SATURDAY 14 DECEMBER 2024
SAT 00:00 BBC News (w172zgfh0fdvwbn)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 00:06 Unexpected Elements (w3ct5q2w)
Totally bananas
This week, a banana sold at auction for $6.2 million dollars. Well, not quite… it’s actually a piece of conceptual art and it’s WAY more than just a banana. There’s also some duct tape.
In response to this most bananas of auctions, the Unexpected Elements team are going bananas for bananas!
We investigate the science of slipping on a banana-skin. Is it just ‘cartoon physics’ or are they actually a slip-hazard?
And did you know your breakfast banana might be… radioactive?
Also, can Romanian ethical hackers succeed where the police have failed? We look at the computer sleuths tackling real life missing persons cases.
We find the answer to why toads have evolved such dangerous skins, and yet more bananas, as we look at the pros and cons of the Ethiopian False Banana. Why hasn’t this hardy plant conquered the world?
Presenter: Marnie Chesterton, with Andrada Fiscutean and Christine Yohannes
Producers: Emily Knight, Alice Lipscombe-Southwell and William Hornbrook
Sound engineer: Searle Whittney
SAT 01:00 BBC News (w172zgfh0fdw02s)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 01:06 Business Matters (w172zbfv70r687n)
France has another Prime Minister – but will François Bayrou get the budget through?
France has a new Prime Minister…but can François Bayrou fix the economy where his predecessor failed? We talk to a biographer who says the jury’s out.
Russia’s economy shows surprise growth—but with inflation soaring and sanctions biting, is it all as good as it seems?
And Christmas classics still rule the airwaves—and the royalty cheques. Will new Xmas songs ever break through?
You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 3033. We would love to hear from you!
SAT 02:00 BBC News (w172zgfh0fdw3tx)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqnxhcnb77)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
SAT 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9g50kh39)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SAT 02:32 Stumped (w3ct5whq)
England seal series and Border-Gavaskar Trophy perfectly poised
Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Sunil Gupta reflect on a series of firsts for the England men’s team in New Zealand. They have clinched their first away Test series win in two years and their first over the Black Caps since 2008. Plus, Gus Atkinson took his first ever Test hat-trick in the win in Wellington. Plus we ask if Harry Brook’s remarkable away record can translate to the Ashes?
After things got heated between Mohammed Siraj and Travis Head in Australia, we debate passion versus professionalism.
And the Stumped team are joined by captain of the England men’s Visually Impaired team, Ed Hossell, to ask whether the sport should be in the Paralympics in 2032?
Photo: Harry Brook of England bats during day three of the First Test match in the series between New Zealand and England at Hagley Oval on November 30, 2024 in Christchurch, New Zealand. (Credit: Getty Images)
SAT 03:00 BBC News (w172zgfh0fdw7l1)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 03:06 Outlook (w3ct699t)
Outlook Mixtape: DNA shock, video diaries, ruby slippers
Matt Katz is an award-winning investigative journalist based in the US, but when he started looking into his own family history, he faced his most challenging assignment yet. It all started when he took a DNA test to find out more about where his ancestors had hailed from. He knew they were Ashkenazi Jews who'd emigrated to America from Eastern Europe. But when his results came in, they begged a lot of awkward questions.
In 2014, nine-year-old Mediha Ibrahim Alhamad and her family were kidnapped from Sinjar in northern Iraq by Islamic State militants. Mediha was rescued from IS three years later and reunited with two of her younger brothers. Just a teenager, she became their main caregiver. She also found solace for her own healing in an unexpected place when a filmmaker, Hasan Oswald, gave her a video camera. The camera became her 'best friend', allowing her to tell her story with complete control. Her video diaries are the basis of a documentary film called Mediha.
And the latest twist in the tale of the most famous shoes in film history, a pair of ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz. Once stolen and eventually recovered after a massive FBI operation, they have recently been sold for $28 million. This interview was first broadcast in 2023.
Presenter: India Rakusen
Producer: Julian Siddle
Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com or WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707
(Photo: Cassette tape. Credit: Getty Images)
SAT 03:50 Witness History (w3ct5yfl)
The birth of reggaeton
Singer and DJ, Leonardo Renato Aulder, got together with friends, including El General, to pioneer a movement in the 1980s which they called “reggae in Spanish”.
It later became known as reggaeton.
Many people think this globally popular music – with its legendary stars like Bad Bunny, Ivy Queen and Daddy Yankee - started in Puerto Rico, but they’re wrong.
Renato, as he’s known, took dancehall music from Jamaica and adapted it to his Spanish speaking Panamanian audience to create a new style of music, which spread in clubs and on the buses.
He tells Jane Chambers how he did it.
Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more.
Recent episodes explore everything from football in Brazil, the history of the ‘Indian Titanic’ and the invention of air fryers, to Public Enemy’s Fight The Power, subway art and the political crisis in Georgia. We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: visionary architect Antoni Gaudi and the design of the Sagrada Familia; Michael Jordan and his bespoke Nike trainers; Princess Diana at the Taj Mahal; and Görel Hanser, manager of legendary Swedish pop band Abba on the influence they’ve had on the music industry. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the time an Iraqi journalist hurled his shoes at the President of the United States in protest of America’s occupation of Iraq; the creation of the Hollywood commercial that changed advertising forever; and the ascent of the first Aboriginal MP.
(Photo: Renato performing in Costa Rica. Credit: Leonardo Renato Aulder)
SAT 04:00 BBC News (w172zgfh0fdwcb5)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 04:06 Unexpected Elements (w3ct5q2w)
[Repeat of broadcast at
00:06 today]
SAT 05:00 BBC News (w172zgfh0fdwh29)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 05:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqnxhcnpgm)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
SAT 05:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9g50kvbp)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SAT 05:32 Amazing Sport Stories (w3ct7hmg)
The Olympic defectors
Iraqi weightlifter Raed Ahmed was proud to carry his country's flag at the opening ceremony for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. But the honour came with a strict instruction: he was not to look at the American President, Bill Clinton. Iraq's Olympic Committee was led by Saddam Hussein's son, Uday, a man with a reputation for brutality.
But Raed had already begun to think of escape. And that night, with a single glance, he made up his mind. This is the story of how he took the most dangerous decision of his life, and what happened next.
Audio scenes have been re-created.
SAT 05:50 More or Less (w3ct5tr6)
How many Americans live ‘paycheck to paycheck’?
Are most Americans barely holding their head above water when it comes to personal finances?
That’s what various US politicians and news outlets keep suggesting.
They can’t stop using a statistic about people living “paycheck to paycheck”.
But what does this really mean?
We go behind the headlines to unpick the numbers.
Contributor:
Ben Krauss, journalist
Presenter: Charlotte McDonald
Producer: Vicky Baker and Lizzy McNeill
Series Producer: Tom Colls
Production co-ordinator: Katie Morrison
Sound Engineer: Andrew Mills
Editor: Richard Vadon
SAT 06:00 BBC News (w172zgfh0fdwltf)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 06:06 Weekend (w172zcxbvf0vvq8)
S Korea: Thousands of people outside parliament ahead of second impeachment vote
Tens of thousands of people are protesting outside parliament in South Korea, urging MPs to vote to impeach the president over his failed declaration of martial law. Yoon Suk Yeol survived the first attempt to suspend him last week, when lawmakers loyal to him boycotted the vote. This time several governing party MPs have promised to support the motion.
Meanwhile Friday was a day of celebrations in Syria while people are still digesting how in just a few short days ,an astonishing rebel offensive brought to an end five decades of authoritarian rule under the Assad regime.
To Georgia where crowds of anti-government demonstrators are again massing in the capital, Tbilisi, where parliament is meeting to vote for a new president. To discuss this and more, Madeleine Schwartz, a journalist based in Paris and editor-in-chief of The Dial, a magazine of international writing and Danny Sriskandarajah, chief executive of the progressive, UK-based New Economics Foundation think-tank.
CREDIT: Protesters calls for impeachment of SouthKorean President Yoon – Jeon Heon-Kyun/EPA
SAT 07:00 BBC News (w172zgfh0fdwqkk)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 07:06 Weekend (w172zcxbvf0vzgd)
South Korean lawmakers begin Yoon impeachment deliberations
Members of parliament in South Korea have gathered to start impeachment proceedings against President Yoon Suk Yeol over his failed declaration of martial law earlier this month. Tens of thousands of people are protesting outside parliament urging MPs to vote to impeach President Yoon.
Also in the programme: Nigeria begins vaccination programme for children; and we look at what sort of a future Syria’s deposed dictator Bashar al-Assad faces in exile in Russia. To discuss this and more, Madeleine Schwartz, a journalist based in Paris and editor-in-chief of The Dial, a magazine of international writing, and Danny Sriskandarajah, chief executive of the progressive, UK-based New Economics Foundation think-tank.
PHOTO CREDIT: Protesters calls for impeachment of South Korean President Yoon / REUTERS
SAT 08:00 BBC News (w172zgfh0fdwv9p)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 08:06 Weekend (w172zcxbvf0w36j)
South Korean lawmakers vote to impeach president Yoon
In South Korea, the national assembly has voted to impeach President Yoon. Two hundred and four MPs out of 300 voted in favour of impeachment and Yoon is now suspended from office while South Korea's Constitutional Court deliberates whether to uphold his removal.
Also in the programme: the EU and South America’s Mercosur have signed a free-trade deal that some leaders have labelled “the world's largest trade and investment partnership”, but not everyone’s happy about the agreement; and we discuss whether Christmas-card writing is a pleasure or a chore.
To discuss this and more, Madeleine Schwartz, a journalist based in Paris and editor-in-chief of The Dial, a magazine of international writing, and Danny Sriskandarajah, chief executive of the progressive, UK-based New Economics Foundation think-tank. CREDIT: South Korean lawmakers attend a plenary session of the impeachment vote of President Yoon Suk Yeol at the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, 14 December 2024. / EPA
SAT 09:00 BBC News (w172zgfh0fdwz1t)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 09:06 BBC OS Conversations (w3ct5rcn)
Syrians after the fall of Assad
Syrians have finally got their voices back. After 50 years of living under the cruelty of their President, Bashar al-Assad, they can now speak freely without fear, although some are still cautious. We talk to Syrians across the country, including Ibraheem from Aleppo. He tells host Mark Lowen: “I couldn’t ever think of this moment… this is years and years of fear and hate that has ended.”
Mark also speaks to three women, relieved to see the end of Assad but uncertain about what the future holds for their country. “As Syrian people we all know that we are a little bit afraid of the future and what might happen because it’s totally unknown,” Remy, a dentist in Aleppo, tells us. “But at the same time, I believe that nothing could match the cruelty of the Assad regime.”
Meanwhile, some six million Syrians have been watching events from outside the country, as they live abroad as refugees. Most are in neighbouring countries, including Turkey, while almost one million live in Germany. We bring together Syrians in Germany, Italy and Turkey to discuss their reaction to the downfall of Assad and ask whether they plan to return to their homeland.
BBC producers: Angela Sheeran, Laura Cress and Isabella Bull
Boffin Media producer: Richard Hollingham
An EcoAudio certified Boffin Media production in partnership with the BBC OS team.
(Photo: Luna Alhafez in Homs Square. Credit: Luna Alhafez)
SAT 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9g50lbb6)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SAT 09:32 Pick of the World (w3ct5v1k)
Rapping and skydiving - the joy of new things
You loved our story about the world's oldest battle rapper, Joy France, from Manchester in the UK. Plus, 70 years of William Golding's Lord of the Flies, the "Mozart of chess" and why some people are better at finding their way than others.
SAT 09:50 Over to You (w3ct5tts)
Listeners give their views on Finding Mr Fox
The latest series in the World of Secrets strand is Finding Mr Fox, an investigation of a miscarriage of justice involving two sailors.
But could this series’ conclusion be described as a “spectacular anti-climax”? The show’s two presenters respond to listeners’ comments.
Plus, after a listener recently complained about an annoying echo sound effect used in programme trailers, we air the reverberations that has caused.
Presenter: Rajan Datar
Producer: Howard Shannon
A Whistledown production for BBC World Service
SAT 10:00 BBC News (w172zgfh0fdx2sy)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 10:06 Sportshour (w3ct5qbq)
Sing when you're winning
It's one of the sports stories of 2024. In November "Knight's Choice" squeezed home to win the Melbourne Cup by a nose. The 80-1 outsider was ridden by Irish jockey Robbie Dolan. Winning the so called "Race that stops a nation" made Robbie famous in Australia, or should that be even more famous! Because two years previous he was one of the finalists on the TV singing show The Voice! So, a little over a month since that famous victory, has Robbie had a chance to drink it all in?!
When it comes to sport at Christmas, what comes to mind? Well there’s the traditional Boxing Day fixtures in the Premier League and the Test match in Melbourne. But what about darts? Well the World Championship begins on Sunday at the Alexandra Palace in London with the new world champion crowned early in the new year. But if you don’t know your double top from your oche, never fear! Sportshour is here. The perfect guest to guide us through is Russ Bray simply known as "The Voice"
Using dating apps can be very hit and miss! Sometimes not everything is quite as it seems... but sometimes it can be the start of a relationship that saves the world! When Canadian heptathlete Leanna Carriere "swiped right" it started a journey that will take her and partner Timm Dobert all over the world! Combining her athletic ability and Timm's academic background the two of them have already completed the first leg of a round the world cycle that will see them replicate bird migration and raise awareness of climate change... and it all started with a simple profile picture!
For many Zoe Morse, seemed to have it all. Professional footballer who had played in the NWSL for Chicago Fire and was now in the WSL in England with Brighton. Then seemingly from nowhere, at the age of 25 she quit the game! Now back in her native Michigan Zoe has embarked on a career in medicine and told us what it has been like to walk away from the game.
Image: Leanna Carriere and Timm Döbert with their bikes during their 30 day cycling expedition across Canada. (Credit: Bill Ault)
SAT 11:00 BBC News (w172zgfh0fdx6k2)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqnxhcpdyd)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
SAT 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9g50lktg)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SAT 11:32 Health Check (w3ct5t9n)
Expanding the anti-malaria toolkit
Researchers have trailed a revolutionary malaria vaccine that uses the entire malaria parasite and is delivered via the bite of a mosquito, offering a novel way to boost immunity. The next step involves developing an injectable version for broader use.
Also on the program: a mystery illness in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Kwango Province; doctors in Brazil raise concerns over dengue spreading through contaminated blood transfusions; and an innovative temporary tattoo that can measure brain activity through hair.
Presenter: Claudia Hammond
Producer: Katie Tomsett and Jack Lee
SAT 12:00 BBC News (w172zgfh0fdxb96)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 12:06 World Questions (w3ct5yym)
South Africa
Gangsterism, immigration, economic inequality, land reform and whether the historic prison of Robben Island could be turned into a luxury resort: World Questions is in Cape Town to debate issues raised by South Africans thirty years after democracy came to their nation.
Crime is rampant, six out of ten young people are without a job and housing is still a massive issue but this year, elections returned a grand coalition of multiple parties who are working together for the first time.
Jonny Dymond presents from the Homecoming Centre in Cape Town’s District Six, a place where a multi-race community is returning after forced eviction during the apartheid years. He is joined by a panel from the coalition and opposition and a Cape Town audience.
The panel:
Solly Malatsi: MP, Democratic Alliance. Minister for Communications and Digital Technologies
Naledi Chirwa: Economic Freedom Fighters. Delegate in South Africa’s Upper House, the National Council of Provinces
Khalid Sayed: MPP, African National Congress. Leader of the Opposition in Western Cape Provincial Parliament
Ashley Sauls: MP, Parliamentary Leader of the Patriotic Alliance Party in the National Assembly
Producer: Charlie Taylor
Image: Aerial view of Cape Town and Table Mountain (Credit: Peter Titmuss/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
SAT 13:00 BBC News (w172zgfh0fdxg1b)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 13:06 Newshour (w172zb98gnyv9j9)
South Korea's president suspended after impeachment vote
Lawmakers in South Korea have voted to remove President Yoon Suk Yeol from power, following his failed attempt to impose martial law. Crowds of protesters are celebrating outside parliament though a vocal minority is angry that some members of the governing right-wing party backed the measure. Mr Yoon is now suspended from office and South Korea's Constitutional Court has one-hundred- and-eighty days to rule on his political future.
Also in the programme: We ask what happens now to Russia's military bases in Syria following the fall of former president Bashar al-Assad; and we look at the Krampus Run - the end-of-year tradition where crowds gather to watch hundreds of people dressed in demon-like costumes run through towns scaring children.
(Picture: South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol delivers an address to the nation at his official residence in the capital Seoul. Credit: The Presidential Office/Handout via REUTERS)
SAT 14:00 BBC News (w172zgfh0fdxksg)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 14:06 Sportsworld (w172zbn6l9kmvwx)
Live Sporting Action
Sportsworld has commentary of Liverpool against Fulham in the Premier League. Joining Lee James this Saturday will be the former Liverpool and Crystal Palace defender Martin Kelly and former Wolves and West Ham midfielder Matt Jarvis. As well as the commentary game, the panel will also be discussing Arsenal versus Everton and looking ahead to the Manchester Derby.
We’ll also get the latest from Italy's Serie A and the German Bundesliga as leaders Atalanta and Bayern Munich are in action. Away from football, we’ll get the latest from the Test series between Australia and India, and New Zealand and England, as well as preview the NBA Cup semi-finals and chat about the upcoming LIV v PGA Golf match.
Photo: Tom Cairney of Fulham whilst under pressure from Ibrahima Konate of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Fulham FC at Anfield on December 03, 2023 in Liverpool, England. (Credit: Getty Images)
SAT 18:00 BBC News (w172zgfh0fdy1rz)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 18:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqnxhcq859)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
SAT 18:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9g50mf1c)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SAT 18:32 Amazing Sport Stories (w3ct7hmg)
[Repeat of broadcast at
05:32 today]
SAT 18:50 Sporting Witness (w3ct5wfg)
Fighting Norway's boxing ban
In 2014, fighter Cecilia Braekhus helped end Norway’s 33 year ban on professional boxing, thanks to a parliamentary points decision.
The so-called ‘knockout’ law had been in place since 1981 because the Norwegian parliament thought professional fights - lasting up to 12 rounds and with no helmets - were too dangerous.
It meant that Cecilia and other Norwegian boxers had never been able to fight professionally in their home country. They also had to train abroad.
Despite the ban, in September 2014, Cecilia became the first undisputed world champion in women’s boxing after unifying the welterweight titles.
She then turned her attention to securing another victory, and three months later, the Norwegian parliament voted 54 to 48 to lift the ban on boxing.
Cecilia Braekhus spoke to Jane Wilkinson about being able to fight professionally in Norway for the first time.
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: Cecilia Braekhus at the International Boxing Event, Finland. 2009 Credit: Jussi Nukari/AFP via Getty Images)
SAT 19:00 BBC News (w172zgfh0fdy5j3)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 19:06 The Reith Lectures (w3ct7hpz)
Does trauma cause violence?
How do we understand how to manage powerful emotions such as rage, fear and shame? With very rare access, forensic psychiatrist Dr Gwen Adshead gives her second Reith Lecture inside Grendon prison, in England, where she talks to a small number of prisoners and staff, and asks the question: Does trauma cause violence? Does being a victim of violence, in some circumstances, make you more likely to become a perpetrator of violence? Was WH Auden right when he wrote in 1939: those to whom evil is done do evil in return?
SAT 20:00 BBC News (w172zgfh0fdy987)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 20:06 The Arts Hour (w3ct5qkh)
On Tour in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Nikki Bedi is on stage with top performers and creatives to discuss cultural life in Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia.
There is live performance from the phenomenal band Tuni Sundatang with singer Dabra Sia, blending the folkloric traditions of Sabah in Borneo with contemporary rock, and from sensational singer-songwriter Takahara Suiko, who describes her electronic composition as 'Kampung Baru Cyberpunk'.
Director Ng Ken Kin reveals the thinking behind Pendatang, Malaysia's first crowd funded feature film, which depicts a fictitious dystopian Malaysia where Malay, Chinese and Indian races are strictly segregated.
Screen star Sharifah Amani talks about her latest film La Luna, which is Singapore's submission to next year's Oscars and tells the story of a woman who opens a lingerie shop in a conservative Malaysian village.
Takahara Suiko takes Nikki on a Culture Cab tour of independent venues on the fringes of Kuala Lumpur. Plus, stand-up comedy from Netflix comedian Kavin Jay and the discussion is joined by members of the live audience.
(Photo: Tuni Sundatang on stage. Credit: Arif Kartono)
SAT 21:00 BBC News (w172zgfh0fdyf0c)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 21:06 Newshour (w172zb98gnyw8hb)
The future of Syria
The US's top diplomat is in Jordan for talks with representatives from several Arab countries, Turkey, and Europe to discuss the future of Syria following the ousting of the former president, Bashar al-Assad. Also on the programme, the South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has vowed to fight for his political future, after parliament voted to impeach him over his failed attempt to impose martial law; and, the director of "Goodbye Lenin", Wolfgang Becker has died.
(Photo: Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan speaks with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken during a meeting with the foreign ministers of the Arab Contact Group on Syria in Jordan's southern Red Sea coastal city of Aqaba on December 14, 2024. ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/Pool via REUTERS)
SAT 22:00 BBC News (w172zgfh0fdyjrh)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 22:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqnxhcqr4t)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
SAT 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9g50mx0w)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SAT 22:32 This Is Africa (w3ct5y5z)
Oxlade acoustic session
Oxlade is one of Nigeria's most successful afrobeats artists, and he also has one of the sweetest voices. Often compared to a choirboy, he honed his vocal skills in church, and as you will hear in this edition, he really can sing.
In the three years since Oxlade first appeared on This Is Africa, his career has gone from strength to strength. He had a colossal global hit with Ku Lo Sa, which has now racked up more than 500 million streams.
In September 2024 he dropped his debut album, entitled Oxlade from Africa. For TIA he performs four of the tracks from the album - Katigori, OFA, Ololufe and Intoxycated - in stripped down versions, with a simple guitar accompaniment.
SAT 23:00 BBC News (w172zgfh0fdynhm)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 23:06 The Documentary (w3ct7hsy)
Ready to transmit
Stephen Coates travels to Tunisia to meet contestants in the International Morse Code championships in Tunisia. For a week, they will face each other off tapping at tiny Morse machines so fast that it sounds almost like a sung language.
The Belarusians are the team to beat. But the Romanians are hot on their heels. And you never know what the Albanians might pull off at the last minute. Or the competitor who has just arrived from Tokyo.
It's a polyglot community. "Yet we all speak the same language," says the organiser Ashraf Chaabane.
Morse was the first instant communication technology. It changed the world almost 200 years ago. Its words are composed of just dots, dashes and spaces, transmitted in electrical pulses of sound or light. It can travel by vibration, touch and even be knitted. Anyone can learn it in just a few weeks. In the age of cell phones and instant messaging, Morse still has a magic.
Producer: Monica Whitlock
A Storyscape production for BBC Radio 4
SAT 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9g50n0s0)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SAT 23:32 Assignment (w3ct5mts)
Mining the Pacific: Future proofing or fool’s gold?
Climate change is intensifying, sea levels are rising and the very existence of low-lying Pacific Islands is under threat. The Cook Islands, though, has a plan to assure their peoples’ future. Enter deep sea mining, harvesting metallic nodules on the bottom of the sea floor for use in things like electric car batteries and mobile phones. Its supporters say it is a climate change ‘solution’- a better alternative to mining on land. And one that could make Cook Islanders very rich indeed. Its detractors worry we are messing with its Moana - or ocean – with no real idea of the impacts. Katy Watson travels to Rarotonga to find out how islanders feel about searching for ‘gold’ on the sea floor.
Producer: Lindle Markwell
Presenter: Katy Watson
Sound engineer: James Beard
Production co-ordinator: Gemma Ashman
Editor: Penny Murphy
(Photo: A protestor blows a conch at the At Sea, Sail Out Rally against deep sea mining in the Cook Islands, September 2024.Credit: Katy Watson)
SUNDAY 15 DECEMBER 2024
SUN 00:00 BBC News (w172zgfh0fdys7r)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 00:06 BBC OS Conversations (w3ct5rcn)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:06 on Saturday]
SUN 00:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9g50n4j4)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SUN 00:32 Amazing Sport Stories (w3ct7hmg)
[Repeat of broadcast at
05:32 on Saturday]
SUN 00:50 Sporting Witness (w3ct5wfg)
[Repeat of broadcast at
18:50 on Saturday]
SUN 01:00 BBC News (w172zgfh0fdywzw)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 01:06 The Inquiry (w3ct5xjb)
Does Germany need to reinvent itself?
When Chancellor Olaf Scholz fired his finance minister, Christian Lindner last month, Germany’s ‘traffic light’ government collapsed, an uneasy coalition between parties with differing perspectives and strained relations, the Social Democrats, the Greens and the Free Democrats.
At the heart of the political dispute lie deeply opposing views about spending plans, and how to fund much needed investment in infrastructure projects such as transport, education, green energy and digital technology, in order to boost Germany’s international competitiveness.
Falling demand both domestically and overseas for manufacturing goods, the pandemic, war in Ukraine and high energy costs have weakened Germany’s economy. So how can Germany reinvigorate its exports and economic growth? On this episode of The Inquiry, we’re asking: Does Germany need to reinvent itself?
Contributors
Michaela Kuefner, Chief Political Editor, DW Deutsche Welle.
Marcel Fratzscher, President, German Institute for Economic Research & Professor of Macroeconomics, Humboldt University.
Julian Hinz, Professor of International Economics, Bielefeld University & Director, Trade Policy Research Group, Kiel Institute for the World Economy.
Monika Schnitzer of Economics & Chairwoman of the German Council of Economic Experts.
Presenter: Tanya Beckett
Production: Diane Richardson and Matt Toulson
Production Co-ordinator: Liam Morrey
Technical Producer: Matthew Dempsey
Editor: Tara McDermott
Image credit - Reuters via BBC Images
SUN 01:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9g50n888)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SUN 01:32 The Fifth Floor (w3ct69jl)
Fleeing Chechnya
Why would a young woman flee her family and leave everything behind? BBC Russian's Zlata Onufrieva has been following the journeys of three women who've decided to run away from their homes in the Russian republic of Chechnya. Her documentary, Don't look for me, 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. Plus, a social and cultural history of South Asian cornershops, with Ahsan Yunus from BBC Urdu.
Produced by Alice Gioia, Caroline Ferguson and Hannah Dean.
(Photo: Faranak Amidi. Credit: Tricia Yourkevich.)
SUN 02:00 BBC News (w172zgfh0fdz0r0)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqnxhcr74b)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
SUN 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9g50nd0d)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SUN 02:32 Health Check (w3ct5t9n)
[Repeat of broadcast at
11:32 on Saturday]
SUN 03:00 BBC News (w172zgfh0fdz4h4)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 03:06 World Questions (w3ct5yym)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:06 on Saturday]
SUN 04:00 BBC News (w172zgfh0fdz878)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 04:06 From Our Own Correspondent (w3ct5sjs)
Coming home to a changed Syria
Pascale Harter introduces stories from Syria, Ukraine, Ghana and Saudi Arabia
The speed at which the Syrian rebel movement Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) took over the country's major cities took many people by surprise - and the fall of the Assad regime which followed was equally abrupt. After years living in exile in Lebanon, the BBC's Lina Sinjab has finally been able to re-enter her country without fear of arrest - and was astonished by what she saw on the road from the border to her home city of Damascus.
As Ukraine enters its third winter of war with Russia, and the rest of the world tries to anticipate how the incoming Trump administration in the US will deal with the conflict, Ukrainians' mood is darkening. Paul Adams spoke to wounded soldiers, fleeing civilians and diplomatic strategists about where their nation can go from here.
Ghana's general election punished the incumbent government - but returned John Mahama, who's served as President before, to power. From electricity cuts to rising prices, and the damage done by illegal gold mining, voters here have been beset by money worries. Travelling from Accra to Kumasi during the election campaign, James Copnall saw and heard about many causes for concern.
Saudi Arabia banned cinemas for more than thirty years - now it's hosting a regional film festival in Jeddah and inviting in Hollywood stars and producers to add glitz to the red carpet. It's all part of Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman's push to pursue Saudi soft power through culture and sport - whatever the Kingdom's outside critics might say about its record on human rights or free speech. Emily Wither reports on the pace of change in Saudi society.
Producer: Polly Hope
Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith
Production Coordinator: Katie Morrison
Image: Citizens in Syria take down statues of Hafez al-Assad the father of Bashar al-Assad in Damascus, Syria. (Photo by Murat Sengul/Anadolu via Getty Images)
SUN 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9g50nmhn)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SUN 04:32 The Global Jigsaw (w3ct6r7r)
Turkey’s foothold in Africa
A dive into the narratives surrounding Turkey’s ambitions in Africa where Ankara is touting itself as a “non-colonising” alternative to Western powers. Turkey has been expanding its influence operations in Africa in recent years: from military muscle and drone diplomacy to education and humanitarian projects to soft power and spiritual bonding. We ask what sets Turkey apart from other foreign powers vying for influence on the continent and what its distinctive approach has achieved.
Producer: Kriszta Satori
Presenter: Krassi Twigg
SUN 04:50 Sporting Witness (w3ct5wfg)
[Repeat of broadcast at
18:50 on Saturday]
SUN 05:00 BBC News (w172zgfh0fdzczd)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 05:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqnxhcrlcq)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
SUN 05:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9g50nr7s)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SUN 05:32 The Documentary (w3ct7hsy)
[Repeat of broadcast at
23:06 on Saturday]
SUN 06:00 BBC News (w172zgfh0fdzhqj)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 06:06 Weekend (w172zcxbvf0yrmc)
US makes contact with group that controls Syria
Also in the programme: there is growing concern about the scale of devastation on the Indian Ocean islands of Mayotte after a powerful cyclone ripped through the French overseas territory on Saturday morning; and we hear about Laapataa Ladies, India’s official pick for the best international feature film category for the Oscars. Our guests today: Wa'el Alzayat, CEO of Emgage Foundation, an NGO for Muslim Americans, and Jacquelin Magnay, European correspondent for The Australian newspaper. PHOTO CREDIT: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Aqaba, Jordan. / EPA
SUN 07:00 BBC News (w172zgfh0fdzmgn)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 07:06 Weekend (w172zcxbvf0ywch)
Arab countries send message of support for a peaceful transition in Syria
The United States has been in direct contact with the Syrian group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which overthrew Bashar al-Assad’s regime a week ago, while foreign ministers from eight Arab countries have held talks in Jordan to discuss the transition process in Syria...
Meanwhile, Israel’s war in Gaza continues and Hamas and Fatah, the two Palestinian political rivals who rule respectively Gaza and the West Bank, hold talks. And we hear from the American singer and three-time Grammy winner Lucinda Williams who is the first major artist, aside from the Fab Four themselves, to record Beatles' songs in the famous Abbey Road Studios in London.
Our guests today: Wa'el Alzayat, CEO of Emgage Foundation, an NGO for Muslim Americans, and Jacquelin Magnay, European correspondent for The Australian newspaper.PHOTO CREDIT: Syrian opposition calls for rally in Paris, France / EPA
SUN 08:00 BBC News (w172zgfh0fdzr6s)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 08:06 Weekend (w172zcxbvf0z03m)
Many feared dead after Cyclone hits Mayotte
People in the French Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte say conditions there are apocalyptic after Cyclone Chido tore violently through the islands.
Germany, Europe's biggest economy, has been in a political crisis since the breakup of its ruling coalition government in early November. Chancellor Olaf Scholz has asked for a vote of confidence on his now minority government. We hear from Berlin. Also in the programme: we hear from Rodrigo Garcia Barcha, son of author Gabriel Garcia Marquez after Netflix releases a series based on his novel A Hundred Years of Solitude. Garcia Marquez, who died in 2014, had never want his work turned into a movie.
Our guests today: Wa'el Alzayat, CEO of Emgage Foundation, an NGO for Muslim Americans, and Jacquelin Magnay, European correspondent for The Australian newspaper. PHOTO CREDIT: Damaged caused by Cyclone Chido, in Kawemi, Mayotte / TikTok/Reuters
SUN 09:00 BBC News (w172zgfh0fdzvyx)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 09:06 From Our Own Correspondent (w3ct5sjs)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:06 today]
SUN 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9g50p779)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SUN 09:32 The Food Chain (w3ct5xnv)
Stadium food
Which food do you associate with your favourite sport?
Pie and chips at an English football match, biriyanis at the cricket in Pakistan or grilling meat in the parking lot outside an American football game – there are some tasty traditions which go hand-in-hand with sport across the world.
Ruth Alexander hears how a traditional rice dish can bring two rival nations together over a game of cricket, and how a disappointing sausage roll before a football game led one man on a country-wide quest for better food for fans.
Over a pile of warming chips on a frosty night in South Manchester, Ruth discovers how getting the food right off the pitch might help a team’s fortune improve on the pitch.
If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: thefoodchain@bbc.co.uk
Presenter: Ruth Alexander
Producer: Hannah Bewley
Additional reporting: Ben Derico
(Image: a box of chips with gravy and curry sauce held beside a football pitch. Credit: BBC)
SUN 10:00 BBC News (w172zgfh0fdzzq1)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 10:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct5tx1)
Reducing gun violence
The misuse of guns is a problem for lots of countries across the world. This week we look at projects trying to reduce deaths and injuries.
In the US we visit the company which says it has successfully developed the world’s first ‘smart gun’ which uses facial recognition and fingerprints to identify the gun owner - meaning only they can fire the gun. We also speak to a woman who’s convinced police in the UK to speak to the partners of those being issued gun licences.
And in Jamaica - where most murders involve firearms - we find out how hospital data is being used to reduce the number of attacks using guns - even in the country’s most troubled neighbourhoods.
People Fixing The World from the BBC is about brilliant solutions to the world's problems. We'd love you to let us know what you think and to hear about your own solutions. You can contact us on WhatsApp by messaging +44 8000 321721 or email peoplefixingtheworld@bbc.co.uk. And please leave us a review on your chosen podcast provider.
Presenter: Myra Anubi
Reporters: Claire Bowes, Nick Davies, Anthony Wallace
Producer: Claire Bowes
Sound mix: Andrew Mills
Editor: Jon Bithrey
(Image: Mourners remember those killed in 2024 Apalachee school shooting, US, Getty Images)
SUN 10:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9g50pbzf)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SUN 10:32 The Fifth Floor (w3ct69jl)
[Repeat of broadcast at
01:32 today]
SUN 11:00 BBC News (w172zgfh0ff03g5)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqnxhcs9vh)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
SUN 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9g50pgqk)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SUN 11:32 The Global Jigsaw (w3ct6r7r)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:32 today]
SUN 11:50 More or Less (w3ct5tr6)
[Repeat of broadcast at
05:50 on Saturday]
SUN 12:00 BBC News (w172zgfh0ff0769)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 12:06 The Reith Lectures (w3ct7hpz)
[Repeat of broadcast at
19:06 on Saturday]
SUN 13:00 BBC News (w172zgfh0ff0byf)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 13:06 Newshour (w172zb98gnyy6fd)
Students return to schools in Syria
Universities, schools and public institutions have officially reopened across Syria today, the first time since rebel groups took control of the country. This comes the UN envoy Geir Pedersen says he supports lifting sanctions on the Islamist group that led the offensive that toppled Bashar al-Assad. On his first visit to Damascus since Assad fled a week ago, Mr Pedersen urged justice, not revenge - and he called for increased and immediate aid.
Also in the programme: Five people convicted of drug offences in Indonesia have returned to Australia after two decades in prison; and we hear from Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan who has co-produced a film that's vying for an Oscar.
(Picture: Students sit in a classroom at a school in Damascus. Credit: Ammar Awad/REUTERS)
SUN 14:00 BBC News (w172zgfh0ff0gpk)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 14:06 The Climate Question (w3ct5wsr)
Climate change and plastic - what's the connection?
Plastics are everywhere – for good reason – they're cheap, abundant and can go into a myriad of different products from food packaging to vital medical equipment. But plastic waste has a devastating effect on the environment and the manufacturing process is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. The world is trying to agree on a treaty to reduce plastics pollution but a recent meeting in South Korea ended in failure. Graihagh Jackson talks to experts on the past and future of plastics, and she hears a report from Malaysia, where plastic waste dumps can be up to 15 metres high.
Got a climate question you’d like answered? Email: TheClimateQuestion@BBC.com or WhatsApp: +44 8000 321 721
Presenter: Graihagh Jackson
Reporter in Malaysia: Leana Hosea
Guests: Susan Frankel, author of "Plastic: A Toxic Love Story", and Dr Cressida Bowyer, Associate Professor in Arts and Sustainability at the University of Portsmouth.
Producer: Octavia Woodward
Production Support: Ellie House
Production co-ordinators: Sophie Hill and Katie Morrison
Sound Mix: Tom Brignell
Editor: Simon Watts
SUN 14:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9g50ptyy)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SUN 14:32 Happy News (w3ct5sql)
The Happy Pod: The cafe spreading the joy of dance
We hear from a cafe in Massachusetts that spreads joy by asking customers to dance as they enter. Also: the toys made from cigarette butts; a community library destroyed by fire reopens; and Italy's festive Krampus Run.
Presenter: Oliver Conway
Music composer: Iona Hampson
SUN 15:00 BBC News (w172zgfh0ff0lfp)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 15:06 Sportsworld (w172zbn6l9kqwk4)
Live Sporting Action
The Manchester derby at the Etihad Stadium is the Premier League commentary game on Sunday Sportsworld, as Pep Guardiola’s City take on Ruben Amorim’s United. There will also be updates from the day’s early game between Brighton and Crystal Palace.
Former DR Congo captain Gabriel Zakuani and ex-Arsenal defender Carl Jenkinson join Delyth Lloyd to look back over all the weekend’s action, while the German Bundesliga and the Champions League are the focus on EuroStars.
Away from the football, there will be the latest from cricket's third Test between Australia and India in Brisbane, and the third Test between New Zealand and England. Plus, the team look back at Saturday’s NBA Cup semi-finals.
Photo: Raphael Varane of Manchester United and Erling Haaland of Manchester City battle for the ball during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Etihad Stadium on March 03, 2024 in Manchester, England. (Credit: Getty Images)
SUN 19:00 BBC News (w172zgfh0ff12f6)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqnxhct8tj)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
SUN 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9g50qfpl)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SUN 19:32 In the Studio (w3ct5tlp)
The rebuilding of Notre Dame de Paris, part two
The Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris, Our Lady of Paris, is one of France’s most famous landmarks. On 15th April 2019, it was engulfed by flames, but thanks to the bravery of hundreds of firefighters, Notre Dame remained standing. The devastation was, however, immense. The spire collapsed into the nave and the lead roof melted and evaporated. The lattice framework underneath it, made of a thousand oak beams known affectionately as The Forest, turned to charcoal and dust.
Agnès Poirier has been given unique access behind the scenes, and in this second part, she’s allowed inside Notre Dame while building work continues around her. She has access to the newly constructed roof and spire, the bells and into the nave, as careful restoration work takes place. Agnès hears from roofer William Blois about what it means to work on a cathedral like Notre Dame, to restorer of mural painters Diana Castillo, who is bringing some of the chapels back to life, resplendent with their blue ceilings and golden stars, and to sculptor Stéphane Krust, who explains why latex is the best way to clean the chimaera, the stone guardians of the cathedral.
Producer: Andrea Kidd
(Image: Notre Dame. Credit: Chesnot)
SUN 20:00 BBC News (w172zgfh0ff165b)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 20:06 Unexpected Elements (w3ct5q2w)
[Repeat of broadcast at
00:06 on Saturday]
SUN 21:00 BBC News (w172zgfh0ff19xg)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 21:06 Newshour (w172zb98gnyz5df)
Israel to expand settlements in the occupied Golan Heights
Israel's government has approved a plan to encourage the expansion of settlements in the occupied Golan Heights. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the move was necessary because a "new front" had opened up on Israel's border with Syria, after the fall of the Assad regime. We hear from a former Israeli Prime Minister, who says the move is an unnecessary provocation.
Also on the programme: We get a sense of the devastation in the French Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte, where its feared hundreds of people have been killed by Cyclone Chido; and explore why America's ABC News agreed to settle its defamation case with Donald Trump.
(Picture: Israeli military vehicles ride through Syria close to the ceasefire line between the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and Syria Credit: REUTERS/Jamal Awad)
SUN 22:00 BBC News (w172zgfh0ff1fnl)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 22:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqnxhctn1x)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
SUN 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9g50qsxz)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SUN 22:32 The Fifth Floor (w3ct69jl)
[Repeat of broadcast at
01:32 today]
SUN 23:00 BBC News (w172zgfh0ff1kdq)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 23:06 The Climate Question (w3ct5wsr)
[Repeat of broadcast at
14:06 today]
SUN 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9g50qxp3)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SUN 23:32 Pick of the World (w3ct5v1k)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:32 on Saturday]
SUN 23:50 Over to You (w3ct5tts)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:50 on Saturday]
MONDAY 16 DECEMBER 2024
MON 00:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpq5jf0)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 00:06 From Our Own Correspondent (w3ct5sjs)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:06 on Sunday]
MON 00:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9tf9vwpd)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 00:32 The Global Jigsaw (w3ct6r7r)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:32 on Sunday]
MON 00:50 More or Less (w3ct5tr6)
[Repeat of broadcast at
05:50 on Saturday]
MON 01:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpq5n54)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 01:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqp8rnyvkg)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
MON 01:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9tf9w0fj)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 01:32 Discovery (w3ct5rnp)
The Life Scientific - Peter Goadsby
Throbbing head, nausea, dizziness, disturbed vision – just some of the disabling symptoms that can strike during a migraine attack. This neurological condition is far more common than you might think, affecting more people than diabetes, epilepsy and asthma combined.
While medications, to help relieve the symptoms of migraine, have been around for some time, they haven’t worked for everyone. And what happens in the brain during a migraine attack was, until recently, poorly understood.
Peter Goadsby is Professor of Neurology at King's College London’s Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience and is a true pioneer in the field of migraine.
Over the course of his career, he has unravelled what happens in the brain during a migraine attack and his insights are already benefiting patients - in the form of new medications that can not only treat a migraine, but also prevent it from occurring.
Peter shares this year’s Brain Prize, the world's largest prize for brain research, with three other internationally renowned scientists in the field.
MON 02:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpq5rx8)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqp8rnyz9l)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
MON 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9tf9w45n)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 02:32 CrowdScience (w3ct5rj5)
Why does pain sometimes feel good?
It seems bizarre to seek out experiences that are uncomfortable or downright painful. Yet examples abound: it’s common to eat painfully hot chillies, drink bitter coffee, or ‘feel the burn' when exercising - and enjoy it.
CrowdScience listener Sandy is baffled by this seemingly counterintuitive phenomenon, and has asked us to investigate. Presenter Anand Jagatia turns guinea pig as he tests a variety of unpleasant sensations, and unpicks the reasons we’re sometimes attracted to them.
He meets chilli-eating champion Shahina Waseem, who puts Anand’s own attraction to spicy food to the test. Food scientist John Hayes explains how our taste receptors work and why our genes affect the appeal of bitter food. Neuroscientist Soo Ahn Lee describes her research looking at what happens in participants’ brains when they eat chocolate and capsaicin, the chemical that makes chillies hot.
As for the ‘pleasurable pain’ we sometimes experience when exercising, sports doctor Robin Chatterjee reveals the secrets of the ‘runner’s high’, while neuroscientist Siri Leknes explains why the feeling that something’s good for us can make discomfort pleasurable.
Presenter: Anand Jagatia
Producer: Jo Glanville
Editor: Cathy Edwards
Production co-ordinator: Ishmael Soriano
Sound engineer: Sue Maillot
(Image: Young man have bath in ice covered lake in nature and looking up, Czech Republic Credit: CharlieChesvick via Getty Images)
MON 03:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpq5wnd)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 03:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct5tx1)
[Repeat of broadcast at
10:06 on Sunday]
MON 03:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9tf9w7xs)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 03:32 Pick of the World (w3ct5v1k)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:32 on Saturday]
MON 03:50 Over to You (w3ct5tts)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:50 on Saturday]
MON 04:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpq60dj)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 04:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqp8rnz6sv)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
MON 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9tf9wcnx)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 04:32 The Conversation (w3ct5x0k)
Women using satellites to track coastal erosion
Rising sea levels and increasingly powerful storms are threatening coastlines, low-lying island states and coastal cities around the world. Ella Al-Shamahi talks to two women from Sri Lanka and France about how they’re using satellites to track coastal erosion and develop strategies to reduce its impact on populations.
Sarah Dole is a Sri Lankan physicist and entrepreneur leading a satellite image analysis project in the Maldives, the world’s lowest lying country, looking at the rate at which beaches erode. She co-founded Invena – a company carrying out research and helping develop technology that aims to preserve low-lying nations.
Anne-Laure Beck is a French geomatic and remote-sensing engineer. She's the EU lead on coastal erosion for the environmental consultancy Argans. They use satellite-based earth observation and geographical information systems to map and monitor environments in order to track coastal erosion and accretion to inform coastal management and protection plans.
Produced by Jane Thurlow
Image: (L) Sarah Dole credit Ali Amir @aliaerials. (R) Anne-Laure Beck credit Anne-Laure Beck.)
MON 05:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpq644n)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 05:06 Newsday (w172zbkdc2y07t7)
Hundreds feared dead in Mayotte
Rescue workers are still attempting to reach some communities as they search for survivors. Entire settlements were flattened when Cyclone Chido brought wind speeds of more than 225km/h, with the poorest living in makeshift shelters particularly hard hit.
The storm has also passed over Mozambique and moved onto Malawi, where there are fears of serious flooding.
Syria continues to adjust to life after the former dictator Bashar Al Assad. We'll hear how the lives of children have been affected, as schools reopen.
(Pic: Debris lies on the street in the aftermath of Cyclone Chido, in Mamoudzou, Mayotte; Credit: Reuters)
MON 06:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpq67ws)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 06:06 Newsday (w172zbkdc2y0ckc)
Mayotte: 'We've had no water for three days now'
Mayotte's impoverished communities, including undocumented migrants who have travelled to the French territory in an effort to claim asylum, are thought to have been particularly hard hit due to the vulnerable nature of their housing.
Mozambique also felt the impact of cyclone Chido, with homes and other buildings destroyed there too
The UN envoy to Syria says that with the removal of the Assad regime he would now support the lifting of sanctions on Syria.
(Pic: Debris is seen in the aftermath of Cyclone Chido, in Mamoudzou, Mayotte, France; Credit: Reuters)
MON 07:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpq6cmx)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 07:06 Newsday (w172zbkdc2y0h9h)
Whole neighbourhoods flattened in Mayotte
Widespread damage to infrastructure - including downed power lines and impassable roads - is severely hindering emergency operations. Rescue workers, including reinforcements from France, are combing through the debris searching for survivors.
Syria is still coming to terms with life without president Bashar Al Assad, and as the days pass more evidence about the horrors of Assad's rule are coming to light.
(Pic: Rescue workers attempt to clear a blocked road, in the aftermath of Cyclone Chido, within Labattoir, in Mayotte; Credit: Reuters)
MON 08:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpq6hd1)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 08:06 HARDtalk (w3ct5szr)
Asma Khan: Can cooking change the world?
Stephen Sackur is in the heart of London to speak with Indian-born restaurateur and activist Asma Khan. She created the first all-female, high-end Indian restaurant in the world
MON 08:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9tf9wvnf)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct5z7h)
Crisis at Northvolt
We’re in snowy Skellefteå in northern Sweden, where hundreds of people are looking for work after losing their jobs at Europe’s largest electric battery factory.
Will the crisis at green tech company Northvolt impact future investments in the region — and damage Sweden’s reputation?
Produced and presented by Maddy Savage
(Image: Northvolt workers at the factory. Credit: Northvolt)
MON 08:50 Witness History (w3ct5yhw)
Peshawar school massacre
Ten years ago, the Taliban killed more than 140 people at Peshawar Army School on 16 December 2014.
It’s one of the worst terror attacks in Pakistan’s history. Chemistry teacher Andaleeb Aftab survived by hiding in the staff toilets.
The majority killed were young students, including Andaleeb’s 16-year-old son.
She speaks to Ella Rule.
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: People light candles in memory of victims of the Peshawar Army School terror attack. Credit: Asif Hassan/AFP via Getty Images)
MON 09:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpq6m45)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 09:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqp8rnztjh)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
MON 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9tf9wzdk)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 09:32 CrowdScience (w3ct5rj5)
[Repeat of broadcast at
02:32 today]
MON 10:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpq6qw9)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 10:06 The History Hour (w3ct5n2s)
Panama and the 'Purple Heart Battalion'
Max Pearson presents a collection of the week's Witness History interviews from the BBC World Service. Our guest is Joan Flores-Villalobos, Assistant Professor in the Department of History at the University of Southern California, and author of The Silver Women: How Black Women’s Labor Made the Panama Canal.
First, we hear from a man involved in the handover of the canal from the United States to Panama in 1999. Then, DJ and singer Leonardo Renato Aulder explains how the canal led to the creation of Reggaeton music.
Next we go to Cuba. An old comrade of Fidel Castro recounts the violent start of the Cuban revolution in 1953. And a member of the Obama administration explains how he negotiated better US-Cuba relations in 2014.
Finally, the story of the 442nd US military regiment, made up almost entirely of Japanese Americans, that earned more than 4,000 Purple Heart medals for extraordinary heroism during World War Two.
Contributors:
Alberto Aleman Zubieta - Panama Canal administrator.
Leonardo Renato Aulder - Reggaeton singer and DJ.
Joan Flores-Villalobos - Assistant Professor at the University of Southern California.
Agustín Díaz Cartaya - Cuban revolutionary.
Ben Rhodes - Speechwriter for US President Barack Obama.
Clyde Kusatsu - son of 442nd Regiment veteran.
(Photo: World War Two veterans from the highly decorated 442nd Regiment in 2015. Credit: Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
MON 11:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpq6vmf)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqp8rp020r)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
MON 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9tf9x6wt)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct6dm9)
Does Trump’s return threaten the future of Nato?
Donald Trump's return to the White House is seen as a potential threat to European security. Some believe he could abandon the transatlantic military alliance Nato - but the organisation's new secretary general Mark Rutte seems convinced he will be persuaded to stay.
On this episode of The Global Story, Katya Adler speaks with the BBC's defence correspondent Jonathan Beale about what impact losing the alliance’s biggest financial backer would have on the war in Ukraine - and the reasons why the incoming US President might be convinced to remain in Nato.
Producers: Alice Aylett Roberts, Laurie Kalus and Eleanor Sly
Sound engineer: Philip Bull
Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas
Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson
MON 12:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpq6zck)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 12:06 Outlook (w3ct5nr4)
A prince, a death, and a promise made by an open grave
In 1978, Birgit Hamer was a 21-year-old model visiting Sardinia with her family. On a beautiful summer’s day, she, and her younger brother Dirk were invited on a boat trip with a group of Italian friends. They were headed for the nearby glamorous French Island of Cavallo, but what started as a joyful adventure ended in horror. In the middle of the night Birgit awoke to gunshots, she discovered her beloved brother was fatally wounded. The main suspect was Prince Vittorio Emanuele of Savoy, the son of the last King of Italy who had been holidaying on Cavallo. He always denied the charges. When Dirk then died from his injuries, Birgit made a promise that would change the course of her life.
Birgit Hamer has written a booked called Crime Without Punishment
Presenter: Emily Webb
Producer: Sarah Kendal
MON 12:50 Witness History (w3ct5yhw)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 today]
MON 13:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpq733p)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 13:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqp8rp09j0)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
MON 13:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9tf9xgd2)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 13:32 The Conversation (w3ct5x0k)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:32 today]
MON 14:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpq76vt)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 14:06 Newshour (w172zb98ty852bs)
German government to face confidence vote
The German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, faces a confidence vote in parliament after his coalition collapsed. But his party thinks it can defy the odds and win another election soon.
Also on the programme: French ministers arrive in the Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte, two days after it was hit by a cyclone that is thought to have killed hundreds; and archaeologists say they have evidence that some Bronze Age Britons were cannibals who ate their enemies.
(Photo: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz delivers a speech at the meeting of the German Bundestag on the vote of confidence in the Chancellor. Credit: EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)
MON 15:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpq7bly)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 15:06 HARDtalk (w3ct5szr)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:06 today]
MON 15:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9tf9xpwb)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 15:32 World Business Report (w3ct5zz2)
Insurance broker President says firms should rethink CEO security
The President of insurance broker Aon tells Will Bain that firms should rethink their executives’ security, calling on political leaders to “set the tone” on making the environment safer for CEOs..
Eric Andersen also discussed a new war risk insurance that Aon was offering in Ukraine in partnership with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
Plus, how are Nigerians coping with inflation? The country’s annual inflation rate climbed to a more than 28-year high in November, on the back of rising food prices.
MON 16:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpq7gc2)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 16:06 BBC OS (w172zbjfk4sw3ff)
Mayotte: 'Apocalyptic scenes' after Cyclone Chido
The French government is mobilising support to help its Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte, following Saturday's devastating cyclone. Hundreds of people are feared dead and there's growing concern about the lack of basic supplies. We speak to our reporter who is following the developments. We also explain what Mayotte is known for and why the island has a large number of undocumented migrants living in informal settlements.
The new leader of Syria has called on all armed groups to disarm. Meanwhile, the schools have reopened and we speak to two teachers in the country.
We talk to football writers and fans about the crisis of the current title holders of the Premier League, Manchester City, after eight defeats in 11 games.
A man from Ghana in West Africa has told the BBC how he was seized at gunpoint by jihadists in neighbouring Burkina Faso. Our reporter who spoke to him explains.
Presenter: Luke Jones.
(Photo: Ruins of homes lie in the aftermath of the Cyclone Chido in Labattoir, Mayotte, France, December 16, 2024. Credit: Chafion Madi/Reuters)
MON 17:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpq7l36)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 17:06 BBC OS (w172zbjfk4sw75k)
Schools reopen in Syria
Syria's former President Bashar al-Assad says he never intended to flee to Russia - in what is purported to be his first statement since the fall of Damascus eight days ago. Meanwhile, the schools have reopened in Syria and we speak to two teachers in the country.
We also hear a report from Latakia in Syria where the Alawites communities face uncertainty after the fall of Assad.
Our reporter tells us about a new new study revealing that social media platform Telegram uses an algorithm that promotes extremist content.
We talk to football writers about the crisis of the current title holders of the Premier League, Manchester City, after an eighth defeat in 11 games.
Presenter: Luke Jones.
(Photo: Students gather at a school in the early morning following an announcement of the reopening of schools by the authorities, after fighters of the ruling Syrian body ousted Syria's Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus, Syria December 15, 2024. Credit: Ammar Awad/Reuters)
MON 18:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpq7pvb)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 18:06 Outlook (w3ct5nr4)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:06 today]
MON 18:50 Witness History (w3ct5yhw)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 today]
MON 19:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpq7tlg)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqp8rp10zs)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
MON 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9tf9y5vv)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct5w4g)
2024/12/16 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 (w172zgfhcpq7ybl)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 20:06 From Our Own Correspondent (w3ct5sjs)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:06 on Sunday]
MON 20:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9tf9y9lz)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 20:32 Discovery (w3ct5rnq)
Inside Health: How can we age well?
From the Hay Festival, James and a panel of experts explain what we can all do to help ourselves age well.
We discover what’s going on in our bodies when we age, the difference between biological and chronological age, as well as getting the audience moving for a physical test.
James is joined by gerontologist Sarah Harper from the University of Oxford, biomedical scientist Georgina Ellison-Hughes from King’s College London, and doctor Norman Lazarus to understand how exercise, diet, and mental health all have a part to play in how we age.
MON 21:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpq822q)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 21:06 Newshour (w172zb98ty85xkp)
"We had to hide": Mayotte cyclone survivor
Cyclone Chido brought wind speeds of more than 220km per hour, flattening areas where the poorest people lived in sheet-metal roof shacks. The French President Emmanuel Macron said he will be travelling to the French Overseas Territory in the Indian Ocean in "the coming days", as he pledged to support fellow citizens, civil servants and emergency services involved in rescue efforts. We hear from Senator Salama Ramia from Mayotte who sits in the French Senate in Paris.
Also on the programme: why members of the Alawite community of ousted Syrian President Assad are fearful of the future despite assurances from the country's new rulers; and we pay tribute to Indian tabla musician Zakir Hussain who has died aged 73.
(Photo: Aftermath of Cyclone Chido in Mayotte Credit: Reuters/Chafion Madi)
MON 22:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpq85tv)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 22:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqp8rp1d75)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
MON 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9tf9yk37)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 22:32 World Business Report (w3ct601b)
Why did Canada's finance minister suddenly quit?
Chrystia Freeland resigned amid clashes with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over trade tariffs. It came hours before she was due to present the Autumn economic statement in parliament. Also, what German businesses want from the next government. And, is the crisis at Swedish battery-maker Northvolt damaging the country's reputation as a world leader in climate technologies?
MON 23:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpq89kz)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 23:06 HARDtalk (w3ct5szr)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:06 today]
MON 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9tf9ynvc)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 23:32 The Conversation (w3ct5x0k)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:32 today]
TUESDAY 17 DECEMBER 2024
TUE 00:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpq8fb3)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 00:06 The History Hour (w3ct5n2s)
[Repeat of broadcast at
10:06 on Monday]
TUE 01:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpq8k27)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 01:06 Business Matters (w172zbfvl91lt73)
Oh, Canada
Andrew Peach is joined by Peter Morici, an economist at the University of Maryland in the US, and Sushma Ramachandran, who's a columnist at the Tribune newspaper, in Delhi, India.
They discuss Canada, where the finance minister Chrystia Freeland resigned on the same day an economic statement was due, triggering a political crisis. There's more political crisis in Germany, where the government has collapsed amid a row over the economy. We ask what businesses want from the country's next leaders. We hear from India - as Sri Lanka wants closer relations with the country on energy and trade. Plus we discuss the safety of CEOs - as the president of the global insurance giant AON tells us firms are going to have to rethink their security process for executives.
TUE 02:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpq8ntc)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqp8rp1w6p)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
TUE 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9tf9z12r)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
TUE 02:32 Assignment (w3ct5mtt)
Argentina - Milei's Chainsaw
It has been a year since chainsaw-wielding Javier Milei won the Presidency in Argentina. During his campaign, his chainsaw became a symbol of how quickly and drastically he wanted to cut the Argentine state. And he has slashed government budgets and sliced subsidies on power, food and transport. He stopped printing money to try and halt inflation which was running at 211.4% annually when he was sworn in.
How have his actions changed life for ordinary Argentines? Buenos Aires based reporter, Charlotte Pritchard, talks to Argentines about how they're feeling now. From the gauchos at the annual event to show off their herds of horses, to those taking advantage of a scheme to 'whiten' black-market money they have hidden under their mattress - is there hope or despair?
Produced and presented by Charlotte Pritchard
Studio Manager: Donald McDonald
Production Coordinator: Gemma Ashman
Editor: Penny Murphy
(Image: Argentine gauchos riding their horses and kicking up dust, at the Day of Tradition festival in San Antonio de Areco, Argentina. Credit: Macarena Gagliardi/BBC)
TUE 03:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpq8skh)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 03:06 Outlook (w3ct5nr4)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:06 on Monday]
TUE 03:50 Witness History (w3ct5yhw)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 on Monday]
TUE 04:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpq8x9m)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 04:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqp8rp23py)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
TUE 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9tf9z8l0)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
TUE 04:32 In the Studio (w3ct5tlq)
Creating Selfridges’ Christmas windows
One of the many traditions in London at Christmas is to visit the capital’s festive lights, which brighten up the dark winter nights. People travel from right across the world to enjoy the colourful and eye-catching Christmas window displays along Oxford Street, one of London’s main shopping roads.
Andrea Kidd goes behind the glitter and tinsel with the teams at one of the flagship department stores, Selfridges, as they prepare to reveal their Christmas windows to the public for the first time.
With the concept of More the Merrier this year, senior lead of the windows team, Bobbie Tree, along with the production, styling and design teams, work alongside renowned artists Andrew Logan and Charles Jeffreys, to create vibrant and flamboyant window displays for the millions of people who walk past them.
Producer: Andrea Kidd
(Image: One of Selfridges Christmas windows. Credit: Selfridges)
TUE 05:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpq911r)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 05:06 Newsday (w172zbkdc2y34qb)
Syria's de facto leader asks for removal of sanctions
Millions of Syrian refugees are scattered across the region, Europe and beyond as a result of more than a decade of brutal civil war.
The French government says it's mobilising resources to get help to the people of Maynotte in the Indian Ocean after it was devastated by a cyclone. We hear from the French army.
The US president-elect Donald Trump has met the chief executive of Tik Tok, just weeks before a new law bans the app in the US unless its Chinese owner sells it.
(Pic: A person rides a bicycle at al-Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp, after Syria's Bashar al-Assad was ousted; Credit: Reuters)
TUE 06:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpq94sw)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 06:06 Newsday (w172zbkdc2y38gg)
Eight hundred French troops reach Mayotte
After arriving in Mayotte, French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau said "days and days" would be needed to ascertain human losses. The relief operation is being co-ordinated from Reunion - another French overseas territory.
A powerful earthquake of magnitude 7.4 has hit the capital of Vanuatu. We bring you the latest from there.
Syria's de facto leader - Ahmed al-Sharaa - has said international sanctions must be lifted. As the country embarks on the task of reconstruction we hear from the city of Homs.
( A boy sits near the ruins of homes, in the aftermath of the Cyclone Chido; Credit: Reuters
TUE 07:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpq98k0)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 07:06 Newsday (w172zbkdc2y3d6l)
Russian general killed in Moscow
Pictures from the scene showed the entrance to a building badly damaged, with scorch marks on the walls and a number of windows blown out. Two body bags could also be seen on the street where the General was killed .
The French government says it's mobilising resources to get help to the people of Mayotte. We hear from the French army about the challenges of getting aid to the remote location.
(Pic: A view shows a scene of an explosion in which Russian general Igor Kirillov was killed; Credit: Reuters)
TUE 08:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpq9d94)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 08:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct5tx2)
The cows fighting wildfires
This summer, deadly wildfires raged in countries like Spain, Canada, and Greece. And as the earth warms up, they’re becoming increasingly common and harder to deal with. Today, we will hear about a special herd of cows which are helping to keep some of the flames under control. And we find out how cutting edge space technology could be used to quickly detect forest fires when they break out.
People Fixing The World from the BBC is about brilliant solutions to the world's problems. We'd love you to let us know what you think and to hear about your own solutions. You can contact us on WhatsApp by messaging +44 8000 321721 or email peoplefixingtheworld@bbc.co.uk. And please leave us a review on your chosen podcast provider.
Presenter: Myra Anubi
Reporter/producer: Craig Langran
Sound mix: Annie Gardiner
Editor: Jon Bithrey
TUE 08:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9tf9zrkj)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
TUE 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct5zjj)
Why are kids asking for anti-ageing skincare?
Skincare used to appeal to an older demographic, often with the aim of slowing down visible signs of ageing. But as trends in skincare have evolved, with ever more products on the market, the audience has grown too.
Children as young as eight are now saving up their pocket money to buy different creams, serums and moisturizers. But some of these products contain active ingredients, not designed for their young skin - and this can lead to problems. Dermatologists have told the BBC they're seeing children with dermatitis and other skin conditions who have used certain products.
Today, we take a look at why young people are becoming obsessed with skincare, and what could be done to protect these young consumers from buying unsuitable products.
(Picture: 11 year-old Tilly, from the UK, sitting at her vanity desk. Credit: BBC)
Presented and produced by Hannah Mullane
TUE 08:50 Witness History (w3ct5ynd)
Surviving Andes plane crash
When a plane carrying a team of young rugby players crashed into the Andes mountains in 1972, search teams soon gave up hope.
But two months later, 16 passengers of Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 emerged alive.
The events became known as ‘The Miracle of the Andes’ and have previously been told in documentaries and films including Society of the Snow.
One horrifying detail continues to fascinate audiences - the starving men were only able to stay alive by eating the bodies of those who died.
In 2009, Nando Parrado told Louise Hidalgo about their extraordinary story of survival.
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: Wreckage of the plane in the Andes. Credit: Bettmann/Contributor)
TUE 09:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpq9j18)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 09:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqp8rp2qfl)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
TUE 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9tf9zw9n)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
TUE 09:32 Assignment (w3ct5mtt)
[Repeat of broadcast at
02:32 today]
TUE 10:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpq9msd)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 10:06 The Arts Hour (w3ct5qkh)
[Repeat of broadcast at
20:06 on Saturday]
TUE 11:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpq9rjj)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqp8rp2yxv)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
TUE 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9tfb03sx)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
TUE 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct6fbw)
Why Mexico is electing judges by popular vote
Next year, Mexico will become the first country in the world to begin electing all its judges by popular vote. The radical judicial reform was passed by the Senate in September, where the ruling Morena party hold a commanding majority. They argue the change will promote transparency and accountability in a justice system which has faced accusations of corruption, nepotism, and bowing to political and criminal pressure. But critics say it is a direct threat to democracy which weakens the ability of the judiciary to hold the government to account - including the Supreme Court.
On today's episode, Lucy Hockings is joined by the BBC's correspondent in Mexico, Will Grant. They examine the politics behind this shakeup, and discuss why many members of the legal community are protesting the measures.
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: Mariana Hernández Carrillo and Laurie Kalus
Sound engineer: Rohan Madison
Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas
Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson
TUE 12:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpq9w8n)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 12:06 Outlook (w3ct5p5p)
From Togo to Greenland – my Arctic odyssey
As a 16-year-old boy in Togo, Tété-Michel Kpomassie knew he had to escape. It was the late 1950s, and his father had ordered him to train as a priest in a snake cult. But Tété-Michel was terrified of snakes after a close encounter up a coconut tree that had nearly cost him his life. One day, he came across a book about Greenland. He read that there were no reptiles, only ice, and he was intrigued by the Inuit people. So he set out on an eight-year odyssey to reach this mysterious country, full of images of icebergs and sledding and hunting. (This episode was first broadcast in February 2022)
Presenter: Jo Fidgen
Producer: Katy Takatsuki
Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com or WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707
(Photo: Tété-Michel Kpomassie in the 1960s. Credit: Tété-Michel Kpomassie)
TUE 12:50 Witness History (w3ct5ynd)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 today]
TUE 13:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqb00s)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 13:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqp8rp36f3)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
TUE 13:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9tfb0c95)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
TUE 13:32 In the Studio (w3ct5tlq)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:32 today]
TUE 14:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqb3rx)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 14:06 Newshour (w172zb98ty87z7w)
Top Russian general killed in Moscow
Ukraine says it was behind the killing of a senior Russian general, Lt Gen Igor Kirillov, who died in scooter blast in Moscow..
The head of Russia's Radiation, Biological and Chemical Protection Unit was at the entrance to a residential block when a device hidden in an electric scooter went off. On Monday, Lt Gen Kirillov was charged in Kyiv for the use of banned chemical weapons in Ukraine; he had already been sanctioned by the UK. We'll find out more about the killing and its likely impact.
Also in the programme: A French member of parliament tells us the island of Mayotte has, after Saturday's cyclone, been "deleted from the map"; and we'll get a sense of Syria's revolution from two big cities outside the capital.
Ukraine says it was behind the killing of a senior Russian general, Lt Gen Igor Kirillov, who died in scooter blast in Moscow..
The head of Russia's Radiation, Biological and Chemical Protection Unit was at the entrance to a residential block when a device hidden in an electric scooter went off.
On Monday, Lt Gen Kirillov was charged in Kyiv for the use of banned chemical weapons in Ukraine; he had already been sanctioned by the UK. We'll find out more about the killing and its impact.
Also in the programme: A French member of parliament tells us the island of Mayotte has, after Saturday's cyclone, been "deleted from the map"; and we'll get a sense of Syria's revolution from two big cities outside the capital.
(Photo shows Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov attending a press conference in Moscow, Russia in a still image from video released on 5 November 2024. Credit: Russian Defence Ministry handout via REUTERS)
TUE 15:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqb7j1)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 15:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct5tx2)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:06 today]
TUE 15:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9tfb0lsf)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
TUE 15:32 World Business Report (w3ct6083)
Argentina’s economy shows signs of growth
Argentina, for a long time one of the world's most troubled economies, has seen its economy grow. Could this be the end of years of economic crisis?
We'll take a look at whether that growth is sustainable and delve into how much of it is to do with the radical policies of the country's president Javier Milei.
Also today, we consider what the future holds for the ECOWAS trading bloc in West Africa, as three countries formally file to leave.
You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 3033. We’d love to hear from you!
TUE 16:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqbc85)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 16:06 BBC OS (w172zbjfk4sz0bj)
Top Russian general killed in Moscow
Ukraine's security services say they were behind a bomb blast which killed a Russian general in Moscow. Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov had been accused of using chemical weapons in Ukraine. We speak to our colleagues from BBC Russian and BBC Ukraine.
The White House says talks on a ceasefire deal in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages are making progress. We hear from residents in Gaza and from family members of hostages.
We speak to our correspondent in the Syrian capital Damascus and hear from two people whose family members were imprisoned during the Assad regime.
A Brazilian judge has ordered an Adele song to be pulled globally over plagiarism claim. We explain the case and what constitutes music plagiarism.
Presenter: Luke Jones.
(Photo: A view shows a scene of an explosion in which, according to Russia's investigative committee, Russian general Igor Kirillov, in charge of nuclear protection forces, and his assistant were killed, in Moscow, Russia December 17, 2024. Credit: Maxim Shemetov/Reuters)
TUE 17:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqbh09)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 17:06 BBC OS (w172zbjfk4sz42n)
Gaza-Israel ceasefire talks
After months of deadlock, there are new signs that Israel and Hamas could be moving closer to a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal. We get more details from Middle East regional editor.
Ukraine's security services say they were behind a bomb blast which killed a Russian general in Moscow. We get the latest from BBC Ukraine and BBC Russian.
We hear from two people whose family members were imprisoned during the Assad rule in Syria.
A BBC Eye investigation has found that ovver the last three decades, at least 565 children in the Indian state of West Bengal have been injured or killed by home-made bombs, linked to political violence there. We speak to our reporter who has been investigating.
Presenter: Luke Jones.
(Photo: Relatives and supporters of the hostages kidnapped during the deadly October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas hold a protest performance promoting a deal that would bring the hostages home, in Tel Aviv, Israel, December 17, 2024. Credit: Stoyan Nenov/Reuters)
TUE 18:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqblrf)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 18:06 Outlook (w3ct5p5p)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:06 today]
TUE 18:50 Witness History (w3ct5ynd)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 today]
TUE 19:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqbqhk)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqp8rp3xww)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
TUE 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9tfb12ry)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
TUE 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct5w8z)
2024/12/17 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 (w172zgfhcpqbv7p)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 20:06 Assignment (w3ct5mtt)
[Repeat of broadcast at
02:32 today]
TUE 20:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9tfb16j2)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
TUE 20:32 Tech Life (w3ct5wn8)
Does the robotaxi have a future?
One of the world’s biggest car manufacturers pulled the plug on its robotaxi project. So what next? We also ask the experts how AI will impact your job. And we’re at the launch of a new music discovery tool, which uses a mix of AI and expert curation.
We’re always keen to hear from you. You can email us on techlife@bbc.co.uk, or send us a voice note on Whatsapp at +44330 1230 320.
Presenter: Graham Fraser
Producer: Imran Rahman-Jones
Editor: Monica Soriano
(Image: A Cruise car with cameras attached to its exterior at an intersection in San Francisco. Credit: Getty Images)
TUE 21:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqbyzt)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 21:06 Newshour (w172zb98ty88tgs)
How many people are buried in Syria's mass graves?
After visiting sites close to Syria's capital Damascus, Stephen Rapp, who led prosecutors for the tribunals investigating war crimes in Rwanda and Sierra Leone, said "we really haven't seen anything quite like this since the Nazis." The Syrian Emergency Taskforce, a humanitarian and activist organisation, estimates half a million bodies could be buried in mass graves.
Also in the programme: Ukraine assassinates a Russian general in Moscow; and we speak to the anti-whaling activist just released from detention in Greenland.
(Photo: Stephen Rapp, head of Commission for International Justice and Accountability, talks with media as people inspect the site of a mass grave from the rule of Syria's Bashar al-Assad, according to residents, after the ousting of al-Assad, in Najha, Syria, 17 December 2024. Credit: Reuters/Ammar Awad)
TUE 22:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqc2qy)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 22:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqp8rp4948)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
TUE 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9tfb1g0b)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
TUE 22:32 World Business Report (w3ct60bc)
First broadcast 17/12/2024 22:32 GMT
The latest business and finance news from around the world, on the BBC.
TUE 23:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqc6h2)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 23:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct5tx2)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:06 today]
TUE 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9tfb1krg)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
TUE 23:32 In the Studio (w3ct5tlq)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:32 today]
WEDNESDAY 18 DECEMBER 2024
WED 00:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqcb76)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 00:06 The Arts Hour (w3ct5qkh)
[Repeat of broadcast at
20:06 on Saturday]
WED 01:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqcfzb)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 01:06 Business Matters (w172zbfvl91pq46)
Canadian politics takes a breather after the resignation of the country’s Finance Minister
Canada takes a breath after the resignation of the country’s Finance Minister, with calls growing for Chrystia Freeland to consider challenging Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as leader of the country’s Liberal Party.
Also on Business Matters, Andrew Peach hears how 26 tonnes of gold has been found in the vaults of Syria’s National Bank.
Andew hears how the Japanese carmakers Nissan and Honda appear to be edging closer to a merger.
And with Christmas just around the corner,, why do we keep buying presents for each other if it makes so many of us unhappy?
WED 02:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqckqg)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqp8rp4s3s)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
WED 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9tfb1xzv)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
WED 02:32 The Climate Question (w3ct5wsr)
[Repeat of broadcast at
14:06 on Sunday]
WED 03:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqcpgl)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 03:06 Outlook (w3ct5p5p)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:06 on Tuesday]
WED 03:50 Witness History (w3ct5ynd)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 on Tuesday]
WED 04:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqct6q)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 04:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqp8rp50m1)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
WED 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9tfb25h3)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
WED 04:32 Dramas (w3ct7l67)
Purple Heart Warriors
Purple Heart Warriors: 2. ‘Buddhaheads’
Ken goes to a Japanese American internment camp and is shocked at what he sees. Tensions between recruits from Hawaii and the mainlanders, so-called “Buddhaheads” and “Kotonks”, are running high. Then some news – the soldiers are sent to fight in Europe.
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 (w172zgfhcpqcxyv)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 05:06 Newsday (w172zbkdc2y61mf)
UN: Syria not stable enough for huge numbers of refugees to return
IOM's head Amy Pope said about a hundred- thousand people had already returned -- but that some Shia Muslims had left because of concerns about the new authorities.
In northern Canada climate change is disrupting the habitat for polar bears leading to dangerous interactions with humans
(Pic: Women walk through a street in Idlib, a northwestern Syrian city where HTS had maintained an administration; Credit: Reuters)
WED 06:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqd1pz)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 06:06 Newsday (w172zbkdc2y65ck)
'A hundred- thousand people have already returned to Syria'
A senior UN official says Syria is not stable enough for large-scale return of refugees. People who are going back are also finding evidence of mass grave sites in Syria.
We'll have the latest on the prospect of a ceasefire deal in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages held by the Palestinian group Hamas. The Americans are pushing hard for a deal to be secured as soon as possible.
The junta in Myanmar has suffered a military defeat as ethnic Karen insurgents capture the city of Manerplaw. How significant is this?
(Pic: Abdelkareem, 11, with a flag adopted by the new Syrian rulers drawn on his face; Credit: Reuters)
WED 07:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqd5g3)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 07:06 Newsday (w172zbkdc2y693p)
'Syria could fall back into conflict without urgent support'
IOM's Amy Pope says about a hundred- thousand people had already returned -- but that some Shia Muslims had left because of concerns about the new authorities.
At least fourteen people are known to have been killed, and hundreds have been injured in Vanuatu after a powerful earthquake
In northern Canada climate change is disrupting the habitat for polar bears leading to dangerous interactions with humans
(Pic: An exterior view of prison 'Branch 235' in Damascus, Syria; Credit: EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)
WED 08:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqd967)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 08:06 HARDtalk (w3ct5t55)
Marty Baron: Is mainstream media in terminal decline?
Stephen Sackur speaks to the former editor of the Washington Post, Marty Baron. Donald Trump accused him of peddling lies and fake news. He called it independent evidence-based journalism. Does the re-election of Trump suggest the mainstream media is in terminal decline?
WED 08:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9tfb2ngm)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
WED 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct5zp1)
Lapland: The world’s biggest Christmas economy?
How has Lapland, the northernmost region of Finland, become a global hub for the Christmas economy?
Known as the official home of Father Christmas, Lapland attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year - generating significant revenue.
We head to the most popular Christmas spot, Rovaneimi, to hear how a resort there benefits from this tourism. And the head of the tourist board, Sanna Kärkkäinen, tells us how records are about to be broken.
Presented and produced by Izzy Greenfield
Reporter: Erika Benke
(Picture: Lapland at night, showing illuminated buildings. Credit: BBC/Erika Benke)
WED 08:50 Witness History (w3ct5yqn)
Ceefax: the start of interactive television
In 1974, the BBC launched the world's first teletext service.
It provided information, like news and weather, through our TV screens, whenever users wanted, at the push of a button.
Rachel Naylor speaks to Angus McIntyre, son of the late Colin McIntyre, Ceefax's first editor.
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: Colin McIntyre, pictured with a television set showing Ceefax, in 1978. Credit: Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
WED 09:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqddyc)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 09:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqp8rp5mbp)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
WED 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9tfb2s6r)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
WED 09:32 The Climate Question (w3ct5wsr)
[Repeat of broadcast at
14:06 on Sunday]
WED 10:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqdjph)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 10:06 World Questions (w3ct5yym)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:06 on Saturday]
WED 11:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqdnfm)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqp8rp5vty)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
WED 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9tfb30q0)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
WED 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct6drt)
Gisèle Pelicot and the 51 men she faced in court
For months a court room in the small French town of Avignon has demanded the world’s attention and shaken attitudes towards sexual violence and consent. Throughout the trial, Gisèle Pelicot has faced the 50 men accused of her rape and sexual assault while she was unconscious, drugged by her husband.
On today's episode Caitríona Perry speaks to the BBC's Paris correspondent Andrew Harding about Gisèle Pelicot and how she refused to carry the shame of the 51 men she faced in court.
If you need support with the issues we’ve been talking about, you could speak to a health professional, or an organisation that offers support. Details of help available in many countries can be found at Befrienders Worldwide: www.befrienders.org. In the UK, you can find a list of organisations that can help at bbc.co.uk/actionline
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, Alix Pickles, Mhairi MacKenzie, Eleanor Sly
Sound engineers: Rohan Madison and Mike Regaard
Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas
Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson
Picture credit: EPA
WED 12:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqds5r)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 12:06 Outlook (w3ct5pdg)
From homeless in LA to the 'Queen of Melrose'
Cosmo Lombino is a fashion icon, having dressed Nicole Kidman, NSYNC, Britney Spears, Beyoncé and Lana Del Rey. She grew up in Harlem with a father who had associations with the mob; FBI agents would raid the house as meatballs simmered on the stove. Her chaotic childhood in the 80s was loving, with a deep vein of religion, but cocaine use was common in Cosmo's family. Still her talents and work ethic were undeniable and despite her own drug use, Cosmo opened her shop on Melrose Avenue in LA and started dressing the rich and famous. But when addiction caught up with her, she lost her business and had to fight to get her life and empire back.
Presenter: Mobeen Azhar
Producer: Caroline Ferguson
Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com or WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707
Photo: Cosmo Lombino aka The Queen of Melrose Credit: Cosmo Lombino
WED 12:50 Witness History (w3ct5yqn)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 today]
WED 13:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqdwxw)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 13:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqp8rp63b6)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
WED 13:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9tfb3868)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
WED 13:32 Dramas (w3ct7l67)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:32 today]
WED 14:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqf0p0)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 14:06 Newshour (w172zb98ty8bw4z)
The secret files that could put Syria's Assad in prison
Since Syria's President Assad fell from power, the full horror of his regime has begun to be revealed. Mass graves have been discovered around the country. And a vast amount of documentation confirming many of the crimes is emerging. We hear from Canadian lawyer Bill Wiley who has been gathering evidence of atrocities by the Assad regime for years. He believes many of the perpetrators could now be brought to justice.
Also on the programme: how a novella by Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoyevsky has become a TikTok sensation; the Russians say they've detained the man who carried out the assassination of a senior general in Moscow; and the polar bears bearing down on a town in northern Canada.
Photo by BILAL AL HAMMOUD/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock (15014794bq)
WED 15:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqf4f4)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 15:06 HARDtalk (w3ct5t55)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:06 today]
WED 15:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9tfb3hpj)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
WED 15:32 World Business Report (w3ct60dm)
Will Honda and Nissan merge?
The auto companies Honda and Nissan are currently in the early stages of merger talks. We ask what does it mean for the car industry?
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s government has filed criminal complaints in France and Belgium against subsidiaries of the tech giant Apple, accusing it of using conflict minerals.
And we hear from the northernmost region of Finland which has become a global hub thing for all things Christmas. How crucial is the festive time of year to the economy?
WED 16:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqf858)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 16:06 BBC OS (w172zbjfk4t1x7m)
UN calls for free and fair elections in Syria
It is vital that Syria's new leadership keeps its promises to respect the rights of all the country's diverse religious and ethnic groups, according to UN Special Envoy Geir Pedersen.
After the UN also warned that Syria is not stable enough for the large-scale return of refugees, we bring together Syrian students abroad to discuss whether they are hoping to go back.
Our science correspondent has been to the polar bear capital of the world in Canada and will explain how polar bears, because of the warm weather, spend more time on land and come into contact with people more now.
The BBC has seen evidence that the multinational corporation that owns Jaguar Land Rover arranged for a whistleblower to be sacked for raising concerns about the safety of electric cars it had designed. We speak to our financial correspondent and bring together two whistleblowers to share their experiences.
Presenter: Luke Jones.
(Photo: Geir Pedersen, UN Special envoy to Syria, talks to media before departing Damascus, Syria December 18, 2024.Credit: Firas Makdesi/Reuters)
WED 17:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqfcxd)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 17:06 BBC OS (w172zbjfk4t20zr)
Missing Indian woman returns home after 22 years
An Indian woman who says she was trafficked to Pakistan more than two decades ago has finally returned home - 18 months after her grandson spotted her in a YouTube video. Our colleague in Delhi who wrote up the story for BBC News website explains.
After the UN also warned that Syria is not stable enough for the large-scale return of refugees, we bring together Syrian students abroad to discuss whether they are hoping to go back.
A high-ranking general in the Russian armed forces and his assistant have been killed in Moscow by Ukraine's security service, a Ukrainian source has told the BBC. We speak to our colleague from BBC Ukraine.
The BBC has seen evidence that the multinational corporation that owns Jaguar Land Rover arranged for a whistleblower to be sacked for raising concerns about the safety of electric cars it had designed. We speak to our financial correspondent and bring together two whistleblowers to share their experiences.
Presenter: Luke Jones.
(Photo: Hamida Banu at her Karachi residence in 2022 Credit: Waliullah Maroof)
WED 18:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqfhnj)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 18:06 Outlook (w3ct5pdg)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:06 today]
WED 18:50 Witness History (w3ct5yqn)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 today]
WED 19:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqfmdn)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqp8rp6tsz)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
WED 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9tfb3zp1)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
WED 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct5wc7)
2024/12/18 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 (w172zgfhcpqfr4s)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 20:06 The Climate Question (w3ct5wsr)
[Repeat of broadcast at
14:06 on Sunday]
WED 20:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9tfb43f5)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
WED 20:32 Health Check (w3ct5t9p)
2024 in global health: a review
Claudia Hammond is joined by journalist Andrew Green to check-in on their 2024 health predictions and review just how accurate they were. Together, they explore the stories that we didn’t see coming and the game-changing medical innovations that shaped global health this year. Plus, the unusual Ig Nobel medicine prize, and a healthy dose of competition in the form of the ultimate health fact-off.
WED 21:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqfvwx)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 21:06 Newshour (w172zb98ty8cqcw)
Interviews, news and analysis of the day’s global events.
WED 22:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqfzn1)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 22:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqp8rp761c)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
WED 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9tfb4bxf)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
WED 22:32 World Business Report (w3ct60gw)
Are US interest rate cuts coming to an end?
Shares fell on Wall Street after Fed Chair Jerome Powell announced a cut to its key interest rate of
0.25%, but indicated this could be the last rate reduction for a while. The US dollar rose in value on the news. Also Lily Jamali explains how TikTok is pursuing a last-ditch effort in the US Supreme Court to avoid a mandated sale or ban of the app in America the day before Donald Trump is due to take office as president. And how Finland has become a global hub thing for all things Christmas.
WED 23:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqg3d5)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 23:06 HARDtalk (w3ct5t55)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:06 today]
WED 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9tfb4gnk)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
WED 23:32 Dramas (w3ct7l67)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:32 today]
THURSDAY 19 DECEMBER 2024
THU 00:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqg749)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 00:06 World Questions (w3ct5yym)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:06 on Saturday]
THU 01:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqgbwf)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 01:06 Business Matters (w172zbfvl91sm19)
Are US interest rate cuts coming to an end?
Shares fell on Wall Street after Fed Chair Jerome Powell announced a cut to its key interest rate of
0.25%, but indicated this could be the last rate reduction for a while. The US dollar rose in value on the news. Also Lily Jamali explains how TikTok is pursuing a last-ditch effort in the US Supreme Court to avoid a mandated sale or ban of the app in America the day before Donald Trump is due to take office as president. And the de-facto leader of Syria tells the BBC that sanctions on the country should be lifted immediately.
THU 02:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqggmk)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqp8rp7p0w)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
THU 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9tfb4twy)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
THU 02:32 The Documentary (w3ct7hy6)
Srebrenica’s forgotten refugees
Thirty years after the war in Bosnia, survivors and their descendants find themselves permanently displaced in their own country. BBC reporter Lauren Tavriger visits the Tuzla region where families fleeing atrocities, including the Srebrenica massacre, have been living for decades in makeshift settlements originally designed as temporary. She talks to families about their experience, discovering why traumatised people are still living in a state of internal exile and reports on controversial efforts by the Bosnian authorities to clear camps and rehouse their inhabitants.
THU 03:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqglcp)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 03:06 Outlook (w3ct5pdg)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:06 on Wednesday]
THU 03:50 Witness History (w3ct5yqn)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 on Wednesday]
THU 04:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqgq3t)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 04:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqp8rp7xj4)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
THU 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9tfb52d6)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
THU 04:32 The Food Chain (w3ct5xnw)
Has Christmas food gone mad?
Prosecco flavoured crisps? Eggnog chicken? Sticky toffee pudding trifle?
The innovation for novelty Christmas products seems endless, but is there the appetite?
Ruth Alexander lifts the lid on an industry churning out festive food hits, and flops, in the race for Christmas tastebuds.
She visits the Good Housekeeping Institute in London to take part in an opulent dessert testing event, deciding which puddings are the best on the shelves this year.
Eric Nummelin and Mike Vahabi from Hela Spice in Toronto, Canada, reveal the wacky inventions they have come up with for this year, and how inspiration can strike at any time.
A former buyer for a large European supermarket chain talks about how to “win” Christmas with headline-grabbing products, and what happens when shoppers try things once and don’t go back for more.
If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: thefoodchain@bbc.co.uk
Presenter: Ruth Alexander
Producer: Hannah Bewley
(Image: Colourful Christmas treats and biscuits. Credit: Getty Images/BBC)
THU 05:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqgtvy)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 05:06 Newsday (w172zbkdc2y8yjj)
Syria: "not a threat" to the world
The leader of the Syrian rebels, Ahmed al -Sharaa, now in charge in Damascus tells the BBC his group is not a threat to the west and international sanctions must now be lifted:
France has declared the devastation of Cylcone Chido on its overseas territory of Mayotte as an "exceptional natural disaster". We'll speak live to a senator there
And a verdict is expected later today in France in a trial that has shocked the nation : a man has confessed to getting dozens of men to rape his wife while she was unconscious.
(Picture: Ahmed al Sharaa, leader of rebel group HTS in Syria. Credit: BBC)
THU 06:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqgym2)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 06:06 Newsday (w172zbkdc2y928n)
Syria: "exhausted by war"
We hear from the man who holds the future of Syria in his hands. Ahmed al-Sharaa, the de-facto leader of the country, has been speaking to our international editor and lays out his vision for the war-stricken country
Thousands of people are still classed as missing in the Indian Ocean island territory of Mayotte following the devastation caused by cyclone Chido over the weekend.
In France the verdicts for 51 men in the mass rape case that shook the country is expected later today
(Picture: Syria's de facto leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani in Damascus. Credit: Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham/Reuters)
THU 07:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqh2c6)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 07:06 Newsday (w172zbkdc2y960s)
Gisele Pelicot case concluding
French judges will today hand down verdicts on 51 men accused of raping a woman whose ex- husband recruited them online to have sex with her.
The French President Emmanuel Macron is set to arrive in the Indian Ocean Island of Mayotte today to assess the devastation caused by Cyclone Chido. We'll hear from the Island and find out what people there now need.
And the de-facto leader of Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa, tells our international editor that his country is not a threat to its neighbours or the west and sanctions should be lifted.
THU 08:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqh63b)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 08:06 The Inquiry (w3ct5xjc)
Can Nato protect the Baltic Sea?
Accusations of sabotage have been made after a Chinese merchant ship cut through two important undersea cables in the Baltic Sea. Eight of the nine states in the Baltic are members of Nato but Russia has access to the sea from St Petersburg and for its Kaliningrad exclave.
With previous incidents of damage to underwater pipelines and cables, there is concern that the security of critical underwater infrastructure is at risk from ‘grey zone’ activities - damaging but deniable incidents below the level of outright war.
David Baker hears how countries’ security is threatened by incidents like these. The pipelines that were cut ran between Finland and Germany and Sweden and Lithuania. He asks who can intervene to protect these assets in the Baltic. Can Nato respond?
Our experts this week are: Elizabeth Braw, senior fellow at the Atlantic Council Scowcroft Centre for Strategy and Security, and the author of an upcoming book called The Undersea War; Helga Kalm, director of the Lennart Meri Conference in Tallinn, Estonia; Marion Messmer, senior research fellow in the International Security Programme at Chatham House; Tormod Heier, professor at the National Defence University College in Oslo, Norway and a former officer in the Norwegian Intelligence Service.
Presenter: David Baker
Producer: Philip Reevell
Researcher: Katie Morgan
Editor: Tara McDermott
Sound engineer: Craig Boardman
Image Credit - Rex/Shutterstock via BBC Images
THU 08:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9tfb5kcq)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
THU 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct5zd0)
Putting a financial crash on stage
We explore the ongoing fascination of the Lehman Brothers story.
A play - The Lehman Trilogy - is currently being shown in London to five-star reviews.
It documents the rise and fall of the financial services firm, which filed for bankruptcy in 2008 - the largest insolvency in history, and considered a defining moment in the global financial crisis.
The play has been seen by half a million theatregoers globally - and now Business Daily has been to watch it too.
We speak to the cast, adapting playwright, and the audience about the story's appeal.
Produced and presented by Elizabeth Hotson
(Image: Howard W. Overshown performs the role of Emanuel Lehman during a media preview of The Lehman Trilogy at the Theatre Royal, Sydney, in February 2024)
THU 08:50 Witness History (w3ct5yl4)
Poland's bleak Christmas
In 1981, the communist government of Poland declared martial law in an attempt to suppress rising protests and strikes.
The civil unrest had been sparked by Solidarity, a trade union which became a social movement.
Tanks and soldiers appeared on the street, Solidarity members were rounded up, and TV and radio stations shut down.
For a devoutly Catholic country – Christmas was a sacred time, but under martial law there would be very little to celebrate this festive season.
Johnny I’Anson hears from Solidarity member and activist Maciek Romejko about a bleak Christmas in Poland.
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: Martial law in Poland. Credit: Getty Images)
THU 09:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqh9vg)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 09:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqp8rp8j7s)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
THU 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9tfb5p3v)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
THU 09:32 The Documentary (w3ct7hy6)
[Repeat of broadcast at
02:32 today]
THU 10:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqhfll)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 10:06 The Explanation (w3ct6pmn)
The Media Show: CNN’s Syria report controversy
A report by CNN from inside a Syrian prison has become a flashpoint for media scrutiny after the featured prisoner, initially presented as a victim, was identified as a former member of Assad’s Air Force Intelligence Directorate. David Folkenflik, Media Correspondent for NPR, examines the ethical dilemmas and journalistic standards in such high-stakes reporting.
ABC News reached a $15m settlement with Donald Trump over a defamation claim stemming from false statements made by one of its star presenters. Katie Fallow, Deputy Litigation Director at the Knight First Amendment Institute, explores the legal complexities of defamation cases involving public figures and the implications for media accountability in a polarised landscape.
The Map Men, winners of TikTok’s UK and Ireland video of the year, have turned their passion for maps into viral success. Jay Foreman, one half of the duo, discusses their creative process, the balance between humour and education in their work, and how their unique take on cartography resonates with audiences across platforms.
Presenters: Katie Razzall and Ros Atkins
Producer: Lucy Wai
Assistant Producer: Martha Owen
THU 10:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9tfb5svz)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
THU 10:32 The Documentary (w3ct7hz2)
Footprints: How did human feet get washed up on the west coast of Canada and the US?
In August 2007, on an island off Canada’s west coast, the remains of a human foot were found washed up on a beach.
Six days later, on another beach 50 miles away, a second foot was found. But, strangely, it does not match the first - they are from different people.
The BBC’s Celia Hatton travels to Vancouver to hear how more than 20 feet have been found in the area since then, and to speak to the investigators and scientists who worked to unravel the mystery of why they started appearing.
(Photo: A discarded trainer shoe washed up on the rocks by the shore. Credit: Dan Welsh)
THU 11:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqhkbq)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqp8rp8rr1)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
THU 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9tfb5xm3)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
THU 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct6dv2)
The Israeli soldiers refusing to fight
The BBC has spoken to Israeli reservists who are refusing to return to the war in Gaza. Imbued with a sense of national duty following the October 7th attack by Hamas, but now troubled by the things they’ve witnessed in Gaza, some Israeli soldiers say they won’t return to the army.
We hear from one soldier who compares the devastation inflicted by Israel’s military in the Gaza Strip to an apocalypse, and said his colleagues would routinely loot and vandalise Palestinian houses, claims denied by the Israeli military authorities.
BBC special correspondent Fergal Keane has spoken to several of them, and tells our presenter Azadeh Moshiri why their stories reflect deep political divisions which exist within Israeli society.
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: Tom Kavanagh and Alix Pickles
Sound engineers: Mike Regaard
Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas
Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson
THU 12:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqhp2v)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 12:06 Outlook (w3ct5nyx)
The champion wrestler who defied all odds
Champion wrestler Anthony Robles was always a sporty kid. He was born with one leg but refused a prosthetic as it slowed him down. When he discovered wrestling at high school in America, he saw the chance to compete with the very best. His mother Judy was at every single match and together they tell the story of his extraordinary rise through one of the toughest sports. Now a film has been made about Anthony and Judy Robles' lives called Unstoppable.
Presenter: Mobeen Azhar
Producer: Helen Fitzhenry
Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com or WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707
(Photo: Anthony Robles in his 2011 championship match. Credit: Tony Rotundo courtesy of Prime Video)
THU 12:50 Witness History (w3ct5yl4)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 today]
THU 13:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqhstz)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 13:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqp8rp9079)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
THU 13:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9tfb653c)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
THU 13:32 The Food Chain (w3ct5xnw)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:32 today]
THU 14:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqhxl3)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 14:06 Newshour (w172zb98ty8fs22)
Pelicot rape trial: 51 men sentenced to prison
Gisèle Pelicot thanks supporters after 'difficult ordeal' of rape trial as ex-husband jailed for 20 years. All fifty of other defendants were also convicted, with sentences of between 3and 15 years in jail.
Also on the programme, the new de facto leader of Syria has told the BBC that the country is too exhausted by war to be a threat to other nations; and, the creator of the Chat GPT artificial intelligence service has set up a WhatsApp account so that its users can get answers to questions using the messaging app.
(Photo: Verdict against 51 defendants of mass rape trial in Avignon, France - 02 Dec 2024. GUILLAUME HORCAJUELO/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)
THU 15:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqj1b7)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 15:06 The Inquiry (w3ct5xjc)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:06 today]
THU 15:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9tfb6dlm)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
THU 15:32 World Business Report (w3ct603l)
Why is Mayotte so poor?
France's President Macron is in Mayotte seeing the damage from the devastating cyclone. He declares a day of national mourning, but many residents are angry at what they see as neglect of what is legally part of France.
El Salvador gets a multibillion-dollar deal with the IMF, but in return for dialling down its use of Bitcoin
Plus, a successful play with a ten-year run on the London stage - and it's about financial services!
THU 16:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqj52c)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 16:06 BBC OS (w172zbjfk4t4t4q)
Gisèle Pelicot thanks supporters
Gisèle Pelicot thanked supporters in a speech outside court, after her ex-husband Dominique Pelicot was jailed for 20 years for drugging her and recruiting strangers to rape her. She said she never regretted making the trial public, but called it a very difficult ordeal. We explain what happened in court and hear reaction from women and men in France.
The BBC has gained rare access to the unheard stories of women inside Iran’s notorious Evin Prison - including accounts of torture and threat of execution. We hear some of their accounts and speak to our reporter from BBC Persian.
We hear from residents and speak to our reporter in Mayotte, the French territory devastated by Cyclone Chido, as rescuers race do find missing people.
We talk about the new reality show Beast Games by the YouTube star Mr Beast and discuss controversies surrounding the show.
Presenter: Luke Jones.
(Photo: Gisele Pelicot (C), with her lawyers Stephane Babonneau and Antoine Camus, speaks to the media at the criminal court in Avignon, southern France, 19 December 2024. Credit: GUILLAUME HORCAJUELO/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)
THU 17:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqj8th)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 17:06 BBC OS (w172zbjfk4t4xwv)
Gang warfare in Haiti
The UN-sanctioned mission in Haiti was meant to be a multi-nation effort with a contingent of 2,500 soldiers from seven different countries led by the Kenyan police. Six months later, only 400 Kenyan police officers have been deployed and the mission remains seriously underfunded. We speak to our reporter who spent time embedded with the Kenyan forces. A warning this episode contains distressing details.
We bring some of the key quotes and analysis on President Putin’s annual phone-in and press conference.
Dominique Pelicot has been jailed for twenty years for the aggravated rape of his wife Gisèle, whom he drugged and allowed strangers to rape repeatedly over a decade. We bring reaction from France.
The United States reported its first severe human case of bird flu this week. We explain what bird flu is.
Presenter: Luke Jones.
(Photo: Kenyan police officer patrols as the country is facing emergency food insecurity while immersed in a social and political crisis, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti October 3, 2024. Credit: Jean Feguens Regala//File Photo/Reuters)
THU 18:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqjdkm)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 18:06 Outlook (w3ct5nyx)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:06 today]
THU 18:50 Witness History (w3ct5yl4)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 today]
THU 19:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqjj9r)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqp8rp9qq2)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
THU 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9tfb6wl4)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
THU 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct5w6q)
2024/12/19 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 (w172zgfhcpqjn1w)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 20:06 The Documentary (w3ct7hy6)
[Repeat of broadcast at
02:32 today]
THU 20:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9tfb70b8)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
THU 20:32 Science In Action (w3ct5vdw)
Sun Grazing
New insights into how our skin learns to tolerate and co-exist with bacteria on its surface show great potential for the development of simpler and less invasive vaccines. Stanford University’s Djenet Bousbaine has published two papers in Nature detailing the microbiological research and mouse vaccination experiments that could change the future of immunisation.
The Sun is the hardest place in the Solar System to reach. But by the time the next edition of Science in Action is on air, NASA’s Parker Solar Probe will have swooped through the scorching corona layer of the Sun, re-emerged, and be readying itself to relay the details of magnetic fields and particle storms to the team. NASA Helioscience deputy manager, Nicky Rayl, reveals all about the mission and explains why the Parker Probe’s future looks bright.
And a trip half a billion years back - and then some - to the dawn of complex life here on Earth. Microfossil hunter Shuhai Xiao, from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, has been compiling a single statistical database to better understand evolution during the so-called ‘boring billion’, why subsequent changes on the planet triggered a new diversity of species to emerge, and how the interplay between biology and geology has paved the way for modern life as we know it.
Presenter: Roland Pease
Producer: Alex Mansfield
Assistant Producer: William Hornbrook
Production Coordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth
(Image: Solar Activity Captured in H-Alpha Filter. Credit: Manuel Romano/NurPhoto via Getty Images.)
THU 21:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqjrt0)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 21:06 Newshour (w172zb98ty8gm8z)
Politicians praise bravery of French rape survivor Gisèle Pelicot
The French prime minister Francois Bayrou has praised the courage of Gisèle Pelicot, following a mass rape trial in which her ex-husband and fifty other defendants were found guilty. Dominique Pelicot was jailed for twenty years for organising the repeated drugging and rape of his former wife by dozens of strangers over a decade.
Also in the programme, President Macron of France in Mayotte vows to rebuild the cyclone hit territory; and we hear from Angelina Jollie who plays the diva, Maria Callas.
(Photo: Gisele Pelicot with her grandson, after the end of the trial in Avignon. Credit: Shutterstock)
THU 22:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqjwk4)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 22:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqp8rpb2yg)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
THU 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9tfb77tj)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
THU 22:32 World Business Report (w3ct605v)
The US votes on crucial shutdown bill
The US senate votes on a new deal for Federal Government funding. The previous bill was abandoned after Donald Trump said he wouldn’t support it.
Luigi Mangione, The man accused of shooting the head of America's biggest health insurance company has made his first court appearance in New York after being extradited from Pennsylvania.
Changes in weather patterns have been causing problems in some ski resorts around the world, including in India where one mountain resort has reported a fall in visitor numbers.
THU 23:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqk098)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 23:06 The Inquiry (w3ct5xjc)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:06 today]
THU 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9tfb7ckn)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
THU 23:32 The Food Chain (w3ct5xnw)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:32 today]
FRIDAY 20 DECEMBER 2024
FRI 00:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqk41d)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 00:06 The Explanation (w3ct6pmn)
[Repeat of broadcast at
10:06 on Thursday]
FRI 00:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9tfb7h9s)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
FRI 00:32 The Documentary (w3ct7hyq)
The Watermelons: Myanmar's military moles
***This program contains distressing content. The voices of all active Watermelons have been changed for security reasons***
The Myanmar military is now riddled with soldiers betraying their colleagues. Military green on the outside, rebel red within. They are known as the Watermelons.
BBC Eye goes inside the Watermelons unit to reveal how these spies are helping the armed pro-democracy resistance achieve the unthinkable.
Nearly four years since seizing power in a coup the Myanmar military now only has full control of less than a quarter of the country.
Producer/presenter: Rebecca Henschke
Producer: Jack Aung, Ko Ko Aung, Charlotte Attwood and Kelvin Brown
Sound engineer: David Crackles
(Image: Composite image of a soldier, tanks and protesters. Credit: BBC Eye)
FRI 01:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqk7sj)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 01:06 Business Matters (w172zbfvl91whyd)
US shutdown looms
A government shutdown looms over the US as funding deal is rejected
Amazon workers have gone on strike at the peak of the Christmas rush.
Changes in weather patterns have been causing problems in some ski resorts around the world, including in India where one mountain resort has reported a fall in visitor numbers.
FRI 02:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqkcjn)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqp8rpbkxz)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
FRI 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9tfb7qt1)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
FRI 02:32 Tech Life (w3ct5wn8)
[Repeat of broadcast at
20:32 on Tuesday]
FRI 03:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqkh8s)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 03:06 Outlook (w3ct5nyx)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:06 on Thursday]
FRI 03:50 Witness History (w3ct5yl4)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 on Thursday]
FRI 04:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqkm0x)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 04:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqp8rpbtf7)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
FRI 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9tfb7z99)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
FRI 04:32 Heart and Soul (w3ct5tg6)
Antisemitism in Turkey
Members of Turkey’s ancient Jewish community say they feel forced to hide their identities and practice their religion in private, after noticing a rise in antisemitism following the October 7th attacks in Israel. Turkey’s President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has maintained a relentless criticism of Israel’s government for its response to Hamas’ 2023 attack. He has accused the Jewish state of genocide and mass murder and nicknamed its leader, Benjamin Netanyahu, “the butcher of Gaza,” as well as comparing him to Adolf Hitler. Over the past year, Erdogan’s charged rhetoric has ricocheted through Turkey’s small but ancient Jewish community. Members say there has been a visible increase in hate speech and antisemitism. They say they are use more Arab-sounding names in public, and many are considering leaving for countries like Spain and Portugal where their ancestors came from. People have taken down mezuzahs that hang in doorways, or choosing not to display Chanukah. The history of Jewish people in Turkey runs deep: it was in the 1400s that many Sephardic Jews sought refuge in the Ottoman Empire after being expelled from their homeland during the Spanish Inquisition. Now, their descendants in modern-day Istanbul and Izmir face difficult decisions as they, 500 years later, feel increasingly unwelcome in the place they call home.
For this Heart and Soul, Victoria Craig meets members of Turkey’s Jewish community, delves into the unique history of Judaism in Turkey and discovers how the fabric of society has changed over the past year.
[Photo: Nesim Bencoya (our main character) standing on a rooftop overlooking part of Izmir’s historic Jewish neighbourhood where he’s helping to lead restoration works of nine synagogues and revive and preserve Jewish heritage.]
Producer/ Presenter: Victoria Craig
Executive Producer: Rajeev Gupta
Production Coordinator: Mica Nepomuceno
Editor: Chloe Wlker
FRI 05:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqkqs1)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 05:06 Newsday (w172zbkdc2ycvfm)
US: Government shutdown looms
In the United States, the House has rejected another plan to keep funding flowing which could lead to a government shut down. But some republicans are defying Donald Trump's instructions. We'll bring you the latest.
In France - a former women's minster gives us her reaction to Thursday's historic mass rape case ruling
And a BBC investigation reveals that the Myanmar military has full control of less than a quarter of the territory. We'll speak to a member of the opposition.
(Photo: Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) speaks to reporters ahead of a vote to pass the American Relief Act on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., December 19, 2024. The legislation failed to pass the House in a 174-235 vote. Credit: Anna Rose Layden/Reuters)
FRI 06:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqkvj5)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 06:06 Newsday (w172zbkdc2ycz5r)
US diplomats head to Syria
US diplomats are making their first official visit to Damascus in more than a decade. They'll meet with the de-facto Islamist leadership. We'll speak to a senior Christian Bishop there who is concerned about the Islamist policies that could be introduced.
Nearly two weeks after the fall of the Assad regime - we'll also go live to the northern Syrian town of Kobani which could be at the centre of a battle between pro-Turkish fighters and US-backed Kurdish forces.
A government shutdown on the Horizon in the United States as a spending bill backed by Donald Trump is rejected in the House of Representatives. We ask how did we get here and what could happen next.
And reaction from France after 51 men were convicted for raping Gisele Pelicot - a trial that's been followed around the world.
(Photo: Top rebel commander Ahmed al-Sharaa speaks to a crowd at Ummayad Mosque in Damascus. Photo Mahmoud Hassano/REUTERS)
FRI 07:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqkz89)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 07:06 Newsday (w172zbkdc2yd2xw)
US diplomats in Syria
Offiical from the United States are in Syria to meet with the new de-facto Islamist leadership, which Washington still designates a terrorist organisation. We'll go live to Damascus
Also we hear from the Armenian Bishop of Damascus who tells us about his concerns for a future government.
In the United States dozens of Republicans have defied the President elect Donald Trump and rejected a revised spending bill. A government shutdown now looms.
And following the recent news that 100 North Korean soliders have died in combat in Ukraine -- we'll take a look at who these soldiers are and why they shouldn't be underestimated.
(Picture: A drone view shows Yusuf al-Azma Square, in Damascus, Syria, Yosri Al Jamal/Reuters)
FRI 08:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpql30f)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 08:06 HARDtalk (w3ct5sw4)
Dmytro Kuleba: What are Ukraine's options?
Stephen Sackur speaks to former Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba. Russian forces are gaining ground along the frontline in eastern Ukraine, and US president-elect Donald Trump wants the war to end. What are Ukraine’s options now?
FRI 08:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9tfb8g8t)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
FRI 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct5z2z)
Business Daily meets: Dean Forbes
We meet the CEO of software firm, Forterro.
Dean Forbes twice became homeless as a teenager, then got dropped from a career as a professional footballer. He points to that failure as a key moment in his eventual success, because it made him more determined. Now the business executive has topped a list celebrating influential black Britons.
(Picture: Dean Forbes. Credit: Getty Images)
Presented by Theo Leggett
Produced by Theo Leggett and Sam Clack
FRI 08:50 Witness History (w3ct5yfm)
Australian republic referendum
On 6 November 1999, voters in Australia were asked if they wanted to break ties with the British monarchy and become a republic.
The No campaign won with 55% of the vote.
Rachel Naylor speaks to former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who was chair of the Australian Republican Movement and leader of the Yes campaign, and Prof David Flint, the national convenor of Australians for a Constitutional Monarchy.
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: Monarchists celebrate the referendum result in Sydney. Credit: Torsten Blackwood/AFP via Getty Images)
FRI 09:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpql6rk)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 09:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqp8rpcf4w)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
FRI 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9tfb8l0y)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
FRI 09:32 Science In Action (w3ct5vdw)
[Repeat of broadcast at
20:32 on Thursday]
FRI 10:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqlbhp)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 10:06 Unexpected Elements (w3ct5q2x)
The science of Santa
As news breaks that archaeologists have found the tomb of St Nick in Turkey, we check in on the North Pole Father Christmas, and fact-check his present giving schedule with advanced level physics and a Gant chart.
Plus, prepare for stories of reindeers high... despite their apparent immunity to their favourite hallucinogenic mushroom treats. And we burrow into Santa’s iconic beard to find any microbial magic that lives there.
And yet more reindeer magic, this time the mysteries of their amazing body clocks, which they seem to be able to switch on and off at will... AND we reveal Rudolf the red nose reindeer’s big secret. You’ll never hear that song in the same way again
Presenter: Marnie Chesterton, with Phillys Mwatee and Camilla Mota
Producers: Emily Knight, Alice Lipscombe-Southwell and William Hornbrook
Sound engineer: Searle Whittney
FRI 11:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqlg7t)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqp8rpcnn4)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
FRI 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9tfb8tj6)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
FRI 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct6dxb)
The rebel commander running Syria
The BBC's Jeremy Bowen has been speaking to HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa. In just a matter of weeks, he has gone from governing the province of Idlib, to leading a rebel offensive on Damascus, to becoming the de facto leader.
After interviewing al-Sharaa at the presidential palace which until recently was the heart of Bashar al-Assad's regime, Jeremy speaks to Lucy Hockings for this episode of The Global Story.
So, is he really a reformed radical? Will he respect the rights of women? And even if these are his intentions, is he the man who can make it happen?
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 Alix Pickles
Sound engineers: Mike Regaard
Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas
Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson
FRI 12:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqlkzy)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 12:06 Outlook (w3ct699v)
Outlook Mixtape: Snowy dreams and wrestling scenes
Cosmo Lombino is a fashion icon, having dressed Nicole Kidman, NSYNC, Britney Spears, Beyoncé and Lana Del Rey. Her chaotic childhood in the 80s was loving, with a deep vein of religion, but cocaine use was common in Cosmo's family. Still her talents and work ethic were undeniable and despite her own drug use, Cosmo opened her shop on Melrose Avenue in LA and started dressing the rich and famous. But when addiction caught up with her, she lost her business and had to fight to get her life and empire back.
Champion wrestler Anthony Robles was always a sporty kid. He was born with one leg but refused a prosthetic as it slowed him down. When he discovered wrestling at high school in America, he saw the chance to compete with the very best. His mother Judy was at every single match and together they tell the story of his extraordinary rise through one of the toughest sports.
As a 16-year-old boy in Togo, Tété-Michel Kpomassie knew he had to escape. It was the late 1950s, and his father had ordered him to train as a priest in a snake cult. But Tété-Michel was terrified of snakes after a close encounter up a coconut tree that had nearly cost him his life. One day, he came across a book about Greenland. He read that there were no reptiles, only ice, and he was intrigued by the Inuit people. So he set out on an eight-year odyssey to reach this mysterious country. (This episode was first broadcast in February 2022)
In 1978, Birgit Hamer was a 21-year-old model visiting Sardinia with her family. On a beautiful summer’s day, she, and her younger brother Dirk were invited on a boat trip with a group of Italian friends. They were headed for the nearby glamorous French island of Cavallo, but what started as a joyful adventure ended in horror. In the middle of the night Birgit awoke to gunshots, she discovered her beloved brother was fatally wounded. The main suspect was Prince Vittorio Emanuele of Savoy, the son of the last King of Italy who had been holidaying on Cavallo. He always denied the charges. When Dirk then died from his injuries, Birgit made a promise that would change the course of her life.
Presenter: India Rakusen
Producer: Laura Thomas
Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com or WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707
(Photo: Cassette tape. Credit: Getty Images)
FRI 12:50 Witness History (w3ct5yfm)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 today]
FRI 13:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqlpr2)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 13:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqp8rpcx4d)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
FRI 13:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9tfb920g)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
FRI 13:32 Heart and Soul (w3ct5tg6)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:32 today]
FRI 14:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqlth6)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 14:06 Newshour (w172zb98ty8jnz5)
Syria: Warnings ISIS may resurge
What is happening now in Syria “is paving the way” for the Islamic State group to re-emerge. That’s according to a leading Kurdish commander who played a key role in defeating the group in Syria in 2019. General Mazloum Abdi told the BBC that IS activity has “increased significantly” and the danger of a resurgence has doubled. Our senior international correspondent Orla Guerin was given rare access to the largest IS jail - in the city of Al Hasakah.
Also in the programme: A BBC investigation has found that the embattled military rulers of Myanmar control less than a quarter of the country; Malaysia has authorised a new attempt to find the wreckage of MH-370 - the flight that disappeared ten years ago; and the group of singers, with an average age of 92, which has broken the Guinness World Record for the world's oldest choir.
(Photo: The BBC was granted rare access to the largest prison for IS detainees - Al Sina - which holds some 5,000 men. Credit: BBC/Matthew Goddard)
FRI 15:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqly7b)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 15:06 HARDtalk (w3ct5sw4)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:06 today]
FRI 15:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9tfb99hq)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
FRI 15:32 World Business Report (w3ct5ztk)
Swiss lawmakers criticise ‘years of mismanagement’ at Credit Suisse
A damning verdict from Swiss MPs on the failure of one of their largest banks.
Plus, the latest on the looming US government shutdown.
Malaysia resumes the hunt for an airliner that disappeared ten years ago.
And 80 million of them are sold in Europe every year, but what goes into growing a Christmas tree?
FRI 16:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqm1zg)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 16:06 BBC OS (w172zbjfk4t7q1t)
Myanmar military losing control of country
A BBC investigation has found that Myanmar's military government controls less than a quarter of the country's territory, nearly four years after seizing power. In contrast, armed opposition groups are in charge of more than forty percent. We speak to the team behind the investigation.
As we approach the end of the year, we are taking a look at some of the big stories and talking points of 2024. Today we turn to our Russia Editor Steve Rosenberg, who yesterday at a press conference challenged Russian President Vladimir Putin on his 25 years in power. We also discuss what this year has been like for Russia, and what we can expect from 2025.
And we discuss Capybaras - the large rodent which have become this year's viral Christmas trend, with stuffed toys selling out in shops and videos with
millions of views.
Presenter: Krupa Padhy
Image: Soldiers from the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) patrol an area destroyed by Myanmar's airstrike in Myawaddy
Image credit: Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters
FRI 17:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqm5ql)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 17:06 BBC OS (w172zbjfk4t7tsy)
Russia in 2024
As we approach the end of the year, we are taking a look at some of the big stories and talking points of 2024. Today we turn to our Russia Editor Steve Rosenberg, who yesterday at a press conference challenged Russian President Vladimir Putin on his 25 years in power. We also discuss what this year has been like for Russia, and what we can expect from 2025.
The Malaysian government says it has agreed in principle to resume the search for a passenger jet that vanished 10 years ago in one of aviation's greatest mysteries. We speak to our correspondent to find out more.
And we bring you the latest from Syria, where an American strike has killed a leader of the Islamic State group.
Presenter: Krupa Padhy
Image: Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives before a meeting of the State Council to discuss support measures for families in the country, at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia 20 December 2024.
Image credit: SPUTNIK/KREMLIN POOL/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock
FRI 18:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqm9gq)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 18:06 Outlook (w3ct699v)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:06 today]
FRI 18:50 Witness History (w3ct5yfm)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 today]
FRI 19:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqmf6v)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqp8rpdmm5)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
FRI 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9tfb9sh7)
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FRI 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct5w26)
2024/12/20 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 (w172zgfhcpqmjyz)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 20:06 BBC OS Conversations (w3ct5rcp)
Syrian prisoners and their families
It’s been two weeks since the fall of the Assad regime and the horror of the brutal and corrupt system he oversaw has been laid bare. Since the start of the civil war in 2011, it’s estimated that 100,000 people – men, women and children – disappeared without trace into Assad’s prison system.
One of our guests this week, Omar, was 15 years old when he was taken from his home to be starved and tortured in the notorious Saydnaya prison near Damascus. He tells Mark Lowen that he can never forgive his captors.
“I remember my friends who were with me, they died,” he says. “What kind of closure could I have after 14 years? I want to stay angry, and I want to remember every small detail of torture because I want to stay angry at them.”
After rebel forces released prisoners, families across the country have been able to celebrate the return of loved ones. Meanwhile, others try to discover if their loved ones are still alive. Maan in Damascus, whose older brother Muneer was arrested in 2014, and Hiba whose father was arrested in Aleppo in 2011, share their experiences with host Luke Jones.
A warning this episode contains distressing details.
Presenters: Luke Jones and Mark Lowen
BBC producers: Angela Sheeran, Laura Cress and Ben Davis. Boffin Media producer: Richard Hollingham.
An EcoAudio certified Boffin Media production in partnership with the BBC OS team.
(Photo: Noor in the UK Credit: Noor)
FRI 20:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9tfb9x7c)
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FRI 20:32 CrowdScience (w3ct5rj6)
Will the Earth ever lose its Moon?
The Moon has always sparked human curiosity. It governs the tides and biological rhythms. It’s inspired myths and stories. It’s inspired us to reach out and explore it. And it's certainly inspired CrowdScience listeners, who have sent us a host of questions about it. And in a special lunar-themed episode we’ve brought together a panel of astronomers and planetary scientists to help answer them.
What would life be like if there was no Moon? Would there even be life? Or what if we had two moons? Are the Moon and Earth equally battered by meteors? What would happen if an asteroid collided with the Moon? And could the Moon ever escape Earth’s gravity?
Anand Jagatia is joined by Prof Sara Russell, Head of the Planetary Materials Group at the Natural History Museum in London; Prof Neil Comins from the University of Maine, author of the book What if the Moon didn’t Exist?; and Prof Katarina Miljkovic from Curtin University in Perth, Australia.
Presenter: Anand Jagatia
Producer: Jeremy Grange
Editor: Cathy Edwards
Production Co-ordinator: Ishmael Soriano
Studio Manager: Andrew Garratt
(Photo: Landscape with the rising of the full moon during the golden hour Credit: Jose A. Bernat Bacete via Getty Images)
FRI 21:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqmnq3)
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FRI 21:06 Newshour (w172zb98ty8kj62)
Interviews, news and analysis of the day’s global events.
FRI 22:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqmsg7)
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FRI 22:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqp8rpdzvk)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
FRI 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9tfbb4qm)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
FRI 22:32 World Business Report (w3ct5zwt)
First broadcast 20/12/2024 22:32 GMT
The latest business and finance news from around the world, on the BBC.
FRI 23:00 BBC News (w172zgfhcpqmx6c)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 23:06 HARDtalk (w3ct5sw4)
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08:06 today]
FRI 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zgg9tfbb8gr)
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FRI 23:32 Heart and Soul (w3ct5tg6)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:32 today]