BBC

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the speeches that became a byword for fierce attacks on political opponents. It was in the 4th century BC, in Athens, that Demosthenes delivered these speeches against the tyrant Philip II of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great, when Philip appeared a growing threat to Athens and its allies and Demosthenes feared his fellow citizens were set on appeasement. In what became known as The Philippics, Demosthenes tried to persuade Athenians to act against Macedon before it was too late; eventually he succeeded in stirring them, even if the Macedonians later prevailed. For these speeches prompting resistance, Demosthenes became famous as one of the Athenian democracy’s greatest freedom fighters. Later, in Rome, Cicero's attacks on Mark Antony were styled on Demosthenes and these too became known as Philippics.

With Paul Cartledge A. G. Leventis

Senior Research Fellow at Clare College, University of Cambridge

Kathryn Tempest

Reader in Latin Literature and Roman History at the University of Roehampton

And

Jon Hesk

Reader in Greek and Classical Studies at the University of St Andrews

Producer: Simon Tillotson

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.

All members of the UN Security Council -- apart from the United States -- have released a statement saying the famine in Gaza is man-made. They've urged Israel to lift all restrictions on aid immediately. Also: President Trump discusses post war plans for the Palestinian territory, as his Secretary of State meets the Israeli foreign minister; the killing of two children at a school church service in the US is being investigated as an act of domestic terrorism.

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.

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With Washington's time window for a USA-India trade deal closed, Indian exporters are now dealing with 50% tariffs on many goods sold to the States. US president Donald Trump says it's to punish New Delhi for buying Russian oil, but India prime minister Modi has criticised the levies as "unfair, unjustified and unreasonable."

Roger Hearing speaks to USA-India trade specialist Gunjan Bagla about what this could mean for both countries.

Elsewhere Donald Trump has threatened the billionaire financier, George Soros, with an indictment for racketeering.

We hear how professional golfers are surviving in Africa, while London's transport chiefs are trying to end commuters growing aggravation of having to listen to other people's music and entertainment on trains and buses.

The latest business and finance news from around the world, on the BBC.

Earlier this year, Chinese student Zhenhao Zou was jailed for 24 years for drugging and raping ten women in the UK and China. He has been described by police as one of Britain’s “most prolific sexual predators”. After his trial, detectives said they feared he may have attacked 50 more women – many of whom are yet to be identified. Following connections on Chinese social media, reporter Wanqing Zhang from the BBC’s Global China Unit has been speaking exclusively to several of Zou’s victims, and a translator who has helped them, revealing shocking details about his crimes.

President Trump has held a meeting to discuss post-war plans for the Palestinian territory, as his secretary of state meets the Israeli foreign minister.

Also in the programme: The parents of an American teenager who ended his own life are suing OpenAI alleging that its chatbot, ChatGPT, encouraged his suicide; and the discovery of a dinosaur with metre-long spikes.

(Photo: Displaced Palestinians flee from an Israeli military operation, in Gaza City, August 26, 2025. Credit: Reuters/Ebrahim Hajjaj)

President Trump is hosting a meeting in the White House to discuss post-war plans for Gaza - and Sir Tony Blair is among those attending. We ask what influence the former prime minister might have over the current US President - and whether an end to the war is any closer.

Also on the programme:

New figures show the birth rate in England and Wales has reached a record low. We speak to politicians from left and right who fear we're heading for a demographic catastrophe.

And 20 years after Hurricane Katrina, James Coomarasamy catches up with two people he met in New Orleans following the devastation.

Jolene has serious reservations, and Pat is not amused.

Steep tariffs have been imposed on India by the US, doubling an existing duty, as President Donald Trump seeks to punish India for buying Russian oil and weapons. The Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has called it economic coercion and is urging Indians to buy more locally produced goods. Also: there's a growing diplomatic row between Denmark and the US over reports of covert influence operations in Greenland; we have a report on how some people are exploiting emotions surrounding the Holocaust by creating fake images produced by AI to earn money; the role of peat in boosting a country's natural defences; and the successful launch of SpaceX's tenth test- we get a former NASA employee's view on Elon Musk's efforts to go to the Moon and ultimately Mars.

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]

Indian exporters now face 50% tariffs on goods heading to the US. We hear how they’re coping.

Also, Europe’s car industry says the EU’s green plan to cut emissions could actually backfire.

And over in America, Cracker Barrel tried to give its famous logo a makeover, but after an online uproar, the ‘Old Timer’ is here to stay.

You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 3033.

Botswana's president Duma Boko, has declared a public health emergency as the country faces a shortage of essential medicines and medical equipment.

Africa's defence chiefs discuss collective strategies and joint responses to insecurity in the continent.

And why is the northern Nigerian state of Kano losing its famous yellow buses?

Presenter: Audrey Brown

Producers: Yvette Twagiramariya, Priya Sippy and Stefania Okereke in London with Ayuba Iliya in Lagos

Technical producer: Jonathan Greer

Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga

Editors: Maryam Abdallah, Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi