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As fuel prices rise across the world, Luke Wilson hears from an economist in Germany about the impact on the country's industry. Plus, how are costs to borrow money affecting mortgage rates?

Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote has launched Africa's largest-ever share sale, offering a stake in his oil refinery to the general public. The initial public offering (IPO) covers roughly 3% of the Dangote Refinery and aims to raise $1.6 billion across Africa, targeting up to 10 million shareholders. Hours after the offer went live, several stockbroking applications reported downtime due to unu...

Also - should we introduce a 'tourist tax' to Belfast? Stephen Watson talks to callers.

Do you want to share a surprising opinion? Learn how to use 'hot take' with Feifei and Becca. Get a free transcript to read while you listen here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english//features/the-english-we-speak_2026/ep-260914 Get weekly updates and tips for improving your English here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/send/u178220599 And check out our new website layout! We've given the homepage...

Political analysts and human rights organisations say Turkey's courts are increasingly being used to silence political dissent and to shape a more socially conservative society. The most prominent defendant is Ekrem İmamoğlu, the mayor of Istanbul, and the opposition figure opinion polls suggest is most likely to beat President Erdoğan at the ballot box. İmamoğlu has been held in Silivri prison si...

Anthropic co-founder Jack Clark speaks to the BBC about the dangers of AI development and need for regulation, as the world's biggest AI bosses call for a pause in development, we find out does AI need a kill switch? Also, Africa’s biggest ever share sale has been launched, Aliko Dangote wants millions of Nigerians to own a piece of his oil refinery, to help his plans for expansion. And Russia’s w...

Design is never neutral and small choices can have a big impact. Dr Ella Hubber and journalist Katie Silver explore how consumer products marketed to women are frequently developed without fully understanding their needs. Along with expert insight, they look at everything from footwear based on male anatomy to menstrual products tested with unrealistic methods, revealing how these decisions can af...

Carol makes her feelings clear, and Jolene is far from impressed.

As bosses of AI companies call for a 'slowdown' in the development of the technology, the BBC's Luke Wilson explores if it's even possible without China onboard. Plus, Africa's biggest ever public share has opened in Nigeria and how are oil prices reacting to the closure of a key pipeline in Saudi Arabia.

Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye is expected to hold talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington this week as Senegal seeks a new IMF programme. Earlier, the government introduced measures aimed at easing the cost of living and reached a staff-level agreement with the IMF on a new $2.2 billion, three-year lending programme to support economic and financial reforms. How...

Stephen Watson is presenting. He also talks to new British Sprint champion Ethan Faulkner

When Nidhi and Vik moved to Northern Ireland, they came up with an unusual way to make new friends - hosting dinner parties made up of strangers. Now the couple, originally from India, have connected with 60 people and counting. Vik says he wants to make the whole world his friends. Plus, the Iranian father helping his blind son experience the football World Cup. He uses a makeshift football pitch...

Six million people who expect to be paying housing costs once they've stopped working say they don't know how they'll be able to afford it. That's according to new research from pensions and investment firm Royal London. It surveyed 4,000 people and says the findings suggest around 1 in 3 UK adults are already paying, or expect to pay, rent or a mortgage once they've retired. What can be done to h...

The US demands a public guarantee from Iran that the Strait of Hormuz is open and that ships will not be targeted as they pass through, to ensure that talks can move forward. President Trump says both sides have agreed to continue talks, despite the escalation in hostilities. Mediators from Qatar are travelling to Iran to try to salvage the fragile peace deal. Also: there's relief in Nigeria after...

In a summer of world class sporting events, tennis players have been battling it out at Wimbledon - one of the four major Grand Slam tournaments. One of the big stories has been the success of British wildcard entry Arthur Fery who, before Wimbledon, was ranked outside the top 100. His success has come with a big jump in prize money - essential to pay for the international travel, accommodation an...

Tough times for the gaming industry after news of more lay-offs, this time at Microsoft's Xbox gaming division, Will Bain asks developers and designers if it's all doom and gloom, and what challenges like ahead. And authorities are carrying out investigations after a Ryanair passenger was partially sucked out of a Boeing 737 when a cabin window shattered mid-flight, thousands of feet in the air. W...

A 26-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder following the death of Ann Widdecombe, police say. Widdecombe, a former Conservative minister turned Reform UK spokeswoman, served as the MP for Maidstone in Kent for 23 years. We hear from her former Commons colleague Edwina Currie and her long-time friend, broadcaster Iain Dale. Also in the programme: we speak to a family that's fled wil...

The emergency services in southern Spain say they are fighting a ‘terrible and complex fire, which is spreading very fast,’ in the south-eastern province of Almería. We hear from a British couple caught up in the fire. Also on the programme: How people in Gaza are watching the World Cup; and a new species of dinosaur has been found in Thailand. (Picture: Flames approach the A7 highway during a dea...

Writer: Tim Stimpson Director: Jessica Bunch Editor: Jeremy Howe Brian Aldridge … Charles Collingwood David Archer … Timothy Bentinck Tony Archer … David Troughton Alice Carter … Hollie Chapman Chris Carter … Wilf Scolding Susan Carter … Charlotte Martin Ian Craig … Stephen Kennedy Amber Gordon … Olivia Bernstone George Grundy … Angus Stobie Bert Horrobin … David Sterne Tracy Horrobin … Susie Ridd...

Like Andy Burnham’s No.10, Dead Ringers is in the North, at the Crossed Wires Podcast Festival in Sheffield. This week: Chris Mason is giddy, Zia Yusuf is everywhere, and The Rest is Politics has gone mad for it. Starring Jon Culshaw, Jan Ravens, Duncan Wisbey and Kieran Hodgson. Produced by Jon Holmes Executive Producer: Richard Morris Production Co-ordinator: Giulia Lopes Mazzu A BBC Studios Pro...

Alopecia, the medical term for hair loss, affects an estimated 160 million people worldwide. Some forms of the condition disproportionately affect black women, due to a combination of factors including hairstyles that place tension on the hair, as well as genetic and hormonal influences. Now, some dermatologists are also saying they're seeing more cases, particularly among younger people. Meanwhil...

Fire crews in Almeria battle one of Spain's deadliest blazes where several tourists, unable to flee from the rapidly spreading fire, have been among the victims. Hot conditions in Southern Europe are making the situation worse. Also, Japan is running out of male heirs to the Imperial throne, a woman clings to her husband to stop him being sucked out of the window of a Ryanair plane, and the 900-ye...

A Ryanair passenger was partially sucked out of a Boeing 737 on a flight from Greece to Germany, after a cabin window shattered. Authorities are investigating the cause. The European low cost carrier Easyjet is set to become part of a bidding war between two US based private equity firms. And a heatwave in central Europe has farmers in Switzerland worried.

Venezuelans in the coastal town of La Guaira are being forced to live in informal camps in the streets two weeks on the from the two earthquakes which hit the country. The head of the Disasters Emergency Committee, Saleh Saeed, who is visiting, tells us people have lost everything and need help with the very basics. Also on the programme: we hear about the man who was partially sucked out of a Rya...

As the US and Iran trade strikes in the Middle East, huge crowds have gathered in the holy city of Mashhad ahead of the burial of Iran's late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. We'll try to gauge the mood in the country and assess the options now for both the US and Iran. Also in the programme: The disinformation about Ebola fuelling attacks on Congolese health workers; we'll remember the lif...