The World Tonight

BBC Radio 4

In depth reporting, intelligent analysis and major breaking news from a global perspective

  • 38 minutes 6 seconds
    Investigation into fatal Washington DC plane crash

    President Trump has blamed diversity recruitment policies for the deadly crash between a passenger plane and an army helicopter in Washington DC. We speak to the mayor of the town from where the American Airlines plane took off.

    Also on the programme:

    Five Thai hostages have walked to freedom under the Gaza ceasefire deal. We speak to the head of the hospital where they're now being looked after.

    The Traitors finalist Alexander on how his appearance on the show has led to tens of thousands of pounds in donations to a learning disability charity.

    And the singer and actress Marianne Faithfull has died at the age of 78. We have a tribute from her friend, the DJ Bob Harris.

    30 January 2025, 10:59 pm
  • 38 minutes 18 seconds
    Recriminations in German parliament after contentious vote

    Germany’s parliament descended into heckles and recriminations as politicians from the right-wing Christian Democrats were accused of undermining the “firewall” against co-operation with the far-right Alternative for Germany. The CDU tabled a non-binding motion calling for toughter border and asylum rules after a spate of stabbings linked to foreign nationals in the country. The motion passed with the support of the AfD, prompting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to slam the move as an “unforgivable mistake”.

    As the government puts its weight behind a third runway at Heathrow, as well as expansion of other UK airports, we ask whether the ambition contradicts its climate commitments.

    And as the fourth instalment of Bridget Jones premieres in London, why is the character’s appeal so enduring?

    29 January 2025, 11:00 pm
  • 37 minutes 45 seconds
    Rebels edge closer to taking key city in Democratic Republic of Congo

    As Rwanda is accused of aiding rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo, we look at what lies behind a decades-long conflict and why it has flared in recent days.

    We speak to the MP who wants to tighten the language on mental capacity in the landmark Assisted Dying Bill.

    And the man fitted with a new brain implant that has been so successful he sometimes forgets he has Parkinson's disease.

    28 January 2025, 11:08 pm
  • 38 minutes 17 seconds
    Auschwitz survivors commemorate 80 years since liberation

    Survivors of the Auschwitz extermination camp gathered there again to mark 80 years since it was liberated by Allied forces towards the end of WWII. World leaders and European royalty were present, but it was the 56 survivors of Hitler's genocide of European Jews that took centre-stage. We report from the camp and speak to survivors and guides about its horrors and the dwindling memories of them.

    The bishop who urged newly-inaugurated President Trump to show mercy to illegal migrants and LGBT minorities told us his policies are "not in the best interests of... our survival as a species."

    And could Britain's loneliest bat be about to find love?

    27 January 2025, 11:22 pm
  • 38 minutes 2 seconds
    More than a million without power after Storm Éowyn

    Thousands of people are counting the costs after Storm Éowyn unleashed 100-mile-an-hour winds across the UK and Ireland. A million people are without power this evening - we have the latest.

    Also tonight:

    As Donald Trump travels to North Carolina and California on his first trip as president - we'll reflect on what his first whirlwind week back in office tells us about the next four years ahead.

    And the Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg on retracing the final steps of family members who persished in Auschwitz.

    24 January 2025, 10:57 pm
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