SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2025

SAT 00:00 BBC News (w172zwwvt0rhqjy)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 00:06 Unexpected Elements (w3ct72wp)
Why are gold prices so high?

Record high gold prices have us looking at the science of inflation, why gold is leaking from volcanoes, and entomologist Katy Prudic explains why shiny gold can be a good color for camouflage.

Plus the dark science going on in a gold mine, whether we can move at the speed of light, and the debate around golden rice. All that, plus more unexpected elements.

Presenter: Marnie Chesterton
Producers: Alice Lipscombe-Southwell, with Margaret Sessa-Hawkins, Robbie Wojciechowski and Lucy Davies.


SAT 01:00 BBC News (w172zwwvt0rhv92)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 01:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl9y75h79g)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SAT 01:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxp7rc66kg)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 01:32 The Global Story (w3ct714s)
Why has Trump authorised CIA action in Venezuela?

On Wednesday, President Trump confirmed that he has authorised the CIA to take covert lethal action in Venezuela. The revelation came off the back of a series of US strikes on Venezuelan boats accused of transporting drugs in the Caribbean Sea, which resulted in the death of 27 people in what some human rights experts are calling "extrajudicial executions".

The US military operation has the region on edge, leaving analysts wondering whether this is just part of a new war on drugs, or a push to bring down the Maduro regime. The BBC's Will Grant briefs us on these latest developments, and the CIA's history in Latin America.

Producers: Viv Jones and Valerio Esposito

Editor: Annie Brown and James Shield

Sound engineer: Travis Evans

Senior news editor: China Collins

Image: Miguel Gutierrez/Shutterstock


SAT 02:00 BBC News (w172zwwvt0rhz16)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl9y75hc1l)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SAT 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxp7rc6b9l)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 02:32 Stumped (w3ct6zjw)
Harmanpreet Kaur: How was India's captain discovered?

On this week's Stumped with Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Sunil Gupta, we hear more about how India's captain Harmanpreet Kaur began her cricketing journey. Kaur was born in Moga, in the north of India and was coached by Kamaldeesh Singh Sodhi. His son Yadwinder, who also coached her, explains how his father first spotted her talent, and how she's grown into a player to step up for her team, most notably after scoring 171 against Australia in the 2017 World Cup.

The women's world cup is really heating up with matches going down to the wire and the pressure becoming more intense. Hosts India have gone from the highs of beating Sri Lanka and Pakistan to losing against South Africa and tournament favourites Australia. The team discuss the state of play as the group stage draws ever closer to the end.

Plus, we hear from 2017 India World Cup finalist Punam Raut, who told us that despite losing the 2017 final in England, the team were greeted like winners upon their return to India.

Photo: Indian cricketers Harmanpreet Kaur (R) and Poonam Raul take a run during the ICC Women's World Cup Twenty20 semi final match between Australia and India at the Beausjour Cricket Ground in Gros Islet, Saint Lucia on May 13, 2010. (Credit: AFP via Getty Images)


SAT 03:00 BBC News (w172zwwvt0rj2sb)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 03:06 Outlook (w3ct6whh)
Outlook Mixtape: Why did the chicken...

Three finger-lickin' chicken tales from the Outlook archive for your delectation.

Guirec Soudée had always dreamed of sailing around the world. He set out at the age of 21 in a rusty 30-foot boat, with no communication equipment and little sailing experience. During a stop in the Canary Islands he met Monique – a Rhode Island Red chicken and, 'fell in love'. She was to become his confidante and best friend during a four-year trip. Together, they sailed across the Atlantic, then on to Greenland and even crossed the treacherous Northwest Passage between the Pacific and the Atlantic. He became the youngest sailor to complete the crossing; Monique the only chicken. This interview was first broadcast in 2021.

Michael Sayman loved two things when he was growing up in Miami in the noughties – his Mum's Peruvian chicken and his smartphone. When the family restaurant was struggling under the recession, 12-year-old Michael wanted to help and started creating phone apps. All of a sudden, this child was keeping the chicken business afloat and paying the bills, but his schoolwork was starting to suffer and the pressure was taking a toll. And then came an email from Mark Zuckerberg that would change everything. Michael spoke to us in 2024.

The late legendary American chef Leah Chase was known as New Orleans' 'Queen of Creole Cuisine'. The restaurant she ran, called Dooky Chase, was named after her husband and his father whose family started it in 1941. Famous for its dishes like fried chicken and gumbo, Leah hosted the likes of Martin Luther King, Ray Charles and Barack Obama. Her story inspired the Disney film, The Princess and the Frog. Leah Chase spoke to us in 2016.

Presenter: Jo Fidgen
Producer: Tommy Dixon

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

(Photo: A transparent 60-minute cassette tape. Credit: Getty Images)


SAT 03:50 Witness History (w3ct744g)
My aunt created The Moomins

The first Moomins story about a family of nature-loving white round trolls was published in 1945 during World War Two. The Moomins and the Great Flood was created by writer and artist Tove Jansson as a source of comfort during bleak times.

It highlighted the struggles of those who’d been displaced by war introducing readers into the lives of Moomintroll, Moominmamma and Moominpappa.

Tove's tales and illustrations, featuring the cuddly creatures with smooth round snouts, are loved the world over and have been published in more than 60 languages.

She was born in Finland but her first language was Swedish, which the original Moomins books were published in. Tove's niece Sophia Jansson, speaks to Reena Stanton-Sharma about growing up in a family surrounded by creativity and nature.

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: Tove Jansson and the Moomins. Credit: © Moomin Characters™)


SAT 04:00 BBC News (w172zwwvt0rj6jg)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 04:06 Unexpected Elements (w3ct72wp)
[Repeat of broadcast at 00:06 today]


SAT 05:00 BBC News (w172zwwvt0rjb8l)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 05:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl9y75hq8z)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SAT 05:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxp7rc6pjz)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 05:32 Trending (w3ct72tq)
Sabotage by smartphone

Ukrainian teenagers are being recruited online to carry out sabotage against their own country in return for cryptocurrency, and for some the consequences are deadly.

Ukraine accuses Russia of using Telegram to offer minors large sums of money to plant bombs or stage arson attacks. There have even been allegations that some recruits have been blown up while transporting explosive devices.

This episode features a rare interview with a Ukrainian teenager who is currently awaiting trial after authorities claim they caught him planting a bomb in a vehicle used by the conscription service.

Presenter: Dan Hardoon
Producer: Ed Main
Editor: Flora Carmichael


SAT 05:50 More or Less (w3ct6vzj)
Nobel economics prize 2025: What's the big idea?

Joel Mokyr, Philippe Aghion and Peter Howitt have been awarded this year’s Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences.

The three are sharing 11 million Swedish kronor, over a million dollars, after being recognised for their work in the area of “innovation-driven economic growth”. But why does this area matter and what did the three economists actually do? Presenter Tim Harford explains it all.

If you’ve seen a number in the news you think we should take a look at, let us know: moreorless@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Lizzy McNeill
Reporter: Tim Harford
Series producer: Tom Colls
Sound engineer: Donald MacDonald
Editor: Richard Vadon

(Image credit: Johan Jarnestad/The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences)


SAT 06:00 BBC News (w172zwwvt0rjg0q)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 06:06 Weekend (w172zw8b88ds0qp)
Zelensky guarded on Tomahawk missile talks with Trump

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is meeting with former U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House. Among the key topics on the agenda is a new package of military aid for Ukraine, including the U.S.-owned Tomahawk missile. Joining us to discuss this is retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery.

Also on today’s programme: A proposal in Portugal to end a scheme that granted citizenship to descendants of Sephardic Jews is heading to parliament. And from Madagascar, we hear from a Gen-Z protester whose movement played a pivotal role in the recent ousting of former president Andry Rajoelina.

Presenter Julian Worricker is joined by journalist, author, and Bloomberg Weekend Editor-at-Large Mishal Husain, along with Dr. Claire Yorke, a senior lecturer in international relations and strategy at Deakin University in Canberra, Australia.

Photo:President Trump meets with Ukrainian President Zelensky at the White House, Washington, US - 17 Oct 2025/ EPA, Aaron Schwartz


SAT 07:00 BBC News (w172zwwvt0rjkrv)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 07:06 Weekend (w172zw8b88ds4gt)
Zelensky fails to secure US missiles

Ukraine's president Volodomyr Zelensky fails to secure the purchase of Tomahawk missiles from the United States that he was hoping for.

Also in today's programme: UN agencies appeal to Israel to allow aid directly into northern Gaza, where key border crossings are still closed, despite the ceasefire. Hamas has been clashing with several rival gangs for control. There is no clarity on how or if the next phase of the ceasefire agreement will be implemented. Former Egyptian former minister Nabil Fahmy gives us his assessment. And, a version of the triple harp, known as the Welsh triple harp, has become hugely popular amongst musicians and audiences in Wales.

Presenter Julian Worricker is joined by journalist, author, and Bloomberg Weekend Editor-at-Large Mishal Husain, along with Dr. Claire Yorke, a senior lecturer in international relations and strategy at Deakin University in Canberra, Australia.

(Photo: President Trump meets with Ukrainian President Zelensky at the White House, Washington, US- 17 Oct 2025. EPA/ Aaron Schwartz)


SAT 08:00 BBC News (w172zwwvt0rjphz)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 08:06 Weekend (w172zw8b88ds86y)
US will not supply missiles to Kyiv

There was no sign of animosity between Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump during their recent meeting in Washington. President Zelensky did confirm that the U.S. will not be supplying Tomahawk missiles to Kyiv.

Also in today’s programme: Climate scientists are sounding the alarm as critical thresholds related to global warming continue to be breached. We’ll hear from one of the key architects of the Paris Climate Accord on what this means for the planet’s future.

Presenter Julian Worricker is joined by journalist, author, and Bloomberg Weekend Editor-at-Large Mishal Husain, alongside Dr. Claire Yorke, a senior lecturer in international relations and strategy at Deakin University in Canberra, Australia.

(Photo: President Trump meets with Ukrainian President Zelensky at the White House, Washington, US 17 Oct 2025. EPA/ Aaron Schwartz)


SAT 09:00 BBC News (w172zwwvt0rjt83)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 09:06 BBC OS Conversations (w3ct6rn6)
Families in Israel and Gaza share their stories

After two years and two days of war in Gaza, Israel and Hamas have agreed the first phase of a US-brokered ceasefire. In our conversations, families in Israel and Gaza share their experiences of the conflict and their lives today.


With the remaining 20 surviving Israeli hostages seized by Hamas fighters on 7 October 2023 now back with their families, we hear from husband and wife George and Yael. Their town was attacked by Hamas fighters two years ago, but Yael is hoping for a lasting peace.


“Most people here just want to live a peaceful life,” she says. “Even if they’re Palestinians, it doesn’t matter who they are, if they’re peaceful to us, then we’re peaceful to them.”


On the other side of the border, thousands of Gazans have been making the journey back to their homes but most already know that there will be little left. We connect Basil in Gaza with his daughter, Layan, who escaped to Egypt. She has not seen her father for more than two years but hopes to return.


“It’s a difficult feeling to know that a place that you once loved is ruined, but your soul is still longing to go there and you still have hope for the future that it is going to be rebuilt,” she tells us. “I want to be part of this rebuilding process.”


Presenter: Rahul Tandon
BBC producers: Isabella Bull and Iqra Farooq
Boffin Media producer: Richard Hollingham

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

(Photo/credit: Basil with his daughters)


SAT 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxp7rc75jh)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 09:32 Pick of the World (w3ct7z5f)
Is the 'grey divorce' a big thing, then?

A million of you stop by for a story about the so-called “grey divorce” - that’s separating from a partner later in life. Plus, Arnold Schwarzenegger is the latest subject of our hit podcast Good Bad Billionaire, your arguments in favour of a four-day week and the beauty of chattering geese in Scotland's skies.


SAT 09:50 Over to You (w3ct6xvy)
Listeners react to the new BBC app

It’s been one of the biggest talking points in our inbox this summer, the launch of a new BBC app to replace Sounds for international listeners. Now it has launched, we hear what listeners make of it and find out how they are finding its everyday use. And BBC Studios, who developed the app, respond to what listeners are saying.

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


SAT 10:00 BBC News (w172zwwvt0rjy07)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 10:06 Not by the Playbook (w3ct878b)
Horsing around

They say if you want a stable relationship, get a horse! But hey sometimes doing things off the hoof works just as well.  This week we're saddling up and on the trail for the most inspirational stories from the world of sport - the equestrian edition...

"Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway" So said Hollywood icon John Wayne. And that's true of our first guest because Lissa Bachner's story is nothing short of incredible. Alongside her horse Milo, she's won show jumping competitions all over America. She's considered one of the best amateurs out there. Show jumping is an unforgiving sport where a horse and rider navigate a course of jumps as quickly as possible without incurring faults. The goal is to complete the course with the fewest penalties in fastest time without knocking down the fences. So, imagine doing all of that and being blind. That's right. Lissa Bachner is blind, but it hasn't stopped her and Milo making their mark on the equestrian world 

Show jumping, three-day eventing and dressage are the most common forms of equestrian sport. All Olympic disciplines they test rider and horse and the relationship they have. It's one of very very few sports in the Olympics where men and women compete together. And yet only once has a woman topped the official world rankings. So, meet Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum, who was born in the USA but after marrying decided to represent Germany. She went on the win bronze at the Rio Games of 2016. 

With over two million dollars in prize money, cowboy hats as far as the eye can see and a sport that has more than a touch of the Wild West... We are going to spend a little bit of time emersed in what's known as "The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth" Each July in Canada the Calgary Stampede attracts thousands of fans... But is a celebration of athletic endeavour and cultural heritage, or outdated and cruel to animals?  

If a man raced a horse who would win?  Well, it has been on the minds of a small town in Wales for quite some time. In fact, since 1980 they have been hosting an annual race to find out the answer. Not By the Playbook has been hearing from long distance runner Huw Lobb and race creator Gordon Green about the day that two legs out ran four for the very first time.

PHOTO: Saddle Bronc rider, Bailey Small in action during the 2025 edition of the Calgary Stampede in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, on July 11, 2025. (CREDIT: Artur Widak/Anadolu via Getty Images)


SAT 11:00 BBC News (w172zwwvt0rk1rc)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl9y75jfrr)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SAT 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxp7rc7f0r)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 11:32 Unspun World with John Simpson (w3ct78c0)
Gaza’s internal power struggle

This week John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses who will actually be running Gaza in the wake of the ceasefire there, examines the escalating trade war between China and the United States, and looks at the recent spate of cyber-attacks targeting western companies.

Producer: Kate Cornell
Executive Producer: Benedick Watt
Commissioning Editor: Vara Szajkowski


SAT 12:00 BBC News (w172zwwvt0rk5hh)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 12:06 The Documentary (w3ct831r)
Brazil's Miracle: An indigenous disaster

During the Brazilian military dictatorship, the Krenak indigenous people were banned from speaking their language, imprisoned in reformatories and forcibly displaced from their land. In 2024, the State asked them for forgiveness.

Journalist Pūlama Kaufman travels to the remote city of Resplendor in the south-east of Brazil to meet up with Brazilian environmental journalist, Cristina Serra. Together, they are welcomed into the Krenak indigenous territory where they speak with Krenak elders, philosophers and community leaders.
They uncover the many layers to what Brazilian civil prosecutor Edmundo Dias calls an intentional “genocide” of the Krenak, lead by Brazilian federal agencies. For decades, very little was known about what the Krenak suffered during the dictatorship, but now they are speaking out. In 2024, the Amnesty Commission made its first ever apology to an indigenous group when the president of the Commission got down on her knees in front of the Krenak. But can forgiveness be granted?

Presenter: Pūlama Kaufman and Cristina Serra
Producer: Pūlama Kaufman
A Bite Your Tongue production for BBC World Service


SAT 13:00 BBC News (w172zwwvt0rk97m)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 13:06 Newshour (w172zss9zy8pft7)
Iran says no longer bound by nuclear restrictions

Iran says it is no longer bound by restrictions on its nuclear programme as its landmark 10-year deal with world powers expired on Saturday. A foreign ministry statement said the limits agreed in 2015 no longer applied, although Tehran remained firmly committed to a diplomatic solution.

Also on the programme: Pakistan and Afghanistan hold peace talks after days of clashes and deadly airstrikes near the border; and the single blood test that can find as many as 50 different cancers.

(Photo: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi speaks during a meeting with foreign ambassadors and diplomats to Iran on 05 October 2025. Credit: EPA/Shutterstock)


SAT 14:00 BBC News (w172zwwvt0rkdzr)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 14:06 Sportsworld (w172ztqr9j161c6)
Live Sporting Action

There’s live Premier League commentary of Manchester City against Everton with updates from the rest of the Premier League games. The former DR Congo captain Gabriel Zakuani and Leicester City goalkeeper Asmir Begovic will join us.

Las Vegas Aces’ Megan Gustafson speaks to us about their WNBA Championship win.

Sportsworld will also preview the NBA season and there’s also qualifying in Texas for Formula One’s United States Grand Prix and Women’s Cricket World Cup action.

Photo: Jeremy Doku of Manchester City is challenged by James Tarkowski of Everton during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Everton FC at Etihad Stadium on December 26, 2024. (Credit: Getty Images)


SAT 18:00 BBC News (w172zwwvt0rkwz8)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 18:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl9y75k8zn)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SAT 18:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxp7rc887n)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 18:32 Trending (w3ct72tq)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:32 today]


SAT 18:50 More or Less (w3ct6vzj)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:50 today]


SAT 19:00 BBC News (w172zwwvt0rl0qd)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 19:06 The Evidence (w3ct70sc)
Weight loss jabs: A medical game changer?

In this episode of The Evidence, Claudia Hammond and a panel of experts discuss the latest evidence on weight loss injections.



Medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy are proven to be highly effective for weight management. They are also increasingly being found to treat other conditions and reduce the risk of disease, promising health benefits far beyond the treatment of obesity. But these drugs generally need to be continued for weight loss to be maintained, so there are big questions to be answered about their use and significant challenges to overcome around access and availability. 



In front of a live audience at Wellcome Collection in London, Claudia and her guests explore the potential and negatives of weight loss injections and ask whether they really are the next wonder drug.



On stage with Claudia are Professor John Wilding, a consultant physician at University Hospital Aintree in Liverpool and lead clinical researcher; geneticist Giles Yeo, a professor of Molecular Neuroendocrinology at the MRC Metabolic Diseases Unit at the University of Cambridge; Dr Adrian Brown, a specialist weight management dietician and senior research fellow/lecturer at University College London and consultant endocrinologist Professor Barbara McGowan, who is Professor of Endocrinology and Diabetes at Guy’s and St. Thomas’ Hospital in London.



Producer: Helena Selby
Sound engineers: Emma Harth and Duncan Hannant

(Photo: Woman using Semaglutide injection pen. Credit: Munro/Getty Images)

Declaration of interests:



Professor John Wilding has advised several companies involved in development of treatments for obesity and diabetes and been an investigator for related clinical trials; consultancy fees for this work are paid to his employer.



Professor Giles Yeo has received grant funding from Novo Nordisk and currently has grant funding from AMGEN. He consults for both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly and Company.



Dr Adrian Brown has received researcher-led grant funding from Novo Nordisk and has received honoraria and speaker fees from Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly. He is on the Medical Advisory Board and is a shareholder of Reset Health Ltd.



Professor Barbara McGowan has received speaker fees or consultancy fees from Novo Nordisk, Lilly, Boehringer Ingelheim, Astra Zeneca and Janssen. She was a recipient of a Novo Nordisk research grant and is the Chief Medical Officer and a shareholder of Reset Health Ltd.


SAT 20:00 BBC News (w172zwwvt0rl4gj)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 20:06 The Arts Hour (w3ct6ztx)
Global film-makers at the London Film Festival

Nikki Bedi talks to international film-makers taking part in this year's London Film Festival.

American writer-director Kelly Reichardt takes us back to the 1970s with her heist film The Mastermind starring Josh O' Connor.

French Moroccan film-maker Robin Campillo shares how he continued the work of his late friend and collaborator Laurent Cantet with coming-of-age drama Enzo.

Oscar-winning documentary-maker Laura Poitras talks about her latest film Cover-Up, which looks at the work of the Pulitzer Prize winning investigative journalist Seymour Hersch.

And another Oscar winner, Hungarian director Laszlo Nemes discusses his film Orphan about a young boy in 1950s Hungary.

(Photo: Josh O'Connor in The Mastermind. Credit: Mastermind Movie Inc)


SAT 21:00 BBC News (w172zwwvt0rl86n)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 21:06 Newshour (w172zss9zy8qds8)
Afghanistan and Pakistan in Doha for peace talks

Afghanistan and Pakistan are in Qatar's capital Doha for peace negotiations. Pakistani jets conducted a series of airstrikes on Afghanistan's border province of Paktika on Friday, ending a brief lull in the intense fighting that broke out last week. Pakistan has accused Afghanistan of harbouring militants, which Kabul has denied.

Also in the programme: a new study shows how a blood test for more than 50 types of cancer could help speed up diagnosis; and thousands of people have attended a final public send-off for Kenya's former prime minister Raila Odinga who died earlier this week.

(File Picture: Vehicles loaded with the belongings of Afghan citizens at the border crossing in Chaman, Balochistan Province on October 16, 2025. Credit: Reuters/Saeed Ali Achakzai)


SAT 22:00 BBC News (w172zwwvt0rlcys)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 22:06 Not by the Playbook (w3ct878b)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:06 today]


SAT 23:00 BBC News (w172zwwvt0rlhpx)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 23:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl9y75kwq9)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SAT 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxp7rc8vz9)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 23:32 This Is Africa (w3ct72dk)
Fameye

Fameye was crowned highlife artist of the year at the 2025 Telecel Ghana Music Awards, but as he tells DJ Edu, he’s still working to come up with a musical style all his own.

The Ghanian star established himself in 2019 with the hit song Nothing I Get. It resonated with Ghanaians because of the distinctive highlife/hiplife sound and the lyrics, which talk about having nothing and yet still being subjected to envy. Since then, Fameye has released many more songs and albums including Songs of Peter and Three Times of Peter. Peter is his given name, but also his artistic alter ego. He has recently revealed a third alter ego, Antonio, the name of his father, a police officer who died when Fameye was a baby.

SUNDAY 19 OCTOBER 2025

SUN 00:00 BBC News (w172zwwvt0rlmg1)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 00:06 BBC OS Conversations (w3ct6rn6)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:06 on Saturday]


SUN 00:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxp7rc8zqf)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 00:32 The Documentary (w3ct831q)
Fighting on two fronts

Meet the polar scientists of Ukraine’s National Antarctic Scientific Centre, who lead extraordinary dual lives, conducting critical climate research in Antarctica while also serving on the frontlines of war against Russia. This documentary reveals how scientists are defending both their country’s sovereignty and its scientific legacy. Despite war, displacement, and destruction, Ukraine’s commitment to climate science endures, revealing a powerful intersection between national identity, resilience, and global responsibility.

Producer/presenter: Harrison Lewis

Photo credit: Alexandra Montgomery


SUN 01:00 BBC News (w172zwwvt0rlr65)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 01:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl9y75l46k)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SUN 01:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxp7rc93gk)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 01:32 Trending (w3ct72tq)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:32 on Saturday]


SUN 01:50 Sporting Witness (w3ct7zs8)
Mira Rai: Child soldier to sky runner

In 2015 Mira Rai took the international sky running scene by storm, winning gold medals in ultra-endurance running events ranging from 50-150 kilometres.

At first, little was known about this young competitor whose grit and determination were unparalleled. But behind her calm demeanour was a personal story which would shock the ultra-running world. She tells Hunter Charlton how she began life in a poor farming village before being recruited by Nepal’s Maoist insurgents and served in the civil war as a teenager. An Ember Audio production.

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

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

(Photo: Mira Rai on the outskirts of Kathmandu. Credit: Prakash Mathema/via Getty Images)


SUN 02:00 BBC News (w172zwwvt0rlvy9)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl9y75l7yp)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SUN 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxp7rc976p)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 02:32 Health Check (w3ct6vjz)
How to prioritise aid in Gaza

As the fragile ceasefire holds in Gaza, we hear about the health impacts and realities of the aid being let into the territory from Olga Cherevko – spokesperson for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Gaza.

The first ever evidence-based and outcome-specific dietary guidelines to treat chronic constipation in adults has been published. Could kiwi fruit hold the answer? We found out what’s in the new recommendations from Dr Eirini Dimidi.

The World Health Summit concluded this week, journalist Andrew Green was there and reports on the highlights from reshaping the global aid landscape to the growing burden of non-communicable diseases.

As California bans ultra-processed food in schools, we find out what changes pupils will see on their plates.

And treating baby wraps with Permethrin may hold promise for malaria prevention in newborns.

Presenter: Claudia Hammond
Producer: Hannah Robins and Katie Tomsett

Image: Trucks carrying aid wait at the border crossing for entry into the Gaza Strip on October 12, 2025 in Rafah, Egypt. This week's ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas has brought an end to the two years of war that followed the attacks of Oct. 7, 2023, allowing aid groups to increase delivery of humanitarian relief.

Image Credit: Ali Moustafa/Getty Images


SUN 03:00 BBC News (w172zwwvt0rlzpf)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 03:06 The Documentary (w3ct831r)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Saturday]


SUN 04:00 BBC News (w172zwwvt0rm3fk)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 04:06 From Our Own Correspondent (w3ct6ts3)
Trump's Middle East victory lap

Pascale Harter introduces dispatches from Air Force One, Israel, Haiti and St Helena.

President Donald Trump received a hero’s welcome when he landed in Israel this week, following his central role in brokering the Gaza ceasefire and hostage exchange deal. During his whirlwind trip, he also flew to the Red Sea resort of Sharm el Sheikh, where he declared ‘an historical turning point’ to the gathered world leaders. State Department correspondent Tom Bateman was on board Air Force One with the President.

The BBC's International Editor, Jeremy Bowen, considers a longer view of the conflict. While 7 October 2023 and the two years of war which have followed are certainly milestones to match 1948 and 1967, the history of the region suggests that Trump's goal of peace in the Middle East may lie some distance ahead.

More than 90% of Haiti's capital city, Port au Prince, is under the control of armed gangs. Entire neighbourhoods now lie deserted after gun battles and mass attacks on people's homes drove residents out. Many of them now live tented camps - and only a few can find refuge. Jasmin Dyer visited a safe house for women and children who've survived some of the worst of the violence.

The British territory of St Helena, in the south Atlantic, might look idyllic: remote, lush, and community-oriented, far from the woes of the wider world. But it's also emptying out, as young people in particular seek their fortunes elsewhere. Beth Rose found an island worrying about its long-term future.

Producer: Polly Hope
Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith
Production co-ordinator: Rosie Strawbridge


SUN 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxp7rc9gpy)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 04:32 Unspun World with John Simpson (w3ct78c0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 11:32 on Saturday]


SUN 05:00 BBC News (w172zwwvt0rm75p)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 05:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl9y75lm62)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SUN 05:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxp7rc9lg2)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 05:32 The Documentary (w3ct831q)
[Repeat of broadcast at 00:32 today]


SUN 06:00 BBC News (w172zwwvt0rmbxt)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 06:06 Weekend (w172zw8b88dvxms)
Thousands attend No Kings protests across the US

Protests have erupted in cities and towns across the United States in response to Donald Trump’s presidency. In the lead-up to the demonstrations, Trump allies accused the protesters of ties to the far-left Antifa movement, branding the events as a "hate America rally."

Also in today’s programme: Hopes for a renewed ceasefire between Pakistan and Afghanistan following high-level talks in Doha. Tensions between media and President Trump's administration were on display this week. And, a bold new voice at the London Film Festival -- the director bringing same-sex dominance and submission to the big screen.

Presenter Julian Worricker is joined by Nathalie Tocci, Italian political scientist, Director of the Institute of International affairs in Italy think tank and Alec Russell, Foreign Editor at the Financial Times.

(Photo:'No Kings' Protest in Los Angeles, USA - 18 October. EPA/Jill Connelly)


SUN 07:00 BBC News (w172zwwvt0rmgny)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 07:06 Weekend (w172zw8b88dw1cx)
'No Kings' protests draw huge crowds

In the United States, hundreds of thousands have taken to the streets to protest President Trump’s policies. The coalition behind the so-called No Kings demonstrations urged Americans to send a clear message: Donald Trump is not a king.

Also in today’s programme: It has been nine days since the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came into effect. We’ll hear from a resident of Gaza about what life is like under the fragile truce. But can the Israeli government be trusted to uphold its side of the agreement? We speak to a former Israeli foreign minister. And, a Brazilian artist draws inspiration from his African heritage, blending identity and tradition into bold new work.

Presenter Julian Worricker is joined by Nathalie Tocci, Italian political scientist, Director of the Institute of International affairs in Italy think tank and Alec Russell, Foreign Editor at the Financial Times.

(Photo: 'No Kings' Protest in Los Angeles, USA 18 Oct 2025. EPA Jill Connelly )


SUN 08:00 BBC News (w172zwwvt0rmlf2)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 08:06 Weekend (w172zw8b88dw541)
Hamas says US claim to break ceasefire is false

The Palestinian group Hamas has rejected Washington’s claim that it is poised to imminently break the ceasefire agreement with Israel. On Saturday, the U.S. State Department alleged that Hamas was planning an attack targeting civilians in Gaza.

Also on today’s programme: BBC Balkans Correspondent and avid cyclist Guy De Launey goes head-to-head with the world’s top rider, Tadej Pogačar.
Plus, Michael Finnerty, a former BBC journalist and familiar voice to many Canadian listeners of CBC, reflects on his dramatic career shift in a newly released memoir, The Cheese Cure.

Presenter Julian Worricker is joined by Nathalie Tocci, Italian political scientist, Director of the Institute of International affairs in Italy think tank and Alec Russell, Foreign Editor at the Financial Times.

Photo: Aftermath of Israeli strike in Gaza City, 18 Oct 2025. Mohammed Saber / EPA


SUN 09:00 BBC News (w172zwwvt0rmq56)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 09:06 From Our Own Correspondent (w3ct6ts3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:06 today]


SUN 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxp7rcb2fl)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 09:32 The Food Chain (w3ct70z3)
The power of pepper

Pepper is ubiquitous at the dining table, but arguably most of us don’t know much about it.

In this programme John Laurenson finds out about the pepper plant – how it is grown and harvested and the range of flavours it can offer. He learns about the history of this spice and why it was once so revered, and the ways in which you can use it today to make your food not just tastier, but also healthier.

If you’d like to contact the programme you can email thefoodchain@bbc.co.uk.

Produced and presented by John Laurenson.

Image: a cartoon wooden pepper mill with specks of ground pepper coming out of it, floats on a blue background. (Credit: Getty/yurumarukko)


SUN 10:00 BBC News (w172zwwvt0rmtxb)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 10:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct6xy6)
Alaska’s wild solutions

The US state of Alaska may be known for its rugged wilderness, but it is also quietly leading a green revolution. We explore how an island community is powering itself through a locally built and managed micro grid - cutting out fossil fuels and slashing energy costs. And we find out how scientists are using native mushrooms to produce sustainable building insulation and cold fish storage boxes that could help promote sustainability both in Alaska and beyond.

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

Presenter: Myra Anubi
Reporter: Anna Holligan
Producer: Peter Devlin
Sound engineer: Gareth Jones
Editor: Jon Bithrey

(Photo: Grizzly bear in Katmai National Park, Alaska. Credit: Getty Images)


SUN 10:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxp7rcb65q)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 10:32 The Fifth Floor (w3ct70tl)
Reporting the impact of  the Gaza ceasefire

Following the ceasefire in Gaza, this week has seen the release of hostages and prisoners on both sides and the beginning of the return of the remains of some of the deceased. Over the past two years, The Fifth Floor has been speaking to language service colleagues reporting on the conflict. This week, we reconnect with them to find out how networks of citizens on both sides have informed and provided new perspectives on their reporting. Amira Dakroury checked in from the BBC's Cairo Bureau where she's part of the team producing Middle East Diaries, formerly Gaza Lifeline; and from Tel Aviv, BBC Arabic's Michael Shuval reflected on reporting the stories of hostage families.

Dr Tri Maharani's videos about how to treat snake bites are beginning to be well known in Indonesia. For fifteen years, she's worked to improve outcomes for snakebite victims in her country, where only one antivenom is currently available, but more than eighty species of poisonous snake are a threat. BBC Indonesian's Astudestra Ajengrastri spoke to her.

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

Presented by Faranak Amidi
Produced by Laura Thomas and Caroline Ferguson


SUN 11:00 BBC News (w172zwwvt0rmyng)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl9y75mbnv)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SUN 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxp7rcb9xv)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 11:32 Trending (w3ct72tq)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:32 on Saturday]


SUN 11:50 More or Less (w3ct6vzj)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:50 on Saturday]


SUN 12:00 BBC News (w172zwwvt0rn2dl)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 12:06 The Evidence (w3ct70sc)
[Repeat of broadcast at 19:06 on Saturday]


SUN 13:00 BBC News (w172zwwvt0rn64q)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 13:06 Newshour (w172zss9zy8sbqb)
Israel strikes southern Gaza

Israel has carried out an airstrike on the Gazan city of Rafah in response to what it said was Hamas breaking their ceasefire agreement. Hamas says it is committed to the ceasefire and alleges that Israel "continues to breach the agreement".

Also on the programme: thieves have broken into the Louvre Museum in Paris and stolen jewellery that France's interior minister described as priceless; and Afghanistan and Pakistan have agreed to stop fighting so that talks can take place to end their cross-border dispute.

(Photo: A drone view shows tents of displaced Palestinians in Gaza City on 18 October. Credit: Reuters)


SUN 14:00 BBC News (w172zwwvt0rn9wv)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 14:06 The Climate Question (w3ct702j)
Can Mumbai cope with a changing monsoon?

Mumbai is India’s economic engine, but every rainy season this megacity comes to a virtual standstill as torrential rains flood streets, homes and transport networks. In 2005, Mumbai faced one of its worst floods on record – and experts warn that climate change could make future rainfall even more intense.

This week, Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar explore what’s happening with Mumbai and the mighty monsoon – and how a city of more than 20 million people can adapt to a wetter, more unpredictable future.

They hear from BBC Marathi correspondent Janhavee Moole and Zerin Osho, Director of the India Programme at the Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development, about the challenges to India’s financial capital.

Guests:
Janhavee Moole, BBC Marathi
Zerin Osho, Director, India Programme, Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development

Production Team: Jordan Dunbar, Grace Braddock, Tom Brignell, Joe McCartney, Diane Richardson, Nik Sindle
Editor: Simon Watts

Got a question? Email us: theclimatequestion@bbc.com


SUN 14:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxp7rcbp57)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 14:32 Happy News (w3ct6tyx)
The Happy Pod: The healing power of singing

A singing group designed for women with post-natal depression has been shown to deliver long lasting improvements in their wellbeing. A three-year study found that it helped them with symptoms like low mood, stress and anxiety and that these benefits lasted for several months after the sessions ended.

Big celebrations as Cape Verde qualifies for the men's football World Cup. It is the second smallest country by population to reach the finals.

Also, the women reviving Aztec traditions on Mexico's island farms. Chinampas are an early model of sustainable agriculture but were at risk of disappearing. An ingenious way to fix broken life-saving equipment at remote hospitals that can't get the spare parts they need. The DJ with a difference who's filling dancefloors in Sweden - with people over the age of 50.

Plus, engineering meets art with a unique dinosaur sculpture, and why people love goat yoga.

Presenter: Vanessa Heaney
Music: Iona Hampso

(Photo.A singing group sit on floor mats in a circle, with their babies. Credit: Jim Reed)


SUN 15:00 BBC News (w172zwwvt0rnfmz)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 15:06 Sportsworld (w172ztqr9j1920f)
Live Sporting Action

Sportsworld this Sunday has commentary of one of the biggest rivalries in football as Liverpool take on Manchester United at Anfield. Can Liverpool end their three-match losing run or will Manchester United add to the champions’ problems with their first win at Anfield since 2016?

The former Liverpool and Tottenham defender Steven Caulker joins Delyth Lloyd to look back over that and all the weekend’s Premier League action.

With just six rounds to go of the Formula One season, the battle to win the Drivers’ Championship is hotting up, and we’ll be in Austin, Texas to look ahead to the race. And we bring you the latest from the Women’s Cricket World Cup where co-hosts India take on England.

Photo: Harry Maguire of Manchester United in action during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Manchester United FC at Anfield on January 05, 2025. (Credit: Manchester United via Getty Images)


SUN 19:00 BBC News (w172zwwvt0rnxmh)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl9y75n9mw)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SUN 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxp7rcc8ww)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 19:32 World of Secrets (w3ct854q)
Death in Dubai

Death in Dubai: 4. The right hand man

A key insider agrees to talk. He says he worked at the centre of this illegal prostitution ring. Why is he speaking out now? And what can he tell us about the world Monic was caught up in, and the man she was working for? We follow in Monic’s footsteps to the glitzy clubs and bars where we are told she was sent.
This episode includes discussion of sex and abuse.

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 (w172zwwvt0rp1cm)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 20:06 Unexpected Elements (w3ct72wp)
[Repeat of broadcast at 00:06 on Saturday]


SUN 21:00 BBC News (w172zwwvt0rp53r)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 21:06 Newshour (w172zss9zy8t9pc)
Israel launches air strikes in Gaza

Israel has carried out renewed strikes against Hamas in Gaza and says it's suspending all aid deliveries into the territory. Both sides have accused each other of breaching the ceasefire.

Also in the programme: thieves have stolen valuables from one of the world's most famous museums -- the Louvre in Paris -- but dropped a priceless crown while making their escape; and Donald Trump says he's stopping all payments to Colombia, accusing its president of encouraging the nationwide production of drugs.

(Photo: The Khan Younis skyline following Israeli air strikes. Credit: Reuters)


SUN 22:00 BBC News (w172zwwvt0rp8vw)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 22:06 The Climate Question (w3ct702j)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:06 today]


SUN 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxp7rccn48)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 22:32 Pick of the World (w3ct7z5f)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:32 on Saturday]


SUN 22:50 Over to You (w3ct6xvy)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:50 on Saturday]


SUN 23:00 BBC News (w172zwwvt0rpdm0)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 23:06 The Newsroom (w172zwl9y75nsmd)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SUN 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxp7rccrwd)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 23:32 The Fifth Floor (w3ct70tl)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:32 today]

MONDAY 20 OCTOBER 2025

MON 00:00 BBC News (w172zwwvt0rpjc4)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 00:06 From Our Own Correspondent (w3ct6ts3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:06 on Sunday]


MON 00:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxp7rccwmj)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 00:32 Science In Action (w3ct6yg0)
Paris agreement impacts and drought realities

Ten years on from the Paris climate agreement, has it helped? Also, an international drought experiment, insights from 2D water, and social distancin in ants.


Presenter: Roland Pease
Producer: Alex Mansfield
Production co-ordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth

(Photo: Small bushfire. Credit: Lea Scaddan/Getty Images)


MON 01:00 BBC News (w172zwww591thcf)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 01:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlb9hgswct)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 01:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxpm0nhvmt)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 01:32 Discovery (w3ct6swl)
The Life Scientific: Brian Schmidt

Have you ever pondered the fact that the universe is expanding? And not only that, it's expanding at an increasing speed - meaning everything around us is getting further and further away?

If that isolating thought makes you feel slightly panicked, don't worry: this programme also contains wine!

Brian Schmidt is a Distinguished Professor of Astrophysics at the Australian National University, known for his work on supernovae: massive explosions that take place when stars come to the ends of their lives. They are among the most energetic events in the universe and incredibly difficult to find; but that’s what his High-Z Supernova Search Team did, identifying enough of these rare and distant explosions to measure just how fast they were moving away from us.

This led them to the realisation that, contrary to long-held belief in cosmology, the expansion of the universe was speeding up; a discovery which earned Brian a share of the 2011 Nobel Prize for Physics. As if that wasn't enough, he's gone on to discover one of the earliest stars in the universe; run a university; and become a winemaker, at his very own vineyard just outside Canberra.

In a conversation spanning the genius phraseology of writer Douglas Adams, the importance of pisco sours, and the similarities between astronomy and viticulture, Brian tells Professor Jim Al-Khalili how his supernovae breakthrough paved the way for a revolution in astronomy - and where the field needs to go next...

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


MON 02:00 BBC News (w172zwww591tm3k)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlb9hgt03y)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxpm0nhzcy)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 02:32 CrowdScience (w3ct6stb)
Can we record our senses?

How would you record a special moment? Maybe you could take a photograph, film a little video, or record some audio. We have lots of ways of recording what life LOOKS and SOUNDS like, but is the same true for the other senses? What if you wanted to record the smells that greet you on entering your favourite restaurant? Or record the way your loved ones hand feels in yours?

These are the questions on the mind of listener Aravind, from California in the USA. He wants to know if there are any ways of recording and reproducing sensory experiences like taste and smell, or physical touch.

Anand Jagatia is on the case, and is smelling, tasting, and quite literally FEELING his way to the answer. From a multi-sensory movie experience in Valencia, Spain, to the fascinating history of the pioneers of ‘scented cinema’, through to the ground-breaking “haptic technology” which is enhancing the capabilities of our sense of touch. Both for us, and for the robots which do the jobs we don’t want to.



Presenter: Anand Jagatia

Producer: Emily Knight

Editor: Ben Motley

(Photo: Woman making ASMR sounds with microphone and perfume on yellow background, closeup - stock photo. Credit: Liudmila Chernetska via Getty Images)


MON 03:00 BBC News (w172zwww591tqvp)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 03:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct6xy6)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:06 on Sunday]


MON 03:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxpm0nj342)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 03:32 Pick of the World (w3ct7z5f)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:32 on Saturday]


MON 03:50 Over to You (w3ct6xvy)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:50 on Saturday]


MON 04:00 BBC News (w172zwww591tvlt)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 04:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlb9hgt7m6)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxpm0nj6w6)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 04:32 The Conversation (w3ct709b)
Using sound as a tool for conservation

What can the sounds of the natural world tell us about the health of our ecosystems? Datshiane Navanayagam talks two sound ecologists in Scotland and Australia about using soundscape monitoring as a tool to help in conservation work.

Dr Elizabeth Znidersic is an Australian environmental scientist with a particular interest in sound ecology. She has worked extensively in the US and in Tasmania with the Parks and Wildlife Service. Her current project, 'Eavesdropping on wetland birds' uses sound recorders to detect secretive marsh birds and she is about embark on a world-first trial, looking into the effectiveness of using call-playback systems to help restore terrestrial ecosystems.

Dr Denise Risch is a marine mammal ecologist and senior lecturer at the Scottish Association for Marine Science. For twenty years, she’s been involved in the study of aquatic soundscapes and investigates how marine species are impacted by man-made noise pollution. She’s been involved in a project which uses underwater microphones to measure turbine noise in Pentland Firth strait and another, to establish the effects of acoustic signals on harbour porpoises in Scottish waters.

Produced by Hannah Dean

(Image: (L) Dr Elizabeth Znidersic courtesy Dr Elizabeth Znidersic. (R) Dr Denise Risch credit Jonny Reid.)


MON 05:00 BBC News (w172zwww591tzby)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 05:06 Newsday (w172zspvnrgsccj)
Gaza fragile ceasefire shaken

Health officials in Gaza confirmed Israeli airstrikes had killed more than forty people. Israel accused Hamas of killing two Israeli soldiers near Rafah in southern Gaza. President Trump has sent a high level US team back to Israel to oversee the next phase of the truce.

China's political elite has arrived in Beijing for a closed door meeting that will set the country's course for the next five years. We'll assess what might be on the agenda.

In Paris, the police are yet to recover France's priceless crown jewels, after they were stolen in an audacious raid on the Louvre museum

(Photo: Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip: Credit: Reuters)


MON 06:00 BBC News (w172zwww591v332)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 06:06 Newsday (w172zspvnrgsh3n)
Trump says Gaza ceasefire still in place

The US says it believes Hamas is acting in good faith as it searches for the remains of the sixteen Israeli hostages yet to be handed over. Speaking to the American television station, CBS, Jared Kushner who helped Israel and the Palestinian group reach a ceasefire said from what they had observed, Hamas was looking to honour the agreement.

What direction might China take in the next five years? The country's political elite are meeting behind closed doors in Beijing today to decide just that.

A memoir by Virginia Giuffre - one of Jeffrey Epstein's most prominent accusers - is raising more difficult questions for Prince Andrew. The BBC has had early access to the book, our correspondent whose read it will bring us the highlights.

(Photo: US President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office, Washington; Credit: EPA/Shutterstock)


MON 07:00 BBC News (w172zwww591v6v6)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 07:06 Newsday (w172zspvnrgslvs)
Israel says it will return to ceasefire

Israel says it is now enforcing the ceasefire again in the Gaza Strip, drawing to a close the deadliest day in the territory since the ceasefire agreement was signed just days ago.

In Paris, the police are yet to recover some of France's priceless crown jewels, after they were stolen in an audacious raid on the Louvre museum. We'll hear how it unfolded.

And in a new podcast series -BBC looks at how modern cyber-crime is dominated by Russian gangs

(Photo: Palestinians inspect the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted a residential compound; Credit: Reuters)


MON 08:00 BBC News (w172zwww591vblb)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 08:06 The Interview (w3ct7x08)
Dr Vivek Murthy: loneliness is public health risk

‘There are real consequences to our physical and mental health’

Katty Kay speaks to Dr Vivek Murthy, former US Surgeon-General about the challenge posed by loneliness and isolation in the modern world.

Dr. Murthy, the first person of Indian descent in the post, was appointed during the second Obama administration. He then returned in 2021, serving until the beginning of this year.

The Surgeon-General’s job is to provide the American public with the best scientific information available on how to improve their health and reduce the risk of illness and injury. They also oversee the country’s 6,000 public health professionals who respond to national health threats and public health crises.

It was during his second term, under the Biden administration, that Dr. Murthy first started expressing concern about the impact of social media on the mental health and wellbeing of young people. He described the loneliness epidemic of social isolation as a risk to public health akin to smoking and diabetes.

In this interview, he examines the scale of the challenge posed by loneliness and how artificial intelligence, or AI, on the one hand is being used to tackle it, but may also be simultaneously adding to the problem.

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: Katty Kay
Producers: Ben Cooper, Aiden Johnson and Ilyas Kirmani
Editor: Justine Lang

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

(Image: Surgeon General Vivek Murthy Credit: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)


MON 08:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxpm0njpvq)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct6ry8)
Can China’s debt problem be solved?

As China’s Communist Party conclave gets underway, we take a look at one of the biggest things affecting the country’s economy; debt.

2024 saw an estimated 25 - 34 million people default on their personal loans while household debt has now reached more than 60% of GDP.

With the government using subsidies and handouts to get people spending, can China’s debt problem be solved?

Presenter: Ed Butler
Producer: Matt Lines

(Image: Diners in Shanghai, China during Golden Week, 2024. Credit: Getty Images)


MON 08:50 Witness History (w3ct746r)
The British oil tanker sunk in Indonesia

In 1958, the British oil tanker, SS San Flaviano, was sunk in the harbour of Balikpapan, Indonesia, while a rebellion was underway against President Ahmed Sukarno.

It’s reported the bomb was dropped by a CIA pilot authorised to aid the rebels, but confirming their involvement has required some investigating.

Megan Jones has been looking into it and speaking to Joseph McCorry who was forced to evacuate the ship after seeing the bomb drop.

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: Joseph McCorry at training school. Credit: Joseph McCorry)


MON 09:00 BBC News (w172zwww591vgbg)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 09:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlb9hgtvbv)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxpm0njtlv)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 09:32 CrowdScience (w3ct6stb)
[Repeat of broadcast at 02:32 today]


MON 10:00 BBC News (w172zwww591vl2l)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 10:06 The History Hour (w3ct71wf)
Nordic Noir and the Moomins

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

Indian-based author and podcaster Purba Chakraborty talks about the history of fiction writing.

We hear about the rise in popularity of 'Nordic Noir', following the publication of Henning Mankell's crime novels.

Then we listen to BBC archive of writer and poet Jorge Luis Borges - regarded as one of the most influential Latin American writers in history.

Plus, the trial of two Soviet writers, Yuli Daniel and Andrei Sinyavsky, accused of smuggling their works to the west.

Helen Fielding looks back at her weekly newspaper column about a 30-something, single woman in London, which became a cultural phenomenon in the 1990s.

The niece of Finnish writer and artist Tove Jansson talks about her iconic Moomin books - which have been published in more than 60 languages.

And finally, we hear the personal story of young Nepalese athlete Mira Rai, which shocked the ultra-running world.

Contributors:
Anneli Høier - literary agent.
Jorge Luis Borges - short story writer and poet.
Purba Chakraborty - writer and podcaster.
Andrei Sinyavsky - Russian writer and Soviet dissident.
Alexander Daniel - son of Yuli Daniel, Russian writer and Soviet dissident.
Helen Fielding - journalist and writer.
Sophia Jansson - niece of Tove Jansson, author and artist.
Mira Rai - Nepalese trail runner.

(Photo: Swedish crime writer Henning Mankell and a copy of one of his books. Credit: Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP via Getty Images)


MON 11:00 BBC News (w172zwww591vptq)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlb9hgv2v3)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxpm0nk233)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct7172)
Is the AI boom actually a bubble?

AI companies are seeing a monumental surge in investment – but some experts are now warning of the risks of an economic bubble.

Could AI be the biggest market bubble since the dot-com crash? Or is it a genuinely transformative technology that’s simply taking time to deliver? We speak to the BBC’s Evan Davis.

Producers: Aron Keller and Xandra Ellin

Executive Producer: James Shield

Mix: Travis Evans

Senior news editor: China Collins


MON 12:00 BBC News (w172zwww591vtkv)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 12:06 Outlook (w3ct6wq9)
The baby-dinosaur hunter who ended up in Hollywood

Jack Horner inspired a character in Jurassic Park after the dino discovery of a lifetime.

Jack has been fascinated by fossils for as long as he can remember. He spent his childhood digging around in the fossil-rich earth of Montana, as his father was involved in the gravel-extraction business. By the age of eight he was rewarded with his first big treasure – a real piece of dinosaur bone. As Jack's fossil collection grew, so did his passion for palaeontology. But he struggled at school, where severe undiagnosed dyslexia led his teachers and parents to write him off as lazy and spoiled. He pushed on regardless and in 1978 made a life-changing find: the world's first baby-dinosaur skeletons, and evidence that dinosaur parents cared for and raised their young like many modern birds. The discovery made front-page headlines around the world, and led to awards and accolades Jack had never thought possible. It also brought him to the attention of author Michael Crichton, who based a lead character in his hit book, Jurassic Park, on Jack. And when the call came from Stephen Spielberg to come and advise on the movie version, his fame as a dinosaur expert hit a whole new level. Jack was then himself inspired by the movie, and supervised one of his students in extracting DNA from a T. rex. It didn't work – but it led to his current 'Dino Chicken' project, where he is discovering how to bring ancient dinosaur features back to life in modern birds so he can finally have a pet dinosaur of his own.

Presenter: Asya Fouks
Producer: Anna Lacey and Lucy Davies

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

(Photo: Palaeontologist Jack Horner on a sandy and rocky dig site, wearing a wide-brimmed hat and an orange shirt and a man in the background looking at fossils. Credit: Jack Horner)


MON 12:50 Witness History (w3ct746r)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


MON 13:00 BBC News (w172zwww591vy9z)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 13:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlb9hgvbbc)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 13:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxpm0nk9lc)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 13:32 The Conversation (w3ct709b)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


MON 14:00 BBC News (w172zwww591w223)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 14:06 Newshour (w172zssbc6l06mq)
Internet outage disrupts many of the world's biggest websites and apps

Amazon’s cloud computing service says it has fixed the underlying problem that has disrupted many of the world's biggest websites and apps, but a full recovery will take some more time.

Also in the programme: We'll hear about a groundbreaking eye surgery that allows some blind patients to instantly be able to see again; and China's Communist leaders are meeting in Beijing, could Xi Jinping indicate a possible successor?

(Photo shows people walking past the logo of Amazon Web Services (AWS) at the India Mobile Congress 2025 in New Delhi, India, October 8, 2025. Credit: Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters)


MON 15:00 BBC News (w172zwww591w5t7)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 15:06 The Interview (w3ct7x08)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


MON 15:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxpm0nkk2m)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 15:32 Business Daily (w3ct6ry8)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:32 today]


MON 15:50 World Business Express (w3ct81ny)
Amazon Web Services: Hundreds of sites including Zoom, Duolingo and Snapchat affected

A problem at Amazon Web Services has broken the internet - dozens of apps and websites stopped working following a huge outage.

We look at India where the Hindu festival of Diwali has begun. Gold is often bought for luck and prosperity but with prices hitting $4,300 an ounce, how are shoppers and businesses coping?

And China is working on its economic plan for the rest of the decade but what is the impact on the rest of the world?

You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 3033.

Presenter: Sarah Rogers
Producer: Victoriya Holland


MON 16:00 BBC News (w172zwww591w9kc)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 16:06 BBC OS (w1730680l9fy5pb)
Amazon services showing 'signs of recovery'

Amazon Web Services says it has fixed the underlying problem that has disrupted many of the world's biggest websites and apps, but a full recovery will take some more time. We speak to our tech reporter.

France is undertaking an immediate review of security measures around cultural institutions, a day after an audacious robbery at the Louvre Museum in Paris. We have the latest from our reporter and speak to somebody who once was on the run from the police.

Colombia has recalled its ambassador from Washington in response to President Trump's decision to raise tariffs and stop all financial aid for the country. We get details from our global reporter in the newsroom.

The military regime in Myanmar say its forces have captured one of the country's most notorious cyberscam compounds near the Thai border. We speak to the BBC's South Asia correspondent.

As Gen Z protests gain momentum around the world, we bring together young activists from Peru, Morocco and Bangladesh.

Presenter: Pria Rai.

(Photo: People walk past the logo of Amazon Web Services (AWS) at its exhibitor stall at the India Mobile Congress 2025 at Yashobhoomi, a convention and expo center in New Delhi, India, October 8, 2025. Credit: Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters)


MON 17:00 BBC News (w172zwww591wf9h)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 17:06 BBC OS (w1730680l9fy9fg)
Eye implant helps blind patients read again

Doctors in London have successfully trialled a treatment for a type of blindness that affects millions of people around the world. We speak to our medical editor and hear from a patient who took part in the trial.

Israeli tank fire has reportedly killed at least three people east of Gaza City. The Israeli military said it fired on people who crossed an agreed-upon boundary line. We hear from people in Gaza and speak to our correspondent.

We hear from people in India who are set to celebrate “green Diwali” – using environmentally friendly firecrackers, amid alarming pollution levels in the capital Delhi.

As Gen Z protests gain momentum around the world, we bring together young activists from Peru, Morocco and Bangladesh.

Presenter: Rahul Tandon.

(Photo: Sheila Irvine, who is registered blind, is able to read again)


MON 18:00 BBC News (w172zwww591wk1m)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 18:06 Outlook (w3ct6wq9)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 today]


MON 18:50 Witness History (w3ct746r)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


MON 19:00 BBC News (w172zwww591wnsr)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlb9hgw1t4)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxpm0nl124)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct6z5m)
2025/10/20 GMT

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


MON 20:00 BBC News (w172zwww591wsjw)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 20:06 From Our Own Correspondent (w3ct6ts3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:06 on Sunday]


MON 20:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxpm0nl4t8)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 20:32 Discovery (w3ct6swm)
The Life Scientific: Tim Coulson

As a young man, traveling in Africa, Tim Coulson - now Professor of Zoology at the University of Oxford - became seriously ill with malaria and was told a second bout would probably kill him. Aged only 20, this brush with his own mortality led him to promise himself he would write a complete guide to science: life, the universe and everything. His aim was to understand the existence of all living things - no mean feat!

Over the course of a colourful career, Tim's work has taken him all over the world: including researching wolves in Yellowstone National Park, little fish called guppies in the rivers of Trinidad and silvereye birds on Heron Island on the Great Barrier Reef. Using complicated mathematical models he builds up a picture of ecosystems seeking to explain how predators impact both evolution and ecosystems. And finally, more than thirty years after he vowed to write the book that would explain everything we know about science, he's done just that.

In conversation with Professor Jim Al-Khalili, Tim talks about his journey from youthful ambition to science demystifier.

Presented by Jim Al-Khalili
Produced by Geraldine Fitzgerald
Revised for World Service by Minnie Harrop


MON 21:00 BBC News (w172zwww591wx90)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 21:06 Newshour (w172zssbc6l11vm)
Amazon says ‘significant errors’ remain after outage

Amazon's cloud computing service says there are still significant errors for some services, after a widespread outage that disrupted hundreds of websites and apps worldwide. Some applications are back online, and Amazon says it has fixed the underlying problem.

Also in the programme: a group of blind patients in Britain can read again after being fitted with a life-changing implant at the back of the eye; Britain's royals struggle to counter allegations from beyond the grave; and how hard will the Louvre jewel thieves find it to dispose of their ill-gotten gains?

(Picture: An aerial view of an Amazon Web Services data centre in Ashburn, Virginia. Credit: REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst)


MON 22:00 BBC News (w172zwww591x114)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 22:06 The Interview (w3ct7x08)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


MON 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxpm0nld9j)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 22:32 The Conversation (w3ct709b)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


MON 23:00 BBC News (w172zwww591x4s8)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 23:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlb9hgwjsn)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxpm0nlj1n)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 23:32 World Business Report (w3ct76tf)
Amazon Web Services: Disruption around the world

Amazon's cloud computing firm says major service issues remain after an outage hit hundreds of sites worldwide.

As China's leaders meet in Beijing to formulate a five year plan, we'll look at the challenges and opportunities facing the world's second biggest economy.

Diwali, the Hindu festival in India is underway. Gold is often bought for luck and prosperity but with prices hitting $4,300 an ounce, how are shoppers and businesses coping?

Plus, has San Francisco's city made a comeback? Andrew Peach finds out.

TUESDAY 21 OCTOBER 2025

TUE 00:00 BBC News (w172zwww591x8jd)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 00:06 The History Hour (w3ct71wf)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:06 on Monday]


TUE 01:00 BBC News (w172zwww591xd8j)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 01:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlb9hgws8x)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 01:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxpm0nlrjx)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 01:32 The Global Story (w3ct7172)
[Repeat of broadcast at 11:32 on Monday]


TUE 02:00 BBC News (w172zwww591xj0n)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlb9hgwx11)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxpm0nlw91)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 02:32 Assignment (w3ct6rc6)
Drugs, overdose, hope: Nevada

Hundreds of thousands of Americans have died from drug overdose since the opioid crisis began in the US more than two decades ago. It’s fentanyl, a potent, synthetic opioid, mass produced in Mexico, that drove the increasing number of deaths. Now narcotics-related fatalities have fallen overall in the US. But that doesn’t mean fewer people are dying everywhere. In Nevada, those mortality statistics have continued to increase. Linda Pressly visits Las Vegas and Reno to find out why this desert state is bucking the trend.

Producers: Linda Pressly and Tim Mansel

(Photo: Debris at the mouth of a storm drain that runs under the city of Las Vegas. Thousands of people live in the drains, many of them people with substance abuse issues. Credit: Tim Mansel)


TUE 03:00 BBC News (w172zwww591xmrs)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 03:06 Outlook (w3ct6wq9)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Monday]


TUE 03:50 Witness History (w3ct746r)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 on Monday]


TUE 04:00 BBC News (w172zwww591xrhx)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 04:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlb9hgx4j9)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxpm0nm3s9)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 04:32 In the Studio (w3ct6vv1)
Carl Brandon Strehlke

Art historian Carl Brandon Stehlke is a world expert on the great fifteenth-century Florentine painter Fra Angelico, and this is his dream project: a historic, once-in-a-lifetime exhibition of the artist's work at the Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi and the Museo di San Marco in Florence. The show brings together more than 140 works from 70 different lenders and reunites the sections of Angelico's great altarpieces, scattered when Napoleon closed the city's churches and convents in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, now fully restored and seen together for the first time in two hundred years.

Carl takes Maria Margaronis through the process of mounting such a massive exhibition from conception to grand opening. In the restorers' studios she hears how new technologies are revealing the limpid colours of paintings once thought beyond repair. And in the stillness of the San Marco convent Carl explains how Angelico's intimate, deeply humane frescos guided the friars' meditation and spiritual life, and how he fell in love with the artist's work nearly fifty years ago. Music from 15th century Florence courtesy of Piffaro, The Renaissance Band.

Presented and produced by Maria Margaronis.


TUE 05:00 BBC News (w172zwww591xw81)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 05:06 Newsday (w172zspvnrgw88m)
Fragile ceasefire in Gaza is holding

In the US, Vice President JD Vance has downplayed the shakiness of the ceasefire, saying: "There's going to be fits and starts." It was, he said, "the best chance for a sustainable peace". The focus now is shifting into phase two of the agreement. We'll be looking at what it might take to rebuild Gaza after a huge level of destruction.

Businesses - and their customers - around the world have been impacted by an outage at Amazon Web Services. We'll ask why it caused problems for so many companies.

As the Trump administration considers trade tariffs on medical devices, Costa Rica - a major exporter of them - says that would damage Donald Trump's plan to 'make America healthy again'.

(Photo: Displaced Palestinians live in tents near destroyed buildings as they cannot return to their houses; Credit: Reuters)


TUE 06:00 BBC News (w172zwww591y005)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 06:06 Newsday (w172zspvnrgwd0r)
US Vice president JD Vance heads to Israel

US pressure ensured the truce was not derailed after the weekend clashes. Israel's crossings with Gaza reopened on Monday. Now it is clear mediators must stay closely involved to shore up the deal and settle key issues on the future of Gaza and Hamas. The president's special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are back in the region while Hamas negotiators are meeting Egyptian mediators and Palestinian factions in Cairo.

Japan's parliament is sitting at the moment to elect a new prime minister - the job is vacant since Shigeru Ishiba resigned last month. It brings the possibility of the country getting its first female leader

After the likes of Snapchat, Reddit and Roblox were taken offline yesterday - we look to the on going recovery for Amazon Web Services - which behind the computing issues.

(Photo: U.S. Vice President JD Vance, second lady Usha Vance walk to board Air Force Two en route to Israel ; Credit: Reuters)


TUE 07:00 BBC News (w172zwww591y3r9)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 07:06 Newsday (w172zspvnrgwhrw)
Japan elects the first female prime minister

Sanae Takaichi, the new Japan's prime minister will have a major task ahead of her - to rebuild the trust of the public in her Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).
Many are still angry about the fundraising scandal that has implicated senior party members.

The Trump administration is redoubling its efforts to bolster a fragile ceasefire in Gaza. The US Vice President is due in Israel. The focus is turning to the next phases of the deal. We'll be looking at what it might take to rebuild Gaza after a huge level of destruction.

Also this half hour - BBC documents a Syrian’s refugee’s search to try and find his missing family.

(Photo: Leader of Japan's ruling LDP, Sanae Takaichi reacts as she receives applause after being elected as prime minister; Credit:Reuters)


TUE 08:00 BBC News (w172zwww591y7hf)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 08:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct6xy7)
Harnessing the wind to keep us cool

Many cities are becoming unpleasant to live in: they are getting hotter due to climate change and all the heat absorbed by the streets and buildings. But Stuttgart in Germany has been tackling this by carefully studying local wind patterns. Using the natural airflow they are cooling the city by creating corridors of wind from the surrounding hills.  It’s an idea which is being copied by cities around the world such as Singapore. There we see how new buildings are being designed to allow a breeze to flow despite the continued development.

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

Presenter: Myra Anubi
Producer/reporter: Richard Kenny
Singapore reporter: Tessa Wong
With thanks to: Indrawan Prabaharyaka
Editor: Jon Bithrey
Sound mix: Hal Haines

(Image: Richard Hassell of WOHA architects in the Punggol Digital district of Singapore, BBC)


TUE 08:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxpm0nmlrt)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct6s79)
Why are medical students going to Bulgaria?

We head to the Eastern European country to find out why it's become so popular with people from the UK and elsewhere in the world, who are going there to study medicine.

And we hear how Bulgaria is dealing with its own issues in retaining healthcare workers, as it faces a 'brain drain' to other countries and sectors.

Produced and presented by Gill Dummigan

(Image: An international student in a tuition session in Plovdiv, Bulgaria)


TUE 08:50 Witness History (w3ct74nb)
Wangari Maathai: The first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize

In 2004, the Kenyan ecologist Wangari Maathai became the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize.

Wangari Maathai founded the Green Belt Movement in 1977, a grass-roots organisation empowering local women to plant trees. It spread to other African countries and contributed to the planting of over 30 million trees. In 2016, Alex Last spoke to her daughter, Wanjira.

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: Wangari Maathai. Credit: William F Campbell/Getty Images)


TUE 09:00 BBC News (w172zwww591yc7k)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 09:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlb9hgxr7y)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxpm0nmqhy)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 09:32 Assignment (w3ct6rc6)
[Repeat of broadcast at 02:32 today]


TUE 10:00 BBC News (w172zwww591ygzp)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 10:06 The Arts Hour (w3ct6ztx)
[Repeat of broadcast at 20:06 on Saturday]


TUE 11:00 BBC News (w172zwww591ylqt)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlb9hgxzr6)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxpm0nmz06)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct71cl)
The Louvre daytime heist that shocked the world

The Louvre Museum in Paris was closed for 2 days as the police investigated a brazen heist which resulted in the theft of France's “priceless” crown jewels. Thieves wielding power tools broke into the world's most visited museum in broad daylight, before escaping on scooters with eight items of jewelry of great historical significance.

Erin Thompson, Professor of Art Crime at The City University of New York, tells us about the crime that has stunned France - and the rest of the world.


Producers: Viv Jones, Aron Keller, Valerio Esposito and Cat Farnsworth

Executive producer: Annie Brown

Mix: Travis Evans

Senior news editor: China Collins

Image: A security employee near the glass Pyramid of the Louvre Museum, Paris. Benoît Tessier/Reuters


TUE 12:00 BBC News (w172zwww591yqgy)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 12:06 Outlook (w3ct6x4z)
Stabbed as a boy and becoming a poet for a lost generation

Aged 16, coming out of an audition, budding British actor Dan Whitlam was caught up in a fight with a group of boys in London. He was stabbed twice in the back with a screwdriver. The physical wounds healed quickly but the mental scars took a lot longer. Dan met his attacker two years later as part of a restorative justice programme, and while he got the apology he needed the panic attacks and fear continued. What helped him was writing about that day.

He has gone on to perform his poem about the stabbing hundreds of times and earned himself a huge following for his work as a spoken word artist and musician. He writes primarily for what he calls a lost generation - young adults who grew up in an age of social media, inundated with options, comparisons and aspirations. He also now writes a lot about love.

Dan's poetry collection is called I Don't Want To Settle. He will be on tour in Europe and the US in October and November.

Presenter: Jo Fidgen
Producer: Andrea Kennedy

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

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

(Photo: Dan Whitlam with short red hair stares seriously at the camera. Credit: Jordan Mckellar)


TUE 12:50 Witness History (w3ct74nb)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


TUE 13:00 BBC News (w172zwww591yv72)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 13:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlb9hgy77g)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 13:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxpm0nn6hg)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 13:32 In the Studio (w3ct6vv1)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


TUE 14:00 BBC News (w172zwww591yyz6)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 14:06 Newshour (w172zssbc6l33jt)
US tries to shore up Gaza ceasefire

As US tries to shore up the ceasefire in Gaza, humanitarian groups warn of continuing disruption in aid supplies.

Prominent Israeli writer, David Grossman, gives us a rare interview - with a bleak assessment of the land his country has become.

Also in the programme: Japan has its first female prime minister, but what does the change tell us about the place of women in Japan; and the former French president Nicolas Sarkozy begins a five year prison sentence.

(Photo shows a member of the Palestinian Civil Defense walking next to a fire truck surrounded by destroyed buildings in Gaza City on 20 October 2025. Credit: Ebrahim Hajja/Reutersj


TUE 15:00 BBC News (w172zwww591z2qb)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 15:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct6xy7)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


TUE 15:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxpm0nnfzq)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 15:32 Business Daily (w3ct6s79)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:32 today]


TUE 15:50 World Business Express (w3ct81p4)
What to expect from Japan's first female prime minister?

Japan’s first female prime minister sends financial markets soaring as investors bet she's gonna spend big on Japan's economy.

The Brazilian oil giant Petrobras says it's been given the green light to start drilling for oil near the mouth of the Amazon river off the coast of the world's largest tropical rainforest.

And Coca-Cola’s results pop, but at the same time, demand is fizzling out. We'll find out what's going on at the world's biggest soda brand.

You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 3033.

Presenter: Leanna Byrne
Producer: Victoriya Holland
Editor: Shea Conduct


TUE 16:00 BBC News (w172zwww591z6gg)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 16:06 BBC OS (w1730680l9g12lf)
Gaza ceasefire deal: US VP Vance in Israel

The US Vice President JD Vance is in Israel as part of efforts to bolster the Gaza ceasefire deal. The visit comes as the World Food Programme called for all crossing points into Gaza to be opened. Our correspondents explain more.

Japan's first woman prime minister Sanae Takaichi has been naming members of her cabinet. We hear from women in Japan.

And after Gen Z protests swept countries such as Kenya, Bangladesh, Morocco, Peru and Madagascar over the past few months, we hear from young protesters in conversation with older generations of their family to discuss how they have seen things change in their countries over the years.

OS presenter: Rahul Tandon.

(Photo: U.S. Vice President JD Vance, second lady Usha Vance arrive at Ben Gurion airport in Lod Israel, October 21, 2025. Credit: Nathan Howard/Pool via REUTERS)


TUE 17:00 BBC News (w172zwww591zb6l)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 17:06 BBC OS (w1730680l9g16bk)
Vance says Gaza ceasefire 'in very good place'

US Vice-President JD Vance says the ceasefire in Gaza is "in a very good place", despite violence in the Strip over the weekend. Vance is speaking during a trip to Israel, as part of the Trump administration's efforts to strengthen the ceasefire. We get the latest.

Prince Andrew should share everything he knows about convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the co-writer of Virginia Giuffre's posthumous memoir has told the BBC. The book, Nobody's Girl, officially released in the UK on Tuesday, gives more details of Ms Giuffre's allegations about Prince Andrew - which he has always denied. We hear some of that interview and speak to our correspondent.

Nicolas Sarkozy has become the first French ex-president to go to jail, as he starts a five-year sentence for conspiring to fund his election campaign with money from late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi. We speak to our correspondent.

And US chess grandmaster and online commentator Daniel Naroditsky has died aged 29. We speak to young chess players around the world.

OS presenter: Rahul Tandon.

(Photo: U.S. Vice President JD Vance speaks during a press conference following a military briefing at the Civilian Military Coordination Center in southern Israel October 21, 2025. Credit: Nathan Howard/Pool via REUTERS)


TUE 18:00 BBC News (w172zwww591zfyq)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 18:06 Outlook (w3ct6x4z)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 today]


TUE 18:50 Witness History (w3ct74nb)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


TUE 19:00 BBC News (w172zwww591zkpv)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlb9hgyyq7)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxpm0nnxz7)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct6zb4)
2025/10/21 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 (w172zwww591zpfz)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 20:06 Assignment (w3ct6rc6)
[Repeat of broadcast at 02:32 today]


TUE 20:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxpm0np1qc)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 20:32 Tech Life (w3ct6zpf)
Red lines for AI

More than 200 prominent individuals and 70 organisations want international agreement on 'do not cross' red lines for artificial intelligence, to prevent risks to humanity. We speak to Stuart Russell, professor of computer science at the University of California in Berkeley, who is backing the call. He spells out some of the potential risks that AI could pose to us all, and says global agreement on AI red lines is the solution.

Also on Tech Life this week: We look at how artificial intelligence is having an impact on the legal profession. In Ghana, holograms are helping to spread breast cancer health advice. And Shiona McCallum speaks to a young tech YouTuber in Dubai.

Presenter: Shiona McCallum
Producer: Tom Quinn

(Image: An illustration of AI letters against a red backdrop. Credit: Wong Yu Liang/Getty Images)


TUE 21:00 BBC News (w172zwww591zt63)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 21:06 Newshour (w172zssbc6l3yrq)
Nicolas Sarkozy starts jail time in Paris

The former French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, has started his five- year sentence at La Santé prison in central Paris. Sarkozy was convicted of criminal conspiracy to finance his election campaign with funds from the Libyan dictator, Muammar Gaddafi. He denies wrongdoing.

Also in the programme: A rare interview with the Israeli writer David Grossman on what he calls his country's moral test; and the German pastor who made a startling discovery about his grandfather while watching a documentary about the Nazis.


(Photo: Nicolas Sarkozy has maintained his innocence and has lodged an appeal. Credit: Reuters)


TUE 22:00 BBC News (w172zwww591zxy7)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 22:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct6xy7)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


TUE 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxpm0np96m)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 22:32 In the Studio (w3ct6vv1)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


TUE 23:00 BBC News (w172zwww59201pc)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 23:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlb9hgzfpr)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxpm0npdyr)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 23:32 World Business Report (w3ct76bq)
Is Warner Brothers Discovery for sale?

Warner Brothers Discovery, which produced Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, and Succession, says it’s considering a sale after receiving several unsolicited offers. The US media giant had announced plans to split into two separate entities earlier this year.

How could the leading candidate in New York’s mayoral race reshape America’s financial capital?

Plus, why people are going nuts for pistachios.

(Picture: The exterior of the Warner Bros. Discovery Atlanta campus is pictured in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. May 2, 2023. REUTERS/Alyssa Pointer/File Photo)

WEDNESDAY 22 OCTOBER 2025

WED 00:00 BBC News (w172zwww59205fh)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 00:06 The Arts Hour (w3ct6ztx)
[Repeat of broadcast at 20:06 on Saturday]


WED 01:00 BBC News (w172zwww592095m)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 01:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlb9hgzp60)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 01:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxpm0npng0)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 01:32 The Global Story (w3ct71cl)
[Repeat of broadcast at 11:32 on Tuesday]


WED 02:00 BBC News (w172zwww5920dxr)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlb9hgzsy4)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxpm0nps64)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 02:32 The Climate Question (w3ct702j)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:06 on Sunday]


WED 03:00 BBC News (w172zwww5920jnw)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 03:06 Outlook (w3ct6x4z)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Tuesday]


WED 03:50 Witness History (w3ct74nb)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 on Tuesday]


WED 04:00 BBC News (w172zwww5920nf0)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 04:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlb9hh01fd)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxpm0nq0pd)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 04:32 Cyber Hack (w3ct89y8)
Evil Corp

1. Zeus

Moscow drag racers, an opulent Russian wedding and a malware code named after the Greek god of thunder - how do they all connect? A cyber-sleuth and “dark hero of the internet” Lawrence Baldwin sees signs of an emerging underworld. As money vanishes from accounts across the US, Lawrence follows the trail, infiltrating the gang - holding out for clues. But who are these audacious hackers?

Hosted by Joe Tidy, the BBC’s cyber correspondent, one of the few Western journalists to have met an alleged member of Evil Corp, and Sarah Rainsford, who spent more than two decades reporting from Moscow.


WED 05:00 BBC News (w172zwww5920s54)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 05:06 Newsday (w172zspvnrgz55q)
President Trump will no longer meet with Russian President

Donald Trump has said he doesn't want a wasted meeting with President Putin after his officials rowed back on plans for a summit between the USA and Russia. We look at where the US administration's efforts might go from here.

US Vice-President JD Vance is in Israel as part of the Trump administration's efforts to strengthen the Gaza ceasefire deal. Ahead of talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he said the ceasfire deal is going better than expected. He did not give a deadline for Hamas to disarm.

And we have a report from Maiduguri, in north-eastern Nigeria, where the government has been fighting an insurgency by Islamist militant groups for the past fifteen years.

Presenters: James Copnall and Pria Rai

(Photo: : U.S. President Trump meets with Russian President Putin in Alaska. Credit: Kevin Lamarqu/Reuters)


WED 06:00 BBC News (w172zwww5920wx8)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 06:06 Newsday (w172zspvnrgz8xv)
Trump-Putin summit in Budapest cancelled

President Trump has abandoned his second summit with Russia and says he doesn't want to 'waste' his time. The two sides were due to meet in Budapest this week to discuss an end to Russia's war in Ukraine.

US Vice-President JD Vance is in Israel as part of the Trump administration's efforts to strengthen the Gaza ceasefire deal. Ahead of talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he said the ceasfire deal is going better than expected. However aid organisations are warning that they still can't get enough food and supplies into the Gaza Strip. The World Food Programme has called for all crossing points into Gaza to be opened and warned that destruction in Gaza after two years of war -- including to roads -- meant the organisation couldn't meet its goal of bringing in two-thousand tonnes of food a day. We speak to the WFP.

And we take a look at the success of vaccination programmes in India. Is this trend likely to remain following recent sceptical global trends?

Presenters: James Copnall and Pria Rai

(Photo: Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, Russian Federation. Credit: Alexander Kzakov/Sputnik)


WED 07:00 BBC News (w172zwww59210nd)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 07:06 Newsday (w172zspvnrgzdnz)
US Vice President to meet Israeli PM

The US Vice President JD Vance is today expected to meet the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in an effort to shore up a fragile cease-fire deal in Gaza. He has expressed his optimism that the deal would hold. Hamas has returned to Israel the bodies of two more dead hostages. 13 are still held in Gaza we'll speak to a father still waiting for the body of his son.

President Trump has abandoned his summit with Russia and says he doesn't want to 'waste' his time. It comes as Moscow rejected an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine, casting a cloud over attempts at negotiations.

And a senior member of the US house committee, currently reviewing documents known as the "Epstein files", has said he's sure Prince Andrew will receive an invitation to give evidence. The prince continues to face scrutiny about his relationship with the sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein.

Presenters: James Copnall and Pria Rai


WED 08:00 BBC News (w172zwww59214dj)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 08:06 The Interview (w3ct7x71)
David Grossman: Isolating Israel is not the answer

‘To isolate Israel or to punish Israel will be the most irresponsible and unacceptable step to boycott Israel, for example. I think it's a huge mistake, because what we need is a dialogue.’

Tim Franks speaks to Israeli author David Grossman about the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza as concerns grow over the increasingly fragile ceasefire.

Grossman is one of Israel’s most prominent writers, and since publishing his first novel over forty years ago, his works have been translated into 36 languages. He’s won numerous literary awards over the years, including the Man Booker International Prize in 2017. Many of his works deal with the issues associated with Israel and Palestine.

The 71-year-old is also well-known as a peace activist, and has been a vocal, long-standing critic of the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu - expressing concern over the direction the country is being led in.

In an interview with the Italian newspaper La Repubblica in August, Grossman described Israel’s actions in Gaza as ‘genocide’, lamenting that he had been forced to reach that conclusion by the ongoing military campaign that began following the events of October 7.

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

The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC. 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: Tim Franks
Producers: Ben Cooper and Jack Hunter
Editor: Justine Lang

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

(Image: David Grossman. Credit Franco Origlia/Getty Images)


WED 08:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxpm0nqhnx)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct6sct)
Can you buy your way into a job?

We look at a growing industry where candidates are spending on career coaching, résumé redesigns, AI tools, and job boards.

In a tough job market, with companies cutting staff due to artificial intelligence and rising costs, is this the way to get ahead?

We talk to job seekers about whether these tools really help and share what you can do to find work without spending money.

Presenter: Megan Lawton
Producer: Sam Gruet

Correction, 27 October 2025: In this episode, which first aired on 22 October 2025, we introduced one of the contributors as Nicole Leeder. This was incorrect. The correct name was Nicole Gable, US country president for LHH and president for Recruitment Solutions in North America. We apologise for the error, which has been corrected in this updated version of the episode.

(Image: Giovanna Ventola, who runs an online community for job-hunters. Credit: Frank Ventola)


WED 08:50 Witness History (w3ct74ql)
The UK’s first black-owned music studio

Sonny Roberts, a Jamaican carpenter, arrived in Britain in the 1950s. It was a time of racial disharmony, including the Notting Hill riots and the murder of Kelso Cochrane. In this tense atmosphere, black musicians struggled to make a name for themselves. Then in 1961, Roberts set up the UK’s first black-owned music studio, Planetone, in a basement in Kilburn.

The studio gave the Caribbean community a musical platform. In later years, Roberts produced Nigerian band Nkengas’ album, Destruction - one of the earliest examples of Afrobeat in the UK. His 1987 production of Judy Boucher's Can't Be with You Tonight reached number two in the UK Singles Chart, beaten only by Madonna.

Roberts laid the foundations for black British music. Ben Henderson speaks to his daughter, Cleon Roberts.

This programme contains outdated and offensive language.

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: Sonny Roberts in 1982. Credit: David Corio/Redferns via Getty Images)


WED 09:00 BBC News (w172zwww592184n)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 09:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlb9hh0n51)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxpm0nqmf1)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 09:32 The Climate Question (w3ct702j)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:06 on Sunday]


WED 10:00 BBC News (w172zwww5921cws)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 10:06 The Documentary (w3ct831r)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Saturday]


WED 11:00 BBC News (w172zwww5921hmx)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlb9hh0wn9)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxpm0nqvx9)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct71fv)
Jeffrey Epstein and the downfall of Prince Andrew

***This episode contains themes of sexual abuse and grooming***
The memoir of Virginia Giuffre, one of Jeffrey Epstein's most well-known accusers, was published posthumously this week, repeating allegations against Epstein as well as Prince Andrew. The revelations come as Prince Andrew gave up his royal titles, amongst renewed and increasing scrutiny over his relationship with the convicted sex offender Epstein. Prince Andrew continues to vigorously deny all the allegations, but the loss of his titles is a big symbolic moment that allows the rest of the Royal Family to distance themselves from him.

His downfall was accelerated by a disastrous 2019 interview with the BBC. We speak to the interviewer Emily Maitlis, now host of the News Agents podcast, about that day, and how Prince Andrew’s story gives us an insight into the ways in which Jeffrey Epstein functioned.

Producers: Sam Chantarasak, Lucy Pawle and Xandra Ellin

Executive producer: China Collins

Sound engineer: Travis Evans

Senior news editor: China Collins

(Photo: Prince Andrew. Credit: Toby Melville/Reuters)


WED 12:00 BBC News (w172zwww5921md1)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 12:06 Outlook (w3ct6xcw)
Punjabi disco: The mother and son behind a lost cult album

Kuljit Bhamra is a musician and composer who is also credited with spearheading the Bhangra movement in the UK - a genre that blends Punjabi folk music with Western styles and production. Kuljit was four when he began playing tabla, the traditional Indian hand drums, at parties across 1970s Britain, with his mother Mohinder Bhamra, an accomplished vocalist of Punjabi folk songs. The Bhamra family became an in-demand travelling band and encouraged women to the typically segregated dancefloors of the time. In 1982 Kuljit and Mohinder produced a groundbreaking record called Punjabi Disco. It fused electronic beats with Punjabi lyrics and captured the spirit of a new generation of British South Asians. Only 500 copies were made and it faded into obscurity, but decades later it's being recognised as the first British Asian electronic dance album ever recorded. It is being reissued this month by Naya Beat Records.

Presenter: Mobeen Azhar
Producer: May Cameron

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

(Photo: Two portraits of Mohinder and Kuljit Bhamra overlayed on top of each other. Credit: Kuljit Bhamra)


WED 12:50 Witness History (w3ct74ql)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


WED 13:00 BBC News (w172zwww5921r45)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 13:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlb9hh144k)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 13:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxpm0nr3dk)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 13:32 Cyber Hack (w3ct89y8)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


WED 14:00 BBC News (w172zwww5921vw9)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 14:06 Newshour (w172zssbc6l60fx)
Is China’s social contract under pressure?

China's ruling Communist party is meeting to discuss the country's economic plans, at a time of international uncertainty. The party has a grand bargain with its citizens — people will accept one party rule and restrictions on freedoms in exchange for a better life, but, is that bargain no longer so secure?

Also in the programme: an international force has seized illegal drugs worth an estimated billion dollars in the Arabian Sea, is the Gulf region becoming a major market? And the EU’s top human right prize goes to two imprisoned journalists.


(Image: Delegates in the Great Hall of the People. Credit: Reuters)


WED 15:00 BBC News (w172zwww5921zmf)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 15:06 The Interview (w3ct7x71)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


WED 15:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxpm0nrbwt)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 15:32 Business Daily (w3ct6sct)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:32 today]


WED 15:50 World Business Express (w3ct81pb)
What's the beef with Beyond Meat?

Retail traders are being credited for sending Beyond Meat's stock surging.

Also, an estimate on the cost of the Jaguar Land Rover cyber attack.

And Starlink devices are linked to scam centres in Myanmar.

Presenter: Leanna Byrne
Producer: Victoriya Holland
Editor: Stephen Ryan


WED 16:00 BBC News (w172zwww59223ck)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 16:06 BBC OS (w1730680l9g3zhj)
Did Israel break law on aid to Gaza?

The International Court of Justice has said Israel was in breach of its duty under international law when it blocked aid to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Giving an advisory opinion, the court said that as an occupying power, Israel was under an obligation to allow and facilitate aid, and it must not use starvation as a method of war. We explain more and speak to aid workers in Gaza.

Peru's president, José Jerí, has declared a state of emergency in the capital Lima to combat surging crime. We hear from protesters and speak to journalists in Lima.

And a group of prominent figures have called for a ban on developing ‘superintelligent’ AI, warning that it could lead to human extinction. We explain more.

Presenter: Rahul Tandon

(Photo: A truck carries aid for Palestinians, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, in Deir Al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip, 21 October, 2025. Credit: Reuters)


WED 17:00 BBC News (w172zwww592273p)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 17:06 BBC OS (w1730680l9g437n)
Zelensky supports Trump's call for frontline freeze

Volodymyr Zelensky has described President Trump's proposal for using the current front line as the starting point for negotiations to end the Ukraine war as "a good compromise". Overnight, intense Russian bombardments killed seven people, including two children, in Kyiv, while a strike on a kindergarten in Kharkiv injured 27 people. We have the latest from our Ukraine expert and speak to a student in Kyiv and a woman who has just left Kharkiv.

The director of the Louvre has blamed outdated security for the failure to prevent the theft of jewellery from the Paris museum. We get details from our correspondent in Paris.

Portland is one of several mostly Democratic-led cities into which Trump has ordered National Guard troops, as part of a crackdown on what he describes as rampant crime.There had been a pause on that order but on Monday a federal appeals court ruled that the president would be allowed to send in the National Guard. Two people from the local public radio OPB explain the developments.

The UN's top court has today found that Israel has not fulfilled its legal obligations to ensure humanitarian aid supplies to the population of Gaza. We hear from two aid workers with Unicef and Unrwa.

Presenter: Rahul Tandon

(Photo: Ukrainian President Zelensky during a joint press conference with Swedish PM Kristersson following their meeting and visit to Saab in Linkoping. Credit: Fredrik Sandberg/TT News Agency/Reuters)


WED 18:00 BBC News (w172zwww5922bvt)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 18:06 Outlook (w3ct6xcw)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 today]


WED 18:50 Witness History (w3ct74ql)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


WED 19:00 BBC News (w172zwww5922gly)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlb9hh1vmb)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxpm0nrtwb)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct6zdd)
2025/10/22 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 (w172zwww5922lc2)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 20:06 The Climate Question (w3ct702j)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:06 on Sunday]


WED 20:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxpm0nrymg)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 20:32 Health Check (w3ct6vk0)
How impostors distort medical research

As Japan declares a flu epidemic we find out more about what’s going on in the country, and the potential implications for the flu season ahead in the Northern Hemisphere.

Human and bot imposters are rising in medical research, and they risk undermining results, but why do they do it? Eileen Morrow from the University of Oxford explains the tricky balance of safeguarding against them whilst not excluding real participants.

A new adrenaline nasal spray has been licenced for those with severe allergies. Family Doctor Ayan Panja explains what a difference this might make for patients.

The first patient has been recruited in a phase III trial investigating malaria treatments in early pregnancy. We speak to her and the researchers who are hoping to recruit further participants in Mali, Burkina Faso and Kenya.

Plus, how far can you really push yourself? Researchers think they’ve found the ‘metabolic ceiling’ for endurance athletes.

Presenter: Claudia Hammond
Producers: Katie Tomsett and Hannah Robins


WED 21:00 BBC News (w172zwww5922q36)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 21:06 Newshour (w172zssbc6l6vnt)
UN court finds Israel must let aid into Gaza

The International Court of Justrice, the UN’s top court, has found that Israel has a responsibility to ensure aid reaches the people of Gaza and cooperate with UN agencies, including UNRWA. Israel severed ties with UNRWA last year, accusing it of collusion with Hamas.

Also on the programme: the price Chinese people are paying for a slowing economy; and Donald Trump takes his brand of property development to the White House.

(PICTURE: Palestinians carry aid supplies in Zawaida, in the central Gaza Strip, October 21, 2025 CREDIT: REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa)


WED 22:00 BBC News (w172zwww5922tvb)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 22:06 The Interview (w3ct7x71)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


WED 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxpm0ns63q)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 22:32 Cyber Hack (w3ct89y8)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


WED 23:00 BBC News (w172zwww5922ylg)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 23:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlb9hh2blv)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxpm0ns9vv)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 23:32 World Business Report (w3ct76jd)
Starlink cuts services to Myanmar scam camps

Elon Musk's SpaceX says it has cut Starlink satellite communication links to more than 2,500 devices used by scam compounds in Myanmar.

The UAE's AI minister has told the BBC that the country is choosing the United States and American companies over China as their preferred partner when it comes to AI.

And, despite the US's $40 billion rescue package for President Javier Milei, investors are betting that Argentina will sharply devalue its currency after this weekend's midterm elections.

(Picture: At least 84 repatriated Indonesian citizens who once worked in scam centres in Myanmar and arrived in the Indonesian capital on 28 Feb 2025. Credit: BAGUS INDAHONO/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

THURSDAY 23 OCTOBER 2025

THU 00:00 BBC News (w172zwww59232bl)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 00:06 The Documentary (w3ct831r)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Saturday]


THU 01:00 BBC News (w172zwww592362q)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 01:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlb9hh2l33)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 01:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxpm0nskc3)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 01:32 The Global Story (w3ct71fv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 11:32 on Wednesday]


THU 02:00 BBC News (w172zwww59239tv)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlb9hh2pv7)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxpm0nsp37)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 02:32 The Documentary (w3ct8cb9)
G-land: Surf and spirits

Off the coast of Java, Indonesia, lies G-Land, one of the world’s most legendary surf breaks, framed by dense forest that was once home to the now-extinct Javan tiger. Alas Purwo (which literally means “Ancient Forest” or “First Forest” in Javanese) is considered one of the most mystical places in Java, with deep ties to Javanese spirituality and legend.

Despite Java being one of the most crowded islands on Earth, this sacred jungle has remained largely untouched. In the 1970s, surfer Bobby Radiasa arrived from neighbouring Bali to visit American surfers who had set up a remote base there, hammocks and tree houses, what some say is the world’s first surf camp. It is a camp Bobby Radiasa still runs today. He discovered both myth and magic in its waves and shares the extraordinary story of how surfing transformed his life, and how surfing and tourism changed his home Kuta, Bali, so it is now unrecognisable from his youth.

The program also features an interview with Jim Banks, an Australian surfing legend known as a pioneer of big wave surfing and amongst the first group of surfers that arrived in Bali and later to G-land.

Producer: Rebecca Henschke and Dave Arnold

(Photo: Bobby Radiasa at G-land. Credit: Dave Arnold)


THU 03:00 BBC News (w172zwww5923fkz)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 03:06 Outlook (w3ct6xcw)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Wednesday]


THU 03:50 Witness History (w3ct74ql)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 on Wednesday]


THU 04:00 BBC News (w172zwww5923kb3)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 04:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlb9hh2ybh)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxpm0nsxlh)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 04:32 The Food Chain (w3ct70z4)
The coffee habit: Why do we love it so much?

For millions of us around the world, the day hasn't begun until we've had our first cup of coffee.

Ruth Alexander traces our love affair with coffee back through history, to the wilds of Ethiopia where it was first discovered. She experiences some of the ancient traditions built around coffee which still endure today and asks why this bitter drink has always had such a hold over us.

And does it matter if we enjoy a coffee or three every day? Ruth finds out what's it doing to our brains and bodies, and whether we really need to worry about kicking this ancient habit.

Produced by Lexy O'Connor

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

Image: Three roasted coffee beans float on a light green background. Credit: Getty/Jose A. Bernat Bacete


THU 05:00 BBC News (w172zwww5923p27)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 05:06 Newsday (w172zspvnrh222t)
US sanctions on Russia

The United States has announced new sanctions against Russia, targeting its energy sector including its two largest oil companies. A statement said the punitive measures were taken because of the Kremlin's lack of serious commitment to a peace process to end the war in Ukraine. We get reaction from Kyiv.

There've been angry exchanges between Donald Trump and his Colombian counterpart, Gustavo Petro, after the US struck a vessel in the Pacific off Colombia that it alleged was smuggling drugs. Three people were killed. We speak to Colombia's deputy Foreign Minister.

And we look at the death of a young Senegalese football player. The Senegalese government says that the young Cheikh Toure was killed after being lured into Ghana by fake football agents who demanded a ransom his family couldn't pay. We speak to the General Secretary of the global union of football professionals, FIFPRO.

Presenters: James Copnall and Pria Rai

(Photo: President Trump meets with Ukrainian President Zelensky at the White House. Credit: Aaron Schwartz/EPA)


THU 06:00 BBC News (w172zwww5923stc)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 06:06 Newsday (w172zspvnrh25ty)
United States sanctions Russian oil

President Trump has said talks with Mr Putin 'don't go anywhere' and has imposed new sanctions against Russia's energy sector. We get a perspective from the EU.

We have a special report looking at the growing frustrations between French and British authorities over the crossing of small boats in the English Channel.

And we speak to Colombian deputy foreign minister on his country's deterioration of relations with Mr Trump and the United States.

Presenters: James Copnall and Pria Rai.

(Photo: Rosneft's Russian-flagged crude oil tanker Akademik Gubkin transits Istanbul's Bosphorus. Credit: Yoruk Isik/Reuters)


THU 07:00 BBC News (w172zwww5923xkh)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 07:06 Newsday (w172zspvnrh29l2)
America puts sanctions on Russian oil firms

The United States has announced sanctions on Russia's two largest oil companies. The Trump administration said it was responding to Russia's 'lack of serious commitment' to ending the war in Ukraine. The move comes as key differences, between the US and Russia, for peace become increasingly clear. We get the view Moscow.

A sympolic display of unity between the Church of England and the Catholic Church, as King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive in Rome at the start of an historic state visit. We speak to the head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales -- Cardinal Vincent Nichols.

And US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is travelling to Israel, for what is going to be the third visit by a senior American official this week.

Presenters: James Copnall and Pria Rai

(Photo: US President Donald J. Trump meets with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. Credit:Aaron Schwartz/EPA)


THU 08:00 BBC News (w172zwww592419m)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 08:06 The Inquiry (w3ct7237)
Can Benin win back its diaspora?

Benin has long tried to highlight its role in the transatlantic slave trade through monuments and memorials in the country, in the hope it would attract tourism.

Now it has a new plan.

It is offering citizenship to descendants of enslaved Africans around the world.

US singers Lauryn Hill and Ciara received their citizenship in July. Filmmaker Spike Lee and his wife Tonya Lewis Lee have also been made Benin’s ambassadors to the African-American population in America.

The move is an attempt to attract talent and money to its shores and showcase the nation’s culture and traditions to a wider audience.

This week on The Inquiry we’re asking: Can Benin win back its diaspora?

Contributors:
Dr Bayo Holsey, Association Professor, African American Studies and Anthropology at Emory University, United States
Ana Lucia Araujo, Professor in the Department of History at Howard University, United States
Dr Leonard Wantchekon, Founder and President of the African School of Economics
Tonya Lewis Lee, filmmaker and entrepreneur

Presenter: Tanya Beckett
Producer: Daniel Rosney
Researcher: Maeve Schaffer
Technical producer: Nicky Edwards
Production Co-ordinator: Hattie Valentine
Editor: Tom Bigwood

(Photo: Ciara receiving citizenship of Benin. Credit: Government of Benin)


THU 08:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxpm0ntdl0)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct6s2s)
The Americans investing in British football

From private equity Mega funds to Hollywood actors and hip hop stars, we look at the appeal of British football.

More than a third of clubs in England's professional football leagues are now owned in part or entirely, by US investors.

So why do so many Americans seem to want to invest in UK football clubs and what makes the so called ‘beautiful game’ such an attractive investment?

Presenter: Will Bain
Producer: Matt Lines

(Tom Brady, Birmingham City co-owner and film director Matt Alvarez in the stands during the match between Birmingham City and Leeds United in 2023 in Birmingham, England. Credit: Getty Images)


THU 08:50 Witness History (w3ct74jx)
GLP-1: A breakthrough for diabetes and obesity

In the 1980s, scientists made a discovery that would eventually lead to the development of drugs now used worldwide to treat diabetes and to help people manage obesity through weight loss injections.

One of the key scientists behind this breakthrough was Svetlana Mojsov. She discovered that a hormone called GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) plays an important role in how our bodies respond to food.

Svetlana’s work laid the foundation for a drug company to develop treatments based on GLP-1 — first for type 2 diabetes, and later for weight loss. She tells Gill Kearsley her story.

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: Injection pens. Credit: Carsten Snejbjerg/Bloomberg via Getty Images)


THU 09:00 BBC News (w172zwww592451r)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 09:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlb9hh3k24)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxpm0ntjb4)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 09:32 The Documentary (w3ct8cb9)
[Repeat of broadcast at 02:32 today]


THU 10:00 BBC News (w172zwww59248sw)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 10:06 The Explanation (w3ct7ysp)
The Media Show: When the Royals lose control of the story

New attention on Prince Andrew has reopened debate about how the Royal Family is covered by the media. Following confirmation that he will no longer use his titles and the release of Virginia Giuffre’s memoir, journalists are reassessing the balance between scrutiny, access and tradition.

Simon McCoy, journalist and broadcaster, Robert Hardman, royal biographer, and Emily Andrews, former royal correspondent for The Sun, share professional insight into how stories about the royals are shaped.

Also, Pulitzer Prize-winning foreign correspondent Paul Salopek describes his 12-year “Out of Eden Walk,” a 16,000-mile reporting journey retracing humanity’s ancient migration routes.

Presenter: Ros Atkins
Producer: Lisa Jenkinson
Assistant Producer: Lucy Wai
Researcher: Ruth Waites
Technical co-ordinator: Chris Brown
Sound engineer: Robin Schroder


THU 10:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxpm0ntn28)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 10:32 World of Secrets (w3ct854r)
Death in Dubai

Death in Dubai: 5. The reality of ‘Porta Potty’

The story behind the viral Dubai Porta Potty rumours and why, even in death, Monic became the subject of an online witch hunt. Meanwhile we go undercover – are we getting closer to Monic’s boss? And a breakthrough in the quest to find where she is buried.

This episode includes discussion of disturbing events, including sexual abuse and violence. It also contains racist language.

Presented by investigative journalist Runako Celina.

Season 9 of World of Secrets, Death in Dubai, is a BBC Eye investigation for the BBC World Service, produced in association with Thread Studios.

Please note, the image is being used for illustrative purposes only and the person depicted in it is a model.

Audio for this episode was updated on 22nd September 2025.

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 (w172zwww5924dk0)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlb9hh3skd)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxpm0ntrtd)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct719b)
The cost of USAID cuts to women in Afghanistan

Since the Taliban takeover in 2021, the US has contributed billions of dollars in aid to Afghanistan for food and medical care – a lifeline in a country ravaged by two decades of war.


But earlier this year, following deep cuts to USAID under the Trump administration, more than 400 USAID-backed medical clinics have closed, and for pregnant women in desperate need of care, the impacts are devastating.


The BBC’s South Asia and Afghanistan correspondent, Yogita Limaye, tells us about the families she met on her recent reporting trip, and the lives lost because women did not get the care they needed.

Producer: Hannah Moore

Mix: Travis Evans

Senior news editor: China Collins

Picture: Taliban bans female medical education, Afghan female doctors and midwives face setback, Kabul, Afghanistan, 24 Dec 2024. Samiullah Popal/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock


THU 12:00 BBC News (w172zwww5924j94)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 12:06 Outlook (w3ct6wy2)
Fatima Whitbread: From abandoned baby to world champion

Growing up in the UK care system, Fatima Whitbread spent her first fourteen years in children’s homes, longing for stability and love. She found both in an unexpected place – through sport, and through Margaret Whitbread, the woman who would become her coach and eventually her mother.

Please be aware, this programme contains references to child sexual abuse.

At the children’s home, Fatima had written to Margaret, declaring her dream to be "the best javelin thrower in the world". Years later, she made that a reality with a record-breaking throw at the 1986 European Athletics Championships, followed by gold at the World Championships. She is also a two-time Olympic medalist.

Today, Fatima Whitbread is using her own experiences to campaign for children in care through her charity, Fatima’s UK Campaign.

Presenter: Mobeen Azhar
Producers: June Christie & Louise Morris

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

Image: British athlete Fatima Whitbread competing in the javelin event during the Commonwealth Games at the Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton, Canada, 3rd-12th August 1978. Fatima leaps diagonally across the image, left leg straight, mirroring the javelin she's about to throw, a look of total concentration on her face. (Credit: Tony Duffy/Getty Images)


THU 12:50 Witness History (w3ct74jx)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


THU 13:00 BBC News (w172zwww5924n18)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 13:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlb9hh411n)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 13:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxpm0nv09n)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 13:32 The Food Chain (w3ct70z4)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


THU 14:00 BBC News (w172zwww5924rsd)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 14:06 Newshour (w172zssbc6l8xc0)
Russia's two largest oil companies hit by US sanctions

The US has announced new sanctions targeting Russia's two largest oil companies in an effort to persuade Moscow to negotiate a peace deal in Ukraine.

The announcement came one day after US President Donald Trump said a planned meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Budapest would be shelved indefinitely. Could this put pressure on Vladimir Putin to end his war with Ukraine?

Also in the programme: A former British paratrooper has been found not guilty of murdering two people in shootings at a civil rights march in Northern Ireland in 1972 - an event which became known as "Bloody Sunday"; and the youngest-ever winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, Malala Yousafszai, tells us what it was like being accompanied by a security detail at university.

(Photo shows US President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington DC on 17 October 2025. Credit: Aaron Schwartz/EPA)


THU 15:00 BBC News (w172zwww5924wjj)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 15:06 The Inquiry (w3ct7237)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


THU 15:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxpm0nv7sx)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 15:32 Business Daily (w3ct6s2s)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:32 today]


THU 15:50 World Business Express (w3ct81pj)
US and EU increase pressure on Russian energy sector

Fresh sanctions are hitting Russia's energy sector, from both the European Union and the United States. The goal is to squeeze the money earned from energy imports. How will it impact Russian economy?

Also, will India and China reduce their crude oil consumption?

And China's economic plan - after four days of discussions at home, what priorities are being set for the rest of the decade?

You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 3033.

Presenter: Leanna Byrne
Producer: Victoriya Holland
Editor: Stephen Ryan


THU 16:00 BBC News (w172zwww592508n)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 16:06 BBC OS (w1730680l9g6wdm)
US NBA arrests related to gambling investigation

The FBI says it has uncovered an illegal gambling conspiracy involving current and former basketball players and the mafia -- or Cosa Nostra. 34 people have been arrested including the the Miami Heat star Terry Rozier and the Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups. We get more details from our correspondent.

Same-sex couples in South Korea are being acknowledged as partners in the national census for the first time - marking a rare instance of government recognition. We speak to a lesbian couple living in Seoul.

President Zelensky has called on his European allies to agree to using frozen Russian assets to help fund Kyiv's war effort. We speak to our correspondent in Brussels who was among the journalists putting questions to President Zelensky in a press conference.

The first African American principal dancer at American Ballet Theatre has given her last performance at the company. We hear from young black ballet dancers about how her groundbreaking career has inspired them.

Presenter: Rahul Tandon.

(Photo: Portland Trail Blazers Head Coach Chauncey Billups reacts during a time-out in the second quarter against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center. Credit: John Hefti-Imagn Images/File Photo)


THU 17:00 BBC News (w172zwww592540s)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 17:06 BBC OS (w1730680l9g704r)
Vance criticises Israeli vote on West Bank annexation

US Vice-President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have criticised a move by Israel's parliament towards annexation of the occupied West Bank. Our correspondent in Israel explains.

The FBI says it has uncovered an illegal gambling conspiracy involving current and former basketball players and the mafia -- or Cosa Nostra. We get details from our sports reporter.

Same-sex couples in South Korea are being acknowledged as partners in the national census for the first time - marking a rare instance of government recognition. We speak to a lesbian couple living in Seoul.

France is backing away from a recent commitment to intervene more forcefully at sea to stop small boats from crossing the English Channel, according to multiple sources contacted by the BBC. Our correspondent explains what he has been finding out.

King Charles and Pope Leo have attended a prayer service in the Sistine Chapel. We speak to our religion editor.

Presenter: Rahul Tandon.

(Photo: Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu meets US Vice President JD Vance in Jerusalem - 22 Oct 2025. Credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/POOL/EPA/Shutterstock)


THU 18:00 BBC News (w172zwww59257rx)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 18:06 Outlook (w3ct6wy2)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 today]


THU 18:50 Witness History (w3ct74jx)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


THU 19:00 BBC News (w172zwww5925cj1)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlb9hh4rjf)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxpm0nvqsf)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct6z7w)
2025/10/23 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 (w172zwww5925h85)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 20:06 The Documentary (w3ct8cb9)
[Repeat of broadcast at 02:32 today]


THU 20:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxpm0nvvjk)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 20:32 Science In Action (w3ct6yg1)
Coral extinctions and chalky unknowns

As two species of coral are killed off by the 2023 heatwave in the Florida reefs, the abilities of different plankton species to cope with rising CO2 remain crucially unknown.

Also, retrospective research shows a strong suggestion that mRNA covid vaccination might serendipitously boost certain types of cancer immunotherapy.

And, if you can’t identify changing agricultural crop types from satellite observations, why not just strap a camera to your bike helmet?

Presenter: Roland Pease
Producer: Alex Mansfield
Production co-ordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth

(Photo: Dead elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata). Credit: Rolf von Riedmatten/Getty Images)


THU 21:00 BBC News (w172zwww5925m09)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 21:06 Newshour (w172zssbc6l9rkx)
Ex-soldier acquitted at Bloody Sunday shootings trial

Today, the only military veteran ever prosecuted in relation to the 1972 shootings during a march in Northern Ireland has been acquitted of murder charges. Thirteen people were shot dead in Londonderry when members of the army’s Parachute Regiment opened fire on civil rights demonstrators. The BBC’s Ireland correspondent Chris Page takes us through today’s verdict.
Also on the programme: Ukraine urges the EU to back a plan to release billions of euros in frozen Russian assets to help fund the country’s defence; NBA basketball stars and mafia members are among more than 30 people arrested in an illegal gambling crackdown; and activist Malala Yousafzai explains what led her to seeking therapy following her experiences with the Taliban.

(Photo: Family members hold pictures of victims of the 1972 'Bloody Sunday', in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Credit: Cathal McNaughtan/Reuters)


THU 22:00 BBC News (w172zwww5925qrf)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 22:06 The Inquiry (w3ct7237)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


THU 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxpm0nw30t)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 22:32 The Food Chain (w3ct70z4)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


THU 23:00 BBC News (w172zwww5925vhk)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 23:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlb9hh57hy)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxpm0nw6ry)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 23:32 World Business Report (w3ct75y9)
NBA stars and mafia arrested in illegal gambling crackdown

Two leading US basketball figures are among thirty-four people arrested as part of FBI investigations into illegal gambling and the Mafia. The Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups is accused of playing in rigged poker games in New York.

The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, has described this week's new US sanctions on Russia’s two biggest oil companies as an unfriendly act. But at the same time, he's claimed they won't have a substantial impact on Russia's economy.

And we will look at the cost of insurance for museums after the priceless jewels thieves stole from the Louvre museum in a brazen heist this week, which were not privately insured.

(Picture: Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier (2) handles the ball during the second quarter against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena in March 31, 2025: Credit: Reggie Hildred-Imagn Images/File Photo)

FRIDAY 24 OCTOBER 2025

FRI 00:00 BBC News (w172zwww5925z7p)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 00:06 The Explanation (w3ct7ysp)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:06 on Thursday]


FRI 00:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxpm0nwbj2)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 00:32 Unspun World with John Simpson (w3ct78c1)
Will Hamas really give up control of Gaza?

This week John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses whether Hamas will lay down its weapons in Gaza, looks at how other jihadist groups have responded to the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, and explores how Ukraine’s approach to the war with Russia might change in the wake of the latest row with President Trump.

Producer: Kate Cornell
Executive Producer: Benedick Watt
Commissioning Editor: Vara Szajkowski


FRI 01:00 BBC News (w172zwww59262zt)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 01:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlb9hh5h06)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 01:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxpm0nwg86)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 01:32 The Global Story (w3ct719b)
[Repeat of broadcast at 11:32 on Thursday]


FRI 02:00 BBC News (w172zwww59266qy)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlb9hh5lrb)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxpm0nwl0b)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 02:32 Tech Life (w3ct6zpf)
[Repeat of broadcast at 20:32 on Tuesday]


FRI 03:00 BBC News (w172zwww5926bh2)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 03:06 Outlook (w3ct6wy2)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Thursday]


FRI 03:50 Witness History (w3ct74jx)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 on Thursday]


FRI 04:00 BBC News (w172zwww5926g76)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 04:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlb9hh5v7l)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxpm0nwthl)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 04:32 Heart and Soul (w3ct6vpj)
The right thing: A deal with God

***This programme contains references to imprisonment, abuse, child abandonment, and references to violence which some listeners may find upsetting. ***
Since the 1950s, North Korea has been an authoritarian, isolationist state, and in practice there is no freedom of religion. Timothy Cho and his schoolteacher parents had learned to distrust and even fear Christianity. But the faith was going to play a significant role in Timothy’s life.

At the age of nine, Timothy returned from school, to find that his parents had fled the country, leaving him behind. So, at the age of 17, he decided to follow them, only to be captured by Chinese soldiers when he crossed the border and returned to prison in North Korea.

Timothy made his second attempt at escape in the same year, and this time he was successful, arriving in the city of Shanghai with a group of other North Korean refugees. The group broke into the American school in Shanghai, thinking they would get asylum that way, but the school handed them over to the Chinese police.

Back in prison, feeling hopeless and fearful, Timothy met a South Korean gangster, who taught him how to pray. Timothy made a deal with God, that if God gave him his freedom, he would dedicate his life to his faith.

Mike Wooldridge hears the story of Timothy’s escape, how he made his way to England, eventually finding work with the British government. And how he has kept his side of the deal, fighting for human rights in his home country, with Christianity playing a key role in his life. Mike asks if Timothy believes he did the right thing, making his deal with God back in his prison cell in Shanghai.


FRI 05:00 BBC News (w172zwww5926kzb)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 05:06 Newsday (w172zspvnrh4yzx)
European leaders rally around Ukraine

European leaders will be meeting in the next few hours here in London to shore-up financial and other forms of support for Ukraine - and ramp up pressure on Russia to end the war.The so called Coalition of the Willing is a grouping of 33 countries that was launched earlier this year by the UK and France to ensure post-war security guarantees for Ukraine. It all comes after EU leaders pushed back a decision on using frozen Russian assets as a so-called Reparations Loan for Ukraine until December. We look at what difference a reparations deal could have on the war in Ukraine.

As the next steps in putting together a postwar Gaza continue, the United States has made one thing clear -- any Israeli attempt to annex parts of he occupied Wes Bank will not be tolerated.

And we have a report looking at the spike in the number of fishermen being killed at sea in South Korea.

Presenters: James Copnall and Pria Rai

(Photo: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky holds a press conference following the Euro Summit in Brussels, Belgium in October. Credit: Oliver Hoslet/EPA).


FRI 06:00 BBC News (w172zwww5926pqg)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 06:06 Newsday (w172zspvnrh52r1)
Europe shows unity in supporting Ukraine

Later today European Union leaders will be meeting here in London to shore-up Ukraine finances and ramp up pressure on Russia its end the war. On Thursday in Brussels the same leaders moved forward cautiously on plans to use frozen Russian assets to fund Kyiv's war effort, but failed to reach a final decision.

Today the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, will visit the new US-run 'Civil-Military Coordination Centre' in southern Israel. The centre has been described by US officials as supporting “stabilisation efforts” around the flow of humanitarian, logistical and security assistance into Gaza. We look at how the centre is likely to work.

And President Trump has said he's cutting off trade negotiations with Canada. On Truth Social the President claimed that 'Canada has fraudulently used an advertisement' featuring former president, Ronald Reagan speaking negatively about tariffs.

Presenters: James Copnall and Pria Rai

(Photo: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa. Credit: Oliver Hoslet/EPA)


FRI 07:00 BBC News (w172zwww5926tgl)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 07:06 Newsday (w172zspvnrh56h5)
US confident Gaza ceasefire will hold

The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, has expressed confidence that the Gaza ceasefire will hold. He's visiting Israel to bolster President Trump's peace plan. Mr Trump has issued a new warning against Israel annexing the occupied West Bank after a vote in Israel’s parliament this week. We speak to our correspondent Yolande Knell in Jerusalem.

Doctors at Gaza’s Nasser Hospital say the bodies of Palestinians returned by Israel under a US-backed ceasefire deal show signs of torture and abuse, and that a lack of resources is making it difficult to identify who they were.

And from Cameroon we hear from the opposition politician who has declared himself the winner of the country's recent election.

Presenters: James Copnall and Pria Rai

(Photo: U.S. Secretary of State Rubio and Israeli PM Netanyahu meet in Jerusalem. Credit: Fadel Senna/Reuters)


FRI 08:00 BBC News (w172zwww5926y6q)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 08:06 Americast (w3ct7t63)
Inside Mamdani’s campaign to be mayor of New York City

Voting starts on Saturday for one of America’s biggest and most prominent political positions. How did Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee, emerge as the frontrunner to be the next mayor of New York, despite being virtually unknown at the start of his campaign?

Sarah, Justin and Anthony look in more detail at his policies, and in particular the centrepiece of his campaign around the cost of living. Mamdani says he will make New York more affordable, by increasing housing stock, raising taxes for the rich and bringing down the cost of rent. How realistic are his promises and how much could it matter if he can’t deliver? We also unpack his views on Israel and Gaza, and how his views on Gaza could affect the Jewish vote in New York, the biggest outside of Israel.

We get an inside track on Mamdani’s campaign from Eric Lach, staff writer at the New Yorker, who has been following him on the campaign trail, from before he won the primaries, to having dinner at Mamdani’s apartment in Queens. He also shares his views on how Mamdani will handle the NYPD, the country’s largest police department, after calling for the police to be defunded in 2020.

Donald Trump has made clear he thinks Mamdani is a radical left communist, so how might he handle the US president if he is elected as mayor? And how might Donald Trump target New York in return?

HOSTS:
• Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter
• Sarah Smith, North America Editor
• Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent

GUEST:
• Eric Lach, Staff Writer at the New Yorker

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

This episode was made by Purvee Pattni, Grace Reeve and Alix Pickles. The technical producer was James Piper. 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 (w172zwxpm0nx9h3)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct6rsr)
Business Daily meets: Pinterest CEO Bill Ready

Bill Ready started his working life in his parents' auto repair shop. Now, his world looks very different as CEO of the social media platform, Pinterest. It's an app where you can search for things like recipes, home decor, and fashion.

Pinterest has enjoyed strong growth since the company was launched in 2010. The platform has been valued at more than 22 billion dollars. But when it added controls for younger users the share price tanked.

Bill Ready tells Business Daily how the company's tried to make the platform safer for younger users, where the business is growing globally, and what the future might look like for the company as AI technology develops apace.

Presenter: Shiona McCallum
Producers: Niamh McDermott and Hannah Mullane

(Picture: Bill Ready speaking at a conference. Credit: Getty Images)


FRI 08:50 Witness History (w3ct744h)
The man who invented the scratch card

In May 1974, scratch cards went on sale for the first time in the US State of Massachusetts.

Free giveaway and coupon games from stores had been commonplace across the USA during the 1950s and '60s – but players could easily cheat.

The mathematician John Koza was hired to make the games more secure; he succeeded in making the modern-day scratch card. He tells Johnny I’Anson how he convinced the state-run lotteries to use his invention to offer cash prizes.

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 original scratch card. Credit: Massachusetts State Lottery)


FRI 09:00 BBC News (w172zwww59271yv)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 09:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlb9hh6fz7)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxpm0nxf77)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 09:32 Science In Action (w3ct6yg1)
[Repeat of broadcast at 20:32 on Thursday]


FRI 10:00 BBC News (w172zwww59275pz)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 10:06 Unexpected Elements (w3ct72wq)
How does biometric data work?

Europe has a new entry/exit system based on biometric data. But what exactly is the science behind biometric data, how can we ensure it’s used responsibly, and can it be cracked?

We also look at how some animals use dung as biometric data with Dr. Adrian Shrader, how your walk can be used to ID you from Professor Mark Nixon, and why gold has its own special measurement. All that plus many more Unexpected Elements.

Presenter: Marnie Chesterton
Producers: Margaret Sessa-Hawkins with Lucy Davies and Robbie Wojciechowski


FRI 11:00 BBC News (w172zwww59279g3)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlb9hh6pgh)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxpm0nxnqh)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct714t)
How Giorgia Meloni became Trump's best friend in Europe

Giorgia Meloni is Italy’s first female Prime Minister, and her political star has risen rapidly - from working class roots in Rome, to becoming one of the most important and divisive leaders in Europe.

A populist whose party has roots in Italian fascism, and who takes a hard right stance on migration and family values, she has formed a kinship with Donald Trump, who this month alone has promoted her autobiography and her speeches online, and called her “beautiful” on stage.

In today’s episode, journalist Barbara Serra joins us to discuss Meloni’s increasingly crucial role in US-European relations.

Producers: Hannah Moore and Valerio Esposito
Executive producer: James Shield
Mix: Travis Evans
Senior news editor: China Collins

Photo: YOAN VALAT/POOL/EPA/Shutterstock


FRI 12:00 BBC News (w172zwww5927f67)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 12:06 Outlook (w3ct6whj)
Outlook Mixtape: Sugar Rush

In this Mixtape, four irresistibly sweet stories of connection all featuring scandalous amounts of sugar.

After a painful break-up, British corporate manager Zoe Carmichael turned to baking for comfort. Now her extraordinary creations, from a horse’s head to a disco ball, have inspired a mini baking movement. Emily Webb spoke to her in 2020.

In Chicago, Vamarr Hunter always felt a special bond with the owner of his favourite local bakery, Lenore Lindsey – but never imagined she could be his long-lost birth mother. Hear this story in full by searching for Lives Less Ordinary, Sweet Surprise.

Nael and Manar Najjar fell in love over boxes of baklava in Iraq. Fleeing violence, they rebuilt their lives in the USA and the sweet that brought them together became the star of their new bakery in California. Outlook reporter Margot Wohl went to meet them in 2019.

Dr Rahul Mandal grew up in Kolkata, India in a home without an oven. He moved to the UK for his PhD and started baking to make friends - just two years later in 2018, he was crowned the winner of The Great British Bake Off. He spoke to Andrea Kennedy in 2022.

Presenter: Mobeen Azhar
Producer: Louise Morris

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

(Photo: A transparent 60-minute cassette tape. Credit: Getty Images)


FRI 12:50 Witness History (w3ct744h)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


FRI 13:00 BBC News (w172zwww5927jyc)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 13:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlb9hh6xyr)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 13:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxpm0nxx6r)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 13:32 Heart and Soul (w3ct6vpj)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


FRI 14:00 BBC News (w172zwww5927nph)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 14:06 Newshour (w172zssbc6lct83)
Rubio visits Israel to oversee truce in Gaza

The US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says lots of countries are interested in contributing troops to the planned international stabilisation force for Gaza. He did not specify who but insisted that Israel had to be comfortable with those chosen. Speaking at the coordination centre set up to oversee the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, Mr Rubio said talks were continuing on the future governance of Gaza.

Also, how warming seas are endangering the lives and livelihoods of South Korean fishermen, and we speak to author Frank Cottrell-Boyce on a new prize for children's literature.

(Photo: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks to the media after visiting the Civil-Military Coordination Center in southern Israel, 24 October, 2025. Credit: adel Senna/Reuters)


FRI 15:00 BBC News (w172zwww5927sfm)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 15:06 Americast (w3ct7t63)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


FRI 15:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxpm0ny4q0)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 15:32 Business Daily (w3ct6rsr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:32 today]


FRI 15:50 World Business Express (w3ct81pq)
Trump says trade talks with Canada 'terminated'

Donald Trump says he's ending trade talks with Canada, all over an ad. He accused Canada of fraudulently using Ronald Reagan’s words in what he called a “fake” advertisement. We hear from a Canadian business owner.

China calls for calm ahead of trade talks with Washington…

And Russia faces fresh sanctions as it sets interest rates. We speak with the former Russia Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov.

You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 3033.

Presenter: Leanna Byrne
Producer: Victoriya Holland
Editor: Justin Bones


FRI 16:00 BBC News (w172zwww5927x5r)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 16:06 BBC OS (w1730680l9g9s9q)
Trump cancels trade talks with Canada

US President Donald Trump says he’s ended trade talks with Canada after an advert sponsored by the Ontario provincial government criticised his use of tariffs. The advert quoted Ronald Reagan saying in 1987 that tariffs "hurt every American". The Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney, says he's ready to resume trade negotiations with the United States when Washington is ready. We speak to our business reporter and get reaction from Canadians.

The American secretary of state Marco Rubio, on a visit to Israel, says plenty of countries are interested in contributing to a stabilisation force for Gaza. We have the latest from our correspondent.

According to the head of WHO, thousands of injured Palestinians in Gaza are waiting for evacuation flights. We speak to one of them, Nour, and her sister-in-law in the UK.

The BBC has found that the number of 16-24 year olds in England reporting symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder, or OCD, has more than tripled in a decade.We speak to people around the world living with the condition.

Presenter: Rahul Tandon.

(Photo: U.S. President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney shake hands as they pose for a photo, at a world leaders' summit on ending the Gaza war, amid a U.S.-brokered prisoner-hostage swap and ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, October 13, 2025. Credit: Suzanne Plunkett/Pool/Reuters)


FRI 17:00 BBC News (w172zwww59280xw)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 17:06 BBC OS (w1730680l9g9x1v)
Zelensky meeting allies in the UK

President Zelensky of Ukraine is in London to press allies to supply more long-range weapons to strike back against Russia. We have the latest on today's talks.

The US Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, says an overnight military strike on an alleged drug-smuggling boat operated by a Venezuelan gang has killed six people. We speak to our State Department correspondent and our colleague from BBC Mundo in Miami.

We find out what more has been revealed about the FBI investigation into illegal sports betting in basketball in America. Two leading US basketball figures were among the people arrested as part of the investigation on Thursday.

The authorities in Delhi have, for the first time, tried out cloud seeding to induce rain over the smog-filled Indian capital. We explain what this means.

The BBC has found that the number of 16-24 year olds in England reporting symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder, or OCD, has more than tripled in a decade.We speak to people around the world living with the condition.

Presenter: Rahul Tandon.

(Photo:Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (centre) is flanked by Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky (left) and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte (right) Friday October 24, 2025. Credit: Henry Nicholls/PA Wire)


FRI 18:00 BBC News (w172zwww59284p0)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 18:06 Outlook (w3ct6whj)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 today]


FRI 18:50 Witness History (w3ct744h)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


FRI 19:00 BBC News (w172zwww59288f4)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlb9hh7nfj)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxpm0nympj)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct6z3c)
2025/10/24 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 (w172zwww5928d58)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 20:06 BBC OS Conversations (w3ct6rn7)
Living with motor neurone disease

Former England rugby captain Lewis Moody recently revealed he had been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND), and our conversations give an insight into how lives can be overturned by this muscle wasting condition.

Dr Mehboob in Canada was diagnosed five years ago and is now paralysed from the neck down. He is joined in conversation by his wife, Sophie, and Evy in Belgium, whose dad died last year 46 years after his diagnosis.

“I’m at peace with the very clear knowledge that at any time this disease will take my life,” Mehboob tells us. “I’ll just live day by day appreciating every moment in my life, and that’s how I’ve been able to cope with it.”

MND is incurable. Over time, muscles weaken – affecting movement, speech eating and breathing. People over 50 are most likely to get the disease but there is evidence that elite athletes are also disproportionately affected. We bring together Narayana in India with James and Gillian in the UK, who were all diagnosed in their 30s, to share their experiences of living with the condition.

Presenter: Rahul Tandon
BBC producers: Laura Cress and Iqra Farooq
Boffin Media Producer: Richard Hollingham

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

Photo/credit: Dr Mehboob and his family


FRI 20:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxpm0nyrfn)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 20:32 CrowdScience (w3ct6stc)
Should we help maggots and caterpillars?

We all know insects are important, but one CrowdScience listener worries that they don’t seem to have equal billing when it comes to human love and attention.

In Scotland’s capital Edinburgh, listener Ruth loves to sit and listen to the birds, the bees and the hoverflies as they go about their daily chores. And it’s got her wondering why bees and butterflies seem to get all the conservation efforts. What do we need to do to protect butterflies as less beautiful caterpillars, and ladybirds as less glamorous larvae? Are people even aware that insects exist in multiple stages of a lifecycle, and that around the world, insect populations are facing perilous levels of decline.

Presenter Alex Lathbridge is on a mission to identify the other unsung insect heroes. Along the way we meet Dr Caitlin Johnstone and Dr Nick Balfour at the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh, who help listener Ruth find out about the lifestyles and lifecycles of hoverflies.

We meet the midge that pollinates cocoa crops in Ghana, as well as Dr Tonya Lander from Oxford University and Dr Acheampong Atta-Boateng from the University of Arizona who have been studying them. And Marc Vaez-Olivera from the company Polyfly introduces us to the billions of hoverflies helping to double avocado yields in Spain.

We also learn what we can all do to help keep insects in our gardens… even if that may involve sacrificing a cabbage or two.

Presenter: Alex Lathbridge

Producer: Marnie Chesterton

Editor: Ben Motley

(Photo: Caterpillar eating flowering plant with pink background - stock photo Credit: Raquel Lomas via Getty Images)


FRI 21:00 BBC News (w172zwww5928hxd)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 21:06 Newshour (w172zssbc6ldnh0)
US places sanctions on Colombian President

The United States has imposed sanctions on the Colombian President Gustavo Petro, accusing him of refusing to stop the flow of cocaine to the U.S. President Trump has accused Bogota of being complicit in the illicit drug trade. Also in the programme, President Zelensky visits the UK with leaders of other countries supporting Ukraine; and a Children’s Booker Prize will be awarded next year alongside the main prestigious book award. Photo: Colombian President Gustavo Petro speaks during a press conference with international media in Bogota, Colombia
Credit: Photo by Carlos Ortega/EPA/Shutterstock


FRI 22:00 BBC News (w172zwww5928mnj)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 22:06 Americast (w3ct7t63)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


FRI 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxpm0nyzxx)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 22:32 Heart and Soul (w3ct6vpj)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


FRI 23:00 BBC News (w172zwww5928rdn)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 23:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlb9hh84f1)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxpm0nz3p1)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 23:32 World Business Report (w3ct76nx)
US federal workers miss their first paycheques since shutdown

Hundreds of thousands of federal employees have missed their full paycheques for the first time since the beginning of the government shutdown three weeks ago, with Democrats and Republicans still blaming each other for the lapse in federal funding. We hear from a US federal employee at the Department of Defence on the East Coast.

And this week the fight moved to the courts over another politically contentious area – the massive charges the Trump administration wishes to impose on H1B visas – the work visas issued to up to 65,000 foreign workers each year, looking for jobs that US employers say they are unable to fill otherwise.

Also, Canada's prime minister, Mark Carney, says he's ready to resume trade negotiations with the United States when Washington is ready. This comes after President Trump announced he was abruptly ending talks because of an anti-tariff advertising campaign by the province of Ontario.

(Picture: A sign outside the National Gallery of Art alerts visitors the museum is closed in Washington and remains closed due to the government shutdown on 23 October 2025. Credit: photo by JIM LO SCALZO/EPA/Shutterstock).