Author: BBC World Service

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Focus on Africa - What’s Sudan’s case against the UAE?

Sudan is taking the United Arab Emirates to the International Court of Justice, accusing it of supporting Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. Khartoum argues the UAE is "complicit in the genocide" through military, financial and political backing for the RSF. The UAE has strongly rejected Sudan's allegations, calling the case a "cynical publicity stunt" and saying it will seek an immediate dismissal.

Also will China be able to fill the gap after the withdrawal of USAID in Africa?

And Jamestown in Ghana produces world boxing champions - but what's it like for women wanting to pursue the sport?

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

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Focus on Africa - Mozambique: New deal does not include main opposition

Mozambique’s President Daniel Chapo has started a dialogue with opposition parties on ending post-electoral tensions and reaching a political compromise. But his main political opponent was not included. Can there be a compromise deal without the participation of Venancio Mondlane?

Why do so many African women die of breast cancer? It is now one of the top causes of cancer deaths on the continent. Cancer specialists met in the Rwandan capital, Kigali, to discuss how to bring the numbers down.

And why has a move towards a royal divorce caused a scandal in the Zulu kingdom?

Presenter: Audrey Brown Technical Producer: Jonathan Greer Producers: Sunita Nahar and Nyasha Michelle in London Senior Journalist: Patricia Whitehorne Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

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CrowdScience - Is water wet?

The wetness of water seems blindingly obvious - but dive into the science and things aren’t so clear.

CrowdScience listeners Rachel and Callum were washing their hands one day and it got them thinking about wetness. Why does water feel the way it does? And what makes a liquid wet?

To find out, presenter Anand Jagatia takes a closer look at the behaviour of liquids with materials scientist Mark Miodownik, and finds out why they might not be as wet as we think.

We learn what’s really behind the sensation of feeling something wet on your skin, with the help of physiologist Davide Filingeri and PhD student Jade Ward.

And we turn to a philosopher, Vanessa Seifert, and a chemist, Tim Neudecker, to puzzle out exactly how many water molecules you need before the property of wetness emerges.

Presenter: Anand Jagatia Producer: Anand Jagatia Editor: Cathy Edwards Production Co-ordinator: Ishmael Soriano Studio Manager: Bob Nettles and Andrew Garratt

(Image: A photo of a droplet falling into a body of water Credit: Flaviu Cernea / 500pxvia Getty Images)

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Global News Podcast - The Ukraine War: What happens next?

What future for Ukraine? Your questions answered. Global News Podcast teams up with Ukrainecast for a special Q&A, in a week that has seen US military aid halted. Can Trump and Zelensky get back to talks on a peace deal?

Jackie Leonard will be joined by Ukrainecast's Vitaly Shevchenko, the BBC's Ukraine Correspondent James Waterhouse and Chief International Correspondent Lyse Doucet.

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Focus on Africa - Sudan: “The war has destroyed the spirit of Ramadan”

Calls for a ceasefire in Sudan during the month of Ramadan have been ignored. As the war approaches the three -year mark, those observing Ramadan in the country say, this year is the toughest yet.

Also, the BBC's International correspondent Orla Guerin returns to DR Congo and tells us what's changed from the time she first reported from the country, more than 20 years ago

And African authors on how they're making their books more available on the continent!

Presenter: Audrey Brown Technical Producer: Philip Bull Producers: Yvette Twagiramariya and Bella Hassan Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp Editirs: Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard

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Unexpected Elements - Silent science

Sparked by a silent album released by 1,000 musicians in protest of the UK government’s planned changes to copyright law, Unexpected Elements hits the pause button... Is there any science to silence?

Fear not, this week’s show is packed full of chatter! You might think there’s only one type of silence, but supposedly exists in political science too. In fact, there are seven distinct types.

If you're a techy you probably have a pair of noise cancelling headphones. But have you ever wondered how they work? We’ll take them apart to figure out how they work. Plus, dive into the fascinating world of gene silencing, definitely one of the coolest areas of genetics. Learn how this cutting-edge technology could help protect our crops from pests in the future.

Later, Caroline is joined by her two wonderful panellists to contemplate and reflect on silence, when might it be harmful? And does true silence even exist?

All that and many more Unexpected Elements.

Presenters: Caroline Steel, Candice Bailey and Kai Kupferschmidt

Producers: Harrison Lewis, with William Hornbrook, Debbie Kilbride and Noa Dowling

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Science In Action - An uncertain forecast for meteorology

As the new administration in the US continues to make cuts to government agencies and scientific funding, NOAA – the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has been particularly trimmed. This week the professional organisation for weather forecasters – the American Meteorological Society has published a statement pleading for clemency, arguing that the whole US Weather Enterprise is at risk. It’s current president elect, veteran weather broadcaster Alan Sealls describes how it’s not just US weather forecasts that appear bleak.

As the journal Science Advances publishes a special edition highlighting areas of women’s health research, we speak with two researchers who may have found a link between menopause – or perhaps hormonal changes – and the age it occurs, with Altzeimer’s Disease. Madeline Wood or the University of Toronto and Kaitlin Casaletto of UCSF describe how synaptic health – the fitness of the brain - at death seems even to be less attenuated in women who used hormonal therapy during their menopause. It is not however, yet suggested they are causally connected.

But we do connect research vessel Polarstern to have an update from Autun Purser and Nottingham University’s molecular biologist Liz Chakrabarti on their nearly completed voyage to the Weddel Sea, in the challengingly chilly Antarctic. They are gathering data and surveying the fauna on the sea floor below what is mostly covered in 3-4 meters of ice. The Icefish they see there are some of the only vertebrates not to have haemoglobin – nor even red blood cells – in their blood. So how, we wonder, do they actually move oxygen around their bodies? Maybe when the team publish their findings – which they are racing to do - we’ll find out.

Presenter: Roland Pease Producer: Alex Mansfield Production Coordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth

(Image: National Hurricane Center Monitors Hurricane Beryl's Activity In The Caribbean. Credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

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Focus on Africa - Will a west African single currency work?

The Ecowas countries are aiming to roll out a regional single currency - the Eco - in 2027. But past launch dates have come and gone, so will they meet the new target date and will a single currency work?

Malawi's agriculture minister refutes the claim that a global decline in tobacco use is affecting farmers in the country. But is his government also helping tobacco farmers to diversify?

And South Africa is running out of snake antivenom. What does that mean not only for South Africa, but other countries on the continent?

Presenter: Charles Gitonga Technical Producer: Philip Bull Producers: Sunita Nahar and Nyasha Michelle in London. Blessing Aderogba in Lagos Senior Journalist: Patricia Whitehorne Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

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Focus on Africa - Algeria and France in diplomatic row

French Prime Minister François Bayrou recently announced that his government will be "re-examining" a 1968 migration pact which has historically made it easier for Algerians to settle in France. The announcement came after years of diplomatic friction, which seems to be escalating. What's going on?

Also, Tanzania reverses the trend on maternal and newborn deaths. What are they doing differently?

And why tobacco farmers in Malawi are finding it difficult to farm other crops

Presenter: Charles Gitonga Technical Producer: Philip Bull Producers: Yvette Twagiramariya and Bella Hassan in London Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi