Southern European countries have issued health and fire warnings as temperatures may exceed forty Celsius this weekend. Spanish emergency services are on standby for a surge in heatstroke cases, while Italian authorities are advising residents in several cities to stay indoors during the middle of the day. We hear from the UN Habitat's Global Heat Officer, Dr Eleni Myrivili.
Also in the programme: reportage from our Chief International Correspondent Lyse Doucet in Iran; a controversial smoking ban in France; and a high-profile wedding in Venice.
(Photo: People cool off in a fountain during a heatwave, in Rome, Italy, 28 June 2025. Credit: ANGELO CARCONI/EPA/Shutterstock)
Tehran stages a mass state funeral for senior Iranian military commanders and nuclear scientists killed in Israeli attacks. The BBC's Lyse Doucet reports from the scene, where large crowds have gathered on the streets.
Also in the programme: Christians in Damascus prepare to attend church services on Sunday despite the biggest sectarian attack on their community in a century last weekend; and as France brings in a ban on smoking at beaches, parks and other public spaces, we hear from one outraged smoker.
(IMAGE: People attend the funeral procession of Iranian military commanders, nuclear scientists and others killed in Israeli strikes, in Tehran, Iran, June 28, 2025 / CREDIT: Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS)
We meet Jack Pepper, the composer who's written a song for King Charles. The piece celebrates the harmony between people and the natural world. Also: hope for Alzheimer's patients; and how tourism could help stray dogs.
The top court in the US has ruled judges in lower courts have limited ability to block presidential orders. Also: DR Congo and Rwanda sign long-awaited peace deal, and should we be letting maggots eat our food waste?
UNICEF spokesperson James Elder responds to allegations made by the head of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, Reverend Johnnie Moore, who told Newshour that the UN was being dishonest about reports of Palestinians being killed near GHF aid sites.
Also on the programme: Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo sign a peace deal in Washington, but concerns remain over long-term stability; and the “wedding of the year” as celebrities flock to Venice for Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez’s celebrations.
(Photo: Palestinians gather to collect what remains of relief supplies from the distribution centre of the U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, 5 June 2025. Credit: Reuters/Stringer)
No one really cares that CrowdScience listener Sam has a younger brother, but they do care about his sister. In fact, they’re fascinated by her. That’s because Sam and his sister are fraternal twins.
He’s been wondering all his life why he’s treated differently. Could it be cultural? Twins have long appeared in classical mythology, revered literature, and playful comedies—captivating artists and audiences alike across time and continents. Or is there something more scientific behind our fascination? Why are twins special?
Anand Jagatia investigates with Karen Dillon from Blackburn College in the USA, who says it’s more complicated. Over the years we have created stereotypes of who and what twins are. Our perception has been warped by history and pop culture. As an identical twin herself, she knows firsthand how stereotypes can shape a twin’s identity.
Philosopher Helena De Bres from Wellesley College in the USA believes these stereotypes play on human anxieties. Their similarities and differences are derived from their biology, maybe our genes have more of an influence over our personalities and behaviours than we like to think?
And Nancy Segal agrees, Director of the Twin Studies Centre at California State University in the USA. She has spent her career studying twins. She’s found that nearly every trait, whether it be behavioural or physiological, has a genetic component to it.
Anand is sure to leave you thinking that Sam, his sister and all the other twins across the globe, really are special!
Presenter: Anand Jagatia
Producer: Harrison Lewis
Series Editor: Ben Motley
(Image: Twin girls (8-10) wearing matching coats and pigtails. Credit: Jade Albert Studio, Inc via Getty Images)
Civil organisations in Mozambique say at least 120 children have been kidnapped by insurgents in the north of the country. The Human Rights Watch group warn of a rise in abductions in the country's troubled nothern province of Cabo Delgado. The children are reportedly being used by Al-Shabab, an insurgent group linked to the so-called Islamic State, to transport looted goods, cheap labour and in some cases as child soldiers. We'll hear from someone closely monitoring the kidnappings.
Also, are there increased US bombings against targets in Somalia since Donald Trump became president?
And we meet Cathy Dreyer, the first female ranger to head up the team at the Kruger National Park in South Africa!
Presenter: Audrey Brown
Producers: Alfonso Daniels and Nyasha Michelle
Technical Producer: Jack Graysmark
Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp
Editors: Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard
More Palestinians are reported to have been killed waiting for food near an aid site run by Israel and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.
The head of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation tells us that it is the victim of a disinformation campaign.
Also on the programme: Tonga's minister of health has a message for the hackers demanding a $1m ransom; and the Argentine-born composer, Lalo Schifrin, the man behind the Mission Impossible theme, has died at the age of 93.
(Photo: A Palestinian carries a sack as he and others gather to collect aid supplies from the U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, May 29, 2025. Credit: Reuters)
The US pumps millions into Gaza Humanitarian Foundation - but MSF calls the scheme "slaughter masquerading as aid." Also: US set to get rare earth metals after deal with Beijing, and a breakthrough against a rare disease.
This week, Enigmacursor mollyborthwickae has been unveiled at London's Natural History Museum. This newly described herbivorous dinosaur has inspired us to take a stomp through the science of ancient animals, mass extinctions and fossils.
First up, we hear about a shepherd who recently found a South African dinosaur, which has helped shed light on the period between the Triassic and Jurassic.
We then take a look at some new theories that suggest the mass extinctions that wiped out ancient creatures may not have been as massive as we thought.
But one extinction definitely is currently underway, according to ecologist Professor Dave Goulson. And that’s the mass extinction of insects.
Plus, we find out the latest theory of why the Tyrannosaurus rex had such tiny arms, and we meet the rat ancestors that munched on dinosaurs.
All that, plus many more Unexpected Elements.
Presenter: Marnie Chesterton, with Candice Bailey and Camilla Mota
Producer: Margaret Sessa Hawkins, with Alice Lipscombe-Southwell and Minnie Harrop
