SATURDAY 15 AUGUST 2026
SAT 00:00 BBC News (w1730nkrtmpsg9w)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 00:06 Unexpected Elements (w3ct8kct)
Light entertainment
As Europe experiences its first total solar eclipse in almost 30 years this week, Unexpected Elements investigates the surprising science that emerges when sunlight is blocked out.
We travel to the forests of Italy, where we investigate whether trees can communicate their eclipse plans to each other. We learn about an ambitious scientific plan to launch a wall of bubbles the size of Brazil into outer space. And we contemplate whether astronauts will ever need to take rice cookers the moon.
Also on the show, Annaliese Hodge, a doctoral researcher from the University of Plymouth in the UK joins us to help us learn more about how sunscreen - while good for us humans - can be destructive to marine life.
Elsewhere in the programme, we hear about the newly arrived crows bothering the people of Nairobi, Kenya, and discuss another pesky problem: people not wearing headphones on public transport.
All that plus more unexpected elements.
Presenter: Alex Lathbridge
Producers: Dan Welsh, Lucy Davies and Robbie Wojciechowski
SAT 01:00 BBC News (w1730nkrtmpsl20)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 01:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqmwp54038)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
SAT 01:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nll8c9gybd)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SAT 01:32 The Global Story (w3ct8m94)
‘Spermageddon’: what’s going on with male fertility?
Wearing loose cotton boxer shorts. Icing your testicles. Doing blood transfusions to ‘clean’ your body of microplastics. Eating raw garlic. These are all unproven methods to boost sperm count being promoted by wellness influencers.
On TikTok and Instagram, hashtags such as #malefertility, #semenanalysis and #sperm attract hundreds of millions of views, while, in the White House, US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr has claimed that men’s fertility is in drastic decline, partially due to unhealthy diets.
What scientific evidence is there to claims that the average sperm count and quality is falling? And how do these claims play into men’s anxieties about their masculinity? On today’s show, the BBC’s global health reporter, Jacqui Wakefield, speaks to men across the world concerned about their fertility, and to reproductive experts who help explain what’s really going on.
Read Jacqui’s article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8921982pgzo
Producers: Hannah Moore and Mhairi MacKenzie
Executive producer: Sam Bonham
Mix: Travis Evans
Senior news editor: China Collins
Photo: Simon from Miami, who is trying to boost his sperm count by wearing ice packs in the sauna. Credit: BBC.
SAT 02:00 BBC News (w1730nkrtmpspt4)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 02:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqmwp543vd)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
SAT 02:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nll8c9h22j)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SAT 02:32 Stumped (w3ct99fm)
Should the ICC make the Cricket World Cup bigger?
Scotland and Netherlands say the ICC’s plans to shrink the men’s 2027 Cricket World Cup to 12 teams will make it harder for associate nations to qualify. Alison Mitchell, Charu Sharma and Brett Sprigg discuss the impact this will have on the sport.
Three Test series get underway this week with Bangladesh in Australia, India travel to Sri Lanka and England host Pakistan. Brett says the Tigers deserve their chance to play against Australia and Charu believes spin will play a big role in the sub-continent if the monsoon rains stay away. Meanwhile, Alison can’t pick a clear favourite in the England v Pakistan series.
And move over Cristiano Ronaldo, Madeira and Portugal has a new sporting icon. We hear from Moises Henriques on why he swapped the Aussie gold and green for Portugal’s red and green as he hopes to get them qualified for the next T20 World Cup.
Photo: BANGALORE, INDIA - NOVEMBER 12: Roelof van der Merwe of Netherlands reacts during the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup India 2023 between India and Netherlands at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on November 12, 2023 in Bangalore, India. (Photo by Matt Roberts-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)
HOBART, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 14: Matt Machan of Scotland looks dejected after being dismissed by Pat Cummins of Australia during the 2015 Cricket World Cup match between Australia and Scotland at Bellerive Oval on March 14, 2015 in Hobart, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
SAT 03:00 BBC News (w1730nkrtmpstk8)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 03:06 Outlook (w3ct8hpw)
Outlook Mixtape: Great escapes
In the 1970s Günter Wetzel and his friend Peter Strelzyk became increasingly frustrated by the restrictions on their freedom imposed by the Communist government in East Germany. So they developed a daring plan to fly with their families to the West. Risking imprisonment if they were discovered, they built a series of hot air balloons in secret. But how exactly do you test a huge hot air balloon without being noticed? Gunter Wetzel spoke to Outlook’s Matthew Bannister in 2015.
Next, the Budapest-born David Merlini whose job it is to design the most outlandish constraints and scenarios from which to escape. David was inspired by Harry Houdini, perhaps the most well-known escapologist of all time. Houdini too was born in Hungary - as Erik Weisz - but made his name elsewhere in Europe and in the United States in the early 20th century by escaping from very dangerous and sometimes death-defying situations. Now David wants to push the art of the escape even further. Outlook's Saskia Collette met David in 2017.
The American author Christi Daugherty had a tough childhood. Her father was controlling and abusive and her home, set in a remote part of Montana, didn't give her much chance to socialise with friends. So, as she told Outlook's Emily Webb in 2020, Christi would lose herself in books. It helped her imagine a world of comfort and joy - so unlike her immediate reality - and inspired her to become a writer.
Presenter: Mobeen Azhar
Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com or WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707
(Photo: A transparent 60-minute cassette tape with a white label bearing the words: The Outlook Mixtape. Credit: Getty Images)
SAT 03:50 Witness History (w3ct98f0)
The tortoise and the hippo
When the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami struck the coast of Kenya, a baby hippo named Owen was swept out to sea and separated from his family.
After being rescued, he was taken to Haller Park in Mombasa, where he formed an extraordinary bond with Mzee, a 130-year-old giant tortoise. Their unlikely friendship captured the world's imagination and became an international sensation.
In 2023, conservationist Dr Paula Kahumbu told Gill Kearsley the remarkable story of Owen and Mzee.
Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by and curious about 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 how the Excel spreadsheet was developed, the creation of cartoon rabbit Miffy and how the sound barrier was broken.
We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: the moment Reagan and Gorbachev met in Geneva, Haitian singer Emerante de Pradines’ life and Omar Sharif’s legendary movie entrance in Lawrence of Arabia.
You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, like the invention of a stent which has saved lives around the world; the birth of the G7; and the meeting of Maldives’ ministers underwater. We cover everything from World War Two and Cold War stories to Black History Month and our journeys into space.
(Photo:Owen and Mzee in January 2005. Credit: Peter Greste/AFP via Getty Images)
SAT 04:00 BBC News (w1730nkrtmpsy9d)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 04:06 Unexpected Elements (w3ct8kct)
[Repeat of broadcast at
00:06 today]
SAT 05:00 BBC News (w1730nkrtmpt21j)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 05:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqmwp54h2s)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
SAT 05:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nll8c9hf9x)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SAT 05:32 Dear Daughter (w3ct9088)
What makes a man?
Did you ever look at your life and think you’d never end up here, raising children you once couldn’t imagine having?
Namulanta Kombo catches up with her old Kenyan school friend, Fiona. When they were teenagers, having children felt like something far off in the future. But life moves on, and now they both have sons who are the same age.
This episode is the first of a few Dear Son conversations within this series. It’s a gentle shift from Namulanta’s usual Dear Daughter letters. She and Fiona talk about what it’s been like to raise boys, the memories they carry from their own childhoods, and the futures they hope their sons will grow into. Their chat leads them to a simple but big question: What makes a man?
To find out more about Dear Daughter, to take part, or read our privacy notice, please go to www.bbcworldservice.com/deardaughter. Or you can contact the team via WhatsApp on +44 800 030 4404.
SAT 05:50 More or Less (w3ct9993)
14 million deaths or zero deaths? The impact of the USAID cuts
As part of their mandate to stop 'waste, fraud and abuse' in federal government spending, DOGE, the department of Government Efficiency, made large cuts to the amount of money the US spent on foreign aid.
The task force, headed by Elon Musk, effectively dismantled the US's largest foreign aid agency, USAID - cancelling many of its programmes and absorbing the remainder into the State Department.
This has caused controversy in some circles, with researchers estimating that the cuts could result in the loss of 14 million lives by 2030. Musk strenuously denies this, stating that cuts made by DOGE has resulted in 'zero' deaths.
But who is right, and what are the problems with these sorts of estimates? We speak to Dr Hannah Ritchie to find out more.
If you see numbers that you want us to look into contact moreorless@bbc.co.uk
Presenter/Producer: Lizzy McNeill
Series Producer: Tom Colls
Editor: Richard Vadon
Production Coordinator: Brenda Brown
Sound Mix: Neil Churchill
SAT 06:00 BBC News (w1730nkrtmpt5sn)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 06:06 Weekend (w1730c5pb6rtk74)
A review of the week with the latest news.
SAT 07:00 BBC News (w1730nkrtmpt9js)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 07:06 Weekend (w1730c5pb6rtnz8)
A review of the week with the latest news.
SAT 08:00 BBC News (w1730nkrtmptf8x)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 08:06 Weekend (w1730c5pb6rtsqd)
A review of the week with the latest news.
SAT 09:00 BBC News (w1730nkrtmptk11)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 09:06 BBC Conversations (w3ct8m40)
Experiences of drought
It’s been several weeks since there has been any significant rainfall in many parts of the world.
Across Europe, a prolonged heatwave and little rain have dried-up waterways, hit crop production and have contributed to the wildfires that continue to burn in many areas.
In our conversations we hear from Germany and Hungary – areas where low water levels are impacting transport and tourism - and we speak to Austin from Florida who used to run fishing tours.
We are also joined by farmers in India, France and the UK where the lack of rain has hit crop production, and that will affect the quality and cost of food.
“I was with a friend yesterday looking at the grass, and she said it looked like Spain – because it’s brown and it’s dry and there are cracks in the ground that I could get my arm down, not just my hand,” Heather, a farmer in the east of England, tells us. “It doesn’t look how you would imagine a farm in England to look on a picture postcard.”
Presenter: Luke Jones
BBC producers: Lindsay Brown, Ben Davis and Iqra Farooq
Boffin Media producer: Richard Hollingham and Sue Nelson
Editors: Arja Haikonen and Harriet Oliver
A Boffin Media production in partnership with the BBC World Service Outside Source team.
(Photo: Austin from Florida who used to run fishing tours)
SAT 09:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nll8c9hx9f)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SAT 09:32 Americast (w3ct8lzh)
Is AOC ready to run for president?
Is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez laying the groundwork for a run for president in 2028? And would the Democrats really pick her as a nominee?
This week AOC has been back making headlines with comments over freezing her eggs, distancing herself from the so-called “woke 1” era of Democratic politics and hinting at a future run for the White House.
Speculation of a future presidential run has raised a debate over whether the U.S is ready to vote for a left-wing candidate in the next presidential election and whether the party can shake off previous policies that have been unpopular with voters.
Despite the success of the Democratic Socialists of America in recent primary races, the group suffered a setback this week in Wisconsin when its primary candidate, Francesca Hong, lost to centrist candidate David Crowley in the race for state governor.
Could AOC be a unifying figure within the party, or will voters be reluctant to let her shrug off comments she’s made in the past?
HOSTS:
• Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter
• Sarah Smith, North America Editor
• Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent
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 Jack Maclaren with Alix Pickles and Grace Reeve. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app.
You can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers.
US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155
Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Americast also makes lots of other podcasts, including Newscast. 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
Radical: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0gg4k6r
The Global Story: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/w13xtvsd
SAT 10:00 BBC News (w1730nkrtmptns5)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 10:06 Not by the Playbook (w3ct996v)
Fight for the right
The future of one of the most progressive Polo clubs is under threat. For over twenty years Catherine Cairns has run Polo Africa on her farm in the Easter Free State of South Africa. Over the years she has not only enhanced the lives of hundreds children in the local community by introducing them to the sport of polo, she's help reshape the sport itself.
Often seen as a sport for royalty and rich people, Polo Africa has made the sport accessible and changed the lives of many of those who had the chance to play... but now the work Catherine has put in over the years is under threat as she looks for alternative revenue streams... So she has enlisted former British army officer and Polo player Mark Cann who amongst many things has produced a stunning visual documentary of the farm, the surroundings and the lives of those that have been improved.
Cricketer Ross Taylor who has achieved legendary status in New Zealand. His list of record and achievements is immense. A former captain of the national team, he played more than a record 450 times and is the only person in the world to have played more than 100 times in all three formats of cricket. The son of a New Zealand father and Samoan born mother, Ross grew up immersed in both cultures and wore the New Zealand cricket jersey with pride. Ross retired from the sport in 2022 but as it turned out his career in international cricket wasn't entirely over, when a chance to represent Samoa in 2025 he couldn't but help to answer the call! Now having finally retired, (we think!) Ross was looking for opportunities to use the platform that cricket gave him to influence the next generation. He explains why he wanted to join the "ALL IN" initiative a high-level panel pushing for the funding and political will to end violence against women and girls.
Imagine competing in the same sport as your brother but having to watch him compete at the Olympics, but you can't. Why? Well the sport of Nordic Combined remained the last discipline at the Games not open to women. Well that's what has happened to Annika Malacinski. Nordic Combined is a combination of ski jumping and long distance endurance skiing. Now 25, Annika has fought hard to establish herself as one of the world's leading female Nordic Combined competitors but from the very first Winter Games in 1924 right up to and including the last Winter Olympics in Milan/Cortina a few months ago, women are not allowed to compete.
70 years ago at the 1956 Olympics, the Czechoslovak discus thrower, Olga Fikotova, caused a scandal by falling in love with an American hammer thrower called Harold Connolly. Despite winning her country's only gold medal, Olga was treated as a traitor by the communist government and her achievements were ignored. A few months later, Harold Connolly visited Prague to marry Olga and take her back to America with him.
PHOTO: One of the players benefiting fromt he Polo Africa project (CREDIT: https://www.poloafrica.com/ © 2026 Poloafrica Development Trust)
SAT 11:00 BBC News (w1730nkrtmptsj9)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 11:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqmwp556kk)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
SAT 11:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nll8c9j4sp)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SAT 11:32 Health Check (w3ct8k2s)
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Three months since the Ebola outbreak was declared in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, more than 1,900 people have died from the virus, with more than 4200 confirmed cases, making this the second-worst Ebola outbreak ever. Claudia Hammond speaks to Ebola specialist Bronwyn Nichol, Senior Officer of Public Health and Emergencies for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), to find out what challenges there have been on the ground. Claudia is also joined by global health journalist Andrew Green to discuss efforts to develop a vaccine for the Bundibugyo Ebola virus.
Andrew also updates Claudia on news that US President Donald Trump has signed an order that calls for fewer childhood vaccines and which also recommends splitting the mumps, measles and rubella (MMR) shots. Medical experts have criticised the new order and said it could reduce vaccination rates and expose children to harmful diseases.
In Chile, reporter Jane Chambers shares with us the programmes of non-profit organisation Abrázame to improve the emotional wellbeing, attachment and development of children currently living in residential care or hospital.
We also hear Andrew’s takeaways from the 26th International AIDS Conference which took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which he attended. And Claudia and Andrew discuss the rise of meat allergies caused by ticks.
Presenter: Claudia Hammond
Producers: Jonathan Blackwell & Georgia Christie
(Photo: Health workers wearing protective suits assist a patient suspected of having Ebola -KENZO TRIBOUILLARD via Getty Images)
SAT 12:00 BBC News (w1730nkrtmptx8f)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 12:06 In Our Time (w3ct9767)
The Spanish-American War 1898
Misha Glenny and guests discuss a turning point in world affairs in 1898 that left Spain greatly reduced as an imperial power and the US the owner of the Philippines, Guam and Puerto Rico, with a significant influence over the newly independent Cuba where the war broke out. The US had been eyeing Cuba for decades, waiting for the right moment and the right kind of action, and in April 1898 intervened in the long-running fighting on the island for independence from Spain. With a much stronger navy it was a very uneven battle and the US soon triumphed over Spanish forces from Manila to Santiago de Cuba. This brief war confirmed the US as a power on the world stage and made a shocked Spain turn inwards to ask what had gone wrong. Meanwhile, people in the Philippines were about to attempt a new and bloody independence fight with the US.
With
Frank Cogliano
Professor of American History at the University of Edinburgh
Mary Vincent
Professor of Modern European History at the University of Sheffield
And
Stephen Wilkinson
Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations at the University of Buckingham
Producer: Simon Tillotson
In Our Time is a BBC Studios Production
Spanning history, religion, culture, science and philosophy, In Our Time from BBC Radio 4 is essential listening for the intellectually curious. In each episode, host Misha Glenny and expert guests explore the characters, events and discoveries that have shaped our world.
SAT 13:00 BBC News (w1730nkrtmpv10k)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 13:06 Newshour (w1730bn4tyrvv7m)
Interviews, news and analysis of the day’s global events.
SAT 14:00 BBC News (w1730nkrtmpv4rp)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 14:06 Sportsworld (w1730c8z345lqxb)
Live sport from around the world with news, interviews and analysis.
SAT 18:00 BBC News (w1730nkrtmpvmr6)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 18:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqmwp561sg)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
SAT 18:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nll8c9k00l)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SAT 18:32 Dear Daughter (w3ct9088)
[Repeat of broadcast at
05:32 today]
SAT 18:50 Sporting Witness (w3ct8rxj)
The first Ultimate Frisbee World Championship
In 1983, Maini Schildt competed in the first Ultimate Frisbee World Championship in Gothenburg, Sweden. Maini was a teenager when, as part of the Finnish women's national team, she reached the final against the USA.
Ultimate Frisbee was developed in the late 1960s in the United States before spreading to Canada and beyond. Maini Schildt tells Maddy Savage how it felt to compete at the tournament, the first of its kind in the history of the sport. Produced by Carys Wall. A Bespoken Media 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: The Finnish and American Ultimate Frisbee teams after the 1983 Ultimate Frisbee World Championship. Credit: Maini Schildt)
SAT 19:00 BBC News (w1730nkrtmpvrhb)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 19:06 The Inquiry (w3ct98q1)
Is daylight saving time working?
The House of Representatives has voted to make daylight saving time permanent in the United States. If the measure is approved by the Senate and becomes law, most Americans would no longer spring forward in March or fall back in November.
For more than a century, changing the clocks has been used to make better use of daylight, but the practice has long divided opinion. Supporters of the bill argue it boosts productivity and removes the disruption of changing the clocks twice a year. Critics warn that permanent daylight saving time could affect health and road safety as people face darker winter mornings.
Around the world, governments have taken different approaches. Some have scrapped seasonal clock changes altogether, while others continue to observe them. We examine why daylight saving time was introduced and whether the case for changing the clocks still stacks up today. Is daylight saving time working?
Contributors:
David Prerau, author of Seize the Daylight: The Curious and Contentious Story of Daylight Saving Time
Jennifer Evans, professor of biomedical sciences at Marquette University, US
Till Roenneberg, professor of chronobiology at the University of Munich, Germany
Joan Costa-Font, professor of health economics at the London School of Economics, UK
(Photo: The turquoise Art Deco clock tower with white clock hands of the Eastern Columbia Lofts in downtown Los Angeles. Credit: (Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Presenter: Tanya Beckett
Producer: Matt Toulson
Researcher: Evie Yabsley
Technical producer: Cameron Ward
Production co-ordiantor: Phoebe Lomas
Production management assistant: Liam Morrey
Editor: Tom Bigwood
SAT 19:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nll8c9k3rq)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SAT 19:32 Happy News (w3ct8nwt)
The Happy Pod: How Neil the Seal won hearts across the world
Neil the Seal has captured the hearts - and laughs - of people across the world with his mischievous antics. The elephant seal keeps returning to the Australian island of Tasmania to chew traffic cones, attack street signs, and block traffic with his 1,000 kg body. His hijinks have made him a local icon and an internet celebrity. We find out why Neil keeps venturing to Tasmania's suburban streets to cause a ruckus.
Also: How a group of Afghan women defied the odds to return to international football. Despite opposition from the Taliban, the players - now scattered across the globe - reunited to form Afghanistan's new national team.
The woman who accidentally threw away a million-dollar lottery ticket - and the incredible way she found it again.
Scientists say they've created the first-ever truly biodegradable party balloons. They say existing options kill tens of thousands of marine animals a year.
Plus: how an ordinary man in Italy made one of the most important archaeological discoveries in decades; and a world surfing championship - for dogs.
(Photo: Neil the Seal in Tasmania, Australia. Credit: @neiltheseal22)
Presenter: Helena Burke. Music composed by Iona Hampson
SAT 20:00 BBC News (w1730nkrtmpvw7g)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 20:06 The Arts Hour (w3ct8h8b)
Wild Wild Women
Nikki Bedi meets Preeti and Kranti - two members of India’s first all-female hip hop collective, Wild Wild Women - to talk about their extraordinary journeys thus far
Plus critic Alexandra Steinacker-Clark joins to give her take on the cultural talking points of the week:
We hear from Ru Paul from smash TV series Drag Race about his new comedy caper movie STOP! THAT! TRAIN!
Luxembourgish German actor Vicky Krieps on the unique way that she shakes off her characters when she finishes a role
The American composer Missy Mazzoli on what inspired her highly-acclaimed opioid crisis opera, The Galloping Cure
Patrick Brammall and Harriet Dyer, real life couple and co-creators of the hit Australian series Colin from Accounts on how they work together
Cuban ballet star Carlos Acosta on the moment he knew that dance was his destiny
And West African “digital voodoo” music from the feminist band Nana Benz du Togo
Producer: Ciaran Bermingham
SAT 21:00 BBC News (w1730nkrtmpvzzl)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 21:06 Newshour (w1730bn4tyrwt6n)
Interviews, news and analysis of the day’s global events.
SAT 22:00 BBC News (w1730nkrtmpw3qq)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 22:06 Not by the Playbook (w3ct996v)
[Repeat of broadcast at
10:06 today]
SAT 23:00 BBC News (w1730nkrtmpw7gv)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 23:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqmwp56nj3)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
SAT 23:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nll8c9klr7)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SAT 23:32 This Is Africa (w3ct8tdf)
Phillbill
Phillbill from Cameroon is a talented producer and artist who is succeeding despite the odds. He comes from Buea, in Cameroon’s south-west region; it's part of the anglophone territory which has experienced awful violence since 2017, following a separatist uprising.
Phillbill has had to relocate to Douala and, as he tells DJ Edu, navigate the complex social landscape of his country. His songs are sung in a mixture of French and pidgin English, and he also draws on the numerous African languages of Cameroon as well as the musical traditions of various ethnic groups including the Doula, Beti and Bamileke peoples.
Phillbill has produced songs for a long list of other artists, including Kocee, Daphne and Blanche Bailly from Cameroon, and Roseline Layo from Ivory Coast. He produced Paris Fever, a collaboration between Senegal’s Wally Seck and Chris Brown from the US, and he’s had hits with his former band Ridimz.
But now he’s focusing on his own music and his passion for promoting the rich culture of Cameroon, making music which celebrates the positive and brings divided people together as well as bringing them solace. He calls his sound Afro-moderne, and he’s also coined a new term – Bikossa - because he blends Makossa, Bikutsi and other Cameroonian popular musical forms with urban genres like afrobeats, hip hop and afro house.
He’s already a big star at home, but he’s determined to bring his music to a global audience.
DJ Edu's 10in10 Tracklisting:
Lolendo - Yuma Yeyo & Héritier Wata (Democratic Republic of Congo)
Uhakika (Remix) - Ibraah ft Zuchu (Tanzania)
Feel Am - Magixx (Nigeria)
Lisboa - Nelson Freitas ft Agatchu (Cabo Verde)
Iholele - Drama T (Burundi)
What Do I Know - Joshua Baraka (Uganda)
You Know (Ah Ah Aah) - One Blood Namibia (Namibia)
No Games - Drizilik & Isat (Sierra Leone)
SORRY MOYO WANGU - ExQ (Zimbabwe)
Popopo - Pheno Ambro (Togo)
Presented by DJ Edu
Produced by Catherine Fellows
SUNDAY 16 AUGUST 2026
SUN 00:00 BBC News (w1730nkrtmpwc6z)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 00:06 BBC Conversations (w3ct8m40)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:06 on Saturday]
SUN 00:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nll8c9kqhc)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SUN 00:32 The Documentary (w3ct9btf)
Tree of diplomacy
Finn Aberdein has been focused on China, both as a journalist and as a producer, for over two decades. Even with his experience, this is a surprising story - one that covers an unlikely set of collaborators who have been keeping the door open for Sino-US political dialogue for over a hundred years…
By diving between the pages of field notes of early expeditions, adventurous feats to find mythical tree species in ancient Chinese woodlands, and the modern equivalent of trips between like-minded plant scientists, this programme examines how botany has been able to function as one of the longest-lasting soft powers between the two world powers.
Finn hears from policy analysts, supply chain diplomats and leading Chinese and US botanists working tirelessly to keep their boots on the ground trips operating. From the secretive walled-gardens of China’s communist elite, to the gingko picnic spaces of Bostonian college lawns, and ancient forest canopies of the Sichuan basin, a portrait emerges - one of a borderless community of plant specialists practising a special kind of soft power…
By tracing this relationship from its early roots, it becomes possible to examine today’s geopolitical stage with a sense of perspective often missing from the headlines. How has the quiet work of botanists helped weather political storms in the past? What surprising reasons have kept this collaboration both fruitful and essential? And what can a tree, captured in milky celluloid on the banks of a Chinese forest over a hundred years ago, tell us about the relationship between the United States and China today?
Presenter: Finn Aberdein
Producer: Jacob Dabb
Sound design: Rowan Bishop
A 2 Degrees West production for BBC World Service
SUN 01:00 BBC News (w1730nkrtmpwgz3)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 01:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqmwp56x0c)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
SUN 01:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nll8c9kv7h)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SUN 01:32 Dear Daughter (w3ct9088)
[Repeat of broadcast at
05:32 on Saturday]
SUN 01:50 Sporting Witness (w3ct8rxj)
[Repeat of broadcast at
18:50 on Saturday]
SUN 02:00 BBC News (w1730nkrtmpwlq7)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 02:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqmwp570rh)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
SUN 02:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nll8c9kyzm)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SUN 02:32 Health Check (w3ct8k2s)
[Repeat of broadcast at
11:32 on Saturday]
SUN 03:00 BBC News (w1730nkrtmpwqgc)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 03:06 In Our Time (w3ct9767)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:06 on Saturday]
SUN 04:00 BBC News (w1730nkrtmpwv6h)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 04:06 From Our Own Correspondent (w3ct99cc)
Afghanistan: five years after the Taliban takeover
Pascale Harter introduces stories from Afghanistan, Gaza and Australia.
It's been five years since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan. Lyse Doucet and Mahjooba Nowrouzi report on the severe restrictions the Taliban government has imposed on the country's women and girls. While some teenage girls are still being taught in secret schools hidden from the authorities, the life plans of millions more are on hold. Meanwhile, although judges and lawyers are now barred from working in the legal system, many are still finding ways to help women seeking their advice and expertise.
Life in Gaza is tough and the destruction of much of its civilian infrastructure doesn't make things any easier. Yolande Knell speaks to digital entrepreneurs there, who despite everything are finding ways to work online. They're using their laptops to access jobs in tech and keep a window open to the outside world.
Australia is a country full of animals found nowhere else, but many are under serious threat of dying out. However, there is a glimmer of hope. Numbers of at least one marsupial have been brought back from the brink of extinction. Tiffanie Turnbull goes out looking for numbats with a dedicated team of volunteers.
Producer: Polly Hope
Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith
Production co-ordinator: Katie Morrison
(Image: Two Afghan girls at a lesson by taught their father at their home in Kabul. Credit: AFP via Getty Images)
SUN 04:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nll8c9l6gw)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SUN 04:32 BBC Inside Science (w3ct9780)
Should we be scared of AI viruses?
The extreme possibilities of synthetic biology hit the headlines last week, when researchers at Stanford University in the US announced they had created new kinds of viruses designed by Artificial Intelligence. Roland Pease is joined by microbiologist Dr Simon Clarke from Reading University and Joy Zhang, Professor of Sociology at the University of Kent, to discuss whether we should be concerned about the prospect of AI viruses.
Meanwhile, 50 years ago NASA's remarkable Viking space probes touched down on Mars, breaking new frontiers in space science. Claire Cousins, part of the European Space Agency's team working on the ExoMars Rover, joins us to take a look at how today’s ambitious projects built on their success.
And science and technology journalist Gareth Mitchell joins us to discuss the week’s science news.
Presenter: Roland Pease
Producer: Tabitha Taylor-Buck, Dan Welsh, Keiran Manetta-Jones
Editor: Martin Smith
Production Co-ordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth
SUN 05:00 BBC News (w1730nkrtmpwyym)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 05:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqmwp57czw)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
SUN 05:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nll8c9lb70)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SUN 05:32 Asia Specific (w3ct9byv)
The politics around China’s own ‘manosphere’
China has a growing “manosphere”. But it isn't a copy of the one in the West. So what's fuelling the anger among many young Chinese men?
There are no Andrew Tate-style influencers leading a movement. Instead, frustration is spread across online communities where some young men vent about dating and the cost of building a family.
The soaring cost of marriage and the long shadow of the one-child policy has turned up economic and demographic pressures on the country, reshaping relationships in China today.
On this episode, host Mariko Oi is joined by a senior journalist working on the Asia Specific podcast, Derek Cai. Also on the discussion are Ling Tang, a cultural studies professor at the University of Melbourne, and Yihuan Zhang, a graduate researcher at the University of Macau.
Together, they examine why and how Beijing has targeted both feminist and misogynistic voices online, and what the government's efforts to control the conversation reveal about power, gender and social stability in China.
Asia Pacific, unpacked by those who know it best. Bringing you essential insights and conversations on the stories shaping the region - an economic powerhouse, geo-political flashpoint and the birthplace of global cultural trends.
Hear Asian perspectives on international issues and in-depth analysis on news from a region that’s home to nearly 2.5 billion people.Whether it is the latest on trade between the US and China, the rise and fall of political dynasties in Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines, or South Korea’s K-pop inspired soft power strategy, we find out what key players are thinking and dive into the stories that matter.
Hosted in Singapore by Mariko Oi, alongside BBC experts in Beijing, Bangkok, and beyond – listen to new episodes twice a week. Episodes of Asia Specific are also available on YouTube, here: https://bit.ly/4iJyeVt
Get in touch: asiaspecific@bbc.co.uk
SUN 05:50 Sporting Witness (w3ct8rxj)
[Repeat of broadcast at
18:50 on Saturday]
SUN 06:00 BBC News (w1730nkrtmpx2pr)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 06:06 Weekend (w1730c5pb6rxg47)
A review of the week with the latest news.
SUN 07:00 BBC News (w1730nkrtmpx6fw)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 07:06 Weekend (w1730c5pb6rxkwc)
A review of the week with the latest news.
SUN 08:00 BBC News (w1730nkrtmpxb60)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 08:06 Weekend (w1730c5pb6rxpmh)
A review of the week with the latest news.
SUN 09:00 BBC News (w1730nkrtmpxfy4)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 09:06 From Our Own Correspondent (w3ct99cc)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:06 today]
SUN 09:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nll8c9lt6j)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SUN 09:32 The Food Chain (w3ct8swd)
Leaving home
Moving out of the family home can be a big first step at whatever age you do it. Paying bills, budgeting, shopping, and importantly cooking for yourself.
In this programme Rumella Dasgupta asks what dishes you should be able to cook when you leave home for the first time.
Rumella meets chef and food writer Claire Thomson and her daughter Grace Williamson in their kitchen in Bristol, England. Claire's latest cookbook, 'Dear Grace: Recipes from Your Mother for the Next Chapter in Life', was written when Grace left home for university a year ago.
At Salford Youth Zone, a youth centre in the North of England, Rumella talks to teenagers about how confident they feel in the kitchen.
Shahpar Salim in Bangladesh talks about the challenges of leaving home for a new country when she came to the UK for her studies.
Food writer and editor Yeonjoo Jung explains why young people often live at home throughout their twenties in South Korea.
And mothers in the United States tell us how mealtimes changed once faced with the so-called 'empty nest'.
If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: thefoodchain@bbc.co.uk
Produced by Beatrice Pickup.
(Image: a young woman standing in a green open doorway holding a suitcase and looking hopeful. Credit: Getty Images)
SUN 10:00 BBC News (w1730nkrtmpxkp8)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 10:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct8t14)
The world's largest wildlife crossing
When it opens in December, the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing will be the largest in the world. Stretched over a 10-lane freeway, it is intended to help save California's mountain lion population, which has become fragmented by the highway. It could also serve as a model for other projects, as crossings of this kind have often been viewed as too large to be effective. But will the crossing work? We examine the construction and the existing scientific data to find out.
Image: Still picture from May 2026 drone footage of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing under construction (Credit: Caltrans)
SUN 10:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nll8c9lxyn)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SUN 10:32 The Fifth Floor (w3ct8sqw)
Ukraine and Russia’s recruitment war
More than four years after Russia launched its full scale invasion of Ukraine in February, 2022, the war continues to shape almost every aspect of life in both countries, including the challenge of finding enough people to serve on the front line. In Ukraine, videos showing violent confrontations between recruitment officers and members of the public have sparked angry debate about how the country's draught system is working. In Russia meanwhile, the authorities have tightened conscription rules and introduced new digital tools aimed at successfully recruiting more young Russians. With BBC Monitoring's Vitaly Shevchenko and BBC Russian's Yaroslava Kiryukhina.
A new kind of spirit, very similar to tequila, is gaining popularity across India, thanks to the unassuming-looking agave plant. Unlike in Mexico, where agave is grown on a commercial scale for tequila production, in India, it grows wild and until recently, its only use was for farmers to make fences from its thorny trunk. But it is slowly transforming the lives of farmers across the country, as Priti Gupta, reporting for BBC Gujarati, has been finding out.
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, Caroline Ferguson and Hannah Dean.
(Photo: Faranak Amidi. Credit: Tricia Yourkevich.)
SUN 11:00 BBC News (w1730nkrtmpxpfd)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 11:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqmwp583gn)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
SUN 11:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nll8c9m1ps)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SUN 11:32 Dear Daughter (w3ct9088)
[Repeat of broadcast at
05:32 on Saturday]
SUN 11:50 More or Less (w3ct9993)
[Repeat of broadcast at
05:50 on Saturday]
SUN 12:00 BBC News (w1730nkrtmpxt5j)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 12:06 BBC Conversations (w3ct8m40)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:06 on Saturday]
SUN 12:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nll8c9m5fx)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SUN 12:32 Assignment (w3ct8h1j)
Victoria Falls: Wilderness on the edge
The Victoria falls on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe is one of the natural wonders of the world. It's also one of Africa's great tourist attractions. As both countries seek to grow the tourism economy, there’s been a push to develop land around the Falls. But as Isa Jacobson reports from Zambia, it's led to fears for the preservation of the World Heritage Site, and warnings that the loss of land will exacerbate a deadly conflict between local people and wildlife.
Presenter: Isa Jacobson
Producer: Alex Last
Sound Mix: Neil Churchill
Production Coordinator: Gemma Ashman
Series Editor: Penny Murphy
(Image: Elephant in national park in Zambia. Credit: Alex Last/BBC)
SUN 13:00 BBC News (w1730nkrtmpxxxn)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 13:06 Newshour (w1730bn4tyryr4q)
Interviews, news and analysis of the day’s global events.
SUN 14:00 BBC News (w1730nkrtmpy1ns)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 14:06 Sportsworld (w1730c8z345pmtf)
Live sport from around the world with news, interviews and analysis.
SUN 18:00 BBC News (w1730nkrtmpyjn9)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 18:06 The Climate Question (w3ct99hw)
The Climate Question
Stories on why we find it so hard to save our own planet, and how we might change that.
SUN 18:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nll8c9mwxp)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SUN 18:32 Heart and Soul (w3ct983z)
The creator of France's 'Untouchables' houses
Laurent de Cherisey was fresh out of business school and looking forward to earning a lot of money when his sister had a car accident that left her severely disabled. This led him to re-think everything. Including finding faith. He founded what has become a string of houses where accident victims and non-accident victims live side by side.
They’re called the Simon of Cyrene houses, named after the man Jesus chose to help him carry his cross.
The project was financed in part by the box office receipts for the hit comedy Untouchable at the request of the aristocratic tetraplegic accident victim whose story inspired the film. We talk to Laurent about his journey and to some Simon of Cyrene house-dwellers about what’s good about these places - why it works bringing together people of very different social classes, ethnic and religious backgrounds and, above all, very different physical and mental capacities.
Image: Opening of Simon of Cyrène shared houses in Toulouse, 2025 (Credit: Association Simon de Cyrène)
Producer/Presenter: John Laurenson
Series producer: Rajeev Gupta
Editor: Chloe Walker
Production coordinator: Mica Nepomuceno
SUN 19:00 BBC News (w1730nkrtmpyndf)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 19:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqmwp592fp)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
SUN 19:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nll8c9n0nt)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SUN 19:32 In the Studio (w3ct8l5n)
Africa's first film city
In Lagos, a vast patch of scrubland is being imagined as the future home of Kebulania: an ambitious African film city on the edge of Nigeria’s biggest metropolis, and one of the centres of Nollywood, the country’s multi-billion dollar film industry.
Nigerian journalist Samuel Okocha follows the project in its earliest, most uncertain days – when the vision is big, but the buildings are yet to rise. At the proposed site, he joins community members, contractors and staff from Del-York Creative Arts, a Nigerian conglomerate film and media training company, as traditional leaders offer prayers and blessings. Local residents weigh up hopes for jobs, training, renewed movie making activity and authentic African storytelling.
Samuel tours the landscape and visits the local royal palace, the traditional seat of authority for the host community. He also sits in on the latest planning meeting, as the team discuss the delicate issue of communication and keep the community and stakeholders on side in this huge and ambitious project.
The CEO of Del-York, Linus Idahosa, outlines his personal motivations, mission and long-term plans, including how the project is already investing in training a new generation of creative Nigerians. Finally, Samuel sees the film makers already being put through their paces ahead of the building of Africa’s first ever film city.
Presenter: Samuel Okocha
Producer: Ashley Byrne
A Made in Manchester Production for the BBC World Service
Image: Concept illustration of Studio City Kebulania (Credit: Storyland Studios)
SUN 20:00 BBC News (w1730nkrtmpys4k)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 20:06 Unexpected Elements (w3ct8kct)
[Repeat of broadcast at
00:06 on Saturday]
SUN 21:00 BBC News (w1730nkrtmpywwp)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 21:06 Newshour (w1730bn4tyrzq3r)
Interviews, news and analysis of the day’s global events.
SUN 22:00 BBC News (w1730nkrtmpz0mt)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 22:06 The Climate Question (w3ct99hw)
[Repeat of broadcast at
18:06 today]
SUN 22:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nll8c9ncx6)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SUN 22:32 Assignment (w3ct8h1j)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:32 today]
SUN 23:00 BBC News (w1730nkrtmpz4cy)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 23:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqmwp59kf6)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
SUN 23:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nll8c9nhnb)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SUN 23:32 The Fifth Floor (w3ct8sqw)
[Repeat of broadcast at
10:32 today]
MONDAY 17 AUGUST 2026
MON 00:00 BBC News (w1730nkrtmpz842)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 00:06 From Our Own Correspondent (w3ct99cc)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:06 on Sunday]
MON 00:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nll8c9nmdg)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 00:32 BBC Inside Science (w3ct9780)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:32 on Sunday]
MON 01:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0374c)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 01:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqn7ygfn5m)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
MON 01:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nllmmlsldr)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 01:32 Discovery (w3ct8jsr)
Women Not Included: Drugs and clinical trials
After working exclusively with male mice while looking for a treatment for type 1 diabetes, Dr Ella Hubber begins to uncover a much bigger issue: modern medicine is not built equally for everyone. Along with journalist Chhavi Sachdev, she explores how decades of clinical research have overlooked women with serious consequences.
Through expert interviews, they examine how women were historically excluded from clinical trials, why biological differences matter in how drugs work, and how this has led to higher rates of side effects. The story reveals how gaps in research continue to shape women’s healthcare today.
As awareness grows, they also ask what change can look like. More representative trials, pharmaceutical companies held accountable, and medicine finally built for everyone.
Presenter/Producer: Ella Hubber
Researcher: Elliott Prince
Editor: Ilan Goodman
MON 02:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x03bwh)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 02:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqn7ygfrxr)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
MON 02:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nllmmlsq4w)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 02:32 CrowdScience (w3ct8k79)
Why can't I concentrate?
Why is it hard to concentrate, and why does it feel like such hard work? The CrowdScience inbox is full of questions like that, so for this show we’re concentrating on concentration and focusing on how we focus.
We’ll be answering questions about the extra energy the brain uses when we’re concentrating, whether mental effort can tire you out more than physical effort, why we zone out when faced with a difficult task and how the ability to multitask is governed by our overall cognitive load.
To find the answers, presenter Alex Lathbridge is paying attention to a team of experts. Psychology professor Sophie Leroy from the University of Washington in the USA studies the impact of being interrupted on our ability to perform, cognitive neuroscientist Professor Salvador Soto-Faraco from the Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona, Spain researches how sight, sound and touch are blended together by the brain, and psychology professor Polly Dalton runs the Attention Lab at Royal Holloway University in London, UK.
We’ll be trying to distract them with gossip about what we had for lunch, finding out why the brain is like a bike and, most importantly, discovering how you can concentrate better on shows exactly like this one.
Presenter: Alex Lathbridge
Producer: Tom Bonnett
Editor: Ben Motley
(Photo: Woman with glasses thinking and pointing upward- stock photo - Credit: ismagilov via Getty Images)
MON 03:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x03gmm)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 03:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct8t14)
[Repeat of broadcast at
10:06 on Sunday]
MON 03:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nllmmlstx0)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 03:32 The Fifth Floor (w3ct8sqw)
[Repeat of broadcast at
10:32 on Sunday]
MON 04:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x03lcr)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 04:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqn7ygg0f0)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
MON 04:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nllmmlsyn4)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 04:32 The Conversation (w3ct99nv)
Women saving seeds for the future
Datshiane Navanayagam talks to two women from Uganda and the UK working at seed banks to secure the future of the world's plant life.
Gloria Otieno is a scientist and genetic policy specialist with Alliance Biodiversity CIAT working to create and support seed banks in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. She grew up on a farm in Uganda and witnessed her community lose access to the finger millet they used for ceremonial occasions and only got it back through a gene bank. She says it brought home to her the importance of preserving a diversity of crops.
Charlotte Lusty is head of seed collections at the Millennium Seed Bank at Kew in the UK, the world’s biggest wild seed bank. The underground vaults store millions of seeds from across the globe. With an estimated 45 per cent of flowering plants globally threatened with extinction, it’s an important insurance policy for the future.
(Image: (L) Charlotte Lusty, credit Sebastian Kettley. (R) Gloria Otieno, credit Sustlives.))
MON 05:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x03q3w)
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MON 05:06 Newsday (w1730c1hkppps9m)
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MON 06:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x03tw0)
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MON 06:06 Newsday (w1730c1hkpppx1r)
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MON 07:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x03ym4)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 07:06 Newsday (w1730c1hkppq0sw)
Live news, business and sport from around the world.
MON 08:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x042c8)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 08:06 The Interview (w3ct8klm)
Celeste Saulo, WMO: Extreme weather is the new normal
“[This weather] is a new norm, and we need to make sure that we are prepared to deal with that…these extreme wildfires put more responsibility onto improving our forecasting tools to support the brigades, to support communities.”
Victoria Gill speaks to Professor Celeste Saulo, head of the World Meteorological Organisation, about the extreme weather events making headlines in recent months. She says the wildfires, heatwaves, droughts and flooding are the new normal and the ability to forecast these events are more important than ever.
The WMO helps countries build resilience to weather, climate and water related hazards by monitoring conditions, improving forecasts and the global sharing of data and information.
Saulo took office in 2024, becoming the first woman and South American to lead the UN agency. She explains how climate change is one of the biggest threats facing the world today.
The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC, including episodes with Sumant Sinha the founder of India’s renewable energy company ReNew, executive director of Unicef Catherine Russell, and film director Rohan Kanawada. You can listen on the BBC World Service on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 0800 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out three times a week on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts.
Presenter: Victoria Gill
Producer: Cordelia Hemming
Editor: Farhana Haider
Get in touch with us on email TheInterview@bbc.co.uk and use the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.
(Image: Celeste Saulo. Credit: Photo by World Meteorological Organization)
MON 08:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nllmmltfmn)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct8gg6)
Are you a job hugger? Why workers are staying put
As economic uncertainty continues, many workers are becoming more cautious about taking the next step in their careers. Vishala Sri-Pathma examines who's staying put and why.
Presenter/producer: Vishala Sri-Pathma
You can email the team: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk
MON 08:50 Witness History (w3ct8r3q)
Asha Bhosle: The world's most recorded artist
In 2011 Asha Bhosle, India’s queen of melody, was officially named the most recorded artist in music history. The Guinness World Record recognised the astonishing scale of her career, having performed up to 11,000 songs in more than 20 Indian languages since 1947.
The title previously belonged to her sister Lata Mangeshkar, and together the siblings dominated India’s playback singing world for decades, lending their voices to film soundtracks that actors later lip‑synced onscreen.
Reena Stanton-Sharma uses BBC archive interviews to tell the story.
Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by and curious about 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 how the Excel spreadsheet was developed, the creation of cartoon rabbit Miffy and how the sound barrier was broken.
We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: the moment Reagan and Gorbachev met in Geneva, Haitian singer Emerante de Pradines’ life and Omar Sharif’s legendary movie entrance in Lawrence of Arabia.
You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, like the invention of a stent which has saved lives around the world; the birth of the G7; and the meeting of Maldives’ ministers underwater. We cover everything from World War Two and Cold War stories to Black History Month and our journeys into space.
(Photo: Asha Bhosle performs in New York in 2008. Credit: Jack Vartoogian/Getty Images)
MON 09:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0463d)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 09:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqn7yggm4n)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
MON 09:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nllmmltkcs)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 09:32 CrowdScience (w3ct8k79)
[Repeat of broadcast at
02:32 today]
MON 10:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x049vj)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 10:06 The History Hour (w3ct99lk)
The Mau Mau uprising and man-eating lions
Max Pearson presents a collection of the week's Witness History episodes focussing on Kenya.
We hear about Muthoni Kirima, one of the last Mau Mau fighters to come out of hiding and lay down her arms.
Caroline Elkins, Professor of History at Harvard University, discusses the brutality of the conflict between Kenya’s Land and Freedom Army, the British and Kenyan loyalists.
Next, when Princess Elizabeth became queen while staying at the Treetops Hotel, a lodge in the Aberdare National Park.
In 1997, scientists travelled to Kenya, in search of a cave believed to have been the den of the man-eating lions that terrorised railway workers in 1898.
Plus, we hear how Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki and his rival Raila Odinga signed an unprecedented power-sharing deal to end a wave of violence that left more than 1,200 people dead.
And the heartwarming story of the friendship between a baby hippo and a 130-year-old giant tortoise.
Finally for our Sporting Witness story, we head to the first Ultimate Frisbee World Championship in Gothenburg, Sweden in 1983.
Contributors:
Caroline Elkins - Professor of History at Harvard University, and author of Britain's Gulag: The Brutal End of Empire in Kenya.
Muthoni Kirima - Field Marshall in the Kenya Land and Freedom Army.
Frank Gillard - BBC correspondent.
Thomas Gnoske - Scientist.
Alan Patterson - British Lieutenant Colonel John Henry Patterson's grandson.
Maina Kiai - Chair of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights in 2008.
Maini Schildt - Swedish Ultimate Frisbee player.
(Photo: Mau Mau suspects are rounded up by police outside the camp in Manyani, Kenya, 1955. Credit: Getty Images/Authenticated News)
MON 11:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x04fln)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 11:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqn7yggvmx)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
MON 11:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nllmmltsw1)
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MON 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct8mcf)
The Global Story
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MON 12:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x04kbs)
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MON 12:06 Outlook (w3ct8hxp)
What the Odyssey revealed about my father
Classics professor Daniel Mendelsohn had spent years teaching Homer’s Odyssey. Then in 2011, his father unexpectedly enrolled in his university course at Bard College. Jay – an opinionated, 81-year-old retired mathematician – promised to sit quietly at the back of the class. Instead, he questioned Odysseus’ reputation as a hero and disputed Daniel’s interpretations of the ancient Greek epic. At first, Jay’s outspoken challenges threatened to derail the seminar. But as they debated, Daniel began to see the Odyssey differently; the father-son dynamics at the heart of the story shed light on his own complicated relationship with his dad. After the semester ended, they travelled through the Mediterranean together, retracing Odysseus’ legendary voyage from Troy to Ithaca. Along the way, Daniel came to understand a side of his father he’d never fully known before.
Daniel’s memoir is called An Odyssey: A Father, a Son and an Epic.
Presenter: Jo Fidgen
Producer: Maryam Maruf
Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com or WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707
(Photo: Daniel Mendelsohn and his father, Jay Mendelsohn, stand arm in arm in front of the ancient Greek temple at Segesta, Sicily. Jay stands on the left, Daniel on the right. Both wear sun hats and light summer clothing, with the temple's weathered stone columns rising behind them under a clear blue sky. Credit: Courtesy of Daniel Mendelsohn)
MON 12:50 Witness History (w3ct8r3q)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 today]
MON 13:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x04p2x)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 13:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqn7ygh345)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
MON 13:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nllmmlv1c9)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 13:32 The Conversation (w3ct99nv)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:32 today]
MON 14:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x04sv1)
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MON 14:06 Newshour (w1730bn56725m23)
Interviews, news and analysis of the day’s global events.
MON 15:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x04xl5)
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MON 15:06 The Interview (w3ct8klm)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:06 today]
MON 15:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nllmmlv8vk)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 15:32 Business Daily (w3ct8gg6)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:32 today]
MON 15:50 World Business Express (w3ct8d3p)
World Business Express - Finance, economy and business news from BBC journalists around the world. The stories that matter: World Business Express brings you the essentials on the fast-changing global economy. What forces are driving the markets and industry? Hear unique insight from top CEOs, investors, economic thinkers and small business bosses.
From global trade, to oil and food prices and the rise of artificial intelligence, to the corporate crashes and standout entrepreneur start-ups, the BBC World Service brings you trusted reporting. We’ll explain how the top stories impact your own finances.
MON 16:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x051b9)
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MON 16:06 Outside Source (w1730c6j46nvq62)
2026/08/17 15:06 GMT
A vibrant account of the day’s events with explanation and reaction from those involved.
MON 17:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0552f)
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MON 17:06 Outside Source (w1730c6j46nvty6)
2026/08/17 16:06 GMT
A vibrant account of the day’s events with explanation and reaction from those involved.
MON 18:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x058tk)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 18:06 Outlook (w3ct8hxp)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:06 today]
MON 18:50 Witness History (w3ct8r3q)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 today]
MON 19:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x05dkp)
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MON 19:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqn7yghtly)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
MON 19:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nllmmlvrv2)
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MON 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct8rk8)
2026/08/17 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 (w1730nks5x05j9t)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 20:06 From Our Own Correspondent (w3ct99cc)
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04:06 on Sunday]
MON 20:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nllmmlvwl6)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 20:32 Discovery (w3ct8jss)
Women Not Included: Safety Equipment
Safety equipment is often designed around an “average” male body and Dr Ella Hubber wants to understand the consequences this has for women. Alongside journalist Candice Bailey and expert voices, we hear how healthcare workers are forced to adapt to PPE never made for them and how car safety systems fail to reflect the way women’s bodies respond in collisions.
As awareness grows, they also ask what change can look like and if, through better data, and more women’s input, safety equipment can protect us all equally.
Presenter/Producer: Ella Hubber
Researcher: Elliott Prince
Editor: Ilan Goodman
MON 21:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x05n1y)
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MON 21:06 Newshour (w1730bn56726g90)
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MON 22:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x05rt2)
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MON 22:06 The Interview (w3ct8klm)
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MON 22:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nllmmlw42g)
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MON 22:32 The Conversation (w3ct99nv)
[Repeat of broadcast at
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MON 23:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x05wk6)
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MON 23:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqn7ygj9lg)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
MON 23:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nllmmlw7tl)
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MON 23:32 World Business Report (w3ct8fnc)
First broadcast 17/08/2026 21:32 GMT
The latest business and finance news from around the world, on the BBC.
TUESDAY 18 AUGUST 2026
TUE 00:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0609b)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 00:06 The History Hour (w3ct99lk)
[Repeat of broadcast at
10:06 on Monday]
TUE 01:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0641g)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 01:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqn7ygjk2q)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
TUE 01:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nllmmlwh9v)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
TUE 01:32 The Global Story (w3ct8mcf)
[Repeat of broadcast at
11:32 on Monday]
TUE 02:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x067sl)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 02:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqn7ygjntv)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
TUE 02:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nllmmlwm1z)
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TUE 02:32 Assignment (w3ct8h1k)
Raiders of the lost art
What do the stolen love letters of John Keats have to do with homicide on the streets of New York? Prosecuting both crimes falls under the remit of assistant district attorney Matthew Bogdanos. A retired Marine colonel with both law and classics degrees, he has been the head of the Manhattan District Attorney's Antiquities Trafficking Unit since its creation in 2017. In his time on the job, the office has has seized more than six thousand pieces of stolen art and antiquities from various museums, art galleries and private homes in order to return them to their countries of origin.
In this Assignment, Sandra Kanthal travels to New York to learn more about this special unit of law enforcement and the reasons why one man thinks tracking down stolen treasures of the art world and reuniting them with their rightful owners is vitally important to our past and for our future.
Presenter and producer: Sandra Kanthal
Editor: Penny Murphy
Studio mix: James Beard
Production coordinator: Gemma Ashman
TUE 03:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x06cjq)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 03:06 Outlook (w3ct8hxp)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:06 on Monday]
TUE 03:50 Witness History (w3ct8r3q)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 on Monday]
TUE 04:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x06h8v)
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TUE 04:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqn7ygjxb3)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
TUE 04:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nllmmlwvk7)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
TUE 04:32 In the Studio (w3ct8l5p)
Behind the scenes of Bookish
Antonia Quirke goes behind the scenes of Bookish, the murder mystery series written by Matthew Sweet and Mark Gatiss, who plays an amateur detective and bookshop owner called Book. Antonia hears from Matthew as he works on the script, crafting a cliff-hanger and deciding just how many red herrings there should be in one episode. He reveals the secrets of his working relationship with Mark, and we join them as they travel to their place of work, a film studio in Belgium, where they discuss which character they are going to murder that day - and how the crime will be committed. Clue: it involves a box of chocolates.
When it comes to murder mysteries, Mark has form. He is the co-creator of the hit TV series Sherlock, where he plays Holmes’ brother Mycroft. He has also starred in Game of Thrones, Dr Who and cult comedy series The League of Gentlemen, which he also co-wrote. Matthew Sweet is a broadcaster and expert in Victorian literature, and author of Shepperton Babylon, a best-selling book about the darker sides of British cinema. The pair have been friends for more than a decade, and Bookish is the first TV series they have written together.
TUE 05:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x06m0z)
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TUE 05:06 Newsday (w1730c1hkppsp6q)
Live news, business and sport from around the world.
TUE 06:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x06qs3)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 06:06 Newsday (w1730c1hkppssyv)
Live news, business and sport from around the world.
TUE 07:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x06vj7)
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TUE 07:06 Newsday (w1730c1hkppsxpz)
Live news, business and sport from around the world.
TUE 08:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x06z8c)
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TUE 08:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct8t15)
The Kansas City cycling revolution
When the BBC’s Richard Hollingham and his producer, Will Grant, arrived with their bikes in Kansas City, Missouri in 2008, it had just been named as the worst city for cyclists in the country. The resulting radio show became a “wake-up call” that has since inspired new cycling groups and millions of dollars of investment in cycling and walking initiatives.
Now the BBC team is back to see what’s improved and what other communities around the world can learn from the city’s experiences. In their travels, Richard and Will join a group cycle, meet volunteers fixing bikes and find out about putting roads on "diets". The team also join a school cycling initiative in a deprived area of the city and learn how bicycles are giving students skills and mobility.
Kansas City has focused on easy to achieve, low-cost solutions that give quick results, but cars remain dominant. Can the city now get even more people on their bikes?
Presenters: Richard Hollingham and Will Grant
Additional production: Anne McNaught
A Boffin Media production for the BBC World Service
Image: A group bike ride in the early evening in Kansas City (Credit: Richard Hollingham)
TUE 08:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nllmmlxbjr)
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TUE 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct8gr7)
Business Daily
The daily drama of money and work from the BBC.
TUE 08:50 Witness History (w3ct9868)
The battle of Mandalay in WW2
In March 1945, the British Fourteenth Army were advancing on the city of Mandalay in central Burma, now known as Myanmar, which was held by the Japanese Army.
The army was made up of soldiers from across the British Empire, with units from the United Kingdom, India, East and West Africa all fighting side by side.
The BBC’s Douglas Cleverdon accompanied those troops into battle, making what is thought to be one of the first ever radio programmes recorded from the front line of a war.
Witness History is produced and presented by Tim O’Callaghan, in collaboration with the BBC Archives, using the recordings made by Cleverdon in 1945.
Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by and curious about 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 how the Excel spreadsheet was developed, the creation of cartoon rabbit Miffy and how the sound barrier was broken.
We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: the moment Reagan and Gorbachev met in Geneva, Haitian singer Emerante de Pradines’ life and Omar Sharif’s legendary movie entrance in Lawrence of Arabia.
You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, like the invention of a stent which has saved lives around the world; the birth of the G7; and the meeting of Maldives’ ministers underwater. We cover everything from World War Two and Cold War stories to Black History Month and our journeys into space.
(Photo: British Indian soldiers at the gates of Fort Dufferin in Mandalay. Credit: Official photographer/Imperial War Museums via Getty Images)
TUE 09:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0730h)
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TUE 09:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqn7ygkj1r)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
TUE 09:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nllmmlxg8w)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
TUE 09:32 Assignment (w3ct8h1k)
[Repeat of broadcast at
02:32 today]
TUE 10:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x076rm)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 10:06 The Arts Hour (w3ct8h8b)
[Repeat of broadcast at
20:06 on Saturday]
TUE 11:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x07bhr)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 11:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqn7ygkrk0)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
TUE 11:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nllmmlxps4)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
TUE 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct8mhy)
The Global Story
.
TUE 12:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x07g7w)
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TUE 12:06 Outlook (w3ct8jc7)
Nemonte Nenquimo: Love and battle in the Ecuadorian Amazon
Nemonte Nenquimo's childhood was influenced by her Waorani culture and also by the Christian missionaries who had come to live in her village. The missionaries wanted Nemonte to strive for their way of life and, for a while, she felt conflicted. But all uncertainty left her when she witnessed the damage the oil industry was having on on her rainforest home.
She met an American called Mitch Anderson who was working to protect the rainforest and their love for each other, and their shared mission, propelled Nemonte on to achieve a landmark legal victory on behalf of her indigenous community against the Ecuadorian government. Nemonte and Mitch have written a book together called We Will Not Be Saved: A Memoir of Hope and Resistance in the Amazon Rainforest.
Presenter: Mobeen Azhar
Producer: May Cameron
Voice over: Cecilia Cruz
Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com or WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707
(Photo: Waorani leader Nemonte Nenquimo carries her people's lawsuit in her hands. Credit: Amazon Frontlines)
This programme was first broadcast in 2024.
TUE 12:50 Witness History (w3ct9868)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 today]
TUE 13:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x07l00)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 13:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqn7ygl018)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
TUE 13:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nllmmlxy8d)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
TUE 13:32 In the Studio (w3ct8l5p)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:32 today]
TUE 14:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x07pr4)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 14:06 Newshour (w1730bn56728hz6)
Interviews, news and analysis of the day’s global events.
TUE 15:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x07th8)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 15:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct8t15)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:06 today]
TUE 15:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nllmmly5rn)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
TUE 15:32 Business Daily (w3ct8gr7)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:32 today]
TUE 15:50 World Business Express (w3ct8d86)
World Business Express - Finance, economy and business news from BBC journalists around the world. The stories that matter: World Business Express brings you the essentials on the fast-changing global economy. What forces are driving the markets and industry? Hear unique insight from top CEOs, investors, economic thinkers and small business bosses.
From global trade, to oil and food prices and the rise of artificial intelligence, to the corporate crashes and standout entrepreneur start-ups, the BBC World Service brings you trusted reporting. We’ll explain how the top stories impact your own finances.
TUE 16:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x07y7d)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 16:06 Outside Source (w1730c6j46nym35)
2026/08/18 15:06 GMT
A vibrant account of the day’s events with explanation and reaction from those involved.
TUE 17:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x081zj)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 17:06 Outside Source (w1730c6j46nyqv9)
2026/08/18 16:06 GMT
A vibrant account of the day’s events with explanation and reaction from those involved.
TUE 18:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x085qn)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 18:06 Outlook (w3ct8jc7)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:06 today]
TUE 18:50 Witness History (w3ct9868)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 today]
TUE 19:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x089gs)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 19:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqn7yglqj1)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
TUE 19:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nllmmlynr5)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
TUE 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct8rps)
2026/08/18 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 (w1730nks5x08f6x)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 20:06 Assignment (w3ct8h1k)
[Repeat of broadcast at
02:32 today]
TUE 20:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nllmmlysh9)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
TUE 20:32 Tech Life (w3ct8jy9)
Tech Life discovers and explains the ways technology is changing our lives, wherever we are in the world.
TUE 21:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x08jz1)
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TUE 21:06 Newshour (w1730bn56729c63)
Interviews, news and analysis of the day’s global events.
TUE 22:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x08nq5)
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TUE 22:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct8t15)
[Repeat of broadcast at
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TUE 22:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nllmmlz0zk)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
TUE 22:32 In the Studio (w3ct8l5p)
[Repeat of broadcast at
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TUE 23:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x08sg9)
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TUE 23:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqn7ygm6hk)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
TUE 23:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nllmmlz4qp)
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TUE 23:32 World Business Report (w3ct8fsw)
First broadcast 18/08/2026 21:32 GMT
The latest business and finance news from around the world, on the BBC.
WEDNESDAY 19 AUGUST 2026
WED 00:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x08x6f)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 00:06 The Arts Hour (w3ct8h8b)
[Repeat of broadcast at
20:06 on Saturday]
WED 01:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x090yk)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 01:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqn7ygmfzt)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
WED 01:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nllmmlzd6y)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
WED 01:32 The Global Story (w3ct8mhy)
[Repeat of broadcast at
11:32 on Tuesday]
WED 02:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x094pp)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 02:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqn7ygmkqy)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
WED 02:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nllmmlzhz2)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
WED 02:32 The Climate Question (w3ct99hw)
[Repeat of broadcast at
18:06 on Sunday]
WED 03:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x098ft)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 03:06 Outlook (w3ct8jc7)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:06 on Tuesday]
WED 03:50 Witness History (w3ct9868)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 on Tuesday]
WED 04:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x09d5y)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 04:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqn7ygmt76)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
WED 04:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nllmmlzrgb)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
WED 04:32 The Documentary (w3ct9bd7)
How did we get here: Israel and the Palestinians
Jonny Dymond explores the contested history of the region from ancient times to the present day through conversations with an array of leading historians and BBC specialists.
How Did We Get Here: Israel and the Palestinians is a Long Form Audio production for BBC World Service
WED 05:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x09hy2)
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WED 05:06 Newsday (w1730c1hkppwl3t)
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WED 06:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x09mp6)
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WED 06:06 Newsday (w1730c1hkppwpvy)
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WED 07:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x09rfb)
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WED 07:06 Newsday (w1730c1hkppwtm2)
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WED 08:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x09w5g)
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WED 08:06 The Interview (w3ct98h9)
The Interview
Conversations with people shaping our world. The best interviews from the BBC.
WED 08:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nllmmm07fv)
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WED 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct98sb)
Business Daily
The daily drama of money and work from the BBC.
WED 08:50 Witness History (w3ct988j)
Canada's controversial resettlement programme
In 1954, a massive government-run resettlement programme began in Canada.
This saw the relocation of nearly 30,000 people from isolated ‘outport’ fishing communities in Newfoundland and Labrador to designated ‘growth centres', intended to provide better education and facilities.
In some cases this involved physically moving houses with ropes and pullies, then floating them to new locations.
Catherine Harvey speaks to Don White, who recalls being resettled from Port Nelson where he grew up, and how this affected him and his family. A Roguegunners production.
Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by and curious about 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 how the Excel spreadsheet was developed, the creation of cartoon rabbit Miffy and how the sound barrier was broken.
We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: the moment Reagan and Gorbachev met in Geneva, Haitian singer Emerante de Pradines’ life and Omar Sharif’s legendary movie entrance in Lawrence of Arabia.
You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, like the invention of a stent which has saved lives around the world; the birth of the G7; and the meeting of Maldives’ ministers underwater. We cover everything from World War Two and Cold War stories to Black History Month and our journeys into space.
(Photo: A house waiting for the tide to bring it ashore. Credit: Library and Archives Canada)
WED 09:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x09zxl)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 09:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqn7ygndyv)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
WED 09:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nllmmm0c5z)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
WED 09:32 The Climate Question (w3ct99hw)
[Repeat of broadcast at
18:06 on Sunday]
WED 10:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0b3nq)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 10:06 In Our Time (w3ct9767)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:06 on Saturday]
WED 11:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0b7dv)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 11:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqn7ygnng3)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
WED 11:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nllmmm0lp7)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
WED 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct8ml6)
The Global Story
.
WED 12:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0bc4z)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 12:06 Outlook (w3ct8jl0)
Outlook
True stories of ordinary people and the extraordinary events that have shaped their lives.
WED 12:50 Witness History (w3ct988j)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 today]
WED 13:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0bgx3)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 13:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqn7ygnwyc)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
WED 13:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nllmmm0v5h)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
WED 13:32 The Documentary (w3ct9bd7)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:32 today]
WED 14:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0bln7)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 14:06 Newshour (w1730bn5672cdw9)
Interviews, news and analysis of the day’s global events.
WED 15:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0bqdc)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 15:06 The Interview (w3ct98h9)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:06 today]
WED 15:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nllmmm12nr)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
WED 15:32 Business Daily (w3ct98sb)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:32 today]
WED 15:50 World Business Express (w3ct8dbg)
World Business Express - Finance, economy and business news from BBC journalists around the world. The stories that matter: World Business Express brings you the essentials on the fast-changing global economy. What forces are driving the markets and industry? Hear unique insight from top CEOs, investors, economic thinkers and small business bosses.
From global trade, to oil and food prices and the rise of artificial intelligence, to the corporate crashes and standout entrepreneur start-ups, the BBC World Service brings you trusted reporting. We’ll explain how the top stories impact your own finances.
WED 16:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0bv4h)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 16:06 Outside Source (w1730c6j46p1j08)
2026/08/19 15:06 GMT
A vibrant account of the day’s events with explanation and reaction from those involved.
WED 17:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0bywm)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 17:06 Outside Source (w1730c6j46p1mrd)
2026/08/19 16:06 GMT
A vibrant account of the day’s events with explanation and reaction from those involved.
WED 18:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0c2mr)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 18:06 Outlook (w3ct8jl0)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:06 today]
WED 18:50 Witness History (w3ct988j)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 today]
WED 19:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0c6cw)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 19:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqn7ygpmf4)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
WED 19:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nllmmm1kn8)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
WED 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct8rs1)
2026/08/19 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 (w1730nks5x0cb40)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 20:06 The Climate Question (w3ct99hw)
[Repeat of broadcast at
18:06 on Sunday]
WED 20:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nllmmm1pdd)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
WED 20:32 Health Check (w3ct8k2t)
Health Check
Health issues and medical breakthroughs from around the world.
WED 21:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0cfw4)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 21:06 Newshour (w1730bn5672d836)
Interviews, news and analysis of the day’s global events.
WED 22:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0ckm8)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 22:06 The Interview (w3ct98h9)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:06 today]
WED 22:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nllmmm1xwn)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
WED 22:32 The Documentary (w3ct9bd7)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:32 today]
WED 23:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0cpcd)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 23:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqn7ygq3dn)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
WED 23:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nllmmm21ms)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
WED 23:32 World Business Report (w3ct8fw4)
First broadcast 19/08/2026 21:32 GMT
The latest business and finance news from around the world, on the BBC.
THURSDAY 20 AUGUST 2026
THU 00:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0ct3j)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 00:06 In Our Time (w3ct9767)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:06 on Saturday]
THU 01:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0cxvn)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 01:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqn7ygqbwx)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
THU 01:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nllmmm2941)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
THU 01:32 The Global Story (w3ct8ml6)
[Repeat of broadcast at
11:32 on Wednesday]
THU 02:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0d1ls)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 02:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqn7ygqgn1)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
THU 02:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nllmmm2dw5)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
THU 02:32 The Documentary (w3ct9cjt)
Special forces on trial
South African police detective Frans Mathipa told his boss he feared that he would be killed by the country’s military. Two days later he was found shot dead in his car by the side of a motorway.
At the time of his death, Mathipa had been investigating whether special forces soldiers were behind the disappearance of Abdella Abadigga, a suspected member of so-called Islamic State or ISIS, and his bodyguard. So was Mathipa killed, as his colleagues believe, because of fears about what his investigation threatened to reveal?
Dino Mahtani and Yeshiel Panchia investigate an extraordinary case that sets one arm of the South African state against another.
Presenter: Dino Mahtani
Producer: Ed Main
Executive editors: Nick Norman-Butler and Andy Bell
Editor: Rebecca Henschke
Studio manager: Sam Dickinson
Archive: SABC and Facebook
THU 03:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0d5bx)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 03:06 Outlook (w3ct8jl0)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:06 on Wednesday]
THU 03:50 Witness History (w3ct988j)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 on Wednesday]
THU 04:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0d931)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 04:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqn7ygqq49)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
THU 04:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nllmmm2ncf)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
THU 04:32 The Food Chain (w3ct8swf)
The Food Chain
The Food Chain examines the business, science and cultural significance of food, and what it takes to put food on your plate.
THU 05:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0ddv5)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 05:06 Newsday (w1730c1hkppzh0x)
Live news, business and sport from around the world.
THU 06:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0djl9)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 06:06 Newsday (w1730c1hkppzls1)
Live news, business and sport from around the world.
THU 07:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0dnbf)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 07:06 Newsday (w1730c1hkppzqj5)
Live news, business and sport from around the world.
THU 08:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0ds2k)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 08:06 The Inquiry (w3ct98q2)
Can elections restore Moroccans’ faith in their country?
In September, Morocco’s citizens will go to the polls for the country’s general election. Morocco is a constitutional monarchy, with a multi-party-political system. A new head of government will be appointed by King Mohammed VI, from the winning party, to form a ruling coalition.
But whilst these elections may be seen as an opportunity for Moroccans to shape the next phase of their country’s political landscape, there are concerns about potential voter apathy and wider discontent. Only last year, nationwide protests led by Moroccan youth called for less state spending on infrastructures like the new World Cup stadium and more funding to improve economic opportunities and public services.
Whilst efforts were made to respond to their calls, including proposals to get young people involved in formal politics and increased funding for education and health, there is a sense that there is still little change to people’s daily lives. High unemployment rates and regional inequalities remain as issues. So, is it possible that these elections can restore Moroccans faith in their country?
(Photo: A picturesque view of Rabat, Morocco's capital city. Sunshine with blue skies with a view of Bouregreg River. Credit: Sergio Formoso via Getty Images)
Contributors:
Dr Mohammed Masbah, founder and president, the Moroccan Institute for Policy Analysis, Rabat, Morocco
Merouan Mekouar, full professor of development studies and social sciences, York University, Toronto, Canada
Intissar Fakir, senior fellow, the Middle East Institute, Washington DC, USA
Ahmed Jazouli, author and independent policy expert in governance, democracy and development, Rabat, Morocco
Presenter: Charmaine Cozier
Producer: Jill Collins
Researcher: Evie Yabsley
Technical producer: Richard Hannaford
Production co-ordinator: Phoebe Lomas
Production management assistant: Liam Morrey
Editor: Tom Bigwood
THU 08:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nllmmm34by)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
THU 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct8glq)
Business Daily
The daily drama of money and work from the BBC.
THU 08:50 Witness History (w3ct98bs)
'I created the duck cake from Bluey'
First published in 1980, the Australian Women's Weekly Children's Birthday Cake Book brought novelty cakes to the masses.
From the swimming pool filled with jelly, to the ghost and the 'choo choo train', its recipes became core memories for generations of children.
Agnes Lee was part of the team behind the book, designing more than 20 of its quirky cakes, including the famous Rubber Ducky, which was later featured in the children's TV programme Bluey.
She tells Helen Ledwick how a spur-of-the-moment idea became a birthday party classic.
Witness History is a short BBC World Service podcast about history that takes you inside big moments from the past through first-hand testimony and archive. Each weekday, in around nine minutes, we revisit one moment that helped shape the world and hear it through the voice of someone who was there. Scientists, artists, campaigners, soldiers, leaders and everyday people tell their true stories.
When you subscribe to Witness History, you’ll be taken inside turning points in world affairs from West Africa’s fight back against Boko Haram in 2015 to the behind-closed-doors talks that led to the US-Cuba “thaw” and the surprise announcement of restored relations.
You’ll discover what it was like to experience disasters and how people recovered from them, including the Tabasco floods in Mexico, Portugal's worst train disaster, and the huge clean-up after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.
You’ll explore culture and ideas too: Sweden’s Expedition Robinson, often credited as the first modern reality TV game show; the friendship between The Beatles’ George Harrison and Indian sitarist Ravi Shankar; and the night a tiger attack brought Las Vegas superstars Siegfried and Roy’s show to a sudden end.
And if you’re curious about inventions, we’ll tell you how air fryers, BlackBerry, YouTube, Alexa, GPS, superglue, the shopping cart (shopping trolley) and bubble tea were created.
If you’re new to Witness History, the appeal is simple: real voices, one strong true story, and a fresh way to understand today through events from history – all in the time it takes to enjoy a cup of tea or a walk around the block. Join millions of BBC World Service podcast listeners around the globe and enjoy the insight, context and detail Witness History will bring you.
(Photo: Agnes Lee and the duck cake. Credit: Phillip Castleton/Are Media)
THU 09:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0dwtp)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 09:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqn7ygr9vy)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
THU 09:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nllmmm3832)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
THU 09:32 The Documentary (w3ct9cjt)
[Repeat of broadcast at
02:32 today]
THU 10:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0f0kt)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 10:06 The Explanation (w3ct98mt)
The Media Show
Where the world is explained. Making sense of the big stories - looking behind the spin. Exploring the important questions about long-running stories and the latest global news. An honest, unvarnished, explanation of the world.
THU 10:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nllmmm3cv6)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
THU 10:32 Over to You (w3ct99kp)
What makes an expert?
What makes someone an expert, and how do BBC producers decide who has the right expertise to appear on air? In this episode of Over To You, we hear listeners’ views on who they trust and why. We go behind the scenes with The Engineers and CrowdScience to find out how programmes choose their contributors, and explore the editorial principles behind using experts on the BBC. Plus, as more of us encounter experts through TikTok, Instagram and YouTube, we ask how social media is changing who we see as an authority. We also speak to BBC Verify about how it assesses expertise and decides who and what audiences can trust.
THU 11:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0f49y)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 11:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqn7ygrkc6)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
THU 11:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nllmmm3hlb)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
THU 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct8mfp)
The Global Story
.
THU 12:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0f822)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 12:06 Outlook (w3ct8j4g)
Outlook
True stories of ordinary people and the extraordinary events that have shaped their lives.
THU 12:50 Witness History (w3ct98bs)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 today]
THU 13:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0fct6)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 13:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqn7ygrsvg)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
THU 13:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nllmmm3r2l)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
THU 13:32 The Food Chain (w3ct8swf)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:32 today]
THU 14:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0fhkb)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 14:06 Newshour (w1730bn5672g9sd)
Interviews, news and analysis of the day’s global events.
THU 15:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0fm9g)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 15:06 The Inquiry (w3ct98q2)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:06 today]
THU 15:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nllmmm3zkv)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
THU 15:32 Business Daily (w3ct8glq)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:32 today]
THU 15:50 World Business Express (w3ct8d5y)
World Business Express - Finance, economy and business news from BBC journalists around the world. The stories that matter: World Business Express brings you the essentials on the fast-changing global economy. What forces are driving the markets and industry? Hear unique insight from top CEOs, investors, economic thinkers and small business bosses.
From global trade, to oil and food prices and the rise of artificial intelligence, to the corporate crashes and standout entrepreneur start-ups, the BBC World Service brings you trusted reporting. We’ll explain how the top stories impact your own finances.
THU 16:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0fr1l)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 16:06 Outside Source (w1730c6j46p4dxc)
2026/08/20 15:06 GMT
A vibrant account of the day’s events with explanation and reaction from those involved.
THU 17:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0fvsq)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 17:06 Outside Source (w1730c6j46p4jnh)
2026/08/20 16:06 GMT
A vibrant account of the day’s events with explanation and reaction from those involved.
THU 18:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0fzjv)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 18:06 Outlook (w3ct8j4g)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:06 today]
THU 18:50 Witness History (w3ct98bs)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 today]
THU 19:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0g38z)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 19:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqn7ygsjb7)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
THU 19:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nllmmm4gkc)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
THU 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct8rmj)
2026/08/20 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 (w1730nks5x0g713)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 20:06 The Documentary (w3ct9cjt)
[Repeat of broadcast at
02:32 today]
THU 20:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nllmmm4l9h)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
THU 20:32 BBC Inside Science (w3ct9781)
A weekly show exploring science, its mysteries, and the debates it sparks.
THU 21:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0gbs7)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 21:06 Newshour (w1730bn5672h509)
Interviews, news and analysis of the day’s global events.
THU 22:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0ggjc)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 22:06 The Inquiry (w3ct98q2)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:06 today]
THU 22:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nllmmm4tsr)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
THU 22:32 The Food Chain (w3ct8swf)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:32 today]
THU 23:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0gl8h)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 23:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqn7ygt09r)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
THU 23:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nllmmm4yjw)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
THU 23:32 World Business Report (w3ct8fqm)
First broadcast 20/08/2026 21:32 GMT
The latest business and finance news from around the world, on the BBC.
FRIDAY 21 AUGUST 2026
FRI 00:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0gq0m)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 00:06 The Explanation (w3ct98mt)
[Repeat of broadcast at
10:06 on Thursday]
FRI 00:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nllmmm5290)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
FRI 00:32 Happy News (w3ct8nwt)
[Repeat of broadcast at
19:32 on Saturday]
FRI 01:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0gtrr)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 01:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqn7ygt7t0)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
FRI 01:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nllmmm5614)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
FRI 01:32 The Global Story (w3ct8mfp)
[Repeat of broadcast at
11:32 on Thursday]
FRI 02:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0gyhw)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 02:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqn7ygtck4)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
FRI 02:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nllmmm59s8)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
FRI 02:32 Tech Life (w3ct8jy9)
[Repeat of broadcast at
20:32 on Tuesday]
FRI 03:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0h280)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 03:06 Outlook (w3ct8j4g)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:06 on Thursday]
FRI 03:50 Witness History (w3ct98bs)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 on Thursday]
FRI 04:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0h604)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 04:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqn7ygtm1d)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
FRI 04:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nllmmm5k8j)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
FRI 04:32 Heart and Soul (w3ct9840)
The Vatican's AI Battle
As Silicon Valley races to build machines that can think, create and perhaps surpass human intelligence, the Vatican has emerged as one of the most prominent global voices to question the path the tech billionaires are setting for us. Pope Leo XIV in his recent document on AI warned of “the risk of dehumanization.” Behind that warning lies a question that has occupied philosophers and theologians for centuries: what does it mean to be human?
In Rome, Isobel Cockerell explores whether the answer to that age-old question survives contact with the era of artificial intelligence. She turns to Father Michael Baggot, a Catholic priest and professor who teaches courses on AI, ethics and transhumanism at Vatican universities. A regular at meetings between clergy and tech leaders, he sees Silicon Valley’s vision of AI as quasi-religious in its claims to end uncertainty, suffering, and even death. “I also belong to a religion that believes in eternal life,” he says. He’s conflicted about the ambitions of the tech elite - he hopes AI can lead to “human flourishing” but sees, in his pastoral life, how AI can devalue the very human acts of caring and of sacrificing for the good of others.
Isobel also speaks to tech entrepreneur Bryan Johnson, known for his radical efforts to defeat human ageing and live forever. He tells us that in building superintelligent AI, humanity may in fact be building God. He points to a future in which “this emergent structure of power is no longer human-centric.”
This episode of Heart and Soul examines whether an institution built on ancient tradition can meaningfully shape the direction of the most disruptive technology of our time. And it invites believers and sceptics alike to consider what impact artificial intelligence might have on humanity.
FRI 05:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0h9r8)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 05:06 Newsday (w1730c1hkpq2cy0)
Live news, business and sport from around the world.
FRI 06:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0hfhd)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 06:06 Newsday (w1730c1hkpq2hp4)
Live news, business and sport from around the world.
FRI 07:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0hk7j)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 07:06 Newsday (w1730c1hkpq2mf8)
Live news, business and sport from around the world.
FRI 08:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0hnzn)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 08:06 The Interview (w3ct98kk)
The Interview
Conversations with people shaping our world. The best interviews from the BBC.
FRI 08:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nllmmm6181)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
FRI 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct8g9p)
Business Daily
The daily drama of money and work from the BBC.
FRI 08:50 Witness History (w3ct98f1)
Peace People: The Northern Ireland campaign group born from tragedy
It is 50 years since a peace movement began in Northern Ireland spawned by the killing of three children.
There had been seven years of sectarian violence.
On 10 August 1976, Anne Maguire was walking along Finaghy Road North in West Belfast with her children when an out-of-control car plunged into them. It was driven by a member of the Irish Republican Army paramilitary group who had been fatally wounded at the wheel by British Army soldiers chasing him.
Six-week-old baby, Andrew, who was in his pram and eight-year-old Joanne, who was on her bicycle were instantly killed. Their brother John, just two-and-a-half, died the following day in hospital. The children’s uncle, Gerry Grehan, tells Josephine McDermott about the life-changing tragedy and how it resulted in the Peace People, founded by Mairead Corrigan Maguire, Betty Williams and Ciaran McKeown.
Witness History is a short BBC World Service podcast about history that takes you inside big moments from the past through first-hand testimony and archive. Each weekday, in around nine minutes, we revisit one moment that helped shape the world and hear it through the voice of someone who was there. Scientists, artists, campaigners, soldiers, leaders and everyday people tell their true stories.
When you subscribe to Witness History, you’ll be taken inside turning points in world affairs from West Africa’s fight back against Boko Haram in 2015 to the behind-closed-doors talks that led to the US-Cuba “thaw” and the surprise announcement of restored relations.
You’ll discover what it was like to experience disasters and how people recovered from them, including the Tabasco floods in Mexico, Portugal's worst train disaster, and the huge clean-up after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.
You’ll explore culture and ideas too: Sweden’s Expedition Robinson, often credited as the first modern reality TV game show; the friendship between The Beatles’ George Harrison and Indian sitarist Ravi Shankar; and the night a tiger attack brought Las Vegas superstars Siegfried and Roy’s show to a sudden end.
And if you’re curious about inventions, we’ll tell you how air fryers, BlackBerry, YouTube, Alexa, GPS, superglue, the shopping cart (shopping trolley) and bubble tea were created.
If you’re new to Witness History, the appeal is simple: real voices, one strong true story, and a fresh way to understand today through events from history – all in the time it takes to enjoy a cup of tea or a walk around the block. Join millions of BBC World Service podcast listeners around the globe and enjoy the insight, context and detail Witness History will bring you.
(Photo: Betty Williams (left) and Mairead Corrigan lead a peace rally in 1976. Credit: Getty Images)
FRI 09:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0hsqs)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 09:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqn7ygv6s1)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
FRI 09:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nllmmm6505)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
FRI 09:32 BBC Inside Science (w3ct9781)
[Repeat of broadcast at
20:32 on Thursday]
FRI 10:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0hxgx)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 10:06 Unexpected Elements (w3ct8kcv)
Unexpected Elements
The news you know, the science you don’t. Unexpected Elements looks beyond everyday narratives to discover a goldmine of scientific stories and connections from around the globe. From Afronauts, to why we argue, to a deep dive on animal lifespans: see the world in a new way with Unexpected Elements.
FRI 11:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0j171)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 11:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqn7ygvg89)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
FRI 11:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nllmmm6dhf)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
FRI 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct8m95)
The Global Story
.
FRI 12:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0j4z5)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 12:06 Outlook (w3ct8hpx)
Outlook
True stories of ordinary people and the extraordinary events that have shaped their lives.
FRI 12:50 Witness History (w3ct98f1)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 today]
FRI 13:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0j8q9)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 13:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqn7ygvprk)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
FRI 13:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nllmmm6mzp)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
FRI 13:32 Heart and Soul (w3ct9840)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:32 today]
FRI 14:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0jdgf)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 14:06 Newshour (w1730bn5672k6ph)
Interviews, news and analysis of the day’s global events.
FRI 15:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0jj6k)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 15:06 The Interview (w3ct98kk)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:06 today]
FRI 15:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nllmmm6wgy)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
FRI 15:32 Business Daily (w3ct8g9p)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:32 today]
FRI 15:50 World Business Express (w3ct8d1f)
World Business Express - Finance, economy and business news from BBC journalists around the world. The stories that matter: World Business Express brings you the essentials on the fast-changing global economy. What forces are driving the markets and industry? Hear unique insight from top CEOs, investors, economic thinkers and small business bosses.
From global trade, to oil and food prices and the rise of artificial intelligence, to the corporate crashes and standout entrepreneur start-ups, the BBC World Service brings you trusted reporting. We’ll explain how the top stories impact your own finances.
FRI 16:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0jmyp)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 16:06 Outside Source (w1730c6j46p79tg)
2026/08/21 15:06 GMT
A vibrant account of the day’s events with explanation and reaction from those involved.
FRI 17:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0jrpt)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 17:06 Outside Source (w1730c6j46p7fkl)
2026/08/21 16:06 GMT
A vibrant account of the day’s events with explanation and reaction from those involved.
FRI 18:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0jwfy)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 18:06 Outlook (w3ct8hpx)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:06 today]
FRI 18:50 Witness History (w3ct98f1)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 today]
FRI 19:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0k062)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 19:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqn7ygwf7b)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
FRI 19:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nllmmm7cgg)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
FRI 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct8rh0)
2026/08/21 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 (w1730nks5x0k3y6)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 20:06 BBC Conversations (w3ct8m41)
BBC Conversations
How major news stories are affecting the lives of people around the world
FRI 20:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nllmmm7h6l)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
FRI 20:32 CrowdScience (w3ct8k7b)
Why am I warm blooded?
How come some animals are warm blooded?
CrowdScience listener Matt would like to find out whether it's actually an advantage or if mammals are actually missing out on some of the benefits in being cold blooded.
Caroline Steel investigates and discovers how our blood reaches the right temperature and what stops it from overheating.
FRI 21:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0k7pb)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 21:06 Newshour (w1730bn5672l1xd)
Interviews, news and analysis of the day’s global events.
FRI 22:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0kcfg)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 22:06 The Interview (w3ct98kk)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:06 today]
FRI 22:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nllmmm7qpv)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
FRI 22:32 Heart and Soul (w3ct9840)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:32 today]
FRI 23:00 BBC News (w1730nks5x0kh5l)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 23:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqn7ygwx6v)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
FRI 23:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nllmmm7vfz)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
FRI 23:32 World Business Report (w3ct8fl3)
First broadcast 21/08/2026 21:32 GMT
The latest business and finance news from around the world, on the BBC.