SATURDAY 27 SEPTEMBER 2025
SAT 00:00 BBC News (w172zwwtq6t58qf)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 00:06 Unexpected Elements (w3ct72wl)
Two-hundred years of trains
This week marks 200 years since the first steam train pulled passengers over 26 miles of north-east England’s countryside, and started a revolution. Jump on board for show filled with train tales.
We explore Mumbai’s lunch delivery system – train based, of course, which has the sort of error rate that delivery firms arounds the world can only dream of. We ask what it takes to run a railway on time, and look at how the bullet train changed Japan, with history professor Jessamyn Abel.
Presenter: Marnie Chesterton
Producers: Margaret Sessa-Hawkins with Alice Lipscombe-Southwell, Robbie Wojciechowski, Lucy Davies
SAT 01:00 BBC News (w172zwwtq6t5dgk)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 01:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl8vf74sgy)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
SAT 01:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxn4ydvrqy)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SAT 01:32 The Global Story (w3ct714p)
The disgraced UK doctor behind autism misinformation
On Monday President Trump and the U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. held a press conference in which they made extraordinary new claims about autism. They suggested a potential link between the use of Tylenol during pregnancy and the development of autism. They also advocated spacing out childhood vaccinations.
The two men's interest in the link between vaccines and autism goes back decades but these claims did not originate in the US. They trace back to the UK in 1998, when disgraced former doctor Andrew Wakefield first published his now-debunked theory linking MMR vaccines to autism cases in children.
Today on the Global Story science journalist Adam Rutherford explains how the Wakefield vaccine conspiracy became the biggest medical disinformation disaster in recent history, and how these ideas found fertile ground in the Trump administration.
Producers: Viv Jones, Valerio Esposito
Executive producer: Annie Brown, James Shield
Mix: Travis Evans
Senior news editor: China Collins
Image: President Donald Trump, in front of U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., delivers remarks linking autism to childhood vaccines and to the use of popular pain medication Tylenol for pregnant women and children, claims which are not backed by decades of science, at the White House. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
SAT 02:00 BBC News (w172zwwtq6t5j6p)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl8vf74x72)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
SAT 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxn4ydvwh2)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SAT 02:32 Stumped (w3ct6zjs)
Ashes fever builds as Asia Cup tensions bubble over
There are tales of two rivalries on this week's Stumped with Alison Mitchell, Brett Sprigg and Charu Sharma:
As England coach Brendon McCullum names his 16-man squad for the Ashes in Australia, the Stumped team discuss white ball captain Harry Brook's promotion to vice-captain, replacing Ollie Pope. There's a surprise in the bowling department, as Will Jacks returns as England's second spinner after a three-year absence, plus is this England's most hostile bowling attack since 1970?
We reflect on another feisty meeting between India's men and Pakistan at the Asia Cup, and discuss the fall-out following a number of heated flashpoints which has seen both teams submit complaints to the ICC.
Plus, India are in the spotlight as our build up to the Women's World Cup concludes. Broadcaster Annesha Ghosh tells us how the excitement is growing in India ahead of the first match on 30th September.
Photo: Harry Brook of England edges as Usman Khawaja of Australia fields during Day One of the LV= Insurance Ashes 5th Test Match between England and Australia at The Kia Oval on July 27, 2023 in London, England. (Credit: Getty Images)
SAT 03:00 BBC News (w172zwwtq6t5myt)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 03:06 Outlook (w3ct6whd)
Outlook Mixtape: Daughters of an actor, a mime and a prince
E.A. Hanks’ childhood was split between living with her troubled mum and her 'omni-famous' dad Tom Hanks. E.A. and her brother Colin spent most of their time living in Sacramento with their mum, while weekends and holidays were spent with their dad, often on glamorous film sets. Although their mum was now sober after an addiction to alcohol and drugs, she could be paranoid and abusive, and E.A. describes her life as either a dream or a nightmare.
Marcel Marceau is the grandee of mime artistry, perhaps the most famous mime in history and a global icon. Less known is the story of the secret manuscript that he left for his daughters on his deathbed. It was filled with passages about his emotional inner life when he was in the French Resistance during World War Two, drawing on mime techniques to help smuggle Jewish children out of Nazi-occupied France across the Swiss border to safety.
As lead singer of The Selecter, Pauline Black pushed music and racial boundaries but struggled with her own identity. The daughter of a Nigerian prince, she was adopted by a white family who taught her that black men were dangerous and to be avoided. Her childhood was confusing and complex and it would take Pauline decades to reclaim her identity and learn the truth about her birth parents.
Presenter: Jo Fidgen
Producer: Hetal Bapodra
Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com or WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707
(Photo: Cassette tape. Credit: Getty Images)
SAT 03:50 Witness History (w3ct744c)
Guinea stadium massacre
On 28 September 2009, around 50,000 people took part in a rally to protest reported plans by military leader Moussa Dadis Camara to stand in the presidential election.
It started peacefully, until troops, under Camara’s rule entered the stadium and opened fire, killing more than 150 people.
Many others were left scarred, and women raped.
Asmaou Diallo’s son Aly was one of those killed that day, she’s been telling Megan Jones how she’s been campaigning for justice ever since.
Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there.
For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more.
Recent episodes explore everything from the death of Adolf Hitler, the first spacewalk and the making of the movie Jaws, to celebrity tortoise Lonesome George, the Kobe earthquake and the invention of superglue.
We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: Eva Peron – Argentina’s Evita; President Ronald Reagan and his famous ‘tear down this wall’ speech; Thomas Keneally on why he wrote Schindler’s List; and Jacques Derrida, France’s ‘rock star’ philosopher.
You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the civil rights swimming protest; the disastrous D-Day rehearsal; and the death of one of the world’s oldest languages.
(Photo: Aly with his nieces and nephew. Credit: Asmaou Diallo)
SAT 04:00 BBC News (w172zwwtq6t5rpy)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 04:06 Unexpected Elements (w3ct72wl)
[Repeat of broadcast at
00:06 today]
SAT 05:00 BBC News (w172zwwtq6t5wg2)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 05:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl8vf758gg)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
SAT 05:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxn4ydw7qg)
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SAT 05:32 Trending (w3ct72tm)
BBC Trending: Goodreads’ ‘unfair’ rating problem
BBC Trending investigates how negative ‘pre-read’ and pre-publication Goodreads ratings are leaving writers - and readers - mystified.
Goodreads is a popular website that invites users to track and share their reading habits – through ratings and reviews.
But before they even hit the market, some books have attracted negative ratings, leaving authors mystified about who’s behind them. So where are these ‘unfair’ ratings coming from - is this the work of individuals with vendettas or bots? And what can be done to stop them?
Presenter and Producer: Jonathan Griffin
Editor: Flora Carmichael
SAT 05:50 More or Less (w3ct6vzf)
The case of the missing US data
In early February 2025, something strange started happening across US government websites. Decades of data began disappearing from webpages for agencies such as the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health and the Census Bureau. In many cases the entire website went dark.
Within a few days some 8,000 government pages and 3,000 datasets had been taken down. Since then, many have been reinstated - but some have not.
We speak to Professors Maggie Levenstein and John Kubale to find out why this data was taken away, and why any of it matters.
If you spot any numbers or statistical claims that you think we should check out contact: moreorless@bbc.co.uk
Presenter: Tim Harford
Producer: Lizzy McNeill
Sound engineer: Neil Churchill
Series producer: Tom Colls
Production co-ordinator: Rosie Strawbridge
Editor: Richard Vadon
SAT 06:00 BBC News (w172zwwtq6t6066)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 06:06 Weekend (w172zw895ggfkx5)
UNGA: Dozens walk out as Netanyahu attacks Palestinian recognition
At the UN General Assembly in New York, the Israeli prime minister, described the recognition of a Palestinian State by several Western countries as "sheer madness."Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has attacked the recognition of a Palestinian state by multiple Western countries during a combative speech at the UN General Assembly.
Also in the programme: There has been a furious response in Iran to the prospect of sweeping sanctions being reimposed on the country. The foreign minister blames the USA for failures in the nuclear deal; and, billionaire Elon Musk and Prince Andrew are named in new files released by Congressional Democrats that relate to the late convicted sex offender and financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Presenter Rebecca Kesby is joined by Paula Erizanu, a journalist and writer based in Moldova and Ryan Heath in New York, a former journalist and now communications expert who advises technology companies and podcaster.
Photo: Empyty seats as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at U.N. headquarters in New York City, U.S. (September 26, 2025. Reuters/ Jeenah Moon)
SAT 07:00 BBC News (w172zwwtq6t63yb)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 07:06 Weekend (w172zw895ggfpn9)
MSF suspend work in Gaza City amid Israeli offensive
Médecins Sans Frontières has announced the suspension of all its operations in Gaza City, citing the "relentless" Israeli offensive and intense airstrikes that the charity says pose an unacceptable risk to its staff.
Also in today’s programme: Several Western countries, including UK, Portugal, and France, have officially recognised Palestinian statehood this week. We hear from a Palestinian lawyer and a former Israeli Justice Minister, one of the key architects of the Oslo Accords, as we explore where these recent developments leave the peace process.
And finally, it’s been 200 years since the world’s first passenger train set off here in Britain. We take a journey through the music inspired by the age of the railway.
Presenter Rebecca Kesby is joined by Paula Erizanu, a journalist and writer based in Moldova and Ryan Heath in New York, a former journalist and now communications expert who advises technology companies and podcaster.
Photo: People affiliated with Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) hold a vigil outside United Nations headquarters to honor colleagues and others who have been killed during the war in Gaza; in New York City, U.S. (December 6, 2023. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon)
SAT 08:00 BBC News (w172zwwtq6t67pg)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 08:06 Weekend (w172zw895ggftdf)
US revokes Colombian president's visa during UN visit
The US State department revokes the visa of Gustavo Petro after the Colombian president spoke at a pro-Palestinian rally in New York. The US decision comes after the leftist leader's "incendiary actions" during a pro-Palestinian demonstration in New York.
Also in the programme: Denmark said it had been the victim of a “hybrid attack” on four of its airports this week.EU's Defence Commissioner, Andrius Kubilius tells us how much of a threat the drone incursions are and why Europe needs to be concerned. And, Albania has the world's first AI minister. Not a minister for Artificial Intelligence, but a cabinet minister who is the work of AI.
Presenter Rebecca Kesby is joined by Paula Erizanu, a journalist and writer based in Moldova and Ryan Heath in New York, a former journalist and now communications expert who advises technology companies and podcaster.
Photo: Colombian President Gustavo Petro addresses pro-Palestinian demonstrators at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza outside U.N. headquarters during the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York City, U.S., September 26, 2025. Reuters/ Bing Guan
SAT 09:00 BBC News (w172zwwtq6t6cfl)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 09:06 BBC OS Conversations (w3ct6rn3)
Living with the threat of drone attacks
There are now more Russian drone attacks on Ukraine than ever before in the conflict. On some nights, hundreds are targeted at the country. In one raid this week, Ukraine's air force says Moscow launched 619 drones and missiles, killing at least three people and injuring dozens more.
In our conversations we bring together Kateryna who has lost her home twice to Russian drones, Kamila, whose aunt was killed in a recent attack, and Inna. She happened to be out when her building was struck by a drone.
“I felt on the edge between life and death,” Inna tells us. “I remember thinking that if it had been 15 metres to the left, and if I was at home, I’d be dead.”
On the front line, Ukrainian forces use drones for surveillance, delivering supplies and for attacking Russian forces. Some are radio controlled but others use thin fibreoptic cable that unwinds from a cartridge as they travel, avoiding signals being jammed. Drone pilots Andy and Oleksii give us an insight into their lives on the front line of the war.
Presenter: Rahul Tandon
BBC producer: Laura Cress
Boffin Media producer: Richard Hollingham
An EcoAudio certified Boffin Media production in partnership with the BBC OS team.
(Photo: Kamila, whose aunt was killed in a drone attack. Credit: Kamila)
SAT 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxn4ydwqpz)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SAT 09:32 Pick of the World (w3ct7z5b)
Does banning social media for teens make sense?
Your responses to social media and smartphone bans being considered around the world. Plus, how many words do you need to know to speak a language? Also this week: Death in Dubai in our podcast World of Secrets - and nuns on the run, no really.
SAT 09:50 Over to You (w3ct6xvv)
A focus on the US and its dealings with the world
The Global Story has had a revamp and makeover. In a special edition, we examine the editorial changes and ask one of its presenters Tristan Redman and executive producer Annie Brown why the focus is now so emphatically on the US and its relationship with the world.
Presenter: Rajan Datar
Producer: Howard Shannon
A Whistledown production for the BBC World Service
SAT 10:00 BBC News (w172zwwtq6t6h5q)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 10:06 Not by the Playbook (w3ct8787)
Transatlantic tales
On the weekend where the USA and Europe go head-to-head at golf's Ryder Cup, Not by the Playbook’s Katie Smith is bringing you inspirational sporting stories from both sides of the Atlantic.
Kate Hwang was living her dream in 2003 as a Kansas City police officer but then a routine traffic stop changed her life forever. She sustained a traumatic brain injury in the line of duty. She’s representing the USA at the World Para Athletics Championships for the first time and she tells her story ahead of competing in the women’s shot put and 100m in New Delhi.
Brooke Johnson has become the first woman to skateboard across the US. She recently completed the feat after skateboarding over 5,000 kilometres from California to Virginia Beach. She shares her 119-day journey and why she decided to do this in memory of her stepfather, Roger.
From one history-maker to another, Kumru Say is the first horse rider to compete for Turkey at a senior eventing championships. She had never evented until five years ago and her story is one of making sacrifices to pursue her dream having moved to Germany at the age of 14.
How did the Ryder Cup get its name? We hear the story of Samuel Ryder, the English businessman who the famous golf competition is named after, and how his influence led to its inception almost 100 years ago.
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.
A detailed view of the Ryder Cup trophy is seen in the press conference center on Thursday practice round prior to the Ryder Cup 2025 at Black Course at Bethpage State Park Golf Course on September 25, 2025 in Farmingdale, New York. (Photo by Mateo Villalba/Getty Images)
SAT 11:00 BBC News (w172zwwtq6t6lxv)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl8vf75zy7)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
SAT 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxn4ydwz67)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SAT 11:32 Unspun World with John Simpson (w3ct78bx)
World leaders formally recognise Palestinian statehood
This week John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses what effect the recognition of Palestine as a state might have, examines whether Syria is back in the international fold and looks at the latest restrictions that the Taliban have introduced in Afghanistan.
Producer: Kate Cornell
Executive Producer: Benedick Watt
Commissioning Editor: Vara Szajkowski
SAT 12:00 BBC News (w172zwwtq6t6qnz)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 12:06 The Forum (w3ct712w)
Weddings: Romance and ritual
One of the first recorded examples of a marriage ceremony is dated more than 4000 years ago in Mesopotamia. And it seems that through the ages, weddings have never lost their appeal. The global wedding industry is today worth billions of dollars, and it is one that keeps on growing.
While aspects of weddings differ across many cultures, they celebrate the coming together of two people in a form of contract which establishes rights within the couple. Historically, marriages were often economic, legal and social tools; the love aspect that some marriage ceremonies came to represent was developed much later.
Iszi Lawrence investigates how weddings have changed over time with a panel of expert guests, including Dr Vicki Howard, Visiting Fellow in the Department of History at the University of Essex (UK) and the author of Brides, Inc.: American Weddings and the Business of Tradition; wedding planner Marie Haverly, Deputy Head of the Business School and senior lecturer in event management at the University of Winchester in the UK; and wedding photographer Shanaya Arora, one half of Nitin Arora Photography which she founded with her husband. Shanaya is also the host of WED FM India, a podcast all about weddings.
Producer: Fiona Clampin
(Photo: Comet and Phakalane Mmisi, dance just after they were married, Johannesburg, South Africa, 11 July 2008. Credit: Per-Anders Pettersson/Getty Images)
SAT 13:00 BBC News (w172zwwtq6t6vf3)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 13:06 Newshour (w172zss8x4bbzzq)
US: Colombian President's comments ‘reckless and incendiary’
The US says it will revoke the visa of Colombia's President Gustavo Petro, accusing him of inciting violence by encouraging American soldiers to disobey orders. When addressing a pro-Palestinian protest in New York, he suggested they should ignore the orders of Donald Trump, and obey the orders of humanity instead. Mr Petro was returning to Bogota when the move was announced. On arrival, he tweeted that he no longer had a US visa and did not care - adding that he considers himself a "free person in the world." The State Department described his actions as reckless.
Also in the programme: The International Paralympic Committee lifts its ban on Russia and Belarus; and as England's women take on Canada in the rugby world cup final - we hear from one former international in a house with divided loyalties.
(Photo: Colombian President Gustavo Petro addresses pro-Palestinian demonstrators outside UN headquarters in New York, September 26, 2025. Credit: Reuters/Bing Guan)
SAT 14:00 BBC News (w172zwwtq6t6z57)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 14:06 Sportsworld (w172ztqq6q2vljp)
Live Sporting Action
Lee James presents commentary from Selhurst Park as the Premier League’s two unbeaten teams, Crystal Palace and Liverpool go head-to-head. There will be updates of Manchester City against Burnley, Chelsea against Brighton and Bournemouth’s trip to Leeds, plus reaction to Manchester United’s trip to Brentford.
Former Wolves and West Ham winger Matt Jarvis and former Tottenham and Liverpool goalkeeper Brad Friedel join Lee to discuss all the week’s big talking points.
Plus, we'll also have updates from Twickenham as England and Canada battle it out in the Rugby World Cup final, the team will be in New York for the second day of the Ryder Cup and there will be reflections on the opening day of the World Para Athletics Championships.
Photo: Ismaila Sarr of Crystal Palace runs with the ball under pressure from Alexis Mac Allister of Liverpool during the 2025 FA Community Shield match between Crystal Palace and Liverpool at Wembley Stadium on August 10, 2025 in London, England. (Credit: Getty Images)
SAT 18:00 BBC News (w172zwwtq6t7g4r)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 18:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl8vf76v54)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
SAT 18:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxn4ydxtf4)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SAT 18:32 Trending (w3ct72tm)
[Repeat of broadcast at
05:32 today]
SAT 18:50 More or Less (w3ct6vzf)
[Repeat of broadcast at
05:50 today]
SAT 19:00 BBC News (w172zwwtq6t7kww)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 19:06 The Inquiry (w3ct7233)
Why does Mexico owe the US water?
The major rivers of the Rio Grande and the Colorado run through both the United States and Mexico and they are the source of a water sharing agreement between the two countries that dates back to 1944.
Under the terms of this treaty, Mexico must send 430 million cubic metres of water per year from the Rio Grande to the US, to supply Texas and dozens of cities near the border. Whilst the US sends a much larger allocation of nearly
1.85 billion cubic metres of water a year, from the Colorado River to supply Mexico’s border cities like Mexicali and Tijuana.
But 80 years on, a deepening row over a shortage of water has put the treaty in jeopardy. Mexico is in arrears and has failed to keep up with its water deliveries to the US for much of this century and its unlikely to meet its obligation this year too. Farmers on both sides are struggling to water their crops, whilst the border cities are facing water shortages for both their populations and industries. And pressure on Mexico is mounting with President Trump earlier this year accusing Mexico of ‘stealing’ the water.
So this week on The Inquiry, we’re asking ‘Why does Mexico owe the US water?’
Contributors:
Stephen Mumme, Emeritus Professor in Political Science, Colorado State University, USA
Dr Rosario Sanchez, Senior Research Scientist, Texas Water Resources Institute, USA
Susanne Schmeier, Professor in Water Co-operation, Law and Diplomacy, IHE Delft, The Netherlands.
Naho Mirumachi, Professor in Environmental Politics, King’s College, London, UK
Presenter: Gary O’Donoghue
Producer: Jill Collins
Researcher: Maeve Schaeffer
Technical Producer: Craig Boardman
Production Management Assistant: Liam Morrey
Editor: Tom Bigwood
{Photo: The Rio Grande River and surrounding land that divides the USA and Mexico. Credit: Daniel Slim/Getty Images)
SAT 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxn4ydxy58)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SAT 19:32 Happy News (w3ct6tyt)
The Happy Pod: Hope for people with Huntington's disease
For the first time ever, a successful treatment has been found for the devastating brain disease, Huntington's. The inherited condition, which resembles a combination of dementia, Parkinson's and motor neurone disease, affects hundreds of thousands of people in the US and Europe. The scientists who developed the new gene therapy, and people who have the disease, say its a huge breakthrough that could give people a better quality of life for decades.
Also, we meet the teacher who has launched a Happiness Project to help her pupils learn about what really matters, and is encouraging others to do the same. We find out about the small actions that have transformed how people feel about a living in a huge public housing complex in Mumbai, bringing a true sense of community.
It is Fat Bear Week in Alaska - a time to celebrate weight gain as the beautiful inhabitants of Katmai National Park prepare to hibernate.
Plus, a new way to bring more poetry into your life, the dogs getting to swim in German public pools, and the man cycling hundreds of miles dressed as a paramedic gorilla.
Presenter: Oliver Conway
Music: Iona Hampson
SAT 20:00 BBC News (w172zwwtq6t7pn0)
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SAT 20:06 The Arts Hour (w3ct6ztt)
Director Tim Mielants on his film Steve
Nikki Bedi talks to Belgian filmmaker Tim Mielants about his film Steve, starring Cillian Murphy, and is joined by cultural critic, Hanna Flint, to discuss cultural highlights of the week.
Australian actor-producer and Hollywood star Margot Robbie and Irish actor Colin Farrell talk about their magical road trip movie, A Big Bold Beautiful Journey.
Irish-Indian poet and Instagram sensation Nikita Gill discusses Greek myths.
Tony award winning American actor Sean Hayes, star of Will and Grace, talks about the physical demands of his latest stage role.
Actors Cillian Murphy and Little Simz and director Tim Mielants share their experience of making ‘Steve’, a film about a boys’ reform school in the 1990s.
And Roberto Barreto from Brazilian music collective Baiana System describes the appeal of Carnival.
Main image: Tracey Ullman and Cillian Murphy in Steve
Photo credit: Netflix Studios
SAT 21:00 BBC News (w172zwwtq6t7td4)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 21:06 Newshour (w172zss8x4bcyyr)
Germany warns it may use military force to protect itself against drones
Germany says it's considering the use of military force to protect its territory against drone incursions. Earlier, police in Denmark said several unidentified drones had been spotted flying close to military bases, including Denmark's biggest military site, the Karup Air Base.
Also in the programme: The International Paralympic Committee has voted to lift bans imposed on Russia and Belarus over Moscow's aggression in Ukraine; UN sanctions against Iran to resume over banned nuclear activity; and the mother of a British dual national killed while fighting for Ukraine on her fight to get his body back - and how she found out her son was dead.
(Photo: A mobile radar installation on the coast of Oresund in the aftermath of drone sightings, Dragoer, Denmark - 26 Sep 2025. Credit: EPA)
SAT 22:00 BBC News (w172zwwtq6t7y48)
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SAT 22:06 Not by the Playbook (w3ct8787)
[Repeat of broadcast at
10:06 today]
SAT 23:00 BBC News (w172zwwtq6t81wd)
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SAT 23:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl8vf77fws)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
SAT 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxn4ydyf4s)
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SAT 23:32 This Is Africa (w3ct72dg)
Salle
Salle first appeared on This Is Africa back in 2023, when her debut single Icon was doing amazing things. She embodied the Afrobeats fairytale, a video of her singing in her mum’s local diner going viral and getting the attention of none other than Don Jazzy, one of the most influential figures in the industry.
But as she tells DJ Edu, the journey from that video, which was filmed when she was 17, to now, when at 21 she has released her debut EP, has been a rocky one. The EP’s title - Only Sad People Smile - is telling.
Salle struggled emotionally with the new reality and the pressure she felt to live up to expectations. Fortunately, she was able to turn her very personal experiences into songs which resonate with young people, and she is very clear that there needs to be more openness about mental health in Africa.
SUNDAY 28 SEPTEMBER 2025
SUN 00:00 BBC News (w172zwwtq6t85mj)
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SUN 00:06 BBC OS Conversations (w3ct6rn3)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:06 on Saturday]
SUN 00:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxn4ydyjwx)
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SUN 00:32 The Documentary (w3ct82ky)
Kharkiv: Love in a War Zone
Over the past year, BBC Eye has documented life in Ukraine’s second largest city, Kharkiv, helping to capture the deeply personal stories of those living under the continuing shadow of war. Just 30 kilometres from the Russian border, this Russian-speaking city has sustained some of the heaviest attacks of the war.
Reporter Albina Kovalyova follows the stories of people who have nevertheless chosen to continue to live in Kharkiv. One, Adela Knapova, a writer from the Czech Republic who unexpectedly found love during a visit to this frontline city last year - and who uprooted her life in Prague to move to Ukraine to be with him. He is an artist from Kharkiv, Konstantin Zorkin, who describes his belief in the transformative power of art and love.
These personal stories of love and life are intercut with the violence Russia continues to unleash on this city of over a million people. And they are set against a shifting geopolitical backdrop, of ultimatums and recriminations and talks, as all the while the attacks on Kharkiv and Ukraine continue.
Presenter/reporter: Albina Kovalyova
Producer: Louise Hidalgo
Editor: Rebecca Henschke
Executive producer: Michael Simkin
(Photo: Adela and Konstantin. Credit: Konstantin Zorkin)
SUN 01:00 BBC News (w172zwwtq6t89cn)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 01:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl8vf77pd1)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
SUN 01:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxn4ydynn1)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SUN 01:32 Trending (w3ct72tm)
[Repeat of broadcast at
05:32 on Saturday]
SUN 01:50 Sporting Witness (w3ct7zs5)
Between two giants: Thrilla in Manila’s referee
On October 1 1975, the third and final fight between bitter rivals Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, known as the Thrilla in Manila, took place in the sweltering heat of the Philippines’ capital. The bout went down in history as one of the most brutal and dramatic in boxing.
Carlos Padilla, the match referee, tells Jay Behrouzi what it was like to watch the two heavyweight fighters push through exhaustion, and how he managed both corners as Ali and Frazier gave everything they had until the 14th round.
Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive and testimony. Sporting Witness is for those fascinated by sporting history. We take you to the events that have shaped the sports world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes, you become a fan in the stands as we take you back in time to examine memorable victories and agonising defeats from all over the world. You’ll hear from people who have achieved sporting immortality, or those who were there as incredible sporting moments unfolded.
Recent episodes explore the forgotten football Women’s World Cup, the plasterer who fought a boxing legend, international football’s biggest ever beating and the man who swam the Amazon river. We look at the lives of some of the most famous F1 drivers, tennis players and athletes as well as people who’ve had ground-breaking impact in their chosen sporting field, including: the most decorated Paralympian, the woman who was the number 1 squash player in the world for nine years, and the first figure skater to wear a hijab. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the tennis player who escaped the Nazis, how a man finally beat a horse in a race, and how the FIFA computer game was created.
(Photo: Muhammad Ali (r) punches Joe Frazier (l) in the head during the seventh round of their boxing match. Referee Carlos Padilla (c) supervises the heavyweight match in 1975. Credit: Bettmann/Getty Images)
SUN 02:00 BBC News (w172zwwtq6t8f3s)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl8vf77t45)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
SUN 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxn4ydysd5)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SUN 02:32 Health Check (w3ct6vjw)
Trump’s unproven claims on autism and paracetamol
President Trump has claimed that consuming Tylenol, or paracetamol, whilst pregnant can increase the risk of autism in children; Claudia is joined by Professor of Clinical Epidemiology Laurie Tomlinson to fact-check this unproven statement.
Also on the show, BBC’s Philippa Roxby joins Claudia to share a breakthrough in treating Huntington’s disease. In a medical first doctors have used gene therapy to slow the progression of this fatal genetic disorder where a patient’s movement, thinking, and mood deteriorates over time.
Reporter Carrim Mpaweni explores how Malawi is currently dealing with Cholera, and the role climate change is playing in exacerbating outbreaks of the disease.
Plus, how South Korean researchers are exploring the use of glue guns as a way to repair broken bones.
Presenter: Claudia Hammond
Producer: Hannah Robins
Assistant Producer: Katie Tomsett
Image Credit: Francis Chung/Politico/Bloomberg via Getty Images
SUN 03:00 BBC News (w172zwwtq6t8jvx)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 03:06 The Forum (w3ct712w)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:06 on Saturday]
SUN 04:00 BBC News (w172zwwtq6t8nm1)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 04:06 From Our Own Correspondent (w3ct6ts0)
The iron gates of Bethlehem
Pascale Harter introduces correspondents' dispatches from the occupied West Bank, Brazil, South Korea and Russia.
When the UK government recognised a Palestinian state, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said it was acting “to revive the hope of peace and a two-state solution.” But Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the move won’t “bind Israel in any way.” Our Middle East Correspondent, Yolande Knell has been to Bethlehem to hear what Palestinians there think of their present conditions - and future plans.
In Brasilia's Presidential Palace - a masterpiece of modernist architecture - Ione Wells recently met President Luis Ignacio (Lula) da Silva, as he contemplates a re-election run next year. His predecessor, and rightwing arch-rival, Jair Bolsonaro now faces a hefty prison sentence after his conviction for plotting a military coup. But Bolsonaro remains a potent force in Brazil's deeply polarised politics.
City authorities in South Korea's capital, Seoul, have launched a five-year plan to tackle a growing epidemic of loneliness. As more and more South Koreans remain single and childless, the number of people living alone - and sometimes socially isolated - has burgeoned. So a cluster of new social spaces, designed in the style of the city’s ubiquitous convenience stores, have been set up to encourage more socialising. Jake Kwon paid one a visit.
And: forget about Eurovision - Moscow would prefer you tune into Intervision! As Russia was banned from participating in the Eurovision song contest after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, President Putin decided to revive his country's own Soviet-era song-fest. Steve Rosenberg was there for the fevered preparations - and the lavish show.
Producer: Polly Hope
Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith
Production co-ordinator: Rosie Strawbridge
SUN 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxn4ydz0wf)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SUN 04:32 Unspun World with John Simpson (w3ct78bx)
[Repeat of broadcast at
11:32 on Saturday]
SUN 05:00 BBC News (w172zwwtq6t8sc5)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 05:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl8vf785ck)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
SUN 05:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxn4ydz4mk)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SUN 05:32 The Documentary (w3ct82ky)
[Repeat of broadcast at
00:32 today]
SUN 06:00 BBC News (w172zwwtq6t8x39)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 06:06 Weekend (w172zw895ggjgt8)
Argentines demand justice at protest against brutal killings of young women
Protesters take to the streets of the Argentine capital, Buenos Aires, in response to the brutal murder of two young women and a teenage girl that has shocked the country.
Also in today's programme: In Denmark, drone activity over airports and military bases in Jutland has exposed gaps in national and European defence systems. We ask Nina Khrushcheva, professor of International Affairs at The New School in New York and great-granddaughter of former Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev, could Russia be behind it all.
Moldova heads to the polls in a pivotal election, we explore what's at stake. And for Elivis fans we have a special treat.
Presenter Rebecca Kesby is joined by Stephanie Baker, a senior writer and investigative journalist at Bloomberg News in London, and Jospeh Torigan, Associate Professor at the American University's School of International Service in Washington and an expert on China and Russia.
Photo: Protest march in Buenos Aires against femicides in Argentina, 27 Sep 2025. Adan Gonzalez/Reuters.
SUN 07:00 BBC News (w172zwwtq6t90vf)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 07:06 Weekend (w172zw895ggjlkd)
Moldova holds key election as Russia's shadow looms large
Moldova took a decisive turn towards EU membership and away from Moscow after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Now the evidence suggests Russia has been investing heavily in restoring its influence. We'll have the latest from Moldova.
And as President Trump prepares to meet Benjamin Netanyahu in New York, we ask who's really calling the shots in that relationship?
Also on the programme: How Ukrainian soldiers are being trained in mental health for the front line; And how to encourage more children into art galleries - should they moderate their behaviour or should galleries be more child friendly?
(Photo: Moldovan President Maia Sandu speaks after voting at a polling station during the country's parliamentary elections in Chisinau, Moldova, September 28, 2025. Credit: REUTERS/Vladislav Culiomza)
SUN 08:00 BBC News (w172zwwtq6t94lk)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 08:06 Weekend (w172zw895ggjq9j)
Moldova's president warns of Russian interference as country goes to the polls
As she cast her ballot in Moldova's critical parliamentary election, President Sandu has warned its future is in danger, calling on Moldovans to vote because “tomorrow would be too late.” BBC’s Sarah Rainsford reports from the ground with the latest.
Also on today’s programme: Tensions escalate in the U.S. as Donald Trump orders troops into Portland, Oregon, vowing to use "full force" if necessary to quell protests at immigration detention centres. We speak to a senior Ukrainian politician targeted in a Russian assassination plot. And British novelist Jeremy Cooper joins us to discuss Brian - his novel published in 2023 - about a lonely man whose life revolves around a near-obsessive love for cinema.
Presenter Rebecca Kesby is joined by Stephanie Baker, a senior writer and investigative journalist at Bloomberg News in London, and Joseph Torigan, Associate Professor at the American University's School of International Service in Washington and an expert on China and Russia.
Photo:People vote at a polling station during Moldova's parliamentary elections in Chisinau, Moldova September 28, 2025. Reuters/Vladislav Culiomza
SUN 09:00 BBC News (w172zwwtq6t98bp)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 09:06 From Our Own Correspondent (w3ct6ts0)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:06 today]
SUN 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxn4ydzmm2)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SUN 09:32 The Food Chain (w3ct70z0)
Dining etiquette: What really matters?
Listeners to BBC World Service told us they hate it when fellow diners chew noisily or talk with their mouth full. But what is polite at mealtimes can vary wildly according to where in the world you are and who you are with.
Ruth Alexander visits London's City of Westminster College to meet some of its teenage students, to find out about their different backgrounds and what good manners mean to them. She visits an exclusive private members club in the heart of London's West end to talk to Rupert Wesson, a director and coach at the British etiquette institution Debrett’s. And she hears from Japanese language tutor Chika Nakagawa about the rules that govern mealtimes in Japan.
Plus what if you are thrown into a world you weren't prepared for? After tough beginnings and through sheer determination Reggie Nelson built a career in finance. He tells Ruth about his extraordinary path to success and how he got through his first formal business dinner.
And what about when a restaurant meal brings out the worst in a customer? Mo Abedin, owner of Sticky Rice Thai restaurants in Dubai and Abu Dhabi talks about how he and his staff deal with the nightmare diners who have forgotten their manners.
Producer: Lexy O'Connor
(Image: A bearded man in a shirt and tie is eating a meal in front of a red background. He is shovelling a big fork full of noodles into his mouth whilst staring at his mobile phone. Credit: Getty Images/Group4 Studio)
SUN 10:00 BBC News (w172zwwtq6t9d2t)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 10:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct6xy3)
Transforming life in cities
In one of the poorest neighbourhoods of Mumbai, a quiet transformation is underway. Govandi has long been associated with poverty and poor health outcomes. But with the help of a civic organisation, the community has built vibrant spaces with children and women in mind— libraries, workshops, and leisure zones—defying the norms of city planning that can overlook such needs. We explore how trust, persistence, and grassroots collaboration turned a neglected area into a model for urban resilience and enjoyment.
People Fixing The World from the BBC is about brilliant solutions to the world's problems. We release a new edition every week for most of the year. 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
Reporter/producer: Chhavi Sachdev
Editor: Jon Bithrey
Sound mix: Hal Haines
(Image: Reading exercises at Kitaab Mahal, Natwar Parekh compound, Mumbai, Natasha Sharma)
SUN 10:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxn4ydzrc6)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SUN 10:32 The Fifth Floor (w3ct70th)
Social media influencers and politics
What happens when social media influencers join forces with politicians to promote their messages? Around the world political parties are switching from mainstream media to influencers to amplify their voices, in some cases even putting them on the official government payrolls To find out what impact this is having on politics we've brought together Luis Fajardo from BBC Monitoring in Miami, who's examined the impact in Latin America, Famega Syavira, head of social media for BBC Indonesian, and Adline Okere, Igbo News Editor in Lagos, Nigeria.
The ‘Jerdon’s Courser’ is a critically endangered bird. It's only officially been sighted in the scrub forests of Eastern Ghats mountain range in Andra Pradesh in the Sri Lankamalleswara Wildlife Sanctuary, although recently there was great excitement when its call was recorded in a different location in southern India. BBC Telugu recently joined the nightly efforts by forest watchers to track down the bird last seen 16 years ago, as Satheesh Urugonda reports.
This episode of The Documentary comes to you from The Fifth Floor, the show at the heart of global storytelling, with BBC journalists from all around the world.
Presented by Faranak Amidi
Produced by Rebecca Moore and Caroline Ferguson
This is an EcoAudio certified production.
SUN 11:00 BBC News (w172zwwtq6t9hty)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl8vf78wvb)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
SUN 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxn4ydzw3b)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SUN 11:32 Trending (w3ct72tm)
[Repeat of broadcast at
05:32 on Saturday]
SUN 11:50 More or Less (w3ct6vzf)
[Repeat of broadcast at
05:50 on Saturday]
SUN 12:00 BBC News (w172zwwtq6t9ml2)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 12:06 BBC OS Conversations (w3ct6rn3)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:06 on Saturday]
SUN 12:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxn4ydzzvg)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SUN 12:32 Assignment (w3ct6rc2)
‘A new foe’: Conscripting women in Denmark
Denmark is eyeing up the military threat from Russia – and dramatically increasing the numbers in its national service. Now, 18-year-old girls are facing a call up.
The BBC has been granted rare access to a military base on the outskirts of Copenhagen to see the newest recruits learn how to operate on the battlefield.
Anna Holligan attends a “Defences Day” where teenagers find out whether they’re fit to serve, and draw a conscription lottery ticket that could shape their future.
Producer: Ellie House
Production Coordinator: Katie Morrison
Sound Mix: Rod Farquhar
Editor: Penny Murphy
(Image: Danish militery recruit in training. Credit: Anna Holligan/BBC)
SUN 13:00 BBC News (w172zwwtq6t9rb6)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 13:06 Newshour (w172zss8x4bfwwt)
Claims of Russian interference in Moldova's election
Moldova's pro-EU president, Maia Sandu, has cast her ballot in the country’s parliamentary election, urging voters to join her because the country’s future is "in danger". Ms Sandu, police, and prosecutors say vote buying and disinformation are unprecedented in scale and linked directly to Russia. Moscow denies accusations of interference. Pro-Kremlin opposition parties have also dismissed talk of Russian meddling; they claim the government is making the case in advance for annulling the vote, should the liberal governing party (the PAS) lose its majority.
Also in the programme: With drones increasingly used in offensive military operations, how can you defend against them? Also today, the cricket clash between India and Pakistan; and why Elvis Presley is big in South Wales.
(Photo: Moldovan President Maia Sandu votes at a polling station during the country's parliamentary election in Chisinau, Moldova, September 28, 2025. Reuters/Vladislav Culiomza)
SUN 14:00 BBC News (w172zwwtq6t9w2b)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 14:06 The Climate Question (w3ct702f)
Why don’t we use more geothermal energy?
Geothermal energy is renewable, reliable and powerful. So, why is most of it untapped? That’s what our listener, Anna in the UK, wants to know. Full disclosure, she’s a geologist and is thoroughly perplexed by the lack of uptake. Geothermal is renewable, reliable and abundant and yet, less than 1% of the world’s energy is generated from it.
Host Graihagh Jackson hears about a team in Iceland who hope to "super-charge" geothermal power by drilling directly into volcanic magma. And she travels to Germany to visit Vulcan Energy, a company which is combining geothermal with extracting one of the world's most sought-after metals: Lithium.
Plus, our reporter in Indonesia tells Graihagh about local opposition to some geothermal power plants.
The programme was first broadcast in 2024.
Got a question you’d like answered?
Email: TheClimateQuestion@bbc.com or WhatsApp: +44 8000 321 721
Host: Graihagh Jackson
Reporter in Indonesia: Johanes Hutabarat
Producer: Osman Iqbal
Sound Mix: James Beard and Tom Brignell
Editor: Simon Watts
SUN 14:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxn4yf07bq)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SUN 14:32 Happy News (w3ct6tyt)
[Repeat of broadcast at
19:32 on Saturday]
SUN 15:00 BBC News (w172zwwtq6t9ztg)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 15:06 Sportsworld (w172ztqq6q2ym5x)
Live Sporting Action
Sportsworld has Premier League commentary from St James’ Park as Newcastle United take on Arsenal. Will Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal keep up the pressure on leaders Liverpool, or can Newcastle get the win they need to kickstart their season? The former Newcastle defender Sébastien Bassong joins Delyth Lloyd to look back over all the weekend’s Premier League action.
The Sportsworld team look at all the week’s big talking points across Europe in EuroStars, and there will also be reaction to all day’s Women’s Super League action.
Away from football, Sportsworld will be live in New York for the final day of the Ryder Cup; there’s a round-up of all of Sunday’s action from the World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi; and hear from the Minnesota Vikings linebacker Jonathan Greenard, as the NFL plays its first regular season game in Ireland.
Photo: Dan Burn of Newcastle United creates a headed chance which is saved by David Raya of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Newcastle United FC at Emirates Stadium on May 18, 2025 in London, England. (Credit: Getty Images)
SUN 19:00 BBC News (w172zwwtq6tbgsz)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl8vf79vtc)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
SUN 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxn4yf0v2c)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SUN 19:32 World of Secrets (w3ct854m)
Death in Dubai
Death in Dubai: 1. The real Mona Kizz
Monic dreams of leaving her home in rural Uganda for a different life. So when a “friend” promises her a job in Dubai, it feels like the chance she’s been waiting for. Monic is elated, she is the first of her 11 siblings to travel abroad. But just a few months later she is dead. Her family is left searching for answers. What happened in Dubai?
A warning that this podcast includes disturbing scenes, including discussion of sexual abuse and suicide. Some episodes also contain strong language.
Presented by investigative journalist Runako Celina.
Season 9 of World of Secrets, Death in Dubai, is a BBC Eye investigation, produced in association with Thread Studios, for the BBC World Service.
Please note, the image is being used for illustrative purposes only and the person depicted in it is a model.
If you feel distressed by the references in this story, please speak to a health professional, or an organisation that offers support such as Befrienders Worldwide. www.befrienders.org
For UK listeners, details of organisations offering information about or support after sexual abuse, or with feelings of despair, are available at bbc.co.uk/actionline.
Here’s a link to the BBC Eye documentary film, which we recommend you watch after listening to this podcast: https://bit.ly/bbcdeathindubai
If you are in the UK, you can watch on iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/n12t256jg
SUN 20:00 BBC News (w172zwwtq6tblk3)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 20:06 Unexpected Elements (w3ct72wl)
[Repeat of broadcast at
00:06 on Saturday]
SUN 21:00 BBC News (w172zwwtq6tbq97)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 21:06 Newshour (w172zss8x4bgvvv)
Trump and Netanyahu to discuss Gaza peace plan
President Trump has expressed renewed optimism about reaching a deal to end the war in Gaza, ahead of talks on Monday with the Israeli Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In a social media post, Mr Trump said there was a 'real chance for greatness in the Middle East'. He's subsequently said that he's received what he called a 'very good response' from Israel and Arab leaders to a new US proposal that he says is aimed not just at Gaza but at reaching a broader peace in the region.
Also in the programme: Misinformation has disrupted a vaccination programme in Pakistan against cervical cancer; we take a look at today's elections in Moldova; and we hear from a very bad tempered Ryder Cup!
(Photo: Residents of Gaza City are still evacuating as the fighting intensifies. Credit: Ali Jadallah/Anadolu via Getty Images)
SUN 22:00 BBC News (w172zwwtq6tbv1c)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 22:06 The Climate Question (w3ct702f)
[Repeat of broadcast at
14:06 today]
SUN 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxn4yf169r)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SUN 22:32 Pick of the World (w3ct7z5b)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:32 on Saturday]
SUN 22:50 Over to You (w3ct6xvv)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:50 on Saturday]
SUN 23:00 BBC News (w172zwwtq6tbysh)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 23:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl8vf7bbsw)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
SUN 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxn4yf1b1w)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SUN 23:32 The Fifth Floor (w3ct70th)
[Repeat of broadcast at
10:32 today]
MONDAY 29 SEPTEMBER 2025
MON 00:00 BBC News (w172zwwtq6tc2jm)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 00:06 From Our Own Correspondent (w3ct6ts0)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:06 on Sunday]
MON 00:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxn4yf1ft0)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 00:32 Science In Action (w3ct6yfx)
Autism and the epigenetics of early brain development
Epigenetic changes during early brain development, and the complexities of autism. Also, how bacteria learn to parry antibiotics, the subterranean burp that shook the Island of Santorini, and new guidance for sharing land between farming space and living space for the pollinators on which it depends.
Presenter: Roland Pease
Producer: Alex Mansfield
Production Coordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth
(Image: Blastocyst embryo, light micrograph. Credit: Science Photo Library via Getty Images).
MON 01:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3h1jx)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 01:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl96pjgfk9)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
MON 01:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxnj6q5dt9)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 01:32 Discovery (w3ct6swh)
The Life Scientific: Jonathan Shepherd
Surgeons often have to deal with the consequences of violent attacks - becoming all too familiar with patterns of public violence, and peaks around weekends, alcohol-infused events and occasions that bring together groups with conflicting ideals.
Professor Jonathan Shepherd not only recognised the link between public violence and emergency hospital admissions, he actually did something about it.
As a senior lecturer in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in the early 1980s, Jonathan started looking into this trend - and his research revealed that most violent assaults resulting in emergency hospital treatment are not reported to police.
As a result, he devised the ‘Cardiff Model for Violence Prevention’: a programme where hospitals share data about admissions relating to violent attacks with local authorities. He also went on to study various aspects of violent assault and deliver evidence-based solutions - from alcohol restrictions in hotspots, to less breakable beer glasses in pubs.
The impacts have been significant, delivering reductions in hospital admissions and in violent attacks recorded by police; not only in Cardiff, but in cities around the world where the model is used. Today, as an Emeritus Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Cardiff University - where he’s also Director of their Crime, Security and Intelligence Innovation Institute - Jonathan continues to bring together the medical sector with local authorities, finding practical ways to make cities and their residents safer.
But his career, straddling the worlds of practise, science and policy, is an unusual one; here he talks to Professor Jim Al-Khalili about what drove him to make a difference.
Presentedby Jim Al-Khalili
Produced by Lucy Taylor
Reversion for World Service by Minnie Harrop
MON 02:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3h591)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl96pjgk9f)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
MON 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxnj6q5jkf)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 02:32 CrowdScience (w3ct6st7)
Answers to even more questions
Sometimes in science, when you try to answer one question it sparks even more questions.
The CrowdScience inbox is a bulging example of that. We get tons of new questions every week and many of those are following up on episodes we’ve made. Sometimes you want us to go deeper into part of the answer, or sometimes a subject intrigues you so much that it inspires further questions about it.
In this episode presenter Caroline Steel is on a mission to answer some of those questions.
The CrowdScience episode How do fish survive in the deep ocean? led listener Ivor to wonder what sort of vision deep sea fish might have. On hand to answer that is Professor Lars Schmitz, Kravis Professor of Integrated Sciences: Biology, at Claremont McKenna College in the USA
Sticking with vision, we also tackle a question inspired by the CrowdScience episode Do we all see the same colour? For years listener Catarina has wondered why her eyes appear to change colour. Professor Pirro Hysi, ophthalmologist at the University of Pittsburgh, sheds some light on that subject.
In India, Rakesh listened to the CrowdScience episode Will the Earth ever lose its moon? and wondered about Jupiter’s many moons. The European Space Agency’s Ines Belgacem is working on a new mission to study Jupiter’s moons. She explains which of the giant planet’s ninety seven moons are ones for Rakesh to watch.
We also hear how the episode Why can’t my dog live as long as me? caught the attention of listener Lisa... and her cat. She had us falling in love with the long history of falling cats and the scientists who study them. Caroline is joined by Professor Greg Gbur, physicist at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte in the USA and author of Falling Felines and Fundamental Physics.
Could this episode of follow up questions lead to an episode investigating the follow up questions to these follow up questions? Have a listen and, who knows, maybe you’ll find yourself inspired to email crowdscience@bbc.co.uk
Presenter: Caroline Steel
Producer: Tom Bonnett
Editor: Ben Motley
(Photo: Innovation and new ideas lightbulb concept with Question Mark - stock photo Credit: Olemedia via Getty Images)
MON 03:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3h915)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 03:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct6xy3)
[Repeat of broadcast at
10:06 on Sunday]
MON 03:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxnj6q5n9k)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 03:32 Pick of the World (w3ct7z5b)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:32 on Saturday]
MON 03:50 Over to You (w3ct6xvv)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:50 on Saturday]
MON 04:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3hds9)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 04:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl96pjgssp)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
MON 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxnj6q5s1p)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 04:32 The Conversation (w3ct7097)
Being a brewmaster
Ella Al-Shamahi talks to two women from South Africa and Germany about reclaiming the craft of brewing beer - something which was historically the domain of women.
Apiwe Nxusani-Mawela is a brewmaster and the first black, female co-owner of a craft brewery in South Africa. Her award-winning range of Tolokazi beers pays homage to the female brewers of Africa, inspired by the Tolo Kingdom’s rich brewing history and celebrate ingredients unique to the African continent such as marula fruit and the rooibos bush. Apiwe regularly trains graduates - most of them women - in the art of beer-making at her brewing facility in Johannesburg. She is also an international beer judge and taster.
Ulrike Genz is the brewmaster at Schneeeule Brewery in Berlin, which she founded in 2016 after years of developing a recipe thorough scientific study of the Berliner Weisse, a beer that had its heyday in the middle of the 19th century. Once celebrated far beyond Berlin’s borders as the “Champagne of the North” the beer is now, according to Ulrike, a “barely drinkable, mass-produced industrial beer”. Schneeeule Brewery’s mission is to give Berlin back a piece of its culture back…served, of course, in the correct glass!
Produced by Hannah Dean
(Image: (L) Ulrike Genz credit Markus Raupach. (R), Apiwe Nxusani-Mawela beer4change.)
MON 05:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3hjjf)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 05:06 Newsday (w172zsptkyjfxk0)
Pro-EU party in Moldova wins election
The elections results in Moldova mean the party will be able to pursue accession to the European Union without having to rely on coalition partners. There'd been stark warnings of Russian interference in the campaign.
The US defence secretary has authorised 200 national guard to be deployed to the Democrat-controlled city of Portland, against the wishes of the city and the state authorities.
In the US state of Michigan, at least four people were killed after a gunman drove a truck through the doors of a Mormon church and opened fire before setting the building alight.
And we hear from Brits, Grammys, and Oscar winner Annie Lennox, who's been talking about her life and career.
(Photo: President of Moldova Maia Sandu casts her ballot at poling stations in Chisinau; Credit: EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)
MON 06:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3hn8k)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 06:06 Newsday (w172zsptkyjg194)
Moldova's governing party secures election victory
One of the main opposition leaders in Moldova, Igor Dodon, had claimed victory even before results started coming in and called for protests outside parliament on Monday.
US police say people remain unaccounted for in the search of a burnt-out Mormon church where at least four worshippers were killed in a mass shooting.
We ask about Denmark banning the flying civilian drones for 5 days after a series of incursions in its airspace - with leaders suggesting Russian involvement.
(Photo: Supporters of PAS party attend a march to support the voting process at parliamentary elections in downtown Chisinau: Credit: EPA/Shutterstock)
MON 07:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3hs0p)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 07:06 Newsday (w172zsptkyjg518)
Moldovan pro EU party wins elections
The Party of Action and Solidarity headed by President Maia Sandu won with more than fifty percent of the vote - meaning it will be able to pursue joining the EU without relying on coalition partners. The pro-Russian Patriotic Bloc came second with around twenty four percent in the vote.
Oregon sues the Trump administration to block the deployment of 200 national guard troops to Portland. We hear from a religious leader .
As the Labour Party conference gets underway in the UK, can Labour reverse the loss of faith in them?
(Photo: A supporter of Moldova's pro-European Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) attends a rally; Credit: Reuters)
MON 08:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3hwrt)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 08:06 The Interview (w3ct7x05)
Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of Somalia : Somalia has a serious security challenge
Somalia has a serious security challenge
Paul Njie speaks to Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of Somalia, about ongoing efforts to achieve security and stability in his country.
While he says much progress has been made in tackling terror, he acknowledges that the insurgent groups al-Qaeda and, in particular, al-Shabab still pose a serious challenge. However, he refutes the American charge that Somalia is a safe haven for terrorists - a charge that has led to a US travel ban for Somali nationals.
He also stands firm in the face of pressure to allow the secession of Somaliland, the self-declared republic in the north of Somalia. The country’s unity, he says, is sacrosanct. Long-running tensions with neighbouring Ethiopia are downplayed, and instead he gives his support to working together in both countries’ interests.
President Mohamud first came to power in 2012, at the head of an internationally backed Government that brought a degree of stability to a country riven by civil war for decades. Re-elected for a second time in 2022, he is now attempting to change the country’s constitution to allow direct voting for all citizens rather than through clan elders. He believes this is necessary to continue Somalia’s journey to democracy.
Thank you to Paul Njie, Hassan Lali and Gladys Kigo for their help in making this programme.
The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC. 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 or wherever you get your podcasts.
Presenter: Paul Njie
Producers: Hassan Lali and Lucy Sheppard
Editor: Justine Lang
Get in touch with us on email TheInterview@bbc.co.uk and use the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.
(Image: Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud poses for a photo in his office. Credit: Ed Ram/Getty Images)
MON 08:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxnj6q6816)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct6ry5)
Is France failing its older workers?
The French government has launched a campaign against what it calls “the last discrimination”: ageism.
It’s one that a lot of people in the country consider to be justified, and which makes it about three times more difficult to get a job interview. But it’s costly.
If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, please email us at businessdaily@bbc.co.uk
Presented and produced by John Laurenson
(Picture: Job-seeker, Geraldine Coquand.)
MON 08:50 Witness History (w3ct746n)
The Cradock Four killings
On 27 June 1985, four anti-apartheid activists from the rural town of Cradock in South Africa’s Eastern Cape were abducted at a roadblock. Their bodies were later found mutilated and burnt.
Known as the Cradock Four, their murders became one of the most notorious cases of apartheid brutality.
Fort Calata’s son, Lukhanyo, was just three years old when his father was killed. He tells Dan Hardoon about his family's ongoing fight for justice. This programme contains graphic descriptions of violence.
Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there.
For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more.
Recent episodes explore everything from the death of Adolf Hitler, the first spacewalk and the making of the movie Jaws, to celebrity tortoise Lonesome George, the Kobe earthquake and the invention of superglue.
We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: Eva Peron – Argentina’s Evita; President Ronald Reagan and his famous ‘tear down this wall’ speech; Thomas Keneally on why he wrote Schindler's List; and Jacques Derrida, France’s ‘rock star’ philosopher.
You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the civil rights swimming protest; the disastrous D-Day rehearsal; and the death of one of the world’s oldest languages.
(Photo: Mourners at the funeral of the Cradock four. Credit: Gideon Mendel/AFP via Getty Images)
MON 09:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3j0hy)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 09:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl96pjhdjb)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
MON 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxnj6q6csb)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 09:32 CrowdScience (w3ct6st7)
[Repeat of broadcast at
02:32 today]
MON 10:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3j482)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 10:06 The History Hour (w3ct71wb)
The origins of Indian cinema and the start of Scouting
Max Pearson presents a collection of the week’s Witness History episodes taking us from India to Texas.
Professor Sunny Singh, author of A Bollywood State of Mind, discusses the origins of Indian cinema in 1912. And we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the release of Bollywood romance Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge.
We also head to Paris in 1971, to the launch of what would become one of the world’s best known humanitarian organisations: Médecins Sans Frontières.
And we learn how Lord Robert Baden-Powell laid the foundations for one of the largest international youth organisations.
Finally, we discover how Bette Graham, a single mum from Texas cooked up the first correction fluid in her kitchen.
Contributors:
Kajol, Bollywood actress
Professor Sunny Singh, author of A Bollywood State of Mind
Asmaou Diallo, mother of a protestor who was killed in the 2009 Guinea rally
Dr Xavier Emmanuelli, one of the founders of Medecins San Frontieres
(Photo: Maratha Mandir cinema in Mumbai. Credit: Indranil Mukherjee AFP via Getty Images)
MON 11:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3j806)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl96pjhn0l)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
MON 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxnj6q6m8l)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct716z)
Why Netanyahu gets what he wants from the US
Israel’s Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu visits the White House later today, as details from the Trump administration’s 21-point plan to end the war were revealed over the weekend. As Israel continues its offensive in Gaza City, Netanyahu has vowed to ‘finish the job’ against Hamas and shows little sign of making concessions to end the war. Netanyahu has a proven history of getting what he wants from US presidents – so will the same happen at Monday's meeting?
Today we speak to the BBC’s chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet who has reported on Netanyahu for three decades.
Producers: Sam Chantarasak, Xandra Ellin, Aron Keller and Cat Farnsworth.
Executive producer: Annie Brown
Mix: Travis Evans
Senior news editor: China Collins
Image: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at U.N. headquarters in New York City, U.S., September 26, 2025. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon
MON 12:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3jcrb)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 12:06 Outlook (w3ct6wq6)
Sweet surprise: I found my birth mother in my local bakery
Vamarr Hunter always felt a special bond with the owner of his favourite local bakery — but never imagined she could be his long-lost birth mother.
Vamarr loved to visit the bakery in his home neighbourhood in Chicago, enjoying the cakes, pies and cookies, but also the warm company of the owner, Lenore Lindsey.
Vamarr had had a tricky time growing up, and only discovered he was adopted when he was in his thirties. Initially he had no interest in searching for his birth mother, but years later a TV programme inspired him to start the hunt. He eventually got some help from a genealogy expert, who made an amazing discovery: his birth mother lived just a few blocks away.
Vamarr and his birth mother agreed to speak on the phone — but this was when things got truly extraordinary. Vamarr couldn't work out why the much-anticipated phone call was coming from his local bakery, and why he recognised the voice on the other end. It took a few seconds for Lenore and Vamarr to realise that they were mother and son — finally reunited after 48 years — and that they'd already known each for many years.
They instantly became very close, and Vamarr started coming round to the bakery after work to spend time with Lenore. He began helping out with some of the baking, and, after Lenore's health made it difficult for her to keep managing the bakery, took over running it for her. Vamarr discovered that he loves baking just as much as Lenore does.
Presenter: Mobeen Azhar
Producer: Rebecca Vincent
Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com or WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707
(Photo: Lenore Lindsey and Vamarr Hunter. Credit: Lenore Lindsey)
MON 12:50 Witness History (w3ct746n)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 today]
MON 13:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3jhhg)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 13:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl96pjhwhv)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
MON 13:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxnj6q6vrv)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 13:32 The Conversation (w3ct7097)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:32 today]
MON 14:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3jm7l)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 14:06 Newshour (w172zss98dmnrt6)
Can Trump broker an end to the war in Gaza?
Can President Trump broker an end to the war in Gaza? He says everyone is on board. So how much pressure is Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu under as he heads to the White House?
Also in the programme: the president of Moldova hails an election result she says was a victory in the teeth of Russian interference; and a billionaire art collector's plan to sell off shares in his Dutch master paintings.
(IMAGE: An Israeli armoured personnel carrier (APC) manoeuvres on Israeli side of the Israel-Gaza border, in Israel, September 29, 2025 / CREDIT: REUTERS/Amir Cohen)
MON 15:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3jqzq)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 15:06 The Interview (w3ct7x05)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:06 today]
MON 15:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxnj6q7383)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 15:32 Business Daily (w3ct6ry5)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:32 today]
MON 15:50 World Business Express (w3ct81nv)
Criminals offer reporter money to hack BBC
What would it take for you to sell out your boss? Cyber criminals offer a BBC Correspondent a cut of the action in return for passcodes.
And Zimbabwe's government is ordered to cut back on spending as it grapples with its budget.
Presenter: Sarah Rogers
Producers: Niamh McDermott and Victoriya Holland
Editor: Justin Bones
MON 16:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3jvqv)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 16:06 BBC OS (w173067zhhhlqvt)
Trump to host Netanyahu at White House
President Trump is meeting the Israeli prime minister in Washington shortly, as details emerge of his new plan to end the war in Gaza. The plan calls for a path to Palestinian statehood. Benjamin Netanyahu said the proposal was “not finalised”, while while Hamas say they have not formally been sent the proposal. We hear from residents in Gaza and speak to our correspondents in Washington.
President Maia Sandu says her pro-EU party's decisive win in Moldova's parliamentary elections shows that Moldovans know how to be united when the future of their country is in danger. We speak to our colleague from BBC Russian.
Last week many experts criticised Donald Trump for telling pregnant women they shouldn't take paracetamol after he claimed the painkiller was linked to autism in the child. We bring together parents who give their reaction and share what it is like to have an autistic child.
Presenter: Rahul Tandon.
(Photo: US President Trump welcomes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington, USA - 07 Apr 2025. Credit: SHAWN THEW/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)
MON 17:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3jzgz)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 17:06 BBC OS (w173067zhhhlvly)
Trump hosts Netanyahu at White House
The US president is expected to push a new peace plan to end the Israel-Gaza war during White House talks with Benjamin Netanyahu. Mr Netanyahu said on Sunday no deal has been "finalised yet", while Hamas said they had not formally been sent the proposal. We hear from residents in Gaza and speak to our correspondent.
President Trump has threatened to impose 100% tariffs on movies made outside the United States. We get reaction from film producers.
The Allahabad High Court, one of India's oldest and most prestigious, is crippled by a million-case backlog. We speak to our reporter and hear from Indian listeners about their experiences.
Puerto Rican pop star Bad Bunny will headline next year's Super Bowl half-time show in California. We speak to three Reggaeton experts.
Presenter: Rahul Tandon.
(Photo: U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu give thumbs-up at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., September 29, 2025. Credit: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)
MON 18:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3k373)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 18:06 Outlook (w3ct6wq6)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:06 today]
MON 18:50 Witness History (w3ct746n)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 today]
MON 19:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3k6z7)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl96pjjlzm)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
MON 20:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3kbqc)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 20:06 From Our Own Correspondent (w3ct6ts0)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:06 on Sunday]
MON 20:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxnj6q7pzr)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 20:32 Discovery (w3ct6swj)
The Life Scientific: Jacqueline McKinley
How much information can you extract from a burnt fragment of human bone?
Quite a lot, it turns out - not only about the individual, but also their broader lives and communities; and these are the stories unearthed by Jacqueline McKinley, a Principal Osteoarchaeologist with Wessex Archaeology.
During her career, Jackie has analysed thousands of ancient burial sites across the British Isles, bringing to life the old traditions around death via often cremated human remains. She's also assisted criminal investigators with forensic analysis, and contributed to some of the UK's best-loved archaeological TV shows.
And one thing she’s absolutely clear about: far from being macabre, osteoarchaeology is more about the living, than the dead...
In conversation with Professor Jim Al-Khalili, Jackie talks about the stories we can derive from skeletal remains, how western attitudes to death have gone through a major recent shift, and why she's kept some of her late father's bones.
Presented by Jim Al-Khalili
Produced for BBC Studios by Lucy Taylor
Reversion for World Service by Minnie Harrop
MON 21:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3kggh)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 21:06 Newshour (w172zss98dmpm13)
Trump and Netanyahu agree new US peace plan for Gaza
President Trump says the Israeli Prime Minister has agreed to his peace plan to end the war in Gaza. It's been drawn up following extensive talk with US allies in the Middle East, and provides for an end to the fighting once it's accepted by Israel and Hamas.
Also in the programme: we explores the hopes and obstacles of Moldova joining the European Union; and President Trump has threatened to impose one-hundred percent tariffs on movies made outside the United States.
(Picture: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump participate in a joint press conference at the White House on 29 September, 2025. Credit: WILL OLIVER/POOL/EPA/Shutterstock)
MON 22:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3kl6m)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 22:06 The Interview (w3ct7x05)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:06 today]
MON 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxnj6q7yh0)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 22:32 The Conversation (w3ct7097)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:32 today]
MON 23:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3kpyr)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 23:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl96pjk2z4)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
MON 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxnj6q8274)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 23:32 World Business Report (w3ct76tb)
Would US drug prices drop?
U.S. pharmaceutical lobby group PhRMA has said that it would launch a new website in January to help patients buy prescription drugs directly from manufacturers, bypassing pharmacies. This comes after a deadline set by President Trump, asking the big pharmaceutical companies to voluntarily lower their prices. Gideon Long will hear from two patients about the struggles they face paying their medical bills.
And one of the world’s biggest video game publishers, Electronic Arts, is being taken into private ownership in a record-breaking leveraged buyout. A Saudi-backed fifty-five billion dollar purchase values the California-based firm at a twenty-five per cent premium to its closing New York share price on Friday.
(File photo: Abiraterone acetate cancer drug (AA250). Tablet of the prostate cancer drug abiraterone acetate, marketed under the name Zytiga.)
TUESDAY 30 SEPTEMBER 2025
TUE 00:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3ktpw)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 00:06 The History Hour (w3ct71wb)
[Repeat of broadcast at
10:06 on Monday]
TUE 01:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3kyg0)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 01:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl96pjkbgd)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
TUE 01:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxnj6q89qd)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
TUE 01:32 The Global Story (w3ct716z)
[Repeat of broadcast at
11:32 on Monday]
TUE 02:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3l264)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl96pjkg6j)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
TUE 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxnj6q8fgj)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
TUE 02:32 Assignment (w3ct6rc3)
Haitians living in fear in the Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is the Caribbean’s number one tourist destination. Last year 11 million visitors came here, many enjoying the five-star resorts that skirt the island’s coast.
Much of the construction work building those tourist facilities is in fact done by Haitians, and many of the staff who work in them are from Haiti, which occupies the western half of this island of Hispaniola. Over recent years the tourism industry has helped make the Dominican economy the fastest growing in Latin America.
However, the Dominican government is now implementing one of the most systematic deportation policies anywhere in the world. Last year the president, Luis Abinader, announced that his country would expel illegal migrants at the rate of 10,000 a week. The chief target is Haitians and people of Haitian descent. President Abinader says he is keeping his country secure and implementing the constitution. Meanwhile Haitians in the Dominican Republic are living in fear of raids by the immigration authorities and of being sent back across the border, to a country riven by violence as well as political and economic instability.
John Murphy is in the Dominican Republic to talk to Haitians stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Producer: Bob Howard
Sound engineer: Rod Farquhar
Programme co-ordinator: Katie Morrison
Series Editor: Penny Murphy
(Photo: Up to 800 migrants each day are expelled from the Dominican Republic through the Comendador border crossing back into Haiti. Credit: John Murphy)
TUE 03:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3l5y8)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 03:06 Outlook (w3ct6wq6)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:06 on Monday]
TUE 03:50 Witness History (w3ct746n)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 on Monday]
TUE 04:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3l9pd)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 04:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl96pjkpps)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
TUE 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxnj6q8nys)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
TUE 04:32 In the Studio (w3ct6vty)
Emilia Wickstead: London Fashion Week
Inspiration for Emilia Wickstead’s luxury fashion brand comes from her childhood home in New Zealand, her adolescence in Italy’s most fashionable city Milan – but also from her hard-working fashion designer mother. Her feminine silhouettes and creative use of colour and textiles have made her a popular choice among members of the British Royal Family and Hollywood celebrities. For In the Studio Belinda Naylor has had a sneak preview of how Emilia’s Spring/Summer 2026 collection has taken shape – referencing the romance of bygone eras with a contemporary twist. Emilia explains the importance of teamwork, being a perfectionist and how she still gets a thrill from seeing women wear the designs from her own label, which she established in 2008.
TUE 05:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3lffj)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 05:06 Newsday (w172zsptkyjjtg3)
Trump and Netanyahu agree Gaza peace plan
The new peace plan proposes an immediate end to military operations, with Hamas releasing 20 living Israeli hostages and the remains of the more than two dozen hostages who are believed to be dead within 72 hours, in exchange for hundreds of detained Gazans.
Netanyahu then said Israel "will finish the job" if Hamas rejects the plan or does not follow through.
We will bring you the latest from Washington DC and get a briefing on what the peace plan involves.
(Photo: U.S. President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu hold a joint press conference at the White House in Washington; Credit: Reuters)
TUE 06:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3lk5n)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 06:06 Newsday (w172zsptkyjjy67)
New peace plan to 'end Gaza war'
The plan, agreed by Trump and Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu, proposes an immediate end to military operations, with Hamas releasing 20 living Israeli hostages and the remains of the more than two dozen hostages who are believed to be dead within 72 hours, in exchange for hundreds of detained Gazans.
Also- Bad Bunny, a Puerto Rican rapper who has got one of the most talked about gigs of the year - the headline act at the NFL Super Bowl halftime show. The 31-year-old Grammy award winner, whose real name Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, called this an accolade not just for him but for his culture and history.
(Photo: Internally displaced Palestinians evacuate an area targeted by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City; Credit: EPA/Shutterstock)
TUE 07:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3lnxs)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 07:06 Newsday (w172zsptkyjk1yc)
A new US peace plan for Gaza
The plan, agreed by Trump and Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu, proposes an immediate end to military operations, with Hamas releasing 20 living Israeli hostages and the remains of the more than two dozen hostages who are believed to be dead within 72 hours, in exchange for hundreds of detained Gazans.
Also this morning- we bring you a report form Ukraine looking at how Ukraine is replacing some of its losses in the front lines by recruiting thousands of convicts from its prisons
(Photo: US President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu press conference at the White House; Credit:EPA/Shutterstock)
TUE 08:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3lsnx)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 08:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct6xy4)
Surgery in a backpack
In some places, the nearest safe operating room can be hours or even days away. We find out about a portable operating theatre called SurgiBox that fits in a backpack and inflates in minutes, creating a safe surgical environment for operations almost anywhere. We meet the co-founder of the start-up behind it and see it put to the test, and speak to a surgeon who has used it to save lives far from a hospital. We also hear from Field Ready, whose engineers in Syria are using 3D printing to bring broken hospital equipment back to life, and we hear about Sudan’s Emergency Response Rooms — grassroots command centres where volunteers coordinate life-saving help and vital information in the midst of war.
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: Craig Langran
Editor: Jon Bithrey
Sound mix: Gareth Jones
(Image:A 'patient' demonstrates the equipment in the Surgibox, BBC)
TUE 08:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxnj6q94y9)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
TUE 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct6s76)
Keeping Chile's older workers... working
The country has one of the fastest growing aging populations in the region - we hear how businesses and politicians are adapting to the situation.
We visit a cafe exclusively employing women aged over 50, and hear about the sectors trying to change attitudes to maintain productivity.
Produced and presented by Jane Chambers
(Image: Senior hvac technician checking air conditioning unit pressure with manometer in Chile. Credit: Getty Images)
TUE 08:50 Witness History (w3ct74n7)
The birth of the Excel spreadsheet
In September 1985, Microsoft introduced Excel, an electronic spreadsheet program that revolutionised the way we organise and analyse data.
With its grid of rows and columns, it allows users to sort information, do calculations, and make charts with ease. Today it is used worldwide.
Spreadsheets might have a reputation for being dull, but this story features space tourists, knitting, and crazy competitions.
Mike Koss, an American software developer who played a key role in Excel’s creation, shares his fascinating story with Gill Kearsley.
Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there.
For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more.
Recent episodes explore everything from the death of Adolf Hitler, the first spacewalk and the making of the movie Jaws, to celebrity tortoise Lonesome George, the Kobe earthquake and the invention of superglue.
We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: Eva Peron – Argentina’s Evita; President Ronald Reagan and his famous ‘tear down this wall’ speech; Thomas Keneally on why he wrote Schindler’s List; and Jacques Derrida, France’s ‘rock star’ philosopher.
You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the civil rights swimming protest; the disastrous D-Day rehearsal; and the death of one of the world’s oldest languages.
(Photo: Microsoft Excel logo. Credit: Thomas Trutschel/Photothek via Getty Images)
TUE 09:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3lxf1)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 09:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl96pjl9ff)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
TUE 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxnj6q98pf)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
TUE 09:32 Assignment (w3ct6rc3)
[Repeat of broadcast at
02:32 today]
TUE 10:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3m155)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 10:06 The Arts Hour (w3ct6ztt)
[Repeat of broadcast at
20:06 on Saturday]
TUE 11:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3m4x9)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl96pjljxp)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
TUE 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxnj6q9j5p)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
TUE 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct71ch)
Are conspiracy theories America’s biggest export?
Mistrust in science has never been higher. Fewer people are getting vaccinated, a known vaccine skeptic is leading the most powerful health agency in America and an outbreak of measels in Texas this year led to the first fatalities in almost a decade. Then, in August, a gunman opened fire on the headquarters of the Centre for Disease Control with many speculating he was fuelled by misinformation about health.
Increasingly this misinformation is being exported around the world.
Marianna Spring is the BBC’s Social Media Investigations Correspondent and tells the story of how suspicion of science in America helped radicalise a British mom with devastating consequences.
Producers: Cat Farnsworth and Lucy Pawle
Executive producer: Annie Brown
Mix: Travis Evans
Senior news editor: China Collins
Image: Martin Pope / Getty
TUE 12:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3m8nf)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 12:06 Outlook (w3ct6x4w)
Life as a tennis pro: it's lonely at the bottom of the top
What is life really like for most professional players in the seemingly glamorous world of tennis? Short answer: insecure, lonely, and poorly paid. As a junior Conor played against Roger Federer and Venus and Serena Williams. As an adult he played against Novak Djokovic and competed at Wimbledon. He was Ireland's number one player and ranked 129 in the world. But behind the scenes Conor was scrabbling around on the Futures and Challenger tours where the prize money barely covered his expenses. He was constantly travelling and often struggled to make friends with players from other national teams as he was the only Irish player on tour. Climbing the global ranks could feel desperately lonely. But the support from his parents kept him going - even when he would have rather stopped. Conor has written a book about his experience called The Racket: on tour with tennis' golden generation and the other 99%.
Presenter: Jo Fidgen
Producer: May Cameron
Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com or WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707
(Photo: Conor Niland returns a shot to number one seed Novak Djokovic during a Men's singles match at the US Open tennis tournament in 2011. Credit: STAN HONDA/AFP via Getty Images)
TUE 12:50 Witness History (w3ct74n7)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 today]
TUE 13:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3mddk)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 13:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl96pjlsdy)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
TUE 13:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxnj6q9rny)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
TUE 13:32 In the Studio (w3ct6vty)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:32 today]
TUE 14:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3mj4p)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 14:06 Newshour (w172zss98dmrnq9)
Can Donald Trump's peace plan for Gaza work?
Can Donald Trump's peace plan for Gaza work? The focus today is on Hamas' response. One Israeli lawmaker tells us he's sceptical. We also get reaction from Gaza City and analysis from the former State Department advisor and negotiator on the Middle East, Aaron David Miller.
Also in the programme: the Taliban turn off the internet in Afghanistan; and a new exhibition on the astonishing life of the artist and Second World War photographer Lee Miller.
(IMAGE: US President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu press conference at the White House, Washington, USA - 29 Sep 2025 / CREDIT: Jim Lo Scalzo/POOL/EPA/Shutterstock)
TUE 15:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3mmwt)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 15:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct6xy4)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:06 today]
TUE 15:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxnj6qb056)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
TUE 15:32 Business Daily (w3ct6s76)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:32 today]
TUE 15:50 World Business Express (w3ct81p1)
What will a US shutdown mean for its workers?
The US government is hours away from shutting down unless a funding deal is struck. Who will feel the impact first? We hear from the people whose jobs and livelihoods are on the line.
In Africa, thousands of jobs are at risk as the US decides whether to renew the African Growth and Opportunity Act, a key trade pact between the countries.
Presenters: Leanna Byrne and Hannah Bewley
Producers: Victoriya Holland and Niamh McDermott
Editor: Shea Conduct
TUE 16:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3mrmy)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 16:06 BBC OS (w173067zhhhpmrx)
Trump sets Hamas response deadline for peace plan
US President Donald Trump says his Gaza peace plan is "an amazing thing" as he sets a "three to four day" deadline for Hamas to respond. We explain what the deal looks like and get reaction.
President Trump has threatened mass layoffs ahead of a deadline for government shutdown in the US. Our US correspondent tells us more.
And Afghanistan's main airport is at a standstill as the country grapples with the fallout of a nationwide internet shutdown imposed by the Taliban government. Our correspondent explains.
OS presenter: Rahul Tandon.
(Photo: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting of senior military leaders convened by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Quantico, Virginia, U.S., September 30, 2025. Credit: REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque)
TUE 17:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3mwd2)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 17:06 BBC OS (w173067zhhhprj1)
Hamas given new peace plan deadline
US President Donald Trump says his Gaza peace plan is "an amazing thing" as he sets a "three to four day" deadline for Hamas to respond. We explain what the deal looks like and get reaction.
South Africa's ambassador to France has been found dead in Paris, a day after he was reported missing. Our correspondent tells us more.
And Madagascar's president Andry Rajoelina has said he will dissolve his government, following days of youth-led protests over longstanding water and power cuts. We speak to young people there.
OS presenter: Rahul Tandon.
(Photo: U.S. President Donald Trump gestures after speaking during a meeting of senior military leaders convened by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Quantico, Virginia, U.S., September 30, 2025. Credit: REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque)
TUE 18:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3n046)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 18:06 Outlook (w3ct6x4w)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:06 today]
TUE 18:50 Witness History (w3ct74n7)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 today]
TUE 19:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3n3wb)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl96pjmhwq)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
TUE 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxnj6qbh4q)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
TUE 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct6zb1)
2025/09/30 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 (w172zwwv2h3n7mg)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 20:06 Assignment (w3ct6rc3)
[Repeat of broadcast at
02:32 today]
TUE 20:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxnj6qblwv)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
TUE 20:32 Tech Life (w3ct6zpb)
Pinterest boss on online safety
An exclusive interview with Bill Ready, boss of social media platform Pinterest. Plus – what is actually stolen in a cyber-attack, the end of dial-up and are AI pets the future?
Presenter: Chris Vallance
Producer: Imran Rahman-Jones
(Image: A phone with the red Pinterest logo on it. Credit: Getty Images)
TUE 21:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3nccl)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 21:06 Newshour (w172zss98dmshy6)
Taliban shuts down internet in Afghanistan
The United Nations has appealed to the Taliban to immediately restore telecommunications across Afghanistan. UN officials said the ban had far-reaching consequences, including on the banking and financial systems. Access to emergency services and medical care has also been hit. Mobile phone services are still not working and many flights have been cancelled. We'll hear from an Afghan activist about the impact this will have on daily life, and our chief International Correspondent Lyse Doucet.
Also in the programme: the US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth declares a war on woke in the military; and scientists have made early stage human embryos from DNA taken from skin cells, raising the prospect of new fertility treatments.
(Picture: Telecom antennas stand on a mountain amid service shutdown across the country in Kabul, Afghanistan, September 30, 2025. Credit: Sayed Hassib/REUTERS)
TUE 22:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3nh3q)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 22:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct6xy4)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:06 today]
TUE 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxnj6qbvd3)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
TUE 22:32 The Documentary (w3ct8cw6)
Gaza Conflict: Two years on
To mark two years of the war in Gaza, our correspondents bring you this special episode of the Global News Podcast from the BBC Bureau in Jerusalem. Jon Donnison is joined by our Gaza correspondent Rushdi Abualouf, our International Editor Jeremy Bowen, and our Middle East correspondent Yolande Knell. They discuss the history of the conflict, their memories of the October 7th attacks, and respond to questions from BBC World Service listeners. As talk of a potential ceasefire brokered by the US President Donald Trump and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dominates the news agenda, we look back at the impact this war has had on people living in the Gaza Strip and Israel.
(Photo: Smoke rises at the Harmony Tower following an Israeli airstrike in the west of Gaza City, Gaza Strip, 10 September 2025. Credit: Mohamed Saber/EPA/Shutterstock)
TUE 23:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3nlvv)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 23:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl96pjmzw7)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
TUE 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxnj6qbz47)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
TUE 23:32 World Business Report (w3ct76bm)
US government shutdown
Funding for the US government will be cut off at the end of Tuesday unless President Donald Trump's Republican Party can agree with opposition Democrats on a way forward with a spending bill. Gideon Long hears from Democrats and Republicans, as well as US workers.
And, in Africa, a trade deal that's been the cornerstone of US-African economic relations for 25 years is set to expire. It's called the African Growth and Opportunity Act – AGOA for short.
Plus, Afghanistan businesspeople are appealing to the Taliban after a total internet shutdown in the country.
(File photo: A member of staff sits on steps close to the US Capitol, Washington, DC, USA, 30 September 2025. Photo by WILL OLIVER/EPA/Shutterstock)
WEDNESDAY 01 OCTOBER 2025
WED 00:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3nqlz)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 00:06 The Arts Hour (w3ct6ztt)
[Repeat of broadcast at
20:06 on Saturday]
WED 01:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3nvc3)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 01:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl96pjn7ch)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
WED 01:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxnj6qc6mh)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
WED 01:32 The Global Story (w3ct71ch)
[Repeat of broadcast at
11:32 on Tuesday]
WED 02:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3nz37)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl96pjnc3m)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
WED 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxnj6qcbcm)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
WED 02:32 The Climate Question (w3ct702f)
[Repeat of broadcast at
14:06 on Sunday]
WED 03:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3p2vc)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 03:06 Outlook (w3ct6x4w)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:06 on Tuesday]
WED 03:50 Witness History (w3ct74n7)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 on Tuesday]
WED 04:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3p6lh)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 04:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl96pjnllw)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
WED 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxnj6qckvw)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
WED 04:32 The Lazarus Heist (w3ct89y6)
The Lazarus Heist Specials: Part one
The biggest heist yet. $1.5 billion disappears in minutes. The audacious attack was on the ByBit crypto exchange in February 2025. Investigators say North Korean hackers, the Lazarus Group, are responsible – the biggest heist in the history of crypto. With our hosts Jean Lee and Geoff White, we uncover how they pulled it off. And we learn about a North Korean POW, fighting with Russia in the Ukraine war, meeting the South Korean journalist who had the world-exclusive interview with him. Meanwhile North Korea says it has nothing to do with the cybercrimes the Lazarus Group is accused of, saying the United States is making these allegations to try and tarnish its image. Our story is about more than money. It’s about where it goes, what it buys, and who’s fighting in the shadows.
WED 05:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3pbbm)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 05:06 Newsday (w172zsptkyjmqc6)
US government shutdown
A final vote on extending government spending has failed to pass the US Senate. Democrats refused to back a Republican bill on a short extension of funding, saying it didn't address their concerns about cuts to healthcare programmes. We look at what happens next.
Officials from Hamas, alongside mediators from Qatar and Turkey are preparing to meet in Doha, spurred by Donald Trump's four-day deadline to come up with a response to his peace plan for Gaza. The plan, which has been accepted by Israel, proposes an immediate end to the fighting, and the release of all hostages within three days. Hamas would then have to disarm. The Palestinian Authority in the occupied West Bank has welcomed the proposals. We get a wider Arab view on the deal.
And in Indonesia rescuers are continuing to try to reach at least thirty people trapped inside a collapsed school. They say they've made contact with seven under the rubble and are getting food, water and oxygen to them.
Presenters: James Copnall and Pria Rai
(Photo: Democratic and Republican leadership's negotiations over possible government shutdown, Washington DC. Credit: Allison Robbert/EPA).
WED 06:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3pg2r)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 06:06 Newsday (w172zsptkyjmv3b)
US government shuts down
Government funding was cut off at midnight, leaving hundreds of thousand of employees on possible unpaid leave. Government services have also been halted. We speak to a labour leader who represents government employees.
Hamas, alongside mediators from Qatar and Turkey are said to have been meeting in Doha, spurred by Donald Trump's four-day deadline to come up with a response to the US President's plan for ending the war in Gaza. A senior Hamas official has told the BBC the deal serves Israel - and ignores the interests of Palestinians. We speak to someone who has close contact with the negotiators.
The United Nations has appealed to the Afghan Taliban to immediately restore internet across the country. UN officials said the ban had far-reaching consequences, including on the banking - as well as access to emergency services and medical care, and online education, which is a lifeline for many women and girls. We speak to a former Afghan minister for IT and Communication on the wider impact of this pact.
Presenters: James Copnall and Pria Rai
(Photo: Democratic and Republican leadership's negotiations over government shutdown, Washington DC. Credit: Allison Robbert/EPA)
WED 07:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3pktw)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 07:06 Newsday (w172zsptkyjmyvg)
US government shuts down after Senate fails to pass last-ditch funding plan
Hundreds of thousands of workers in the US are without pay and on leave, thanks to the government shutdown.
Also on today's programme: President Donald Trump has given Hamas three to four days to respond to the Gaza peace plan or face 'a very sad end.' The president says Israeli and Arab leaders have accepted the proposal. We hear from the National Religious Party in Israel.
We hear from a doctor who has worked for nearly two decades in the Gaza Strip with the medical charity MSF. He has been recently forced to leave the territory too weak with hunger to carry on.
Presenters: Pria Rai and James Copnall
Photo: Senator Chuck Schumer, a Democrat from New York, speaks at a press conference following a failed vote at the US Capitol, in Washington, DC, USA, 30 September 2025.
WED 08:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3ppl0)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 08:06 The Interview (w3ct7x6y)
Chris Wright, US Energy Secretary: The problem with climate alarmism
Justin Rowlatt speaks to US Energy Secretary Chris Wright about his belief that the threat from climate change is exaggerated. It is a view shared by the American President, Donald Trump, and one that has seen subsidies to the renewable energy industry, worth billions of dollars, cut by the US administration.
Secretary Wright is highly critical of the transition to sustainable power, describing it as unsuccessful and costly, and instead believes the solution to emissions lies in nuclear fusion. He has drawn the wrath of the international scientific community with his controversial challenge to climate orthodoxy, including his claims that there have been no increases in extreme weather events across the globe.
Chris Wright was nominated by President Trump as his Energy Secretary in November 2024 after a career in the energy industry and is an outspoken opponent of global efforts to combat the impact of greenhouse gas emissions. The US President has described climate change “as the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world.”
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 or wherever you get your podcasts.
Presenter: Justin Rowlatt
Producer: James Bryant, Miho Tanaka and Lucy Sheppard
Editor: Justine Lang
Get in touch with us on email TheInterview@bbc.co.uk and use the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.
(Photo: Chris Wright. Credit: Will Oliver/EPA/Shutterstock)
WED 08:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxnj6qd1vd)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
WED 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct6scq)
Fighting economic abuse
What happens when a controlling partner takes over your income and spending?
More countries are now recognising the harm that economic or financial abuse can cause, but it's still a but it’s still a huge problem - particularly for women.
Could financial institutions be doing more to help?
Produced and presented by Felicity Hannah
(Image: A woman lying back in a chair with her head in her hands. Credit: Getty Images)
WED 08:50 Witness History (w3ct74qh)
The strike that shook up India's tea industry
In September 2015, thousands of women tea pickers went on strike at one of India’s biggest tea producers.
They had picked more tea than ever that year but were furious that wages remained low and managers were proposing to cut their bonus.
Their action was unprecedented, with the low-caste women protesting in the streets for nine days, against both the multinational company employing them and their union.
Their sit-in ended only after the government intervened and the women’s demands were met.
Jacqueline Paine speaks to Rajeshwary, one of the leaders of the group that organised the direct action.
Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there.
For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more.
Recent episodes explore everything from the death of Adolf Hitler, the first spacewalk and the making of the movie Jaws, to celebrity tortoise Lonesome George, the Kobe earthquake and the invention of superglue.
We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: Eva Peron – Argentina’s Evita; President Ronald Reagan and his famous ‘tear down this wall’ speech; Thomas Keneally on why he wrote Schindler’s List; and Jacques Derrida, France’s ‘rock star’ philosopher.
You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the civil rights swimming protest; the disastrous D-Day rehearsal; and the death of one of the world’s oldest languages.
(Photo: Tea picker strike in Munnar. Credit: Countercurrents.org)
WED 09:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3ptb4)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 09:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl96pjp6bj)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
WED 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxnj6qd5lj)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
WED 09:32 The Climate Question (w3ct702f)
[Repeat of broadcast at
14:06 on Sunday]
WED 10:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3py28)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 10:06 The Forum (w3ct712w)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:06 on Saturday]
WED 11:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3q1td)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl96pjpfts)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
WED 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxnj6qdf2s)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
WED 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct71fr)
The rehabilitation of Syria’s ex-jihadist president
After getting the red-carpet treatment at the UN in New York last week, the former al-Qaeda fighter who now leads Syria is about to hold an election. But is Syria’s new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, really about to transition the country into democracy? Or does he have other plans?
The BBC's senior international correspondent Orla Guerin joins us from Damascus, where she’s been speaking to Syrians about the country’s future.
Producers: Cat Farnsworth and Valerio Esposito
Executive producer: James Shield
Mix: Travis Evans
Senior News Editor: China Collins
Image: Syria’s President Ahmed al-Sharaa. Khalil Ashawi / Reuters
WED 12:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3q5kj)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 12:06 Outlook (w3ct6xcs)
Murder in Moscow: What happened to my film star grandmother?
Chris Pouy was five years old when his grandmother Zoya Fyodorova was murdered. Zoya was a feted Soviet film star, until an affair with an American navy captain (resulting in the birth of a daughter, Victoria) led to Zoya's imprisonment on trumped-up charges of espionage.
Zoya survived imprisonment and separation from Victoria, regaining her freedom, her child, and her career with the death of Stalin in 1953.
By the time Zoya won an Oscar for her film Moscow Doesn't Believe in Tears, in 1981, she was preparing to defect to the US, where Victoria was already settled with an American husband and a son, Chris.
Chris remembers eagerly awaiting his grandmother Zoya's arrival, but the night before she was due to leave Russia, she was shot and killed in her Moscow apartment. After Zoya's murder, Chris's relationship with Victoria disintegrated as she battled with alcoholism and mental ill-health.
Decades later, haunted by unanswered questions, Chris went on a deep dive with a Russian TV show to investigate his grandmother's unsolved murder.
This episode contains a reference to suicide. If you are suffering distress or despair and need support, you could speak to a health professional, or an organisation that offers support. Details of help available in many countries can be found at Befrienders Worldwide. www.befrienders.org
Presenter: Asya Fouks
Producer: Sarah Kendal
Archive Clips courtesy of the Academy Awards, LenFilm studio and Channel One.
Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com or WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707
(Photo: a still taken from the investigative Russian TV show with Chris Pouy in the foreground wearing a baseball cap, on a street with a colourful building with archetypal Russian architecture in the background. Credit: Chris Pouy)
WED 12:50 Witness History (w3ct74qh)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 today]
WED 13:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3q99n)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 13:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl96pjppb1)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
WED 13:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxnj6qdnl1)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
WED 13:32 The Lazarus Heist (w3ct89y6)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:32 today]
WED 14:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3qf1s)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 14:06 Newshour (w172zss98dmvkmd)
Red Cross suspends operations in Gaza City
The International Red Cross has been forced to cease operations in Gaza City because of the intensity of the Israeli offensive. It’s continuing while Arab and Turkish mediators put pressure on Hamas to accept President Trump's peace plan.
Also on the programme: we'll hear from the city at the epicentre of the earthquake in the Philippines where there's only one hospital to deal with the casualties; and the AI-generated actress causing a stir in Hollywood.
(Photo: Displaced Palestinians fleeing northern Gaza due to an Israeli military operation, after Israeli forces ordered residents of Gaza City to evacuate to the south, 1 October, 2025. Credit: Reuters)
WED 15:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3qjsx)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 15:06 The Interview (w3ct7x6y)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:06 today]
WED 15:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxnj6qdx29)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
WED 15:32 Business Daily (w3ct6scq)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:32 today]
WED 15:50 World Business Express (w3ct81p7)
The US government has shutdown over a spending row
The US government has shutdown after senators failed to agree on a funding bill. We look at the main reason behind the shutdown - healthcare.
Plus, what do investors think of Spotify's founder stepping down as CEO.
Presenter: Leanna Byrne
Producer: Niamh Mc Dermott
Editor: Justin Bones
WED 16:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3qnk1)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 16:06 BBC OS (w173067zhhhsjp0)
US government shutdown hits key services
Republican and Democratic politicians are continuing to blame each other for the US government shutdown that's keeping hundreds of thousands of American out of the office without pay. We explain what a government shutdown is and bring together three political reporters to discuss the impact.
An "AI actor" named Tilly Norwood has been causing a stir after its Dutch creators said the synthetic performer is in talks with talent agencies. We hear a conversation with actors.
As rescuers try to reach dozens of children still trapped in the rubble of a school in Indonesia, two days after it collapsed, desperate parents continue to wait nearby. Our reporter travelled to a rescue command centre in East Java.
The latest report on the state of Switzerland’s glaciers reveals they have lost 25% of their total volume in just 10 years. Our environment correspondent explains.
Presenter: Rahul Tandon.
(Photo: The US Capitol in Washington, DC, USA, 01 October 2025. Credit: WILL OLIVER/EPA/Shutterstock.
WED 17:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3qs95)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 17:06 BBC OS (w173067zhhhsnf4)
EU leaders discuss 'drone wall'
The European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, has told a security summit in Copenhagen that Russia would not succeed in sowing "division and anxiety" in the bloc. It comes after a series of Russian incursions into EU airspace, and days after drones targeted Danish airports. Denmark’s prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, said she hoped it was now clear there was a hybrid war under way and that Europe needed to respond strongly. We speak to Polish, Danish and Estonian journalists about the developments.
The International Red Cross has been forced to cease operations in Gaza City because of the intensity of the Israeli offensive. We get the latest on the situation and speak to three activists on a flotilla which is trying to breach Israel's naval blockade and deliver aid to Gaza.
A sunscreen scandal in Australia is continuing to grow, with more products pulled from shelves over safety concerns. Our reporter in Sydney explains.
More than 70 people are now known to have died in an earthquake that's hit the central Philippines. Our correspondent explains.
Presenter: Rahul Tandon.
(Photo: A mobile radar installation on the coast of Oresund in the aftermath of drone sightings, Dragoer, Denmark - 26 Sep 2025. Credit: Steven Knap/EPA/Shutterstock)
WED 18:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3qx19)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 18:06 Outlook (w3ct6xcs)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:06 today]
WED 18:50 Witness History (w3ct74qh)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 today]
WED 19:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3r0sf)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl96pjqdst)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
WED 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxnj6qfd1t)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
WED 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct6zd9)
2025/10/01 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 (w172zwwv2h3r4jk)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 20:06 The Climate Question (w3ct702f)
[Repeat of broadcast at
14:06 on Sunday]
WED 20:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxnj6qfhsy)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
WED 20:32 Health Check (w3ct6vjx)
Creating human eggs from skin cells
Functional human eggs have been generated using human skin cells in a breakthrough study. What impact could this have on couples with fertility issues? BBC Health Correspondent James Gallagher explains.
How long covid is affecting menstrual cycles. Dr Jackie Maybin, Reader and Consultant Gynaecologist at the Centre for Reproductive Health at the University of Edinburgh and NHS Lothian explains her findings.
With a rising trend of parents using unprescribed melatonin to help their children sleep, we examine the risks.
G6PD deficiency affects more than 400 million people worldwide, but new research led by the University of Exeter in the UK reveals that it distorts the standard diagnostic test for diabetes. As a result, potential cases are missed. We ask what can be done to address this issue.
And a new eye drop that’s been improving presbyopia, an ocular condition that often occurs as we age, causing long-sightedness.
Presenter: Claudia Hammond
Producer: Hannah Robins
Assistant Producer: Alice McKee
WED 21:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3r88p)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 21:06 Newshour (w172zss98dmwdv9)
Russian incursions into EU airspace dominates summit
EU leaders are meeting in Copenhagen under pressure to boost European defence after a series of Russian incursions into EU airspace, and days after drones targeted Danish airports.
Also in the programme: The International Red Cross has been forced to cease operations in Gaza City because of the intensity of the Israeli offensive; Jane Goodall, famous for her ground-breaking studies of chimpanzees, has died at the age of 91; and as one Hollywood star, Julie Andrews, turns 90, we'll hear about a new young actor who'll never grow old.
(Photo: Denmark has reinforced security for the summit and allies have beefed up air defences. Credit: Reuters)
WED 22:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3rd0t)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 22:06 The Interview (w3ct7x6y)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:06 today]
WED 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxnj6qfr96)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
WED 22:32 The Lazarus Heist (w3ct89y6)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:32 today]
WED 23:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3rhry)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 23:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl96pjqwsb)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
WED 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxnj6qfw1b)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
WED 23:32 World Business Report (w3ct76j9)
US shutdown costs $400M daily as furloughs begin for federal workers
The US government shutdown is less than a day old, and federal workers are already receiving furlough notices. It’s the first closure in almost seven years.
Also, how money can be used as a tool of control and manipulation within relationships. We explore what economic abuse is, and how it affects lives.
And with October here, Oktoberfest is underway. Thanks to the German diaspora, the beer-filled tradition has spread far beyond Munich.
THURSDAY 02 OCTOBER 2025
THU 00:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3rmj2)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 00:06 The Forum (w3ct712w)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:06 on Saturday]
THU 01:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3rr86)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 01:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl96pjr48l)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
THU 01:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxnj6qg3jl)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
THU 01:32 The Global Story (w3ct71fr)
[Repeat of broadcast at
11:32 on Wednesday]
THU 02:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3rw0b)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl96pjr80q)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
THU 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxnj6qg78q)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
THU 02:32 The Documentary (w3ct82kz)
Powering Nigeria
According to the World Bank, more than 85 million people in Nigeria still lack access to electricity - making it the country with the largest energy access deficit in the world. But even among those connected to the grid, many struggle daily to keep the power going. Blackouts are frequent, infrastructure is fragile, and generators have become a lifeline for homes and businesses alike.
Journalist Samuel Okocha hears from Nigerians across sectors about how unreliable electricity affects their lives. He speaks to economists, politicians, and renewable energy experts to understand the roots of the crisis.
In Abuja, Samuel visits his local barber and other business people to see how they are coping with constant outages. These personal encounters reveal the everyday toll of the crisis - not just on livelihoods, but on dignity and routine. Samuel also reflects on how the power situation affects his own work and daily life.
Amid the frustration, Samuel also finds resilience. Across Nigeria, people are turning to solar energy and small-scale solutions, building their own systems to meet their needs.
Presenter: Samuel Okocha
Producer: Ashley Byrne
A Made in Manchester production for BBC World Service
(Photo: Presenter Samuel Okocha is shown the generator powering Isaac Shedrack's barbers shop in Karu on the outskirts of Abuja. Credit: Samuel Okocha/Made in Manchester)
THU 03:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3rzrg)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 03:06 Outlook (w3ct6xcs)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:06 on Wednesday]
THU 03:50 Witness History (w3ct74qh)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 on Wednesday]
THU 04:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3s3hl)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 04:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl96pjrhhz)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
THU 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxnj6qggrz)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
THU 04:32 The Food Chain (w3ct70z1)
Portion size: How much should you eat?
How much food is the “right” amount - and why is it so hard to work that out?
Ruth Alexander explores the world of portion sizes, starting with the rise of “portion distortion” in the United States, where supersized sodas and giant restaurant plates became the norm. Nutritionist Lisa Young explains how this shift happened, and what it’s meant for public health.
In São Paulo, dietitian Marle Alvarenga shares new research comparing Brazil, France, and the US, revealing how culture and globalisation shape what feels like a normal portion. Why are French plates so much smaller - and meals so much slower - than in Brazil or America?
And psychologist Lenny Vartanian in Sydney explains the powerful pull of portion size on our behaviour: why bigger servings make us eat more, even when we know better, and why education alone isn’t enough to change our habits.
If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: thefoodchain@bbc.co.uk
Producer: Izzy Greenfield
Photo: Three spoons showing different portion sizes (credit: getty)
THU 05:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3s77q)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 05:06 Newsday (w172zsptkyjqm89)
Israel intercepts Gaza bound Flotilla
Several vessels, in the Global Sumud Flotilla, were attempting to deliver aid to Gaza. Israel's foreign ministry said the vessels had been 'safely stopped' and those on board, including Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg, were being transferred to an Israeli port.
New efforts to end the federal government shutdown in the US have failed, with both sides blaming the other. The Republicans have a majority in the Senate, but not all the votes required to get the budget through. The Democrats want guarantees on issues like health care provision before they will agree to the Republicans' spending plan.
And we have a report on life inside the city of El Fasher in Sudan. The city has been under siege by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces for seventeen months, with nearly 300,000 civilians trapped inside.
Presenters: James Copnall and Pria Rai.
(Photo: Crew of a Gaza-bound vessel, part of the Global Sumud Flotilla, put their hands up as they are intercepted by Israeli security forces. Credit: Global Sumud Flotilla/Handout via REUTERS).
THU 06:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3sbzv)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 06:06 Newsday (w172zsptkyjqr0f)
Israeli naval ships intercept Gaza-bound flotilla
More than a dozen vessels carrying humanitarian aid have been stopped by Israeli forces. On board the vessels were two Colombian activists. The Colombia president, Gustavo Petro, says he's expelling all Israeli diplomats in the country in retaliationfor the interception. We speak to a Colombian Congresswoman.
Following yesterday's security summit in Denmark, we discuss the proposed 'drone wall' - to shield the eastern flank of Europe from Russian incursions - with an Estonian parliamentarian.
At least seventy-two people have been killed following an earthquake in central Philippines. The Cebu province has been declared a state of calamity after the quake. We speak to somebody in the region.
Presenters: James Copnall and Pria Rai
(Photo: Crew of a Gaza-bound vessel, part of the Global Sumud Flotilla, put their hands up as they are intercepted by Israeli security forces. Credit: Global Sumud Flotilla handout via Reuters).
THU 07:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3sgqz)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 07:06 Newsday (w172zsptkyjqvrk)
Israel intercepts boats carrying aid to Gaza
Israeli warships have intercepted an international flotilla trying to take humanitarian aid to Gaza and detained the activists on board. They include the Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg.
We look at the idea of a proposed 'drone wall' that will protect Europe at its eastern flank from Russian incursion. We speak to an Estonian parliamentarian who says we need the wall now.
And our Paris correspondent meets up with an asylum family whose child died of suffocation in a boat trying to cross the English Channel with illegal migrants.
Presenters: James Copnall and Pria Rai
(Photo: Gaza-bound vessel Captain Nikos, part of the Global Sumud Flotilla, as it is intercepted by Israeli navy forces. Credit: Global Sumud Flotilla handout via Reuters).
THU 08:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3slh3)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 08:06 The Inquiry (w3ct7234)
Why are more people getting Lyme disease?
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection passed on to humans by infected ticks. Symptoms can range from fatigue, joint pain and a circular shaped rash to facial paralysis and heart arrythmia.
According to a British Medical Journal (BMJ) global health review, Lyme disease has likely infected about one in 10 people across the globe.
Recently, pop star Justin Timberlake went public about contracting the condition.
If treated quickly, most people will recover but there are still issues around diagnosing and treating Lyme disease.
And globally, cases are on the rise. In this edition of The Inquiry, Charmaine Cozier explores what's behind the increase and hears about new tests and vaccines currently being developed.
Contributors:
Dr Sally Mavin, clinical scientist and Director of the Scottish Lyme Disease and Tick-Borne Infections Reference Laboratory, Raigmore Hospital, Inverness, Scotland
Dr Armin Alaedini, Chief Scientific Officer, Global Lyme Alliance
Dr Gábor Földvári, research group leader, Centre for Ecological Research, Institute of Evolution, Budapest, Hungary
Dr Alessandra Luchini, Professor, School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, USA
Presenter: Charmaine Cozier
Producers: Jill Collins and Emma Forde
Researcher: Maeve Schaffer
Technical producer: Richard Hannaford
Production Coordinator: Tammy Snow
Editor: Tara McDermott
(Photo: Tweezers removing a forest tick from human body. Credit: rbkomar/Getty Images)
THU 08:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxnj6qgyrh)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
THU 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct6s2p)
Trump's green retreat
Earlier this year, President Donald Trump signed an executive order stopping subsidies for renewable energy sources like wind and solar power. He has called attempts to boost green energy in the US the "Green New Scam".
We head to Middletown, Ohio, where a hydrogen-powered furnace for the steel mill, which was subsidised under the Biden administration, has been cancelled under President Trump. Supporters of the new furnace say it would have made a much cleaner plant in the town and created many jobs.
We hear from residents, community leaders, and economists, and ask - what happens when industry clashes with politics?
If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk
Presenter: Erin Delmore
Producer: Nathalie Jimenez
(Picture: Cleveland-Cliffs Middletown Works in Middletown, Ohio, in 2024. Credit: Getty Images)
THU 08:50 Witness History (w3ct74jt)
'I took the famous photo of JFK and his son'
On 2 October 1963, American photographer Stanley Tretick took the best picture of his life – a photo of President John F Kennedy working at the Resolute Desk in the White House, with his two-year-old son ‘John-John’ peeking out a secret door underneath.
The photo was published in Look magazine a month later, days after the President was assassinated.
Rachel Naylor uses the transcript of an interview with Stanley, provided by the John F Kennedy Library and Museum, to tell the story of how he captured his most famous shot.
Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there.
For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more.
Recent episodes explore everything from the death of Adolf Hitler, the first spacewalk and the making of the movie Jaws, to celebrity tortoise Lonesome George, the Kobe earthquake and the invention of superglue.
We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: Eva Peron – Argentina’s Evita; President Ronald Reagan and his famous ‘tear down this wall’ speech; Thomas Keneally on why he wrote Schindler’s List; and Jacques Derrida, France’s ‘rock star’ philosopher.
You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the civil rights swimming protest; the disastrous D-Day rehearsal; and the death of one of the world’s oldest languages.
(Photo: The photo Stanley Tretick took of JFK and his son. Credit: Alamy)
THU 09:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3sq77)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 09:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl96pjs37m)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
THU 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxnj6qh2hm)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
THU 09:32 The Documentary (w3ct82kz)
[Repeat of broadcast at
02:32 today]
THU 10:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3stzc)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 10:06 The Explanation (w3ct7ysl)
The Media Show: Is Larry Ellison the new Rupert Murdoch?
Larry Ellison, the founder of Oracle and one of the world’s richest men, is becoming a major force in media. His son David runs Skydance, which recently took over Paramount and is now interested in Warner Bros Discovery. Ellison is also linked to a bid for TikTok in the US. These moves raise questions about whether his wealth and political ties influence media ownership. James Warrington, Media and Telecoms Editor at The Telegraph, explains Ellison’s growing role in global media and the concerns around it.
Ellison’s donations to Tony Blair’s Institute for Global Change and Oracle’s possible role in the UK’s digital ID plans have also drawn attention. Some online groups have connected these facts to conspiracy theories about governments wanting more control over people’s lives. Dr Matthew Sweet, broadcaster and cultural historian, explains how ideas like this can spread from small corners of the internet into mainstream news.
US President Donald Trump recently posted and deleted an AI-generated video promoting “med beds,” a conspiracy theory claiming that secret technology can cure any illness. The idea started in QAnon groups during the pandemic and has spread across Facebook, YouTube and Telegram. Dr Robert Topinka, Senior Lecturer at Birkbeck University, describes how such claims grow online and why they sometimes reach powerful politicians.
The Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race, a tradition in British sport since the 1800s, will no longer be shown on the BBC. Channel 4 has signed a five-year deal to broadcast the race starting in 2026. Siobhan Cassidy, Chair of the Boat Race Company, outlines why the deal was made, while Pete Andrews, Head of Sport at Channel 4, explains how the broadcaster hopes to develop the event.
Presenter: Ros Atkins
Producer: Lisa Jenkinson
Assistant Producer: Lucy Wai
Production Coordinator: Ruth Waites
Technical Coordinator: Mark Dickins
Sound: Callum McLean
THU 10:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxnj6qh67r)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
THU 10:32 World of Secrets (w3ct854n)
Death in Dubai
Death in Dubai: 2. Not the first to die
Monic’s relative heads to the UAE, like her, in pursuit of a dream. But soon after, news of her death shatters everything. Devastated and distrusting of the police’s account, Michael takes the search for truth into his own hands leading to a dramatic confrontation.
This episode contains strong language.
Presented by investigative journalist Runako Celina.
Season 9 of World of Secrets, Death in Dubai, is a BBC Eye investigation, produced in association with Thread Studios, for the BBC World Service.
Please note, the image is being used for illustrative purposes only and the person depicted in it is a model.
If you feel distressed by the references in this story, please speak to a health professional, or an organisation that offers support such as Befrienders Worldwide. www.befrienders.org
For UK listeners, details of organisations offering information about or support after sexual abuse, or with feelings of despair, are available at bbc.co.uk/actionline.
Here’s a link to the BBC Eye documentary film, which we recommend you watch after listening to this podcast: https://bit.ly/bbcdeathindubai
If you are in the UK, you can watch on iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/n12t256jg
THU 11:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3syqh)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl96pjsbqw)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
THU 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxnj6qh9zw)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
THU 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct7197)
Why did Trump bring Tony Blair into the Gaza peace process?
On Monday, President Trump outlined his proposal for a peace deal in Gaza, a moment he described as ‘potentially one of the great days ever in civilisation’. In a press conference announcing the plan, the President name-dropped Sir Tony Blair and said the former UK Prime Minister would have a key role in the governance of post-war Gaza. Blair has been part of high-level talks with the US and other parties about ending the conflict. To many in the Middle East he remains a divisive figure who is remembered primarily for his role in the US-led invasion of Iraq. So how did Blair become a central figure in this latest plan to end the war in Gaza, and what does this tell us about diplomacy under Trump 2.0? Asma Khalid speaks to the BBC’s diplomatic correspondent James Landale, who charts the story of Blair’s involvement in the Middle East and his warm relationship with President Trump.
Producers: Sam Chantarasak, Viv Jones
Senior news editor: China Collins
Mix: Travis Evans
Picture: Former Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair. Credit: Victoria Jones/PA Wire
THU 12:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3t2gm)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 12:06 Outlook (w3ct6wxz)
The teen who captured era-defining portraits of reggae and punk
Dennis Morris was nine years old when he took his first picture, after attending a photography club at his local church in East London. From that moment on, he was hooked. Dennis went everywhere with his camera, documenting everyday life in his Caribbean community in 1960s London—an enthusiasm that would earn him the nickname ‘Mad Dennis’. When he was 14, he read Bob Marley would be visiting London for his first UK tour and skipped school to try and meet him. The photos Dennis took of him as a teenager would go on to become some of the reggae star’s most well-known portraits, kickstarting a long career documenting music rebels and cultural icons of reggae, punk, and pop culture.
In the late 1950s, Patricia Chin – aka Miss Pat – abandoned a career in nursing and, with her husband Vincent, started selling old jukebox records out of a grocery store. Their business moved to downtown Kingston and would grow into Randy’s Record Mart, Jamaica’s most famous record store. Upstairs, Vincent set up Studio 17 and worked with some of reggae’s biggest stars – Bob Marley and the Wailers, Lee ’Scratch’ Perry, Alton Ellis and John Holt. Now, her family runs VP Records, one of the world’s largest reggae and dancehall labels. This interview was first broadcast in 2021.
(Photo: Dennis Morris standing in front of two of his iconic Bob Marley portraits from 1973. Credit: Isabelle Chalard)
THU 12:50 Witness History (w3ct74jt)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 today]
THU 13:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3t66r)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 13:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl96pjsl74)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
THU 13:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxnj6qhkh4)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
THU 13:32 The Food Chain (w3ct70z1)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:32 today]
THU 14:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3t9yw)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 14:06 Newshour (w172zss98dmygjh)
Fatal attack on Manchester synagogue
Two people have been killed by a car that drove into a crowd outside a British synagogue on the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur. Another man was stabbed at the site. We hear the latest news on the incident.
Also in the programme: a wide-ranging interview with the leader of the Venezuelan opposition, Maria Corina Machado, who is in hiding after being barred from last year's election; and a BBC analysis of Ukrainian drone attacks against Russian oil refineries.
We also hear about a new exhibition in Cambridge that sheds light on craftspeople in ancient Egypt.
(Photo: People gather near the scene following an incident outside a synagogue in Manchester, Credit: REUTERS/Temilade Adelaja)
THU 15:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3tfq0)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 15:06 The Inquiry (w3ct7234)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:06 today]
THU 15:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxnj6qhszd)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
THU 15:32 Business Daily (w3ct6s2p)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:32 today]
THU 15:50 World Business Express (w3ct81pf)
Elon Musk: The world's first half-trillionaire
Elon Musk has become the first person ever to reach a net worth of more than $500billion. But how did he get to this point?
French authorities have charged the captain of an oil tanker travelling from Russia with refusing to follow instructions.
In Japan, who will be the next Prime Minister?
Also in Japan, the country is days away from running out of the nation's most popular beer.
Presenter: Leanna Byrne
Producer: Niamh Mc Dermott
Editor: Justin Bones
THU 16:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3tkg4)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 16:06 BBC OS (w173067zhhhwfl3)
Two dead in UK synagogue attack
British police have confirmed they've shot dead a man suspected of killing at least two people outside a synagogue. The car and stabbing attack in Manchester happened on the most holy day of the Jewish religious year, Yom Kippur.
Several countries have condemned Israel's interception of a flotilla trying to carry aid to Gaza. Meanwhile, the BBC understands that mediators have made contact with the head of Hamas's military wing in Gaza, who indicated he does not agree to new US ceasefire plan. We speak to our correspondents in Washington and in Jerusalem, and we bring together aid workers in Gaza to share what the situation is like on the ground.
We get details from an analysis by BBC Verify and BBC News Russian, which shows that Ukraine has dramatically increased drone attacks on Russian oil refineries.
After China introduced a new type of work visa, thousands of people have been criticising the scheme on social media. We speak to the BBC's Global China Unit and to our colleague from BBC Monitoring.
UN agencies say 16,000 people have been killed in armed violence in Haiti in the past three years, with more than 1.3 million displaced. Our global affairs reporter explains.
Presenter: Rahul Tandon.
(Photo: Members of the Jewish community comfort each other near to the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue in Crumpsall, Manchester, where two people died in a suspected terror attack by a man who was shot dead by police. Picture date: Thursday October 2, 2025. Credit: Peter Byrne/PA Wire)
THU 17:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3tp68)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 17:06 BBC OS (w173067zhhhwkb7)
Security increased at Jewish sites across UK after deadly attack
Security has been increased at Jewish sites across Britain after two people were killed in an attack on a synagogue that's been declared a terrorist incident. We get the latest from our correspondent and speak to people from Britain's Jewish community.
The government in Morocco says three people were killed on Wednesday when protesters attempting to storm a police station were fired on. Our reporter has the details.
As Hamas weighs its response to a new US plan to end the war, we hear from aid workers in Gaza where Israel has intensified attacks around Gaza City.
The British zoologist and animal rights campaigner, Dame Jane Goodall, has died at the age of 91. We speak to her friends and fellow conservationists.
Presenter: Rahul Tandon.
(Photo: Armed police officers attending a property in White House Avenue in Crumpsall, Manchester, close to the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue where two people died in a suspected terror attack by a man who was shot dead by police. Credit: Peter Byrne/PA Wire)
THU 18:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3tsyd)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 18:06 Outlook (w3ct6wxz)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:06 today]
THU 18:50 Witness History (w3ct74jt)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 today]
THU 19:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3txpj)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl96pjt9px)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
THU 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxnj6qj8yx)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
THU 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct6z7s)
2025/10/02 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 (w172zwwv2h3v1fn)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 20:06 The Documentary (w3ct82kz)
[Repeat of broadcast at
02:32 today]
THU 20:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxnj6qjdq1)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
THU 20:32 Science In Action (w3ct6yfy)
A mystery satellite has been jamming GPS in Europe
Scientists detect for the first time an unknown source of GPS interference coming from space. Also, as AI begins to design more and more DNA sequences being manufactured synthetically, how can those manufacturers be sure that what their customers are asking for will not produce toxic proteins or lethal weapons? And… how camera traps in polish forests reveal that the big bad wolf is more scared of humans than anything else.
For that last few years instances of deliberate jamming and interference of GNSS signals has become an expected feature of the wars the world is suffering. Yet this disruption of the signals that all of us use to navigate and tell the time nearly always emanate from devices on the ground, or maybe in the air. But in ongoing research reported recently by Todd Humphreys of University of Texas at Austin and colleagues around the world is beginning to reveal that since 2019 an intermittent yet powerful signal has been causing GPS failures across Europe and the North Atlantic. The episodes have been thankfully brief so far, but all the signs suggest it comes not from soldiers or aeroplanes, but from a distantly orbiting satellite somewhere over the Baltic Sea. It may not be malevolent, it could be a fault, but the net of suspicion is tightening.
A team of scientists including some from Microsoft report today in a paper in the journal Science an investigation to try to strengthen the vetting of synthetic DNA requests around the world. As AI-designed sequencies increase in number and application, the factories that produce the bespoke DNA are in danger of making and supplying potentially dangerous sequences to customers with malicious intents. But how do you spot the bad proteins out of the almost infinite possible DNA recipes? Tessa Alexanian of the International Biosecurity and Biosafety Initiative for Science, and one of the authors explains some of the thinking.
Finally, Liana Zanette of Western University in Ontario and colleagues have been hanging around in Polish forests scaring wolves. Why? Because as wolf numbers rise in protected reserves, more and more human-wolf interactions occur. And a suspicion has arisen that the legal protection they enjoy has led to them losing their fear of humans in a dangerous way. Not so, says Liana’s team, blowing away the straw arguments and setting fire to the political motivation to reduce their protection status. Wolves are still terrified of Nature’s apex predator – us.
Presenter: Roland Pease
Producer: Alex Mansfield
Production Coordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth
(Image: Simulation screen showing various flights for transportation and passengers. Credit: Oundum via Getty Images).
THU 21:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3v55s)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 21:06 Newshour (w172zss98dmz9rd)
Two people killed in British synagogue attack
The British Prime Minister Keir Starmer says Britain must defeat what he called the "rising hatred of Jewish people", after a deadly attack at a synagogue. Two Jewish people were killed and four others injured after a car was driven towards worshippers at the site in Manchester. Police declared it a terrorist incident. They shot the suspect dead.
Also in the programme: Venezuela's opposition leader tells us she welcomes America's attacks on alleged drug smugglers, saying they'll force the President out. We look at protests in Morocco; and is Formula One getting too hot for the safety of its drivers?
(Photo: A member of the Jewish community holds a Torah at a police cordon in Manchester, Britain, 2 October 2025. Credit: Photo by Adam Vaughan /EPA/ Shutterstock)
THU 22:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3v8xx)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 22:06 The Inquiry (w3ct7234)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:06 today]
THU 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxnj6qjn69)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
THU 22:32 The Food Chain (w3ct70z1)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:32 today]
THU 23:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3vdp1)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 23:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl96pjtspf)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
THU 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxnj6qjryf)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
THU 23:32 World Business Report (w3ct75y6)
Is cybercrime the biggest threat to global business in 2025?
Sam Fenwick takes a look at the soaring cost of cybercrime, as attacks sweep across industries and threaten global business stability, spotlighting Japan’s Asahi Breweries, one of the latest victims. Latest research by Cybersecurity Ventures predicted it could cost as much as $10.5tn by 2025.
A liquefied natural gas platform meant to bring economic prosperity in the West African nation of Senegal is at the centre of controversy.
And in Tokyo, the race to lead Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party heats up. With five contenders and the economy centre stage, we explore what’s at stake for the nation’s future.
FRIDAY 03 OCTOBER 2025
FRI 00:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3vjf5)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 00:06 The Explanation (w3ct7ysl)
[Repeat of broadcast at
10:06 on Thursday]
FRI 00:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxnj6qjwpk)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
FRI 00:32 Unspun World with John Simpson (w3ct78by)
Will Trump’s Gaza plan achieve ‘eternal peace’?
This week John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses whether Donald Trump’s plan for peace in the Middle East will work, examines why Russia is risking further conflict in Europe by provoking NATO, and looks at the outcome of the parliamentary election in Moldova.
Producer: Kate Cornell
Executive Producer: Benedick Watt
Commissioning Editor: Vara Szajkowski
FRI 01:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3vn59)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 01:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl96pjv15p)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
FRI 01:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxnj6qk0fp)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
FRI 01:32 The Global Story (w3ct7197)
[Repeat of broadcast at
11:32 on Thursday]
FRI 02:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3vrxf)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl96pjv4xt)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
FRI 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxnj6qk45t)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
FRI 02:32 Tech Life (w3ct6zpb)
[Repeat of broadcast at
20:32 on Tuesday]
FRI 03:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3vwnk)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 03:06 Outlook (w3ct6wxz)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:06 on Thursday]
FRI 03:50 Witness History (w3ct74jt)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 on Thursday]
FRI 04:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3w0dp)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 04:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl96pjvdf2)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
FRI 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxnj6qkcp2)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
FRI 04:32 Heart and Soul (w3ct6vpf)
Orthodoxy or death: The fight for Mount Athos
This programme contains discriminatory language.
On Greece’s Mount Athos, the most holy site in Eastern Orthodox Christianity, lies a rift in the faith. For more than 20 years, a banned monastery has operated illegally and at times violently towards their sacred community. For Heart and Soul, Nikos Papanikolaou visits these excommunicated monks ready to become martyrs in order to protect their ultra-orthodox way of life.
The inhabitants of Esphigmenou monastery are known as Greece’s "rebel monks". Living on a remote peninsula in the north of the country, they are holed up in their fortress-like monastery, emblazoned with a banner reading "Orthodoxy or Death". This schismatic brotherhood broke away from the mainstream church decades ago, an act which has led to their excommunication and violent clashes with police after attempts to evict them from their monastery.
Nikos Papanikolaou travels to Mount Athos (know as the "holy mountain") to meet Esphigmenou’s leader, Abbot Methodios. He’s come to hear about their radical interpretation of the faith and learn more about what’s being done to resolve the situation.
Presenter: Nikos Papanikolaou
Producer: Hester Underhill & Hunter Charlton
Executive Producer: Ant Adeane
Image: Abbot Methodios standing outside Esphigmenou’s chapel (Credit: Nikos Papanikolaou)
FRI 05:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3w44t)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 05:06 Newsday (w172zsptkyjtj5d)
Police name Manchester synagogue attacker
Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis said the attack in Crumpsall, north Manchester, was the "tragic result" of an "unrelenting wave of Jew hatred on our streets, campuses, on social media and elsewhere"
We'll look at Haiti where years of violence have displaced over a million people according to one UN agency. The UN is also warning that worst may be yet to come - we'll speak to the organisation's Expert on Human Rights in Haiti to find out what it means for people there
And we'll hear about tourism in Cuba - where despite a previous surge in travellers, an acute economic crisis has meant holiday goers to the island have now dwindled.
(Photo: A bomb disposal robot works at the scene, after a report of an incident in which a car was driven at pedestrian; Credit: Reuters)
FRI 06:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3w7wy)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 06:06 Newsday (w172zsptkyjtmxj)
Munich Airport closes temporarily because of drones
Airport authorities in Munich said that seventeen flights were cancelled, affecting nearly three thousand passengers, and fifteen other flights were diverted to nearby cities.
Two men and a woman have been arrested in connection with a deadly attack at a synagogue in the English city of Manchester, we will speak to our political correspondent to find out where the country stands.
We'll look at Haiti where months of violence has forced over a million people from their homes according to one UN agency. The UN is also warning that worst may be yet to come - we'll speak to a former Haitian minister.
(Photo: A general view of the Munich International Airport in Germany; Credit: Reuters)
FRI 07:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3wcn2)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 07:06 Newsday (w172zsptkyjtrnn)
Drones force Munich Airport to close temporarily
Munich airport is affected by drones sighting temporarily and had to shut down. We look at what does this mean and who might be behind it after other aviation hubs in Europe have been affected in the lats few days.
Police in Britain name the Manchester attacker who killed two people at a synagogue. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer condemned the attack, which took place on Yom Kippur - the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.
We look at Haiti where years of violence have displaced over a million people according to one UN agency. The UN is also warning that the worst may be yet to come - we speak to the organisation's Expert on Human Rights in Haiti to find out what it means for people there.
(Photo: A soldier of the German armed forces demonstrates a HP 47 drone jammer during a defence exercise. Credit: Reuters)
FRI 08:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3whd6)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 08:06 Americast (w3ct7t60)
Will the Democrats’ shutdown gamble pay off?
The US federal government has shut down for the first time since 2018, and with it the suspension of all non-essential services and the threat of mass firings among federal workers.
The shutdown comes after Congress failed to reach an agreement on future spending plans, leading to an angry blame game in the media over who is really responsible. For Democrats, the shutdown presents an opportunity to fight back against Donald Trump’s agenda, in particular on healthcare and cutbacks in spending.
But has the party picked the right moment to challenge the president - and will Democrats be able to land their message with the American public? Justin and Anthony unpack what the Democrats are trying to achieve and where they go from here.
And, Donald Trump has reached a deal that would transfer ownership of TikTok away from the Chinese company ByteDance and allow operations to continue in the U.S. The deal itself involves investors with close links to the president, but what does it mean for TikTok’s users, and who will have ownership of the app’s powerful algorithms?
HOSTS:
• Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter
• Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent
GET IN TOUCH:
• Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB
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• Email Americast@bbc.co.uk
• Or use #Americast
This episode was made by Purvee Pattni, Alix Pickles and Grace Reeve. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app.
You can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers.
US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155
Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Americast also makes lots of other podcasts, including Newscast and Ukrainecast. If you enjoy Americast (and if you're reading this then you hopefully do), then we think that you will enjoy some of our other pods too. See links below.
Newscast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/p05299nl
Ukrainecast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0bqztzm
Radical: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0gg4k6r
The Global Story: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/w13xtvsd
FRI 08:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxnj6qkvnl)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
FRI 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct6rsn)
Business Daily meets: Thailand's Chef Pam
Thailand’s Pichaya Soontornyanakij, widely known as Chef Pam, was this year named the best female chef in the world by a panel of more than 1,000 gastronomists assembled by 50 Best, a food and drink sector brand. She’s the first Asian woman to win that award.
Gideon Long meets her at her Michelin-starred restaurant in Bangkok, in a building which has deep personal meaning for her and which she and her family have lovingly restored.
She takes him on a tour of the gastronomic delights of Bangkok’s Chinatown and tells him about her Thai-Chinese heritage and the challenges of the restaurant business.
If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk
Presented and produced by Gideon Long
(Image: Thai chef Pichaya Soontornyanakij at her restaurant in Bangkok.)
FRI 08:50 Witness History (w3ct744d)
The acquittal of OJ Simpson
It’s 30 years since American football star OJ Simpson was acquitted of murdering his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman.
Ron Shipp was a close friend of OJ Simpson's and also a police officer, he decided to testify against him in the criminal trial.
In 2017, Ron spoke to Rebecca Kesby about why he wanted to testify.
Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there.
For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more.
Recent episodes explore everything from the death of Adolf Hitler, the first spacewalk and the making of the movie Jaws, to celebrity tortoise Lonesome George, the Kobe earthquake and the invention of superglue.
We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: Eva Peron – Argentina’s Evita; President Ronald Reagan and his famous ‘tear down this wall’ speech; Thomas Keneally on why he wrote Schindler’s List; and Jacques Derrida, France’s ‘rock star’ philosopher.
You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the civil rights swimming protest; the disastrous D-Day rehearsal; and the death of one of the world’s oldest languages.
(Photo: OJ Simpson at his double murder trial. Credit: VIince Bucci/AFP via Getty Images)
FRI 09:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3wm4b)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 09:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl96pjw04q)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
FRI 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxnj6qkzdq)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
FRI 09:32 Science In Action (w3ct6yfy)
[Repeat of broadcast at
20:32 on Thursday]
FRI 10:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3wqwg)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 10:06 Unexpected Elements (w3ct72wm)
Science inspired by Taylor Swift
The launch of Taylor Swift’s much-anticipated 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, has inspired this week’s episode of Unexpected Elements.
First up, we hear how a Brazilian songbird courts its mate as part of a boyband. We then find out about the microbes that dance to survive in their extreme habitat.
Next up, Professor Troy Magney, a forest ecophysiologist at the University of Montana, tells us about his TSWIFT machine and how it can assess the health of the planet’s forests.
Also in the programme, we find out why migratory birds trick weather data, how fish sing, and how hackers used SWIFT bank payments to nearly pull off a billion-dollar heist.
All that, plus many more Unexpected Elements.
Presenter: Marnie Chesterton, with Camilla Mota and Godfred Boafo
Producers: Imaan Moin and Alice Lipscombe-Southwell, with Robbie Wojciechowski and Lucy Davies
FRI 11:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3wvml)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl96pjw7mz)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
FRI 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxnj6ql6wz)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
FRI 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct714q)
How a festival in Saudi Arabia rocked the American comedy world
This week, some of the world’s most influential comedians have travelled to Saudi Arabia, for comedy festival organized by the government of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The bill for the Riyadh Comedy Festival includes superstars like Aziz Ansari, Dave Chapelle, Kevin Hart and Louis CK. And the event has attracted significant backlash, with critics accusing the participating comedians of helping Saudi Arabia to “comedy-wash” its record on human rights and free speech.
We speak to the comedian Gianmarco Soresi, who has been highly critical of peers who chose to play the festival, and from BBC security correspondent and resident Saudi Arabia expert, Frank Gardner.
Producers: Xandra Ellin and Valerio Esposito
Executive producers: James Shield and Annie Brown
Mix: Travis Evans
Senior news editor: China Collins
FRI 12:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3wzcq)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 12:06 Outlook (w3ct6whf)
Outlook Mixtape: Saved by the bell
Dr Katriona O'Sullivan from Coventry in the UK was born to parents addicted to heroin. She was neglected and, at times, not even fed. But, thanks to the encouragement and nurturing of two influential teachers, Katriona's life took a very different turn - she became a university professor and even made a speech at the United Nations. Katriona's written a book about her life called Poor.
Riyad Aljoboury is a teacher from the Iraqi town of Hamam Al Halil. It's located around 30 kilometres southeast of the city of Mosul which, between 2016 and 2017, was at the centre of an intense battle by Iraqi forces to flush out the Islamic State group. After the group stormed into Riyad's town in 2014 he was forced to teach English to their children. He spoke to Anu Anand in 2017.
Tito Quiroz used to wave up at the inmates of the prison next door to his university in Ensenada, Mexico, and they'd wave back from their cell windows. Then, one day, he got the opportunity to go inside to teach them his passion, the violin. Tito endured the somewhat intimidating atmosphere inside, and found an audience desperate to learn. One man in particular - Arturo Reyna - would use the music he was imbued with to turn his life around. Outlook reporter Clayton Conn went to meet them in 2019.
Presenter: Mobeen Azhar
Producer: June Christie
Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com or WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707
(Photo: Cassette tape. Credit: Getty Images)
FRI 12:50 Witness History (w3ct744d)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 today]
FRI 13:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3x33v)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 13:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl96pjwh47)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
FRI 13:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxnj6qlgd7)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
FRI 13:32 Heart and Soul (w3ct6vpf)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:32 today]
FRI 14:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3x6vz)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 14:06 Newshour (w172zss98dn1cfl)
Church of England chooses first woman to lead it
Dame Sarah Mullally has been named as the new Archbishop of Canterbury designate - the first woman to be chosen to head the Church of England.
It is the first time in nearly 500 years of history that the Church has nominated a woman as its head. We'll ask who Sarah Mullally is - and whether she can restore trust and unity in her church.
Also in the programme: A senior member of the Jewish community in the UK says Thursday's deadly attack in Manchester was a shock but no surprise; we'll hear about tourism creaking in Cuba; and a ravenous baby planet has been making headlines.
(Photo shows Archbishop of Canterbury-designate Sarah Mullally delivering an address inside Canterbury Cathedral,on 3 October2025. Credit: Toby Melville/Reuters)
FRI 15:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3xbm3)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 15:06 Americast (w3ct7t60)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:06 today]
FRI 15:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxnj6qlpwh)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
FRI 15:32 Business Daily (w3ct6rsn)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:32 today]
FRI 15:50 World Business Express (w3ct81pm)
Japan is running out of Asahi beer
Japan is facing a shortage of Asahi products, including beer, tea, and soft drinks after a major cyber-attack. We hear from businesses affected.
In China, the Government has proposed new standards for fast food deliveries.
TikTok has had its licence temporarily suspended in Indonesia.
Plus, the Women's Cricket World Cup is underway in India. There's been a record breaking attendance and biggest prize pot ever!
Presenter: Sarah Rogers
Producer: Niamh Mc Dermott
Editor: Justin Bones
FRI 16:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3xgc7)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 16:06 BBC OS (w173067zhhhzbh6)
First woman named as new Archbishop of Canterbury
A woman has been chosen as the Archbishop of Canterbury for the first time. Dame Sarah Mullally will be the ceremonial head of the Anglican Communion, which has more than 85 million followers worldwide. Conservative churches in Asia and Africa have criticised her appointment. We get reaction from female priests and speak to our religion reporter.
We hear an interview with a rabbi who stopped an attacker in a Manchester synagogue by barricading the door. Two Jewish men were killed in the attack on Thursday, and the police shot the attacker.
Sean "Diddy" Combs is in court in New York where he will be sentenced on two counts of transportation for prostitution. We speak to our reporter outside the court.
We hear from Gen Z protesters in Morocco who are calling for the resignation of the country's billionaire prime minister.
Presenter: Rahul Tandon.
(Photo: Archbishop of Canterbury-designate Dame Sarah Mullally. Credit: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire)
FRI 17:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3xl3c)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 17:06 BBC OS (w173067zhhhzg7b)
Trump gives Hamas Sunday deadline
In a post on social media, Mr Trump warned that "all hell" would break out against Hamas if what he called "this last chance" agreement was not reached. Meanwhile, reports from Khan Younis in the south of Gaza say the city has witnessed one of the fiercest confrontations since the war began between Hamas and gunmen from a powerful local clan. We speak to our correspondent in Jerusalem.
British police say one of two Jewish men killed in an attack on a synagogue in Manchester on Thursday appears to have been hit by gunfire from armed officers. We get the latest from our correspondent and speak to rabbis around the world about their concerns.
Taylor Swift has released her highly anticipated studio album, ''The Life Of A Showgirl''. We speak to our reporter and hear reaction from fans.
We hear from Gen Z protesters in Morocco who are calling for the resignation of the country's billionaire prime minister.
Presenter: Rahul Tandon.
(Photo: US President Donald Trump looks on during a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Washington, DC, USA, 29 September 2025. Credit: WILL OLIVER/POOL/EPA/Shutterstock)
FRI 18:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3xpvh)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 18:06 Outlook (w3ct6whf)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:06 today]
FRI 18:50 Witness History (w3ct744d)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 today]
FRI 19:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3xtlm)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl96pjx6m0)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
FRI 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxnj6qm5w0)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
FRI 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct6z38)
2025/10/03 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 (w172zwwv2h3xybr)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 20:06 BBC OS Conversations (w3ct6rn4)
Conversations from a year in Gaza and Israel
In this special edition of BBC OS Conversations, we look back over the past 12 months of the conflict between Israel and Hamas through the conversations we have recorded.
It’s almost two years since Hamas militants attacked Israel – killing 1200 people and taking 251 hostage. In response, the Israeli government vowed to destroy Hamas. Since then – according to the Hamas-run health ministry – more than 60,000 people have been killed in air and ground attacks, the United Nations says that most of the population has had to leave their homes, and half a million are facing starvation.
Throughout the conflict, we have spoken to families of those killed by Hamas or taken hostage. “It’s heartbreaking what is happening to our hostages and it’s heartbreaking to see what is happening in Gaza,” Sharone tells us.
One of our producers, Kristina, has also been receiving regular voice notes from 17-year-old Sanabel in Gaza. “October 7th is what I hate the most,” Sanabel says. “Because of this date, I lost everything in my life, literally everything.”
Presenter: Rahul Tandon
BBC Producers: Ben Davis, Iqra Farooq and Kristina Volk
Boffin Media producer: Richard Hollingham
An EcoAudio certified Boffin Media production in partnership with the OS team.
(Photo: Sanabel in Gaza. Credit: Sanabel)
FRI 20:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxnj6qm9m4)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
FRI 20:32 CrowdScience (w3ct6st8)
Why are some animals black and white?
Listener Jude in Canada wants to know why some animals are black and white. Why do zebras risk being so stripy? Why do pandas have such distinct marking? And do they have something in common?
Presenter Caroline visits Pairi Daiza, a zoo in Belgium. Together with her guide for the day, Johan Vreys, she looks at these weird and wonderful animals up close. First, she visits three zebras having breakfast. Ecologist Martin How from the University of Bristol explains his ingenious experiment involving horses with zebra blankets. Next on the tour is the giant panda which, according to Prof Tim Caro from the University of Bristol, looks at the way it does to camouflage in snowy forests in China. But there are many more animals to see, and many more reasons to be monochrome, including the penguin and its tuxedo-like colouration. Hannah Rowland, senior lecturer at the University of Liverpool explains that it might have more than just a single function. It turns out, scientific answers aren’t always black and white.
Presenter: Caroline Steel
Producer: Florian Bohr
Editor: Ben Motley
(Photo: The zebra was running gracefully running in the green water. Credit: Surasak Suwanmake/Getty Images)
FRI 21:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3y22w)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 21:06 Newshour (w172zss98dn26nh)
Hamas respond to US proposal for Gaza ceasefire
A representative of the organisation told the BBC that Hamas accepted the proposal in principle - but wished to make some changes on a number of key points. We ask the experts what this might mean for a peace deal in the Middle East.
Also in the programme: rap star Sean 'Diddy' Combs sentenced to 50 months on sex-related charges in a New York court; prominent French economist Gabriel Zucman explains his proposal for a wealth tax; and the first female archbishop of Canterbury.
(Photo: Israeli military operation in Gaza City, 3 October 2025; Credit: MOHAMMED SABER/EPA/Shutterstock)
FRI 22:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3y5v0)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 22:06 Americast (w3ct7t60)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:06 today]
FRI 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxnj6qmk3d)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
FRI 22:32 Heart and Soul (w3ct6vpf)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:32 today]
FRI 23:00 BBC News (w172zwwv2h3y9l4)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 23:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl96pjxplj)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
FRI 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxnj6qmnvj)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
FRI 23:32 World Business Report (w3ct76nt)
US farmers hit by shutdown amid trade wars
US farmers are under pressure with trade wars, crop prices and now a government shutdown. Andrew Peach speaks to two of them about how their livelihoods are being affected.
We also look at Taylor Swift's latest album and speak to businesses which rely on her continued success.
And in Thailand we spend some time with the best female chef in the world.