SATURDAY 11 JANUARY 2025

SAT 00:00 BBC News (w172zgfjghnzgs0)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 00:06 Unexpected Elements (w3ct5q30)
Scientist spotlight

Team Unexpected have been digging into their mind palaces to pull on the scientific research that has stuck with them most over the past year.

We hear from Professor John Parnell, geologist at the University of Aberdeen, about the role of plankton in forming ancient mountains.

How ocean bubbles play a role in climate regulation with bubble physicist Dr Helen Czerski from University College London. Would you know how to measure the size of a bubble?

We also participate in some memory sports with Jonas von Essen who is a two-time world memory champion. He helps us construct a mind palace in order to memorise really long strings of digits.

Plus we look into the backstory of the human buttocks with science journalist and reporter Heather Radke. She answers the question ‘why do we humans have such large behinds?’

And we hear from Professor Andre Isaacs at the College of the Holy Cross who has filled his chemistry lab with music and dance in order to change perceptions about who can be a scientist.

That, plus many more Unexpected Elements. 

Presenter: Marnie Chesterton
Producer: Jonathan Blackwell and Harrison Lewis with Imaan Moin and Alice Lipscombe-Southwell


SAT 01:00 BBC News (w172zgfjghnzlj4)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 01:06 Business Matters (w172zbfwp309vp0)
LA's wildfires: the fight and rebuild

Los Angeles has been devastated by wildfires, forcing nearly 200,000 residents to flee, destroying homes, and taking lives. We hear firsthand from those caught in the chaos, including Julia Pollak, who narrowly escaped the flames.

We aslo hear from someone fighting these fires who is also an architect, on how LA can rebuild better.

Plus, updates on Venezuela’s contested elections, TikTok’s legal battle in the US, and the impact of tariffs on California’s almond industry.


SAT 02:00 BBC News (w172zgfjghnzq88)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqqckmrxnl)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SAT 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggbx78p2jn)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 02:32 Stumped (w3ct5whv)
The Women's Ashes: Do Australia and England have a point to prove?

Two-time Ashes winner Anya Shrubsole joins us to preview the Women’s Ashes. England will be looking to win the trophy for the first time in a decade on Australian soil. Anya tells us both teams will have a point to prove after their World Cup disappointments and she highlights the key players to look out for.

The Stumped team debate whether there should there be a two-tier World Test Championship? It is being reported that the ICC are looking to make it into a two tiered competition, which would lead to the biggest nations playing each other more often. The plans could see India, Australia, England, South Africa, Sri Lanka, New Zealand and Pakistan in tier one. While the second tier would be made up of Bangladesh, West Indies, Ireland, Afghanistan and Zimbabwe - making a seven-five split across divisions.

Plus, after Australia ended a ten year wait to win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the team discuss the significance of captain Pat Cummins and ask if India head coach Gautam Gambhir is still the right man to lead the side.

Photo: Tahlia McGrath of Australia looks dejected as she leads players of Australia off the field following defeat to South Africa during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup Semi-Final between Australia and South Africa at Dubai International Stadium on October 17, 2024 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Matthew Lewis-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)


SAT 03:00 BBC News (w172zgfjghnzv0d)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 03:06 Outlook (w3ct699y)
Outlook Mixtape: Wrestling with fate; and an Indian prince

Former Harvard athlete Chris Nowinski found stardom in the world of pro wrestling. Performing as the obnoxious villain Chris Harvard, he worked alongside superstars like The Rock and Hulk Hogan. Chris lived the dream, until one fateful match left him suffering from post-concussion syndrome. With his career seemingly at an end, Chris began researching sports-related head trauma and convincing athletes to donate their brains. His work helped shed new light on the dangers of impact sports.

Overcoming strict censorship, Slovenian band Laibach managed to put on one of the first Western rock concerts ever held in North Korea. This unlikely gig was the brainchild of Norwegian director, writer, and producer called Morten Traavik. But throughout the buildup, the event hung in the balance. Any misstep, any verbal slip up, any accidental critique of North Korea, and the whole concert could be cancelled.

Manvendra Singh Gohil, a real-life prince and next in line to a royal dynasty in the Indian state of Gujarat, grew up in a gilded cage. His family's desire to keep his blue blood away from ‘commoners’ meant that he missed out on formative experiences like making friends. After a failed marriage to a princess, Manvendra was determined to break out and explore the world, and his sexuality. With the help of his new friend Ashok, a gay rights activist, the prince began a process of self-acceptance that would be put to the ultimate test. (This episode was first broadcast in May 2022)

Presenter: Mobeen Azhar

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

(Photo: Cassette tape. Credit: Getty Images)


SAT 03:50 Witness History (w3ct5yfq)
The Bosphorus boat spotter tracking Russian military trucks

Yörük Işık is a ship spotter who logs all the boats that pass through the narrow Bosphorus Strait near his home in Istanbul, Turkey.

In October 2015, he noticed something unusual - Russian military trucks on a civilian ship bound for Syria.

The photos he took were the first evidence that Russia was supplying armed forces to support President Bashar al-Assad. It followed months of denial from Moscow that they were planning to engage militarily on the ground in Syria’s civil war.

Emily Wither speaks to Yörük about how his hobby became a news source.

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

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

(Photo: Ship with Russian military trucks on. Credit: Yörük Işık)


SAT 04:00 BBC News (w172zgfjghnzyrj)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 04:06 Unexpected Elements (w3ct5q30)
[Repeat of broadcast at 00:06 today]


SAT 05:00 BBC News (w172zgfjghp02hn)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 05:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqqckms8wz)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SAT 05:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggbx78pfs1)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 05:32 Amazing Sport Stories (w3ct7hml)
Surfing the ocean’s mountains

Looking out from a balcony in Nazare, over slumped, drying wetsuits, you can see it all. The stretch of sand, the salt haze, a spike of cliff and a scarlet lighthouse. Most of all, you can see the waves, a backdrop of bubbling white water and that distinctive churning white noise. This is the story of Nazare, a small town in Portugal where you’ll find the world’s biggest waves, some the size of a 10-storey building. It’s also the story of the people who surf those waves, putting their lives in the ocean’s hands - while also putting Nazare firmly on the map.

Audio scenes have been re-created.


SAT 05:50 More or Less (w3ct5trb)
Do 79% of Swedish asylum seekers go on holiday to the country they fled from?

The claim that 79% of asylum seekers in Sweden go on holiday in their home country has been repeated regularly on social media.
It’s used to argue that recent refugees are being disingenuous about the danger they face in the country they have fled from.
But when you look at the survey the claim is based on, you see the stat in a very different way.
We speak to Hjalmar Strid, who ran the survey for polling company Novus, and Tino Sanandaji from Bulletin, the online news site which published it.

Presenter: Charlotte McDonald
Producer: Tom Colls
Production co-ordinator: Katie Morrison
Sound Mix: Neil Churchill
Editor: Richard Vadon


SAT 06:00 BBC News (w172zgfjghp067s)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 06:06 Weekend (w172zcxd9h8zg4m)
LA Fires: night-time curfew comes into effect

A night-time curfew is in effect in parts of Los Angeles worst-hit by devastating wildfires which have killed at least eleven people.

Also in the programme: A French woman whose father was convicted last month in a mass rape trial that caused widespread shock says he should never be released from jail; plus the health benefits of coffee in the morning.

Joining presenter Julian Worricker to discuss these and other stories are Janina Dill, a Professor of Global Security at Oxford University, and Eleanor Shearer, a policy researcher base din London.

(Picture: The remains of a Bank of America location following the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood in Los Angeles, California, U.S. January 10, 2025. Credit: Reuters)


SAT 07:00 BBC News (w172zgfjghp09zx)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 07:06 Weekend (w172zcxd9h8zkwr)
Cartoonist Ann Telnaes on the price of satire

Cartoonist Ann Telnaes explains why she resigned from the Washington Post after editors rejected her cartoon mocking media titans abasing themselves before President-elect Donald Trump.

Also in the programme: the latest on the fires from Los Angeles; and the Lynxes released in Scotland.

Joining presenter Julian Worricker to discuss these and other stories are Janina Dill, a Professor of Global Security at Oxford University, and Eleanor Shearer, a policy researcher based in London.

(Picture: A cartoon by Ann Telnaes showing tech titans abasing themselves before President-elect Donald Trump. Credit: Ann Telnaes)


SAT 08:00 BBC News (w172zgfjghp0fr1)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 08:06 Weekend (w172zcxd9h8zpmw)
Daughter of Dominique Pelicot: 'My father should die in prison'

A French woman whose father was found guilty in a mass rape trial that shocked France has told the BBC she hopes he dies in prison. Caroline Darian said Dominique Pelicot was dangerous and should never be released.

Also on the programme: Emergency teams in Los Angeles have made progress in tackling wildfires which have killed eleven people, but more evacuation orders have been issued; why so many countries in west Africa want rid of French troops on their soil; and how the music we hear influences the way we eat.

Joining presenter Julian Worricker to discuss these and other stories are Janina Dill, a Professor of Global Security at Oxford University, and Eleanor Shearer, a policy researcher base din London.


(Photo: Caroline Darian wants to raise awareness of sexual abuse. Credit: BBC)


SAT 09:00 BBC News (w172zgfjghp0kh5)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 09:06 BBC OS Conversations (w3ct5rcs)
Dealing with trauma after vehicle-ramming attacks

Over the past decade, cars and trucks have been used as lethal weapons in an increasing number of attacks.

Fourteen people died and at least 35 were injured when a driver of a pickup truck targeted crowds in New Orleans on New Year’s Day. Less than a month earlier, a nine-year-old child and five adults were killed in a similar incident in the eastern German city of Magdeburg where a car was driven through a crowded Christmas market.

In our conversations, we hear from Kathy and Donna. Kathy was dancing in a Christmas parade in the town of Waukesha in the US state of Wisconsin in 2021 when a car rammed into the performers, killing six people and injuring dozens more.

Donna was watching the parade: “I remember it like it was yesterday,” she tells host Mark Lowen. “These are things you see on TV, when you see them right in front of your eyes, you don’t understand, you have no comprehension of what just happened.”

Donna and Kathy are joined by Astrid in Germany, whose father was killed in a 2016 attack on a Christmas market in Berlin.

And in the aftermath of the New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans, we bring together a local pastor, Page, and his wife, Ashley – a professional counsellor, who have been providing support to those affected.

Presenter: Mark Lowen
BBC OS producers: Virginia Kelly and Iqra Farooq
Boffin Media producer: Richard Hollingham

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

(Photo: A mourner weeps at a vigil, after people were killed by a US Army veteran who drove a truck into a crowd celebrating New Year's Day, in New Orleans, Louisiana, 4 January, 2025. Credit: Eduardo Munoz/Reuters)


SAT 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggbx78pxrk)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 09:32 Pick of the World (w3ct5v1p)
Why you love stories about animals

A hare, an owl, an otter, a goat and the arctic fox all feature in your online choices - so what is it about our furry and feathered friends that gets you clicking?


SAT 09:50 Over to You (w3ct5ttx)
Learning about the power of the spoken word

What role does language play in the propaganda of war? The Global Jigsaw has been asking that very question following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. We hear from the show's presenter and listeners give us their thoughts on what they have learned about the power of the spoken word.

Plus, one listener complains too many programmes are becoming “inane chatter”.

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


SAT 10:00 BBC News (w172zgfjghp0p79)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 10:06 Sportshour (w3ct5qbv)
Game, set and friendship

Former tennis professional Louise Pleming was travelling the globe as a tennis commentator and elite coach when her life took an unexpected turn. The Australian met Brian Turton whilst she was volunteering at a soup kitchen. Brian had always dreamt of a professional tennis career but instead he found himself living on the streets. Louise tells Sportshour’s Katie Smith how that chance meeting sparked a friendship which had a hugely beneficial effect on them both and many communities in Australia. It led to Louise setting up the charity Rally4Ever which uses tennis to help people get back on their feet.

Who will playing in Super Bowl LIX is still to be determined but that journey starts later on Saturday with the play offs and "Wildcard Weekend". To get you in the mood we are going to head back more than 80 years ago, to a "Bowl" game with a difference. With D-Day looming, 50,000 people watched an American football game featuring NFL and Canadian Football League stars at White City in London in the game that briefly stopped World War II. All these years latter it has been brought to life by Anthony Wootton in his book "The Greatest American Football Story that has Never Been Told"

All good things must come to an end, and for Major League Soccer players that's Saturday! MLS teams like Real Salt Lake are assembling for the first time for pre season training ahead of the start of the League in February. So what does a player do with his precious time off, and what can they expect on that first day back? Real's centre back Philip Quinton talks us through it. He also talks about his passion for the environment. He is part of the EcoAthletes collective, a non-profit that inspires and coaches athletes to lead climate action.

Photo: A group of participants from RALLY4EVER’s Sydney programs after a pickleball lesson from tennis legend Andre Agassi, Justin Gimelstob and Louise Pleming CREDIT: @raquelpires_photography/https://rally4ever.org/)


SAT 11:00 BBC News (w172zgfjghp0szf)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqqckmt0cr)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SAT 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggbx78q57t)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 11:32 Health Check (w3ct5t9s)
Should we be worried about HMPV?

With reports of rising cases of the respiratory illness HMPV in multiple countries and concern over the risk it poses, we look behind the headlines to reality check what is really going on.

Also on the show, we hear from injured Ukrainians who are building drones to help with their mental and physical rehabilitation. Plus, how does elite sport impact women’s fertility?

Finally, we look ahead to predict what 2025 might have in store for global health.

Presenter: Claudia Hammond
Producers: Katie Tomsett and Jack Lee


SAT 12:00 BBC News (w172zgfjghp0xqk)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 12:06 World Questions (w3ct5yyn)
Australia

Soaring house prices, the rights of indigenous people, healthcare and knife crime – just some of the issues raised in this debate about the future of Australia. Jonny Dymond is joined by a panel of leading politicians and commentators who take questions from across this vast nation.

The panel:
Katy Gallagher: Minister for Finance, Labour Party
Senator Sarah Hanson-Young: Green Party
John Pesutto: Liberal Party
Alexandra Smith: Sydney Morning Herald newspaper

Producer: Helen Towner

(Photo: Sydney Opera House against the backdrop of the Sydney CBD skyline. Credit: Manfred Gottschalk/Getty Images)


SAT 13:00 BBC News (w172zgfjghp11gp)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 13:06 Newshour (w172zb99xr6ywyn)
'He is a dangerous man’, daughter of Dominique Pelicot tells BBC

The daughter of a French man found guilty in a mass rape trial has told the BBC she hopes he dies in prison. Caroline Darian said she'd been shocked when she learned that her father had repeatedly drugged and raped her mother and encouraged other men to sexually assault her.

Also on the programme: emergency teams in Los Angeles have made progress in tackling wildfires which have killed eleven people, but more evacuation orders have been issued; and Sam Moore, one half of the legendary soul duo, Sam and Dave, has died at the age of 89.



(Photo: Caroline Darian wants to raise awareness of sexual abuse. Credit: BBC)


SAT 14:00 BBC News (w172zgfjghp156t)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 14:06 Sportsworld (w172zbn81ctrgb8)
Live Sporting Action

It’s FA Cup Third Round weekend and Sportsworld will bring you live commentary of Premier League side Brentford against second tier Plymouth Argyle, along with updates of all the other games.

Lee James will be live at the King Power Stadium with former Leicester City defender and Premier League title winner Robert Huth as the 2021 FA Cup winners Leicester City take on QPR.

Away from the football, Sportsworld will have the latest from golf’s Team Cup in Abu Dhabi, preview the NFL playoffs and the Women’s Ashes, as well as the start of tennis’ first Grand Slam, the Australian Open.

Image: Bryan Mbeumo of Brentford celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Brentford FC and Arsenal FC at the Brentford Community Stadium on January 01, 2025 in Brentford, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)


SAT 18:00 BBC News (w172zgfjghp1n6b)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 18:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqqckmtvln)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SAT 18:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggbx78r0gq)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 18:32 Amazing Sport Stories (w3ct7hml)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:32 today]


SAT 18:50 Sporting Witness (w3ct5wfl)
Ron Grant: First man to run around Australia

In 1983, the ultra-runner Ron Grant took on an epic challenge - to became the first person to run around Australia.

The 13,383 kilometre jog took him seven months.

Grant overcame injuries, crew mutinies and serious financial debt, before being greeted by huge crowds at the finish line in Brisbane.

He spoke to Ashley Byrne in 2019. A Made In Manchester 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: Ron Grant. Credit: Getty Images)


SAT 19:00 BBC News (w172zgfjghp1ryg)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 19:06 The Inquiry (w3ct5xjg)
Are we close to a cancer vaccine?

Cancer is a disease that will affect 1 in 5 people in our lifetime, and it’s estimated that around 20 million people worldwide will be diagnosed with some form of cancer in 2025.

But how might a vaccine help in the treatment of cancer?

Numerous trials began testing the viability of cancer vaccines in 2024, including one for melanoma and another for lung cancer.

With all the promise that these new cancer vaccine trials bring for cancer patients, we explore the different ways in which vaccines could work within the body, and how the time at which future vaccines are administered may vary according to the cancers they are targeting.

This week on the Inquiry we’re asking: Are we close to a cancer vaccine?

Presenter: Tanya Beckett
Producer: Matt Toulson
Researcher: Katie Morgan
Production Coordinator: Tim Fernley
Editor: Tara McDermott
Studio Director: Craig Boardman

Contributors:

Meredith McKean, director of Melanoma and Skin Cancer Research for Sarah Cannon Research Institute at Tennessee Oncology

Samra Turajlic, Chief Investigator of translational studies into melanoma and kidney cancer at the Francis Crick Institute and Professor at the Institute of Cancer Research

Eduardo Vilar-Sanchez, professor in the department of Clinical Cancer Prevention at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Patrick Ott, Clinical Director at Melanoma Disease Center at the Dana-Farber Institute


SAT 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggbx78r46v)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 19:32 Happy News (w3ct5sqq)
The Happy Pod: The woman helping hundreds of thousands of premature babies

We meet a Texas woman whose donated breastmilk helped 350,000 premature babies. Also, surviving thirteen days alone in Australia's mountains; a chess playing NBA star; and appealing for friends to tackle loneliness.

Presenter: Jannat Jalil
Music: Iona Hampson


SAT 20:00 BBC News (w172zgfjghp1wpl)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 20:06 The Arts Hour (w3ct5qkm)
Bulgarian director Milko Lazarov

Nikki Bedi is joined by author and broadcaster, Bidisha to discuss the superstar American singer and Oscar winning actor Cher and her sartorial sense.

Afghan filmmaker Sahra Mani and Pakistani activist and film producer Malala Yousafzai talk about their documentary Bread and Roses which looks at women fighting for education and rights under the Taliban.

The legendary country star Dolly Parton reveals the spur for her campaign to help children learn to read.

They hear from romantasy author and Tik Tok star Imani Erriu, who explains the genre.

And the Bulgarian director Milko Lazarov, who'll be talking about his film Tarika and there’s music from Orchestra Mambo International.

(Photo: Milko Lazarov; Credit: Films Boutique)


SAT 21:00 BBC News (w172zgfjghp20fq)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 21:06 Newshour (w172zb99xr6zvxp)
Wildfires continue to threaten LA

Wildfires which have caused at least eleven deaths and destroyed thousands of properties are expected to pick up pace again in the US county of Los Angeles. New evacuation orders have now been issued for neighbourhoods surrounding the city. Our Correspondent Peter Bowes gives us the latest. We also explore whether a water shortage has hampered relief efforts, as well as how long insurance companies will take to pay those affected.

Also in the programme: The daughter of convicted rapist Dominique Pelicot speaks out; and the Palestinian creatives whose films have made the preliminary Oscars shortlist.

(Photo: A member of the Fire Department holds a smartphone in the Brentwood area of Los Angeles, 11th January 2025 (Credit: REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton/TPX)


SAT 22:00 BBC News (w172zgfjghp245v)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 22:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqqckmvbl5)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SAT 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggbx78rhg7)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 22:32 This Is Africa (w3ct5y63)
Agatchu

Born in Angola, rising star Agatchu always dreamed of a better life. When he was just 15, he moved to Europe on his own. His first stop was Portugal, then he relocated to France. Agatchu has taught himself to speak numerous languages fluently, including English, Portuguese and French.

Now he's making beats, producing bangers and singing with major international stars like French singers Tayc and Dadju, Cape Verdean Lisandro Cuxi, and the British rapper BackRoad Gee.

Agatchu's first hit, Believe, was with Nigeria’s Teni. Believe is also the name of his debut album – and his driving philosophy.

Image: Agatchu (Credit: Jeremy Baudet)


SAT 23:00 BBC News (w172zgfjghp27xz)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 23:06 The Documentary (w3ct7lbg)
Canadian immigration: Boom or bust?

Last summer, Canada’s population grew to a record 40 million people - a moment the Canadian government described as an “exciting milestone”.

The Canadian people did not necessarily agree. Canada has long been proud of its multicultural roots, but for the first time, surveys show a significant number believe there are too many immigrants coming into the country.

Accusations that newcomers are hurting “the real Canada” are spreading on social media, with some arguing that Canadian cities simply cannot support so many new arrivals.

The BBC’s Celia Hatton travels to her home country to learn why more Canadians are questioning their country’s relationship with immigration, and why others are fighting to keep the country’s doors open to newcomers.


SAT 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggbx78rm6c)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 23:32 Assignment (w3ct5mtx)
South Korea: The feminist hunters

Why feminism has become a dirty word in South Korea. In South Korea being a feminist is now something that can only be admitted in private, thanks to a fierce backlash against feminism. Anti-feminists accuse women who advocate for equality as being man-haters, worthy of punishment. Online witch-hunts - spearheaded by young male gamers - target women suspected of harbouring feminist views, bombarding them with abuse and demanding they be fired from their jobs. Jean Mackenzie investigates how these witch-hunts have silenced women. She asks what this means for the future of women's rights in a country where gender discrimination is still deeply entrenched.

Presenter: Jean Mackenzie
Producers: John Murphy, Jake Kwon, Hosu Lee and Leehyun Choi
Mixed by: Neil Churchill
Production co-ordinator: Gemma Ashman
Editor: Penny Murphy

(Image: Calling for gender equality during a march in the South Korean capital Seoul on International Women’s Day, 2024. Credit:Woohae Cho/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

SUNDAY 12 JANUARY 2025

SUN 00:00 BBC News (w172zgfjghp2cp3)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 00:06 BBC OS Conversations (w3ct5rcs)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:06 on Saturday]


SUN 00:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggbx78rqyh)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 00:32 Amazing Sport Stories (w3ct7hml)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:32 on Saturday]


SUN 00:50 Sporting Witness (w3ct5wfl)
[Repeat of broadcast at 18:50 on Saturday]


SUN 01:00 BBC News (w172zgfjghp2hf7)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 01:06 The Inquiry (w3ct5xjg)
[Repeat of broadcast at 19:06 on Saturday]


SUN 01:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggbx78rvpm)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 01:32 The Fifth Floor (w3ct69jq)
China's empty maternity wards

Eunice Yang from BBC Chinese reports on the closure of over 400 maternity wards across China. Plus, South Korea's illegal tattoo parlours with BBC Korean's Yuna Ku, and why Ghana's traditional kente fabric has been recognised by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage, with BBC Africa's Jelilat Olawale.

Yuna's documentary is part of the BBC 100 Women series. To find out more about the other inspiring and influential women on this year's list go to bbc.co.uk/100women. You can also follow BBC 100 Women on Facebook and Instagram.

Presented by Faranak Amidi.
Produced by Caroline Ferguson, Alice Gioia and Hannah Dean.

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


SUN 02:00 BBC News (w172zgfjghp2m5c)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqqckmvtkp)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SUN 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggbx78rzfr)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 02:32 Health Check (w3ct5t9s)
[Repeat of broadcast at 11:32 on Saturday]


SUN 03:00 BBC News (w172zgfjghp2qxh)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 03:06 World Questions (w3ct5yyn)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Saturday]


SUN 04:00 BBC News (w172zgfjghp2vnm)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 04:06 From Our Own Correspondent (w3ct5sjx)
The Israeli and Palestinian schism

Pascale Harter introduces dispatches from Israel and the Palestinian territories, South Korea and Finland.

If and when a ceasefire deal is agreed between Israel and Hamas, it is likely to do little to mend the deepening mistrust between many Israeli and Palestinian communities. Jon Donnison has lived and worked in the region for many years, and he reflects on the challenges he faces as a journalist, navigating relationships with friends and contacts who hold starkly different views of the conflict.

Feminism is facing a serious backlash in South Korea. Many women who advocate for gender equality are often depicted as man-haters, and are relentlessly trolled by anonymous online attackers - some women have even lost their jobs due to pressure from angry male activists. Jean MacKenzie heard one woman's experience.

Finland's new status as a NATO member was put to the test recently, after a Russian ship was suspected of severing an underwater power cable on Christmas Day. Emilia Jansson was home for the holidays, and reveals how the incident has been met with both fascination and suspicion by Finns.

Producer: Polly Hope
Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith
Production Coordinators: Sophie Hill & Katie Morrison

(Image: Jerusalem Eats Mahane Yehuda Market. Credit: Malte Jaeger via Getty)


SUN 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggbx78s6y0)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 04:32 Trending (w3ct5y9q)
The woman who built an 'aidbot'

A mechanical engineer by day, Hania Zataari felt compelled to put her skills to use as the war intensified in Lebanon. Hailing from the South – one of the worst hit areas in the country – she’s created a chatbot on WhatsApp that simplifies access to much-needed aid.

Now, with a ceasefire – what does distributing aid look like? And why has one woman taken it upon herself to fill the gap?

Trending follows Hania as she helps to bring aid to those affected by the war between Israel and Hezbollah. We also speak to people who have been helped by her chatbot and an aid volunteer to paint a picture of how Hania’s chatbot might be streamlining the service, as well as aid organisations who have shed light on the trials and tribulations of getting to people in South Lebanon.

It's an uplifting yet poignant story about how the war has affected people in the hardest hit region of the country.

Presenter and producer: Reha Kansara
Additional reporting: Ahmed Abdallah
Editor: Flora Carmichael


SUN 04:50 Sporting Witness (w3ct5wfl)
[Repeat of broadcast at 18:50 on Saturday]


SUN 05:00 BBC News (w172zgfjghp2zdr)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 05:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqqckmw5t2)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SUN 05:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggbx78sbp4)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 05:32 The Documentary (w3ct7lbg)
[Repeat of broadcast at 23:06 on Saturday]


SUN 06:00 BBC News (w172zgfjghp334w)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 06:06 Weekend (w172zcxd9h92c1q)
Los Angeles fires death toll rise

US firefighters are racing to prevent the biggest of the deadly wildfires in Los Angeles from reaching Brentwood, one of the city's most exclusive areas where the vice president, Kamala Harris has a home. With strong winds forecast to return, the Palisades fire is continuing to expand, despite earlier progress in containing it.

Also on the programme: The Sudanese army says it's captured the key eastern city of Wad Madani from rebels; and the artist Tracey Emin on her troubled teenage years and how art proved a lifeline.

Joining presenter Julian Worricker to discuss these and other stories are Michela Wrong, journalist and author, specialising in Africa, and Kenneth Roth, former executive director of Human Rights Watch, now visiting professor at Princeton University's School of Public and International and Affairs.


(Photo: A member of the Manhattan Beach Fire Department holds a smartphone as smoke billows from the Palisades Fire threatening homes in the Brentwood area of Los Angeles, California. Credit: REUTERS)


SUN 07:00 BBC News (w172zgfjghp36x0)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 07:06 Weekend (w172zcxd9h92gsv)
LA fires: Firefighters battle intense winds

Emergency crews in Los Angeles are battling to contain wildfires which are now known to have killed 16 people.

Also in the programme: Donald Trump and Greenland; and death of a drag queen shocks transgender community in the UK.

Joining presenter Julian Worricker to discuss these and other stories are Michela Wrong, journalist and author, specialising in Africa, and Kenneth Roth, former executive director of Human Rights Watch, now visiting professor at Princeton University's School of Public and International and Affairs.

(Photo: Alec Miller from the Torrance Fire Department looks at the smoke billowing from the Palisades fire threatening homes in Brentwood, Los Angeles, California. Credit: Shannon Stapleton/Reuters)


SUN 08:00 BBC News (w172zgfjghp3bn4)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 08:06 Weekend (w172zcxd9h92ljz)
Elon Musk accused of meddling in foreign politics

Four wildfires are currently burning around Los Angeles. At least 16 people have been killed so far - 11 attributed to the Eaton fire and five to the Palisades, while 13 others are missing. The largest fire, Palisades, is spreading east and now threatens the wealthy neighbourhood of Brentwood - where evacuation orders have been issued.

Also on the programme: Elon Musk has reiterated his endorsement of Germany's far-right party; the rise and fall of Justin Trudeau; and we speak to Fernanda Torres, the first Brazilian to win Best Actress Golden Globe Award.

Joining presenter Julian Worricker to discuss these and other stories are Michela Wrong, journalist and author, specialising in Africa, and Kenneth Roth, former executive director of Human Rights Watch, now visiting professor at Princeton University's School of Public and International and Affairs.


(Photo: Elon Musk. Credit: REU)


SUN 09:00 BBC News (w172zgfjghp3gd8)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 09:06 From Our Own Correspondent (w3ct5sjx)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:06 today]


SUN 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggbx78stnn)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 09:32 The Food Chain (w3ct5xnz)
What's the point of cookbooks?

When there are so many recipes available for free online, why does anyone still buy cookbooks?

In this programme we look into the business of selling cookbooks, what future the format may have and hear about the treasured tomes you turn to time and time again.

Ruth Alexander visits Books for Cooks, a specialist cookbook shop in London, to chat to Eric Treuille who cooks lunch for his customers from a different cookbook each day.

She speaks to cookbook writers Mogau Seshoene in South Africa, author of ‘The Lazy Makoti’ books, and Joanne Molinaro in the US, author of ‘The Korean Vegan’.

Doris Cooper tells Ruth what a publisher is looking for in a cookbook. She tells Ruth about her big hits and misses as editor-in-chief of Simon Element, a division of Simon and Schuster in New York.

And listeners in Italy, Malta and the US tell us about their favourite cookbooks.

If you would like to contact the programme email thefoodchain@bbc.co.uk.

Presented by Ruth Alexander.

Produced by Beatrice Pickup.

(Image: Ruth Alexander with her grandmother’s cookbook, which still holds her handwritten pastry recipe. Credit: BBC)


SUN 10:00 BBC News (w172zgfjghp3l4d)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 10:06 The Documentary (w3ct7lc3)
Built different: Why women athletes suffer ACL injuries more than males

The fear of an Anterior cruciate ligament injury, or ACL, hangs over all athletes. It is a season-ending injury, agonising, and with a long painful recovery. But why is it happening to so many female footballers? Research shows that ACL injuries are up to six times more likely to happen to female athletes than male.

Former England international footballer Lianne Sanderson, who suffered an ACL injury in 2016, explores the science behind this statistic and finds out about the solutions that are being put in place. From the UK charity initiative Power Up to Play, established by medical professionals to offer preventative support at grassroots level, to experts at Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center in Norway and the team at IDA Boots who are making female-specific soccer cleats, Lianne introduces a number of solutions and learns about the science of ACL injuries in female athletes.


SUN 10:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggbx78syds)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 10:32 The Fifth Floor (w3ct69jq)
[Repeat of broadcast at 01:32 today]


SUN 11:00 BBC News (w172zgfjghp3pwj)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqqckmwx8v)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SUN 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggbx78t24x)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 11:32 Trending (w3ct5y9q)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


SUN 11:50 More or Less (w3ct5trb)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:50 on Saturday]


SUN 12:00 BBC News (w172zgfjghp3tmn)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 12:06 BBC OS Conversations (w3ct5rcs)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:06 on Saturday]


SUN 12:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggbx78t5x1)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 12:32 Assignment (w3ct5mtx)
[Repeat of broadcast at 23:32 on Saturday]


SUN 13:00 BBC News (w172zgfjghp3ycs)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 13:06 Newshour (w172zb99xr71svr)
Los Angeles fires: Fears as strong winds are forecast to return

Firefighters in California say calmer winds and higher humidity have helped their efforts to prevent wildfires in Los Angeles from reaching the city's expensive Brentwood neighbourhood. However, strong winds are forecast to return, and the fire risk remains high. Sixteen people are now known to have died over the past five days.

Also on the programme: Sudanese army claims capture of key eastern city from rebels; Donald Trump's expansionist foreign policies, wanting to take over Canada, Greenland and the Panama Canal; and we speak to Fernanda Torres, the first Brazilian to win Best Actress Golden Globe Award.


(Photo: A firefighter watches as the Palisades Fire, one of simultaneous blazes that have ripped across Los Angeles County. Credit: REU)


SUN 14:00 BBC News (w172zgfjghp423x)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 14:06 Sportsworld (w172zbn81ctvc7c)
Live Sporting Action

The English FA Cup takes centre stage this Sunday, and Sportsworld is live from St James’ Park as Newcastle United take on fourth tier side Bromley – who have never before reached the third round of the competition.

The former Newcastle midfielder Steve Howey will be alongside Delyth Lloyd ahead of full commentary. There will also be updates and reaction from the day’s other third round ties, including the blockbuster meeting between Arsenal and Manchester United.

There will also be a roundup of the opening day of the Australian Open tennis; the first one-day international of the Women’s Ashes; the final round of golf’s Team Cup; and we look ahead to the NFL’s wildcard weekend.

Image: Alexander Isak of Newcastle United celebrates scoring his team's third goal with teammates during the Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Leicester City FC at St James' Park on December 14, 2024 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)


SUN 18:00 BBC News (w172zgfjghp4k3f)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 18:06 The Climate Question (w3ct5wsw)
News update: The Earth breaches its temperature target

In 2024, the global temperature was more than 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels. Graihagh Jackson and BBC Climate Report Esme Stallard consider the significance of this key climate target being breached. Plus, why farmers in Malawi are switching to banana wine and how global warming might be forcing humpback whales to migrate even further.

With Zeke Hausfather, Climate Scientist at the University of California, Berkeley; and BBC Africa reporter Ashley Lime.

Got a climate question you’d like answered? Email: TheClimateQuestion@BBC.com or WhatsApp: +44 8000 321 721

Production Team: Diane Richardson, Ellie House, Sophie Eastaugh
Sound Mix: James Beard and Tom Brignell
Editor: Simon Watts


SUN 18:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggbx78txct)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 18:32 Happy News (w3ct5sqq)
[Repeat of broadcast at 19:32 on Saturday]


SUN 19:00 BBC News (w172zgfjghp4nvk)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqqckmxw7w)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SUN 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggbx78v13y)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 19:32 The Documentary (w3ct7m66)
Israel's Unwra ban

What will it mean for Palestinians if Israel bans Unwra, the UN agency that provides vital aid and essential services to millions of refugees in Gaza and the West Bank? The proposals have drawn widespread condemnation and warnings of a humanitarian catastrophe. Israeli politicians have accused UNRWA staff of taking part in the October 7 attacks alongside Hamas, and have designated it a terror group. We visit refugee camps across the occupied territories to hear about the role UNRWA plays in education, health, and emergency food aid, and people’s despair about the prospect of it disappearing. The agency’s services and dependents have mushroomed over the last 75 years – we look at its origins and why it has long been controversial in Israel. Plus, an Israeli MP, who tells us UNRWA must go, says that his country will not stand by and see Palestinians suffer, but what, if anything, is capable of replacing the organisation?

(Photo: A young man carries an aid box distributed by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (Unwra), amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, in Deir Al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, 4 November 2024. Credit: Ramadan Abed/Reuters)


SUN 20:00 BBC News (w172zgfjghp4slp)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 20:06 Unexpected Elements (w3ct5q30)
[Repeat of broadcast at 00:06 on Saturday]


SUN 21:00 BBC News (w172zgfjghp4xbt)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 21:06 Newshour (w172zb99xr72rts)
Wildfires still raging in Los Angeles

Two of the four Los Angeles wildfires have been contained, while the Palisades and Eaton Fires rage on. We hear the latest news from the city, as well as reports of landlords who are hiking rental prices as people who have had to leave their homes seek temporary housing. Also in the programme: the North Korean soldiers who have been captured in Ukraine; and a conversation with the renowned British artist Tracey Emin.

(Photo: A firefighter battles the Palisades Fire in Mandeville Canyon, Los Angeles, California. Credit: REUTERS/Ringo Chiu)


SUN 22:00 BBC News (w172zgfjghp512y)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 22:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqqckmy7h8)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SUN 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggbx78vdcb)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 22:32 The Fifth Floor (w3ct69jq)
[Repeat of broadcast at 01:32 today]


SUN 23:00 BBC News (w172zgfjghp54v2)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 23:06 The Climate Question (w3ct5wsw)
[Repeat of broadcast at 18:06 today]


SUN 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggbx78vj3g)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 23:32 Pick of the World (w3ct5v1p)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:32 on Saturday]


SUN 23:50 Over to You (w3ct5ttx)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:50 on Saturday]

MONDAY 13 JANUARY 2025

MON 00:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrz93vc)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 00:06 From Our Own Correspondent (w3ct5sjx)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:06 on Sunday]


MON 00:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggc8hkzh3r)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 00:32 Trending (w3ct5y9q)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 on Sunday]


MON 00:50 More or Less (w3ct5trb)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:50 on Saturday]


MON 01:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrz97lh)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 01:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqqqty2fzt)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 01:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggc8hkzlvw)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 01:32 Discovery (w3ct5rnt)
Inside Health: Life after my mountain accident

In 2016, Niall McCann was left with a bruised spinal cord when he crashed his speed glider into the side of a mountain at 50mph.

He shares his journey to recovery and some unexpected life lessons he has had to navigate, from soiling himself in inconvenient places and not being able to control his flatulence, to having to re-learn how to have sex again.

We also hear from a Mountain Rescue medic on what looked like an “unsurvivable” situation and Niall’s surgeon on fixing his “exploded” spine.


MON 02:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrz9cbm)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqqqty2kqy)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggc8hkzqm0)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 02:32 CrowdScience (w3ct5rj9)
Is beer better without alcohol?

In the past stout beer has been touted for its supposed health benefits. Is there any truth to those claims - and what happens if you take the alcohol out?

CrowdScience listener Aengus pondered these questions down at the pub, after noticing most of his friends were drinking non-alcoholic beers. He wondered how the non-alcoholic stuff is made – what’s taken out and what’s added in – and whether the final product is better for you than the alcoholic version.

It’s a question that takes us to Belgium, home to the experimental brewery of a global drinks company which takes the growing market for alcohol-free beer very seriously. David De Schutter, head of research and development, shows host Marnie Chesterton how to take alcohol out of beer without spoiling the flavour.

We also find our way to a yeast lab in Leuven, Belgium where Kevin Verstrepen and his team have found another way to make alcohol-free beer with the help of industrious microbes: yeast varieties that brew beer without producing any alcohol in the first place. And how do they compare to the alcoholic versions? We discuss the importance of aromas in our perception of beer’s taste.

So should listener Aengus stick to non-alcoholic stout? We speak to scientist Tim Stockwell about the health drawbacks of alcohol, even in moderation. And gut microbiome researcher Cláudia Marques fills us in on her delicious pilot study, which looked at the effects of both non-alcoholic and alcoholic beers on our digestive tract.

Along the way, Marnie taste-tests what's on the market, and asks the experts why this particular grocery shelf has become so much bigger and more flavourful in recent years.

Presenter: Marnie Chesterton
Producer: Sam Baker
Editor: Cathy Edwards
Production co-ordinator: Ishmael Soriano
Technical producers: Giles Aspen, Andrew Garratt and Donald MacDonald

(Image: Close-up of waitress holding craft beer at bar, Brazil Credit: FG Trade via Getty Images)


MON 03:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrz9h2r)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 03:06 The Documentary (w3ct7lc3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:06 on Sunday]


MON 03:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggc8hkzvc4)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 03:32 Pick of the World (w3ct5v1p)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:32 on Saturday]


MON 03:50 Over to You (w3ct5ttx)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:50 on Saturday]


MON 04:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrz9ltw)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 04:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqqqty2t76)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggc8hkzz38)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 04:32 The Conversation (w3ct5x0p)
Deminers: Women excavating the explosive remnants of war

Datshiane Navanayagam speaks to Angie Chioko and Nika Kokareva about clearing landmines and unexploded ordnance, in order to return safe land to their communities. At the end of 2024, The Landmine Monitor Report revealed that children suffer disproportionately from landmines across the world. The remnants of war remain in the ground for decades, claiming civilian lives, long after the fighting had ended.

Angie Chioko is a Supervisor at the Mazowe Camp in Zimbabwe, working for The Halo Trust. Zimbabwe is one of the most heavily mined countries in the world. The minefields were laid in the 1970s during a civil war by the country’s ruling army. In Zimbabwe today, the landmines cut off access to water supplies, pasture land, and cause children to take longer routes to school.

Nika Kokareva is a Team Leader in the Mykolaiv region of Ukraine, working for Mines Advisory Group. The country has seen a rise in landmines and unexploded ordnance since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. The United Nations Development Programme has said Ukraine is now the most mined country in the world, with potentially 23 percent of its land at risk of contamination with landmines and unexploded ordnance.

Produced by Elena Angelides

Image: (L) Nika Kokareva credit Mines Advisory Group. (R) Angie Chioko credit The Halo Trust.)


MON 05:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrz9ql0)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 05:06 Newsday (w172zbkft563v7l)
Los Angeles fires death toll rises to 24

The number of people killed in the wildfires in southern California has risen to twenty-four. Several days of strong winds are forecast, which could lead to further destruction in Los Angeles. We'll speak to our correspondent in California, and to a business owner who is providing meals for of charge to firefighters.

Greenlanders talk to us about their sudden prominence on the international stage after Donald Trump said he wants the US to take control of the world's biggest island, which is part of Denmark.

We'll hear from the Sudanese city of Wad Madani after it was recaptured by the army, as the country's devastating civil war continues.

A renowned Tanzanian rights activist says she was kidnapped on the streets of the Kenyan capital Nairobi on Sunday and released shortly afterwards. We'll look at a spate of kidnappings in Kenya.

(Picture: Firefighters watch as the Palisades Fire burns in Mandeville Canyon, a neighbourhood of Los Angeles, California, U.S., January 12, 2025; Credit: Reuters)


MON 06:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrz9vb4)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 06:06 Newsday (w172zbkft563yzq)
Death toll climbs to 24 in Los Angeles fires

At least twenty-four people are now confirmed to have died in the devastating fires in Los Angeles. We be speaking to a fire chief from Pacific Palisades, the area with the largest fire.

We go inside the Chinese factories that are fuelling the fast fashion house Shein's success. Our China correspondent speaks to workers to find the truth behind your cheap clothes.

At a summit for education for girls in Islamic countries, activists - including Malala Yousafzai - have urged Muslim leaders to challenge the Taliban government on its repressive policies for girls and women in Afghanistan.

The Sudanese army recaptures a key city from its rivals the Rapid Support Forces. We speak to our correspondent in the country.

Civilians bear the brunt of military air raids in north-west Nigeria as the army fights against militants; at least 20 civilians were killed on Sunday.

(Photo: Members of the Corpus Christi church, which was destroyed during the Palisades fire, react as they attend Sunday mass at St Monica Catholic Church, Santa Monica, California, 12 January, 2025. Credit: Carlos Barria/Reuters)


MON 07:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrz9z28)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 07:06 Newsday (w172zbkft5642qv)
At least 24 dead in Los Angeles fires

The number of people killed in the wildfires in southern California has risen to twenty-four. Several days of strong winds are forecast, which could lead to further destruction in Los Angeles.

A BBC investigation has found that workers making clothes for the Chinese fast fashion giant, Shein, are working excessive hours in contravention of the country's labour laws. We'll speak to our China correspondent.

At a summit for education for girls in Islamic countries, activists - including Malala Yousafzai - have urged Muslim leaders to challenge the Taliban government on its repressive policies for girls and women in Afghanistan.

Heavy rains have once again battered the French Indian ocean territory of Mayotte, weeks after the devastating cyclone Chido.

The billionaire founder of Amazon, Jeff Bezos is due to launch another rocket into the space.

We will take you to the world's biggest religious festival, the Kumbh Mela in India, with millions of people attending.

(Picture: Firefighters work to clear a firebreak as the Palisades Fire, one of several simultaneous blazes that have ripped across Los Angeles County, burns in Mandeville Canyon, a neighbourhood of Los Angeles, California, U.S., January 12, 2025; Credit: Reuters)


MON 08:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzb2td)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 08:06 HARDtalk (w3ct5t0s)
Asif Kapadia: Pushing the boundaries of film-making

Sarah Montague speaks to award-winning film-maker Asif Kapadia. His latest film 2073 combines science fiction with documentary to paint a bleak picture of our possible future: a world destroyed by climate change, authoritarian dictators and tech oligarchs. Why produce something so political now?

(Photo: Asif Kapadia in the Hardtalk studio)


MON 08:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggc8hl0g2s)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct5z7m)
How did global trade start?

As US president-elect Donald Trump prepares to re-enter the White House, global trade has become a contentious issue.

Mr Trump has threatened to impose tariffs – that is taxes at the border – on all goods imported from a host of nations, including neighbours Canada and Mexico as well as economic rival China. That risks igniting another trade war, with companies and consumers around the world affected.

Has global commerce always been so contentious? Rob Young looks at some of the key developments in international trade throughout history to work out how we got to the system and practices we have today.

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

(Picture: Hands of woman showing seeds in a souk. Seeds are believed to be one of the earliest items to be traded in the world. Credit: Getty Images)


MON 08:50 Witness History (w3ct5yj0)
Franklin D Roosevelt’s New Deal

In 1933, newly-elected US President Franklin D Roosevelt attempted to drag the United States out of the depression with the New Deal.

One of the biggest public spending projects in history, the programme funded hundreds of infrastructure projects and created thousands of jobs.

In 2020, Lucy Burns listened to archive interviews and spoke to author Adam Cohen about how the deal changed American people’s lives.

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

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

(Photo: US President Franklin D Roosevelt. Credit: Getty)


MON 09:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzb6kj)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 09:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqqqty3dyv)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggc8hl0ktx)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 09:32 CrowdScience (w3ct5rj9)
[Repeat of broadcast at 02:32 today]


MON 10:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzbb9n)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 10:06 The History Hour (w3ct5n2x)
The Charlie Hebdo attack and the art of decluttering

Max Pearson presents a collection of the week’s Witness History episodes.

We hear a first-hand account of the attack at the offices of French satirical magazine, Charlie Hebdo.

Our expert guest is Dr Chris Millington, who leads the Histories and Cultures of Conflict research group at Manchester Metropolitan University.

We also hear about Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg who saved thousands of Hungarian Jews during World War Two.

Plus, the Bosphorus boat spotter tracking Russian military trucks in Turkey.

Russian military trucks on a civilian ship bound for Syria.

Also, the Norwegian man who invented the hotel key card in the 1970s.

Finally, we’re sparking joy with Japanese tidying expert Marie Kondo.

Contributors:

Riss – Charlie Hebdo cartoonist.

Dr Chris Millington - Histories and Cultures of Conflict research group at Manchester Metropolitan University.

Yörük Işık – boat spotter.

Archive recordings from 2015.

Anders – son of Tor Sornes.

Marie Kondo - organising consultant.

(Photo: Charlie Hebdo mural. Credit: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)


MON 11:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzbg1s)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqqqty3ng3)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggc8hl0tb5)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct6dmf)
Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni: The saga explained

Ever since the release last summer of her box office hit It Ends With Us, Blake Lively has been dominating gossip columns, as a reported rift with co-star Justin Baldoni became increasingly public. Rumours and allegations followed, from sexual harassment and smear campaigns to bullying and creative sabotage. But rival lawsuits filed by the pair in recent weeks have fanned the flames, shedding new light on the covert warfare of celebrity PR in the process.

On this episode, Lucy Hockings speaks to BBC entertainment reporter, Yasmin Rufo who has been following the story and interviewed Blake Lively on the red carpet at the UK premiere for the movie.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at theglobalstory@bbc.com You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Laurie Kalus, Beth Timmins and Peter Goffin

Sound engineer: Mike Regaard

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: China Collins

(Picture: Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively. Credit: Reuters/Caitlin Ochs)


MON 12:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzbksx)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 12:06 Outlook (w3ct5nr8)
Why I set out to record the songs of Ireland’s birds

Growing up in Cork, Ireland, Sean Ronayne was a shy boy who hated football and found solace in the natural world, earning him the nickname ‘nature boy.’ Nature was the first love of his life, until in his twenties a friend introduced him to a woman called Alba. With her support, he gained the confidence to pursue his dream of working with nature. A project to record the songs of all 200 native bird species in Ireland found him not only a community of appreciative nature enthusiasts in Ireland and online, but also a new acceptance of himself and his way of being in the world.

Presenter: Mobeen Azhar
Producers: Laura Thomas and Hetal Bapodra

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

(Photo: Sean Ronayne. Credit: Tristan Hutchinson)


MON 12:50 Witness History (w3ct5yj0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


MON 13:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzbpk1)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 13:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqqqty3wyc)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 13:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggc8hl11tf)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 13:32 The Conversation (w3ct5x0p)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


MON 14:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzbt95)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 14:06 Newshour (w172zb9b90j8ns4)
Concerns over worker rights in Shein factories

The BBC has heard allegations about working conditions at Shein. Some workers have claimed that they are working for more than 75 hours a week, which would contravene Chinese labour laws. We explore Shein’s business model.

Also in the programme: South Korea’s spy agency gives new figures of North Korean soldier casualties in Ukraine; and the European island that celebrates New Year’s Day in mid-January.

(Photo: A shopper carries a bag while visiting Shein's Christmas bus tour, in Manchester, Britain, December 2024. Credit: REUTERS/Temilade Adelaja)


MON 15:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzby19)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 15:06 HARDtalk (w3ct5t0s)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


MON 15:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggc8hl199p)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 15:32 World Business Report (w3ct5zz6)
China posts record annual trade surplus of nearly $1tn amid looming US tariff threats

Beijing has released strong economic data, reporting its largest-ever trade surplus.

Also on the programme, a BBC investigation uncovers 75-hour workweeks endured by workers in Shein's fast-fashion factories in China. Could this affect the company's plans to list on the London Stock Exchange?

And Sam Fenwick explores the economic impact of the Kumbh Mela in India, which is expected to generate $3.4 billion in revenue for Uttar Pradesh.

You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voice note: +44 330 678 3033. We would love to hear from you!


MON 16:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzc1sf)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 16:06 BBC OS (w172zbjh071zpvs)
LA wildfires: High winds expected

A fire chief in Los Angeles has warned the devastating wildfires that have killed more than 20 people could "take off" again in the coming days. We have the latest from LA and speak to people who have seen their fire-ravaged neighbourhoods.

The BBC has found that workers in Chinese factories making clothes for the fast-fashion giant Shein are labouring more than 75 hours a week, in contravention of the country's labour laws. We speak to our reporter about the findings.

The outline of the Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal is currently being discussed by Israel and Hamas at indirect talks in Doha. We get more from our correspondent.

The United States has unveiled tough export controls on advanced artificial intelligence chips in an effort to limit access to China. Our AI expert explains.

Presenter: Mark Lowen.

(Photo: Residents dig through the remains of their home in the Pacific Palisades, after the Palisades Fire burned many homes, in Los Angeles County, California, U.S., January 12, 2025. Credit: Daniel Dreifuss/Reuters)


MON 17:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzc5jk)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 17:06 BBC OS (w172zbjh071ztlx)
LA wildfires: Fire crews still battling three blazes

Weather forecasters are warning the strong winds which fuelled the infernos last week are expected to pick up again. We have the latest from our correspondent and hear from residents who have been evacuated.

Apple's board has asked its investors to vote against a proposal to end its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programmes. We speak to our business correspondent.

The leader of Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has admitted losing the strategic city of Wad Madani to its army rivals, one of the biggest setbacks for the RSF since the civil war began 21 months ago. Our correspondent gives the latest.

One of the world's largest religious festivals, the Maha Kumbh Mela, is underway in India. We hear from people around the world who have travelled to attend.

Presenter: Mark Lowen.

(Photo: Dominic Choi from the Los Angeles Police Department. Credit: Country of Los Angeles)


MON 18:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzc98p)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 18:06 Outlook (w3ct5nr8)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 today]


MON 18:50 Witness History (w3ct5yj0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


MON 19:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzcf0t)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqqqty4mf4)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggc8hl1s96)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct5w4l)
2025/01/13 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 (w172zgfjtrzcjry)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 20:06 From Our Own Correspondent (w3ct5sjx)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:06 on Sunday]


MON 20:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggc8hl1x1b)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 20:32 Discovery (w3ct5rnv)
Uncharted: Love Bytes

A mathematician searching for love discovers that relationships aren’t always as simple as equations—are his calculations the issue, or is there something deeper at play? Meanwhile, at an engineering conference, a young researcher’s seemingly minor mistake uncovers a scandal of epic proportions. Can numbers find love or unveil problems? From personal dilemmas to professional revelations, this episode dives into the unexpected ways numbers can change lives.


MON 21:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzcnj2)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 21:06 Newshour (w172zb9b90j9j01)
Biden: Gaza ceasefire deal close

US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have spoken by phone - in Biden's final week in office - as momentum builds towards a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal. Israel and Hamas are understood to be making progress but uncertainty remains over key aspects of the potential agreement.

Also on the programme: Twenty-six men have been rescued from a mine shaft in South Africa after spending more than two months trapped underground; and research from Nasa tells us that we are less likely to notice when a woman is tired than a man.

(Photo: Protest in Tel Aviv calls for Gaza ceasefire and release of hostages Credit: Abir Sultan/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)


MON 22:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzcs86)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 22:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqqqty4znj)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggc8hl24jl)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 22:32 World Business Report (w3ct601g)
Lebanon’s President appoints new Prime Minister

The new Prime Minister, Nawaf Salam, defeated the Hezbollah backed candidate, , the former caretaker prime minister. We find out what this could mean a new dawn for its embattled economy.

China has reported its biggest-ever trade surplus, just a week before the inauguration of Donald Trump, who's promised to impose tariffs on Chinese goods.

Cost-of-living pressures have overtaken climate change and the environment as the number one concern for young Australians.


MON 23:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzcx0b)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 23:06 HARDtalk (w3ct5t0s)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


MON 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggc8hl288q)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 23:32 The Conversation (w3ct5x0p)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]

TUESDAY 14 JANUARY 2025

TUE 00:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzd0rg)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 00:06 The History Hour (w3ct5n2x)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:06 on Monday]


TUE 01:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzd4hl)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 01:06 Business Matters (w172zbfx1c9qdng)
Biden: China will never surpass us

President Joe Biden has said the United States is in a stronger position because of his foreign policy decisions including maintaining their position as the world’s largest economy. It comes as China reports its biggest-ever trade surplus.

The new Prime Minister, Nawaf Salam, defeated the Hezbollah backed candidate, the former caretaker prime minister. We find out what this could mean a new dawn for its embattled economy.

Cost-of-living pressures have overtaken climate change and the environment as the number one concern for young Australians.


TUE 02:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzd87q)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqqqty5gn1)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggc8hl2mj3)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 02:32 Assignment (w3ct5mty)
The Gambia: When migrants are forced to go home

Each year young people from the tiny West African nation of The Gambia try to reach Europe through “The Backway” - a costly, perilous journey over land and sea.

Many do not make it. In recent years, the EU has done deals with several North African nations to clamp down on irregular migration. Though human rights groups say the treatment of migrants can be brutal - allegations the authorities deny. But each year thousands of African migrants say they have no choice but to return home.

It can be a struggle to return. Some are traumatised by their experience and face stigma for having failed to reach Europe. Others are already planning to try again.

For Assignment, Alex Last travels to The Gambia to find out what happens to migrants who've risked everything to get to Europe, but end up back home.

Reporter: Alex Last
Producer: Ellie House
Local producer: Frederic Tendeng
Sound mix: David Crackles
Production co-ordinator: Gemma Ashman
Series editor: Penny Murphy

(Photo: Alagie came home to The Gambia after failing to reach Europe by boat from North Africa. Credit: Alex Last)


TUE 03:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzdczv)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 03:06 Outlook (w3ct5nr8)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Monday]


TUE 03:50 Witness History (w3ct5yj0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 on Monday]


TUE 04:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzdhqz)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 04:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqqqty5q49)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggc8hl2w0c)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 04:32 In the Studio (w3ct5tlv)
Madame Gandhi

Kiran Gandhi, AKA Madame Gandhi, is an American artist, activist and producer who originally started out as a percussionist for popular British artist MIA, and American electronic music duo Thievery Corporation. She holds a masters degree in Music Science Technology at Stanford University and is on a mission to find innovative ways of using music to motivate and inspire people to care about climate change.

In 2022 she was invited to go to Antarctic to record the sounds of the icy continent with her own microphones, before going into the studio to create sounds from melting glaciers and loud gentoo penguins. The resulting project was a sample pack made in partnership with Sound MANA, as well as a track released called In Purpose, released with nature credited as an artist through Brian Eno’s Earth Percent foundation, directing music royalties towards conservation efforts.

Tom Raine follows her journey recording brand new sounds, this time in the North Pole, where she’ll hope to record everything from glaucous gulls, black-leg kittiwakes to common guillemots, as well as arctic foxes, seals and if we’re lucky, some polar bears. We’ll then return to her studio in London to see exactly how Kiran sculpts these sounds into hi-hats, kicks, snare drums, bass tones, and more - as well as hearing her thesis on how nature music can encourage people to care about climate change.

Image: Madame Gandhi (Credit: Lindsey Byrnes)


TUE 05:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzdmh3)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 05:06 Newsday (w172zbkft566r4p)
Trial of South Korea's president starts

In South Korea, President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial over his decision to briefly impose martial law last month has started. We'll speak to a member of his governing party.

US officials say negotiators from Israel and Hamas are 'on the cusp' of an agreement to end the war in Gaza and return hostages home. We'll assess how we got this point, and ask if a final deal is likely.

Los Angeles residents are bracing for further destruction as weather forecasts indicate that winds helping fuel the flames might pick up again. We'll speak to a woman whose home has been destroyed.

The video sharing app TikTok has dismissed a report that China could allow the sale of its US operations to Elon Musk as 'pure fiction', days before the Chinese-owned app must sell its American business. We'll get the latest.

In South Africa, a rescue operation to bring to the surface hundreds of miners trapped in an abandoned shaft continues for a second day. We'll get the latest.

We'll hear what has happened to some of the thousands of African migrants returned home by European countries.

And how to connect the 43% of Africa's population who lack access to electricity.

(Photo: Police officers outside the Constitutional Court in Seoul; Credit: EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)


TUE 06:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzdr77)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 06:06 Newsday (w172zbkft566vwt)
Gaza ceasefire deal being finalised

A Palestinian official has told the BBC that a ceasefire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas is being finalised; the White House says negotiators are 'on the cusp' of an agreement to stop the fighting in Gaza.

This comes as there are reports of renewed fighting in the Gaza Strip on Monday, killing dozens of Palestinians and Israeli soldiers. We'll be speaking to our correspondent covering the territory.

South Korea’s Constitutional Court has been holding the first of five formal hearings of the impeachment trial against President Yoon Suk Yeol over his attempt to impose martial law last month. We'll be going to the capital, Seoul.

We'll hear about the cryptocurrency Tether which is moving its headquarters.

Finland hosts a summit for countries neighbouring Russia in the Baltic Sea.

And, the BBC has heard evidence about safety failings on an Egyptian dive boat that sank last November, killing nearly a dozen people.

(Photo: Supporters of Israeli hostages, Tel Aviv, January 13, 2025; Credit: Reuters)


TUE 07:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzdvzc)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 07:06 Newsday (w172zbkft566zmy)
Gaza ceasefire deal imminent

A Palestinian official has told the BBC that the terms of a deal between Israel and Hamas for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages are being finalised.

The first hearing in the impeachment trial of South Korea's suspended president - Yoon Suk Yeol - has ended after just a few minutes. We'll speak to a South Korean opposition member of parliament.

We’ll also hear from a member of the Business and Trade select committee of the British parliament on the revelation that workers making clothes for the Chinese fast fashion giant, Shein, are working excessive hours in contravention of the country's labour laws.

Mariko Oi will tell us why Spain plans to impose a tax of up to one hundred percent on real estate bought by non-European Union residents.

We will be speaking to the mother of aBritish-Egyptian activist jailed in Egypt. She's been on hunger strike for more than 100 days.

An operation to rescue hundreds of miners trapped in an abandoned mine shaft in South Africa is underway.

Communities continue to come together helping each other as Los Angeles braces for more high winds as fires blaze.

(Photo: Smoke rises from an explosion in North Gaza, January 13, 2025; Credit: Reuters)


TUE 08:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzdzqh)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 08:06 The Documentary (w3ct7lc4)
Child soldiers and capoeira

In the city of Goma, Congolese journalist Ruth Omar looks at how former child soldiers are being rehabilitated using capoeira, the Brazilian martial art.

Since the start of the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, child soldiers have been recruited to fight, some as young as 14. After they are demobilised from armed groups, many suffer from mental health disorders like anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

The demobilised child soldiers are housed in transit centres while they wait to be reunited with their families. While they wait, Social Capoeira is one of the therapies offered to them. It is a form of capoeira where the fighting is non-contact and dialogue, and wellbeing are prioritised. It allows the child soldiers to gain some peace.

Ruth explores the impact of this unique approach. She learns how capoeira creates a community or family for the returning child soldiers and how this helps them reintegrate into society. And we hear from people in Goma who have helped child soldiers in their own unique ways.

Contributors: Faustin Busimba, CAJED; Flavio Soares, Gingando pela Paz; Elvis Muderhwa, HEAL Africa; Aimable Diago, CAJED.

Presenter: Ruth Omar
Producer: Jill Achineku
A Whistledown production for the BBC World Service

(Image credit: Ruth Omar)


TUE 08:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggc8hl3bzw)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct5zjn)
What could Donald Trump's return mean for Latin America?

Even before taking office, President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to impose huge trade tariffs on Mexico, deport millions of undocumented Latino migrants out of the United States and crack down on the flow of drugs like fentanyl from Latin America into the US. And he's threatened to take control of the Panama Canal and re-name the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America”.

He has criticised the BRICS group of developing nations – which includes Brazil – for floating the idea of a new currency to challenge the dominance of the US dollar in international trade. And he has praised Argentina’s maverick right-wing president Javier Milei for cutting state expenditure.

So what will Trump’s second presidency mean for Latin America – a region that used to be known as “America’s back yard”?

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

Presented and produced by Gideon Long
Additional reporting by Vianey Alderete in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico

(Picture: The border wall on the US-Mexico border, as seen from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico October 23, 2024. Credit: Reuters)


TUE 08:50 Witness History (w3ct5ynj)
Confronting Betty Ford’s addiction

In 1978, former first lady of the United States, Betty Ford, announced that she had an addiction to alcohol and prescription medication, and would be seeking treatment.

Wife of the 38th US president Gerald Ford, her openness and honesty about her addictions was remarkable for its time and was headline news.

But it was her daughter, Susan Ford, who had organised the family intervention to confront her mother about her addiction, prompting her to seek help.

Susan Ford Bales remembers the moment she knocked on her mother's door early in the morning with the rest of her family and begged her to get help.

Betty Ford would go on to establish the Betty Ford Center in Rancho Mirage, California to help others struggling with addiction.

Susan Ford tells her and her mother’s story to Colm Flynn.

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

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

(Photo: Betty Ford. Credit: Getty Images)


TUE 09:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzf3gm)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 09:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqqqty69vy)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggc8hl3gr0)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 09:32 Assignment (w3ct5mty)
[Repeat of broadcast at 02:32 today]


TUE 10:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzf76r)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 10:06 The Arts Hour (w3ct5qkm)
[Repeat of broadcast at 20:06 on Saturday]


TUE 11:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzfbyw)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqqqty6kc6)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggc8hl3q78)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct6fc0)
LA fires: “It was like watching the end of the world”

It’s been a week since wildfires started sweeping through Los Angeles, California, destroying swathes of the city and reducing communities, homes and schools to little more than rubble and ash. The inferno has now ravaged an area larger than Manhattan. Some fires have been extinguished but many are still burning, and with warnings in place for high winds, LA’s exhausted firefighters and residents have more difficult days ahead.

Jonny Dymond speaks with BBC freelance reporter Lucy Sheriff about her experience of evacuating and losing her house and community, all while six months pregnant. They also discuss what rebuilding Los Angeles might look like.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at theglobalstory@bbc.com You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Alice Aylett Roberts, Peter Goffin, Eleanor Sly and Richard Moran

Sound engineers: Ben Andrews and Jonny Baker

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: China Collins


TUE 12:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzfgq0)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 12:06 Outlook (w3ct5p5t)
My robots for children, inspired by my life as a refugee

Paolo Prijanian says his experience as a refugee prepared him for a career as a leading computer scientist and AI entrepreneur. As a child he fled Iran, but encountered racism and found it difficult to fit in as he tried to make a new life in Denmark. Then a chance to get his own computer and to write code set him on a path to develop robots. First to explore distant planets for NASA, and later he developed personalised robots to help vulnerable children make sense of the world.

Ska Moteane is an award-winning cookery writer and chef. She’s the only person to have ever written a cookbook on the cuisine of Lesotho. Her mission to write down the recipes of her own culture came after studying cooking in South Africa where she found traditional food was completely absent from the curriculum.

(Photo: Paolo Prijanian demonstrating one of his early inventions. Credit: Paolo Prijanian)


TUE 12:50 Witness History (w3ct5ynj)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


TUE 13:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzflg4)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 13:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqqqty6svg)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 13:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggc8hl3yqj)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 13:32 In the Studio (w3ct5tlv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


TUE 14:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzfq68)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 14:06 Newshour (w172zb9b90jckp7)
How close is a ceasefire for Gaza?

Qatari mediators say major differences have been overcome in negotiations on a deal for a ceasefire and the release of hostages in Gaza.

What will it mean for Palestinians there and for the relatives of Israeli hostages, who are anxiously waiting for news of the negotiations?

Also on the programme: the BBC investigates new evidence after the deaths of tourists on a boat that capsized off Egypt; and why Starbucks is about to get less welcoming to people who hang around in its shops without buying anything.

(Photo: Supporters of Israeli hostages, kidnapped during the deadly October 7 2023 attack by Hamas, protest amid ongoing negotiations for a ceasefire in Tel Aviv. Credit: Reuters)


TUE 15:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzftyd)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 15:06 The Documentary (w3ct7lc4)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


TUE 15:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggc8hl466s)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 15:32 World Business Report (w3ct6087)
Pakistan’s textile industry hit by rising energy costs

We're living hand to mouth and having to borrow money from friends to pay the electric bills." These are the words of a woman who runs a textile firm in Pakistan. The Pakistan Textile Council has written to the government, warning that the country faces an energy crisis that could force manufacturing companies to shut down.

Sam Fenwick is joined by a California wildfire expert who has been at the forefront of modelling high-risk areas for years.


TUE 16:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzfypj)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 16:06 BBC OS (w172zbjh0722lrw)
Israel-Gaza ceasefire: Your questions answered

As negotiators meet to finalise plans to end the Israel- Gaza war, our correspondent answers listeners' questions about the terms of a ceasefire. We also hear from Gazans and hostage families in Israel.

Southern California is bracing for dangerously high winds on Tuesday as firefighters battle to control existing blazes. We speak to firefighters involved in the emergency response. We also hear from L.A. Times reporter Jim Rainey who's lost his childhood home in the Palisades fire that's still burning.

And we discuss a number of issues in Pakistan including how politics has evolved there in the last two years and the military's response to a surge in militant violence. We are joined by our Pakistan correspondent Carrie Davies.

Presenter: Luke Jones

(Photo: Families and supporters of Israeli hostages kidnapped during the deadly October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas hold protests outside Israel's parliament in Jerusalem, January 14, 2025. Credit: REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun)


TUE 17:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzg2fn)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 17:06 BBC OS (w172zbjh0722qj0)
Details of Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal emerge

Talks are underway in Doha on a deal for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages. We speak to our diplomatic correspondent James Landale and hear from Gazans and hostage families in Israel.

Southern California is bracing for dangerously high winds on Tuesday as firefighters battle to control existing blazes. Our reporter in Los Angeles joins with the latest.

American social media users have been migrating to a Chinese-made app called Rednote, ahead of a potential US government ban on TikTok.
We discuss the uncertainties around the social media app's future in the US with our Tech reporter.


Presenter: Luke Jones
(Photo: Palestinians search for belongings inside a school sheltering displaced people after it was hit by an Israeli strike in Gaza City, January 13, 2025. Credit: REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas)


TUE 18:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzg65s)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 18:06 Outlook (w3ct5p5t)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 today]


TUE 18:50 Witness History (w3ct5ynj)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


TUE 19:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzg9xx)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqqqty7jb7)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggc8hl4p69)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct5w93)
2025/01/14 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 (w172zgfjtrzgfp1)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 20:06 Assignment (w3ct5mty)
[Repeat of broadcast at 02:32 today]


TUE 20:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggc8hl4syf)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 20:32 Tech Life (w3ct5wnd)
Trust and verify

In this edition we discuss ways of checking facts on social media. This is after Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg announced Facebook and Instagram will change the way facts are checked.

Also in Tech Life, data is being saved for the future, deep underground in the Arctic Circle. Our reporter Adrienne Murray visits the Arctic World Archive in Svalbard. LinkedIn tell us how they are verifying their users are real. And find out why online mapping has become more than getting from A to B.

We’re always keen to hear from you. You can email us: techlife@bbc.co.uk, or send us a text message or voice note on Whatsapp at +44 330 1230 320.

Presenter: Imran Rahman-Jones
Producer: Tom Quinn
Editor: Monica Soriano

(Image: A photo image of Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg. Credit: Getty Images)


TUE 21:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzgkf5)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 21:06 Newshour (w172zb9b90jddx4)
Trump's choice for Defence Secretary in front of senate committee

Former Fox News host and military veteran Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump's nominee for defence secretary, faced four hours of grilling by the Senate Armed Services Committee. He was challenged over previous comments made about women in the military; elsewhere he vowed to restore a "warrior ethos" to the Pentagon.

Also on the programme: how Russians have been trying to get Ukrainians to sabotage their military, to secure the release of a loved one; and a Canadian pilot, whose skill has impressed the world in scooping up seawater to put out the LA fires.

(Picture: US Secretary of Defence nominee Pete Hegseth during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee in Washington DC. Credit: SHAWN THEW/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)


TUE 22:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzgp59)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 22:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqqqty7wkm)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggc8hl51fp)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 22:32 World Business Report (w3ct60bh)
Miners and body bags hauled from South African mine

The men have been underground since police operations targeting illicit mining started last year across the country. We hear the latest from Stilfontein.

The US Supreme Court is expected to rule this week on TikTok's challenge to an outright ban in the US. We find out about the platform Red Note, that might take its place.

And a pizzeria in the UK is so reluctant to put pineapple on their pizzas, they are instead charging $120 to anyone that orders one. We speak to the restaurant co-owner.


TUE 23:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzgsxf)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 23:06 The Documentary (w3ct7lc4)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


TUE 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggc8hl555t)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 23:32 In the Studio (w3ct5tlv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]

WEDNESDAY 15 JANUARY 2025

WED 00:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzgxnk)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 00:06 The Arts Hour (w3ct5qkm)
[Repeat of broadcast at 20:06 on Saturday]


WED 01:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzh1dp)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 01:06 Business Matters (w172zbfx1c9t9kk)
Cuba removed from US state sponsors of terror list

The Biden administration announced a broad set of steps that it expects to lead to the release of political prisoners in Havana. The plans to relax sanctions targeting Cuba were unvealed just days before Donald Trump takes office.

The US Supreme Court is expected to rule this week on TikTok's challenge to an outright ban in the US. We find out about the platform Red Note, that might take it’s place.

And a pizzeria in the UK is so reluctant to put pineapple on their pizzas, they are instead charging $120 to anyone that orders one. We speak to the restaurant co-owner.


WED 02:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzh54t)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqqqty8ck4)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggc8hl5jf6)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 02:32 The Climate Question (w3ct5wsw)
[Repeat of broadcast at 18:06 on Sunday]


WED 03:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzh8wy)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 03:06 Outlook (w3ct5p5t)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Tuesday]


WED 03:50 Witness History (w3ct5ynj)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 on Tuesday]


WED 04:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzhdn2)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 04:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqqqty8m1d)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggc8hl5rxg)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 04:32 Dramas (w3ct7l6c)
Purple Heart Warriors

Purple Heart Warriors: 6. ‘Go for broke’

As the 442nd take on the Nazi enemy, they shout their unit’s anthem: “Go for broke”. Ken finally learns why he has been transported back into his grandfather’s life as a soldier. Then he finds himself travelling forwards in time to present-day Los Angeles.

This series is inspired by real events and contains dramatised battle scenes and out-dated racial language.

Cast:

Narrator: Will Sharpe
Ken: Akie Kotabe
Lieutenant/Bus guard/Texan soldier/Reporter: Freddy Elletson
Grandpa Allan/ Mr Yamada: Clyde Kusatsu
Emily: Samantha Dakin
Little Ken: Hudson Roberts.
Mrs Tanaka/Baachan/Shirley/Li: Tamlyn Tomita
Nui Louie/Mr Okimura: Aaron Ikeda
Barry/Captain Kim/Private Sasaki/Radio man: Derek Mio
Shorty: Raiko Gohara
Ohta/Captain Minori: Matt McCooey
Drill Sergeant/General Dahlquist: Martin McDougal
Colonel Pence/Earl Finch/Col Miller: Colin Stinton
Sonny: Kurt Kanazawa
Boxer/Crooner/Pokey: Conrad Lihilihi

Written by Iris Yamashita
Sound design: Richard Gould at Skywalker Sound
Recording and mixing: Leon Chambers
Original music: Josh Sneesby
Consultant: L Stuart Hirai
Dramaturg: James Yeatman
Broadcast assistant: Teresa Milewski
Production co-ordinator: Kate Brook
Associate producers: Tim Bell & Rosa Crompton
Director: Jessica Dromgoole
Producer: Catherine Bailey.
Based on an idea by Simon Pitts

A Catherine Bailey production for the BBC World Service


WED 05:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzhjd6)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 05:06 Newsday (w172zbkft569n1s)
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol arrested

This marks the first time in South Korea's history that a sitting president has been arrested. Yoon had been holed up for weeks - investigators tried to arrest him earlier this month but failed.

Palestinians and Israelis dare to hope as Gaza deal reportedly close.

Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump's pick for defence secretary, cleared his first hurdle on the way to confirmation.

(Pic: South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol delivers an address to the nation; Credit: Reuters)


WED 06:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzhn4b)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 06:06 Newsday (w172zbkft569rsx)
South Korean investigators arrest President Yoon

The South Korean President has been taken away for questioning on charges of insurrection and abuse of power over his attempt to impose martial law.

Negotiators at the talks between Israel and Hamas say there are no major issues blocking a ceasefire and hostage release agreement - Israelis and Palestinians are expressing some cautious optimism with the hopes of seeing an end to the war

Elon Musk is sued by financial regulators in the US for waiting too long to disclose he'd bought a large stake in Twitter in 2022, which they allege allowed him to continue purchasing the social media shares at artificially low prices.

(Pic: Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's supporters rally near the Corruption Investigation Office; Credit: Reuters)


WED 07:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzhrwg)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 07:06 Newsday (w172zbkft569wk1)
S Korea's Yoon the first sitting president to be arrested

Yoon, whose failed attempt to impose martial law plunged the country into turmoil and saw him impeached by parliament, is being investigated on charges of insurrection.

Palestinians and Israelis express cautious optimism that a deal on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of hostages held there is close after 15 months of devastating war.

Less than a week before being inaugurated, Donald Trump says he will impose new tariffs on goods entering the US from Canada on his first day in office.

(Pic: Police officers and investigators of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials leave the official residence; Credit: Reuters)


WED 08:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzhwml)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 08:06 HARDtalk (w3ct5t59)
Vladimir Kara-Murza: Is Putin vulnerable?

Stephen Sackur speaks to Vladimir Kara-Murza, the anti-Putin activist who was twice poisoned, then imprisoned in Russia. He was freed in a prisoner swap last summer, and is now lobbying the West to intensify the pressure on the Kremlin. But is there any reason to believe Putin is vulnerable?


WED 08:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggc8hl67wz)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct5zp5)
What could tariffs mean for Canada?

Donald Trump has said he will impose new tariffs on goods entering the US from Canada on his first day in office. Tariffs are a central part of the President-elect's economic vision - he sees them as a way of growing the US economy, protecting jobs and raising tax revenue.

But some warn they could inflate consumer prices.

We look at how Canada is preparing, hearing from those in key sectors like farming and car manufacturing, and explore how the resignation of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau could affect things.

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

Presenter: Sam Gruet
Producer: Megan Lawton

(Picture: Ben Loewith, a third-generation dairy farmer, who runs summit dairy in Hamilton, Ontario, pictured in the dairy. Credit: Sam Gruet/Megan Lawton/BBC)


WED 08:50 Witness History (w3ct5yqs)
Thirty years on from the Kobe earthquake

On 17 January 1995, an earthquake devastated the port city of Kobe, in west Japan.

More than 6,000 people died and around 300,000 people were left homeless.

It was one of the most powerful earthquakes in the country's history.

Rachel Naylor speaks to Kiho Park who, aged eight, had to jump off his balcony to escape when his home was damaged.

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

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

(Photo: A resident walks through the debris in Kobe after the earthquake. Credit: Toru Yamanaka via AFP via Getty Images)


WED 09:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzj0cq)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 09:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqqqty96s1)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggc8hl6cn3)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 09:32 The Climate Question (w3ct5wsw)
[Repeat of broadcast at 18:06 on Sunday]


WED 10:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzj43v)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 10:06 World Questions (w3ct5yyn)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Saturday]


WED 11:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzj7vz)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqqqty9g89)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggc8hl6m4c)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct6dry)
Hope and loss after 15 months of Israel-Gaza conflict

After 15 months of conflict, a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is in sight. But the war has left so many dead, so much destroyed, and a region shaken and redrawn.

As so many are hoping for a deal that will quiet the guns, we're using this moment to take stock. Jonny Dymond speaks to BBC Middle East correspondent Hugo Bachega about what has been lost, and whether anything has been gained, after 466 days of war.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at theglobalstory@bbc.com You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Richard Moran, Beth Timmins and Mhairi MacKenzie

Sound engineer: Gareth Jones

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: China Collins


WED 12:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzjcm3)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 12:06 Outlook (w3ct5pdl)
The siege and the city that shaped Hisham Matar

As a boy, the novelist Hisham Matar was haunted by images of the 1984 Libyan Embassy siege in London. It was when Libyan officials from inside the embassy building opened fire at a group of protestors, seriously wounding 11 people and killing one police officer. At the time, Hisham’s family had been forced to flee Libya and the regime of dictator Colonel Gaddafi and he spent much of his childhood in hiding. Now four decades on, he reflects on how deeply the siege, the city, and the survivors would shape his own life and the writing of his novel, My Friends.

Presenter: Shahidha Bari
Producer: Maryam Maruf

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

(Photo: Hisham Matar. Credit: Getty Images)


WED 12:50 Witness History (w3ct5yqs)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


WED 13:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzjhc7)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 13:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqqqty9prk)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 13:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggc8hl6vmm)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 13:32 Dramas (w3ct7l6c)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


WED 14:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzjm3c)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 14:06 Newshour (w172zb9b90jgglb)
South Korea's suspended president arrested over his attempt to impose martial law

South Korean investigators say the impeached president, Yoon Suk Yeol, is refusing to answer questions under interrogation. He was arrested on Wednesday in relation to his short-lived imposition of martial law in early December. In a video message the president said he had agreed to appear before the investigators to prevent any bloodshed, though he described the investigation as illegal.

We speak to a member of the opposition and to a prominent South Korean writer about the mood in the country.

Also in the programme: an international panel of experts says we need to improve how we diagnose obesity to avoid over-diagnosis; firefighters in LA brace for new high winds; Is Space being privatised - and is that fair? And Kenya's only ice hockey team goes international.


Photo: Supporters of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol rally near the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking officials following his arrest in Gwacheon, South Korea, January 15, 2025. Credit: Soo-hyeon/ REUTERS


WED 15:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzjqvh)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 15:06 HARDtalk (w3ct5t59)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


WED 15:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggc8hl733w)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 15:32 World Business Report (w3ct60dr)
Mozambique's new president sworn in amid opposition boycott

Daniel Chapo is officially sworn in as Mozambique's president after months of unrest that left nearly 300 dead. We explore how businesses are coping with the aftermath of the protests.

Also, Sam Fenwick delves into the challenges facing Germany’s major exporters amid slowing sales and rising costs.

And on a lighter note, the debate over pineapple on pizza heats up as a UK restaurant introduces a hefty price tag to deter Hawaiian pizza lovers!


WED 16:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzjvlm)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 16:06 BBC OS (w172zbjh0725hnz)
Call for overhaul of obesity diagnosis

An international panel of medical experts says a more nuanced approach is needed when diagnosing obesity. They say there should be a new diagnosis for someone who may be carrying excess body fat, but is yet to develop signs of ill health. We speak to our health expert and hear from people who have been diagnosed of obesity.

Negotiators from Israel and Hamas are continuing a final push towards clinching a Gaza ceasefire in talks in Qatar. We have the latest from our Middle East experts.

Rescuers have been pulling body bags and survivors from a South African mines where illegal miners are still thought to be underground. We hear from a rescue worker and speak to our correspondent in Stilfontein where the mine is based.

It's two weeks to the day since that attack in the US city of New Orleans which left 14 dead and dozens wounded. We speak to two people who have been helping those affected to cope with their trauma.

Presenter: Luke Jones.

(Photo: A young child is weighed on scales. Credit: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire)


WED 17:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzjzbr)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 17:06 BBC OS (w172zbjh0725mf3)
BBC sources say Gaza ceasefire reached

A source briefed on the Gaza talks taking place in Qatar has told the BBC that a deal has been reached for a ceasefire and the release of hostages following the Qatari prime minister's separate meetings with Hamas and Israeli negotiators. The US president elect, Donald Trump, also said a deal had been agreed but gave no details.

We have the latest from our correspondent in Jerusalem, and we explain the significance of the deal with the help of our Middle East expert.

We also get reaction from Gaza and speak to our correspondent in Washington.

Presenter: Luke Jones.

(Photo: Palestinians react to news on a ceasefire deal with Israel, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, January 15, 2025. Credit: Mohammed Salem/Reuters)


WED 18:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzk32w)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 18:06 BBC OS (w172zbjh0725r57)
Qatar PM confirms Gaza ceasefire deal

Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani has confirmed in a press conference that a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas has been reached. Earlier, a source briefed on the Gaza talks in Qatar had told the BBC that a deal has been reached for a ceasefire and the release of hostages after the Qatari prime minister met Hamas and Israeli negotiators separately.

We speak to our correspondents and Middle East experts, and we bring reaction from Gaza and Israel.

Presenter: Luke Jones.

(Photo: Israel and Hamas agree on hostage deal and ceasefire, Tel Aviv - 15 Jan 2025. Credit: ABIR SULTAN/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)


WED 19:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzk6v0)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqqqtybf7b)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggc8hl7l3d)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct5wcc)
2025/01/15 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 (w172zgfjtrzkbl4)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 20:06 The Climate Question (w3ct5wsw)
[Repeat of broadcast at 18:06 on Sunday]


WED 20:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggc8hl7pvj)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 20:32 Health Check (w3ct5t9t)
The toll of wildfires on health

With extensive wildfires in Los Angeles, we look at the longer-term health impacts of wildfires and why there is still a risk to health after a fire is extinguished.

A global commission has called for an overhaul of how obesity is diagnosed, suggesting more measures for practitioners to help distinguish between different types of obesity and improve individualized care for each patient.

In Guatemala, reporter Jane Chambers takes us along to a local project supporting residents to transition away from ultra-processed food and towards more traditional eating habits.

Also on the show, in light of 2024 surpassing global climate warming limits of 1.5°C we find out how climate change is impacting HIV prevention and care. Plus, how abortion patients in the UK demonstrate shifting contraception choices, with a rise in ‘natural’ fertility options.

Presenter: Claudia Hammond
Producer: Katie Tomsett & Jack Lee


WED 21:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzkgb8)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 21:06 Newshour (w172zb9b90jh9t7)
Israel and Hamas agree Gaza ceasefire deal

After 15 months of war, Hamas and Israel have agreed a ceasefire agreement which will come into force on the 19th January. The deal will enter a 42-day first phase, after which the second phase of the ceasefire and further release of hostages will need to be agreed. We speak to the brother-in-law of one the Israeli hostages held by Hamas, an Israeli Member of the Knesset who is opposed to the deal, a Palestinian journalist living in Gaza and a representative of UNRWA, the main United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees. Also in the programme: how wildfires in LA have destroyed thousands of homes in working class neighbourhoods. Photo: Palestinian supporters celebrate news of a ceasefire with Israel, in Berlin, Germany, January 15, 2025. REUTERS/Nadja Wohlleben


WED 22:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzkl2d)
Israel and Hamas agree Gaza ceasefire deal

After 15 months of war, Hamas and Israel have agreed a ceasefire agreement which will come into force on the 19th January. The deal will enter a 42-day first phase, after which the second phase of the ceasefire and further release of hostages will need to be agreed. We speak to the brother-in-law of one the Israeli hostages held by Hamas, an Israeli Member of the Knesset who is opposed to the deal, a Palestinian journalist living in Gaza and a representative of UNRWA, the main United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees. Also in the programme: how wildfires in LA have destroyed thousands of homes in working class neighbourhoods. Photo: Palestinian supporters celebrate news of a ceasefire with Israel, in Berlin, Germany, January 15, 2025. REUTERS/Nadja Wohlleben


WED 22:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqqqtybsgq)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggc8hl7ybs)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 22:32 World Business Report (w3ct60h0)
How much will it cost to rebuild Gaza after 15 months of war?

A deal has been reached between Israel and Hamas to end the fighting in Gaza and secure the release of Israeli hostages.

So, if the ceasefire holds, how long will it take to rebuild from the rubble? What would be the priorities? How much will it cost? And who will pay? We will look at all these with different guests, including the head of the United Nations Development Programme, Achim Steiner.

Also in the program, you will hear that some US banks have had a good quarter—the earnings of Goldman Sachs, Wells Fargo, Citibank, and JP Morgan Chase all came in above expectations, and their shares rose on the news.


WED 23:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzkptj)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 23:06 HARDtalk (w3ct5t59)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


WED 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggc8hl822x)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 23:32 Dramas (w3ct7l6c)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]

THURSDAY 16 JANUARY 2025

THU 00:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzktkn)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 00:06 World Questions (w3ct5yyn)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Saturday]


THU 01:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzky9s)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 01:06 Business Matters (w172zbfx1c9x6gn)
Rebuilding Gaza requires billions of dollars

Israel and Hamas have reached an agreement on a ceasefire and the release of hostages in Gaza—raising hopes of an end to fifteen months of war.

So, if the ceasefire holds, how long will it take to rebuild from the rubble? What would be the priorities? How much will it cost? And who will pay? We will look at all these with different guests, including the head of the United Nations Development Programme, Achim Steiner.

Rice is the staple crop for more than half the world’s population, but it's vulnerable to drought and flooding, impacting global harvests and prices. It's also a contributor to climate change; it uses more water than other grain crops. So, should we eat less rice?

We will be joined throughout the program by two guests on opposite sides of the world: Zyma Islam, senior reporter for The Daily Star, who is in Malaysia, and Walter Todd, president and chief investment officer at Greenwood Capital in South Carolina.


THU 02:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzl21x)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqqqtyc8g7)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggc8hl8fb9)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 02:32 The Documentary (w3ct7m5n)
Licence to operate a space object

Since humans have been on earth, the sky at night has caused many to gaze upwards in astonishment. Beyond its beauty, celestial navigation guided humans across the seas, forming new trade routes and civilisations. The constellations also signalled when winter or summer was approaching so people would know when to sow their crops.

But for decades, the night sky has been changing dramatically. Thousands of satellites now blink in amongst the stars and planets, doubling in number in the past few years largely due to the existence of companies like SpaceX. As objects continue to be launched into space with sparse environmental regulations in place, astrophotographer Monika Deviat asks: what do we stand to lose?

With contributions from astronomer Radmila Topalović, astronomy professor and knowledge holder of the Euahlayi nation Ghillar, behavioural ecologist Cecilia Nilsson and lighting project manager at the Sea Turtle Conservancy, Rachel Tighe.

Presenter: Monika Deviat
Producer: Sasha Edye-Lindner
A Reduced Listening production for BBC World Service

(Photo: Monika's self portrait with the rising Milky Way on a mountain ridge in Waterton Lakes National Park, an international Dark Sky Park in Alberta, Canada. Credit: Monika Deviat Photography)


THU 03:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzl5t1)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 03:06 Outlook (w3ct5pdl)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Wednesday]


THU 03:50 Witness History (w3ct5yqs)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 on Wednesday]


THU 04:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzl9k5)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 04:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqqqtychyh)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggc8hl8ntk)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 04:32 The Food Chain (w3ct5xp0)
Should we eat less rice?

Rice is the main staple for over half the world’s population.

The crop has problems though – it is vulnerable to climate change, whether that’s drought or flooding. It’s also a crop that contributes to climate change, as it uses more water than other grain crops and is frequently grown in flooded conditions. Rice production is also a big source of methane emissions.

In this programme Ruth Alexander hears about the possible solutions to these problems. Dr Yvonne Pinto, Director General of the International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines talks about their work developing new varieties of rice, and new more sustainable farming techniques.

One rice company trialling these techniques is Tilda in the UK. General Manager Jean-Philippe Laborde explains what difference it’s made to water and fertiliser use as well as methane emissions.

Given the problems with rice, should we just eat less of it?

Jakob Klein, anthropologist at SOAS University of London explains the Chinese government’s attempts to convince people to eat more potato as a staple food.

And we talk about the cultural importance of rice with listeners in the Philippines and Bangladesh.

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

Presented by Ruth Alexander.

Produced by Beatrice Pickup.

(Image: a steaming bowl of rice with chopsticks above it holding a mouthful of white rice grains. Credit: Getty Images/BBC)


THU 05:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzlf99)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 05:06 Newsday (w172zbkft56djyw)
Gaza ceasefire deal finally reached

US President Joe Biden said it would "halt the fighting in Gaza, surge much needed-humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians, and reunite the hostages with their families".

US President Joe Biden led the diplomatic effort to get the deal - so how will his Gaza policies define his legacy?

And we will head to South Korea as the impeachment trial of the President opens.

(Pic: Palestinians react to news on a ceasefire deal with Israel, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip; Credit: Reuters)


THU 06:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzlk1f)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 06:06 Newsday (w172zbkft56dnq0)
Celebrations in Gaza and joy among the families of Israeli hostages

The ceasefire deal would see 33 hostages - including women, children and elderly people - exchanged for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. We hear from a family whose son has been taken hostage.

With the deal aid agencies are hoping to increase the humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip - we will be hearing from those working on the ground on what's needed and the challenges ahead.

(Pic: Family members of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza and their supporters light torches as they react to ceasefire reports; Credit: EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)


THU 07:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzlnsk)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 07:06 Newsday (w172zbkft56dsg4)
Israel's cabinet set to meet to approve ceasefire deal

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres says easing "the tremendous suffering caused by this conflict" is the first priority.

Our international editor, Jeremy Bowen, explains what is in the deal and what it means for the region. We explore the agreement from different perspectives throughout the programme.

It will take years to rebuild Gaza. We hear from the Head of UN Development Programme.

(Photo: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C) holds a meeting with the Security Cabinet after Iran's missile attacks on Israel in West Jerusalem on 1 October, 2024. Director of the Mossad David Barnea (R) also in the meeting. Credit: Avi Ohayon (GPO)/Getty Images)


THU 08:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzlsjp)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 08:06 The Inquiry (w3ct5xjh)
Is fake alcohol a global threat?

Drinks with toxic ingredients have been linked to deaths and poisonings in Turkey, Laos and India in 2024.

Fake alcohol is unrecorded and unregulated alcohol that hasn’t been registered in official statistics for sales, production or trade. The range of unrecorded alcohol includes alcohol smuggled across borders, counterfeit alcohol and homemade brew.

This week of The Inquiry we look at how toxic and widespread fake alcohol is. What are the health risks of drinking contaminated alcohol? Bootleg alcohol is big business for criminals, are governments doing enough to combat the illicit alcohol trade?

Presenter: Charmaine Cozier

Producer: Vicky Carter
Researcher: Katie Morgan
Production Co-ordinator: Liam Morrey
Technical producer: Toby James
Editor: Tara McDermott

Contributors:
Dr. Monica Swahn, alcohol epidemiologist and professor at the Wellstar College of Health and Human Services at Kennesaw State University in the USA, currently based in Uganda.
Dr Dirk Lachenmeier, food chemist and toxicologist, director of department of plant-based foods at CVUA Karlsruhe, an official control laboratory, Germany.
Piotr Stryszowski, senior economist at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and head of the Working Party on Countering Illicit Trade (WP-CIT), France.
Jeff Hardy, Director General of Transnational Alliance to Combat Illicit Trade, USA.


THU 08:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggc8hl94t2)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct5zd4)
What next for US-Africa relations under a second Trump administration?

We look at what a second Donald Trump presidency could mean for Africa, hearing from economists and business owners.

We explore some of the existing trade pacts between the US and Africa, and consider the significance of remittances - the money sent back home by African migrants living overseas.

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

Presented and produced by Michael Kaloki

(Picture: Then President Donald Trump walks with the former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on the White House colonnade as they make their way to the Oval Office, on February 6, 2020 in Washington, DC. Credit: Getty Images)


THU 08:50 Witness History (w3ct5yl8)
'I wrote Schindler's List'

In 1980, Australian author Thomas Keneally stumbled across the story of Oskar Schindler while buying a briefcase in Beverly Hills, in the USA.

The owner of the shop, a Polish Jew called Leopold Pfefferberg, told Thomas that a Nazi party member had saved him, his wife and many others from the Holocaust, by employing them in his enamel factory.

Thomas tells Rachel Naylor why Oskar was such a compelling subject, full of contradictions, and why he believes his book has lasting appeal.

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

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

(Photo: Thomas Keneally at his home in Bilgola Beach, Australia, in 1981. Credit: Martin James Brannan/Fairfax Media via Getty Images)


THU 09:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzlx8t)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 09:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqqqtyd3p4)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggc8hl98k6)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 09:32 The Documentary (w3ct7m5n)
[Repeat of broadcast at 02:32 today]


THU 10:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzm10y)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 10:06 The Explanation (w3ct6pms)
The Media Show: Reporting the LA fires

The devastation caused by the wildfires in Los Angeles has been profound, with homes and communities left in ruins. Jonathan Hunt, Fox News correspondent, and Emma Vardy of BBC News recount their experience of reporting from the Pacific Palisades. Allison Agsten, director of the Annenberg Centre for Climate Journalism and Communication, shares her concern that media coverage has often overlooked the role of climate change in exacerbating these events. Caroline Frost, columnist for the Radio Times, reflects on the prominence of celebrity involvement in coverage of the disaster.

Artificial intelligence has been used to recreate Sir Michael Parkinson’s voice for a podcast series that explores the boundaries of technology and human storytelling. Benjamin Field, producer of Virtually Parkinson, describes how the system was trained on more than 100 hours of archival material to recreate the legendary broadcaster.

Presenter: Ros Atkins
Producer: Simon Richardson
Assistant producer: Lucy Wai


THU 10:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggc8hl9d9b)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 10:32 Happy News (w3ct5sqq)
[Repeat of broadcast at 19:32 on Saturday]


THU 11:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzm4s2)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqqqtydc5d)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggc8hl9j1g)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct6dv6)
Israel and Hamas agree to a ceasefire in Gaza

Following intense negotiations, Israel and Hamas have arrived at a ceasefire deal to end more than 15 months of war in Gaza. All Israeli hostages being held by Hamas will be released, while Israel’s soldiers will withdraw fully from Gaza, and allow 600 aid trucks per day to enter the devastated territory. Despite outgoing US president Joe Biden’s insistence that the terms of the deal are similar to what his administration had put before both parties back in May, the man waiting to take his place in the White House, Donald Trump, is already taking credit for getting Hamas and the Israeli government to the agreement.

The BBC’s Chief International Correspondent Lyse Doucet joins The Global Story’s Jonny Dymond to break down the terms of this landmark agreement, and tells us how the warring parties ultimately arrived at an accord.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at theglobalstory@bbc.com You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Richard Moran, Tom Kavanagh and Beth Timmins

Sound engineer: Mike Regaard

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: China Collins


THU 12:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzm8j6)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 12:06 Outlook (w3ct5nz1)
Becoming a catfish to catch a catfish

One day in 2024, Welsh journalist Andrew Lloyd was taking a look at who had viewed his most recent Instagram story. That’s when he saw something strange: himself. More specifically, an Instagram profile using photos of his face, but under a different name. Andrew realized someone had spent years collecting his images in order to make fake Facebook and Instagram accounts. Andrew decided he’d become a catfish in order to try to confront this catfisher. Eventually, he was able to get in contact with the fraud and discover why he had been stealing Andrew’s likeness.

Presenter: Jo Fidgen
Producer: Saskia Collette

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

(Photo: Andrew Lloyd standing in a street. Credit: Chris Lloyd)


THU 12:50 Witness History (w3ct5yl8)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


THU 13:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzmd8b)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 13:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqqqtydlnn)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 13:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggc8hl9rjq)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 13:32 The Food Chain (w3ct5xp0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


THU 14:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzmj0g)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 14:06 Newshour (w172zb9b90jkchf)
Gaza ceasefire: Israeli cabinet meeting delayed

An Israeli cabinet meeting to ratify the ceasefire agreement for Gaza between Israel and Hamas is delayed, with the government accusing Hamas of reneging on the terms. We hear from a member of the governing coalition and from Hamas, which denies Israel's accusation.

We also hear from one man in Gaza about his hopes for the deal - and from the family of one Israeli hostage. And we talk to the co-author of a new study reassessing the number of those killed in Gaza, who explains why current estimates are likely to be far too low.

(Photo: A Palestinian child jumps down from the rubble of a building destroyed in previous Israeli strikes, ahead of a ceasefire set to take effect on Sunday, in Khan Younis, Gaza, 16 January, 2025. Credit: Hatem Khaled/Reuters)


THU 15:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzmmrl)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 15:06 The Inquiry (w3ct5xjh)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


THU 15:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggc8hlb00z)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 15:32 World Business Report (w3ct603q)
The jobs needed to rebuild Gaza's economy

After 15 months of bitter conflict on the Gaza Strip, a ceasefire deal has been agreed
.
With the cost of rebuilding estimated as much as 80 billion dollars, Sam Fenwick explores the critical aspect of job creation, essential for providing livelihoods to a population that has faced significant economic hardship.

Also on the programme, a look at the potential impact of the Trump presidency on business across Africa.


THU 16:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzmrhq)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 16:06 BBC OS (w172zbjh0728dl2)
Israeli cabinet yet to vote on ceasefire deal

A vote by the Israeli cabinet on the Gaza ceasefire deal has been delayed, after Israel accused Hamas of reneging on part of the agreement. A BBC correspondent says Hamas is trying to get one or two of its commanders on the list of prisoners to be freed. We speak to our correspondent in Jerusalem and our chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet gives her analysis.

We also get reaction from people inside Gaza and from those who have fled the war to other countries.

Our correspondent Mark Lowen joins live from "Hostages Square" in Tel Aviv, speaking to protesters and relatives of Israeli hostages.

Presenters: Mark Lowen in Tel Aviv and Luke Jones in London.

(Photo: Families of fallen Israeli soldiers protest against Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal, Jerusalem, 16 Jan 2025. Credit: Abir Sultan/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)


THU 17:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzmw7v)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 17:06 BBC OS (w172zbjh0728jb6)
Gaza ceasefire deal: Aid workers

We hear a conversation between aid workers in Gaza following the announcement of a ceasefire deal. Sam Rose the senior deputy director of Unwra, Dr Mohammed Abu Mughaiseeb, deputy medical co-ordinator for MSF and Liz Allcock, head of protection for MAP, (Medical Aid for Palestinians) tell us how they are preparing for the first phase of the ceasefire.

We hear messages from Gazans and Israelis for their reaction to the deal.

Our Middle East analyst Sebastian Usher gives us the latest on why a planned Israeli cabinet vote on the agreement has been pushed back.

Meanwhile our correspondent Will Grant in Washington DC debriefs on US Secretary of State's Anthony Blinken's farewell press conference.

Presenter: Luke Jones

(Photo: A destroyed building in Gaza. Credit: Reuters)


THU 18:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzmzzz)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 18:06 Outlook (w3ct5nz1)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 today]


THU 18:50 Witness History (w3ct5yl8)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


THU 19:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzn3r3)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqqqtyfb4f)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggc8hlbh0h)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct5w6v)
2025/01/16 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 (w172zgfjtrzn7h7)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 20:06 The Documentary (w3ct7m5n)
[Repeat of broadcast at 02:32 today]


THU 20:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggc8hlblrm)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 20:32 Science In Action (w3ct5vf0)
AI antivenoms and vegetarian hominids

New types of snake-bite anti-venoms are designed by AI. Also, how much meat did human ancestors eat? How the Baltic Nord Stream gas pipeline rupture of 2022 was the biggest single release of methane ever caused by humans, and that Pluto met Charon, not with a bang, but more of a kiss.

Using a high precision technique for spotting different isotopes of Nitrogen, Tina Lüdecke of the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry has concluded that a group of early hominin Australopithecus living in South Africa were predominantly vegetarian, putting the date that human ancestors started eating meat (and thence growing bigger brains) to more recently. The technique, she thinks, can enlighten prehistoric food webs and ecologies from millions of years ago.

Last year’s Nobel prizes showed the potential new techniques of AI to design synthetic proteins. Timothy P Jenkins and colleagues decided to try designing treatments for snakebite venoms, with remarkable apparent success. It could save many thousands of lives a year.

Since the September 2022 explosions at the Nord Stream gas pipeline in the Baltic sea, many different analyses of how much methane was released have provided a variety of estimates. This week, scientists at the UNEP International Methane emissions observatory – including Stephen Harris - published a study estimating it to be a little under half a million tonnes, making it by far the single biggest human caused release of this most dangerous greenhouse gas. Yet, they say, even that is a tiny fraction of what is released overall around the world every year.

And Finally, a new analysis of the original formation of the Pluto-Charon binary Dwarf Planetary system suggests they – and possibly many other Kuiper belt pairing – were born of a gentle astronomical dance and a peck on the cheek, rather than the catastrophic collision we associate with the earth-moon’s fiery first date. And it may have lasted just a matter of days, according to author Adeene Denton of the University of Arizona.



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

(Photo: Gorilla feeding. Credit: WLDavies/Getty Images)


THU 21:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrznc7c)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 21:06 Newshour (w172zb9b90jl6qb)
Israeli minister threatens to quit over ceasefire

Itamar Ben-Gvir is a far right politician who, if he does resign, could bring down the Israeli government. He says a ceasefire would be a win for Hamas,

Also on the programme: the American director David Lynch, whose work included films like The Elephant Man and Blue Velvet as well as the TV series Twin Peaks, has died at the age of 78. Nicholas Cage, the star of his classic film Wild At Heart, pays tribute: and animal rights campaigners in France are celebrating the saving of a tame wild boar named "Rillette", who was named after a meat pâté. We hear from the woman who saved him.

(Picture: Israel's Minister of national security, Itamar Ben-Gvir. Credit: Reuters)


THU 22:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzngzh)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 22:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqqqtyfpct)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggc8hlbv7w)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 22:32 World Business Report (w3ct605z)
Israel’s military spending increases significantly in 2024

Israel's economy has been hit by the 15-month-long war in Gaza, and its military spending has gone up significantly, according to the economic researchers at Capital Economics. We will be speaking to one of the economic analysts who did the research.

The former Bank of Canada governor, Mark Carney, says he is running to replace Justin Trudeau as the leader of Canada's governing Liberal Party. Casting himself as an outsider with strong economic credentials, he distanced himself from the prime minister’s unpopular government.

And, we will look at who's planning a trip to North Korea during the northern hemisphere holiday. The country has reopened one of its border cities to foreign tourists for the first time in five years.


THU 23:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrznlqm)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 23:06 The Inquiry (w3ct5xjh)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


THU 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggc8hlbz00)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 23:32 The Food Chain (w3ct5xp0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]

FRIDAY 17 JANUARY 2025

FRI 00:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrznqgr)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 00:06 The Explanation (w3ct6pms)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:06 on Thursday]


FRI 00:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggc8hlc2r4)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 00:32 Happy News (w3ct5sqq)
[Repeat of broadcast at 19:32 on Saturday]


FRI 01:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrznv6w)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 01:06 Business Matters (w172zbfx1cb03cr)
Former Bank of Canada governor runs to replace Justin Trudeau

Former Bank of Canada governor, Mark Carney, says he is running to replace Justin Trudeau as the leader of Canada's governing Liberal Party.

Donald Trump's pick as Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, has been defending his boss's economic plans at his confirmation hearing in the US Senate.

And, as China prepares to release GDP figures in the next hour, we'll ask how it can stimulate growth, and we will look at who's planning a trip to North Korea during the northern hemisphere holiday. The country has reopened one of its border cities to foreign tourists for the first time in five years.

We will be joined throughout the program by two guests on opposite sides of the world: Jessica Khine is in Malaysia and is Head of Asia for Astris Advisory Japan, and Dante Disparte is in Washington, DC—he's Chief Strategy Officer at Circle.


FRI 02:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrznyz0)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqqqtyg5cb)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggc8hlcb7d)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 02:32 Tech Life (w3ct5wnd)
[Repeat of broadcast at 20:32 on Tuesday]


FRI 03:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzp2q4)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 03:06 Outlook (w3ct5nz1)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Thursday]


FRI 03:50 Witness History (w3ct5yl8)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 on Thursday]


FRI 04:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzp6g8)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 04:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqqqtygdvl)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggc8hlckqn)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 04:32 Heart and Soul (w3ct5tgb)
Kaddish: Why we pray for the dead

Elie Wiesel, Nobel Prize winner and Holocaust survivor, once told Michael Goldfarb of people going to their deaths at Auschwitz asking who will say Kaddish for me? Kadish is the Jewish prayer for the dead.

On the 80th anniversary of Auschwitz' liberation Goldfarb visits the remains of the death camp and explores the origins of Kaddish, and why the Jewish prayer for the dead is a song of praise to God rather than a lament for loved ones who have left us.

Presenter: Michael Goldfarb
Producer: Julia Hayball
A Certain Heights production for BBC World Service

(Photo: Visitors walk around Auschwitz, some draped in Israeli flags, December 2024. Credit: Michael Goldfarb)


FRI 05:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzpb6d)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 05:06 Newsday (w172zbkft56hfvz)
Israel to 'approve ceasefire deal'

The office of the Israeli prime minister says the ceasefire and hostage release deal in Gaza has now been agreed, and his cabinet will meet to approve the agreement. It comes after last minute disagreements delayed the ratification. We'll head to Gaza to get a reaction from there, get an assessment from our international editor, and speak to the Assistant Secretary General of the League of Arab States about what comes next. We'll also speak to the former Supreme Allied Commander in Europe of the Western defence alliance NATO about the prospects for peace in Gaza.

We'll hear from the former Georgian prime minister, now in opposition, who says he was attacked and injured by members of the governing Georgian Dream party, as protests in the country continue.

South Sudanese citizens loot Sudanese shops in Juba, in response to the killing of South Sudanese in Sudan's civil war.

In business we will hear about Elon Musk's attempt to dominate the space vehicle market, and we have sports too - that's after the latest world news

(Photo: Pro-Palestinian protesters march in New York City, U.S., January 16, 2025; Credit: Reuters)


FRI 06:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzpfyj)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 06:06 Newsday (w172zbkft56hkm3)
Israeli cabinet to vote on ceasefire deal

We'll hear from Gaza and Israel on the ceasefire expected to start on Sunday. Will it bring immediate relief for the two million people inside Gaza?

And while many Israelis back the release of hostages held by Hamas, we hear a warning from the Israeli settler movement in the West Bank and speak to
a former Israeli minister.

Nigeria's finance minister joins us live after more than a year of painful economic reforms in the country.

We'll look back at the deadly collapse of a dumpsite in Uganda.

And in business, China announces surprisingly high growth figures. What could it mean for the rest of us and crucially Donald Trump's policies towards America's trading rival.

(Photo: Israeli far-right activists during a protest against a ceasefire deal, Jerusalem, 16 January 2025; Credit: EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)


FRI 07:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzpkpn)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 07:06 Newsday (w172zbkft56hpc7)
Israel's cabinet to ratify ceasefire agreement

The office of the Israeli prime minister says the country's security cabinet will meet today to approve the Gaza ceasefire agreement. Last minute disagreements had delayed the ratification.

We hear about South Korea's 4B movement and why interest around the world has spiked about this following Donald Trump's presidential success in the US.

Hollywood actor Nicholas Cage has a personal take on David Lynch, the cult, surrealist film-maker who has died aged 78.

South Sudanese are angry about the killing of their civilians in Sudan's civil war. Wespeak to a senior official.

And as temperatures continue to rise, it may now be impossible to meet global warming targets.

(Photo: A pro-Palestinian protester, New York City, US, 16 January, 2025. Credit: Reuters)


FRI 08:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzppfs)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 08:06 HARDtalk (w3ct4nzc)
Jonna Mendez: Does the world still need spies?

Stephen Sackur speaks to former US spy Jonna Mendez, who was the CIA’s chief of disguise running Cold War operations in Moscow, Havana and beyond.


FRI 08:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggc8hld1q5)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct5z33)
Business Daily meets: Pascal Lamy

The French businessman was Director-General of the WTO from 2005–2013, and European commissioner for trade for five years from 1999 – 2004.

Ed Butler speaks to Pascal Lamy about the trading relationships between the US and China, and the US and the EU, what a second Trump presidency might mean for world trade.

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

Producer: Amber Mehmood

(Picture: Pascal Lamy, photo taken in Paris, November 2022. Credit: Getty Images)


FRI 08:50 Witness History (w3ct5yfr)
Drum: Africa’s revolutionary magazine

Drum was considered to be the first African lifestyle magazine with a readership of 40,000 in its 1950s heyday. It was first printed in South Africa in 1951 and became a voice of resistance during Apartheid.

Drum hit newsstands in 12 countries across the continent after former World War Two pilot Jim Bailey bought the publication after the first two editions flopped. Jim changed the focus by telling African stories by African writers and shining a spotlight on music, culture and life in the illegal drinking joints known as shebeens.

Black writers including Henry Nxumalo, known as Mr Drum, were credited with revolutionising journalism and literature in South Africa. Reena Stanton-Sharma speaks to Jim's son Prospero Bailey.




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

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

(Photo: The Drum Office in 1954. Credit: Jurgen Schadeberg from The Schadeberg Collection)


FRI 09:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzpt5x)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 09:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqqqtyh0l7)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggc8hld5g9)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 09:32 Science In Action (w3ct5vf0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 20:32 on Thursday]


FRI 10:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzpxy1)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 10:06 Unexpected Elements (w3ct5q31)
Circles, circumferences and COVID

After the comic malfunctions of a self-driving car, which drove its passenger/prisoner in endless circles, Unexpected Elements rounds its attention on the humble circle.

Explore how one man calculated the circumference of the Earth 2,000 years before GPS was invented, then be spellbound by the Magic Circle and the mysterious woman who broke into it. And as we hit the five-year anniversary of the COVID pandemic, we take a look at the cycle of infection and mutation, before asking, 'why don’t we have one antiviral pill that kills them all?'

We’re joined by evolutionary psychologist Professor Robin Dunbar, who calculated Dunbar’s number; that is, the maximum number of folks you can hold onto in your circle of friends... 5? 500? 5,000? Robin reveals how many REAL friends science says you can have.

Presenters: Marnie Chesterton, with Camilla Mota and Phillys Mwatee
Producers: Harrison Lewis, with Alice Lipscombe-Southwell and William Hornbrook


FRI 11:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzq1p5)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqqqtyh82h)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggc8hlddyk)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct6dxg)
Biden's diplomatic legacy: Afghanistan, Ukraine and Gaza

As Joe Biden’s term as President of the United States draws to a close, he’s trying to define his international legacy. From the Ukraine war, to the Gaza ceasefire, to the US pulling out of Afghanistan; Biden’s tenure has seen US involvement in multiple world events and conflicts. So how will his impact beyond American shores be remembered? And has he left the US stronger or weaker than it was before he took office?

The BBC’s diplomatic correspondent, James Landale, speaks with The Global Story’s Jonny Dymond to discuss the effect that Joe Biden’s presidency has had on different parts of the world. We also hear the stories of some of those who have been directly affected by US foreign policy in Ukraine and Afghanistan.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at theglobalstory@bbc.com You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Alice Aylett Roberts, Eleanor Sly and Peter Goffin

Sound engineer: Dafydd Evans and Mike Regaard

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: China Collins


FRI 12:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzq5f9)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 12:06 Outlook (w3ct699z)
Outlook Mixtape: In pursuit of beauty

Sean Ronayne was an outsider who found solace in the natural world, earning himself the nickname "Nature Boy." His journey to record the songs of all 200 native bird species in Ireland not only connected him with a community of appreciative nature enthusiasts, both in Ireland and online, but also helped him gain a new acceptance of himself and his way of being in the world.

One day in 2024, Welsh journalist Andrew Lloyd was checking who had viewed his most recent Instagram story when he saw something strange: himself. More specifically, an Instagram profile using photos of his face but under a different name. Eventually, he managed to get in contact with the fraudster and discover why his likeness had been stolen.

As a child, Paolo Pirjanian fled Iran as a refugee. However, upon trying to make a new life in Denmark, he encountered racism, which made it difficult for him to fit in. A chance to get his own computer and write code set him on a path to develop robots—first to explore distant planets for NASA, and later he created personalised robots to help vulnerable children make sense of the world.

Presenter: Jo Fidgen
Producer: Tommy Dixon

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

(Photo: Cassette tape. Credit: Getty Images)


FRI 12:50 Witness History (w3ct5yfr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


FRI 13:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzq95f)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 13:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqqqtyhhkr)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 13:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggc8hldnft)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 13:32 Heart and Soul (w3ct5tgb)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


FRI 14:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzqdxk)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 14:06 Newshour (w172zb9b90jn8dj)
Israeli cabinet meets to approve ceasefire

The Israeli cabinet is meeting to approve the Gaza ceasefire and hostage release agreement. Some relatives of the hostages say it should have come months ago, but several ministers have threatened to resign if it is ratified. We hear from Jerusalem and from Gaza.

Also in the programme: why atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas, were the highest ever last year, and what that means; and we get a tour of the luxury Roman spa just discovered in the ruins of Pompeii.

(IMAGE: The Israeli Security Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, meeting ahead of the full Cabinet meeting which is expected to approve the Gaza ceasefire agreement, Friday 17th January 2025 / CREDIT: Israel Government Press Office / Koby Gideon)


FRI 15:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzqjnp)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 15:06 HARDtalk (w3ct4nzc)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


FRI 15:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggc8hldwy2)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 15:32 World Business Report (w3ct5ztp)
US Supreme Court upholds TikTok ban

Will Bain hears from our North America Business Correspondent Michelle Fleury as the news breaks that the US Supreme Court has ruled against TikTok's appeal over its imminent ban in the United States. The president -elect, Donald Trump, wants the social media site to continue operating.

Nigeria's finance minister assures the World Service the country's economy is turning a corner - but does it feel like that for Nigerians trying to make a living? We hear from Dr Chinyere Almona, Director-General of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Plus Erling Haaland signs a new long-term deal with the club that will keep him at the Etihad until 2034. We ask why Manchester City have signed him up for so long - and why Premier League clubs are all talking about one word: amortisation.


FRI 16:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzqndt)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 16:06 BBC OS (w172zbjh072c9h5)
Israel set to approve Gaza ceasefire deal

The full Israeli cabinet is meeting to ratify the Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal after it was recommended for approval by the security cabinet. We have the latest from Jerusalem.

We explain the events that have led to the ceasefire and how the deal was reached.

We are live at "Hostages Square" in Tel Aviv, a gathering point for families of the Israeli hostages and their supporters. We also hear about the situation in Gaza where bombing has continued.

The US Supreme Court has ruled against TikTok's appeal over its imminent ban in the United States. We speak to our correspondent about what this means and get reaction from influencers.

Presenters: Mark Lowen in Tel Aviv and Luke Jones in London.

(Photo: Families of Israeli hostages held in Gaza react to Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal, Tel Aviv - 17 Jan 2025. Credit: ABIR SULTAN/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock )


FRI 17:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzqs4y)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 17:06 BBC OS (w172zbjh072cf79)
Israeli cabinet meeting to ratify ceasefire deal

The full Israeli cabinet is meeting to ratify the Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal after it was recommended for approval by the security cabinet. We have the latest from our correspondent in Jerusalem.

We explain the events that have led to the ceasefire and how the deal was reached.

We have also brought together three people who left Gaza but still have family living there. They share how they have experienced a lot of loss over the last 15 months.

Large anti-government protests will return across Serbia tonight after a young woman was seriously injured on Thursday, when a driver rammed his car into the crowd. We hear from some of the protesters and explain why they are demonstrating.

And ahead of Donald Trump's inauguration, we have been hearing from people in the US with their thoughts on Joe Biden's legacy.

Presenter: Luke Jones.

(Photo: Palestinian boys stand near a damaged tent for displaced people, after an Israeli airstrike, amid the conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, January 17, 2025. Credit: Hatem Khaled/Reuters)


FRI 18:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzqwx2)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 18:06 Outlook (w3ct699z)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 today]


FRI 18:50 Witness History (w3ct5yfr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


FRI 19:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzr0n6)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqqqtyj71j)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggc8hlfcxl)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct5w2b)
2025/01/17 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 (w172zgfjtrzr4db)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 20:06 BBC OS Conversations (w3ct5rct)
Living through the Los Angeles fires

Vast areas of Los Angeles have been destroyed since these fires began on 7 January. Thousands of homes and businesses have been lost, and tens of thousands of people have been forced to evacuate.

In our conversations we hear from Kelly, who had just minutes to gather a few possessions before her home was destroyed, and DJ describes seeing a nearby hillside glowing, the sky lit by flames, as he and his family fled.

We are joined by Teddy whose family had to abandon their house and lost their restaurant – a familiar LA landmark – in the fire. “We landed in an Airbnb down in Mar Vista with our sons and grandkids,” she tells us. “Looking around the room, I just went okay, what matters is in this room, all the rest…well it’s okay.”

Two firefighters from Los Angeles County Fire Department share their experiences of co-ordinating the response to the fires and explain why they are so difficult to put out.

We also hear from Mendy and his father-in-law Dovid, both rabbis based in Topanga to the west of the city. Although they had to evacuate their homes, they saved religious scrolls and have been providing essential supplies to those who are still there.

Host: Luke Jones
BBC producers: Iqra Farooq, Virginia Kelly and Isabella Bull
Boffin Media producer: Richard Hollingham

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

(Photo: Paula Tapia hugs Katja Schmolka, who lost her home in the Palisades Fire, in Los Angeles, California, US, 10 January, 2025. Credit: David Ryder/Reuters)


FRI 20:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggc8hlfhnq)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 20:32 CrowdScience (w3ct5rjb)
Which animal has the biggest carbon footprint?

Carbon footprints are a measure of how much we each contribute to the greenhouse gases that warm the Earth’s atmosphere. The global average of carbon dioxide emissions is nearly 5 tonnes per person per year, although it can be triple that in certain countries.

But one CrowdScience listener in Ghana is wondering about the bigger picture. After all, humans aren’t the only species on this planet. So which other animal has the biggest carbon footprint?

CrowdScience presenters Caroline Steel and Marnie Chesterton are on the case, examining and arguing over the animal that deserves the top spot for this title.

Caroline, a vegan, points to the cow as the top contender, since the livestock sector produces 14.5% of total greenhouse gas emissions, and cows, whether as meat or dairy animals, are responsible for the majority of that. The team look at initiatives around the world to be more efficient with each animal out there. But maybe it’s time to put another sector in the spotlight? Pets. We love our dogs and cats but do their meat-based diets win them a place on the podium?

From most loved to most detested, we look at the role that key pests play in upsetting the carbon budget. Could a small beetle with a large appetite for greenery be an unusual winner, thanks to the trees these pests destroy over their lifetimes?

Is the biggest offender a carbon footprint, hoofprint, pawprint, or clawprint?

Presenters: Caroline Steel and Marnie Chesterton
Producer: Marnie Chesterton
Editor: Cathy Edwards
Production co-ordinator: Ishmael Soriano
Technical producers: Sarah Hockley and Donald MacDonald


FRI 21:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzr84g)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 21:06 Newshour (w172zb9b90jp3mf)
Interviews, news and analysis of the day’s global events.


FRI 22:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzrcwl)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 22:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqqqtyjl8x)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggc8hlfr4z)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 22:32 World Business Report (w3ct5zwy)
First broadcast 17/01/2025 22:32 GMT

The latest business and finance news from around the world, on the BBC.


FRI 23:00 BBC News (w172zgfjtrzrhmq)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 23:06 HARDtalk (w3ct4nzc)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


FRI 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggc8hlfvx3)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 23:32 Heart and Soul (w3ct5tgb)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]