Shows / The World Tonight
The World Tonight
When it comes to daily news, The World Tonight takes international events seriously and covers them in depth. Using the BBC's international network of correspondents we report on what is going on, put it in context and provide a forum for debate on the big issues facing us all. The presenter team is led by Ritula Shah. It is broadcast Monday to Friday at 10pm on BBC Radio 4 and lasts for 45 minutes.
Episodes
- The World Tonight
Sir Patrick Stewart dies at age 86
This evening, the death has been announced of the actor Sir Patrick Stewart. We reflect on Sir Patrick's career, which spanned Shakespeare and Star Trek, and…
- The World Tonight
Chancellor reveals £100 energy bill support
Chancellor John Healey has used the Budget to announce that millions of households will receive £100 this winter to help with the rise in energy costs. He will…
- The World Tonight
Israeli exit polls put opposition just ahead of Netanyahu's bloc
Israeli exit polls suggest Gadi Eisenkot's bloc has won the largest number of seats in the general election but has fallen short of a majority. Eisenkot leads…
- The World Tonight
Tens of thousands of Israelis fly home to vote
Israeli citizens living abroad are flying in to vote in the first elections since the October 7 attacks. Polls currently have Benjamin Netanyahu’s governing…
- The World Tonight
Donald Trump puts pressure on President Zelensky
With Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities intensifying, we examine Ukraine's resistance to making a deal to end the war. Also on the programme: The UK is to…
- The World Tonight
French cities impose curfews after weekend of rioting
French cities including Paris, Nice and Lyon have imposed overnight curfews after protests about the cost of living turned violent over the weekend. We hear…
- The World Tonight
Trump blames Zelensky for Ukraine impasse as mid-terms loom
US President Trump is in campaigning mode as the mid-term elections take place in two weeks, but he's simultaneously embroiled in a geopolitical spat with the…
- The World Tonight
Wes Streeting says US will continue to back Ukraine
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting says the US will continue to back Ukraine after meeting with his counterpart in Washington DC Pete Hegseth. That's after…
- The World Tonight
Elon Musk says any limits on Ukraine's Starlink access down to US, not his firm
SpaceX’s Starlink and Starshield satellites systems help guide drones towards military targets in Russia and track incoming threats to Ukraine. Elon Musk…
- The World Tonight
Andy Burnham to push for new post-Brexit deals at EU summit
The PM says "deeper cooperation" on some key issues - including youth mobility, food and drink, and energy - would help drive economic growth in the UK. But…
- The World Tonight
Trump - Putin deal: Russia to release diesel into global market
President Donald Trump says he has reached a deal with Vladimir Putin to "immediately release" Russian diesel into the global market. The agreement is designed…
- The World Tonight
Polls close in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election
Polls have closed in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election to choose a new MP after former Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced he was standing down from…
- The World Tonight
Conservatives to scrap inheritance tax on family homes
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has pledged to scrap inheritance tax on family homes. But rival parties have criticised the proposal saying it would…
- The World Tonight
Tear gas fired but most pupil protests peaceful in France
Hundreds of thousands of people have taken to the streets across France, as a wave of protests by high-school pupils spread to their parents, university…
- The World Tonight
Author and former politician Jeffrey Archer dies aged 86
Archer's publisher HarperCollins said the author died "suddenly and peacefully at home" on Monday between writing sessions. His fellow former Conservative MP…
- The World Tonight
Widdecombe suspect charged with planning terror act against Farage
The man accused of murdering Ann Widdecombe has also been charged with preparing acts of terror including against Reform UK leader Nigel Farage. Counter terror…
- The World Tonight
Netanyahu says Flydubai attacker had 'Islamist radical indoctrination'
The plane plunged more than 17,000ft two hours into its journey on Wednesday, before passengers and crew overpowered the attacker and retook control to land…
- The World Tonight
Dame Esther Rantzen dies at 86 after lifetime of campaigning
Dame Esther Rantzen, who presented BBC show That's Life! for 21 years and launched the charity Childline, has died at the age of 86. Prime Minister Andy…
- The World Tonight
Labour says reducing welfare spending is a "moral duty"
Andy Burnham is giving his first Labour Party Conference speech as PM tomorrow - he's expected to give more details about his signature plan for free social…
- The World Tonight
UK diesel prices approach all-time high
Diesel prices in the UK are approaching record levels as the fallout from the US war with Iran continues to drive up costs. The prime minister insists fuel…
- The World Tonight
President Xi calls for AI cooperation with United States
China's President has told Donald Trump that their countries have a responsibility to ensure that AI remains under human control. President Xi was speaking…
- The World Tonight
Blood tests in Lancashire reveal cancer-causing chemicals
Blood tests have revealed that people living near a factory in Lancashire have higher levels of a so-called "forever chemical" that was once used at the site…
- The World Tonight
Andy Burnham meets President Trump
The prime minister meets the US president for the first time in New York, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. We speak live to our political editor…
- The World Tonight
News outlets blocked from White House sue Trump
CNN, Politico and MS NOW are taking legal action against the Trump administration after their journalists' credentials were revoked. We hear from one…
- The World Tonight
French President warns of escalating Russian hybrid attacks
French President Emmanuel Macron has warned that the threat of hybrid attacks by Russia against Europe and France has intensified. In a news conference at the…
- The World Tonight
King Charles warns of 'existential danger' from AI in wrong hands
King Charles has warned AI executives of the "existential dangers" posed by the technology falling into the wrong hands at a summit he convened Dumfries House…
- The World Tonight
Trump denounces Fed's decision to raise interest rate
US President Trump has lashed out at a decision by new chair of the Federal Reserve Kevin Warsh to raise interest rates for the first time in three years…
- The World Tonight
‘Litany of failures’ in case of patient killed on NHS mental health ward
An inquest has heard that staff falsified records, slept and were on their phones on the night that Hugo Flint-Cahan was killed by another patient. Hugo’s…
- The World Tonight
Parliament votes against a fresh attempt to legalise assisted dying
MPs voted 286 to 270 against proposals to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales. We speak to supporters and opponents of attempts to change the law and…
- The World Tonight
Trump says every adult American will get $5,000 if Republicans win midterms
The race is on to woo voters ahead of elections that will decide who controls Congress. President Trump’s former chief strategist Steve Bannon tells us that…
- The World Tonight
AI 'could kill all humans' within 10 years: says Anthropic researcher
‘Godfather of AI’ Geoffrey Hinton tells us the warning is plausible and urgent action to regulate artificial intelligence is needed. Also in the programme…
- The World Tonight
Israel retaliates for British sanctions on occupied West Bank imports
Israel has accused Britain of "consistently operating" against Israel, after Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband introduced sanctions on illegal settlements in the…
- The World Tonight
Number of missing after Nepal flash floods jumps significantly to nearly 2,000
At least five have died in Tibet according to reports from Chinese state media. We explore what’s known about events on the Tibet side of the Nepal-Tibet…
- The World Tonight
UK salmonella cases nearing 500 as egg investigations continue
Close to 500 people have become ill with salmonella linked to imported eggs. UK authorities say they have identified two new clusters of the infection. One…
- The World Tonight
Meta to pay up to $18bn to settle claims its platforms harm children
The Facebook and Instagram owner will also make changes aimed at better protecting kids using their platforms, including default daily time limits and…
- The World Tonight
Dolly Parton dies aged 80
With tributes pouring in from around the world, we look back at the life and career of the legendary American singer. Also on the programme: Canada hits back…
- The World Tonight
Instagram and Facebook could change forever if Meta loses child privacy trial
Meta denies claims it "chose to exploit" young people to hook them on its platforms. The trial, which begins this week, stems from a lawsuit filed in 2023 by…
- The World Tonight
Ex-Cambridge professor at the centre of a plagiarism row found dead
Friends of Jason Arday have spoken of their shock, following the death of the academic. Also on the programme: a South Wales fire chief tells us why he needed…
The World TonightPolls close in Clacton by-election triggered by Nigel Farage
Counting is underway – but will Nigel Farage win, or Count Binface? We speak to the satirical alter ego of comedian Jon Harvey. Also in the programme: Nurses…
- The World Tonight
Millions gather to view solar eclipse
On a day when amateur eclipse chasers gaze toward the sky across Iceland and Spain, we join enthusiasts enjoying the spectacle in a packed London park. Also in…
- The World Tonight
Prime Minister's dilemma on early release of prisoners
The Prime Minister says he wants the killers of PC Andrew Harper to stay behind bars. How will he do it? We ask a senior law professor who advised the…
- The World Tonight
Over 100 dead after Colombia earthquake
At least 111 people have been killed and dozens more are injured after a powerful earthquake hit western Colombia, according to local officials. Dozens of…
- The World Tonight
Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan sign new defence pact
Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have signed a major defence pact in Mecca, saying an attack on one is an attack on all three. A former advisor to Turkey's…
- The World Tonight
Referrals to anti-terror scheme reach record high
Prevent referrals in England and Wales were up 39% in the year to September 2025. It’s the highest number in a single year since records began in 2015. Where…
- The World Tonight
Former neo-Nazi resigns as Conservative council candidate
A former neo-Nazi, selected by the Conservatives to contest a council election, withdraws his candidacy A prominent professor who denied claims of plagiarism…
- The World Tonight
Migrants rescued as boat catches fire in Channel
More than 170 migrants have been rescued after the boat they were using to cross the English Channel caught fire. The boat was attempting to travel to the UK…
- The World Tonight
Europe swelters in another heatwave
Heatwave conditions in Europe are due to continue for at least another week, pushing temperatures above 40C in many countries. Rivers have dried up in central…
- The World Tonight
Israel wants ‘genuine’ disarmament of Hamas
President Trump says the Board of Peace deal will result in the "complete disarmament" of Hamas in Gaza. Hamas says the handover of its heavy weapons depends…
- The World Tonight
Football associations unite against Fifa’s World Cup plans
North and Central America football associations join Uefa in rejecting Fifa’s proposal to sell stakes in its competitions to private investors. We explore the…
- The World Tonight
Infantino defends FIFA World Cup sell off plans
The head of world football's governing body, FIFA, Gianni Infantino says controversial plans to sell off stakes in major competitions, including the World Cup…
- The World Tonight
Has the Trump-Zelensky relationship thawed?
President Volodymyr Zelensky has thanked Donald Trump for what he described as "firm US support" after a meeting at the White House. What's led to a thawing of…
- The World Tonight
French wildfire ‘completely unprecedented’ says Macron
President Emmanuel Macron has visited the fire-ravaged Gironde region of France. Some 220,000 people have been evacuated across the country because of…
- The World Tonight
Top ICC prosecutor removed over sexual misconduct allegations
The British prosecutor Karim Khan denies claims he had an improper sexual relationship with a junior staff member at the International Criminal Court. We hear…
- The World Tonight
Man arrested on suspicion of murder after Ann Widdecombe found dead
A 26-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder following the death of Ann Widdecombe, police say. Widdecombe, a former Conservative minister turned…
- The World Tonight
Iran buries Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
The burial of Iran's second supreme leader took place at the country's holiest site; the Shrine of Imam Reza in Mashad. Iran and the US have continued to trade…
- The World Tonight
Disability benefits could face massive overhaul in Timms Review
A landmark review into Personal Independence Payments - known as PIP - is due tomorrow. The Timms Review is expected to call for significant reform of…
- The World Tonight
Farage resigns as an MP to fight by-election
Nigel Farage has announced he will stand down as an MP for Clacton and fight a by-election. The Reform UK leader was under investigation by a parliamentary…