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<p>Interviews, news and analysis of the day’s global events.</p>

BBC World Service

Donald 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)

Trump's 'big decision' on Iran

A 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)

Expert panel calls for global action to control AI

American 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)

Three US news outlets sue Trump administration

Fighting 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)

Conflict in Yemen leads to Djibouti refugee crisis

In the north-eastern state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the party was initially projected to only just scrape through, with its worst ever election result. A few hours later, however, it had dipped below the 5% threshold needed to stay in parliament. Meanwhile, the far-right AfD was on track to win the most votes in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, but it is unlikely to govern as other parties refuse to work with it.Also on the programme: Ukraine fires a new weapon for the first time, in a major assault on Moscow; and President Trump's plans for a triumphal arch filled with munitions. (Photo: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz gives a statement at the CDU headquarters in Berlin. Credit: Reuters/Christian Mang)

German chancellor describes state election results as a 'disaster'

Germans 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)

Germans vote in state elections

Nato 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)

Nato welcomes new US-Denmark deal over Greenland

US 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)

US and Denmark reach deal over Greenland

French 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)

Russian hybrid attacks against Europe intensifying, says Macron

Is 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)

Femicide in South Africa: what can the government do?

Fear 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)

Fear and rage over femicide in South Africa

Canada'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)

Canada's PM say EU ‘associate member’ would be positive move

The 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).

EU backs plan for Canada to become 'associate member'

One 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:)

Ed Sheeran's support acts quit tour in support of Macklemore's 'Free Palestine' comments

As 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)

Lithuanian minister: “Nato is effectively at war with Russia”

China 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)

US confirms for first time it has deployed space weapons

As Donald Trump hits out again at tech leaders calling for caution over the pace of AI development, we hear from Jack Clark, a co-founder of Anthropic, calling for just that.Also in the programme: should Nato be trying to shoot down Russian drones inside Ukraine? Africa’s biggest ever share sale launches in Nigeria, as billionaire owner Aliko Dangote invites ordinary people to invest in his huge oil refinery; and we hear about medicine's great advances against breast cancer, from an oncologist with fifty years’ experience in the field.(Image: Anthropic logo is seen in this illustration taken June 11, 2026. Credit: Dado Ruvic/Reuters)

Anthropic co-founder calls for regulation now

Former UK PM Boris Johnson and former US General David Petraeus were onboard an earlier train on the same route. Ukraine's state railway company believes the target of this drone could have been a diplomatic train.Also on the programme: billionaire art collector Leon Black denies allegations that he operated as a fixer for Jeffry Epstein. Nobel prize winning economist Daron Acemoglu explores why the working classes have fallen out of love with ideas of  liberal democracy. And has a Hollywood actress sexualised female athletes in her latest advert? (Photo: Firemen attend to the aftermath of a Russian Attack Credit: Reuters)

Russian train attack has led to calls for Nato to step in and intercept drones

US President Donald Trump has said ‘negative forces’ are ‘bringing up things that won’t happen’ in the context of AI risks. It follows a former Anthropic researcher saying ‘there is a strong chance that we could all die in the immediate future’ due to the current speed of development. We hear from US congresswoman Lori Trahan about her push for AI regulation.Also in the programme: Exit polls suggest a neck-and-neck race in Sweden's election; and a look at how Celine Dion’s first full concert in six years went, following years of the singer battling a neurological disorder.(Photo: US President Donald Trump. Credit: Liam McBurney/PA

Trump downplays AI risks

An artificial intelligence researcher who recently quit a leading AI firm has told the BBC that people working on the technology were "genuinely frightened" about its advancements and what it could mean for humanity.We'll look at whether there are increasingly urgent problems ahead for the roll-out of the technology.Also in the programme: EU leaders gather to discuss policy towards the Arctic; the Democratic Republic of Congo's government says it might have turned a corner with its Ebola epidemic; and we cover Celine Dion's comeback concert In Paris after a debilitating illness.(Photo shows a screen showing the Anthropic logo. Credit: Dado Ruvic/Reuters)

Industry voices warn of AI 'danger'

The CEO of Anthropic says AI projects should look at slowing down amid internet security concerns. Open AI's Sam Altman, as well as Elon Musk, have agreed that companies like theirs need to pace themselves. We hear analysis from a technology professor.Also in the programme: US President Donald Trump’s support for a united Ireland prompts a mixed political reaction; and following years of battling a neurological disorder, singer Celine Dion takes to the stage once again.(Photo: Dario Amodei. Credits: Denis Balibouse/Reuters)

Anthropic boss calls for AI slowdown

US president Donald Trump has said a united Ireland would be a 'great thing' on two-day visit to Dublin and the west of Ireland - a comment likely to inflame tensions over the status of Northern Ireland.The British government responded by saying there was no majority support for a referendum on unification, which is what is outlined in a 1998 peace deal.Also in the programme: Saudi Arabia has shut a key oil pipeline after a drone attack launched from Iraq; we will hear from Ukrainian's oldest literary festival, as questions remain on the use of Russian language in Ukraine; and why Wembley Stadium in London will tonight be filled with music-loving Punjabis.(Photo shows US president Donald Trump in Dublin during his trip to the Republic of Ireland on 12 September 2026. Credit: James Manning/PA)

Trump says united Ireland would be a 'great thing'

Twenty-five years ago today, four planes flew into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre in New York, into the Pentagon in Washington DC and 
into a field in Pennsylvania, after its passengers overpowered the hijackers. Almost 3,000 people died and tens of thousands more were injured. We hear from a survivor.  Also on the programme: fighters from the Houthi movement capture more territory, reportedly taking the whole of Yemen's Red Sea Coast; and why El Nino is thought to be suppressing hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean Photo: Pictures of victims from Flight 11 on a memorial commemorating the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City Credit: Spencer Platt/Pool via REUTERS

9/11 attacks remembered

Ceremonies are underway in the United States to mark the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks in which nearly 3,000 people were killed. We’ll look back at what happened that day, the intelligence failures and the reverberations still being felt.Also on the programme: how Yemen's Houthi fighters are tightening their grip on a crucial global shipping route; and we'll hear from the founder and face of India's Cockroach Party protests. (Photo: The Tribute in Light installation illuminated over the lower Manhattan skyline ahead of the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center. Credit: Reuters)

America marks the 25th anniversary of 9/11

The UK's foreign minister Ed Miliband has said his country had to "call out" Israeli settlement activity in the West Bank before it was "too late" to save the two-state solution.In response to UK sanctions, Israel has banned 11 MPs from entering the country, while the UK consulate in Jerusalem is expected to shut in the next 30 days. We look at how the sanctions will work in practice.Also in the programme, concerns raised about the destructive nature of artificial intelligence - from within the industry; the Saudi-backed LIV Golf tournament files for bankruptcy protection and we celebrate 60 years of Star Trek.(Photo: Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband leaves the Millbank Studios in Westminster, after appearing on the morning news rounds, London, 9 September, 2026. He has a short back and sides haircut, grey hair and wears a navy blue suit jacket, a white shirt and royal blue tie. Credit: James Manning/PA Wire)

UK hits back on Israeli sanctions criticism

US President Donald Trump says he will offer every adult American a $5,000 payout if Republicans win both chambers of Congress in November's midterm elections – a plan that would cost more than a trillion dollars.Also on the programme: dozens of people are missing after a huge fire on board a ferry in the Philippines; and why so-called wellness treatments may not be just ineffective, but also dangerous. (Photo: President Trump reacts with a broad grin as he speaks at the Republican National Midterm Convention in Dallas, Texas on 9 September , 2026. Credit: Reuters)

Trump offers voters $5,000 for GOP win

A top safety researcher at Anthropic has resigned, warning artificial intelligence is advancing so quickly he believes there is a greater than 10% chance it “could kill all humans” by the end of the decade. Posting on X, Evan Hubinger said the risk from the models which currently exist was “low”, but that the technology might develop into “superhuman systems that can hack anything” and “acquire real power and resources”. We hear from the computer scientist often described as ‘Godfather of AI’.Also in the programme: Israel announces further measures against the UK in response to sanctions imposed on goods from settlements in the occupied West Bank; new research suggests the consumption of very hot drinks might increase the risk of a type of oesophageal cancer; and does a hot, dry summer mean more alcoholic champagne?(Photo: illustration show Anthropic logo, a keyboard and a robotic hand, June 5, 2026. Credit: Reuters/ Dado Ruvić)

Anthropic researcher warns more than 10% chance AI ‘could kill us all’

Britain is leading a group of twelve countries in banning trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.The Israeli foreign minister swiftly hits back - with a series of measures including the closure of the British consulate in JerusalemWe'll hear the arguments and ask what effect the new sanctions may have.Also - has Haiti's international gang suppression force actually suppressed any gangs?And we meet the Ukrainian actor, campaigning against the proposed ban of the Russian language in Ukraine's third largest city.And it's Star Trek's 60th birthday - Newshour speaks to Nana Visitor, actor on Deep Space Nine, and podcast host Larry Nemecek.IMAGE: 
Israeli minister of foreign affairs Gideon Saar speaks during a press statement at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem, Israel. CREDIT: Abir Sultan

Israel announces counter-measures to UK sanctions

Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband told parliament that there will be an import ban on goods from Jewish settlements in the illegally occupied West Bank, as well as further sanctions. He also told MPs that the UK agrees there is ethnic cleansing in areas of the West Bank. We will get reaction from the US Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee. Also on the programme: Jamaican culture minister Olivia Grange on the quest for reparations for slavery; and a test that can identify brain tumour from teardrops.  (Picture: Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband making a statement on Israel-Palestine in the House of Commons. Credit: House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA Wire.)

UK sanctions Israeli settlements in West Bank

Afd win poses challenge for German democracy, we ask could they govern Saxony-Anhalt? Also in the programme: Latvia's foreign minister explains why her country banned Russian books; and the offkey choir that can't sing.(Photo: Anti-AFD protester carrying anti-AfD stickers. Credit: Reuters)

Afd win poses challenge for German democracy

Despite a decisive AfD victory in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt, the party appears to have fallen short of an outright majority needed to govern alone. Also on the programme: a BBC investigation into whether the FBI buried evidence of the alleged involvement of Saudi agents in 9/11; and an unlikely hero of the Second World War gets his own movie.(Photo: Candidate of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), Ulrich Siegmund, waves during a press conference the day after the Saxony-Anhalt state elections in Berlin, Germany, 7 September, 2026. Credit: Liesa Johannssen/Reuters)

Germany's far-right AfD wins state election

German voters are heading to the polls in an election in Saxony- Anhalt, which could see the far- right AfD win power at a state level for the first time. The party sees the vote as a potential stepping stone to nationwide success. Also in the programme: The top US envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, are in Kyiv for their first talks in Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion; 
the political philosopher Francis Fukuyama worries about the future direction of American democracy; and we will hear from May el-Toukhy, one of the only two female directors competing at the Venice Film Festival about her film, premiering tonight.(Phot0: The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party's lead candidate in Saxony-Anhalt, Ulrich Siegmund (R), and his wife, Julia Siegmund, cast their votes at a polling station in Tangermuende, Germany, 06 September 2026. Credit: EPA)

Germany's far-right AfD bids for their first taste of power in eastern vote

Donald Trump's top envoys have arrived in Moscow, as part of a renewed diplomatic push to end Russia's war in Ukraine. Also on the programme, Germany's far-right Alternative für Deutschland party is aiming to secure a majority in the regional parliament of Saxony-Anhalt; people are still being rescued ten days after devastating floods in Nepal; and, the enduring appeal of Fleetwood Mac's most celebrated album, by the man who produced it.(Photo: Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, Special Envoy for Peace Missions listen as Vice President JD Vance speaks during a news conference after meeting with representatives from Pakistan and Iran, Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Islamabad, Pakistan. Jacquelyn Martin/Pool via REUTERS)

US envoys arrive in Moscow

Rescue crews in Nepal have freed two workers from a blocked hydropower tunnel, nine days after they were trapped by debris from flash floods that devastated an area on the border with Tibet.  Shortly after the two survivors were released, the body of a third person was found. Also in the programme: Germany's far right AfD party looks set to dominate a state election in the east of the country this weekend; a special report from the Spanish enclave of Ceuta where sexual assaults are on the rise; and the pig's kidney that has kept a man alive for a record nine months.(Photo shows rescuers at the site of the flash floods in Nepal. Credit: Nepal Army/Reuters)

Nepal flooding: Two workers rescued from tunnel

The Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez is under pressure over his government's handling of influx of 72,000 migrants in the exclave of Ceuta.On Wednesday, tens of thousands of people demonstrated in marches backed by opposition parties against the Spanish government's handling of the migrant crisis.Also in the programme: New warnings on the supersized El Nino; a voice from flood-lashed Tibet; and a rare mission to Mercury.(Photo shows Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez speaks during a session at the parliament in Madrid, Spain on 3 September 2026. Credit: Susana Vera/Reuters)

Spain's prime minister under pressure over migrant crisis

Washington and Caracas have signed an agreement which gives a US-led company rights over Venezuelan oilfields amounting to about a fifth of the country's reserves. Also in the programme: growing discontent in Spain at the government's handling of the sudden arrival of tens of thousands of migrants in Ceuta, a Spanish territory in North Africa; and as the British Museum launches its exhibition of the Bayeux Tapestry, why does it still speak to us almost a millennium after it was made?(Photo: Venezuelan acting president dolce Rodriguiz talking to the US energy secretary. Credit: Shutterstock)

Venezuela oil deal: who wins?

Iran and the US trade strikes in the most intense round of attacks in weeks. Iran says the US struck a wedding party killing four people including children, and retaliates with strikes on US bases in the Gulf. The US responded by denying it attacks civilians.Also in the programme: we speak to a friend of Joshua Wong, the face of Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement, who has just pleaded guilty to foreign collusion; and in football, the English Premier League transfer window breaks another spending record.(IMAGE: A view of the destroyed remains of a building which was hosting a wedding ceremony following a US airstrike, in the city of Sirak, Bandar Abbas province, southern Iran, 02 September 2026. The Iranian Red Crescent says four people, including a child, were killed when shrapnel from a US missile hit the building / CREDIT: Handout picture made available by the Iranian Red Crescent Society)

Iran and US trade strikes in the Gulf

The death toll in Nepal from devastating floods on the border with Tibet has crossed 1,000, according to the country's disaster agency.Also on the programme, a special report from within Afghanistan looking at the thousands who have fled since the 2021 Taliban takeover; and we hear from the former girlfriend of Freddy Mercury, who stayed by his side until the end of his life.(Photo: Relatives of Nakul Sharma, 36, who lost his life in the deadly flash floods and a mudslide, mourn during his cremation rituals on the premises of Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal, September 1, 2026. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha)

The death toll in Nepal from floods reaches 1,000

Millions of Afghans have in recent decades fled across the borders to Pakistan and Iran, seeking refuge or employment. But as the numbers leaving Afghanistan have risen, especially since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, so have deportation efforts by Pakistan and Iran. We have a special report by the BBC’s chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet, who has been to the main border crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan.Also in the programme: as a new law comes into force in Austria banning girls under the age of 14 from wearing a headscarf in schools, we hear from the government, and a critic of the ban; shares in the ultra-fast-fashion giant Shein have plunged on their first day of public trading on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange; and the population of New Zealand’s critically endangered flightless parrot, the kākāpō, has surpassed 300 birds for the first time in decades.(Photo: Trucks carrying returnees parked along the highway near the Torkham border crossing, October 2025. Credit: EPA/Shutterstock)

Six million forced to return to Afghanistan since 2023

The authorities say they have made progress using controlled explosions and heavy machinery to access the hydropower tunnels. Nepal says that at least nine-hundred people have died in the floods, and more than four-thousand are still missing.Also on the programme, football legend Lionel Messi retires from international competitions. British fashion designer, John Galliano, has withdrawn from a planned exhibition of his work at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The Met had come in for severe criticism for hosting the exhibition, Galliano was arrested in Paris in 2011 for antisemitic insults and hateful remarks he made against Jews and Asian people at a bar near his home in the city. And the Nomad Games get underway in Kyrgyzstan, featuring sports like Kok Boru (polo but played with a dead goat instead of a mallet). We'll hear from a fan in attendance.(Picture: Rescue workers in Nepal. Credit: Reuters)

Nepal: Rescuers are trying to reach more than seven hundred trapped workers

As the death toll continues to rise and rescue teams try to reach people still trapped by Wednesday's flash floods in the Himalayas, a senior Nepalese MP tells us the search for survivors is still very much on, along with a major effort to identify bodies and carry out burials.Also in the programme: as Tim Cook prepares to step down after 15 years in charge of Apple, we assess his legacy; and how late is too late for a top tennis player to be playing a match?(IMAGE: An undated handout photo of rescue workers taking part in a rescue operation near the tunnel of the Trishuli 3A Hydropower Project, following deadly flash floods and mudslides, in Rasuwa, Nepal. / CREDIT: Nepal Army/Handout via REUTERS)

Nepalese MP: the search for survivors is still on

The crew and captain of a ferry have been taken into custody after the vessel capsized off the northern coast of the Mediterranean island of Cyprus. Eight people have been confirmed dead with a further 17 still missing. Also on the programme: Spain asks for help from the EU to process hundreds of migrants who crossed into its North African territory of Ceuta; and the director of a new biopic about Charles de Gaulle tells us how the general’s self-belief persuaded Winston Churchill that Free France could fight back against the Nazis.  (Image: Survivors arrive on shore after being rescued from the sea following a boat capsize off northern Cyprus, August 30, 2026. Credit REUTERS/Stringer)

Eight dead in Cyprus ferry disaster

Rescue teams battling dangerous conditions after Wednesday’s flash flooding in Nepal have deployed heavy machinery, in preparation to enter hydroelectric tunnels where more than a hundred workers may be trapped. Overnight, rain and rising river levels impaired efforts early on Sunday before conditions eased. 
 
Also in the programme: NASA successfully launches a telescope; and a new film on Charles de Gaulle.(Photo: A person crosses a damaged suspension bridge following flash floods along the banks of the Trishuli River in Dhading district, Nepal, 30 August 2026. CREDIT: EPA/Shutterstock)

Workers feared trapped in Nepal tunnels

In Ukraine a Russian airstrike detonated munitions in a warehouse in a residential area outside Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, killing 37 people. We hear from a BBC correspondent who has been behind the security perimeter.Also on the programme: Nepal has called for a "global effort" to address climate change after devastating floods; and we ask what next for cycling great Tadej Pogacar after crashing out of the Vuelta a España.(Picture: A view of a street after a Russian drone strike on storage facilities in the village of Myla near Kyiv, 29 August 2026 Credit: Mykola Tymchenko/EPA/Shutterstock)

Dozens dead after Russian strike on ammunition depot near Kyiv

Bad weather is hampering rescue operations after the devastating flash flooding which tore through border areas of Nepal and Tibet on Wednesday.  Officials say rain and fog are making access much harder. About 3,000 people are missing, with almost 700 bodies found so far -- some of them swept many kilometres downstream in India.Also in the programme: Huge explosions at a warehouse after an overnight strike in Kyiv; and polls open in Iceland's referendum on whether to reopen talks on joining the European Union.(Photo: Rescuers transport an elderly woman rescued from an old age home, Nuwakot district, Nepal. Credit: Narendra Shrestha, EPA/Shutterstock)

Anger and hope in Nepal's flood zone

Officials in Nepal say the number of confirmed deaths in Wednesday's huge floods and landslides has now risen to 579, and the number of those unaccounted for has also increased to nearly 2,000. Chinese state media say five people have died and hundreds are missing in Tibet. We hear from a Nepalese climate envoy and a BBC China analyst.Also on the programme: a Sudanese businessman tells us about life in Khartoum as a state of emergency is lifted; and a musical memorial to the father of modern computing, Alan Turing.(Photo: People run during a rescue operation by a Nepal Army helicopter in the aftermath of flash floods, in Hatigauda village, Nuwakot district, Nepal, 28 August 2026. Credit: Narendra Shrestha, EPA/Shutterstock)

Nearly 2,000 now missing in Nepal floods

The death toll in Nepal has risen to 547, officials say, after Wednesday's flash flooding devastated the Himalayan border region. Chinese officials say that search and rescue operations have reached a 'critical stage', as a lake dammed by a landslide is at risk of overflowing.
 
Also in the programme: Norway has a new monarch, after the death of King Harald; and how climate change is affecting cheese makers in the French Alps.
 
(Photo: Aftermath of flash floods and mudslide at Trishuli Bazaar army training centre in Nuwakot, Nepal, August 28, 2026. Credit: Reuters/Francis Mascarenhas)

China: 'critical stage' after deadly Nepal floods

Why information can be hard to come by after the disastrous flash floods that have had hit Nepal and neighbouring Tibet, especially on the Chinese side of the border.Also in the programme: Ratko Mladic, the Bosnian Serb commander who oversaw the worst atrocities in Europe since the Second World War, has died in prison in The Hague; the alleged mastermind of the 9/11 attacks - Khalid Sheikh Mohammed - is finally given a trial date, in June 2028; and how climate change-related heatwaves in the Alps and Jura are likely to change the flavour of some prized French cheeses.(IMAGE: Flood survivor return to home following a flash flood in Devighat Village, Nuwakot district, Nepal, 27 August 2026 / CREDIT: 
Narendra Shrestha / EPA / Shutterstock)

Information scarcity after Nepal flash floods

Rescuers in China and Nepal are searching for about 1,300 people who are missing after a flash flood hit the two countries.At least 359 people have died in Nepal, with three confirmed deaths in China. We'll hear from both countries.Also in the programme: Ratko Mladic, the former Bosnian Serb commander who was convicted of genocide, has died in prison - we hear from the journalist Allan Little who covered him for the BBC and Hasan Hasanovic, a survivor of Srebrenica massacre; why some species of bats are able to live so long; and we'll remember the Japanese avant-garde artist Yayoi Kusama, whose struggles with her mental health fuelled her work:(Photo shows flood survivors in Devighat Village, Nuwakot district, Nepal on 27 August 2026. Credit: Narendra Shrestha/EPA)

Thousands still missing after China-Nepal flood

The social media giant Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, has agreed to restrict American teenagers’ use of its platforms as part of an $18bn settlement with states that accused it of harming children. We hear from a former Meta insider. Also on the programme: how climate change is increasing the likelihood of avalanches and flooding in the Himalayas; and we look back on the life of Rocky Horror Picture Show star Tim Curry.(Photo: The Meta logo is displayed on a mobile phone in Liverpool, Britain, 09 June 2026. Credit: ADAM VAUGHAN/EPA/Shutterstock)

Meta agrees to restrict US teen use of its social media platforms

Hundreds of people are missing, including at least 291 foreign tourists, after a flash flood on the Nepal-Tibet border.At least 18 people are confirmed dead in Nepal; Chinese state media is also reporting "major casualties" in Tibet, which is controlled by China. We'll hear how this incident is affecting people on the ground.Also in the programme: Tragedy at one of Pakistan's main hospitals, where at least 14 newborn babies have been killed in a fire; new research shows a new shingles vaccine can lower the risk of heart disease; and we'll reflect on the wisdom and humour of country music icon Dolly Parton, who died yesterday. (Photo shows a satellite image of the valleys near the Nepal-China border, after the devastating floods on26 August 2026  Planet Labs PBC/Reuters)

Hundreds missing after Nepal floods

The country music legend Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80 in Nashville, Tennessee. In a seven-decade career, she won 10 Grammy awards, sold more than 100 million records worldwide, and wrote in excess of 3,000 songs. We'll be looking back at her life and legacy.Also in the programme: the United Nations and the Red Cross have called for urgent negotiations to restrict the use of autonomous weapons; and why the Indian government is sending onions across the country.(Photo: The American country music star, Dolly Parton, performs on the Pyramid Stage during the Glastonbury Festival June 29, 2014. Reuters/Cathal McNaughton.)

Country music legend Dolly Parton dies

China has vowed to protect its interests after the US announced plans to widen economic sanctions against Iran and its trading partners, which include Beijing. Will China scupper the squeeze on Iran?Also in the programme: the UN and Red Cross call for urgent new laws to police fully autonomous weapons, an at-home test kit for cervical cancer. and can Australia keep AI out of music?(Photo: US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent during a press conference to outline further sanctions against Iran,in Washington DC on 24 August 2026.  Credit: Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters)

China to protect its interests in wake of US Iran sanctions

The US treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, has unveiled a wave of sanctions aimed at isolating Iran's economy and says that other countries will be pressured to comply. But will the US deliver on its threats?Also in the programme: a group of cricket legends urges Pakistan to give the former prime minister, Imran Khan, proper medical care; and the edible cookie made from plastic waste. (Photo: US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks during a press conference to outline further sanctions against Iran in Washington, August 24, 2026. Credit: Reuters/Evelyn Hockstein.)

US announces 'economic onslaught' against Iran

The US treasury secretary has threatened Iran with "the single greatest financial offensive ever", claiming the US-Israel war with Iran was "entering its endgame".Scott Bessent said the US would sever all economic ties with the country in "an economic D-Day" and that any nation partnering with Iran financially would also be isolated. Will it work?Also in the programme: A blueprint for new weapons for Ukraine; the Taliban answers questions about its treatment of women; and the rare British bird on the rise.(Photo shows US Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent speaks to reporters in Washington, DC, USA on 20 August 2026. Credit: Shawn Thew/EPA)