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The World Tonight

BBC Radio 4
The World Tonight
Latest episode

270 episodes

  • The World Tonight

    Elon Musk becomes world's first trillionaire after SpaceX stock market debut

    2026/06/12 | 38 mins.
    Elon Musk's satellite, AI and rocket company, SpaceX, has enjoyed a successful first day on the Nasdaq stock exchange, reaching a value of $2.2 trillion. Can the valuation be justified? We ask economist Dr Mohamed El-Erian.
    Also on the programme: Sir Grayson Perry responds to news of the death of fellow artist David Hockney at the age of 88. And we report from Scotland, where football fans are preparing to watch their men’s team return to the World Cup after a 28 year absence.
  • The World Tonight

    UK defence secretary and armed forces minister both resign

    2026/06/11 | 37 mins.
    The armed forces minister quits hours after the defence secretary steps down over the government's military spending plans. A new defence secretary has now been appointed. We talk to two Labour MPs about how to pay for extra defence spending, and where this leaves the prime minister.
    Also on the programme: We're live in Mexico City after the men’s football World Cup's opening game. How is disorder on the streets of Belfast being coordinated on social media? And, following the popularity of weight loss jabs, the medicines regulator approves a weight loss pill for private prescription.
  • The World Tonight

    Anti-migrant violence rocks Belfast for second night

    2026/06/10 | 38 mins.
    Anti-migrant violence continued in Belfast for a second night after a stabbing attack allegedly by a Sudanese asylum seeker resulted in a man losing his left eye. Immigrants described fleeing their homes in terror after gangs of masked people targeted them last night. We hear from two women from the Sudanese community in Belfast and speak to a local politician.
    Also on the programme: more women than ever are sleeping rough in England, we hear about the challenges they face.
    With an uptick in the number of children who say they enjoy reading for pleasure, we ask: how to keep up the momentum?
    And on the eve of the World Cup, we'll hear how the Cornish introduced football - as well as their signature dish - to co-hosts Mexico.
  • The World Tonight

    Violent protests in Belfast after knife attack

    2026/06/09 | 37 mins.
    Police and politicians in Belfast have called for calm after violent protests took place across the city. It comes as a man has been charged with attempted murder over a knife attack on Monday night. Police described the alleged attacker as a Sudanese man, who the Home Office said entered the UK in 2023 and was granted refugee status. We hear more about the social and political context of tonight's unrest.
    Also on the programme: we get reaction from the GMB Union to the Defence Secretary's pledge to buy British and find out why an American actor decided to learn Welsh to appear on the BBC's longest running TV soap.
  • The World Tonight

    Trump tells the BBC the US and Iran are 'very close to signing a very powerful deal'

    2026/06/08 | 37 mins.
    The US president intervened after Iran and Israel launched missiles at each other. We speak to former American Ambassador to Israel, Thomas Nides.
    Also in the programme: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer wants Apple and Google to install software on phones that will prevent children from taking or sharing explicit images – but does the technology exist to make that request a reality? And we ask researchers why a record numbers of octopuses have been spotted off the coast of England.
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About The World Tonight
In depth reporting, intelligent analysis and major breaking news from a global perspective
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