Author: BBC World Service

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Science In Action - Potential fungal ‘Agroterror’?

What is Fusarium graminearum and why were scientists allegedly smuggling it into the US? Also, Alpine Glacier collapse and an HIV capitulation.

The FBI has accused two Chinese scientists of trying to smuggle a dangerous crop fungus into the US, calling it a potential agro-terrorist threat. But the fungus has long been widespread across US farms, and elsewhere, and is treatable. So what’s going on? Frédéric Suffert, Senior researcher in plant disease epidemiology at France’s National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment, gives us some insight.

Last week, a glacier above the swiss village of Blatten collapsed and up to 12 million tonnes of ice and rock buried the idyllic, yet thankfully all-but evacuated, hamlet below. Daniel Farinotti of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology explains how it was monitored more than any such event before, and maybe, despite the tragedy, could help inform the science of such events in a warming world.

Amongst the latest cuts to scientific funding by the US government, two consortia working at advanced stages of a potential HIV vaccine have been told their funding will not continue. Dennis Burton of Scripps Research describes finding out.

The recipient of the Royal Society Faraday Prize 2024 gave his prize lecture last week. Titled Science Under Threat: The Politics of Institutionalised Disinformation, Salim Abdul Karim’s lecture is available on YouTube. Afterwards, he was kindly able to have a chat with Science in Action about his theme.

Presenter: Roland Pease Producer: Alex Mansfield Production co-ordinator: Jasmine Cerys George

(Photo: A hand holding an ear of wheat. Credit: Heather Schlitz/Reuters)

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Focus on Africa - Lesotho: Why are mothers against ‘bluetoothing’?

Mothers in Lesotho are campaigning against a needle sharing method which exposes drug users to the risks of HIV and other diseases, taking root in the country. What is 'bluetoothing' or 'hotspotting'?

Also, the wider impact of the rising Islamist attacks in West Africa

And why do people choose Hunger strikes as a form of protest, and are they effective?

Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Bella Hassan and Yvette Twagiramariya Technical Producer: Nick Randell Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp Editors: Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard

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Newshour - President Trump bans citizens of 12 countries from entering the US

Those banned include people from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Haiti and Sudan. Citizens from another seven countries face travel restrictions. President Trump said the new rules were designed to protect Americans from dangerous foreign actors and to stop people overstaying their visas. We hear from Republican Congressman Clay Higgins, who supports the move, and ask American law professor Barbara McQuade about its rationale and legality.

Also in the programme: as the bodies of two more hostages are recovered by the Israeli military in Gaza, we speak to the father of one hostage whose whereabouts are still unknown. And some new research that offers a glimmer of hope for an eventual cure for HIV.

(Photo: President Trump speaks during a Summer soiree at the White House in Washington, DC, on 4 June 2025. Credit: Eric Lee/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)

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Newshour - United Nations considers a new Gaza motion, opposed by the United States

The US has vetoed the UN Security Council's draft resolution calling for an "unconditional and permanent" ceasefire in Gaza. The meeting of ambassadors at the UN comes on the day the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross called the situation in Gaza "worse than hell on earth".

President Trump says he's had another phone conversation with Russia's President Putin about the war in Ukraine. During the call Mr Trump said the Russian President told him that Moscow would retaliate after Ukraine attacked Russian war planes over the weekend.

Also on the programme; Astronomers say they've discovered a big new planet, which is unusually orbiting around a very small star. The physicist who discovered the planet joins us.

And the American novelist, Edmund White, famous for chronicling gay life in the US - has died at the age of 85. We hear from Damian Barr, Scottish Writer and broadcaster, who shares his memories of meeting White.

(Photo: Smoke rises from Gaza after an explosion, as seen from Israel, 4 June, 2025. Reuters/Amir Cohen)

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Newshour - Gaza ‘should shock collective conscience’ – ICRC head

The head of the International Red Cross has told the BBC that what's happening in Gaza has crossed any acceptable legal or moral standard.

Mirjana Spoljarić said that the situation "should shock our collective conscience". Her comments come after dozens of Palestinians were killed near new aid distribution centres. A prominent US-Israeli businessman with long experience of humanitarian missions tells us what's gone wrong with the roll-out of aid by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.

Also in the programme: Six months after a botched military coup, South Korea has a new president; and we'll hear howpoverty is driving men from Lesotho to the illegal mines of neioghbouring South Africa.

(Photo shows people carrying aid supplies which they received from the U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip on 3 June 2025. Credit: Reuters TV)

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Focus on Africa - Dozens killed in twin Mali attacks

Mali's army says it has repelled attacks by jihadists on two military bases. Why is the Al-Qaeda linked group stepping up attacks?

South Africa's continued hunt for an alleged illegal mining kingpin in Lesotho

And why is Nigeria the worst place in the world to give birth in?

Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Sunita Nahar and Tom Kavanagh in London. Blessing Aderogba in Lagos Technical Producer: Francesca Dunne Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi