SATURDAY 25 JANUARY 2025
SAT 00:00 BBC News (w172zgfk619jrzp)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 00:06 Unexpected Elements (w3ct5q32)
Keep it clean
The Hindu festival of Kumbh Mela is currently underway in India. As part of the event, millions of pilgrims will take a cleansing dip in the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati.
Inspired by this headline, we splash into a whole bathtub of stories about the science of cleaning.
We find out why it’s so important to prevent contamination of other planets and moons, and how space scientists keep things clean.
Next up, we discover how our brains clear out harmful toxins while we snooze.
And is there any truth in the saying, ‘tidy house, tidy mind’?
Finally, Marnie ponders whether it’s possible to be too clean, or if being a bit grubby is okay.
Presenters: Marnie Chesterton, with Affelia Wibisono and Andrada Fiscutean
Producers: Alice Lipscombe-Southwell, with Dan Welsh, William Hornbrook and Imaan Moin
SAT 01:00 BBC News (w172zgfk619jwqt)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 01:06 Business Matters (w172zbfxdmmw4wp)
Trump's oil plan: can lowering the price end the Ukraine war?
Donald Trump says he'll put pressure on OPEC to bring down oil prices - he says that will help end the war in Ukraine. Is he right?
The Bank of Japan has risen interest rates to 0.5 percent, their highest for 17 years. We speak to Naomi Fink, the Chief Global Strategist at Nikko Asset Management Group in Japan - one of Asia’s largest asset managers
As the 60-day ceasefire period in Lebanon comes to an end, the war between Israel and Hezbollah but are Lebanese managing to resume something like normal life?
And are you a celeb at risk of getting cancelled?... Now there's an insurance policy to help you deal with it. A insurance company in London has teamed up with a crisis communications group, to offer an insurance policy for this sort of event. We explore what they offer and why.
SAT 02:00 BBC News (w172zgfk619k0gy)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqr338b6w8)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
SAT 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggcmrx7crb)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SAT 02:32 Stumped (w3ct5whx)
Conrad: 'Australia will be foolhardy not to respect South Africa'
Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma ask where it all went wrong for England after they lost the Women's Ashes. We ask if changes need to be made after England lost the Ashes at the earliest possible opportunity and have now lost all five matches they have played in the series.
Plus we are joined by South Africa Men’s Head Coach Shukri Conrad after his side made it to the World Test Championship Final. He tells us if he thinks a two-tier system is a good idea, shares his message to the Australia team and we ask him if South Africa should boycott the Champions Trophy?
He also shares why he made Temba Bavuma captain and highlights the pressure that the captain faces.
Photo: South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad during the day 1 of the 2nd Test match between West Indies and South Africa at Guyana National Stadium on August 15, 2024 in Georgetown, Guyana. (Photo by Daniel Prentice/Gallo Images/Getty Images)
SAT 03:00 BBC News (w172zgfk619k472)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 03:06 Outlook (w3ct69b0)
Outlook Mixtape: A lost cello and a mother and child reunion
On the night of December 15th, 1997, a fire broke out in the home of Luz Cuevas and Pedro Vera, a couple living in Philadelphia with their two young sons and their ten-day-old daughter, Delimar. She was asleep upstairs. In the aftermath, no trace of baby Delimar was found — presumed dead. But in circumstances almost too extraordinary to believe, Delimar was alive and being raised only 20 kilometres or so across town. She had been renamed Aaliyah, and lived with Carolyn, a woman she thought was her mother.
Born under the rule of Libyan dictator Colonel Gaddafi, the novelist Hisham Matar spent much of his childhood in hiding. Hisham’s family had been forced to flee when threats were made against his father, a prominent critic of the regime. Now four decades on, he reflects on how the turbulence of his upbringing has shaped his life and work.
There used to be half a million Northern Woolly Spider Monkeys – or Muriqui – in Brazil. But today just 900 are left. Reporter Gibby Zobel travelled to a nature reserve in the state of Minas Gerais to find out more about the monkeys and the man who devoted his life to protecting them. This interview was first broadcast in 2020.
When Christine Walevska was given a rare, one-eight-size Bernardel cello at the age of eight, she fell in love with it immediately and it set her on a path to become an internationally renowned concert cellist. The tiny cello, given to her by her father, had an intriguing label on the inside… it said, “Pour la petite Comtesse Marie 1934”. This label would prove crucial after the cello was stolen from Christine’s father’s shop in 1978. It led – 36 years later – to Christine receiving an email from the Breshears family in California. They had been searching for a rare child-sized cello for their gifted daughter Starla and had finally found one. Was it Christine’s beloved Bernardel? The story of a rare cello, its theft and how it shaped the dreams of two talented girls. This was first broadcast in 2020.
Presenter: Asya Fouks
Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com or WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707
(Photo: Cassette tape. Credit: Getty Images)
SAT 03:50 Witness History (w3ct5yfs)
The launch of Windows 95
In August 1995, Microsoft released a new operating system - Windows 95 – following one of the computer industry’s biggest and most expensive marketing campaigns.
Queues formed outside shops at midnight as people around the world waited to be among the first to buy it.
The new software was designed to be more user friendly, easier to understand and aimed at ordinary people not professional programmers. Connecting to the internet would also be more straightforward.
More than 40 million CD Rom copies were sold in the first year, introducing a boom in personal home computing.
Sarah Leary who demonstrated the software on launch day – alongside Microsoft chairman Bill Gates and US talk show host Jay Leno – talks to Jane Wilkinson.
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: Bill Gates at the Windows 95 launch. Credit: Bill Nation/Sygma via Getty Images)
SAT 04:00 BBC News (w172zgfk619k7z6)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 04:06 Unexpected Elements (w3ct5q32)
[Repeat of broadcast at
00:06 today]
SAT 05:00 BBC News (w172zgfk619kcqb)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 05:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqr338bl3n)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
SAT 05:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggcmrx7qzq)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SAT 05:32 Diddy On Trial (w3ct7m4q)
The history of Diddy: What you need to know
From starting Bad Boy Records in 1993 and signing the Notorious BIG, to becoming a billionaire business mogul, through to the recent federal charges. Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty traces Diddy’s history with Rolling Stone Senior Investigative Reporter Cheyenne Roundtree.
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is currently behind bars in a notorious New York jail, awaiting trial on three federal charges, which he denies.
Diddy on Trial is here to investigate the rumours, confront the theories, and give you the answers that you need.
We also want YOU to be part of the conversation. Have you any burning questions about the cases or the upcoming trial? Heard a theory that doesn’t sit right with you? Send us your thoughts!
Get in touch now via WhatsApp: +44330 123 555 1
Presenter: Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty
Series Producer: Laura Jones
Sound Design: Richard Hannaford
Production Coordinator: Hattie Valentine
Editor: Clare Fordham
Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts
SAT 05:50 More or Less (w3ct5trd)
Did Trump make billions with his meme-coin?
Just before being inaugurated as US president for the second time, Donald Trump launched something called a “meme-coin”.
This is a bespoke cryptocurrency token featuring a picture of Donald Trump. A billion of them may eventually be created.
Newspaper headlines claimed that the Trump meme-coin had made the president billions of dollars wealthier. But it is far from clear that this is the case.
SAT 06:00 BBC News (w172zgfk619khgg)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 06:06 Weekend (w172zcxf10xjrc9)
Hamas to release four Israeli hostages
Hamas is set to release four female soldiers held in Gaza for over a year as part of a six-week ceasefire deal which will also see the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.
Also in the programme: A first person view of the human impact of President Donald Trump’s decision to pause the Refugee Admissions Programme, and ahead of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp, we hear how Jewish families are trying to preserve the cultural memory of the Holocaust for the benefit of future generations.
Joining presenter Shaun Ley to discuss these and other stories of the day are Julie Norman, an Associate Professor of Politics & International Relations at University College London (UCL), and a Senior Associate Fellow on the Middle East at the London based think tank the Royal United Services Institute and John Nilsson-Wright, from the University of Cambridge where he is both Associate Professor in Japanese Politics at the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (FAMES) and Head of the Japan and Koreas Programme at the Centre for Geopolitics.
(Picture: A man reacts as he watches news coverage of the release of Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher and Emily Damari, three female hostages who have been held in Gaza since the deadly October 7 2023 attack, as part of a ceasefire deal in Gaza between Hamas and Israel, in Tel Aviv, January 19, 2025. A poster of Israeli soldier Oron Shaul is also seen, whose body was retrieved from Gaza after being held there since 2014. Credit: REUTERS/Itai Ron.)
SAT 07:00 BBC News (w172zgfk619km6l)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 07:06 Weekend (w172zcxf10xjw3f)
Tense fighting in Eastern DRC
There’s been heavy fighting in Eastern Congo between the M23 rebels and DRC army. Reports say the rebels have killed DRC military governor of North Kivu province.
Also in the programme: Hamas is set to release four Israeli female soldiers held in Gaza for over a year as part of a six-week ceasefire deal which will also see the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails, and we relive this week’s historic moment when Thailand became the first country in Southeast Asia to legalise same-sex marriage.
Joining presenter Shaun Ley to discuss these and other stories of the day are Julie Norman, an Associate Professor of Politics & International Relations at University College London (UCL), and a Senior Associate Fellow on the Middle East at the London based think tank, the Royal United Services Institute and John Nilsson-Wright, from the University of Cambridge where he is both Associate Professor in Japanese Politics at the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (FAMES) and Head of the Japan and Koreas Programme at the Centre for Geopolitics.
(Picture: Congolese Revolution Army (CRA) rebels sit in a truck as they patrol a street in Goma in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), November 20, 2012, soon after the rebels captured the city from the government army. Rebels widely believed to be backed by Rwanda claimed control of Goma in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Tuesday, walking through the frontier city of one million people past U.N. peacekeepers who did nothing to stop them. Credit: REUTERS/James Akena)
SAT 08:00 BBC News (w172zgfk619kqyq)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 08:06 Weekend (w172zcxf10xjzvk)
Four more Israeli hostages set to be released
Hamas is set to release four more Israeli hostages as part of a six-week ceasefire deal with Hamas. This time four female soldiers in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
Also in the programme: The Belarusian leader, Alexander Lukashenko is set to extend his long rule as the country goes to a presidential election that has been dismissed by critics as a sham. British Foreign Secretary, David Lammy has been meeting refugees of the Sudanese war in camps on the Sudan-Chad border where he promised to organise an international meeting to try and end the 21-month long civil war.
Joining presenter Shaun Ley to discuss these and other stories of the day are Julie Norman, an Associate Professor of Politics & International Relations at University College London (UCL), and a Senior Associate Fellow on the Middle East at the London based think tank, the Royal United Services Institute and John Nilsson-Wright, from the University of Cambridge where he is both Associate Professor in Japanese Politics at the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (FAMES) and Head of the Japan and Koreas Programme at the Centre for Geopolitics.
(Picture: Four female Israeli soldiers, who had been held in Gaza since the deadly October 7, 2023 attack, are released by Hamas militants as part of a ceasefire and a hostages-prisoners swap deal between Hamas and Israel, in Gaza City, January 25, 2025. Credit: REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas)
SAT 09:00 BBC News (w172zgfk619kvpv)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 09:06 BBC OS Conversations (w3ct5rcv)
The first days of the Gaza ceasefire
This week we have witnessed the first Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners being released following the signing of the ceasefire deal. More exchanges are expected over the coming weeks.
Meanwhile some displaced people in Gaza have begun returning to see what is left of their communities, and convoys of lorries have started delivering humanitarian aid.
In our conversations, we hear from both sides of the conflict. While many welcome
the end to the fighting, there is recognition of the trauma caused and uncertainty about whether the ceasefire can hold.
“We are still in the midst of the trauma,” Udi in Israel tells us. “What needs to happen is that both peoples need to create a new narrative for the future.
“I need time to cry, I need time for silence, I need time to even relax,” says Asma, an English teacher displaced in a refugee camp in central Gaza. “I don’t know how long this time will be, but I thank God that I’m still alive.”
We also bring together three aid workers on the scale of the challenge ahead, with so much of the territory in ruins.
Host: Luke Jones
BBC producers: Isabella Bull, Angela Sheeran, Luke Hastings and Laura Cress
Boffin Media producer: Richard Hollingham
An EcoAudio certified Boffin Media production in partnership with the BBC OS team.
(Photo: A Palestinian woman reacts as she returns to her destroyed house, following a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip, January 19, 2025. Credit: REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas)
SAT 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggcmrx86z7)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SAT 09:32 Pick of the World (w3ct5v1r)
What do US presidents eat?
A cheeseburger and diet Coke? Or chicken parmigiana? Cristeta Comerford, former executive chef of the White House kitchen, reveals the eating habits of US presidents but advises future staff to “leave your politics at the door… food is a tool for diplomacy”. Plus Diddy on Trial, why we should try to eat less rice and how our brains use a form of GPS to help us navigate our lives.
SAT 09:50 Over to You (w3ct5ttz)
Keeping the world’s people informed about health
This week we look at Health Check. With so many issues and breakthroughs to choose from, how do they decide what to cover?
We hear from the show’s presenter Claudia Hammond and listeners tell us what they think.
Plus how a listener feels a first-hand report on the LA fires burning down a BBC reporter’s own house was “extraordinary radio”.
Presenter: Rajan Datar
Producer: Howard Shannon.
A Whistledown production for the BBC World Service
SAT 10:00 BBC News (w172zgfk619kzfz)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 10:06 Sportshour (w3ct5qbx)
The woman tackling American Football
Unlike basketball's NBA and WNBA the sport of women's American tackle football is under developed. Women and men play flag football which is a non-contact variant of the game you'll see at the LA Olympics in three years, but there is no professional female equivalent to the NFL. But back in 2019, history was planned with the creation of the professional "Women's Football League Association". Santia Deck was chosen to be the face of the league. She signed a $1 million dollar contract. Her life was about to change forever. Five years on and without a game played or a dollar paid she tells Sportshour's Katie Smith how that dream was cruelly snatched away from her.
Karishma Ali is a fearless pioneer who has inspired women for generations to come. She has modelled at Milan fashion week, is in Asian Forbes 30 under 30 for her business and entrepreneurship, but most importantly she has knocked down barriers for women in sport, particularly football. She was the first woman from her rural town to represent Pakistan internationally and in doing so has shown her country exactly what women can achieve given the opportunity
This might be a sport that you might think is illegal! It sounds something out of Victorian times but the fully regulated and completely legal sport of Bare Knuckle Boxing is alive and well in 2025. In fact this weekend in Philadelphia as part of "KnuckleMania V" the BKFC bare knuckle boxing heavyweight world champion, Britain's Mick Terrill, will defend his title. He's been explaining a bit about the sport, from the blood and guts to what's in place to keep them safe, and why the sport is growing in popularity
(Photo: Santia Deck poses with an American football. Credit: Santia Deck/instagram.com/trackbaby001)
SAT 11:00 BBC News (w172zgfk619l363)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqr338c9lf)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
SAT 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggcmrx8ggh)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SAT 11:32 Unspun World with John Simpson (w3ct5yc8)
What's behind the growing tensions between China and Taiwan?
John Simpson is in Taiwan for a special episode of Unspun World where he reflects on the extraordinary rollercoaster of Chinese politics over the last 60 years.
With the BBC experts in the region, John examines the growing tensions between Taiwan and China and explores how China may deal with Trump 2.0 as the US President once again takes office.
SAT 12:00 BBC News (w172zgfk619l6y7)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 12:06 The Forum (w3ct5n0j)
The seductive dance of charisma
Where do charismatic personalities come from? Are they people born with special or even divine gifts? Or have they simply mastered a few effective techniques for cordial social interaction that anyone can learn? As business, entertainment and politics increasingly turn into popularity contests conducted through social media and TV, charisma seems to matter more and more: hence the proliferation of companies offering to teach aspiring leaders how to acquire it. But the influence that magnetic personalities can have on an audience long predates modern screen media: in 1896, a speech brimming with charisma earned one little-known young orator a not just a 20-minute standing ovation but also a US presidential nomination.
Iszi Lawrence explores the role of charisma in politics and business with Julia Sonnevend, Associate Professor of Sociology and Communications at The New School for Social Research in New York and author of Charm: How Magnetic Personalities Shape Global Politics; John Antonakis, Professor of Organizational Behaviour in the Faculty of Business and Economics of the University of Lausanne, and co-author of a political charismometer that predicts US presidential elections among other things; Jeremy C. Young, historian of political culture and social movements, author of The Age of Charisma: Leaders, Followers, and Emotions in American Society; as well as World Service listeners.
(Photo: Smiling businessman in discussion. Credit: Thomas Barwick/Getty Images)
SAT 13:00 BBC News (w172zgfk619lbpc)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 13:06 Newshour (w172zb9bn8vj65b)
Four Israeli hostages have been released by Hamas
Four female Israeli soldiers taken hostage by Hamas on 7 October 2023 were released on Saturday as part of a swap which will also see 200 Palestinian prisoners freed. Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy and Liri Albag, all aged between 19 and 20, were released to the Red Cross in Gaza City during a heavily choreographed handover involving dozens of Hamas gunmen.
Also on the programme: rebel forces in Democratic republic of Congo are advancing on the city of Goma, we speak to a bishop who is in Goma; and why some TV streaming channels are getting round TV sports rights issues by using cartoons.
(Picture: Palestinian Hamas militants keep guard on the day of the release of four female Israeli soldiers, who had been held in Gaza since October 7th 2023 Credit: Reuters/Dawoud Abu Alkas)
SAT 14:00 BBC News (w172zgfk619lgfh)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 14:06 Sportsworld (w172zbn8rxg9rjy)
Live Sporting Action
Lee James presents live Premier League commentary of Wolves against Arsenal, on a day when the top three all play at the same time. Lee will be joined by the former Liverpool, Tottenham and USA goalkeeper Brad Friedel and the former Fulham and Tottenham defender Stephen Kelly.
Sportsworld will also review the Australian Open women’s final and preview the men’s final. There will be Women’s Ashes chat after the third T20 and preview the historic Test at the MCG, plus we'll also be at the second T20 between India and England.
Plus, we’ll be in Saint Kitts and Nevis to hear about the roots of Chelsea’s Cole Palmer.
Photo: General view during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers FC at Emirates Stadium on August 17, 2024 in London, England. (Credit: Wolves via Getty Images)
SAT 18:00 BBC News (w172zgfk619lyf0)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 18:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqr338d4tb)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
SAT 18:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggcmrx99pd)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SAT 18:32 Diddy On Trial (w3ct7m4q)
[Repeat of broadcast at
05:32 today]
SAT 18:50 Sporting Witness (w3ct5wfn)
How Fanny Blankers-Koen became the 'flying housewife’
At the 1948 Olympics, one Dutch athlete showed that being a housewife and mother was no obstacle to Olympic glory.
Fanny Blankers-Koen won gold in four events: the 100m and 200m sprints, the 80m hurdles and the 100m relay.
But not all the attention was positive. Fanny got letters telling her she should be doing the housework and not running around stadiums in shorts.
Vicky Farncombe tells her story through archive interviews.
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: Fanny Blankers-Koen at the 1948 Olympics. Credit: Getty Images)
SAT 19:00 BBC News (w172zgfk619m254)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 19:06 World Book Club (w3ct6r9p)
World Book Café: Oslo
World Book Café heads to Oslo to Europe’s largest Literature House to find out if Norway is the best place in the world to be a writer?
Octavia Bright is joined to discuss the highs and lows by the internationally bestselling novelist and climate activist Maja Lunde. Johan Harstad prize winning novelist and the first in-house writer at the National Theatre in Oslo, Gunnhild Oyehaug whose witty and experimental short stories and novels have won her fans around the world and Oliver Lovrenski whose first book was an instant bestseller when it was published in Norway in 2023, when he was just 19.
With generous grants for writers to live and work the Norwegian government also buys 1,000 copies of every book published to give to local libraries across the country. The organisation NORLA (Norwegian Literature Abroad) is funded by the ministry of culture and, since 2004, it has contributed to the translation of more than 8,000 books into no less than 73 languages. For a country of 5.5 million people Norwegian literature punches above its weight. However with much of the country’s wealth coming from the oil industry do environmental concerns tarnish this utopia for its writers?
Producer: Kirsten Locke
SAT 20:00 BBC News (w172zgfk619m5x8)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 20:06 The Arts Hour (w3ct5qkp)
Singer and actress Ariana Grande
This week Nikki’s guest is Ariana Grande!
She’s in conversation with the American superstar singer and good witch Glinda to talk all things Wicked.
Then... French American actor Timothee Chalamet reveals that he didn’t know much about Bob Dylan before agreeing to play him in A Complete Unknown.
The German Austrian, Oscar winning filmmaker, Edward Berger discusses the appeal of making his Vatican-centred thriller Conclave
And the hitmaking US singer-songwriter Chappell Roan shares the support and inspiration she’s drawn from the Drag community
There’s Somali funk music from Dur Dur Band
And Nikki’s cultural critic is Guy Lodge.
(Photo: Ariana Grande; Credit: John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images)
SAT 21:00 BBC News (w172zgfk619m9nd)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 21:06 Newshour (w172zb9bn8vk54c)
Rebel forces advance in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Thirteen foreign peacekeepers have been killed in clashes with M23 rebels. The capital city Goma is under threat, and residents are fleeing.
Also on the programme; hostage and prisoner releases in the Middle East but who has been freed? And an art heist in the Netherlands, priceless gold artefacts from Romania have been stolen and might now be melted down.
(Picture: Internally displaced people in DRC. Credit: Reuters)
SAT 22:00 BBC News (w172zgfk619mfdj)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 22:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqr338dmsv)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
SAT 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggcmrx9snx)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SAT 22:32 This Is Africa (w3ct5y65)
Winny
Winny is a singer from Nigeria who stands out from the crowd thanks to her distinctive voice, her bohemian style and her prolific songwriting.
As she explains in this episode, her songs draw on the highs and lows of her own love life for inspiration, and that seems to be resonating with fans.
Originally from Jos, Winny moved to Lagos with not much more than a head full of songs, but was soon noticed by helpful people in the music industry, as well as established Afrobeats artists, in large part thanks to the number of covers she had posted on social media.
SAT 23:00 BBC News (w172zgfk619mk4n)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 23:06 The Documentary (w3ct7m34)
Songs from Auschwitz
To mark Holocaust Memorial Day 2025, a story of hope, music and survival from Auschwitz.
Professor Shirli Gilbert explores the life of Krystyna Żywulska, a Jewish political prisoner. Imprisoned in the most notorious camp in the Nazi system, Żywulska turned to poetry and music, offering tiny moments of resilience and optimisim for her fellow inmates and creating some of the most remarkable songs of this tragic era.
Born in Poland in 1914, Krystyna Żywulska was sent to Auschwitz in 1943. There she was given a very unusual job. She worked at the Effektenkammer, the storage facility for the personal items confiscated from arriving prisoners.
This role turned out to be a gift. Żywulska described the Effektenkammer as a ‘beautiful oasis’ in the middle of the horrors of Auschwitz. Into it came a bounty of treasures - fur coats, musical instruments, gold jewellery and countless suitcases stuffed with possessions.
At the Effektenkammer, Żywulska composed many poems and songs that spread rapidly through the camp. She also put on musical events to raise the spirits of the Auschwitz inmates.
Shirli Gilbert speaks to Żywulska’s son and to Holocaust historians to explore this remarkable story. She also visits the site of the Effektenkammer at Auschwitz, returning Żywulska’s music to the place where it began.
Presenter: Shirli Gilbert, Professor of Modern Jewish History at University College London
Historical consultant: Professor Barbara Milewski
Producer: Tom Woolfenden
Editor: Kirsten Lass
A Loftus Media production for BBC Radio 4
SAT 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggcmrx9xf1)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SAT 23:32 Assignment (w3ct5mtz)
Death marches: Uncovering the truth beneath the soil
How a town in Poland – once in Germany - is discovering its troubling past.
Eighty years ago Soviet troops liberated Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi extermination camp. Over 1.1 million people, mainly Jews, were murdered there. However, there is an aspect of those terrible days which is less well known and which 80 years later is still being uncovered and still resonating: the death marches.
As Soviet troops approached, in January 1945, SS soldiers at Auschwitz-Birkenau forced some 60,000 prisoners to march west, in freezing temperatures. Weak with hunger and disease, those who fell behind were shot.
This is the story of how eight decades on the search for the truth behind one of those death marches is being uncovered. For years the history of a death march passing through the once proud German community of Schönwald was hidden.
It is also the story of how descendants of the original inhabitants of Schönwald are having to confront the role some of their relatives may have played in the Nazi project, and how today’s Polish inhabitants of the town, which is now called Bojków, are grappling with what happened on their streets.
Amie Liebowitz’s own great-grandmother was murdered Auschwitz-Birkenau, while her great-aunt was rescued by the Soviet forces. She speaks to those on both sides – German and Polish – who are uncovering this history.
Presenter: Amie Liebowitz
Producer: John Murphy
Production co-ordinator: Gemma Ashman
Editor: Penny Murphy
(Image: Auschwitz concentration camp - 60,000 prisoners from Auschwitz-Birkenau were forced onto death marches. Credit: Amie Liebowitz/BBC)
Archive of Gita Stein © 1995 USC Shoah Foundation
SUNDAY 26 JANUARY 2025
SUN 00:00 BBC News (w172zgfk619mnws)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 00:06 BBC OS Conversations (w3ct5rcv)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:06 on Saturday]
SUN 00:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggcmrxb155)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SUN 00:32 Diddy On Trial (w3ct7m4q)
[Repeat of broadcast at
05:32 on Saturday]
SUN 00:50 Sporting Witness (w3ct5wfn)
[Repeat of broadcast at
18:50 on Saturday]
SUN 01:00 BBC News (w172zgfk619msmx)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 01:06 The Inquiry (w3ct5xjj)
What next for Syria?
In December 2024, the decades-old Assad regime in Syria fell following 13 years of brutal civil war.
The Islamist rebel group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, seized power in the capital Damascus, having co-ordinated a lightning offensive along with other opposition forces across the country.
This week on The Inquiry, we examine how recent events led to the current situation, who the main players are vying for control, and the many challenges facing both the new government and the Syrian people.
Presenter: Tanya Beckett
Producer: Ben Cooper
Researcher: Evie Yabsley
Production Co-ordinator: Liam Morrey
Technical producer: Toby James
Editor: Tara McDermott
Contributors:
Tim Eaton, Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House
Dr Rahaf Aldoughli, Middle East and North African Studies at Lancaster University
David Schenker, Director of the Arab politics programme at the Washington
Natasha Hall, Middle East programme at the Center for Strategic and International Studies
Image Credit: ABDULAZIZ KETAZ via Getty Images
SUN 01:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggcmrxb4x9)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SUN 01:32 The Fifth Floor (w3ct69js)
Russia's crackdown on gay clubs
There have been at least 12 police raids on gay clubs in Russia since November 2023, when the country’s Supreme court banned what they call 'the global LGBT movement'. BBC Russian Anastasia Golubeva has been talking to activists on the ground to find out how these restrictions are affecting them.
Five years ago, COVID-19 was spreading around the world, causing millions of deaths. How did the pandemic change our lives, and what lessons have we learnt from it? With Martin Yip from BBC Chinese and Dorcas Wangira, BBC Africa’s Health Correspondent.
Presented by Faranak Amidi. Produced by Alice Gioia, Hannah Dean and Caroline Ferguson.
(Photo: Faranak Amidi. Credit: Tricia Yourkevich.)
SUN 02:00 BBC News (w172zgfk619mxd1)
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SUN 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqr338f3sc)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
SUN 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggcmrxb8nf)
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SUN 02:32 Health Check (w3ct5t9v)
A WHO without the United States
As President Trump signals his intention to withdraw the United States from the World Health Organization, what could the global health ramifications be?
Also on the show, Meta moves from an independent fact-checking program to community notes: How will this affect health misinformation across the company’s platforms? A new rapid test that could help diagnose Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic fever brings hope to an oft neglected disease, and what would be the mental health effect of living in space long-term?
Presenter: Claudia Hammond
Producer: Margaret Sessa-Hawkins
SUN 03:00 BBC News (w172zgfk619n145)
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SUN 03:06 The Forum (w3ct5n0j)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:06 on Saturday]
SUN 04:00 BBC News (w172zgfk619n4w9)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 04:06 From Our Own Correspondent (w3ct5sjz)
Israel, Gaza and the ceasefire
Pascale Harter introduces reflections and analysis from Israel and Gaza, Syria, Argentina, and the site of the Auschwitz-Birkenau camps in Poland
After a faltering start, the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came into effect last Sunday. Fergal Keane has been reporting on the conflict from the outset and was on Israel's border with Gaza last weekend – here he reflects on the human cost of the war and what the future might hold.
The Assad regime in Syria detained and tortured hundreds of thousands of people; the total number of those who died in its prisons and detention centres still has to be reckoned. Lina Sinjab has her own memories of being arrested and threatened - and her own questions about crime and punishment.
Argentina's President, Javier Milei, once campaigned using a chainsaw as a prop to show how keen he was to slash red tape and cut the state down to size. A year on, how much has his government done for the economy? Charlotte Pritchard visits a family-run chewing-gum factory in Buenos Aires.
By the final days of World War II, more than 1.1 million people, most of them Jews, had been killed by the Nazis in the labour and extermination camps at Auschwitz-Birkenau. These days the complex sees more than 2 million visitors a year. Amie Liebowitz, whose own great-grandmother was murdered there, had always been uneasy about the idea of tourism in sites like this. But as the world marks 80 years since the camp's liberation by Soviet troops in 1945, she considers it might still have a place in preserving public memory of the Holocaust.
Producer: Polly Hope
Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith
Production Co-ordinator: Katie Morrison
Image: Palestinians walk among debris of destroyed buildings as they return to their houses after the announcement of ceasefire (Photo by Ramzi Mahmud/Anadolu via Getty Images)
SUN 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggcmrxbj4p)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SUN 04:32 Trending (w3ct5y9s)
Ukraine war: The cost of bearing witness
Three years since Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine, BBC Trending speaks to Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) analysts and fact checkers who have worked diligently throughout the war to verify online content from the front line and push back against malicious propaganda. Their efforts documenting war crimes and debunking misleading content has taken a toll - what keeps them going and how do they avoid burnout?
Presenter: Olga Robinson
Producers: Alex Murray & Yana Lyushnevska
Editor: Flora Carmichael
SUN 04:50 Sporting Witness (w3ct5wfn)
[Repeat of broadcast at
18:50 on Saturday]
SUN 05:00 BBC News (w172zgfk619n8mf)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 05:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqr338fh0r)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
SUN 05:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggcmrxbmwt)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SUN 05:32 The Documentary (w3ct7m34)
[Repeat of broadcast at
23:06 on Saturday]
SUN 06:00 BBC News (w172zgfk619ndck)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 06:06 Weekend (w172zcxf10xmn8d)
Israel stops displaced Palestinians from returning to northern Gaza
Israel has prevented thousands of Palestinians from returning to northern Gaza, accusing Hamas of breaching terms of the ongoing ceasefire deal.
Also in the programme: Amid the escalating war between the Congolese army and the M23 rebels in Eastern DRC, Martin Gorden, the Anglican Bishop of Goma tells us the latest and why he had to leave the city and we also talk to an art investigator about the daring theft of priceless gold masterpieces at Dutch museum early on Saturday morning.
Joining presenter Shaun Ley to discuss these and other stories of the day are Michaela Kuefner, Chief Political Editor of Germany's international TV channel, Deutsche Welle and host of the weekly podcast, Berlin Briefing and Christos Christou, international president of Médecins Sans Frontières or Doctors Without Borders, an international, non-governmental organisation, focused on humanitarian assistance.
(Picture: Internally displaced Palestinians wait to return to the northern Gaza Strip from the southern Gaza Strip, along Al Rashid road, in the west of Al Nusairat refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, 25 January 2025. Israel and Hamas implemented the first phase of a hostage release and ceasefire deal on 19 January 2025. Credit: Photo by MOHAMMED SABER/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)
SUN 07:00 BBC News (w172zgfk619nj3p)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 07:06 Weekend (w172zcxf10xms0j)
M23 rebels advance on DRC’s Goma city
Rwandan-backed M23 rebels are advancing on the Eastern DRC city of Goma. Thirteen UN peacekeepers have been killed and the United Nations Security Council has called an emergency meeting to discuss the escalating situation.
Also in the programme: We speak to a relative of an Israeli hostage who is still being kept in Gaza by Hamas and the founder of the Refugee Orchestra Project tells about a recent Indian themed classical performance in London, experiences of working around the world and influences behind her work.
Joining presenter Shaun Ley to discuss these and other stories of the day are Michaela Kuefner, Chief Political Editor of Germany's international TV channel, Deutsche Welle and host of the weekly podcast, Berlin Briefing and Christos Christou, international president of Médecins Sans Frontières or Doctors Without Borders, an international, non-governmental organisation, focused on humanitarian assistance.
(Picture: Congolese M23 rebels are seen in Kibumba, near Goma, North Kivu province in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, December 23, 2022. Credit: REUTERS/Arlette Bashizi)
SUN 08:00 BBC News (w172zgfk619nmvt)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 08:06 Weekend (w172zcxf10xmwrn)
Israel prevents Palestinians from returning to northern Gaza
Israel has blocked thousands of Palestinians from returning to northern Gaza accusing Hamas of breaching the terms of a ceasefire deal.
Also in the programme: Polls have opened in Belarus’s presidential election which critics describe as a sham. We get the view of exiled Belarusian opposition leader, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, plus an interview with Britain’s first female spy chief who has now turned novelist.
Joining presenter Shaun Ley to discuss these and other stories of the day are Michaela Kuefner, Chief Political Editor of Germany's international TV channel, Deutsche Welle and host of the weekly podcast, Berlin Briefing, and Christos Christou, international president of Médecins Sans Frontières or Doctors Without Borders, an international, non-governmental organisation, focused on humanitarian assistance.
(Picture: Palestinians wait to be allowed to return to their homes in northern Gaza after they were displaced to the south at Israel's order during the war, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in the central Gaza Strip, January 26, 2025. Credit: REUTERS/Hatem Khaled)
SUN 09:00 BBC News (w172zgfk619nrly)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 09:06 From Our Own Correspondent (w3ct5sjz)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:06 today]
SUN 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggcmrxc3wb)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SUN 09:32 The Food Chain (w3ct5xp1)
Is anyone following dietary guidelines?
Around 100 countries have official dietary guidelines, and more are on their way. But who is following them?
Ruth Alexander asks how realistic healthy-eating advice is as she explores how official recommendations are developed, what they’re trying to achieve, and the obstacles standing in our way.
We hear from Fatima Hachem, Senior Nutrition Officer at the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organisation, about how her team offers support to countries designing dietary guidelines.
Chiza Kunwenda, senior lecturer in the Department of Food Science and Nutrition at the University of Zambia, tells us how he and a team of others drew up the latest dietary guidelines for Zambia and other countries in Africa.
In Argentina, as well as advice, the government has issued black octagonal warning labels on foods high in salt sugar, saturated fats and calories. Are people taking notice?
And can people around the world afford to eat according to guidelines? Dr Anna Herforth co-directed the Food prices for Nutrition project at Tufts University in the United States, tells us what she found. We also hear from shoppers at a community food outlet in the North West of England, about how cost is barrier to healthy eating.
(Image: a plate of food showing suggested dietary guidelines. Credit: Getty Images/BBC)
If you’d like to contact the programme, email thefoodchain@bbc.co.uk.
Producers: Hannah Bewley and Izzy Greenfield.
SUN 10:00 BBC News (w172zgfk619nwc2)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 10:06 The Documentary (w3ct7lc5)
Prison of the mind
In many countries around the world, prison populations are bursting at the seams. However, in some Northern European countries, prisons are closing and re-offending rates are down, which many have attributed to a novel approach to justice - taking a mental-health first approach. Jenny Okolo, a forensic occupational therapist, seeks to determine whether global prison systems could benefit from a similar approach and whether the solution is as simple as it seems.
Presenter: Jenny Okolo
Producer: Ray Sang and James Tindale
Editor: Phil Smith
A Reduced Listening production for BBC World Service
(Photo: An inmate at Rodjan farm, an open prison functioning as a farm in the city of Mariestad, 300km south-west of Stockholm. Credit: Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP/Getty Images)
SUN 10:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggcmrxc7mg)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SUN 10:32 The Fifth Floor (w3ct69js)
[Repeat of broadcast at
01:32 today]
SUN 11:00 BBC News (w172zgfk619p036)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqr338g6hj)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
SUN 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggcmrxcccl)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SUN 11:32 Trending (w3ct5y9s)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:32 today]
SUN 11:50 More or Less (w3ct5trd)
[Repeat of broadcast at
05:50 on Saturday]
SUN 12:00 BBC News (w172zgfk619p3vb)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 12:06 World Book Club (w3ct6r9p)
[Repeat of broadcast at
19:06 on Saturday]
SUN 13:00 BBC News (w172zgfk619p7lg)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 13:06 Newshour (w172zb9bn8vm32f)
Trump says one and a half million people living in Gaza should move elsewhere
Palestinians have expressed shock at his suggestion, but it's been welcomed by the Israeli far-right. We will get reaction to what he said.
Also on the programme: Former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney on why the people who write songs should be the ones to derive the benefits from them, despite the needs of the AI industry, and as the sixty day ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah comes to an end, we assess the current situation in southern Lebanon.
(Picture: President Trump speaking to reporters on Air Force One. Credit: Reuters)
SUN 14:00 BBC News (w172zgfk619pcbl)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 14:06 The Climate Question (w3ct5wsy)
Your questions answered: The speed of global warming; space junk; advice for kids
Climate Question listeners take over the programme again, putting their queries to Graihagh Jackson and her panel: BBC climate editor Justin Rowlatt, Bloomberg News senior climate reporter Akshat Rathi and the presenter of BBC CrowdScience Caroline Steel.
One listener asks why the climate appears to have changed so dramatically and fast in the last 50 years. Another wonders whether "space junk" plays a role in global warming. Plus, a question from a five-year old and - in a first for the programme - a listener's climate song!
If you have a question, email us at theclimatequestion@bbc.com or leave a WhatsApp message at + 44 8000 321 721
Producer: Michaela Graichen
Production Coordinator: Brenda Brown
Sound mix: James Beard and Tom Brignell
Editor: Simon Watts
SUN 14:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggcmrxcqlz)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SUN 14:32 Happy News (w3ct5sqs)
The Happy Pod: Meet the world's internet dad
Meet the man behind the YouTube channel 'Dad, How Do I?'. He teaches his millions of subscribers how to do everyday tasks. Also, the man in Uganda who is changing lives through chess and the flower causing a stink.
Presenter: Valerie Sanderson
Music: Iona Hampson
SUN 15:00 BBC News (w172zgfk619ph2q)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 15:06 Sportsworld (w172zbn8rxgds65)
Live Sporting Action
Sportsworld has full commentary from Villa Park as Aston Villa take on West Ham in the Premier League. There will also be updates and reaction from the matches between Tottenham and Leicester; and Crystal Palace and Brentford.
The former DR Congo defender Gabriel Zakuani joins Delyth Lloyd to look back over all the weekend’s action. Spain’s La Liga is the focus on this week’s EuroStars, when the team will also be looking ahead to the crucial final round of games in the Champions League.
Away from football, there will be reaction to the men’s final at the Australian Open tennis, and we look ahead to Sunday’s NFL playoffs as the last four teams battle it out for a place in Super Bowl LIX.
Photo: West Ham United's Tomas Soucek is fouled by Aston Villa's Matty Cash and earns his side a penalty during the Premier League match between West Ham United FC and Aston Villa FC at London Stadium on August 17, 2024 in London, England. (Credis: CameraSport via Getty Images)
SUN 19:00 BBC News (w172zgfk619pz27)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqr338h5gk)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
SUN 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggcmrxdbbm)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SUN 19:32 In the Studio (w3ct5tlw)
Michael Visocchi: A sculpture for South Georgia
In his studio, an old schoolroom in the Scottish Highlands, sculptor Michael Visocchi is working on Commensalis, a huge work that will be installed thousands of miles away, in Grytviken, an abandoned whaling station on the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia. From 1904 to 1966 thousands of whales were slaughtered and butchered here. Whaling ships brought rats, which predated the seabirds, driving species to near- extinction. But now, with whaling ended and the rats eradicated, whales are returning, seal and bird populations are recovering. South Georgia is an ecology in recovery.
Whaling ships and equipment were taken to Grytviken and harboured there. Now it looks like an industrial scrapyard; ships rust on the shore, huge tanks decay behind. Millions of leftover rivets remain.
Visocchi was struck by the similarity of shape of these rivets and the bumps of the barnacles on the bodies of living whales. The barnacles exist in a relationship between individuals of two species in which one obtains benefits from the other without either harming or benefiting the latter. This is known as commensalism, and gives Visocchi’s installation its name. Commensalis will comprise large steel ‘tables’ which echo the shape and rust colour of the
oil tanks. The tables, one for each species of whale that was taken, are dotted with patterns of polished rivets that represent the slaughtered whales.
We hear recordings Visocchi made on two visits to the remote island, the first for inspiration, the second to work out how to create and install the work among the seals and penguins. In his studio and a fabrication workshop so many miles away he talks to presenter Julian May as he works on this project which is challenging in so many ways – theoretically, technically, in time (three years so far) and even morally. South Georgia has no permanent population,
so is a public artwork appropriate? South Georgia has been sullied by people going there and leaving stuff behind. Isn’t, actually, Visocchi doing the same?
Presenter and Producer: Julian May
SUN 20:00 BBC News (w172zgfk619q2tc)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 20:06 Unexpected Elements (w3ct5q32)
[Repeat of broadcast at
00:06 on Saturday]
SUN 21:00 BBC News (w172zgfk619q6kh)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 21:06 Newshour (w172zb9bn8vn21g)
The Democratic Republic of Congo accuses Rwanda of "declaring war"
Rwanda has sent troops across the border to the Democratic Republic of Congo to support the rebel M23 groups, triggering the Congolese foreign minister to call for international sanctions against Kigali. We speak to the UN force supporting the DRC national forces and a local journalist in Goma to find out the latest.
Also on the programme: President Trump has said Palestinians should move from Gaza to neighbouring Arab countries, we speak to Richard Haass, President Emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations; and the latest on the Presidential election in Belarus which EU leaders have labelled a farce.
(Image: Internally displaced people who fled from various camps following fighting between M23 rebels and the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, gather outside Saint Esprit parish in Goma, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on January 26, 2025. Credit: Arlette Bashizi for Reuters)
SUN 22:00 BBC News (w172zgfk619qb9m)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 22:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqr338hjpy)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
SUN 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggcmrxdpl0)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SUN 22:32 The Fifth Floor (w3ct69js)
[Repeat of broadcast at
01:32 today]
SUN 23:00 BBC News (w172zgfk619qg1r)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 23:06 The Climate Question (w3ct5wsy)
[Repeat of broadcast at
14:06 today]
SUN 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggcmrxdtb4)
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SUN 23:32 Pick of the World (w3ct5v1r)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:32 on Saturday]
SUN 23:50 Over to You (w3ct5ttz)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:50 on Saturday]
MONDAY 27 JANUARY 2025
MON 00:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9lvf21)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 00:06 From Our Own Correspondent (w3ct5sjz)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:06 on Sunday]
MON 00:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggd016jsbf)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 00:32 Trending (w3ct5y9s)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:32 on Sunday]
MON 00:50 More or Less (w3ct5trd)
[Repeat of broadcast at
05:50 on Saturday]
MON 01:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9lvjt5)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 01:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqrgckmr6h)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
MON 01:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggd016jx2k)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 01:32 Discovery (w3ct5rnw)
Uncharted: The Grain of Truth
Amid the desperation of war-starved Netherlands, a doctor defies conventional wisdom to save gravely ill children, uncovering a treatment that sparks both hope and controversy. Years later, in 1967, a young female researcher detects a strange, pulsing signal—could it be mundane interference or evidence of alien life? From lifesaving breakthroughs to cosmic discoveries, this story celebrates the determination of pioneers who challenge convention and pursue truth against the odds.
MON 02:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9lvnk9)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqrgckmvym)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
MON 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggd016k0tp)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 02:32 CrowdScience (w3ct5rjc)
How high can birds fly?
While watching a feisty cockatoo chase after a hawk, CrowdScience listener Alison saw the hawk catch a thermal and rise effortlessly into the sky. The cockatoo gave chase, but the hawk climbed higher and higher until it became just a tiny speck, barely visible to the naked eye.
And that got Alison thinking: just how high can birds go? Are there altitude limits for our feathered friends? Could a cockatoo, a sparrow, or even a duck reach such dizzying heights if they really put their wings to it?
Presenter Alex Lathbridge sets out to investigate. Biologist Catherine Ivy reveals that life above the clouds isn’t easy. At high altitudes, the air is thinner, oxygen is scarce, and wings don’t generate as much lift. But some bird species have evolved incredible adaptations to overcome these challenges.
Among them: bar-headed geese, renowned for their daring flights over the world’s tallest mountains. Physiologist Lucy Hawkes delves into how these geese defy the odds with their remarkable physiology, revealing the surprising discoveries she made while putting some of them on a treadmill.
From super-powered hearts to clever lungs, we uncover the secrets behind nature’s impressive aviators.
Presenter: Alex Lathbridge
Producers: Ilan Goodman and Jeremy Grange
Editor: Cathy Edwards
Production co-ordinator: Ishmael Soriano
Technical producer: Sarah Hockley
MON 03:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9lvs9f)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 03:06 The Documentary (w3ct7lc5)
[Repeat of broadcast at
10:06 on Sunday]
MON 03:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggd016k4kt)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 03:32 Pick of the World (w3ct5v1r)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:32 on Saturday]
MON 03:50 Over to You (w3ct5ttz)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:50 on Saturday]
MON 04:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9lvx1k)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 04:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqrgckn3fw)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
MON 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggd016k89y)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 04:32 The Conversation (w3ct5x0r)
Child helplines: Giving young people a voice
Telephone helplines support millions of children every year with issues ranging from serious abuse to children who just want someone to chat to on the way home from school. Ella Al-Shamahi talks to two women from South Africa and Greece about supporting children through round-the-clock helplines, counselling and outreach.
Dumisile Cele, a trained social worker, is the Chief Executive Officer of Childline South Africa. Their 24-hour helpline is contacted around 300,000 times each year. Dumisile says the mental health challenges in children are especially driven by violent crimes, abuse and trauma perpetuated against them.
Stavroula Spyropoulou is a psychologist working at Smile of the Child in Greece. The organisation operates across the country and has over 400 staff and 6000 active volunteers. They give families immediate support in times of crisis, run children’s homes and outreach sessions in schools. Stavroula is the coordinator of their Center for Child Abuse and Exploitation.
There is a global network of child helplines in 132 countries and it's hoped that by 2030 every country in the world will have a helpline. There's a list of them all, and their contact phone numbers on the website of Child Helpline International.
Produced by Jane Thurlow
(Image: (L) Dumisile Cele courtesy Child Helpline South Africa. (R) Stavroula Spyropoulou courtesy Smile of the Child.)
MON 05:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9lw0sp)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 05:06 Newsday (w172zbkgjptp4g8)
M23 rebels say they have seized Goma
In the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, M23 rebels have seized control of the city of Goma. Explosions and gunfire have been heard overnight. Congo has accused neighbouring Rwanda of sending troops into its territory to aid the rebels.
The ceasefire deal in Gaza appears to be back on track after an agreement for Hamas to release three more Israeli hostages this week, a move that could allow tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians to return home to northern Gaza.
Israel's ceasefire deal with Lebanon and Hezbollah has also been under threat, but on Sunday that agreement has been extended to February 18th.
Today marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi death camp at Auschwitz. Holocaust survivors and international leaders are due to attend a remembrance event at the place where more than a million people - mostly Jews - were murdered.
The US says it will not go ahead with tariffs and other sanctions against Colombia after Bogota agreed to accept, without restrictions, the repatriation of citizens.
And a South African theatre production has opened here in London looking at the post apartheid class and race divisions that still beset the country.
(Photo: Internally displaced civilians from the camps in Munigi and Kibati, January 26, 2025; Credit: Reuters)
MON 06:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9lw4jt)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 06:06 Newsday (w172zbkgjptp86d)
Displaced Palestinians begin returning to northern Gaza
Displaced Palestinians have begun heading to northern Gaza as part of a ceasefire deal involving the return of Israeli hostages.
The deadline for Israel to withdraw from Lebanon has been extended to next month. Under the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah signed in November, both sides were to withdrawn from areas they were in by Sunday.
M23 rebels in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo say they have taken control of the strategic city of Goma. We'll be going live to the city for the latest this morning.
The United States says it will not go ahead with tariffs and other sanctions against Colombia.
Ceremonies are being held in Poland later to mark the eightieth anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau. We'll speak to a survivor's family members.
(Photo: Displaced Palestinians make their way back to their homes in northern Gaza, January 27, 2025; Credit: Reuters)
MON 07:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9lw88y)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 07:06 Newsday (w172zbkgjptpcyj)
Thousands of Palestinians return to north Gaza
An announcement by Hamas that they will release three more Israeli hostages appears to have got the Gaza ceasefire deal back on track, with tens of thousands of Palestinians now moving to return to their homes in the north of the territory.
M23 rebel group in the Democratic Republic of Congo say they have gained control over the key city of Goma in the east of the country. Gunfire was being heard across the city as the Rwanda-backed group had been asked by the UN to end the fighting.
The US president Donald Trump has been rowing with Latin American nations about immigration. After Colombia refused to accept military flights returning migrants the president threatened massive sanctions, the threat has now been rescinded.
The British foreign secretary David Lammy says that his government will launch a diplomatic initiative which aims to end Sudan's 21-month civil war.
And on the 80th Anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, we'll hear from the relative of holocaust survivor.
(Photo: Displaced Palestinians wait to be allowed to return to their homes in northern Gaza, January 27, 2025; Credit: Reuters)
MON 08:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9lwd12)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 08:06 The Explanation (w3ct7mwn)
Mindu Hornick: Interview with an Auschwitz survivor
"We thought we had entered hell." These are the recollections of Auschwitz survivor Mindu Hornick. In an interview with the BBC's Tim Franks, she recalls, in vivid detail, the last memory of her mother who was taken to the gas chamber; the Yiddish-speaking prison worker who saved her life; the terror of selection by Nazi doctor Josef Mengele; and the desperation of hunger, and rations laced with sawdust and bromide.
MON 08:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggd016kr9g)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct5z7p)
Spain's squatting problem
Squatting has a long history in Spain, often fuelled by high rates of homelessness.
And the country’s ongoing housing crisis means that despite being low in numbers, squatting is now a highly politicised topic.
We hear from private companies set up to evict people, from businesses making products to prevent squatters moving in, and from squatters themselves about their experiences.
Produced and presented by Stefania Gozzer
(Image: A worker takes a mattress off the balcony during the eviction of 62 families from four apartments in June 2023 in Madrid, Spain. Credit: Getty Images)
MON 08:50 Witness History (w3ct5yj2)
The Milltown Cemetery attack
On 16 March 1988, loyalist paramilitary Michael Stone killed three mourners and injured 60 others attending a funeral for IRA members killed in Gibraltar.
The so-called Gibraltar Three had been shot dead by the British Army and brought home to Belfast to be buried in the city’s Catholic Milltown Cemetery.
American journalist Bill Buzenberg, who was covering the funeral for National Public Radio in the US, was knocked off his feet in the gun and grenade attack. He shares his memories with Maggie Ayre.
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 help a wounded person in Milltown Cemetery after the attack at the funeral for three IRA members. Credit: Bernard Bisson/Sygma via Getty Images)
MON 09:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9lwhs6)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 09:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqrgcknq5j)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
MON 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggd016kw1l)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 09:32 CrowdScience (w3ct5rjc)
[Repeat of broadcast at
02:32 today]
MON 10:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9lwmjb)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 10:06 The History Hour (w3ct5n2z)
Back to 1995
Max Pearson presents a collection of the week’s Witness History episodes, all about events which happened in 1995.
First, we hear how Microsoft launched Windows 95 after a $300 million marketing campaign.
Our expert guest is Dr Lisa McGerty – Chief Executive of the Centre for Computing History in Cambridge.
Next, after 17 years terrorising America, we hear about the hunt for the Unabomber.
Plus, the sarin gas attack on a Tokyo metro, carried out by members of a doomsday cult.
Finally, how China exerted its influence over Tibetan Buddhism’s leadership.
Contributors:
Sarah Leary – project manager for Microsoft.
Dr Lisa McGerty – Chief Executive of the Centre for Computing History.
Carmine Gallo – police officer.
Dr Kathleen Puckett – FBI agent.
Atsushi Asakahara – metro passenger.
Arjia Rinpoche – senior Tibetan Lama.
(Photo: People lined up by US Microsoft Windows 95 exhibit. Credit: Forrest Anderson/Getty Images)
MON 11:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9lwr8g)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqrgcknyns)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
MON 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggd016l3jv)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct6dmh)
Return to Auschwitz: 'I want the world to remember us'
It’s 80 years since the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp was liberated. As we commemorate the memory of the six million Jews and other groups murdered by the Nazis in the Holocaust, a survivor of Auschwitz tells us why it’s more important than ever to remember what happened there.
On today's episode Lucy Hockings speaks to Tova Friedman, an American author and therapist, and one of the youngest Auschwitz survivors. Tova arrived at the extermination camp at the age of just five years old. She now speaks to young people in person and via TikTok about how she survived a year in Auschwitz as a very young child.
The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at theglobalstory@bbc.com You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.
Producers: Alice Aylett Roberts and Beth Timmins
Sound engineer: Dafydd Evans and Mike Regaard
Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas
Senior news editor: China Collins
MON 12:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9lww0l)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 12:06 Outlook (w3ct5nrb)
The Grandmother of Juneteenth, still battling for change at 98
Opal Lee is now affectionately known as the Grandmother of Juneteenth. She led the campaign for the 19th June, the day in 1865 when enslaved people in Texas were finally told that they were free, to be declared a national holiday. As President Biden signed the bill into law, Opal stood beside him. She had very personal reasons for wanting all Americans to think about freedom and the damage that racism can do.
In 1939 on the 19th of June, just days after she and her family had moved into a predominantly white neighbourhood in Fort Worth, Texas, their house was destroyed by a white mob. Opal was just 12. The family never spoke about the event again.
Opal went on to work as a teacher and counsellor in school, and then set up a food bank and later a farm to help those struggling to feed their families. She also organised local events to mark Juneteenth in Texas. In 2016, when she was 89, Opal came up with the idea to walk to Washington to ask the President to declare the day a national holiday. The campaign, and their petition, grew slowly at first and then a seismic event, the murder of George Floyd by a police officer, galvanised people and created a new sense of urgency to bring about change. Now armed with a petition complete with 1.5 million signatures, Opal's campaign was succesful.
Opal Lee is now 98, she’s been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize and she’s been given the Presidential Medal of Freedom – the nation’s highest civilian honour.
Archive used from CBS News
Presenter: Jo Fidgen
Producer: Andrea Kennedy and June Christie
Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com or WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707
(Photo: Opal Lee; Credit: Juan Figueroa/The Dallas Morning News/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
MON 12:50 Witness History (w3ct5yj2)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 today]
MON 13:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9lwzrq)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 13:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqrgckp651)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
MON 13:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggd016lc13)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 13:32 The Conversation (w3ct5x0r)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:32 today]
MON 14:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9lx3hv)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 14:06 Newshour (w172zb9c0k4tyzt)
80 years since Auschwitz-Birkenau liberation
Holocaust survivors and world leaders are marking the 80th anniversary of the camp's liberation at a memorial ceremony in Poland. We hear from one of the dwindling number of Auschwitz survivors, and speak to two distinguished historians about the warnings that the Holocaust still sounds.
Also in the programme: thousands of Palestinians return to northern Gaza as Israel opens checkpoints; and a new play on race, property and class in South Africa.
(Photo: A general view of the area of the former Auschwitz camp. Credit: Jarek Praszkiewicz/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)
MON 15:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9lx77z)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 15:06 The Explanation (w3ct7mwn)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:06 today]
MON 15:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggd016lljc)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 15:32 World Business Report (w3ct5zz8)
Chinese chatbot DeepSeek overtakes AI market
The surge in popularity of Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) app DeepSeek has sparked a selloff of shares in major tech companies after it overtook rivals such as ChatGPT to become the top-rated free app on Apple's App Store. How will it affect the IT industry?
Also, we look at the US and Colombia as countries appear to have entered into a tit-for-tat trade war.
And the promise to electrify billions of homes across Sub-Saharan Africa at the ‘Mission 300’ conference being held in the Tanzanian Capital Dar Es Salaam.
You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 3033. We would love to hear from you!
MON 16:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9lxc03)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 16:06 BBC OS (w172zbjhqrpk02g)
Holocaust survivors mark 80 years since Auschwitz liberation
Ceremonies are taking place in Poland to mark the eightieth anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi death camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau. We hear from survivors and speak to our correspondent at the ceremony.
We explain the latest surge in violence in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo where Rwandan-backed M23 rebels have reportedly entered the city of Goma, causing thousands of people to flee. We'll be joined by our Africa Editor, and speak to residents.
Israel says eight hostages due to be released in the coming weeks are dead. It comes as thousands of displaced Palestinians return to north Gaza after Israel opened checkpoints. We speak to our Middle East correspondents and Palestinians returning to the city.
A trade war between Colombia and the United States appears to have been averted, after the Colombian government agreed to allow US military flights carrying deported migrants to land in the Andean country. We are joined by our reporter in Bogota
Presenter: Mark Lowen
(Photo: People applaud as a holocaust survivor attends an event to mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi German Auschwitz-Birkenau camp in Oswiecim, Poland, January 27, 2025. Credit: REUTERS/Kacper Pempel)
MON 17:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9lxgr7)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 17:06 BBC OS (w172zbjhqrpk3tl)
Thousands flee Goma violence
Thousands of people have fled Goma in the DRC as gunfire continues in the eastern city, amidst reports of its takeover by Rwandan-backed rebels. Our Africa correspondent joins with the latest. We also speak to residents.
Ceremonies are taking place in Poland to mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau.
We hear the stories of survivors.
Israel says eight hostages due to be released in the coming weeks are dead. It comes as thousands of displaced Palestinians return to north Gaza after Israel opened checkpoints. We speak to our Middle East correspondents and Palestinians returning to the city.
DeepSeek - a low-cost chatbot built by a Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) firm - has become the most downloaded free app in the US, surpassing rivals including ChatGPT. We discuss its rapid rise with our technology reporter.
Presenter: Mark Lowen
(Photo: Refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo cross into Rwanda, Gisenyi, January 27, 2025. Credit: MOISE NIYONZIMA/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)
MON 18:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9lxlhc)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 18:06 Outlook (w3ct5nrb)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:06 today]
MON 18:50 Witness History (w3ct5yj2)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 today]
MON 19:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9lxq7h)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqrgckpxmt)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
MON 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggd016m2hw)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct5w4n)
2025/01/27 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 (w172zgfkk9lxtzm)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 20:06 From Our Own Correspondent (w3ct5sjz)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:06 on Sunday]
MON 20:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggd016m680)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 20:32 Discovery (w3ct5rnx)
Uncharted: Songs of the Sea
A PhD student with a passion for whales' stumbles upon a strange, eerie sound deep beneath the ocean waves—something that will soon rock her world. Meanwhile, a fisherman is stranded in the ocean late at night, completely alone. With time running out, can he be rescued before it's too late? From mysterious discoveries to life-or-death struggles, this story delves into the power of the ocean and the determination to survive.
MON 21:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9lxyqr)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 21:06 Newshour (w172zb9c0k4vt6q)
Auschwitz survivors mark 80 years since liberation
Holocaust survivors have been marking 80 years since the liberation of the Nazi concentration camp, Auschwitz, in Poland. We hear from one of the dwindling number of Auschwitz survivors.
Also on the programme: thousands of Gazans have been returning north and finding little more than rubble; and the low-cost Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot that sparked market turmoil.
(Photo: An Auschwitz survivor is comforted as she lays a candle during commemorations at Auschwitz-Birkenau in Poland. Credit: Reuters)
MON 22:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9ly2gw)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 22:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqrgckq8w6)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
MON 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggd016mfr8)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 22:32 World Business Report (w3ct601j)
Nvidia's shares drop nearly $600 billion as DeepSeek disrupts AI giant
On today's programme, Nvidia has lost its spot as the world’s most valuable company after the largest stock market drop in history.
Plus, the trade war between Colombia and the US is on hold—for now. But what could Donald Trump's tariffs mean for Colombia's economy?
And how does a global brand handle telling customers that its products might not be safe?
You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voice note: +44 330 678 3033. We would love to hear from you!
MON 23:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9ly670)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 23:06 The Explanation (w3ct7mwn)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:06 today]
MON 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggd016mkhd)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 23:32 The Conversation (w3ct5x0r)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:32 today]
TUESDAY 28 JANUARY 2025
TUE 00:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9ly9z4)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 00:06 The History Hour (w3ct5n2z)
[Repeat of broadcast at
10:06 on Monday]
TUE 01:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9lyfq8)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 01:06 Business Matters (w172zbfxrwy8pw4)
Nvidia’s value crashes by $600 billion as DeepSeek shakes up AI market
Nvidia has fallen from its position as the world’s most valuable company, experiencing the largest single-day drop in stock market history.
Also on the programme, we explore what Trump’s tariffs could mean for Colombia’s economy.
And the debate in London over whether Heathrow, the city’s largest airport, should be granted permission to expand.
TUE 02:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9lykgd)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqrgckqrvq)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
TUE 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggd016mxqs)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
TUE 02:32 Assignment (w3ct5mv0)
Reel Revolution? The dramatic rise of Saudiwood
Saudi Arabia is rolling out the red carpet to filmmakers and foreign companies as it sets out to establish itself as a major player in the entertainment industry. After lifting a 35-year ban on cinemas in 2018, the Kingdom is now luring Hollywood with cash incentives to shoot in the desert, and playing host to a glitzy international film festival. The move is all part of Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman's ‘Vision 2030’ - a grand blueprint to rewrite the Kingdom's script, diversify its economy away from oil, and expand its cultural influence though films, gaming and sport, all at the same time seeking to keep an overwhelming young population happy. It is a dramatic transformation with writers, directors and actors now prepared to test boundaries and break taboos on screen. But as Emily Wither finds out Saudi Arabia is still a country where not every story can be told.
Presenter: Emily Wither
Producers Emily Wither and Ben Carter
Editor: Penny Murphy
Sound Engineer: Neil Churchill
Production manager: Gemma Ashman
(Image: Spike Lee presents an award at the Red Sea International Film Festival 2024 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Credit: Daniele Venturelli/Getty Images for The Red Sea International Film Festival)
TUE 03:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9lyp6j)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 03:06 Outlook (w3ct5nrb)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:06 on Monday]
TUE 03:50 Witness History (w3ct5yj2)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 on Monday]
TUE 04:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9lysyn)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 04:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqrgckr0bz)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
TUE 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggd016n571)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
TUE 04:32 In the Studio (w3ct4yf4)
Behind the scenes with Ken Loach
The Old Oak will be Ken Loach's last feature film and Sharuna Sagar was granted exclusive access behind the scenes of this landmark movie. She joins the 86-year-old director on his swansong as he brings together his loyal team for one last time. As with his previous two films, I, Daniel Blake and Sorry We Missed You, Ken returns to the North East of England, to tell the story of Syrian refugees who have been housed in an ex-mining village. With him are his long-standing partners, producer Rebecca O'Brien and writer Paul Laverty, and they reveal the secrets of Loach's success, with films like Kes, Cathy Come Home and The Wind That Shakes The Barley. Sharuna eavesdrops on rehearsals, casting sessions and a dog audition.
TUE 05:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9lyxps)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 05:06 Newsday (w172zbkgjpts1cc)
Fighting rages on in eastern DR Congo
Government officials in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have said the army now controls most of the city of Goma. However, the rebels continue to claim that they control the city. We'll get the latest.
Technology shares have continued to fall on Asian stock markets as they react to the arrival of a new Chinese artificial intelligence system that has spooked American investors.
Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have returned to northern Gaza as the implementation of the ceasefire deal continues. The area suffered from a massive Israeli bombardment over the past fifteen months and there are concerns that many of those returning will be left without shelter.
We'll hear from northern Nigeria where the threat of kidnap by criminal gangs is preventing children from gaining an education.
(Photo: A Rwandan soldier inspects the weapons from surrendering members of the FARDC after crossing the border from Goma; Credit: EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)
TUE 06:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9lz1fx)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 06:06 Newsday (w172zbkgjpts53h)
Palestinians return to north Gaza
Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians continue to go back home to northern Gaza as the implementation of the ceasefire deal continues. The area suffered from a massive Israeli bombardment over the past 15 months and there are concerns many of those returning will be left without shelter. We will also be getting the view from Egypt on the future of Gaza.
The battle for control of the city of Goma in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo continues, with both the government and M23 rebels laying claim to the city of more than 1 million people.
We'll have an update on some stunning falls in tech stocks, as the arrival of a Chinese AI Chatbot challenges the sky-high valuations of many western AI companies.
The city of Goma in the eastern DRC remains a battleground between the government and rebel forces. Artillery has been used in the city prompting concerns that even more civilians could suffer if the battle for the strategic city continues.
We'll hear from Ukraine about the impact that the conflict there is having on a particular family in Zaphoriza.
(Photo: Palestinians, who were displaced to the south make their way back to their homes in northern Gaza; Credit: Reuters)
TUE 07:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9lz561)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 07:06 Newsday (w172zbkgjpts8vm)
China’s AI startup sending shockwaves through global tech
Technology shares have continued to fall on Asian stock markets as they react to the arrival of a new Chinese artificial intelligence system that has spooked American investors.
Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are returning back home to northern Gaza as the implementation of the ceasefire deal continues. We'll hear from a woman who's preparing to go back home with her children and father.
President Donald Trump has been busy with executive orders, this time he's been looking at the military, reinstating service members who were fired for refusing Covid 19 vaccines and targeting transgender personnel.
US president Donald Trump says Microsoft is in discussions to acquire the social media app, TikTok.
There's been more fighting, including the use of artillery, in Goma in eastern Congo. Both the government and the M23 rebel group claim to have control of the strategic city.
(Photo: The logo of DeepSeek is displayed alongside its AI assistant app on a mobile phone; Credit: Reuters)
TUE 08:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9lz8y5)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 08:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct4y0g)
Sharing the river
In the farming community of Los Negros in rural Bolivia, the river is their life and livelihood. So when that river started to dry up, it made life very hard. They blamed the villages upstream for not looking after their precious water.
This conflict could have turned ugly. But with the support of a local charity, what came out of it instead was a ground-breaking agreement. After years of negotiations, the town at the bottom of the river agreed to support the communities upstream to protect their forests and keep the river healthy.
The idea is now the blueprint for water sharing agreements between communities across the continent.
Presenter: Myra Anubi
Reporter: Jane Chambers
Producer: Bob Howard
Series producer: Tom Colls
Sound mix: Hal Haines
Editor: Penny Murphy
Email: peoplefixingtheworld@bbc.co.uk
Image: Senor Rogelio Valverde sits by his water source
TUE 08:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggd016nn6k)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
TUE 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct5zjq)
Is X still good for brands?
In November 2024, FC St Pauli became the first major football club to stop posting on X (formerly Twitter). In a statement, the leftwing Bundesliga club cited concerns over racism and conspiracy theories on the platform.
It has moved to alternative social media site Bluesky instead.
So is this part of a wider trend? We hear from companies who are finding alternatives to X, or staying on but reducing advertising spend.
Plus we hear from those who say with hundreds of millions users, X still has an important role to play particularly in areas like customer service.
Produced and presented by Daniel Rosney
(Image: Fans of St.Pauli wave a skull and crossbones rainbow flag during the match between FC St. Pauli and 1. FC Magdeburg at Millerntor Stadium in Hamburg, Germany, 14 August 2022. Credit: Getty Images)
TUE 08:50 Witness History (w3ct5ynl)
The Baltic chain protest
On 23 August 1989, approximately two million people joined hands to form a 690-kilometre human chain across Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
It was a key moment in the protests in Eastern Europe that became known as the Singing Revolution.
In 2010, Damien McGuinness spoke to MEP Sandra Kalniete, a Latvian organiser of the event.
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: Estonian nationalist demonstrators taking part in the protest. Credit: Reuters/Dominique Dudouble)
TUE 09:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9lzdp9)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 09:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqrgckrm2m)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
TUE 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggd016nryp)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
TUE 09:32 Assignment (w3ct5mv0)
[Repeat of broadcast at
02:32 today]
TUE 10:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9lzjff)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 10:06 The Arts Hour (w3ct5qkp)
[Repeat of broadcast at
20:06 on Saturday]
TUE 11:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9lzn5k)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqrgckrvkw)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
TUE 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggd016p0fy)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
TUE 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct6fc2)
Why does Trump want the Panama Canal?
Since returning to the White House, Donald Trump has made a string of expansionist foreign policy announcements, angering several of his international counterparts. After reiterating his ambitious intention to purchase Greenland, and renaming the Gulf of Mexico, the US president doubled down on his insistence that Washington should regain control of the Panama Canal, the essential shipping passage he claims has been commandeered by China. Built by the United States in the early twentieth century, the waterway transformed global trade and marked America’s emergence as a superpower on the world stage, before being transferred to Panamanian control via a 1977 treaty. So why has Donald Trump got it in his sights now?
On this episode Jonny Dymond speaks to Julie Greene, a professor of American studies at the University of Maryland, about the storied history of the Panama Canal. And the BBC’s North America business correspondent Michelle Fleury discusses the politics and economics behind the Trump administration's diplomatic pursuit of the trade route.
The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at theglobalstory@bbc.com You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.
Producers: Laurie Kalus, Mhairi MacKenzie and Beth Timmins
Sound engineer: Annie Smith
Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas
Senior news editor: China Collins
TUE 12:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9lzrxp)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 12:06 Outlook (w3ct5p5w)
The film couple turning their own lives into romantic comedy
Karan Soni and Roshan Sethi are a couple whose real-life love story inspired their film A Nice Indian Boy. The effect is a movie that mixes Hollywood and Bollywood, and which has transformed many of their own family relationships.
Karan Soni is famous for playing supporting roles in films like Deadpool & Wolverine, but A Nice Indian Boy has turned him into a leading man alongside musical theatre star Jonathan Groff, of Hamilton and Frozen fame.
Roshan Sethi is the film's director, he's an oncologist turned scriptwriter who didn't come out until the age of 30. He never imagined that his breakthrough movie would be about a gay Indian-American doctor finding love, starring his real-life partner Karan. A Nice Indian Boy will be in cinemas later this year.
Presenter: Sophia Smith Galer
Producer: Helen Fitzhenry
Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com or WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707
(Photo: Roshan Sethi wearing headphones and directing Karan Soni on set of A Nice Indian Boy. Credit: LEVANTINE FILMS AND WAYFARER STUDIOS)
TUE 12:50 Witness History (w3ct5ynl)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 today]
TUE 13:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9lzwnt)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 13:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqrgcks324)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
TUE 13:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggd016p7y6)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
TUE 13:32 In the Studio (w3ct4yf4)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:32 today]
TUE 14:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m00dy)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 14:06 Newshour (w172zb9c0k4xvwx)
DeepSeek: How China's AI app stunned Silicon Valley
The emergence of DeepSeek's artificial intelligence model has triggered shockwaves on Wall Street. Shares in major tech firms such as Nvidia fell sharply, with the chip giant losing almost $600bn in market value. Investors are questioning the high valuation and dominance of some established US firms. DeepSeek's AI model was developed for much less. We go to Beijing to learn more.
Also in the programme: The United Nations says hospitals are overwhelmed, treating hundreds of injured people in Goma in eastern Congo where Rwandan-backed M23 rebels are trying to capture the city from the Congolese army; plus the backstory of how Tetris became one of our most beloved computer games.
(Photo: DeepSeek logo and Chinese flag are seen in this illustration taken, January 28, 2025. Credit: Reuters/Dado Ruvic/Illustration)
TUE 15:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m0452)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 15:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct4y0g)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:06 today]
TUE 15:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggd016phfg)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
TUE 15:32 World Business Report (w3ct6089)
Boeing reports the biggest annual loss since 2020
The Boeing has just announced a huge loss in its latest financial results - we are be digging in to the latest woes to hit the embattled plane maker.
Also, today 24 wild hours on the financial markets for companies in the AI world - but did we learn something new or actually reveal a truth about the sector that was always there?
We look at the mining industry in the Democratic Republic of Congo during the growing conflict.
And it's holiday season in China and that means big business for the travel industry.
You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 3033. We would love to hear from you!
TUE 16:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m07x6)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 16:06 BBC OS (w172zbjhqrpmwzk)
Ruins and destruction as Gazans return home
The full scale of the humanitarian challenge ahead is emerging as displaced Palestinians, for a second day, make their way home to north Gaza. Our Middle East regional editor Mike Thomson joins us with the latest, and we speak to one woman, Weam, who arrived in Gaza City today.
There are growing international calls for peace talks to end the continuing violence in Goma in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. We speak to our reporter for the latest.
We speak to two transgender people in the US after President Trump declared that his administration will only recognise "two sexes, male and female".
US tech shares appear to have stabilised after the emergence of a Chinese AI app, DeepSeek, caused them to fall on Monday. The computer chip maker Nvidia saw its value plummet by nearly 600 billion dollars after DeepSeek's surprise success. We discuss concerns in the artificial intelligence industry with our tech reporter.
Presenter: Mark Lowen
(Photo: Displaced Palestinians leave southern Gaza to return to the north along Al Rashid road, central Gaza Strip, 27 January 2025. Credit: MOHAMMED SABER/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock )
TUE 17:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m0cnb)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 17:06 BBC OS (w172zbjhqrpn0qp)
Fighting escalates in DRC's Goma
The United Nations says hospitals in the city of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo are struggling to cope with the numbers injured in fighting between M23 rebels and the Congolese army. We explain who the M23 rebels are and speak to our reporter for the latest.
The full scale of the humanitarian challenge ahead is emerging as huge numbers of Palestinians head north for the second day to what's left of their homes in Gaza. We speak to one woman, Weam, who arrived in Gaza City today.
We speak to two transgender people in the US after President Trump declared that his administration will only recognise "two sexes, male and female".
The Chinese AI app DeepSeek has got the tech industry in America worried. The app's been downloaded by millions around the world. How concerned should the world be about Chinese-developed AI technology? We speak to people who work in the artificial intelligence industry.
Presenter: Mark Lowen
(Photo: Congolese civilians who fled from Goma, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo gather to register at a reception centre in Rugerero near Gisenyi, in Rubavu district, Rwanda, January 28, 2025. Credit: REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya)
TUE 18:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m0hdg)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 18:06 Outlook (w3ct5p5w)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:06 today]
TUE 18:50 Witness History (w3ct5ynl)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 today]
TUE 19:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m0m4l)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqrgckstjx)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
TUE 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggd016pzdz)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
TUE 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct5w95)
2025/01/28 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 (w172zgfkk9m0qwq)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 20:06 Assignment (w3ct5mv0)
[Repeat of broadcast at
02:32 today]
TUE 20:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggd016q353)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
TUE 20:32 Tech Life (w3ct5wng)
Not as dead as a dodo?
It sounds like a Hollywood movie - bringing extinct animals like the dodo back to life - but a company has attracted hundreds of millions of dollars of investment to do just that. We hear the arguments for and against de-extinction technology.
Also, losing the alcohol but keeping the taste, our reporter takes a sober dive into the tech behind alcohol-free beer.
We are always keen to hear from you. You can email us: techlife@bbc.co.uk, or send us a text message or voice note on Whatsapp: +44 330 1230 320.
Presenter: Chris Vallance
Producer: Tom Quinn
Editor: Monica Soriano
(Image: An illustration of a dodo bird. Credit: DeAgostini Picture Library/Getty Images)
TUE 21:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m0vmv)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 21:06 Newshour (w172zb9c0k4yq3t)
Rebels edging closer to taking key DR Congo city
M23 fighters are getting closer to taking Goma after reports that they captured its airport. The Congolese government has insisted that it is still in charge as fighting in parts of the city continues.
Also on the programme: We hear from the UN's children's agency about the challenges of getting aid into Gaza as hundreds and thousands of Palestinians return to the North ; and we speak to the Bishop who asked President Trump to show mercy.
(Photo: Residents look at the remains of their damaged houses as a result of an attack by M23 rebels near Sake, Democratic Republic of Congo on 28 January 2025.Credit: STR/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)
TUE 22:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m0zcz)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 22:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqrgckt5s9)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
TUE 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggd016qbnc)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
TUE 22:32 World Business Report (w3ct60bk)
Will Heathrow’s third runway finally take flight?
UK Finance Minister Rachel Reeves is expected to announce major infrastructure projects, with the most significant being a long-debated third runway at London’s Heathrow Airport. The plan has faced decades of planning and environmental hurdles.
US aircraft manufacturer Boeing has reported annual losses nearing $12 billion, marking its worst performance in years.
And in California, winemakers warn that former President Donald Trump’s proposed deportation of undocumented migrants could devastate their industry.
TUE 23:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m1343)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 23:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct4y0g)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:06 today]
TUE 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggd016qgdh)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
TUE 23:32 In the Studio (w3ct4yf4)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:32 today]
WEDNESDAY 29 JANUARY 2025
WED 00:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m16w7)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 00:06 The Arts Hour (w3ct5qkp)
[Repeat of broadcast at
20:06 on Saturday]
WED 01:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m1bmc)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 01:06 Business Matters (w172zbfxrwycls7)
Could Heathrow's multi-billion pound runway be the future of UK aviation?
UK Finance Minister Rachel Reeves is set to unveil a bold vision for Britain’s infrastructure, with Heathrow’s long-debated third runway taking centre stage. The project, which could transform air travel and boost the economy, has faced decades of opposition due to environmental and planning concerns. Could this be the moment it finally takes off?
Plus, a federal judge temporarily blocks President Donald Trump’s push to halt federal funding for progressive initiatives.
And the Chinese Lunar New Year arrives amid economic concerns.
WED 02:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m1gch)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqrgcktnrt)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
WED 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggd016qtmw)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
WED 02:32 The Climate Question (w3ct5wsy)
[Repeat of broadcast at
14:06 on Sunday]
WED 03:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m1l3m)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 03:06 Outlook (w3ct5p5w)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:06 on Tuesday]
WED 03:50 Witness History (w3ct5ynl)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 on Tuesday]
WED 04:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m1pvr)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 04:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqrgcktx82)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
WED 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggd016r244)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
WED 04:32 Good Bad Billionaire (w3ct6xkx)
Sergey Brin: Googling billions
By founding Google, tech titan Sergey Brin helped shape the internet. He also got very, very rich, as his company Alphabet became one of the biggest in the world. BBC business editor Simon Jack and journalist Zing Tsjeng tell the story of the billionaire who partied on planes after escaping prejudice in Russia. Sergey Brin and his best friend Larry Page became two of history’s biggest tech giants by building the planet’s most popular search engine. How did their technology startup become one of the world's biggest companies? Simon and Zing find out, before deciding if they think he’s good, bad, or just another billionaire.
We’d love to hear your feedback. Email goodbadbillionaire@bbc.com or drop us a text or WhatsApp to +1 (917) 686-1176.
To find out more about the show and read our privacy notice, visit www.bbcworldservice.com/goodbadbillionaire
WED 05:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m1tlw)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 05:06 Newsday (w172zbkgjptvy8g)
UN Security Council condemns Rwanda's support for the rebels
Congolese officials say the violence in Goma has trapped aid workers, UN peacekeepers and civilians leaving them without water, food or electricity. Seventeen UN peacekeepers have also been killed.
The BBC has become the first international news organisation to enter Gaza, travelling with helicopters bringing aid from Jordan.
More bold moves from Washington, as Donald Trump tries to block federal assistance - A judge has halted the move, but those who depend on government grants are worried.
(Pic: Residents look at a burned vehicle belonging to the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission; Credit: REX/Shutterstock)
WED 06:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m1yc0)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 06:06 Newsday (w172zbkgjptw20l)
DRC: International community pushes for an end to fighting
ICRC says its hospital in Goma has received more than 100 wounded in just 24 hours, a number it previously received over the course of a month. It said this had forced its staff to turn the hospital car park into a triage unit.
The first weeks of Donald Trump's second term in the White House have seen him focus on tackling illegal migration - he's promised to deport illegal migrants. This has prompted concerns in Mexico about how they might deal with a massive influx of people.
At least 12 feared dead in crush at India's Kumbh Mela festival
(Pic: Refugees carry their belongings after crossing the border from Goma in the DRC to Gisenyi, Rwanda; Credit: EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)
WED 07:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m2234)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 07:06 Newsday (w172zbkgjptw5rq)
M23 rebels ' have captured almost the whole of Goma'
The clashes between M23 rebels and the army and its allies have left hospitals overwhelmed by casualties and bodies lying on the streets, according to the UN.
The BBC has become the first international news organisation to enter Gaza after the ceasefire, travelling with helicopters bringing aid from Jordan.
Chinese AI DeepSeek becomes the most downloaded free app in the US just a week after it was launched.
(Pic: Residents recover items left in the street following an attack by Rwandan-backed M23 rebels in Goma; Credit: REX/Shutterstock)
WED 08:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m25v8)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 08:06 HARDtalk (w3ct5t5c)
Basem Naim: Can Gaza find long-term peace?
Sarah Montague speaks to Basem Naim, a senior political figure in Hamas. Its violence and hostage-taking on October 7th led to an overwhelming Israeli onslaught in Gaza. A fragile ceasefire is now in place, but how can long-term peace be achieved?
WED 08:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggd016rk3n)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
WED 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct5zp7)
Cashing in on Ghana's cashews
Ed Butler travels to northern Ghana in search of one of the country’s growing exports.
Cashew nuts have become a feature of crop production, but there are problems.
How does Ghana best add value to cashews in a way that benefits the country and doesn’t just see it exploited overseas?
And could solving the cashew issue help Ghana's economy in other ways?
Produced and presented by Ed Butler
(Image: A worker at a cashew processing company sorting nuts in Ghana)
WED 08:50 Witness History (w3ct5yqv)
Lithuania's 'wolf children'
In the aftermath of World War Two, children were left orphaned, or separated from their families.
They were forced to flee East Prussia when the Red Army advanced.
Whilst trying to survive, on their way to Lithuania, they were likened to hungry wolves roaming through forests.
Now aged 84, 'wolf child' Luise Quitsch tells Megan Jones about her journey and what life was like growing up in Lithuania.
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: Luise. Credit: Luise Quitsch)
WED 09:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m29ld)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 09:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqrgckvhzq)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
WED 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggd016rnvs)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
WED 09:32 The Climate Question (w3ct5wsy)
[Repeat of broadcast at
14:06 on Sunday]
WED 10:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m2fbj)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 10:06 The Forum (w3ct5n0j)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:06 on Saturday]
WED 11:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m2k2n)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqrgckvrgz)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
WED 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggd016rxc1)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
WED 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct6ds0)
DeepSeek: AI revolution or just hype?
The speed at which the new Chinese chatbot app DeepSeek has risen to prominence has taken many by surprise. Now the most downloaded free app in the US, DeepSeek seems to require less powerful computer chips than its American tech rivals.
The release of this low-cost AI model sent shockwaves through US stock markets, with Nvidia - the company behind the high-tech chips powering many AI investments - being the hardest hit. On Monday, Nvidia’s share price dropped by 17%, wiping out around $600bn in market value. So, where has DeepSeek come from, and what’s behind its ability to spook investors? What could this mean for the future of chip manufacturing and the US's historic dominance in the world of AI?
Jonny Dymond speaks to Chris Miller, historian on semiconductor chips at Tufts University and author of Chip War: The Fight for the World's Most Critical Technology. Jonny is also joined by the BBC’s North America business correspondent Ritika Gupta to discus the impact DeepSeek has had on the stock markets.
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 and Eleanor Sly
Sound engineer: Hannah Montgomery
Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas
Senior news editor: China Collins
WED 12:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m2nts)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 12:06 Outlook (w3ct5pdn)
Voice notes of the past - what my dad's singing revealed
A decade after his father passed away, Wajid Yaseen was aching to hear his voice again. But finding an old cassette tape of his dad singing opened up way more than Wajid expected. He had stumbled across a treasure trove of audio cassette tape letters spanning continents and lifetimes, chronicling overlooked South Asian migrant histories in Britain. This inspired him to create the Tape Letters Project, chasing down hundreds of cassette tapes and audio love letters containing the stories of families and lovers separated across oceans. In the process, he learnt a lot more about himself and his own heritage too.
Natalia Bolivar, who recently died at the age of 89, was not your typical revolutionary. A rich socialite who grew up in 1950s in Cuba, she was also an undercover urban guerilla using her privileged status to bring down the government, run by Fulgencio Batista – a military dictator clinging onto power in an unstable country. Inevitably, this meant she was also trying to bring down her own social class. Jane Chambers went to meet her in 2019.
Presenter: Mobeen Azhar
Producer: Taqwa Sadiq
Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com or WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707
(Photo: Wajid Yaseen as a little boy with his father. Credit: Halima Jabeen)
WED 12:50 Witness History (w3ct5yqv)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 today]
WED 13:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m2skx)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 13:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqrgckvzz7)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
WED 13:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggd016s4v9)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
WED 13:32 Good Bad Billionaire (w3ct6xkx)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:32 today]
WED 14:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m2xb1)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 14:06 Newshour (w172zb9c0k50rt0)
Rebels closer to taking key DR Congo city
The United Nations in Goma, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, tells us the city has mostly fallen to rebels backed by Rwanda. We ask what this means for the people of the city and the region.
Also in the programme: A fatal crush at the world's biggest religious festival in India; and confirmation hearings loom for President Trump's controversial pick for health secretary, Robert F Kennedy Junior.
(Photo: Fighting rages in Goma after M23 rebel offensive, The Democratic Republic of Congo - 28 Jan 2025. Credit: Photo by STR/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)
WED 15:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m3125)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 15:06 HARDtalk (w3ct5t5c)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:06 today]
WED 15:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggd016sdbk)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
WED 15:32 World Business Report (w3ct60dt)
ASML reports large rise in bookings for advanced chipmaking tools
Sam Fenwick takes a peek into AI profits: The Chief Executive and Founder of the Dutch Semiconductor manufacturing giant ASML tells us about its record-breaking year.
Iceland's Payment Revolution: why Iceland is rolling out a new online payment system.
Can airports spur economic growth? The UK government is optimistic they can.
And Ghana's nutty boost: how a humble nut could significantly boost Ghana's economy.
You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 3033. We would love to hear from you!
WED 16:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m34t9)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 16:06 BBC OS (w172zbjhqrpqswn)
What's happening in the DRC?
State media in the Democratic Republic of Congo have confirmed President Tshisekedi will not attend a crisis meeting with his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame. M23 rebels supported by Rwanda have captured swathes of eastern Congo in recent weeks.
We hear from correspondents from across the BBC to help us to understand the ongoing conflict in the DRC. We also hear a conversation with aid workers in Goma about the situation on the ground.
Police in northern India say at least thirty people are now known to have been killed in a crush at the world's largest religious gathering, the Kumbh Mela. We hear from people who were there when it happened.
NASA is providing an update on the results from its mission to sample the asteroid Bennu. We'll hear about what they found.
Presenter: Mark Lowen
Photo: Surrendering members of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) are escorted by Rwandan soldiers after crossing the border from Goma, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to Gisenyi, Rwanda.
Credit: MOISE NIYONZIMA/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock
WED 17:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m38kf)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 17:06 BBC OS (w172zbjhqrpqxms)
DRC aid workers share their experiences
The M23 rebel group has strengthened their control over the city of Goma in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, despite international calls for them to withdraw. More than half a million people have fled their homes this month as a result of the rebel offensive in eastern DRC. We hear from aid workers in the region who share their stories of what life is like for civilians impacted by the fighting.
Authorities say at least 30 people have died and a further 60 were injured in a crowd crush at the Kumbh Mela festival in India. We hear from the BBC's Samira Hussain.
The confirmation hearing for Donald Trump's pick for health secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr. has been taking place. The BBC's North America correspondent will bring us the latest on what's been said.
Presenter: Mark Lowen
Photo: People flee eastern Congo into Rwanda as fighting rages in Goma.
Credit: REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya
WED 18:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m3d9k)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 18:06 Outlook (w3ct5pdn)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:06 today]
WED 18:50 Witness History (w3ct5yqv)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 today]
WED 19:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m3j1p)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqrgckwqg0)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
WED 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggd016swb2)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
WED 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct5wcf)
2025/01/29 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 (w172zgfkk9m3mst)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 20:06 The Climate Question (w3ct5wsy)
[Repeat of broadcast at
14:06 on Sunday]
WED 20:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggd016t026)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
WED 20:32 Health Check (w3ct5t9w)
USA issues stop-work order on global aid
What will President Trump’s order stopping work on foreign aid projects mean for global health?
Also on the program, a new method for repairing heart muscles using stem cells shows promise, and do weight-loss drugs also stop the ‘food noise’ so many people hear? GP and medical journalist Graham Easton joins Claudia in studio to discuss.
Presenter: Claudia Hammond
Producer: Margaret Sessa-Hawkins
WED 21:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m3rjy)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 21:06 Newshour (w172zb9c0k51m0x)
RFK Jr grilled over US health secretary nomination
Robert F Kennedy Jr, the man Donald Trump wants to run America's health policy, denies being an anti-vaxxer. We hear from the US senate grilling critical to his chances of getting the job.
Also on the programme: Belgium's foreign minister says it is time to consider cutting aid to Rwanda for its role in the worsening crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo; and could chemicals which helped kick start life on earth have been delivered by an asteroid?
(Photo: Robert F Kennedy Jr testifies during his confirmation hearing in the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, DC. Credit: ALLISON DINNER/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock.)
WED 22:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m3w92)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 22:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqrgckx2pd)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
WED 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggd016t7kg)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
WED 22:32 World Business Report (w3ct60h2)
US. Fed holds interest rates steady amid Trump’s criticism
The Federal Reserve has kept interest rates on hold in its first decision of the year, despite sharp criticism from President Trump.
Plus, the US tech sector continues to feel the impact of a new budget-friendly Chinese AI app. We hear from the head of the world’s largest semiconductor manufacturing machine maker and the CEO behind the biggest AI chip.
And a look at how Ghana navigates the mysteries of cashew nut pricing.
WED 23:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m4016)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 23:06 HARDtalk (w3ct5t5c)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:06 today]
WED 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggd016tc9l)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
WED 23:32 Good Bad Billionaire (w3ct6xkx)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:32 today]
THURSDAY 30 JANUARY 2025
THU 00:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m43sb)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 00:06 The Forum (w3ct5n0j)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:06 on Saturday]
THU 01:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m47jg)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 01:06 Business Matters (w172zbfxrwyghpb)
China's DeepSeek shakes US markets as AI battle heats up
As US tech reels from China’s cut-price AI app, we speak with the head of the world’s largest semiconductor manufacturing machine maker and the CEO behind the biggest AI chip.
The Federal Reserve holds interest rates steady in its first decision of the year, despite strong criticism from President Trump.
And how much does it really cost to advertise during the Super Bowl?
THU 02:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m4c8l)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqrgckxknx)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
THU 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggd016tqjz)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
THU 02:32 The Documentary (w3ct7m68)
Flamboyant Funerals
Ghana has a reputation for staging some of the most eccentric funerals in the world – boasting extraordinary displays of colour, dancing, deep rooted history, and a strong association with Ghanaian royalty. Hannah Ajala takes the listener on a compelling aural journey as she uncovers the stories behind this unique and complex tradition.
In West Africa, end of life celebrations are a far cry from those in the Western world. Each funeral can take weeks or months to plan and they are often more lavish – and expensive - than weddings. Funerals are an essential part of paying respect to the departed.
Flamboyant Funerals travels to the cultural capital of the country, Kumasi, to witness a Ghanaian funeral first hand. She delves into the significance of these ancient traditions: the dancing, the dress code, the burial and final funeral rites as well as the role played by the ‘talking drums’.
With thanks to the Buabeng family and Derrick Asiamah, MrAnchor.
Presenter: Hannah Ajala
Producer: Adele Armstrong
Editor: Clare Fordham
(Photo: Traditional Atumpan drummers in Kumasi, Ghana. Credit: Hannah Ajala)
THU 03:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m4h0q)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 03:06 Outlook (w3ct5pdn)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:06 on Wednesday]
THU 03:50 Witness History (w3ct5yqv)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 on Wednesday]
THU 04:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m4lrv)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 04:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqrgckxt55)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
THU 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggd016tz17)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
THU 04:32 The Food Chain (w3ct5xp2)
Crunch!
Why do we enjoy foods that crunch?
Listener Sheila Harris contacted The Food Chain with that question and asked us to find out if the food texture has any benefits.
Ruth Alexander speaks to Danielle Reed, Chief Science Officer at the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia, US, who says that crunchy foods signal freshness and help our brains decide if a food is safe to eat.
Paediatric dentist Ashley Lerman in New York, US says crunchy fruit and vegetables can act as a natural tooth cleaner.
Anthropologist Professor Noreen von Cramon-Taubadel at the University at Buffalo in New York, US says that the texture of our diets can impact the shape of our faces. Her work has studied how jaw shape has changed as humans switched from hunter gatherer to farming diets.
Ciarán Forde, Professor of Sensory Science and Eating Behaviour at Wageningen University in the Netherlands explains how crunchy and other hard textures could help us to eat more slowly and consume fewer calories.
And could crunch make foods more palatable? Chef Dulsie Fadzai Mudekwa in Zimbabwe says the texture is key to convincing people to try edible insects.
If you have a question for The Food Chain email thefoodchain@bbc.co.uk
Produced by Beatrice Pickup.
(Image: a woman biting a stick of celery. Credit: Getty Images/BBC)
THU 05:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m4qhz)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 05:06 Newsday (w172zbkgjptyv5k)
Jet with passengers collides with US Army helicopter
The jet was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, and three US Army soldiers were on board the military helicopter. US President Donald Trump says he has been briefed on the "terrible accident" and thanks emergency responders for their "incredible work".
As part of the continuing ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, three Israeli hostages are due to be released later today as well as 110 Palestinian prisoners. We will speak to a former Israeli deputy national security advisor.
And we'll get the latest on the unfolding crisis in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, from the increased ambitions of the rebel M23 group which has seized the city of Goma, to the international dimensions of the conflict.
(Pic: Emergency service vehicles operate near the site of the crash after American Eagle flight 5342; Credit: Reuters)
THU 06:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m4v83)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 06:06 Newsday (w172zbkgjptyyxp)
Plane crashes into Potomac River
An American Airlines commercial jet has crashed into Washington DC's Potomac River after colliding with a US Army Black Hawk helicopter in mid-air just before
21:00 local time.
More hostages and prisoners are expected to be exchanged sometime later today in the third swap in the latest ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.
The city of Goma now appears to be largely in the hands of the M23.
(Pic: Passengers wait after Ronald Reagan National Airport was shut down following a collision; Credit: EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)
THU 07:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m4z07)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 07:06 Newsday (w172zbkgjptz2nt)
Multiple casualties after American Airlines crashes
Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority president Jack Potter says 19 aircrafts in the air were diverted away from Reagan to Dulles International Airport nearby after the crash. He says the response teams are in a rescue mode, and they will stay in a rescue mode.
The Democratic Republic of Congo's President Félix Tshisekedi is not taking part in regionally brokered talks aimed at ending the rebel assault on the key eastern city of Goma, we get the latest on the situation there.
As thousands of Gazans try to return home, we hear from someone who has just made it to North Gaza.
(Pic: A person looks on from the bank of the Potomac River; Credit: Reuters)
THU 08:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m52rc)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 08:06 The Inquiry (w3ct5xjk)
Why is China building the world’s biggest dam?
China has approved the construction of what will become the world’s largest hydropower dam in Tibet. Located in the lower reaches of the Yarlung Tsangpo river, it could generate three times more energy than the Three Gorges Dam – also built by China - and currently the worlds’ biggest.
This Inquiry examines how important hydropower is for China’s economy, whether it will meet its climate goals and whether this new dam is a “safe project that prioritises ecological protection” as China claims. We look at how it’ll be built, and why some in neighbouring countries have concerns.
Presenter: Charmaine Cozier
Producer: Vicky Carter
Researcher: Katie Morgan
Production Co-ordinator: Liam Morrey
Technical producer: Craig Boardman
Editor: Tara McDermott
Contributors:
Brian Eyler, Director of the Energy, Water and Sustainability Programme at the Stimson Center, Washington DC
Neeraj Singh Manhas, special advisor for South Asia at the Parley Policy Initiative, South Korea & Subject Matter Expert at the Centre for Joint Warfare Studies, HQ IDS, Ministry of Defence, Government of India
Prof Mark Zeitoun, Director General of the Geneva Water Hub and professor of Water Diplomacy at the Geneva Graduate Institute, Switzerland
Prof Cecilia Tortajada, Social and Environmental Sustainability at the University of Glasgow, Adjunct senior research fellow Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, Singapore
Image credit: China News Service via Getty Images
THU 08:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggd016vg0r)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
THU 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct5zd6)
The gamification of fitness
Advances in technology mean more people have devices which offer incentives and rewards for achieving fitness goals.
From hi tech gyms to interactive home works outs, we explore why some companies are embracing this approach.
It’s boosting user engagement and transforming workouts, but are trackers and leader boards a positive step? And is this what the future holds for fitness?
Produced and presented by Sean Allsop
(Image: A fitness class. Credit: Getty Images)
THU 08:50 Witness History (w3ct5ylb)
1968 New York City teachers' strike
A series of unprecedented teachers’ strikes temporarily shut most of New York’s schools in the late 1960s, provoked by an ongoing dispute over whether parents could have a say in the running of their children’s schools.
‘Community control’ over the city’s schools was a divisive issue at the time, part of the civil rights and Black Power movement, in the USA.
Linda Mannheim spoke to Monifa Edwards, who was a pupil at a school in the district of Ocean Hill-Brownsville, a name that became synonymous with the struggle over who controlled the local schools: the communities or the mainly white city officials.
A CTVC production.
Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more.
Recent episodes explore everything from football in Brazil, the history of the ‘Indian Titanic’ and the invention of air fryers, to Public Enemy’s Fight The Power, subway art and the political crisis in Georgia. We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: visionary architect Antoni Gaudi and the design of the Sagrada Familia; Michael Jordan and his bespoke Nike trainers; Princess Diana at the Taj Mahal; and Görel Hanser, manager of legendary Swedish pop band Abba on the influence they’ve had on the music industry. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the time an Iraqi journalist hurled his shoes at the President of the United States in protest of America’s occupation of Iraq; the creation of the Hollywood commercial that changed advertising forever; and the ascent of the first Aboriginal MP.
(Photo: The Ocean Hill-Brownsville Governing Board and supporters march over the Brooklyn Bridge in March 1969. Credit: David Fenton)
THU 09:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m56hh)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 09:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqrgckydwt)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
THU 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggd016vkrw)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
THU 09:32 The Documentary (w3ct7m68)
[Repeat of broadcast at
02:32 today]
THU 10:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m5b7m)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 10:06 The Explanation (w3ct6pmv)
The Media Show: China’s AI rise
Chinese technology is making headlines with the rise of DeepSeek, an AI chatbot that has surged to the top of US app downloads. Its development cost is reportedly lower than Western alternatives, and its open-source nature raises both innovation and security concerns. Shirin Ghaffary, AI reporter at Bloomberg, Ciaran Martin, former Head of Cybersecurity at GCHQ, and Kathrin Hille, FT Greater China correspondent, discuss the impact.
The Excel World Championships bring spreadsheets into the realm of competitive gaming. Hosted in Las Vegas, the event sees contestants solving complex data challenges in front of a live audience. Robert McMillan, reporter at The Wall Street Journal, describes the atmosphere of the event and assesses whether Excel really has evolved from office tool to esport.
Presenters: Ros Atkins and Katie Razzall
Producer: Simon Richardson
Assistant producer: Lucy Wai
THU 10:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggd016vpj0)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
THU 10:32 The Documentary (w3ct7hyr)
Troublemakers: Drugged, Framed and Detained
A BBC Eye investigation has uncovered how psychiatric hospitals are being used to silence China’s critics.
China’s Mental Health Law, passed in 2012, was meant to stop the abuse of psychiatric detention.
BBC Eye goes undercover to gather evidence that doctors are colluding with Chinese police to lock away protestors.
Presenter: Nyima Pratten
Producer: Ly Truong, Ruth Evans
BBC Eye producer: Alex Matholie
Editor: Rebecca Henschke
Sound engineer: Neil Churchill
THU 11:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m5fzr)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqrgckynd2)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
THU 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggd016vt84)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
THU 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct6dv8)
Gaza ceasefire: How does it feel to return home?
Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are heading north to find out what is left of their homes after 15 months of war. On this episode, our host Jonny Dymond speaks to Farida Alghol, who has made the journey back to Gaza City and her parents. We also ask our correspondent Nick Beake what the future holds for the people and territory of Gaza.
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: Peter Goffin, Tom Kavanagh, Alice Aylett Roberts and Beth Timmins
Sound engineer: Hannah Montgomery and Mike Regaard
Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas
Senior news editor: China Collins
THU 12:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m5kqw)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 12:06 Outlook (w3ct5nz3)
From security guard at the Met, to artist at the Met
At his day job as a security officer at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Armia Malak Khalil spends his time guarding precious artworks. That includes paintings from great masters like Rubens, Caravaggio and Rembrandt. By night Armia works out of a studio in New Jersey, making his own artworks. Namely, carving sculptures out of wood.
One day in 2023, Armia was at work at the Met when he noticed someone who looked lost. As per usual, he approached the visitor and asked them if they needed help. They were looking for a particular painting: Flight Into Egypt by Henry Ossawa Tanner. While he directed the guest to the artwork, Armia mentioned his own art and showed the visitor his Instagram. The mysterious guest was interested because he wasn’t a guest at all. In fact, he was Akili Tommasino, the Met’s Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art. Akili was planning an exhibition centred around this painting Flight Into Egypt. Then Akili asked Armia, would you like to be part of the exhibition?
That conversation led to Armia becoming the first current employee of the Met in recent memory who has had a piece in a major exhibition. Armia’s story starts, however, far away from the famous New York institution. Armia was raised in a small village in Egypt. His parents were keen on him having a stable job as a nurse or teacher. But Armia defied them to go to fine arts school. He dreamed of being a professional artist and moving to the United States, partly because of his love of the Mel Gibson film Braveheart. In 2005, Armia was granted an immigrant visa. It would take another seven years before he scored his security job at the Met and more than a decade before he got his biggest break as an artist.
Also in the programme: as people around the world mark 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz, the Nazi death camp in Poland where more than a million people - mainly Jews - died during the Second World War, we're replaying an excerpt from our 2022 interview with the extraordinary survivor, Eva Schloss. Eva tells Emily Webb about a perilous night-time journey through the camp to save her mother's life, and sitting with Otto Frank after he discovered the diary of his daughter Anne.
Presenter: Jo Fidgen
Producer: Saskia Collette
Film archive: Braveheart / Icon Productions / Paramount Pictures / 20th Century Studios / FilmFlex / Mel Gibson
Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com or WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707
(Photo: Armia carving his sculpture Hope–I Am a Morning Scarab. Credit: Armia Malak Khalil)
THU 12:50 Witness History (w3ct5ylb)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 today]
THU 13:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m5ph0)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 13:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqrgckywwb)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
THU 13:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggd016w1rd)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
THU 13:32 The Food Chain (w3ct5xp2)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:32 today]
THU 14:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m5t74)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 14:06 Newshour (w172zb9c0k53nq3)
DC air crash kills sixty-seven people
A mid-air collision between a passenger plane and a military helicopter over Washington DC leaves sixty-seven people dead. So how could the paths of the two aircraft cross so disastrously? We hear from a former air accident investigator.
Also in the programme: chaotic scenes as seven hostages - including five Thai nationals - are released from Gaza; plus, how Zika virus makes humans more attractive to mosquitoes. And could a fifty dollar painting bought in a garage sale really be a Van Gogh?
(IMAGE: Emergency personnel work at the site of the crash after a Black Hawk helicopter and an American Eagle flight 5342 approaching Reagan Washington National Airport collided and crashed in the Potomac River, outside Washington, U.S., January 30, 2025 / CREDIT: Reuters/ Kevin Lamarque)
THU 15:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m5xz8)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 15:06 The Inquiry (w3ct5xjk)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:06 today]
THU 15:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggd016w97n)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
THU 15:32 World Business Report (w3ct603s)
Toys: a German success story
Despite Europe's largest economy shrinking again in 2024, Sam Fenwick hears from the boss of toymaker Ravensburger, which is bucking the wider trend. Plus, what does leaving ECOWAS mean for Mali's economy? We ask a former foreign minister. Also, an American business lobbyist gives her take on whether or not President Trump will introduce tariffs on 1 February.
THU 16:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m61qd)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 16:06 BBC OS (w172zbjhqrptpsr)
Hamas release more hostages
Israel says three Israelis and five Thai nationals have been released after being held hostage in Gaza for more than 15 months. It is the third release of hostages since the Gaza ceasefire between Israel and Hamas began on 19 January. More than 100 Palestinians have also been freed from Israeli prisons, after Israel delayed their release. We speak to our correspondents across the region.
A passenger plane and helicopter have crashed in mid-air over Washington DC's Potomac River. Officials say no survivors are expected. We speak to people who knew those on the plane.
Nearly 300 foreign mercenaries hired by the Democratic Republic of Congo's government to counter a swift offensive by Rwandan-backed M23 rebels in the east of the country have surrendered. We speak to our correspondent to find out what these mercenaries are doing in the DRC.
Presenter: Mark Lowen
Photo: Israeli hostage Arbel Yehud released in Khan Younis, Gaza - 30 Jan 2025
Photo credit: REUTERS/Ramadan Abed
THU 17:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m65gj)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 17:06 BBC OS (w172zbjhqrpttjw)
Plane and helicopter crash over Washington DC
No one is believed to have survived after a passenger plane and helicopter crashed in mid-air over Washington DC's Potomac River. 64 people were on the American Airlines flight and three on the military helicopter when the aircraft collided near Ronald Reagan National Airport. We speak to people who knew those on the plane.
Israel says three Israelis and five Thai nationals have been released after being held hostage in Gaza for more than 15 months. It is the third release of hostages since the Gaza ceasefire between Israel and Hamas began on 19 January. More than 100 Palestinians have also been freed from Israeli prisons, after Israel delayed their release. We speak to our correspondents across the region.
A star-studded line-up is set to take over two venues in Los Angeles for a benefit concert to help the area recover from two of the largest fires in its history. We speak to our reporter there.
Presenter: Mark Lowen
Photo: Rescuers on a boat work next to the wreckage of a Black Hawk helicopter at the site of the crash after it collided with the American Eagle flight 5342 which was approaching Reagan Washington National Airport and crashed into the Potomac River, outside Washington, U.S., January 30, 2025.
Photo credit: REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
THU 18:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m696n)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 18:06 Outlook (w3ct5nz3)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:06 today]
THU 18:50 Witness History (w3ct5ylb)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 today]
THU 19:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m6dys)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqrgckzmc3)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
THU 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggd016ws75)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
THU 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct5w6x)
2025/01/30 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 (w172zgfkk9m6jpx)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 20:06 The Documentary (w3ct7m68)
[Repeat of broadcast at
02:32 today]
THU 20:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggd016wwz9)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
THU 20:32 Science In Action (w3ct5vf2)
Make science great again
Nasa's OSIRIS-REx mission to collect a sample from an asteroid has been a great success. Asteroid Bennu's sample yields a watery pool of history, thanks to an international team of scientists including the London Natural History Museum's Sarah Russell.
Also, in a week of tumultuous changes to federal funding and programmes, we hear from some US scientists affected and concerned by Executive Orders from the White House. Betsy Southwood, formerly of the Environmental Protection Agency, is worried not just about the government employees’ careers, but the environment itself and the whole of environmental science in the US and the world. Chrystal Starbird runs a lab at the University of North Carolina and is worried about the fate of grants aimed at diversifying scientific expertise, but also that some grant schemes are getting erroneously included in the anti-DEI clampdown. And Lawrence Gostin is an eminent health lawyer, proud of the NIH and all it has achieved.
Presenter: Roland Pease
Producer: Alex Mansfield
Production co-ordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth
(Photo: OSIRIS-REx Sample Return. Credit: Nasa/Getty Images)
THU 21:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m6ng1)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 21:06 Newshour (w172zb9c0k54hy0)
No survivors after US plane crash
Emergency teams in Washington said they don't expect to find any survivors from the mid-air collision between a passenger plane and a US military helicopter.
Also on the programme, Israel have released more than a hundred Palestinian prisoners and Hamas have released two Israeli civilians and five Thai nationals as part of a ceasefire agreement; and, how a Brazilian film became the first to be nominated for a Best Picture Oscar.
(Photo: Emergency workers recover debris from the Potomac River in the aftermath of the collision of American Eagle flight 5342 and a Black Hawk helicopter, as seen from Virginia, U.S., January 30, 2025. REUTERS/Carlos Barria)
THU 22:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m6s65)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 22:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqrgckzzlh)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
THU 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggd016x4gk)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
THU 22:32 World Business Report (w3ct6061)
No black boxes yet recovered in deadly Washington DC plane crash
Investigators from the US federal agency noted that mid-air collisions like this are rare in the US, and they said it was far too early to speculate on what caused the crash; however, we will look at crowded airspaces and complex issues surrounding airports.
Also, economic growth in the US slowed at the end of last year, as trade and investment declined and the country was hit by hurricanes and strikes.
And, shoplifting, shrinkage, the five-finger discount—whatever you call it—stealing from shops is on the rise. Here in the UK, the British Retail Consortium has told the BBC retail crime is "out of control."
THU 23:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m6wy9)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 23:06 The Inquiry (w3ct5xjk)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:06 today]
THU 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggd016x86p)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
THU 23:32 The Food Chain (w3ct5xp2)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:32 today]
FRIDAY 31 JANUARY 2025
FRI 00:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m70pf)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 00:06 The Explanation (w3ct6pmv)
[Repeat of broadcast at
10:06 on Thursday]
FRI 00:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggd016xcyt)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
FRI 00:32 Unspun World with John Simpson (w3ct5yc9)
How could a second Trump presidency affect the war in Ukraine?
John Simpson visits Russia's neighbour Latvia for a special episode of Unspun World where he reflects on how the collapse of the Soviet Union has shaped Putin’s Russia. With BBC experts in the region, John explores how a second Trump presidency may affect the war in Ukraine and looks at the Baltic balancing act over the threat from Moscow.
FRI 01:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m74fk)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 01:06 Business Matters (w172zbfxrwykdlf)
Black boxes recovered in deadly Washington DC plane crash
Investigators from the US federal agency noted that mid-air collisions like this are rare in the US, and they said it was far too early to speculate on what caused the crash; however, we will look at crowded airspaces and complex issues surrounding airports.
Also, economic growth in the US slowed at the end of last year, as trade and investment declined and the country was hit by hurricanes and strikes.
And, shoplifting, shrinkage, the five-finger discount—whatever you call it—stealing from shops is on the rise. Here in the UK, the British Retail Consortium has told the BBC retail crime is "out of control."
Throughout the program, we will be joined by two guests on opposite sides of the world: Karen Percy, Senior freelance reporter, who's in Melbourne, and Emily Peck, Markets correspondent at Axios, in New York.
FRI 02:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m785p)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqrgcl0gl0)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
FRI 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggd016xmg2)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
FRI 02:32 Tech Life (w3ct5wng)
[Repeat of broadcast at
20:32 on Tuesday]
FRI 03:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m7cxt)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 03:06 Outlook (w3ct5nz3)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:06 on Thursday]
FRI 03:50 Witness History (w3ct5ylb)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 on Thursday]
FRI 04:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m7hny)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 04:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqrgcl0q28)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
FRI 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggd016xvyb)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
FRI 04:32 Heart and Soul (w3ct5tgd)
Spirituality in Sin City
In Spirituality in Sin City, presenter Rajeev Gupta takes listeners on an unexpected journey through the hidden spiritual side of Las Vegas—a city famed for its glitz, glamour, and indulgence. Beyond the flashing lights and high-stakes casinos, Las Vegas is home to a growing community of spiritual practitioners and seekers, drawn to the city in search of transformation and meaning.
The documentary explores stories of resilience and renewal, including Erin Raymond, a mother navigating profound personal loss while seeking healing in the spiritual community. It also features Chaplain Ryan from Westcare, who supports addiction recovery through a unique blend of Christian and Eastern spiritual practices. Together, their experiences paint a vivid picture of how spirituality thrives in a place known for excess.
From meditation sessions to spiritual detoxing and the serene Brahma statue on the Strip, Spirituality in Sin City reveals a side of Vegas few would expect—a city where faith and transformation flourish in the most surprising ways.
Produced and Presented by Rajeev Gupta.
Editor: Chloe Walker
Production Coordinator: Mica Nepomuceno
FRI 05:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m7mf2)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 05:06 Newsday (w172zbkgjpv1r2n)
DR Congo accuses Rwanda of illegally occupying its territory
The Congolese Foreign Minister calls for international action against Rwanda, which is accused of supporting a rebel group that has taken control of the city of Goma in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Later this hour we will go to Kigali for a response from the Rwandan government.
Air flight recorders have been found after the deadly air collision in Washington. We'll get the latest from our correspondent as President Trump controversially suggests diversity hires could have played a role in the tragedy.
We'll get an update on life for women in Gaza with a senior UN official.
And we'll meet a Ghanaian maths genius with global ambitions.
(Photo: Members of the M23 rebel group in Goma, 30 January, 2025; Credit: Reuters)
FRI 06:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m7r56)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 06:06 Newsday (w172zbkgjpv1vts)
Rwanda denies it has troops inside DR Congo
As rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo continue to take territory in the east of the country, we'll hear from the DRC's foreign minister who accuses neighbouring Rwanda of backing the militia and says its troops are occupying its territory.
We'll have a response from Rwanda's government spokesperson to those allegations.
In Washington, the recovery operation to retrieve the bodies of the 67 people killed in an airplane collision continues. We'll hear from a former first responder on how harrowing operations like this can be.
And we'll have reaction to the Syrian interim president's first TV address.
(Photo: Members of the M23 rebel group in Goma, 30 January, 2025; Credit: Reuters)
FRI 07:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m7vxb)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 07:06 Newsday (w172zbkgjpv1zkx)
Rwanda and DR Congo trade accusations
As rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo continue to take territory in the east of the country, we'll hear from the DRC's foreign minister who accuses neighbouring Rwanda of backing the M23 rebels and says Rwandan troops are occupying its territory.
We'll have a response from Rwanda's government spokesperson to those allegations.
In Washington, the recovery operation to retrieve the bodies of the sixty-seven people killed in an air crash continues. We'll hear from a former first responder on how harrowing operations like this can be.
We'll also look back at the life of the British singer and actress Marianne Faithfull who has died at the age of seventy-eight.
(Photo: Congolese civilians who fled from Goma return to DRC, 30 January, 2025: Credit: Reuters)
FRI 08:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m7zng)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 08:06 HARDtalk (w3ct5t4m)
Ingrid Newkirk: Will humans ever go animal-free?
Stephen Sackur speaks to Ingrid Newkirk, president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta). For five decades she has led the campaign to end human exploitation and abuse of animals. From food to fashion, to testing in laboratories, are we humans really capable of going animal-free?
FRI 08:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggd016ybxv)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
FRI 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct5z35)
Business Daily meets: GoFundMe's Tim Cadogan
Whether its for medical expenses, college funds, charity campaigns, chances are you've been asked to donate to a fundraiser online.
GoFundMe is one of the biggest of the crowdfunding platforms, generating an estimated $30bn in funds since it launched in 2010.
CEO Tim Cadogan tells us about joining as CEO in 2020, and the challenges of running a profit making company in a charity space.
Presenter: Chris Vallance
Producer: Imran Rahman-Jones
(Image: Tim Cadogan. Credit: Getty Images)
FRI 08:50 Witness History (w3ct5yft)
English TV lessons in China go primetime
In 1981 the first major series of English lessons was broadcast on Chinese television.
President Deng Xiaoping had allowed private enterprise and was pursuing an era of “opening up” to the rest of the world. It followed a decade of educational turmoil when teachers had been castigated as bourgeois by the former leader Mao Zedong.
Kathy Flower presented the English education programme, Follow Me, several times a week at primetime. It was watched by an estimated 500 million people keen to get a taste of the English language and observe westerners on television. Kathy Flower recalls to Josephine McDermott what it was like becoming the most famous foreign person in China.
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: Kathy Flower at a book signing in China. Credit: BBC)
FRI 09:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m83dl)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 09:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqrgcl19sx)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
FRI 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggd016ygnz)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
FRI 09:32 Science In Action (w3ct5vf2)
[Repeat of broadcast at
20:32 on Thursday]
FRI 10:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m874q)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 10:06 Unexpected Elements (w3ct5q33)
Snake science
Celebrations for the Lunar New Year kicked off on 29th January, and this year is the Year of the Snake.
We start things off by discussing the purpose of some mysterious serpent markings on the banks of the Orinoco River.
Next, we find out about the origins of snake oil, before digging into the psychology of why we trust snake-like people.
Plus, herpetologist Dr Mark O’Shea tells us all about his work identifying snakes, and what happened when he got bitten.
That, plus many more Unexpected Elements.
Presenters: Marnie Chesterton, with Chhavi Sachdev and Christine Yohannes.
Producers: Dan Welsh, with Alice Lipscombe-Southwell, William Hornbrook and Imaan Moin.
FRI 11:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m8bwv)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqrgcl1k95)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
FRI 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggd016yq57)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
FRI 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct6dxj)
Missing in Ukraine: Lyudmila’s search for her parents
Tetiana and Oleh Plachkov have spent their whole lives in Melitopol, a city in eastern Ukraine. They fell in love, married and had a daughter Lyudmila. They started a business, running two restaurants, popular with their neighbours for special occasions. But since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, their family has been torn apart like so many in Ukraine.
Jonny Dymond speaks to our eastern Europe correspondent, Sarah Rainsford, about one family among many whose loved ones have disappeared under the Russian occupation.
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 and Eleanor Sly
Sound engineer: Hannah Montgomery
Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas
Senior news editor: China Collins
FRI 12:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m8gmz)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 12:06 Outlook (w3ct69b1)
The children of the Holocaust, 80 years on
This week marks 80 years since the Auschwitz death camp was liberated and as the years pass the importance of gathering and keeping survivors' stories is felt more and more keenly. At Outlook we’ve spoken to many incredible people who personally experienced the holocaust, and so in this edition we bring you some of those voices and testimony.
Dita Kraus was only 14 when she arrived at the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp in Nazi-controlled Poland. She found some escape from the daily horror by working in the children’s hut, looking after a small collection of books. She has written her own book about her experience entitled A Delayed Life: The True Story of the Librarian of Auschwitz. This interview was first broadcast in 2020.
Deported from Hungary when he was five, Peter Lantos spent time in the forced labour camp Bergen-Belsen. 21 of his relatives were murdered. Peter became a successful neuroscientist and has also written about his experiences but from the perspective of his five-year-old self, his book is called The Boy Who Didn’t Want To Die. This interview was first broadcast in 2023.
When she was 11 Eva Mendelsson’s mother Sylvia Cohn gave her a book of poems that she had written. It is her most treasured possession – her mother’s words following Eva throughout her life. Sylvia gave up her daughters so they could be smuggled out of Nazi-controlled France while she herself was sent to Auschwitz. This interview was first broadcast in 2021.
Henry Wuga was a teenage apprentice chef when his mother managed to get him a place on the Kindertransport, a scheme through which thousands of Jewish children were able to escape Nazi-controlled countries just before the outbreak of World War Two. Following a series of misunderstandings Henry found himself temporarily locked up in internment camps in Britain, however his cooking skills helped him make the best of the situation. This interview was first broadcast in 2023, sadly Henry passed away last year (2024), aged 100.
Presenter: India Rakusen
Producer: Julian Siddle
Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com or WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707
(Photo: Children leaving Vienna on the Kindertransport. Credit: Imagno/Getty Images)
FRI 12:50 Witness History (w3ct5yft)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 today]
FRI 13:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m8ld3)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 13:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqrgcl1ssf)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
FRI 13:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggd016yynh)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
FRI 13:32 Heart and Soul (w3ct5tgd)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:32 today]
FRI 14:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m8q47)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 14:06 Newshour (w172zb9c0k56km6)
German MPs debate controversial immigration law
German MPs debate a controversial new immigration law, put forward by the main conservative party but reliant on the far-right to pass. We get the latest from Berlin.
Also in the programme: we hear from relatives of some of the tens of thousands of Ukrainians missing in the wake of Russia's full-scale invasion; and the New Zealand mountain now recognised as a legal person.
(IMAGE: Co-leaders of the Alternative for Germany party (AfD) Tino Chrupalla and Alice Weidel react as Christian Democratic Party (CDU) party leader Friedrich Merz answers a question from the Greens about AfD, during a session of the lower house of parliament Bundestag, after Merz succeeded on Wednesday in getting a motion passed in parliament that calls for a migration crackdown, including the rejection of asylum seekers at the country's land borders, in Berlin, Germany, January 31, 2025 / CREDIT: Reuters / Nadja Wohlleben)
FRI 15:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m8twc)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 15:06 HARDtalk (w3ct5t4m)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:06 today]
FRI 15:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggd016z64r)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
FRI 15:32 World Business Report (w3ct5ztr)
A fresh UN warning about Myanmar’s economic health
Many companies have left Myanmar since the 2021 military coup. The United Nations says 2025 will test the country’s economic resilience to its limits. We hear from a senior UN official involved in the report.
Also, we recap a turbulent week in AI and look ahead to what could be a controversial budget in India.
Plus, why are major global business and sports figures investing in a UK cricket league?
FRI 16:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m8ymh)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 16:06 BBC OS (w172zbjhqrpxlpv)
DRC Conflict: your questions answered
The conflict in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo involving Rwandan-backed M23 rebels has led to a diplomatic row between the government, Rwanda and other international actors. We get the latest from our correspondent. We also answer questions from listeners about the war.
Hamas have handed over the names of the next hostages to be freed as part of the Gaza ceasefire deal with Israel. We have the latest from our Middle East correspondent.
We speak to aid workers about their challenges in supporting displaced Palestinians who continue to return to war-ravaged north Gaza.
Efforts to recover the bodies of those who died in Wednesday's air crash near Washington DC have resumed on the Potomac river. We speak to people who knew those on the plane.
Presenter: Krupa Padhy
(Photo: Congolese civilians who fled from Goma return to DRC, January 30, 2025. Credit: REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya)
FRI 17:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m92cm)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 17:06 BBC OS (w172zbjhqrpxqfz)
41 bodies recovered from Washington DC air collision
We have an update on efforts to recover the bodies of those who died in Wednesday's air crash near Washington DC. We discuss the tricky weather conditions as searches continue in the area with BBC weather presenter Elizabeth Rizzini.
South Africa and Rwanda's already fraught diplomatic relations have worsened after President Cyril Ramaphosa accused the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group of killing South African peacekeepers in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. We discuss diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis with our southern Africa correspondent Nomsa Maseko.
We speak to aid workers about their challenges in supporting displaced Palestinians returning to war-ravaged north Gaza.
In just over a decade, India has doubled its tiger population and now hosts the world's largest population of tigers. Our global environment correspondent Navin Singh Khadka explains how it's happened.
And we speak to our health reporter about new ground breaking gene-editing therapy for sickle cell disease being offered to patients in England. We also hear from people living with the condition.
Presenter: Krupa Padhy
(Photo: Search and rescue teams work near the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, after the collision of American Eagle flight 5342 and a Black Hawk helicopter that crashed into the Potomac River, U.S., January 31, 2025. Credit: REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz)
FRI 18:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m963r)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 18:06 Outlook (w3ct69b1)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:06 today]
FRI 18:50 Witness History (w3ct5yft)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 today]
FRI 19:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m99vw)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqrgcl2j86)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
FRI 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggd016zp48)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
FRI 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct5w2d)
2025/01/31 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 (w172zgfkk9m9fm0)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 20:06 BBC OS Conversations (w3ct5rcw)
Immigrants in America
Hours after his inauguration, President Donald Trump declared a national emergency at America’s southern border with Mexico. He vowed that "all illegal entry will be halted" and that millions of "criminal aliens" would be deported.
Many undocumented residents in the United States - who have been living, working and paying taxes there for years - are now fearful that they too will be deported. Alejandra was born in Mexico and was brought to the US by her undocumented parents when she was five. She grew up with her siblings in South Carolina “in the shadows” and now has legal status but is afraid for her family’s future.
“My dad is the head of our home,” said Alejandra. “Everything would fall apart. My dad has a mortgage. We would lose the house. It really does alter everybody’s life.”
We also hear from residents in Texas who support President Trump’s actions. Ross Barrera lives in Rio Grande City, which is close to the Mexican border and has seen illegal migrants trying to enter the country on a regular basis.
“Every day we see high speed chases of the border patrol,” said Barrera. “We see folks crossing our highways in the morning when the school buses pick up the kids. We see folks being picked up by border patrol. We see property being damaged.”
Hosted by Krupa Padhy with conversations by Mark Lowen and Luke Jones.
A Boffin Media production with producer Sue Nelson in partnership with the BBC OS team and producers Iqra Farooq, Virginia Kelly and Akwasi Sarpong.
(Photo: Itzayana in Texas. Credit: Itzayana)
FRI 20:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggd016zswd)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
FRI 20:32 CrowdScience (w3ct5rjd)
Is my smartwatch good for my health?
Smartwatches are increasingly popular: around the world many of us use these wearable devices to monitor our performance and improve our fitness. But how reliable is the data they collect, and can they actually make us healthier?
CrowdScience listener Caitlin from Malawi is a big fan of her smartwatch. Her husband Fayaz, however, is much more sceptical of its accuracy, and has asked us to investigate. We meet up with them both at the gym, where Caitlin and presenter Caroline Steel put their fitness trackers – and themselves – to the test.
We visit public health researchers Dr Cailbhe Doherty and Rory Lambe, who investigate the accuracy of wearable consumer devices, at University College Dublin. Caroline again pushes herself to the limit to see how her smartwatch results measure up to those from gold standard laboratory equipment.
But is it crucial for smartwatches to be accurate: if they get us off the couch, is that what makes the difference to our health? Health behaviour expert Dr Ty Ferguson from the University of South Australia has studied this very question. And finally, how does quantifying our every move affect the way we think about ourselves and how we live? Professor Deborah Lupton from UNSW Sydney shares some insights.
Presenter: Caroline Steel
Producers: Jo Glanville and Sophie Ormiston
Editor: Cathy Edwards
Technical producer: Sarah Hockley
Production co-ordinator: Ishmael Soriano
FRI 21:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m9kc4)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 21:06 Newshour (w172zb9c0k57dv3)
Interviews, news and analysis of the day’s global events.
FRI 22:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m9p38)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 22:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqrgcl2whl)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
FRI 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggd01701cn)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
FRI 22:32 World Business Report (w3ct5zx0)
First broadcast 31/01/2025 22:32 GMT
The latest business and finance news from around the world, on the BBC.
FRI 23:00 BBC News (w172zgfkk9m9svd)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 23:06 HARDtalk (w3ct5t4m)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:06 today]
FRI 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggd017053s)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
FRI 23:32 Heart and Soul (w3ct5tgd)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:32 today]