Rezumatul episodului
President Trump has said it's time for a new leader in Ukraine, blaming Volodymyr Zelensky for high diesel prices. We get a response from Sviatoslav Yurash, a member of the Ukrainian parliament in President Zelensky's party. Also on the programme: India's cockroach movement is back demanding the resignation of the election commissioner; and we hear about a tattoo ink that you can turn on and off. Photo : US President Trump meets Ukraine's President Zelensky in New York, USA - 22 Sep 2026; Credit : EPA/Shutterstock
President Trump has said it's time for a new leader in Ukraine, blaming Volodymyr Zelensky for high diesel prices. We get a response from Sviatoslav Yurash, a member of the Ukrainian parliament in President Zelensky's party. Also on the programme: India's cockroach movement is back demanding the resignation of the election commissioner; and we hear about a tattoo ink that you can turn on and off. Photo : US President Trump meets Ukraine's President Zelensky in New York, USA - 22 Sep 2026; Credit : EPA/Shutterstock
Episoade
Trump : "Time for Ukraine to get a new president"
AscultatePresident Trump has said it's time for a new leader in Ukraine, blaming Volodymyr Zelensky for high diesel prices. We get a response from Sviatoslav Yurash, a member of the Ukrainian parliament in President Zelensky's party. Also on the programme: India's cockroach movement is back demanding the resignation of the election commissioner; and we hear about a tattoo ink that you can turn on and off. Photo : US President Trump meets Ukraine's President Zelensky in New York, USA - 22 Sep 2026; Credit : EPA/Shutterstock
Police crack down on 'cockroach' protest in Delhi
AscultateThere's a massive security operation in Delhi to try to prevent a protest by the youth- led Cockroach Janta Party. Its leader was detained as he flew into the Indian capital. Also in the programme: Latvia moves to expel Russian journalist Leonid Ragozin; President Zelensky says deadly overnight attacks on Zaporizhzhia are Russia's way of saying thanks for Donald Trump lifting sanctions on diesel exports; and a biographical reevaluation of Whitney Houston. (Photo: Prem Boominathan/BBC)
The US announces new sanctions on the International Criminal Court.
AscultateThe United States is imposing new financial sanctions on the International Criminal Court, escalating its campaign against the body that prosecutes the world's most serious crimes. The announcement comes hours after a former ICC judge, Navi Pillay, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. We talk to Amnesty International's Secretary General about the new American sanctions against the ICC. Also in the programme: an expert on capital punishment gives us his take on the US' announcement it will livestream the execution of Nidal Hasan, the US Army major who shot and killed 13 soldiers in 2009; and we hear about a new species of waterlily discovered in the rainforest of Colombia. (Photo: Nobel Peace Prize winner Navi Pillay at a press conference at the International Nuremberg Principles Academy in Nuremberg, Germany. Credit: EPA/Shutterstock)
Ex-UN human rights chief wins 2026 Nobel Peace Prize
AscultateThis year's Nobel Peace Prize has gone to Navi Pillay - a former UN human rights chief and International Criminal Court judge. The chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee said the South African had been instrumental in ensuring that war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide were prosecuted. We'll hear from a friend and colleague who was with her when the news came through. Also in the programme: The US defence secretary says the execution of an Army officer convicted of killing several soldiers will be livestreamed; a giant wine heist in Italy; and a giant waterlily from Colombia. (File photo from 2022 of Navanethem Pillay, at a meeting of the United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel. Credit: Jean Marc Ferré/UN Photo)
Russian strike on buses kills at least 30
AscultateAt least 30 people have been killed in a Russian glide bomb attack on two civilian buses in the eastern front line city of Kramatorsk, rescue officials say. Also on the programme, the Nobel Prize for literature has been awarded to the Canadian author, Anne Carson; and what can a 194-year old tortoise tell us about living a long life (Photo: Russian strike on buses kills at least 30, Kramatorsk, Ukraine - 08 Oct 2026. Maria Senovilla EPA/Shutterstock)
Russia strikes buses, kills many in Kramatorsk
AscultateA large number of people have been killed in a Russian strike on buses in the Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk, not far from the frontlines. Also in the programme: French students take back to the streets to protest against the state of their education system; and we remember the trailblazing computer scientist Margaret Hamilton, who helped put men on the Moon. (IMAGE: Russian strike in Kramatorsk, Donetsk, Ukraine - 08 Oct 2026. At least 30 people died as a result of a Russian attack on a civilian bus, according to the State Emergency Service / CREDIT: Ukrainian National Police handout)
Israelis mark three years since 7 October attacks
AscultatePeople across Israel and around the world have been marking the third anniversary of the October the seventh attacks -- which saw Hamas- led fighters kill around twelve- hundred people. Hamas officials say Israel's subsequent offensive in Gaza has killed more than seventy- five- thousand people. Also in the programme: The World Health Organisation has warned against using surgery and weight loss drugs to tackle the rising obesity rates in children; commuters in Kyiv talk about living under the daily threat of attack, as Russian strikes intensify; and we look back the nine-decade career of Hollywood star, Eva Marie Saint. (Photo credit: Getty Images)
Three years on from 7 October attacks
AscultatePeople across Israel and around the world have been marking the third anniversary of the October 7th attacks which saw Hamas-led fighters kill almost 1200 people and take 251 hostages. Israel responded by launching a military offensive in Gaza that Hamas officials say has killed more than 75,000 Palestinians. We'll get reflections on the anniversary from Israel and Gaza. Also on the programme: Argentinian footballer Lionel Messi scores in his final game for his country; why a film enthusiast believes cinema's first 'talkie' was made in Scotland; and we speak to the Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa on her new book which is part autobiography, part manifesto. (Photo: Israeli family members visit a memorial site for victims of the Nova music festival on the third anniversary of the 7 October attack. Credit: Atef Safadi/EPA/Shuttershock)
Tear gas in Paris and Marseille as school protests grow across France
AscultateThe French government has denied it ordered police repression against students, after hundreds of young people were injured in nationwide protests. The Interior Ministry said more than a quarter of a million people took part today. Also on the programme: our reporter meets Yemeni civilians determined to defeat the Houthis; and hundreds of items from the personal archive of the influential American film director Stanley Kubrick are going to auction for the first time. (Riot police run past garbage bins and object set on fire amid clashes with protesters during a demonstration by high school and university students. October 6. Credit: Reuters)
France: clashes with police as school protests spread
AscultateThere have been clashes between protesters and police in several French cities, as demonstrators call for more investment in schools. Police fired teargas in the southern city of Toulouse, while in Lyon police say they responded when missiles were thrown at officers. The student protests - over a lack of teachers, overcrowded classrooms and run-down buildings - started last month in Paris then spread. Hundreds of schools have been closed. Also in the programme: OpenAI apologises to the Australian government, but is it enough? Germany's former intelligence chief has been arrested on suspicion of espionage; and a Nobel Prize for the Belgian scientist who discovered ghost particles at the South Pole. (Photo: French police officers pictured with a burning street barricade in Lyon. Credit: Reuters)
The UK insists RAF Fairford is safe after US withdraws bombers
AscultateDowning Street says it won't comment on foreign nations' military operations - after the US removed twelve bombers from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire - which has been the subject of an investigation into a suspected terror plot. But officials insist the base is safe. Six men have been arrested by counter-terrorism police, but they've all been released on bail. The US Vice President JD Vance said the move was a precaution. Also in the programme: The Saudi backed government in Yemen says it's launched an offensive to retake the capital, Sanaa, from the Iran-backed Houthi movement; Spanish PM Sánchez calls early election after housing protests; and an American neuroscientist and two German biophysicists have been awarded this year's Nobel Prize in Medicine for revealing how nerve cells shape memories and feelings. (File photo dated 29/09/26 of a United States Air Force Rockwell B-1 Lancer Bomber at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire. Credit: PA)
Spanish PM Sánchez calls early election after housing protests
AscultateSpain's prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, has announced a snap election in November - saying he needs the support of the people to push through reforms. Also on the programme, Brazil's presidential election is going to a run-off in three weeks, with the challenger Flavio Bolsonaro leading President Lula; and the humble Australian phone box that's been granted heritage status. (Photo: Spain's Prime Minister calls early elections for November 29, Madrid - 05 Oct 2026. Office of the Prime Minister of Spain/HANDOUT/EPA/Shutterstock)
Brazilians vote to elect a new president
AscultateAs voting ends in the first round of Brazil’s presidential election, we hear from supporters of the two main candidates, Flavio Bolsonaro and Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Also in the programme: a resident of the Tigrayan regional capital, Mekelle, in northern Ethiopia describes the city now that pro-government forces have taken control; after the FlyDubai near-disaster, will pilots now face further vetting? And we hear from the Facebook whistleblower who inspired a film. (IMAGE: People wait in line outside of a polling station to cast their votes during Brazil's general election, in Salvador, Brazil, October 4, 2026 / CREDIT: REUTERS/Antonello Veneri)
Healthy pregnancy using 23-year old tissue in scientific milestone
AscultateA woman who froze pieces of Ovarian tissue at the age of 19, after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer, gave birth to a baby boy 25 years later. We speak with Kassandra Bacon, whose tissue was frozen for 23 years ago. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, is in Ukraine today on a surprise visit. And we hear from Frances Haugen, who exposed how Facebook’s algorithms fostered hate and triggered depression and suicidal feelings among teenagers by leaking internal documents to the Wall Street Journal in 2021. Her testimony is the basis of an new movie by Aaron Sorkin called, The Social Reckoning. (Photo: A doctor holds a stethoscope, August 15, 2014. CREDIT: Lynne Cameron/PA Wire)
FlyDubai pilot describes attack by his co-pilot
AscultateThe pilot of the FlyDubai plane has told Isareli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu how he was repeatedly hit on the back of the head by his co-pilot on Wednesday. We also hear a former pilot explain how disaster was averted after the plane went into a nosedive. Also in the programme: TPLF rebel forces move out of Tigray's regional capital, Mekelle, as Ethiopian government troops move in. We ask what it means and how strong the TPLF is now; and a special report on how some traumatised children in Gaza are finding solace in swimming.
Tens of thousands protest housing crisis in Spain
AscultateDemonstrations are taking place in Spain over the national housing crisis, after parliament rejected the government's proposals to protect tenants. Also on the programme, one scientific researcher has reportedly died of pneumonic plague in Siberia and hundreds are now being monitored there; and in Gaza, the story of one group that's offering a special experience to children that have been traumatised by war. (Photo: Protesters hold placards as they demand political action to stop evictions and alleviate the housing crisis, in Madrid, Spain, October 3, 2026. REUTERS/Alejandro Martinez Velez)
France gripped by school protests
AscultateThere have been violent scenes outside schools across France as a dispute over learning conditions continues. The French government has accused left-wing party La France Insoumise of stoking up the disturbances. One of the party’s MPs tells us that the accusation is “absurd” and reflects the government’s disdain for young people. Also on the programme: we hear from the lawyer of Renee Good's family as they file a lawsuit against the Trump administration over her killing during a Minneapolis immigration crackdown; and the Beatles album Rubber Soul is re-released with previously unheard studio tracks. (Picture: A protest over conditions in the education system in Montpellier, 02 October 2026. Credit: EPA/Shutterstock)
School protests send shivers down French government's spine
AscultateMore colleges have been damaged by fire in France as student protests continue, demanding more investment in education. Hundreds of high schools and colleges are closed. The French government has condemned what it called urban violence. Also, the hero Fly-Dubai pilot - who survived being stabbed by his colleague - describes how he fought to save the lives of all on board. And will Europe release diesel reserves as requested by the US? And what are the possible consequences? (Photo: French CRS riot police apprehend a protester during clashes outside the Lycee Deodat-de-Severac high school as part of nationwide protests by high school students to demand the hiring of substitute teachers, increased resources and better learning conditions, in Toulouse as more than 400 schools remain closed following days of student protests that have escalated into violence in some places, France, October 2, 2026. Credit: Reuters)
Investigation underway into Dubai-Tel Aviv flight attack
AscultateAn investigation is underway by Israel into the apparent attempt by the co-pilot of a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv to bring it down. The Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu says it's too early to say if Iran is involved in the attack We'll speak to one of the passengers, Adam Polovincik, about what happened, when the plane suddenly lost height. Also in the programme: Tennessee has called a temporary halt to executions after a female convict survives two doses of lethal injection; thousnads of French high school students are taking part in protests which are becoming increasingly unrul; and why do many Russians seem to want to pretend that the war in Ukraine isn't happening? (Photo shows a FlyDubai plane in the air near Tel Aviv on 30 September 2026. Credit: Ammar Awad/Reuters)
Jubilant scenes as Israeli FlyDubai passengers return home
AscultateThe Israeli prime minister says the co-pilot attacked his the pilot of an on board an Israel-bound flight from Dubai and attempted to deliberately crash the plane. Passengers are believed to have helped overpower and restrain the attacker. There were jubilant scenes at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion airport as passengers landed safely. Also in the programme: Britain's Prime Minister says there are "strong indications" that Iran played a part in the security incident at Fairford airbase. Plus a last-minute stay of execution for Christa Pike in Tennessee - but what next? And would Greta Garbo really want to be re-animated by AI? (Picture: FlyDubai passengers are greeted by their friends and family at the Ben Gurion International Airport, Tel Aviv, September 30, 2026. Credit: REUTERS/Ammar Awad)
Passengers helped stop knife attack in cockpit of Israel-bound plane
AscultateA passenger plane flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv had to land in Saudi Arabia after a fight reportedly broke out between the pilots. Two Israeli officials have said the co-pilot is believed to have stabbed the captain of the plane. Both pilots are being treated in hospital. Israeli and Saudi jets were scrambled after the FlyDubai flight transmitted a code used to report a hijacking. Also, a BBC investigation tracks how children in Gaza are still falling victim to the conflict there. And researchers convinced a Chinese AI tool to tell them how to make biological weapons and carry out assassinations. What went wrong? (Photo: A Flydubai plane waiting at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv on 30 September. Credit: EPA)
Spain announces ban on evictions after protests
AscultateSpain's coalition government has approved new housing measures following protests over the country's housing crisis, sparked by the eviction of an 87-year-old woman from her home in Madrid last week. Also on the programme, a man held on death row for 41 years in Utah finally gets a retrial; and the 'fat dogs of Delhi' have gone viral - but can they become the 'fit dogs of Delhi'? (Photo: Madrid housing protesters camp at Puerta del Sol, Spain - 29 Sep 2026. Rodrigo Jimenez EPA/Shutterstock)
Malaysia starts sending thousands of refugees back to Myanmar
AscultateMalaysia starts sending thousands of refugees back to war-torn Myanmar. Human rights groups say it risks returning Rohingya muslims to danger. We hear from a fearful refugee. Also in the programme: Israel's military says more than a hundred settlers have attacked a village in the occupied West Bank; we hear from Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich who was held in a Russian prison for more than 400 days; and how the youngest ever female chess grandmaster learnt to play. (IMAGE: Myanmar nationals due to be repatriated from Malaysia sit inside a bus at Lumut, Malaysia September 29, 2026 / REUTERS/Hasnoor Hussain)
The five men arrested near an airbase in England are being released on bail
AscultateThe men were arrested on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act. The base has been used by the US Air Force to attack Iran. Also on the programme: our reporter is on the front line in Yemen as government forces take on the Houthis. And 100 years of stories as we celebrate the centenary of Route 66. (Picture: Police at RAF Fairford Air Base, England. Credit: Getty Images)
A special report from the frontline in Yemen
AscultateIn Yemen, fighting is intensifying around the Yemeni city of Taiz, where government forces are trying to halt a new advance by Houthi fighters closing in on the city. We have a frontline report from the BBC's international investigations correspondent. Also on the programme: investigations continue into a suspected terror plot at an air force base in southern England; and a potential breakthrough in the storage of mRNA vaccines, which could revolutionise rural healthcare. (Photo: A displaced Yemeni woman, Fatma Mohammed Saleh, speaks to the BBC. Credit: Liam Weir/BBC)
UK police arrest five over incident at airbase
AscultateCounter terrorism police in Britain are investigating a major incident near a Royal Air Force base that's used by the United States as a forward operating location - including to launch strikes on Iran. Five men have been arrested on explosives and terror charges. We ask why the base might be a target. Also on the programme: who's really in charge in Uganda after the head of the armed forces tells a minister he can't leave the country? and is panda diplomacy effective at selling China's image abroad? (Photo: B‑1B Lancer bomber parked at the RAF Fairford airbase which hosts United States Air Force personnel. Credit: Reuters/Toby Shepheard)
Standoff at historical N Ireland flashpoint
AscultateIn Northern Ireland, Roman Catholic protesters have blocked a road in the town of Portadown along which members of the pro-British Orange Order were planning to march. It's the first time they've been granted permission to go ahead with the march along the Garvaghy Road for nearly 30 years. But Roman Catholic residents oppose it and have refused police orders to disperse. The road was a major flashpoint of the conflict between largely Catholic, pro-Irish republicans and Protestant, pro-UK unionists in the late 1990s. Also in the programme: British police declare a major incident near an air base used by the US air force; and how trees shaped Russian history and people. (Photo: A member of the Portadown District Loyal Orange Lodge No 1 outside Drumcree Church ahead of the planned march. Picture date: Sunday September 27, 2026. Credit: Peter Morrison/PA Wire)
Tenth woman's body found in South Africa suburb as police probe killings
AscultatePolice in South Africa say that they have discovered another body in a Johannesburg suburb, bringing the number of women found dead there in recent months to ten. The deaths have increased pressure on the national government less than a year after ministers declared gender-based violence a national disaster. Also in the programme: President Trump reject's Iran's offer to reopen the Strait of Hormuz; and has the Pope with a grandfather born in France mastered the French accent? (Photo: Residents of Cape Town in an awareness walk denouncing gender-based violence. Credit: Reuters)
AI bots meddle with US government agencies
AscultateThe US artificial intelligence giant OpenAI says it has alerted governments, universities and other global institutions that their websites may have been accessed improperly by rogue autonomous models. We hear from the head of a group called METR, which checks AI for threats. Also in the programme: How are Manchester City fans reacting to the news that their football club has been found guilty of more than 100 financial misdemeanours? Plus- from schoolboy band to rock super-stardom: the band U2 at 50. (Photo: An OpenAI logo. Credit: Reuters/Carlos Barria)
Ethiopia returns to the brink of civil war
AscultateAs fighting escalates between federal government forces and an alliance of armed groups including the Tigrayan People's Liberation Front, we ask what's behind it and hear from a former TPLF spokesperson. Also in the programme: as the Pope warns we are in danger of “losing our humanity” to AI machines, how can we make AI safe? Could President Xi's wife Peng Liyuan be China's "soft power super-weapon"? And Manchester City football club is found guilty of breaking financial rules. (IMAGE: TPLF forces sit along a street in Mekelle, capital of Tigray Region, Ethiopia, September 24, 2026 / CREDIT: Obtained by REUTERS)
Where do Presidents Trump and Xi stand on AI?
AscultateUS President Donald Trump and China's President Xi Jinping have exchanged warm words at a lavish White House state dinner but gave little indication of progress on pressing issues. Xi stressed that they should ensure artificial intelligence remains "under human control", while Trump toasted a future of "harmony, peace and success" for both nations. Also in the programme: As the Tigrayans go on the offensive in Ethiopia, where is that conflict headed? And a new test for brain tumours that can slash diagnosis time to just two hours. (Photo: Presidents Xi and Trump in Washington DC. Credit: Reuters)
Xi calls for China and US to cooperate despite differences
AscultateXi Jinping -- on a visit to Washington -- has called for China and the United States to cooperate despite their differences, and to ensure AI remains under human control. Newshour hears from Republican Congressman Michael Baumgartner. Also in the programme: the FBI investigates a major cyber hack; and a new study on the origin of bats. (Picture: US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping walk back to the White House in Washington, D.C., US, September 24, 2026. Credit: Reuters)
OpenAI agent hacks Australian government site
AscultateA OpenAI agent has hacked an Australian government website, its prime minister Anthony Albanese said. The agent hacked a statistics portal containing private data from Australia's universal healthcare scheme, Medicare. We'll be looking at why OpenAI took so long to notice. The Australian government has launched an urgent review into the situation Also in the programme: A US judge has overturned a White house ban on several media organisation by the Trump administration; today sees the launch of a new version of Meta's controversial glasses - this time, they're audio-only; and a veteran of Poland's jazz scene on emerging from behind the "Iron Curtain". (Photo shows the OpenAI logo at the Dreamforce 2026 technology summit in San Francisco, California, US on 17 September 2026. Carlos Barria/Reuters)
Fears of a return to civil war in Northern Ethiopia
AscultateCould there be a return to full-scale civil war in the Horn of Africa, where fresh fighting has broken out in Ethiopia? Also in the programme: President Trump's Board of Peace for Gaza announces a $2.45bn recovery plan for the territory. We speak to one of the board's members and get the view of a Palestinian; and French archaeologists find new evidence of the origins of the city of Paris. (Picture: Rickshaw taxis and motorists drive along the street near the Tigray Martyrs monument in Mekelle, Tigray Region, Ethiopia, September 23, 2026. Credit: REUTERS/Stringer)
Trump prepares to host Xi in Washington
AscultateThe White House is rolling out the red carpet for a rare state visit by the Chinese leader, Xi Jinping. The two leaders are expected to discuss a number of issues, including the development of artificial intelligence. Also in the programme: President Trump has signed a new defence agreement with Denmark and Greenland after months of crisis; the rare first edition that turned up at a charity shop in London; and we'll hear from the tennis champion Andre Agassi on getting to the top, despite hating the sport. [Photo shows US president Donald Trump at the John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City on 22 September 2026. Credit: Kylie Cooper/Reuters]
Trump's 'big decision' on Iran
AscultateDonald Trump says his officials have had a long meeting with senior Iranians on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, while in his speech the US president threatened Iran with "annihilation". Also in the programme: Mahmoud Khalil, the Syrian-Palestinian graduate student detained by ICE agents at Columbia University for leading pro-Palestinian protests on campus, speaks to Newshour; and a 6-year-old Chinese girl has broken the women's world record for solving a Rubik's cube - does the skill come from innate genius or practice? (Photo: US President Donald Trump addresses the 81st United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York City, US, 22 September 2026. Credit: Reuters/Mike Segar)
Expert panel calls for global action to control AI
AscultateA report from the UN's Independent International Scientific Panel AI on says the developments are now outpacing safety - and that it's vital that we slow down. Also on the programme: What do the Saudis want from their allies in their fight against the Houthis? A major report on the crimes of the Nicaraguan regime - and did the Dutch invent golf? (Photo shows a logo of Ai at a conference in Taipei, Taiwan on 2 September 2026. Credit: Ritchie B Tongo/EPA)
Three US news outlets sue Trump administration
AscultateAmerican television networks have stopped providing joint coverage of Donald Trump's official events, after the president banned some news organisations from the White House. Also in the programme: the Yemeni refugees seeking refuge in Djibouti; and Star Wars creator George Lucas is about to open a new art gallery to house his huge art collection. (Photo: Poster of solidarity with the US networks barred from the White House outside AP's White House booth. Credit: Reuters)
Conflict in Yemen leads to Djibouti refugee crisis
AscultateFighting on Yemen's west coast has prompted thousands of people to flee by boat across the Bab al-Mandab Strait to Djibouti over the last ten days. The crossings were sparked by an offensive by the Iran-backed Houthi movement to take control of a key island and seize the strategically important port of Mokha. We have a report from a refugee camp in a small port town where officials are preparing for the arrival of up to 10,000 refugees. Also in the programme: Germany's chancellor admits the latest elections were a disaster for his party; artificial intelligence expected to be a core part of talks at Xi Jinping's state visit to the United States later this week: and a raft of potential medical breakthroughs for Alzheimer's disease. (Photo shows Yemeni people fleeing clashes in their country gather to receive supplies from the International Organization for Migration at the Markazi refugee camp after arriving in Djibouti on 18 September 2026. Abdourahim Arteh/Reuters)
Germans vote in state elections
AscultateGermans vote in two state elections that could see further gains for the far-right AfD party and weaken Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s hold on power. Also in the programme: we hear from Scotland, which has Europe's highest rate of drug-related deaths, about the growing dangers from synthetic drugs; and the singer Ed Sheeran apologises to fans at his first concert since the rapper, Macklemore, was dropped from his US tour over pro-Palestinian comments: we hear from someone who was at the show. (IMAGE: A woman votes at a polling station in a traditional pub, Xantener Eck, during the state election in Berlin, Germany, September 20, 2026 / CREDIT: REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch)
Nato welcomes new US-Denmark deal over Greenland
AscultateNato has welcomed a deal between the US and Denmark over the semi-autonomous territory of Greenland. Leaders of both Denmark and Greenland have said that the unpublished deal recognises their sovereignty and territorial integrity, while President Trump has said the agreement gives Washington "permanent control over security and all other needs" in Greenland. We hear from an MP in Greenland. Also in the programme: after advancing in Yemen, the Iran-backed Houthis have carried out attacks on infrastructure in Saudi Arabia; and pop star Ed Sheeran's first concert in Philadelphia kicks off after a row over Gaza and free speech. (Photo: the American Consulate in Nuuk, Greenland. Credit: PA)
US and Denmark reach deal over Greenland
AscultateUS President Donald Trump says the US, Denmark, and Greenland have made a deal that will give America permanent control over security and other needs in Greenland. We'll have reaction from Denmark and a Nato perspective. Also on the programme: demonstrations are taking place in South Africa to honour nine women recently found murdered in eastern Johannesburg; and the rotating wax cylinders that were used to record sound before vinyl. (Photo: People attend a protest against President Trump’s demand that the Arctic island be ceded to the US in front of the US consulate in Nuuk, Greenland on January 17, 2026. Credit: Reuters)
Russian hybrid attacks against Europe intensifying, says Macron
AscultateFrench President Emmanuel Macron has warned that the threat of hybrid attacks by Russia against Europe and France has intensified. At a news conference at the Elysee Palace, Macron said he had ordered a plan to protect critical infrastructure and defence industry sites in the face of this threat. Also in the programme: Nigeria's president promises a full investigation into the deaths in detention of dozens of suspected illegal miners; and in the UK, after King Charles disputes a startling claim from Princess Diana's brother about how the King reacted to news of her death...Earl Spencer insists he's telling the truth. (Photo: French President Emmanuel Macron. Credit: Getty)
Femicide in South Africa: what can the government do?
AscultateIs the South African government doing enough to address the scourge of femicide? We ask the country's minister for women. Also in the programme: Russia's parliamentary election begins. The result's not in doubt - so what can we learn? A deadly mosque attack hits Friday prayers in Pakistan; and how autonomous drones are being upgraded - with whiskers. (IMAGE: Participants carry placards during a memorial run held in honour of Elizabeth Tsontso Moselakgomo, one of several women killed in a series of murders near Johannesburg, in Pretoria, South Africa, September 17, 2026 / CREDIT: Reuters / Alet Pretorius)
Fear and rage over femicide in South Africa
AscultateFear and rage over femicide in South Africa after the body of a ninth woman was found in Ekurhuleni in east Johannesburg since July. Also in the programme: A prized artwork, drawn by Aztecs, goes back home to Mexico. It's a rare critique of the Spanish conquerors, and King Charles and his former brother-in-law go head-to-head over what's alleged to have been said about the death of Princess Diana. (Photograph: Police officers at the site of the ninth woman murdered in Ekurhuleni, east Johannesburg. Credit: Shutterstock)
Canada's PM say EU ‘associate member’ would be positive move
AscultateCanada's Prime Minister Mark Carney has told the European Parliament he welcomes ambitions for associate EU membership, in a speech containing thinly veiled criticism of Donald Trump's America. He proposed deep cooperation in areas including trade, defence and technology, adding that Canada could help meet Europe's energy needs. We speak to Canada's Federal Industry Minister Mélanie Joly. Also in the programme: The head of Microsoft's artificial intelligence division has told the BBC that everyone working in the field should make a public commitment to only developing systems that humans can control; and a river in Australia that's home to crocodiles has been approved as the rowing and canoeing venue for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics. (Picture: Mark Carney speaks to the members of the Parliament at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Credit: Ronald Wittek/EPA/Shuttershock)
EU backs plan for Canada to become 'associate member'
AscultateThe European Commission president has announced proposals for Canada to become an associate EU member as the country's rift with the United States deepens. Also on the programme: The US federal reserve's just put up interest rates for the first time in three years; are the warnings about AI posing an existential threat a deliberate distraction? And we'll confront the really big issues with the owner of the pizzeria just voted the best in the world. (Photo: European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen and European Parliament President, Roberta Matsola welcome Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France. Credit; EPA/Shutterstock).
Ed Sheeran's support acts quit tour in support of Macklemore's 'Free Palestine' comments
AscultateOne of the world's biggest music stars - Ed Sheeran faces the biggest controversy of his career, as his support acts on his tour quit when fellow musician Macklemore was dropped from the line up following his speech in support of a 'Free Palestine'. The speech drew controversy when his comments led to a petition from the Israeli American Council demanding his removal from the tour. It was successful, and other musicians dropped out in solidarity. Also on the programme: Ursula von der Leyen has backed a proposal for Canada to become the European Union's first associate member, as the country's rift with the United States deepens and the Natural History Museum opens a gallery sealed off to the public for more than 80 years. (Photo: Ed Sheeran gig Credit: Jon Wright, BBC) (Photo: Credit:)
Lithuanian minister: “Nato is effectively at war with Russia”
AscultateAs Lithuania investigates a drone incursion, the country's defence minister tells us Nato is effectively at war with Russia. Also in the programme: President Trump lashes out at the judges he appointed to the US Supreme Court; the renewed civil war in Yemen causes huge numbers to flee, including over the sea to north Africa; and how an actor from Wales conquered US TV. (IMAGE: An Italian Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jet of the kind that shot down a drone that crossed the border from Belarus into Lithuania, at the Siauliai air base in Siauliai, Lithuania on September 15, 2026 / CREDIT: Reuters)
US confirms for first time it has deployed space weapons
AscultateChina has urged the United States to "stop preparing for war" in space. Beijing's reaction came hours after the US confirmed it had deployed a space weapon in Earth's orbit which is the first such public acknowledgement from Washington. Also in the programme: President Trump's son confirms part of his wedding in May was paid for by a Russian oligarch with close ties to President Putin; and why the British musician Johnny Marr is selling most of his guitars. (Photo: The US Space Command Joint Operations Centre at Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado taken, 27 January, 2023. Credit: US Space Command/Reuters)