BBC

Sébastien Lecornu was appointed France's prime minister less than four weeks ago. We explore what the political turmoil means for the country’s relationship with Europe and the world.

Also in the programme: The Nobel Prize for Medicine is awarded to three researchers for groundbreaking discoveries on the human immune system. And novelist Dame Jilly Cooper has died at the age of 88 – we speak to her friend, writer Rachel Johnson.

France faces fresh political turmoil as PM Sébastien Lecornu resigns. Sam Fenwick hears from businesses and investors on shifting confidence in the country’s economic direction.

We examine the worsening conditions for women in Afghanistan, where the UN reports that the Taliban have severely restricted women's rights to work, study, and dress freely.

And Japan’s markets rally as Sanae Takaichi becomes the country’s first female prime minister, with the Nikkei jumping nearly 5% on expectations of increased government spending and monetary easing.

France is facing further political chaos after the country's latest prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, resigned after just 26 days in the role. We'll hear from a French parliamentarian with the right-of centre party, Les Républicains - and we'll get the long view on French politics from veteran French journalist Christine Ockrent.

Also - as indirect talks begin between Hamas and Israeli delegations over the US-led peace plan for Gaza, we'll hear from an American go-between who knows the Hamas negotiators; and we look at what the appointment of Bari Weiss at CBS News says about the political weather surrounding journalism in the US.

(Photo: French outgoing Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, who presented his government's resignation to the French president this morning, leaves after he delivered a statement at the Hotel Matignon in Paris, France, October 6, 2025. Credit: REUTERS/Stephane Mahe)

The celebrated primatologist Jane Goodall died last week at the age of 91. In tribute, we’re re-sharing this interview from 2020, where she reflects on the years she spent living with the wild chimpanzees in Gombe in eastern Tanzania and why she believes the best way to bring about change is to ‘creep into people’s hearts’.

Jane shot to fame when she appeared on the cover of National Geographic magazine in 1963 and appeared in a documentary film directed by Orson Welles. Her ground breaking observations introduced us to the social and emotional lives of wild chimpanzees and changed our view of what it is to be human. Images of her younger self play-wrestling with baby chimps make Jane feel slightly apprehensive now but at the time she didn’t give it a second thought. However, she did take care to protect her young son. Seeing distressing footage of chimps who were living in captivity, she gave up fieldwork to become an activist, working to liberate chimpanzees that were being used for medical research or sold for meat or as pets, and setting up chimp sanctuaries for animals that were no longer able to live in the wild. For the last thirty years, she has campaigned gently but relentlessly to protect wild animals and wild places, touring the world and performing on stage in front of huge audiences. Her global youth programme, Roots and Shoots has inspired and empowered millions of people to understand and respect nature, leading some to call her ‘the mother Theresa of the environment’. A label she dislikes.

Producer: Anna Buckley

The Grundys face an anxious wait, and Mick smells a rat.

In France Sebastien Lecornu resigns as prime minister saying the conditions were not fulfilled for him to carry on. He criticised unwillingness by political parties to reach compromises. Several parties are calling for early elections and some are calling for President Macron to go - although he has always said he will not stand down before his term ends in 2027. Stocks fell sharply on the Paris exchange amid concerns about the political parties' ability to tackle the country's economic problems, especially its massive debt. Also: A Sudanese militia leader has been found guilty of war crimes in the first International Criminal Court verdict on atrocities in Darfur more than twenty years ago, Hamas' chief negotiator has met Egyptian and Qatari mediators ahead of indirect talks with Israeli officials later, and the British author and journalist, Jilly Cooper has died at the age of 88. She gained fame for her romantic novels - the best known of which are her Rutshire Chronicles. One of the books - Rivals was successfully serialised by Disney Plus in 2024.

Nearly a decade ago in Ghana, 15-year-old Kevin Moses died at Achimota High School. In a landmark ruling last year, Ghana’s High Court found the school negligent for Kevin's death. The school has appealed that decision. Between May 2023 and February 2024, six students died while in boarding school. Why are children dying in schools in Ghana?

Also, we hear differing views on what caused the recent floods in Sudan.

And how Nigeria's Green Falcons could become the first African team to qualify for the Women's Rugby League World Cup?

Presenter: Nyasha Michelle

Producers: Patricia Whitehorne, Piers Edwards and Stefania Okereke in London

Senior Journalist: Yvette Twagiramariya

Technical Producer: Pat Sissons

Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

The chief negotiator for Hamas is reported to be meeting Egyptian and Qatari mediators in Cairo ahead of indirect talks, later in the day, with Israeli negotiators in Sharm El-Sheikh. They're looking to determine a date for the start of a Gaza truce and create conditions for the first phase of the peace plan, in which the remaining Israeli hostages would be swapped for hundreds of Palestinian detainees.

Also in the programme: The French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has quit. There is political turmoil caused by inconclusive snap elections; and this year's Nobel Prize for Medicine has been awarded to three researchers for discoveries on the human immune system.

(Photo: Smoke rises after Israeli air strikes at Tal Al Hawa neighborhood during an Israeli military operation in Gaza City, Gaza Strip, 06 October 2025. Credit: Mohammed Saber /EPA/Shutterstock)

France's government has fallen apart again over how to handle it's public spending budget. We hear how the collapse will affect French businesses.

In Japan, stocks have hit a record high after Sanae Takaichi won the party leadership making her the likely next Prime Minister.

UK car marker Jaguar Land Rover and Japanese beer maker Asahi are showing signs of recovery after separate cyber attacks halted both businesses.

And bitcoin has hit another new record high!

Presenter: Sarah Rogers

Producers: Ahmed Adan and Niamh Mc Dermott

Editor: Justin Bones

Learn how to use compound adjectives (e.g. low-fat yoghurt, high-quality carbohydrates).

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