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BBC World Service

Where the world is explained. Making sense of the big stories - looking behind the spin. Exploring the important questions about long-running stories and the latest global news. An honest, unvarnished, explanation of the world. 

Featuring new episodes of The President's Path, Unspun World with John Simpson, and The Media Show.

The Explanation

Demolition work has begun on part of the White House to make way for President Trump's new ballroom, as US government remains shut down.
 
On this episode, Caitríona Perry, Courtney Subramanian, and Sumi Somaskanda discuss Trump’s decision to remodel the White House while the Senate remains deadlocked on funding the federal government.
 
Every weekend, The President’s Path explores the state of US politics, in Washington and beyond. We dig into the key issues shaping America and uncover what’s on the minds of those closest to power. You can contact us at: path@bbc.co.uk
 
Producer: Gregory Zhygalov
Editor: Adrian Chiculita
Executive producer: Anna Holford

The President’s Path: Shutdown and teardown

John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses whether Hamas will lay down its weapons in Gaza, looks at how other jihadist groups have responded to the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, and explores how Ukraine’s approach to the war with Russia might change in the wake of the latest row with President Trump. 

Producer: Kate Cornell 
Executive producer: Benedick Watt 
Commissioning editor: Vara Szajkowski

Unspun World: Will Hamas really give up control of Gaza?

New attention on Prince Andrew has reopened debate about how the Royal Family is covered by the media. Following confirmation that he will no longer use his titles and the release of Virginia Giuffre’s memoir, journalists are reassessing the balance between scrutiny, access and tradition. 

Simon McCoy, journalist and broadcaster, Robert Hardman, royal biographer, and Emily Andrews, former royal correspondent for The Sun, share professional insight into how stories about the royals are shaped. 

Also, Pulitzer Prize-winning foreign correspondent Paul Salopek describes his 12-year “Out of Eden Walk,” a 16,000-mile reporting journey retracing humanity’s ancient migration routes. 

Presenter: Ros Atkins
Producer: Lisa Jenkinson
Assistant Producer: Lucy Wai
Researcher: Ruth Waites
Technical co-ordinator: Chris Brown
Sound engineer: Robin Schroder

The Media Show: When the Royals lose control of the story

Medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy are proven to be highly effective for weight management. They are also increasingly being found to treat other conditions and reduce the risk of disease, promising health benefits far beyond the treatment of obesity. But these drugs generally need to be continued for weight loss to be maintained, so there are big questions to be answered about their use and significant challenges to overcome around access and availability. In front of a live audience at Wellcome Collection in London, Claudia and her guests explore the potential and negatives of weight loss injections and ask whether they really are the next wonder drug.

Weight loss jabs: A medical game changer?

Donald Trump claims to have ended eight wars in eight months. Caitríona Perry, Courtney Subramanian, and Sumi Somaskanda unpack President Trump’s claims and look at what is happening on the ground.
 
Every weekend, The President’s Path explores the state of US politics in Washington and beyond. We dig into the key issues shaping America and uncover what’s on the minds of those closest to power. You can contact us at: path@bbc.co.uk

The President’s Path: How many wars has Donald Trump ended?

John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses who will actually be running Gaza in the wake of the ceasefire there, examines the escalating trade war between China and the United States, and looks at the recent spate of cyber-attacks targeting western companies.

Producer: Kate Cornell
Executive Producer: Benedick Watt
Commissioning Editor: Vara Szajkowski

Unspun World: Who will run Gaza?

As a ceasefire takes hold in Gaza, attention has turned to how the story itself is being covered and interpreted. From live reporting in Tel Aviv to verifying information from inside Gaza, journalists describe the pressures of working amid uncertainty and political tension.
Channel 4 News presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy reflects on the choices behind frontline coverage and the balance between speed and accuracy. Bel Trew, chief international correspondent at The Independent, outlines how she gathers and checks information when access to Gaza remains blocked. Professor Lee Edwards of the London School of Economics examines how global outlets have framed recent events and whether context and history are being lost in the headlines.

Presenters: Katie Razzall and Ros Atkins
Producer: Lucy Wai
Assistant Producer: Martha Owen
Production Coordinator: Ruth Waites
Technical Coordinator: Chris Brown
Sound: Chris Ablakwa

The Media Show: The Gaza Ceasefire

The US Supreme Court begins its new term with a docket full of potentially significant cases that could define the scope of Donald Trump's presidential authority - and the prospect of more to come. On this episode, Caitríona Perry, Courtney Subramanian, and Sumi Somaskanda analyse how the Supreme Court can reshape Trump's powers. Every weekend, The President’s Path explores the state of US politics in Washington and beyond. We dig into the key issues shaping America and uncover what is on the minds of those closest to power. You can contact us at: path@bbc.co.uk

The President’s Path: Supreme Court shapes Trump's powers

John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses whether two years on from the 7 October attacks peace in Gaza is now possible, looks at what it’s like for western journalists to report from Russia, and examines the consequences of UN sanctions being reimposed on Iran.

Producer: Kate Cornell
Executive producer: Benedick Watt
Commissioning editor: Vara Szajkowski

Unspun World: Is peace in Gaza now possible?

Steve Rosenberg, BBC News Russia editor, is one of the few Western reporters still based in Moscow. He talks about working under tight controls, renewing short visas and facing limits on access while trying to report facts from inside the country. His years of steady reporting have now earned him the Charles Wheeler Award for Broadcast Journalism. Also on the show, Zanny Minton Beddoes, Editor-in-Chief of The Economist, explains how the magazine is turning to video with its new series The Economist Insider. The project shows editors debating major issues and gives viewers a sense of how the publication works behind the scenes. And Victoria Beckham has a new series on Netflix. Public-relations specialist Farzana Baduel, founder of Curzon PR, assesses the strategy behind “authorised access” documentaries and how they can help celebrities manage their image.

Presenters: Katie Razzall
Producer: Lisa Jenkinson
Assistant Producers: Lucy Wai and Elena Angelides
Production Coordinator: Ruth Waites
Technical Coordinator: James Cherry
Sound: Robin Schroder

The Media Show: Reporting from Inside Putin’s Russia

The Wagner group has been linked to military conflicts around the world, but who are they?

The Russian mercenary organisation is believed to have been founded nearly 10 years ago, but ramped up recruitment in recent years, particularly since the beginning of Russia's war in Ukraine. According to the UK Ministry of Defence, it now commands 50,000 fighters in Ukraine alone, but is said to have links to other parts of the world, particularly in many African nations.

BBC Russia’s Andrei Goryanov has been based in Riga, Latvia since the BBC Russian Bureau relocated after the invasion of Ukraine. He explains who the Wagner Group are, where they have been and how aligned they are with President Putin and his government.

Presenter: Claire Graham
Producer: Owen McFadden

What is the Wagner Group?

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