10:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfzd1gj9n)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 10:32 The Documentary (w3ct8003)
The three babies mystery

On a cold night in January 2024 a dog walker finds a baby in a bag in east London, UK - a foundling. She is named Elsa, after the Frozen character. Reporter Sanchia Berg begins to follow the case, gaining rare access to the Family Court and to the police investigation. DNA tests reveal Elsa is the sibling of two other babies found abandoned in the same area over recent years. What has happened to the mother?

Producer: by Lucy Proctor
Sound engineer: James Beard
Editor: Matt Willis

(Photo: Junction of the Greenway and High Street South in Newham, east London, where a newborn baby was found in a shopping bag by a dog walker. Credit: Yui Mok/PA)


THU 11:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfs8sd)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl2nvvrnss)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfzd1gn1s)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 11:32 The Food Chain (w3ct70yg)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


THU 12:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfsdjj)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 12:06 Outlook (w3ct6wxd)
The legacy of legendary photographer Sebastião Salgado

Sebastião Salgado, who died last week at the age of 81, travelled the globe with his camera and was described by many as the world's best documentary photographer. Sebastião left behind the most extraordinary legacy - stunning black-and-white photographs depicting humanity in all its beauty and ugliness. His images won numerous awards and are instantly recognisable. He witnessed terrible suffering in famines and genocides and paid a heavy price psychologically. But he also found a way to heal himself on a grand and inspiring scale on his huge family farm in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais, a place that became environmentally destroyed. Sebastião and his wife Lélia, returned there and planted 2 million trees. It is now a lush landscape full of birds, monkeys and waterfalls. Jo Fidgen spoke to Sebastião in June 2024.

Wendy Baxter began climbing trees as a child and she's never stopped. Wendy has spent much of her working life climbing the emperor of all tree species, the giant sequoias of the Sierra Nevada mountains in the United States. These trees can live thousands of years and grow to a height of more than one hundred meters. Despite her own fear of heights, Wendy climbs them to study the effects of climate change. This interview was first broadcast in June 2017.

Produced and presented by Andrea Kennedy.

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

(Photo: Sebastião Salgado Credit: Mario Tama / Getty Images)


THU 12:50 Witness History (w3ct74j7)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


THU 13:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfsj8n)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 13:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl2nvvrx91)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 13:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfzd1gwk1)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 13:32 Health Check (w3ct6vjb)
[Repeat of broadcast at 20:32 on Wednesday]


THU 14:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfsn0s)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 14:06 Newshour (w172zss2qkyxsld)
Israel announces twenty-two new settlements in the West Bank

The Israeli government has announced twenty-two new settlements in the West Bank, which would be illegal under international law.
We explore how the move would affect the future of a two-state solution.

We also look at the distribution of desperately needed aid in the Gaza Strip, where there are questions over the ability of the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation to continue operations.

Also in the programme: a US court has ruled President Donald Trump exceeded his mandate when he imposed tariffs on global trade; and the Swiss village destroyed by a massive landslide.

(Photo: an Israeli solider in the West Bank. Credit: Bardaneh / Shutterstock)


THU 15:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfsrrx)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 15:06 The Inquiry (w3ct722k)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


THU 15:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfzd1h419)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 15:32 World Business Report (w3ct75vc)
What does court ruling mean for President Trump’s tariffs?

A US court has blocked Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs, which the Trump administration is appealing. The news comes amid ongoing trade negotiations – so what does this mean for a global trade war? And David Harper asks is this the end of the story?


THU 16:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfswj1)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 16:06 BBC OS (w173067ryntvrn0)
US markets up after court blocks Trump tariffs

The White House is to appeal against a US court ruling which blocks Donald Trump's policy on tariffs. The Court of International Trade ruled he exceeded his authority when imposing levies on imports from almost every country. Meanwhile, Elon Musk has announced that he's leaving his temporary position in Donald Trump's cost-cutting task force. Also, a court hearing has been talking place in which Harvard University is challenging an attempt by the Trump administration to prevent it from enrolling foreign students. Our North America correspondent gives context, and we speak to Americans who voted for Donald Trump about what they think about his presidency so far.

Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o, who has died aged 87, was a titan of modern African literature - a storyteller who refused to be bound by jail, exile and illness. We discuss his legacy with three writers from Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana.

We also get details about a case in South Africa where a woman has been convicted of kidnapping and trafficking her six-year-old and sentenced to life in prison, along with her two accomplices.

Presenter: Mark Lowen.

(Photo: File photo of Donald Trump, Issue date: Tuesday May 27, 2025. Credit: Niall Carson/PA Wire)


THU 17:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnft085)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 17:06 BBC OS (w173067ryntvwd4)
Israel to create new settlements in West Bank

Israel has announced the creation of another 22 Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank. According to Israel's defence minister, the expansion would prevent the creation of an independent Palestinian state. Our correspondent explains.

US markets opened higher after a federal court blocked President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs, in a major blow to his economic policies. We hear from American voters who share their assessment of Trump's presidency so far, and we visit the BBC's business unit.

Motown legend Smokey Robinson has filed a $500m defamation lawsuit against four former housekeepers who have accused the singer of sexual assault. Our LA reporter gives details.

We speak to paragliders about the Chinese paraglider who was accidentally lifted up to more than 8,000 metres high, in line with flight paths and nearly as high as Mount Everest, but survived.

Presenter: Mark Lowen.

(Photo: A picture taken with a drone shows a construction site of a new neighborhood in the Neve Daniel settlement, in the Gush Etzion settlement block at the West Bank, 15 February 2023. Credit: ABIR SULTAN/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)


THU 18:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnft409)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 18:06 Outlook (w3ct6wxd)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 today]


THU 18:50 Witness History (w3ct74j7)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


THU 19:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnft7rf)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl2nvvsmrt)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfzd1hm0t)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct6z76)
2025/05/29 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 (w172zwwmjnftchk)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 20:06 The Documentary (w3ct7zjl)
[Repeat of broadcast at 02:32 today]


THU 20:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfzd1hqry)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 20:32 Science In Action (w3ct6yfc)
Thirteen months to a chip off the moon

China is aiming to join the small club of nations who have successfully returned scientific samples of asteroids for analysis on earth, teaching us more about how our and potentially other solar systems formed. Tianwen-2 launched successfully this week, bound for an asteroid known as Kamo‘oalewa, which sits in a very strange orbit of both the earth and the sun, making it a “quasi-satellite”.

Last year, scientists including Patrick Michel of the Côte d'Azur Observatory in France, published an intriguing suggestion that Kamo‘oalewa might in fact not be a conventional asteroid, but instead be a small piece of our moon that was ejected when the Giordano Bruno crater formed. In a little over a year from now, we might find out if that is right.

Do you have to hold text at arm’s length to read properly? Qiang Zhang, professor of physics at the University of Science and Technology of China, whose team recently published their demonstration of using a technique from radio astronomy but using optical light. Active Optical Interferometry involves using laser beams to achieve resolutions at distances far in excess of conventional imaging with lenses. As his team showed, and as Miles Paggett of Glasgow University admires, they managed to read newsprint sized letters at a distance of over 1.3km.

Finally, how did the Inca Empire write things down, and who did the writing? It has been thought that ornate threads of strings and baubles known as khipu are how records were made for business and administration, probably by a decimal code of knots in strings. But the exact purpose, nature and any meaning encoded therein, has eluded scholars for decades. Sabine Hyland, an anthropologist at the University of St Andrews, Scotland, has been studying them for years, and recently was granted access to the records of a village, only the fourth known, to have continued a form of the khipu tradition after the Spanish conquest to this day. She believes that they could even provide us in the modern world with valuable climate data.

Presenter: Roland Pease
Producer: Alex Mansfield
Production co-ordinator: Jazz George

(A Long March-3B Y110 carrier rocket carrying China's Tianwen-2 probe blasts off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center on 29 May, 2025 in Sichuan Province of China. Credit: VCG/Getty Images)


THU 21:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfth7p)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 21:06 Newshour (w172zss2qkyymt9)
Trump’s tariffs reinstated

Trump’s tariffs were initially banned – before being overturned within a day. A federal court had blocked the tariffs on Wednesday night after three judges ruled that Trump had overstepped his authority when introducing them. But just a day later the decision was temporarily paused after a federal appeal court reinstated the tariffs. The White House now says they will “win this battle in court”. We explain what it all means and dig deeper into the legal aspect of the economic measures.

Also on the programme: Israel has announced a major expansion of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank. More than twenty new settlements have been approved. We hear from a Settler and a Palestinian living in the West Bank. And, Elon Musk has left the US Department of Government Efficiency, also known as Doge. We speak to someone who was also given the task of ‘reinventing government’ efficiency during Bill Clinton’s time in power to discuss how effective Musk really was in his job.

(Photo: IBEX rises 0.49 percent pending the blocking of Trump's tariffs, Madrid, Spain Credit: VEGA ALONSO DEL VAL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)


THU 22:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnftlzt)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 22:06 The Inquiry (w3ct722k)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


THU 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfzd1hz86)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 22:32 The Food Chain (w3ct70yg)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


THU 23:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnftqqy)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 23:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl2nvvt3rb)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfzd1j30b)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 23:32 World Business Report (w3ct75xm)
Tariffs, trade wars and courtroom drama

After a federal court ruled US President Donald Trump’s latest tariff levies illegal, his administration have scored a last-minute reprieve. For now, the White House's tariff plan stays in place, but with the legal battle being far from over, we tell you all about the fast changing rules of Trump's trade policy.

Elsewhere, we hear why low emission zones in French cities could be banned, and Devina Gupta speaks to Zawadi Mudibo in the Ivory Coast as Africa heralds its new 'super banker'.

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

FRIDAY 30 MAY 2025

FRI 00:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnftvh2)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 00:06 The Explanation (w3ct7ys0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:06 on Thursday]


FRI 00:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfzd1j6rg)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 00:32 Unspun World with John Simpson (w3ct78bn)
Israeli anger grows over Gaza war

John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses whether growing criticism within Israel will force Netanyahu’s government to change its approach to the war in Gaza, examines the impact Russia’s latest onslaught is having on Ukrainian citizens, and looks at the conflict in Cameroon between security forces and armed separatists over the independence of the country’s two English-speaking regions.

Producer: Kate Cornell
Executive Producer: Benedick Watt
Commissioning Editor: Vara Szajkowski


FRI 01:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnftz76)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 01:06 Business Matters (w172zrs2q4rv3qc)
Trump, tariffs, and legal troubles

After US President Donald Trump’s tariff policy got a last minute reprieve in the federal courts, we unpick the latest twist in American trade policy. Meanwhile, we hear from an international student at Harvard University caught up in the institution's legal battle with the Whitehouse.

Elsewhere, we can reveal how western countries are helping fund Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

And Devina Gupta speaks to the attorney at the centre of the 'largest settlement of a price-fixing case in Canadian history' that's worth $500-million.

Global business news, with live guests and contributions from Asia and the USA.


FRI 02:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfv2zb)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl2nvvtgzq)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfzd1jg7q)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 02:32 Tech Life (w3ct6znr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 20:32 on Tuesday]


FRI 03:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfv6qg)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 03:06 Outlook (w3ct6wxd)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Thursday]


FRI 03:50 Witness History (w3ct74j7)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 on Thursday]


FRI 04:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfvbgl)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 04:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl2nvvtqgz)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfzd1jpqz)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 04:32 Heart and Soul (w3ct6vnv)
Waves and worship: Portugal's surf Church

In the coastal city of Porto, Portugal, a unique spiritual community is making waves—literally. The Surf Church, led by Brazilian-born pastor and avid surfer Samuel Cianelli dos Anjos, blends traditional Sunday worship with the sport of surfing.
In a country with deep historical and cultural ties to the Catholic Church, Portugal—like many other countries in Europe—has seen a steady decline in the number of young people engaging with their faith. Many feel disconnected from the Church and believe it no longer speaks to them in a way they understand. In response to this, the Surf Church movement was born. Every Sunday, young people gather on the beach to surf together before walking to a nearby church to worship. Their motto: “We love waves, and we love Jesus”. Their mission: to connect with young people through a shared love of the ocean.
In this Heart & Soul documentary from the BBC World Service, reporter Colm Flynn travels to Porto to discover more about this innovative approach, which has attracted a diverse congregation of over a dozen nationalities. Colm meets several members of the community, including Ukrainian teenager Uliana Yarova, who found refuge and faith within Surf Church after fleeing her war-torn country — culminating in her baptism in the Atlantic Ocean. He also speaks to Ana Marques, a local Portuguese woman who says she grew up watching her mother make sacrifices to please God, suffering in the process. Ana says she has now found a home in the Surf Church.
However, this unconventional ministry has not been without criticism. Some argue that Surf Church prioritizes surfing and socialising over worship and theological depth. There are also concerns about the high turnover of members, with some newcomers expecting a looser interpretation of the Gospel because of the Church’s casual style. But Pastor Sam is clear: “The Gospel is the Gospel, and that will never change.”


FRI 05:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfvg6q)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 05:06 Newsday (w172zspm13vsv79)
Trump's tariffs temporarily reinstated

President Trump's global tariffs are back. They have been reinstated by an appeals court, temporarily at least. We'll speak to a small business owner in Minnesota who is worried about the impact on her business and the people she employs.

The White House has said that Israel had 'signed off' on a Gaza ceasefire plan, though Hamas says its will reject the latest US proposal. We'll speak to a former US official who was involved in Middle East negotiations.

And as Israel announces an expansion of settlements in the West Bank, we'll speak to an Israeli activist who opposes such plans.

(Photo: A liquor store in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada,2 February 2025; Credit: Reuters)


FRI 06:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfvkyv)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 06:06 Newsday (w172zspm13vsyzf)
Appeals court temporarily reinstates Trump's tariffs

President Trump has described a court ruling that paused his global tariff plan as 'horrible, political and wrong'. But in a temporary reprieve, an appeals court reinstated his tariff plan. We'll speak to a former chairperson of Mr Trump's Economic Advisors Council during his first term.

The White House has said that Israel had 'signed off' on a Gaza ceasefire plan but Hamas has given a 'cool response'. We'll speak to an Israeli MP from the governing coalition.

France is set to ban smoking outdoors, primarily in places where there could be children, including parks, stadiums and bus stops. We'll speak to an MP from the country's governing party.

(Photo: A worker carries boxes of shoes in Chinatown, Bangkok, Thailand, 26 May 2025; Credit: EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)


FRI 07:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfvppz)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 07:06 Newsday (w172zspm13vt2qk)
Hamas unhappy with new proposal for Gaza ceasefire

The US says Israel has accepted a Gaza ceasefire proposal, while Hamas has said it is unhappy with the plan. And Israel has announced it is expanding its settlements in the occupied West Bank. We'll speak to a UN special rapporteur.

President Trump has described a court ruling that paused his global tariff plan as 'horrible, political and wrong'. But in a temporary reprieve, an appeals court reinstated his tariffs. We'll hear from a small business owner worried about what this will mean for her company.

The Japanese government says China may be moving towards ending a nearly two-year long trade ban on Seafood products.

And we have an interview with the veteran American politician Bernie Sanders.

(Photo: Smoke rises from Gaza after an explosion, 29 May 2025; Credit: Reuters)


FRI 08:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfvtg3)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 08:06 Americast (w3ct7t5f)
Join Americast for insights and analysis on what's happening inside Trump's White House.


FRI 08:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfzd1k5qh)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct6rs2)
Critical minerals: What does the future hold?

In the final episode of our series, we've gather together a panel of experts who all have an interest in critical mineral mining.

Demand for minerals like cobalt, lithium and copper is growing rapidly, as countries turn to green energy solutions. These minerals are used in EV batteries and wind turbines.

So what does the future hold? How do countries approach China's dominance in both mining and processing, and what about the environmental and ethical concerns?

Presenter: Sam Fenwick
Producer: Lexy O'Connor

(Photo: Off-shore wind turbines in Denmark, located on Middelgrunden a few kilometres outside Copenhagen. Credit: Getty Images)


FRI 08:50 Witness History (w3ct743t)
The Battle of the Beanfield

On 1 June 1985, a convoy of New Age Travellers set off for the ancient stone circle of Stonehenge in the south of England. They were planning to hold a festival there for the summer solstice, but they were stopped by police blocking their access to the site.

The authorities had heard the travellers were carrying chainsaws and petrol bombs. The police smashed the hippies’ vans and tents in what became known as the Battle of the Beanfield. It was a turning point for British alternative culture.

Lucy Burns speaks to Helen Hatt who was one of more than 500 people arrested that day.

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 football in Brazil, the history of the ‘Indian Titanic’ and the invention of air fryers, to Public Enemy’s Fight The Power, subway art and the political crisis in Georgia. We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: visionary architect Antoni Gaudi and the design of the Sagrada Familia; Michael Jordan and his bespoke Nike trainers; Princess Diana at the Taj Mahal; and Görel Hanser, manager of legendary Swedish pop band Abba on the influence they’ve had on the music industry. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the time an Iraqi journalist hurled his shoes at the President of the United States in protest of America’s occupation of Iraq; the creation of the Hollywood commercial that changed advertising forever; and the ascent of the first Aboriginal MP.

(Photo: The Battle of the Beanfield. Credit: Getty Images)


FRI 09:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfvy67)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 09:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl2nvvvb6m)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfzd1k9gm)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 09:32 Science In Action (w3ct6yfc)
[Repeat of broadcast at 20:32 on Thursday]


FRI 10:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfw1yc)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 10:06 Unexpected Elements (w3ct72w1)
Mission unexpectedly possible

With the new Mission Impossible film playing in cinemas, the Unexpected Elements team is channelling Tom Cruise’s energy to see if scientists can push the boundaries of what is considered ‘impossible.’

First up, we fuse medieval alchemy with particle physics and explore a method to turn lead into gold. We then look at the latest research that uses artificial intelligence to help us humans communicate with animals.

We put the spotlight on a favourite trope of science-fiction films – time travel! String theorist Brian Greene of Columbia University explains how going to the past, or back to the future, may or may not be hypothetically possible.

We also ponder ancient auroras, whether ants can plan a Hollywood-style heist, and what it takes to understand our consciousness.
  
Presenter: Marnie Chesterton, with Affelia Wibisono and Andrada Fiscutean
Producer: Imaan Moin, with Alice Lipscombe-Southwell
Studio engineer: Mike Mallen


FRI 11:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfw5ph)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl2nvvvkpw)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfzd1kjyw)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 11:32 Heart and Soul (w3ct6vnv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


FRI 12:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfw9fm)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 12:06 Outlook (w3ct6wgv)
Outlook Mixtape: The artist, the detective, and the music boss

Juano Diaz was taken in to care aged six, his mother was battling alcoholism and he wasn't being cared for. But Juano missed his mum and with no photos of her, he became obsessed by drawing her face so he wouldn't forget her. He was later adopted by a strict Catholic and Romany Gypsy family but when he came out as gay he was asked to leave. Now down-and-out on the streets of Glasgow, with his life spiralling, he started to search for his mother again. He would scan faces in the crowds, draw his own face to explore his features, feminise them to look more like his mum and soon he discovered his talent for portraiture. Today, he paints the faces of modern icons: Pharell Williams, Madonna, Vivienne Westwood. This would lead to artistic success and a very different lifestyle – including a friendship with Grace Jones and ultimately a whole new family.

Growing up in Mumbai in the 1960s, Rajani Pandit was always fascinated with finding out the ‘truth behind the surface’ of the world around her. Although this natural curiosity would often land her in trouble as a young woman in a traditional society, Rajani wouldn’t be deterred – she defied social norms to forge a career as India’s first female private detective. From marital problems to murder, Rajani’s Investigative Bureau has cracked thousands of cases across Mumbai, earning her the nickname the ‘Lady James Bond’ of India.

Darcus Beese grew up in 1970s west London, the son of British Black Panthers and activists Darcus Howe and Barbara Beese. His unique upbringing was often chaotic, but Darcus found solace listening to music and collecting vinyl. A job sweeping up at a posh hairdressers shortly after leaving school thrust Darcus into the company of socialites and tastemakers in the TV and music industries. This led him towards a career as an A&R scouting and signing talent for Island Records. Darcus rose from assistant to boss of the label, helping create iconic records and working with artists like Sugababes, Mumford & Sons, Sabrina Carpenter and the legendary singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse.

Presenter: Mobeen Azhar
Producer: Tommy Dixon

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

(Photo: Cassette tape. Credit: Getty Images)


FRI 12:50 Witness History (w3ct743t)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


FRI 13:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfwf5r)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 13:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl2nvvvt64)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 13:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfzd1ksg4)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 13:32 Science In Action (w3ct6yfc)
[Repeat of broadcast at 20:32 on Thursday]


FRI 14:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfwjxw)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 14:06 Newshour (w172zss2qkz0phh)
UN warns all of Gaza at risk of famine

There has been a new warning from the UN that Gaza's entire population is at risk of famine despite the partial lifting of an Israeli blockade.

Hamas is still considering its official response to a US-backed ceasefire proposal for Gaza while insisting the plan does not meet its core demands. The United States says Israel has accepted the draft.

Also on the programme: as a US court reinstates Donald Trump's tariffs, how do trade negotiators deal with the switchback ride?; and an artificial intelligence tool that can predict which men with prostate cancer can benefit most from a drug that halves the risk of dying.

(Photo: Internally displaced Palestinians gather outside a charity kitchen to receive limited rations amid a shortage of food, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, 30 May 2025. Credit: EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)


FRI 15:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfwnp0)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 15:06 Americast (w3ct7t5f)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


FRI 15:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfzd1l0yd)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 15:32 World Business Report (w3ct76kz)
Rhode’s beauty blockbuster deal

e.l.f. Beauty acquires Hailey Bieber’s Rhode in a massive $1bn deal. e.l.f. CEO Tarang Amin joins David Harper to discuss the landmark acquisition and their hopes for the brand’s future.

Elsewhere, despite Western sanctions, BBC analysis shows that Russia continues to receive billions of dollars from oil exports. New research suggests that live-streaming piracy could be costing European sports rights holders $28bn. And in Nigeria, the government is cracking down on the spraying of money at parties, which they say is devaluing the currency.


FRI 16:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfwsf4)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 16:06 BBC OS (w173067ryntynk3)
UN warns all of Gaza at risk of famine

The United Nations' humanitarian agency has described Gaza as the hungriest place on Earth. A senior official from the agency said the territory's entire population was at risk of famine. He accused Israel of blocking all but a trickle of supplies. Meanwhile, Hamas says it's carrying out a "thorough review" of a US plan for a ceasefire in Gaza but says it fails to meet its core demands. We speak to our correspondent and hear from residents and aid workers in Gaza.

Russia has continued to make billions from fossil fuel exports to the West, data shows, helping to finance its full-scale invasion of Ukraine – now in its fourth year. Our regional expert explains.

Following a collapse of a glacier in Switzerland, we hear a conversation about concerns over melting glaciers with two people who run ski schools in the country.

Presenter: Mark Lowen.

(Photo: Palestinians gather to receive aid amid shortage of food, Gaza - 30 May 2025. Credit: HAITHAM IMAD/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)


FRI 17:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfwx58)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 17:06 BBC OS (w173067ryntys97)
France to ban smoking in most outdoor spaces

The smoking ban will come into force on 1 July and will include beaches, parks, public gardens, outside schools, bus stops and sports venues. Smoking in establishments like restaurants and nightclubs has been banned in France since 2008. We get reaction from around the world and speak to our Europe editor.

The UN has warned that Gaza's entire population is at risk of famine, despite the partial lifting of an Israeli blockade. Meanwhile, a Hamas spokesman says though a US-backed ceasefire proposal for Gaza does not offer any guarantees about aid deliveries, the group was, nonetheless, carrying out a thorough review of the draft. We get the latest from our correspondent and speak to aid workers in Gaza.

Following a collapse of a glacier in Switzerland, we hear a conversation about concerns over melting glaciers with two people who run ski schools in the country.

We speak to our sports reporter about the Champions League final between Paris St-Germain and Inter Milan in Munich on Saturday, and we hear from PSG and Inter fans.

Presenter: Mark Lowen.


(Photo: Smoking in France. Credit: Getty Images)


FRI 18:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfx0xd)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 18:06 Outlook (w3ct6wgv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 today]


FRI 18:50 Witness History (w3ct743t)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


FRI 19:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfx4nj)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl2nvvwjnx)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfzd1lhxx)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct6z2p)
2025/05/30 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 (w172zwwmjnfx8dn)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 20:06 BBC OS Conversations (w3ct6rmk)
Israelis discuss the war in Gaza

Israel’s ongoing war against Hamas and recent warnings of a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, have led to a ratcheting up of pressure on Israel , not just from its critics, but from its international allies.

Emotions run deep amongst Israelis themselves, and opinions differ about their country’s military response. Simon King, a survivor of the 7 October attack on Kibbutz Be’eri remembers the horror of the day clearly and says the event has completely changed his perspective. “I’ve never had a feeling of fear like that in my whole life … You know, we always had a thought that there will be peace one day. But this didn’t happen, and now after 7th October there’s no forgiving and I am never ever going to forget what they did, it was atrocious. It was barbaric.”

Sharone Lifschitz’s family was also involved. Her elderly parents were seized by militants from their home on Kibbutz Nir Oz. Her mother was released alive 17 days later, but her father died in captivity. In contrast to Simon, her view is that there are innocent children caught up in this conflict, and for their sake, and that of the remaining hostages, the offensive needs to end. She says, “It’s a disaster. It’s a disaster for Israel, it’s a disaster for the hostages, and it’s heartbreaking to see what is happening in Gaza.”

We also hear from Hen Mazzig, an author and academic, and Oshy Ellman, an international relations consultant and commentator. They too disagree strongly on whether Israel should end the war now. But they have a common goal that unites them. “Ultimately we are united in that no-one wants war. We’ve always striven for peace and it’s just a question of how we get there,” says Oshy. Hen agrees. “When you live in a country that has an existential threat over its head... it makes you see things differently. And our perspective is that we have to stay united even though we have our differences.”

Presenter: Mark Lowen
BBC producers: Isabella Bull and Angela Sheeran
Boffin Media producer: Anne McNaught
An EcoAudio certified Boffin Media production in partnership with the BBC OS team

(Photo: Simon King at Kibbutz Be'eri outside a house which was attacked by militants. Credit: Simon King)


FRI 20:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfzd1lmp1)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 20:32 CrowdScience (w3ct6ssp)
What on earth is quantum?

Listener Christine wants to understand one of the strangest phenomena in the universe. But to get to grips with it, she’ll need a crash course in the bizarre behaviour of the very small. Here, things don’t act the way you might expect — and it’s famously hard to wrap your head around.

Anand Jagatia has assembled some of the sharpest minds in the field and locked them in a studio. No one’s getting out until Christine and Anand know exactly what’s going on. Or at least, that’s the plan.

On hand to help are Kanta Dihal, lecturer in science communication at Imperial College London; James Millen, King’s Quantum Director at King’s College London; and particle physicist Harry Cliff from the University of Cambridge.

Prepare to enter the world of the very small—and the very weird—where particles can be in two places at once, influence each other across vast distances, and seem to decide what they are only when observed. Hear how these once-theoretical oddities are now driving a technological revolution, transforming everything from computing to communication.

Presenter: Anand Jagatia
Producer: Harrison Lewis
Series Producer: Ben Motley


FRI 21:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfxd4s)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 21:06 Newshour (w172zss2qkz1jqd)
Trump heaps praise on Musk as tech baron leaves US government

After a very high profile period in proximity to Donald Trump Elon Musk today steps back from working for the government on DOGE - the department of government efficiency - and goes back to running his businesses. So what has he achieved?
Also on the programme: Will the Romanian golden helmet that was stolen from a Dutch museum ever be found? How come Western countries are paying more to Russia for oil and gas than they are paying to Ukraine for its defence? And we look back at the life of the man who invented the abortion pill.

(Photo: Elon Musk stands in the Oval Office to attend a press conference with U.S. President Donald Trump, at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 30, 2025. CREDIT: REUTERS/Nathan Howard)


FRI 22:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfxhwx)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 22:06 Americast (w3ct7t5f)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


FRI 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfzd1lw59)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 22:32 Heart and Soul (w3ct6vnv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


FRI 23:00 BBC News (w172zwwmjnfxmn1)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 23:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl2nvvx0nf)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxfzd1lzxf)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 23:32 World Business Report (w3ct76n7)
Elon Musk’s White House farewell

On the day Elon Musk departs the White House, and his work at DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) Devina Gupta examines what he has achieved in the role, what his priorities will be at Tesla and SpaceX, and whether he and President Trump will remain friends

Also, as the Indian economy grew 7.4% between January and March, beating analyst expectations, we analyse what’s behind the numbers, and amid growing global uncertainties how might this growth continue