Author: BBC World Service

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World Book Club - Juhea Kim – Beasts of a Little Land

Harriett Gilbert talks with Juhea Kim about her debut novel Beasts of a Little Land.

Set during the turbulent years of Japanese-occupied Korea in the early 20th century, this sweeping historical epic traces the lives of two unforgettable characters: Jade, a young girl sold to a courtesan school, and JungHo, the orphaned son of a hunter who becomes swept up in the Communist resistance. Over five decades, their paths cross and recross as they navigate war, occupation, and revolution. Rich with lyrical prose, folklore, and unflinching insight into the brutality of empire, Beasts of a Little Land explores identity, loyalty, and the high price of survival.

Juhea Kim will be talking about why the Tiger is such an important symbol in Korean history, how her writing is structured like a symphony, and how as a writer she strives to show the humanity of all her characters when they are on very different sides of war and colonialism.

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Newshour - Trump moves nuclear submarines after Russian ex-president’s comments

Russian media have dismissed Donald Trump's announcement that he will deploy nuclear submarines closer to Russia. Mr Trump said his decision was prompted by “provocative comments” on social media by the former Russian president, Dmitry Medvedev. Mr Medvedev said in a post on X on Monday that President Trump was playing "the ultimatum game" with Russia, and that such an approach could lead to a war involving the United States.

Also in the programme: The world's first legislation to control artificial intelligence starts coming into force in the EU today; and from Gaza, the sixteen-year-old with a dream to become a great violinist.

(Photo: Dmitry Medvedev was Russia's president in 2008-12. Credit: Reuters)

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Global News Podcast - The Happy Pod: Learning begins with breakfast

Meet the charity which is providing free breakfasts for three million children across sixteen countries. We visit a school to see how Mary's Meals is helping children to focus on learning. Their biggest programme is in Malawi in south-east Africa, and for many students there, it's a reason to stay in school.

Also on the podcast, we hear from the micro-farm in Montreal growing fruit and veg for local people on low incomes. Plus a social club trying to combat loneliness in Venezuela by bringing elderly people together for a dance, and the Italians coming together to save a tiny island from developers.

The Happy Pod, our weekly collection of uplifting and inspiring stories from around the world. Part of the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service.

Presenter: Ankur Desai. Music composed by Iona Hampson.

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Global News Podcast - Trump moves nuclear submarines after Russian ex-president’s comments

President Trump says he's ordered two nuclear submarines to "be positioned in appropriate regions" in response to what he called "foolish and inflammatory" comments by Russia's former leader, Dmitry Medvedev. In a recent post, Mr Medvedev said US threats of tough sanctions on Russia over Ukraine were “a step towards war”. Mr Trump did not say if he was referring to nuclear powered or nuclear armed submarines. Also: Trump fires lead official on economic data as tariffs and weaker job growth cause market drop; Rhino horns turned radioactive to fight poachers in South Africa.

The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment.Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

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Newshour - Trump envoy visits controversial Gaza aid distribution site

President Trump says he wants to help the people of Gaza to live, following a visit by his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, to a controversial US and Israeli- backed aid site in the territory. Plus, the BBC investigates the cases of 160 children shot dead inside the Gaza Strip.

Also in the programme: Malawi hits its UN development goals for HIV and AIDS ahead of its targets; radioactive injections aimed at saving South Africa's rhinos; and we follow the market reaction to Donald Trump's global tariff deals -- and new US job figures.

(Photo credit: US government)

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CrowdScience - How are teeth made?

CrowdScience listener Jon started wondering how our teeth are created while he was in the dentist’s chair. It took his mind off the drilling. He wants to know how our teeth are made, what goes into them and how come we only get two sets of teeth when other animals, like sharks, grow thousands of new ones throughout their lives.

Anand Jagatia goes back to prehistoric times to discover how the story of teeth began millions of years ago. Palaeontologist Yara Haridy explains that teeth weren’t designed originally for eating at all, but as a kind of armour on the exoskeletons of fish that was also sensitive to the environment. It turns out that our teeth in fact are part of our evolutionary success story. Biological anthropologist Peter Ungar reveals that we flourished as a species because our teeth are designed to get the maximum energy from our food.

Anand discovers how teeth can even be grown in a lab when he meets researchers Ana Angelova Volponi and Xuechen Zhang whose team has managed to replicate the environment in which teeth develop. He also talks to Katsu Takahashi who has discovered a method for developing a third set of teeth. It’s a whole new way of creating teeth that will change the way we make them.

Presenter Anand Jagatia Producer Jo Glanville Editor Ben Motley Studio Manager Bob Nettles Production co-ordinator Ishmael Soriano Translation, Katsu Takahashi interview Bethan Jones

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Newshour - The story of a little girl shot in Gaza

The BBC World Service has pieced together the story of two-year-old Layan al-Majdalawi, who was killed in Gaza in areas where the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) was operating. Layan is just one of more than 160 cases of children shot in the war in Gaza, for whom we have gathered accounts. The IDF told us they are examining the case, and that: "Intentional harm to civilians, especially children, is strictly prohibited."

Also the programme: President Trump announces he is imposing higher tax rates on imports to America from dozens of countries who've failed to reach a trade deal with him; and Chinese schoolgirl Yu Zidi becomes the youngest swimmer in history to win a medal at the World Aquatics Championships.

(Picture: Layan al-Majdalawi, two, killed in Gaza in November 2023. Credit: Majdalawi family).

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Focus on Africa - DR Congo’s football deal with FC Barcelona

DR Congo have agreed a multi-million kit deal with Spanish football club Barcelona, rasing many questions. We hear from Dr Congo's Sports Minister, Didier Budimbu.

Also, Northern Nigeria is facing food insecurity with the UN warning that aid cuts will push Nigerians into the arms of Boko Haram jihadists.

And Kenya proposes drastic plans to control alcohol intake, following Ghana along the same pathway. So what can Kenya expect? We hear from a Ghanaian influencer.

Presenter: Charles Gitonga Producers: Richard Kagoe in Nairobi. Yvette Twagiramariya, Patricia Whitehorne, Sunita Nahar and Mark Wilberforce in London Technical Producer: Francesca Dunne Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

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Global News Podcast - US announces new tariffs for dozens of countries

President Trump's new tariffs on more than 90 countries will come into effect next Thursday, unless trade deals are negotiated before then. Also: Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, inspects aid sites in Gaza, sacred jewels linked to the Buddha are returned to India, and the Edinburgh Festival begins.

The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

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Unexpected Elements - Traffic science

This week, a viral video of a robo-traffic-cop in Shanghai has the team contemplating the science of traffic. How do traffic jams with no discernible cause actually form? Does the weather experience traffic jams? And why do our cords also seem to get tangled in their own little cord-traffic-jams no matter how hard we try to keep them separate?

Christine Yohannes from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and Tristan Ahtone in Helsinki, Finland, join Marnie Chesterton to discuss all this, plus many more Unexpected Elements.

Presenter: Marnie Chesterton, with Christine Yohannes and Tristan Ahtone Producers: Margaret Sessa-Hawkins, with Alice Lipscombe-Southwell and Lucy Davies