Author: BBC World Service

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Focus on Africa - DRC: Inside a mine controlled by M23

A recent US-brokered peace deal may have raised hopes of stability in eastern DRC. However, miners have told the BBC that M23’s control of mineral-rich areas could keep the conflict going.

US aid cuts are forcing HIV clinics across Africa to shut down, with South Africa hit hardest. Experts are also warning that this could stall vaccine research and reverse years of progress.

And Uganda has overtaken Ethiopia as Africa’s top coffee exporter, shipping 47,000 tonnes in just one month. How did they do it?

Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Bella Hassan, Stefania Okereke and Nyasha Michelle Technical Producer: Pat Sissons Senior Journalist: Yvette Twagiramariya Editors: Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard

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Unexpected Elements - Sharks, albatrosses, the Jaws theme and fishing

Shark Awareness Day on 14th July sends us on a deep dive into marine biology.

First, we learn how shark-inspired materials could help make aeroplane flights more efficient.

Next, we hear about the fish that don’t flee from sharks... instead, they seek them out to help them hunt.

Bob Duke, Meyerson Professor of Music and Human Learning at the University of Texas, Austin, joins us in the studio to reveal how and why the iconic Jaws music taps into our psychology to leave us trembling.

We also hear about a couple of tiny islands in the Southern Ocean, on which an unexpected predator is wreaking havoc.

Plus, why a tiny fish is being ground up and fed to other fish.

All that, plus many more Unexpected Elements. Presenter: Marnie Chesterton, with Leonie Joubert and Christine Yohannes Producer: Alice Lipscombe-Southwell, Imaan Moin, Minnie Harrop and Margaret Sessa Hawkins

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Newshour - 15 people killed outside medical clinic in Gaza

The CEO of Gaza aid group Project Hope tells Newshour there is ‘no justification’ for the killing of civilians seeking medical care, after an Israeli strike killed 15 Palestinians, including ‘at least 8 children’, waiting outside its clinic in central Gaza. The IDF said it had been targeting a Hamas fighter who took part in the October 7th attack. Also on the programme: we speak to Brazilian President Lula De Silva's chief foreign policy advisor following Mr Lula's pledge to match 50% US tariffs; and the original Birkin handbag has been sold at auction for more than ten million dollars. (Pictures A Palestinian woman reacts as casualties are brought into Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital following an Israeli strike, in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, July 10, 2025. REUTERS/Ramadan Abed)

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Science In Action - Tracking ocean circulation systems

The European Space Agency plans to use satellite gravity data to track weakening ocean circulation systems. Rory Bingham of the University of Bristol explains how these satellites can ‘weigh’ the Earth’s water and might help resolve whether we’re approaching the climate tipping point of a shutdown of ocean circulation in the Atlantic Ocean, something we've been following for a while.

Scientists have been able to retrieve ancient proteins from fossilized tooth enamel in the Canadian High Arctic. Ryan Sinclair Paterson from the University of Copenhagen tells us how he can fill in the blanks of the molecular tree of life with these proteins from over 20 million years ago.

A few weeks ago, we discussed evidence of an impact of a massive crater in northwestern Australia from over 3 billion years ago. However, recent independent evidence from another team of geologists indicate that the size and age of this crater’s impact may not be what some had previously thought. Alec Brenner of Yale University talks us through his analysis of the geologic evidence.

Finally, we rediscover a forgotten pioneer of fusion science. Mark Cavendish discusses the research done by then-graduate student Arthur Ruhlig that helped develop the hydrogen bomb and thermonuclear physics.

Presenter: Roland Pease Producers: Imaan Moin with Alex Mansfield Production Coordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth

(Image: Map of North Atlantic Ocean currents, with Gulf Stream and other currents. Credit: PeterHermesFurian Via Getty Images.)

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Newshour - South Africans fear spike in HIV infections as US aid cuts bite

The UN agency dealing with AIDS and HIV warns of millions of new cases, directly as a result of global funding cuts. We hear from the head of the agency -- and from one of the most exposed countries, South Africa.

Also, Ukraine comes under another huge Russian drone and missile attack.

And a century old geological puzzle solved in Scotland.

(Photo credit: Reuters)