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BBC World Service provides news and analysis in more than 40 languages.

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23/07/2024

Masomah Ali Zada feared being kidnapped or killed out training on her bike in Afghanistan. Now she's returning to the Olympics with the IOC Refugee Olympics team.

Masomah had a dream of being an Olympic cyclist, but as a woman growing up in Afghanistan, that dream seemed a long way off. At first, cycling was a way to feel strong, free, and discover her country. But as time went on, ever more conservative rules and pressure made it harder to train and compete in international competitions.

In 2016, Masomah and her family left Afghanistan and sought asylum in France. Here, she was able to train freely again. In 2020, she was selected to be part of the Refugee Olympic Team for the Tokyo Games and represent the more than 120 million displaced people around the world who have been forced to leave their homes. For Masomah, the opening ceremony was especially emotional: "I asked myself several times, is this a dream, or is it real? It was really a moment when you're proud of your journey. You're proud that you didn't give up," she says.

Masomah took part in the cycling time trial event. She remembers looking around at the other athletes' expensive bikes and feeling disappointed that she couldn’t match their speed and stamina. But then, "When I thought about my journey, my difficulty, my challenges, it gave me encouragement that I was now in the Olympic Games at the same level," she says.

Cycling has helped Masomah find her identity in a new country. She believes sport can benefit all people who have been displaced, giving them opportunity to enjoy themselves but also to connect, share and learn with other competitors.

Masomah won't be competing at Paris 2024, but as Chef de Mission she will lead the Refugee Olympic Team's 37 athletes. She hopes that the team will win their first Olympic medal, but she believes just being at the Games is sending out an important message.

"It's the best example to the world to show that we have to accept each other, respect each other, and we all have the right to live in peace," she says.

🎧 Hear more from Masomah and other People Fixing the World through Sport: https://bbc.in/3Wdrd4t

23/07/2024

What's for dinner tonight, and how do you know what's really in the food you buy?

23/07/2024

Nigeria's seen a surge in car brands manufactured locally, making cars specifically for the country's terrain and road conditions.

But now they face a challenge from Chinese companies doing the same thing, but cheaper.

🎧 Hear more: https://bbc.in/3zO6NaJ

22/07/2024

Which country hosted the best Olympics Opening Ceremony so far?

22/07/2024

Joe Biden has withdrawn from the US presidential race, and endorsed his deputy Kamala Harris for the Democratic Party nomination.

So who is Kamala Harris, and will the Democrats - and the voters - get behind her to take on Donald Trump in November's presidential election?

🎧 Hear analysis on The Global Story: https://bbc.in/4d2GKLq

21/07/2024

Joe Biden withdraws from the US presidential election race saying, "It is in the best interest of my party and the country".

🎧Listen to the Global News Podcast for more: https://bbc.in/3WvyTQJ

21/07/2024

"I hit this ball, it made this sound, the ball flew... it looked beautiful in this moment. I thought, wow, there is something in this game."

How former Nigerian international footballer Peter Odemwingie swapped goals for greens and switched to golf ⚽ 🏌🏽‍♂️

🎧 https://bbc.in/4cLLl4N

21/07/2024

On Friday 13 April 2029, an asteroid will come scarily close to the Earth. Scientists are certain it's NOT going to hit us, but what can they learn from this near-miss?

🎧 https://bbc.in/3Wsw4jx

21/07/2024

In Tbilisi, Georgia, a radical experiment in interfaith relations is taking place. The Peace Project is one of the world’s first to bring a mosque, synagogue, church, and other places of worship together under one roof.

🎧 https://bbc.in/3ybL8IU

21/07/2024

"Those hurdles are for me to jump, and to make sure the guys that come after me just walk through them."

When South Africa's Ntando Mahlangu received his first set of prosthetic "blade" legs, his whole world changed - and four years later, he was on the podium at the Rio Paralympics, with a silver medal around his neck for finishing second in the T42 200m sprint.

By the time he turned 20, he'd added two gold medals for sprinting and long jumping to his collection.

Ntando was born with fibular hemimelia, a condition that meant his legs didn't develop fully below the knees. After spending his childhood in a wheelchair, he made the decision to undergo amputation aged 10.

We hear from Ntando about growing up in rural South Africa, and how he's taught those around him to appreciate disabled people for who they are. He explains how seemingly small things in life have made a huge difference to him, and how walking on blades helped him develop as both an athlete and a human being.

🎧 Hear more from On The Podium: https://bbc.in/4bKkp3T

20/07/2024

"At events I sang Brazilian songs instead of giving boring speeches. After that, people kept asking me to sing."

Meet Lim Ki-mo, South Korea's ambassador in Brazilia who is also a samba star. The 59-year-old has gone viral after videos of him singing were posted online, and he's even performed at the famous Renascença Clube in Rio De Janeiro.

He tells us why he decided to start singing and how it's helped him in his ambassador role.

Hear more on this and other feel-good stories on our Happy Pod: https://bbc.in/4cLVIpi

20/07/2024

There's less than a week before the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics. For many athletes, competing at the Games is a dream come true.

"You just feel happiness that all your hard work has paid off."

🎧 Zeney Geldenhuys, a South African hurdler, and Kishmala Talat, a shooter from Pakistan, tell us what it takes and what it means to become an Olympian for the first time: https://bbc.in/46ay6b8

20/07/2024

How Ayia Napa went from a quiet fishing village... to a clubbing capital.

🎧 https://bbc.in/3ScyHU9

20/07/2024

How do you celebrate your son's wedding if you're Asia’s richest man? Mukesh Ambani held a series of lavish parties.

The guest list included Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg and Kim Kardashian, while Katy Perry, Rihanna and Justin Bieber gave private performances.

What does this tell us about India’s ultra-rich?

🎧 Hear more on The Global Story: https://bbc.in/4bQY84G

19/07/2024

A software update by cyber security firm Crowdstrike has caused major IT problems worldwide.

What went wrong, who's affected, and how likely is it for something similar to happen again?

🎧 https://bbc.in/4bYwenu

19/07/2024

What's the one cooking tip you would pass on to friends and family?

19/07/2024

Between 1963 and 1974, more than 2,000 people in Cyprus went missing during clashes, a coup and the Turkish invasion. Half have never been found.

Nick Neokleous is the President of the Organisation of Relatives of Missing Cypriots. His brother, Pavlos, went missing in 1974. Later, he found out he'd been killed. Pavlos was 19 years old when he died.

🎧 Hear more on Witness History: https://bbc.in/3WrI3xG

19/07/2024

The elephants are back! One of the world's largest elephant assemblies, Sri Lanka's "Great Elephant Gathering" has resumed after a five year break. 🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘

🎧 https://bbc.in/466w1go

18/07/2024

Roseline Umar, 73, took on weight-lifting in later life after her doctor advised her to lose some weight. She's been pumping iron five days a week in Nigeria for 16 years and says she isn't ready to retire yet. 💪🏾

🎧 What's stopping us from exercising in older age? https://bbc.in/4cJzMuF

18/07/2024

Why are students protesting in Bangladesh?

For days, the streets of the Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka, have been the scene of student protest and violent clashes with riot police. Demonstrations in other cities have also turned violent, with at least six people killed and hundreds injured. All schools and colleges nationwide have been closed indefinitely while the unrest continues.

The students are protesting the reinstatement of a highly controversial quota system that reserves a percentage of civil service and public sector jobs for the relatives of people designated as 'war heroes', those who fought for independence against Pakistan in 1971.

🎧 Shahidul Alam Drik, a Dhaka-based journalist, explains the reasons for the continuing protests against the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed: https://bbc.in/3Y8uogv

18/07/2024

"Unexpected item in the bagging area..." Aaargh! 😬

As many as a third of shoppers report that they hate self-checkout machines, but supermarkets and grocery stores across the world are installing more, as they aim to cut staff costs.

But the loss of personal service and unreliable technology has prompted complaints from customers. They have also led to an increase in thefts.

What's your view on automated checkouts?

Hear more on Business Daily: 🎧 https://bbc.in/3xNUKK1

18/07/2024

"I don't believe in feeding those who can afford to feed themselves. You should always try and help those who aren't able to support themselves".

This is what Bano Zulfiqar, a 77-year-old devout British Muslim housewife and mother, taught her four children. Giving to charity is also an important part of the Muslim faith - it's one of the five pillars of Islam.

After Bano's death in 2021, her eldest daughter Rahila decided that donating to a charitable project would be the best way to remember her mother. The funeral director at the mosque where Rahila and her siblings organised their mum’s funeral also suggested it would lead to continuous charity and would benefit her in the afterlife.

Rahila, a senior journalist at the BBC who has covered Asian stories for more than two decades, chose to share her personal story as she considered what sort of lasting legacy to leave for her mother.

She decided to donate to a water project for two schools in the north-west region of Pakistan, set up by the British-based Abaseen Foundation.

Three years after her mum’s death, Rahila went back to the UK city of Birmingham where she grew up, and where her mum passed away. She and her sister met up and shared memories of their mum.

Listen to more of Rahila’s journey on Heart & Soul: 🎧https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct5tf9

17/07/2024

JD Vance's former roommate says the Donald Trump VP pick plays "an angry character" on TV. But what was he like to live with? 🎧 https://bbc.in/3Wb7l1M

17/07/2024

"Uno, dos, tres, Hala Madrid!"

That's how superstar footballer Kylian Mbappe introduced himself to his new club at Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu stadium.

80,000 fans turned up for his official player presentation which has been described as a “rockstar” welcome. But how will the French forward fit into a team full of star players? 🎧 https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0jbxqrk

17/07/2024

Which emoji best sums up your mood today? 🤔

17/07/2024

Scientists are discovering new species on this "sky island" forest in Mozambique.

Perched on a remote mountain top and surrounded by lowlands, Mabu is the largest rainforest in southern Africa.

It was in part protected by Mozambique’s long history of civil war, the longest of which ended in 1992, and the fact that it's just very hard for most people to get to.

At least 25 new species have been discovered in Mabu, uniquely adapted to the local environment, including butterflies, snakes, bats, crabs, a chameleon and one of Africa's rarest birds.

🎧 Listen to the BBC's Jonah Fisher as he treks up into Mabu, following a team of scientists as they find yet more curious creatures in the hope their discoveries will secure the forest's future: https://bbc.in/3y7soKz

16/07/2024

England manager Gareth Southgate has announced he's stepping down, following his team's defeat to Spain at the final of the Euros on Sunday. ⚽

Former Chief Executive of the country's Football Association, Mark Palios, says, "I think he’s the best England manager we’ve had,” and finding his replacement will be no easy task.

What's your view on Southgate's legacy, and who do you think could replace him?

🎧 https://bbc.in/3y1Ppia

16/07/2024

Argentina fans have been celebrating as the players return home following their record 16th win at the at the weekend. ⚽ 🇦🇷

Lionel Messi was substituted in the final due to an injury. Will he represent Argentina at the 2026 World Cup?

Journalist Nicolás Rotnitzky says the team's experience and squad depth helped them clinch another title.

🎧 https://bbc.in/4f4N7zq

16/07/2024

How a Brazilian Instagram influencer was jailed for human trafficking and slavery.

BBC Eye Investigations and BBC News Brasil uncover the truth behind the rise of wellness influencer and spiritual life coach Kat Torres, and the international search for her trafficked followers.

Watch the full documentary on our YouTube channel: https://bbc.in/4cJNpu0

16/07/2024

Donald Trump has named JD Vance as his Republican running mate for the US presidential election.

A bandaged Mr Trump has appeared at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, just two days after an attempt on his life at a rally in Pennsylvania.

But who is JD Vance, the potential next vice president? The Ohio senator and author of best-selling memoir Hillbilly Elegy reportedly heard he was selected just minutes before the announcement.

🎧 Hear more on Global News Podcast: https://bbc.in/4cH3TD0

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Videos

This windfarm in Finland can stop individual turbines if endangered seabirds get too close. 🎧 https://bbc.in/4cN0xyz

Out now – a brand new podcast investigation from the BBC, World of Secrets: The Apartheid Killer. Listen to the latest season of World of Secrets wherever you get your BBC podcasts.

Why are the seas salty? 🧂 🌊 Have you ever wondered why the oceans are salty, when fresh water from rivers run into them? Download Crowdscience for the answers to your salient saline questions 🎧 https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct5rh5 #science

Ayia Napa's clubbing revolution

How Ayia Napa went from a quiet fishing village... to a clubbing capital. 🎧 https://bbc.in/3ScyHU9

This 500-year-old Turkish bathhouse in Istanbul has been brought back to life. Koza Güreli Yazgan's mother bought the hamam in 2010 when it was in a state of near ruin. After over a decade of painstaking restoration work, which turned into an "archeological excavation" uncovering Roman and Byzantine artefacts, it's now open for visitors. "I think we gave back to Istanbul a really important cultural heritage building." Hear more cultural treats from Istanbul in The Arts Hour on Tour 🎧 https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct5qjl

The Asian elephants are back!

The elephants are back! One of the world's largest elephant assemblies, Sri Lanka's "Great Elephant Gathering" has resumed after a five year break. 🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘 🎧 https://bbc.in/466w1go

Roseline, the 73-year-old weightlifter

Roseline Umar, 73, took on weight-lifting in later life after her doctor advised her to lose some weight. She's been pumping iron five days a week in Nigeria for 16 years and says she isn't ready to retire yet. 💪🏾 🎧 What's stopping us from exercising in older age? https://bbc.in/4cJzMuF

Can the same raindrop travel all the way around the world? ☔️ We've been finding out how long it takes the same drop of water to make its way from the UK to New Zealand 🇬🇧 🇳🇿 Hear more on Crowdscience 🎧 https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct5rh4 #science

Instagram influencer jailed for human trafficking and slavery

How a Brazilian Instagram influencer was jailed for human trafficking and slavery. BBC Eye Investigations and BBC News Brasil uncover the truth behind the rise of wellness influencer and spiritual life coach Kat Torres, and the international search for her trafficked followers. Watch the full documentary on our YouTube channel: https://bbc.in/4cJNpu0

Did you know sea otters have a clever way of protecting their teeth? 🦷 🦦 Researchers have been observing how the creatures use rocks, shells and even bottles to smash open hard-shelled foods like crabs, mussels and snails. This allows them to eat foods which they wouldn't be able to open using just their teeth. The scientists also noticed that most of the tool-wielding otters were female, possibly because the tools allow them to overcome a smaller body size and weaker bite. Hear more about this fascinating animal 🎧 https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p07ck9yv #otters

Spain’s Lamine Yamal made history at the Euros semi-final against France, becoming the competition’s youngest ever goalscorer. But who is the 16-year-old wonderkid and why was he pictured with Messi as a baby? 🎧 https://bbc.in/3YiOS6n

The air fryer industry is booming. But it all started in 2006, with an invention by the Dutch engineer Fred van der Weij - who came up with a dog-kenned-sized prototype made out of wood and chicken wire. His daughter Suus tells us how her dad cooked a lot of bad chips until he got it right. 🍟 Hear more on Witness History 🎧 https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct5ygz

People Fixing The World: The oysters protecting New Orleans

How recycled oyster shells are helping protect Louisiana's coastline. 🦪 Find out more about the multi-million dollar restoration project 🎧 https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct5zn4

Mass tourism protesters squirt water at Barcelona tourists

These protesters in Barcelona are squirting tourists with water pistols. Thousands of people have been demonstrating against mass tourism in their city. Watch more on overtourism on YouTube: https://youtu.be/gfcKTMN-5CI

In the 1990s, a Canadian mining company claimed to have found huge gold deposits, deep in the Indonesian jungle. It led to a scramble to invest and shares skyrocketed. But there was a problem... there wasn't actually any gold. Hear the whole story on the Six Billion Dollar Gold Scam podcast 🎧 https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w13xtvt4/episodes/player

Cry Witch: Take My Land, Take My Life - BBC Africa Eye

🇰🇪 At least one elderly person loses their life every week in the name of witchcraft in Kenya’s Kilifi coast. #BBCAfricaEye investigates the true motives behind these brutal acts, revealing many are targeted by the very people who should be protecting them - their own families. 🎥 Watch the full documentary "Cry Witch: Take My Land, Take My Life" here: https://youtu.be/9dl1k79uGFA

Finding a way to regenerate heart tissue has become a holy grail for medicine - and scientists in Austria think they've found a way to do it. They've been using soundwaves known as shockwaves to regenerate the hearts of people with heart disease. Heart disease is the leading cause of death globally and there's currently no cure. But the researchers say this pioneering treatment will regenerate damaged tissue by applying mild soundwaves shortly after bypass surgery. The procedure, which takes about 10 minutes, is designed to stimulate the growth of new vessels around the area damaged or scarred after a heart attack. Hear more from the doctors behind the research on People Fixing the World 🎧 ❤️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct4y02

Hobby horses - sticks with a stuffed model of a horse head on top - are serious business for these competitors at Finland's Hobby Horse Championships. It's the biggest event of its kind in the world, with nearly 2,000 people competing in categories like show jumping and dressage. 🐎 Click the link in our bio to hear more on The Happy Pod. #hobbyhorse

It's 40 years since photographers Martha Cooper and Henry Chalfant published the "graffiti bible". Subway Art was an era-defining book about the early graffiti movement that had exploded onto abandoned buildings and underground trains around New York City in the 1970s and '80s. Hear more on Witness History 🎧 https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct5ygy #streetart #graffiti

Suborno Isaac Bari has just graduated from his high school in New York at just 12 years old. He'll now study maths and physics at New York University. And that's not all - he's also authored two books and taught classes in India! Speaking to BBC OS, Suborno says, "I still have a lot to learn... I'm fine with not being the smartest person in the room. I think there was this one quote that said, 'If you're the smartest person in the room you're in the wrong room.'" Hear more from Suborno and his very proud dad on OS. 🎧 https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w172zbj2n3g1qwt