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The World Tonight

BBC Radio 4
The World Tonight
Latest episode

299 episodes

  • The World Tonight

    Burnham pauses early prison release scheme

    23/07/2026 | 37 mins.
    The pause comes after criticism of the scheme from survivors and victims' families, including the widow of PC Andrew Harper who described the possibility of his killers' early release as "deplorable". We hear from the General Secretary of the POA, the Prisoner Officers’ Association, Steve Gillan.

    Also in the programme: as Gary Lineker and other millionaires ask Andy Burnham to tax them more, we ask how a UK wealth tax could work. And the Commonwealth Games gets underway in Glasgow.
  • The World Tonight

    US and Saudi Arabia strike nuclear deal

    22/07/2026 | 38 mins.
    The agreement allows Saudi Arabia to establish a civilian nuclear programme. Critics fear that it undermines global nuclear non proliferation and would allow Riyadh to develop its own nuclear weapons programme. We hear from a Congressman who’s vowed to try to block the move.
    Also on the programme: Prime Minister Andy Burnham promises to review the government’s controversial early prison release scheme; and Elon Musk wants to make an AI-generated, “historically accurate” film of the Odyssey - we ask a leading classicist if that's even possible.
  • The World Tonight

    Zelensky sacks Ukraine's top army commander after protests

    21/07/2026 | 37 mins.
    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has sacked the country's army commander-in-chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi following days of protests. We hear from a senior member of Zelensky's Servant of the People party.
    Also tonight: Andy Burnham's options for reforming social care in England; and as Thames Water becomes the latest water company to impose a hosepipe ban on customers, Bunny Guinness has some advice for gardeners.
  • The World Tonight

    John Healey appointed chancellor as Prime Minister Andy Burnham builds his cabinet

    20/07/2026 | 37 mins.
    Ed Miliband becomes foreign secretary, Shabana Mahmood stays at the Home Office, and Angela Rayner returns to the cabinet in her former role of housing secretary. We'll report live from Downing Street, assess the economic challenges facing the UK's new prime minister, and explore whether 'empathy' can be at the core of a governing philosophy.
    Also in the programme: influencer Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan have appeared in court in Miami as they fight extradition to the UK over an investigation into alleged sexual offences. And former Liverpool striker David Fairclough shares his memories of ex-England captain and manager Kevin Keegan, who's died at the age of 75.
  • The World Tonight

    Andy Burnham takes over leadership of the Labour Party

    17/07/2026 | 38 mins.
    Prime Minister-in-waiting, Andy Burnham, takes the helm of the Labour Party and prepares to enter No.10 on Monday. We discuss his plans for social care with former health spokesmen, Liberal Democrat Sir Norman Lamb and Conservative Andrew, Lord Lansley, and ask whether Burnham is right to say Britain went wrong in the 1980s.
    Also on the programme: we drop in on tonight's American-themed First Night of the Proms. And remembering the remarkable career of West Indian cricket legend, Sir Garfield Sobers.
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In depth reporting, intelligent analysis and major breaking news from a global perspective
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