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Despite the relatively low magnitude, earthquakes in Afghanistan this week have left more than1000 dead. Afghan researcher Zakeria Shnizai from the University of Oxford unpicks some of the main causes of the country’s vulnerability to earthquakes. Also this week, we talk to the climate scientist who led a 400+ page rebuttal to the US Department of Energy’s report on climate change. We hear about research which has mapped the activity of over 600,000 neurons in 279 regions of the mouse brain to learn more about how decisions are made. And we get the latest updates on 3I/ATLAS, the latest interstellar comet streaking its way across our solar system, just before it disappears behind the sun. Presenter: Roland Pease Producer: Ella Hubber Production Coordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth (Image: Magnitude 6.0 earthquake strikes eastern Afghanistan. Credit: Anadolu via Getty Images).

Zainab fears the worst and opportunity knocks for Stella.

The Indian government has announced massive tax cuts on items ranging from snacks and biscuits to electronic products and cars. But how will it affect the world's fastest growing major economy, and the businesses operating there? In the wake of Giorgio Armani's death at 91, Hannah Mullane speaks to author and writer Pauline Brown about what this could mean for his business empire worth more than US$7billion. Elsewhere, we discuss why Nigeria's banned the export of Shea butter nuts - which are used to make beauty products around the world - in a bid to make the trade more lucrative, while some exporters are worried it could have the opposite effect. And does a 4am morning routine make you more successful? The latest business and finance news from around the world, on the BBC.

After China's President Xi welcomed North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un and Russia's Vladimir Putin to Beijing: we ask what do Western nations make of this show of strength? In this special edition, Celia Hatton is joined by our correspondents across the globe to discuss the reaction to the military parade. China marked the anniversary of the end of World War Two by showing off its next generation of cutting edge weaponry. We ask if the alliance between the three nuclear armed leaders poses a real threat to the West?

Why are fighters from Somalia's Jubaland region crossing the border into Kenya. Their presence is - causing fear and uncertainty Burkina Faso's unelected transitional parliament bans homosexual acts Plus how experts in Africa are tryings to close the AI language gap Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Priya Sippy, Alfonso Daniels, Sunita Nahar, Mark Wilberforce, and Nyasha Michelle in London. Jewel Kiriungi in Nairobi. Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga Technical Producer: Francesca Dunne Editors: Maryam Abdalla, Andre Lombard, and Alice Muthengi

President Macron hosts a meeting for Ukraine's coalition of the willing to discuss how to protect Ukraine if a peace deal is reached with Moscow. Also in the programme: Portugal in mourning after a deadly funicular accident; Argentine police resolve riddle of paining stolen by the Nazis; and how monitoring mice brains could help treat human brain conditions. (Photo: Presidents macron and Zelenskiy in a meeting with other EU leaders. Credit: Reuters)

Israel says latest Hamas proposal to free all the hostages and end the war in Gaza is nothing new. Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates warns Israel that annexing the occupied West Bank will cross a red line and undermine the spirit of the Abraham Accords brokered by Donald Trump. Also: Google found guilty by US federal court of gathering data from users' smartphone app even if they had opted into stricter privacy settings; can music help with travel sickness; and calling all dessert enthusiasts - the Tiramisu World Cup wants you as a judge. The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

Also, we hear about hair transplants; from someone who received one and from a surgeon.

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the Dutch artist famous for starry nights and sunflowers, self portraits and simple chairs. These are images known the world over, and Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890) painted them and around 900 others in the last decade of his short, brilliant life and, famously, in that lifetime he made only one recorded sale. Yet within a few decades after his death these extraordinary works, with all their colour and life, became the most desirable of all modern art, propelled in part by the story of Vincent van Gogh's struggle with mental health. With Christopher Riopelle The Neil Westreich Curator of Post 1800 Paintings at the National Gallery Martin Bailey A leading Van Gogh specialist and correspondent for The Art Newspaper And Frances Fowle Professor of Nineteenth Century Art at the University of Edinburgh and Senior Curator at National Galleries Scotland Producer: Simon Tillotson Reading list: Martin Bailey, Living with Vincent Van Gogh: The Homes and Landscapes that shared the Artist (White Lion Publishing, 2019) Martin Bailey, Studio of the South: Van Gogh in Provence (Frances Lincoln, 2021) Martin Bailey, Van Gogh’s Finale: Auvers and the Artist’s Rise to Fame (Frances Lincoln, 2021) Nienke Bakker and Ella Hendriks, Van Gogh and the Sunflowers: A Masterpiece Examined (Van Gogh Museum, 2019) Nienke Bakker, Emmanuel Coquery, Teio Meedendorp and Louis van Tilborgh (eds), Van Gogh in Auvers-sur-Oise: His Final Months (Thames & Hudson, 2023) Frances Fowle, Van Gogh's Twin: The Scottish Art Dealer Alexander Reid, 1854-1928 (National Galleries of Scotland, 2010) Bregje Gerritse, The Potato Eaters: Van Gogh’s First Masterpiece (Van Gogh Museum, 2021) Steven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith, Van Gogh: The Life (Random House, 2012) Leo Jansen, Hans Luijten and Nienke Bakker (eds), Vincent van Gogh: The Letters: The Complete Illustrated and Annotated Edition (Thames and Hudson Ltd, 2009) Leo Jansen, Hans Luijten and Nienke Bakker (eds), Vincent van Gogh, A Life in Letters (Thames and Hudson Ltd, 2020) Hans Luitjen, Jo van Gogh Bonger: The Woman who Made Vincent Famous Bloomsbury, 2022 Louis van Tilborgh, Martin Bailey, Karen Serres (ed.), Van Gogh Self-Portraits (Courtauld Institute, 2022) Ingo F. Walther and Rainer Metzger, Van Gogh. The Complete Paintings (Taschen, 2022) Spanning history, religion, culture, science and philosophy, In Our Time from BBC Radio 4 is essential listening for the intellectually curious. In each episode, host Melvyn Bragg and expert guests explore the characters, events and discoveries that have shaped our world.

On the outskirts of Hamburg, Dr Gerald Koch is surrounded by wooden objects - chairs, board games, paint brushes - ready for inspection. His team of scientists at the Thünen Institute of Wood Research are known as the timber detectives. They spend their days putting wood samples under the microscope to find out where they've come from, and if they’re suspect. Berlin based environmental journalist Becca Warner explores the ongoing problem of illegal deforestation. Why is it proving so hard to tackle, despite tightening EU regulations? What are the consequences for those living in Papua New Guinea where much of this timber originates? And what makes this group of German scientists so important in the battle to protect the world’s forests? Presenter: Becca Warner Producer: Tom Pooley A 4 kicks production for the BBC World Service. Image: Gerald Koch and Becca Warner inspect timber samples (Credit: Tom Pooley)

At least 15 people have died after the Gloria Funicular crashes in the Portuguese capita, Lisbon. Some of those killed were foreign nationals. Also: victims of the convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein, call for all the files on the case to be released, and new research says that even one minute of vigorous physical activity, can be a life saver. The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

Nationwide protests have swept Indonesia this week, sparked by anger over police violence and government spending. In Jamaica, parliamentary elections are taking place. Roger Hearing finds out what's on voters minds. A Chilean drinks company is locked in a legal battle with actor Pedro Pascal over its brand name, ‘Pedro Piscal’. And in the US, artwork once owned by Leonardo DiCaprio and linked to the 1MDB scandal is up for auction.

Members of the opposition have called for Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner to resign after she admitted she didn't pay enough stamp duty on a flat she purchased in Hove. She denied she had tried to dodge the extra tax, blaming the "mistake" on initial legal advice that failed to "properly take account" of the situation. Sir Keir Starmer stood by his deputy at Prime Minister's Questions, saying he was "very proud to sit alongside" her. We look at public perceptions of her and hear from Sir Keir Starmer's former political director. The Portuguese government has declared a day of national mourning tomorrow - after an accident on Lisbon's famous funicular railway this evening left at least fifteen people - including foreigners - dead. And Melvyn Bragg has stepped down as host of BBC Radio 4's In Our Time after 26 years. We hear from frequent guest Angie Hobbs and superfan Sir Simon Schama.

Chelsea has reservations and sensitivities are high at Brookfield.

A landslide that followed days of heavy rain, has killed hundreds of people in the remote Marra Mountains in western Sudan, and trapped survivors in deep valleys. How do aid agencies help people hit by a natural disaster but caught in the middle of a war?   A new report details an increase in disappearances, kidnappings and torture in Tanzania.  We hear from relatives looking for their family members.   And a new study warns that people are using digital platforms like TikTok to sell the meat of endangered animals. Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Mark Wilberforce, Sunita Nahar and Priya Sippy in London. Charles Gitonga and Jewel Kiriungi in Nairobi Senior Producer: Patricia Whitehorne Technical Producer: Chris Kouzaris Editors: Maryam Abdalla, Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

As government borrowing costs and debts rise around the world, we take a closer look at Japan, the UK and the US, and ask why? Hannah Mullane speaks to New Zealand's minister of immigration Erica Stanford as the Antipodean country plans to open up their housing market to foreign investors as part of a golden visa programme. Elsewhere we discuss how TSMC, the biggest semi-conductor producer making chips for electronic products, has become the latest company to face restrictions from the US government as it looks to limit China's access to American technology. And amid its tariff war with the US, we find out why some grocers in Canada have been ticked off for falsely labelling goods as Canadian. The latest business and finance news from around the world, on the BBC.

President Xi Jinping welcomed North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, Russia’s Vladimir Putin and many other leaders at a huge military parade to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two. Also in the programme: we report on the disappearance of opposition activists in Tanzania; and after a series of legal setbacks for the Trump Administration, could the coming term be crunch time for both the president and the Supreme Court? (IMAGE: Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and heads of foreign delegations arrive to attend a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two, in Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China, 03 September 2025. / CREDIT: Alexander Kazakov/SPUTNIK/KREMLIN POOL/EPA/Shutterstock)

President Xi Jinping says China will 'never be intimidated' at a display of military might in Beijing where he was joined by the leaders of Russia and North Korea. The parade was held to mark the anniversary of the victory over Japan in the Second World War. President Trump accused the three leaders of conspiring against the US. Also, the number of people killed in Sunday's earthquake in Afghanistan rises to 1,400, and the wreck of Captain Scott's polar ship, Terra Nova, has been filmed in detail on the sea floor for the first time. The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

If you 'play it by ear', you don't make a plan. Learn this phrase and more in this podcast. TRANSCRIPT Find a free transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/s5english_in_a_minute FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus LIKE PODCASTS? Try some of our other popular podcasts including: ✔️ 6 Minute English ✔️ Learning English Grammar ✔️ Learning Easy English They're all available by searching in your podcast app.

Professor Mark Taylor on efforts to tackle "ridiculous" waiting lists in Northern Ireland.