BBC

Until the end of March this year, BBC News Russian was the only source of independent reporting in Belarus, where journalism has been suppressed. Around two dozen independent journalists are currently behind bars, with many more forced into exile by the government of Alexander Lukashenko. Then, on March 25th, Belarus added the BBC to a list of extremist materials, meaning that it is now an offense for people in Belarus to even like or share BBC content.

BBC Russian's Alina Isachenko came into The Fifth Floor studio to explain how the BBC is trying to keep its readers in Belarus safe.

The Fifth Floor is at the heart of global storytelling on the BBC World Service, bringing you the best stories from journalists in the BBC's 43 language services. We're here to help you make sense of the stories making headlines around the world; to excite your curiosity and to get to grips with the facts.

Recent episodes have investigated Russia’s youth armies and how they make soldiers of Ukrainian children; featured the BBC team who were the first journalists to the site of the Nigerian school kidnappings and reflected the effects of internet blackouts in Iran, Uganda and India.

If you want to know more about Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, and the legacy of Hugo Chavez; or how Vladimir Putin’s network of deep cover spies operates; or why Donald Trump signed an executive order granting white South Africans asylum in the US, we have all those stories and more.

This episode of The Documentary comes to you from The Fifth Floor, the show at the heart of global storytelling, with BBC journalists from all around the world.

Presented by Faranak Amidi.

Produced by Laura Thomas, Caroline Ferguson and Hannah Dean.

This is an EcoAudio certified production.

(Photo: Faranak Amidi. Credit: Tricia Yourkevich.)

Are we at the start of a deepening cost of living crisis as nearly half of all adults fear they might not be able afford their energy bills?

And from next year, councils in England will be banned from demanding householders pay their council tax in full if they are only late with one payment.

HMRC warns of scammers as it begins taking back Winter Fuel Payment from more than two million higher income pensioners.

Also, the rise of the poly worker. Why young people are fixing their sights on a portfolio career.

Presenter: Paul Lewis

Reporters: Dan Whitworth and Niamh McDermott

Researcher: Jo Krasner

Editor: Rob Cave

Senior News Editor: Sara Wadeson

(First broadcast Saturday 18th April 2026)

Israel says it's targeted the head of Hamas's military wing - describing him as an architect of the October 7th attacks. It's not clear if Izz al-Din al-Haddad was killed in the airstrike in Gaza City but there were civilian casualties. Also: the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire is to be extended; the alleged murder of an Aboriginal girl highlights Australia's deep inequalities; Bolivia's government strikes a deal with protesting miners; the WHO calls to restrict sales of nicotine pouches to young people; a French art gallery exhibits still-unclaimed works stolen by Nazis; and the hunt is on for the next James Bond.

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: [email protected]

It’s just over six weeks since the ship, MV Hondius, left Argentina for a cruise visiting remote islands in the South Atlantic. A month later, three passengers had died. The World Health Organisation identified the probable cause as hantavirus – a rodent-borne disease that the victims most likely contracted in south America. We bring together Christian in Germany and Lorne in Canada to share their experiences of the virus and their own brush with death. “My heart failed, and I apparently died for 11 minutes,” Lorne says. We also bring together three experts to discuss how the disease spreads, its prevention and treatment.

As the US president leaves Beijing for Washington, it's clear both parties are eager to improve their economic relationship. We reflect on the last two days with American and Chinese experts.

Across the pond, it's been a dramatic week for British politics too as Prime Minster Keir Starmer faces calls to step down. How will this affect the UK's economy amidst instabilities already caused by the Middle East war?

And a decision by car giant Stellantis to make more models in China highlights the West's increasing interest in their manufacturing. We hear from experts sitting shotgun in the drive to develop China's car industry.

CIA chief makes rare trip to Cuba as oil terminals run dry, meanwhile US media reports say Washington is preparing criminal charges against its former leader Raul Castro.

Also in the programme: why nationalist vigilante groups are spreading across Russia; and a French museum holds a display of famous art works from the Second World War in order to reunite them with their rightful owners.

(Image: A vintage car passes by images of late Cuban President Fidel Castro, Cuba's former President Raul Castro and Cuba's President Miguel Diaz-Canel displayed on a billboard in Havana. Credit: REUTERS/Norlys Perez)

10th – 15th May 2026

Writer: Sarah Hehir

Director: Peter Leslie Wild

Editor: Jeremy Howe

Brian Aldridge … Charles Collingwood

Pip Archer … Daisy Badger

Ruth Archer … Felicity Finch

Lilian Bellamy … Sunny Ormonde

Alice Carter … Hollie Chapman 

Ian Craig …  Stephen Kennedy 

Alan Franks … John Telfer

Amber Gordon … Olivia Bernstone

George Grundy … Angus Stobie

Jakob Hakansson … Paul Venables

Brad Horrobin … Taylor Uttley

Adam Macy … Andrew Wincott  

Kirsty Miller …. Annabelle Dowler 

Stella Pryor … Lucy Speed 

Oliver Sterling … Michael Cochrane

Carol Tregorran … Mia Soteriou

Anna Tregorran … Isobel Middleton

Den … Laurence Saunders

Erik Hakansson … Steven Hartley

Helpline Volunteer … Yasmin Mwanza

Recorded on Friday morning, Andy and the panel dig into the election results from 7th May. Who’s done well? Who’s done not so well? And how does this have anything to do with The Grand National? Also up for discussion is The Met Gala and the legend that is Sir David Attenborough’s 100th birthday.

Written by Andy Zaltzman.

With additional material by: Mike Shephard, Cameron Loxdale, Stephanie Kemp and Angela Channell

Producer: Georgia Keating

Executive Producer: Pete Strauss

Production Coordinator: Asha Osborne-Grinter

Sound Editor: Marc Willcox

Recorded by Jerry Peal and Jon Calver

A BBC Studios Production for Radio 4.

Ahead of President Trump's and President Xi's China summit, there were hopes of deals agreed on both trade and tariffs. But has anything actually been achieved? Leanna Byrne finds out.

And less than a month from the start of the World Cup, fans and hoteliers are getting nervous at the impact of escalating prices for tickets, transport and taxes. Can fans afford to make the journey?

Also, we hear why the bond markets are nervous of political change in the UK.

Donald Trump has left China after talks with Xi Jinping that the US president says have settled "a lot of different problems". President Xi called it a "landmark" visit, but gave no details of any new agreements. On Iran, President Trump said the Chinese president would pressure Tehran to re-open the Strait of Hormuz. Mr Trump also said he didn't think there was a risk of conflict between China and the US over Taiwan. Also: American media reports say the US is preparing to indict the former Cuban president, 94-year-old Raul Castro. There's been a large prisoner swap between Ukraine and Russia as the two sides ramp up their aerial attacks. The BBC has traced dozens of social media accounts - which post AI-generated anti-immigration content about the UK - to countries such as Sri Lanka and Vietnam. And the singer-songwriter with Parkinson's disease using AI to help him make music again.

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: [email protected]