The World Tonight

BBC Radio 4
  • 3.7 (57)
  • News
  • Updated Daily

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

  1. 2h ago

    Major Western powers condemn Israel's West Bank settlement project

    The UK, France, Germany, Italy and Canada say the project to build 1,200 settlement homes is “unacceptable”. Labour MP Zubir Ahmed tells us there should be sanctions against companies trading with settlers. Also in the programme: the mother and brother of a murdered American student give their reaction to a growing trend of school shooters’ parents being prosecuted. And could new underwater drones help British paramedics save the lives of those who’ve gotten into difficulty swimming?

  2. 1d ago

    Hopes for new cancer vaccine

    There have been encouraging results in melanoma vaccine trials run by US drug companies Moderna and Merck. The results are preliminary, but experts say they are the first positive late stage results for a cancer vaccine of this type. Also on the programme: the Duke and Duchess of Sussex plan to return to the UK; and the British pensioners, resident in Sweden for decades, threatened with deportation.

  3. 2d ago

    Cousin of Bashar al-Assad condemned to death

    A court in Damascus has handed down a death sentence to Wassim al-Assad, a cousin of deposed Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad. Wassim, an enforcer for the former regime, was found guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The verdict is of symbolic importance in Syria as it is the first conviction of a member of the Assad family still in the country.  Also on the programme: 29 US states seek damages from the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, Meta, in a case that could change social media as we know it; and we speak to music video director Tim Pope, about his work and what it was like to dress Freddie Mercury as a prawn.

  4. 3d ago

    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 30 US states. California’s Attorney General Rob Bonta explains why they brought to case against the tech giant. Also in the programme: Virgin's plan to run a rival rail service to Eurostar through the Channel Tunnel moves a step closer. And Reform UK says it has plans to save more than £50bn a year from the welfare bill - but will the plans be popular with those currently supporting the party?

  5. 6d ago

    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 to call in support from the army; five years after the Taliban swept back into Afghanistan's capital, one journalist tells us why she fled to Britain; and we discuss 'Tony', the new film about chef turned broadcaster, Anthony Bourdain.

See All (7)

3.7
out of 5
57 Ratings

About

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

Information

  • Creator
    BBC Radio 4
  • Years Active
    2011 - 2026
  • Episodes
    7
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © (C) BBC 2026
  • Show Website
    The World Tonight

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