The World Tonight

The agreements include allowing Britons to enter China for up to 30 days without a visa, Downing Street has said. The government is seeking closer trade ties with Beijing to help boost economic growth. But Conservative MP Harriet Cross tells us she's concerned about the potential security implications of Chinese involvement in infrastructure projects.Also on the programme: We hear what life is like in Tehran after the government crackdown on protesters in Iran. And the organist and broadcaster Nigel Ogden has died at the age of 71 – we hear from his friend and fellow organist Phil Kelsall.

President Trump has warned Iran that time is running out to negotiate a nuclear deal, threatening Tehran with a ‘massive armada' headed to the Middle East. We assess the US military build up in the region and hear what protestors inside Iran think.Also on the programme: As Keir Starmer prepares to meet the Chinese President, we hear from the son of jailed British pro-democracy campaigner Jimmy Lai.And the two-year-old snooker prodigy who has broken two world records with his trick shots.

As Keir Starmer prepares to fly to Beijing, can he sell his trip as an economic win - without selling out on human rights?We hear from a Labour MP - and we visit London's Elephant and Castle neighbourhood, where the links between UK and China are visible - and appear to be growing. Also on the programme: on Holocaust Memorial Day, we speak to Maurice Blik, the man who became a famous sculptor on the origins of his craft - in a concentration camp. And.. as MENSA turns eighty - can it stay relevant?

After another US citizen is killed by immigration agents in Minneapolis - will a change of tone from the White House alter the public mood?We'll speak to the former head of US Customs and Border Protection. Also on the programme: a turbulent 36-hours in British politics as Suella Braverman defects and Andy Burnham is blocked. So is it a double win for Reform UK?

Keir Starmer has hit back at Donald Trump's claim that NATO forces stayed away from the front line in Afghanistan, calling it “insulting and frankly appalling”. We hear from an American who served alongside British troops and later became a senior Pentagon official under Trump. Also on the programme: decision time for Andy Burnham, who has less than 24 hours to decide whether to plot a return to Parliament.And Minneapolis grinds to a halt as opponents of immigration enforcement raids hold a general strike in the city.

As Moscow says peace talks to end the war in Ukraine have begun, President Zelensky launched a strident attack against his European allies at Davos for being in ‘Greenland mode' and failing to take action independently of the US. We hear from a correspondent who's spent time on the front line in the Donbas. Also on the programme: Westminster is flung into speculation as a Manchester seat is to become vacant, potentially giving Andy Burnham a route back into parliament. And mysterious organisms that dominated the ancient landscape: once thought to be fungi, now scientists at the University of Edinburgh believe they are part of a distinct evolutionary branch of life.

The US President said a "very productive" meeting with the head of NATO has led to the framework of a potential deal covering Greenland and the Arctic regions. We speak to a member of the Greenland parliament and a Republican close to Trump. Also on the programme: the latest on the 'Board of Peace' for Gaza; the UK government announces a cash injection for the arts; driving test cheats; and Mel Brooks's son Max on a new documentary about his father.

While European leaders criticised President Trump's plan to acquire Greenland, he insisted there was "no going back". We speak to a former UK ambassador to the Trump administration.We hear about clashes between the Syrian government and the country's Kurdish minority, and the implications for Islamic State captives. And could a cancer screening scheme on the Shetland Islands become a model for preventative medicine?

Donald Trump has vowed to follow through on his threat to impose tariffs on European countries who oppose his demand to take control of Greenland. We hear from former US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel on whether his Republican Party colleagues in Congress are likely to support legislation curbing the President's ability to spend money on any potential US military action to secure Greenland.Also in the programme: The government will consult on whether social media should be banned for under-16s in the UK. But would such a measure actually make children safer online?And as American country music legend Dolly Parton turns 80, we explore why her songs have lasted the test of time.

The chief constable of West Midlands Police, Craig Guildford, one of the country's most senior police officers, has retired after damning criticism of a decision to ban Israeli fans from a match against Aston Villa. A crossbench peer, Lord Austin, who is the government's trade envoy to Israel, welcomes the departure, but local MP Ayoub Khan defends Mr Guildford, saying he acted in good faith.Also on the programme: we speak to the lawyer for the family of Renee Good, who was shot and killed in Minnesota by a US immigration agent; and we hear how a new Game of Thrones spin off could bring a boost to tourism in Northern Ireland.

In a hastily arranged press conference, Robert Jenrick said the Conservatives had failed so badly he couldn't remain one of them. We hear from Conservative former chief whip Lord Hart - and our political editor Chris Mason analyses what today means for British politics.Also on the programme: President Trump still has his sights set on Greenland, despite the arrival of a contingent of European troops on the territory. But members of Congress are trying to block President Trump's ambitions - we're joined by one of them, Democrat Bill Keating.And why there's a campaign for English Evensong to be recognised with world heritage status.

The countries are reducing the number of personnel at the Al-Udeid air base in Qatar, as US President Donald Trump considers whether to take action against Iran over its crackdown on anti-government protests.Also on the programme: Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood says she has lost confidence in West Midlands Police's chief constable after Israeli football fans were banned from a match against Aston Villa. The government's independent adviser on antisemitism, Lord Mann, responds to a "damning" review from the policing watchdog over the intelligence that led to Maccabi Tel Aviv fans being banned.And as members of the band The Police battle it out in court over royalties, we explore what happens when musical groups fall out.

More than 2,000 people have been killed during the violent crackdown by security forces on protests in Iran, a human rights group has said, as President Trump promised Iranians that help was "on its way". Also on the programme, the government performs yet another U-turn - as its drops its requirement for mandatory digital ID cards to work in the UK. We remember the controversial Dilbert cartoonist Scott Adams who has died aged 68. And the Oscar-nominated documentary about the impact of pro-war propaganda on Russia's schoolchildren - and a teacher who tried to resist it.

President Trump has said that any country doing business with Iran will pay a tariff of 25 per cent on all business with the US. We also hear from an Iranian living in the UK who has just returned from Tehran, where she joined protestors on the streets. And as the UK government says it's concerned about the amount of time under fives are spending on screens, we look at how the content they're seeing and its impact on them is changing.

Some people have used Grok to create sexualised images of children and women, and Downing Street has today accused social media site X, which runs the AI tool, of "insulting the victims of misogyny and sexual violence" with its response to criticism. The company said it has now limited the use of this image function to those who pay a monthly fee.We hear from the mother of one of Elon Musk's children who claims the AI tool was used to create sexual images of her as a child.Also on the programme: President Trump warns Iran's regime against violently suppressing protests; NASA astronauts forced to return home due to medical issue on board the International Space Station.

Protests are taking place in the city of Minneapolis, where an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer shot dead 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good on Wednesday. Vice President JD Vance today called the dead woman a ‘deranged leftist'. Minnesota governor Tim Walz has said state officials are being frozen out of the investigation by the FBI. Also on the programme: as Storm Goretti hits the UK and prompts a red warning for "danger to life", we hear live from an emergency responder in the Midlands. And Baby Elsa, found abandoned in east London two years ago, has been adopted and will see her siblings. A man who was a foundling passes on his lessons for her adoptive parents.

The governor of the US state of Minnesota, Tim Walz, has accused the Trump administration of having immigration policies designed to generate fear and headlines. It comes after a US federal agent shot dead a woman in the city of Minneapolis. The homeland security secretary, Kristi Noem, claimed the woman had tried to use her car to run over officers and called it an act of domestic terrorism. Also in the programme: the United States says it has seized two tankers linked to Venezuelan oil - one in the Caribbean and a Russian flagged vessel in the North Atlantic. We speak to Vice Admiral Kevin Donegan, former commander of the US Fifth Fleet between 2015 and 2017, and to Stephanie Baker, an expert on the "shadow" oil fleet; and the wildcard entrant at an International Tennis Federation event who struggled to even hit a serve.

Nicolas Maduro has insisted he's still the president of Venezuela as he pleaded not guilty to four charges of drug trafficking and terrorism. He told a court in New York that he was kidnapped by the US military. We speak to a journalist in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, and hear from a former US ambassador to Venezuela. We also hear from the former Labour leader, now interim leader of the left-wing Your Party, Jeremy Corbyn, who protested tonight against the capture of Maduro.Also on the programme: new research by the Resolution Foundation suggests deaths could outnumber births in the UK in 2026; and we speak to the photographer who spotted the fake rear admiral at a Remembrance Day parade in Wales.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has warned President Trump against interference after he said the US would come to the rescue if protesters were killed. We speak to an Iranian academic supportive of the government and hear from a protestor who wants a return of the country's monarchy that was deposed in 1979.Also on the programme: we hear from the South Atlantic from a team trying to preserve the legacy of the explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton; and to mark the 50th anniversary of the children's show Rentaghost we speak two members of the cast, Lynda La Plante and Christopher Biggins.

Swiss authorities say about forty people are known to have died in a fire that ripped through a bar packed with young people celebrating the New Year in the ski resort of Crans-Montana. At least 115 were injured - many with severe burns. We speak to a doctor who's treated many of the victims, and one of the UK's leading fire safety experts.Also on the programme:leaked details of the government's upcoming special needs reforms have prompted concern that some pupils may no longer get specialist provision. The Labour chair of the education select committee says any changes mustn't remove an entitlement.And as the King prepares to release a documentary about his environmental activism on a major streaming network, we'll discuss how Charles is reshaping the role of the monarchy.

Israel is revoking the licences of 37 aid organisations working in Gaza, saying they failed to meet the requirements of new registration rules. The UK government is among those warning of the humanitarian impact the move could have. One resident of Gaza tells us of her fears. Also on the programme: With drones increasingly lighting up the skies at New Year's celebrations, we hear a defence of the old-fashioned firework.And looking back as punk turns 50.

The protests began on Sunday after shopkeepers in Tehran's Grand Bazaar staged a strike over the plunging value of the Iranian currency. Now demonstrators are taking to the streets in an increasing number of cities across the country. Ali Rahmani, the son of Narges Mohammadi - a human rights activist who won the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize - tells us he hopes the demonstrations will lead to the collapse of the government. Also on the programme: we relive the disastrous speech that saw Tony Blair heckled by 10,000 Women's Institute members; and division in France over the legacy of film legend Brigitte Bardot.

China has begun military drills around Taiwan - weeks after Washington announced one of its biggest-ever arms sales to the island. We hear from a senior US congressman.Also on the programme: President Trump says he's unhappy after Russia accuses Ukraine of mounting a drone attack on one of President Putin's homes. But did they? We speak to our Russia Editor Steve Rosenberg.And we hear from the actor Warwick Davis who's just been awarded an OBE.

A US judge has temporarily blocked the detention of British social media campaigner Imran Ahmed, who took legal action against the US government over having his visa removed. The Center for Countering Digital Hate founder was among five people denied US visas after the Trump administration accused them of seeking to "coerce" tech platforms into censoring free speech. He told us he is being targeted for his work monitoring social media giants.Also on the programme: as the US carries out missile strikes against alleged Islamist targets in northern Nigeria we hear from a BBC reporter on the ground; and research finds women were more likely to be portrayed performing traditional roles in TV adverts this year, we ask why.

Two British campaigners are among those US has denied visas for being 'radical activists'. We have reaction from a Labour MP. Also: Bethlehem and Ukraine on Christmas Eve, diplomatic gifts, Winnie The Pooh.at 100, and the Colorado military base that tracks Santa.

Pro-Palestinian remand prisoners staging the largest organised hunger strike in over 40 years are to continue, after the government refused a meeting. We hear from the sister of one of them - and ask whether the government should now intervene.Also on the programme:The latest Epstein files include an email from Balmoral in which Ghislaine Maxwell is asked if she's found some new "inappropriate friends". We have the latest.And what do Christmas cracker jokes do to our brains?

The government says it will prohibit trail hunting too as part of its Animal Welfare Strategy, 21 years after banning fox hunting. We hear from a former Conservative minister and a Labour MP on a tradition that divides the country - and ask whether Labour's relationship with farmers is terminally broken.Also:Remembering Chris Rea, the self-effacing singer-songwriter from Middlesbrough whose deep gravelly voice beguiled millions, though not always himself.And amid calls for every school to have a choir, we hear what impact regular singing has had in one primary school in London.

The US justice department has released some of the so-called Epstein files - the long-awaited documents related to its investigations into the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The justice department faced a legal deadline to release the files by Friday, following months of pressure on Trump from both inside and outside his party. A number of famous faces are pictured - including former US President Bill Clinton, and musicians Mick Jagger and Michael Jackson, and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.Also on the programme: Two Palestinian men have told the BBC they were beaten and sexually abused by prison guards while in Israeli detention.And we hear live from Miami ahead of the controversial boxing bout between influencer Jake Paul and former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.

European leaders are locked in to negotiations tonight about seizing frozen Russian assets to help fund a major loan for Ukraine. But opposition remains, including from Hungary's Prime Minister Victor Orban.Also on the programme: The bookmakers favourite, Rory McIlroy, is the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year. We'll have reaction from a former Irish golfing champion.Why are younger people the most lonely in the UK? We put that question to three people in their 20s and 30s. And English Heritage draws flak from historians - for promoting an erroneous theory about Christmas.

Police have arrested two people "for racially aggravated public order offences" after they allegedly "shouted slogans involving calls for intifada" at a pro-Palestinian protest in central London. The arrests came hours after the Met and Greater Manchester Police said they would arrest people holding placards and chanting the phrase "globalise the intifada" - a reference to an uprising in the Palestinian territories in which thousands of Israelis and Palestinians died.Also on the programme: Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer says Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich must "pay up now" to victims of the war in Ukraine or face court action. Mr Abramovich, the former owner of Chelsea Football Club, pledged in 2022 that the £2.5bn he made from the sale of the club would be used to benefit victims of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.And three white-tailed eagles, recently reintroduced to the United Kingdom, have gone missing, prompting concern from conservationists.

British-born Rabbi Eli Schlanger and Rabbi Yaakov Levitan are to be buried on Wednesday, the Chabad of Bondi has confirmed. Australian officials are investigating claims that the two gunmen took part in military-style training in the Philippines.Also on the programme: The BBC understands that the UK is set to rejoin the EU's Erasmus student exchange scheme, five years after leaving it as part of the post-Brexit deal with the European Union. Water voles have been spotted for the first time in almost two decades by conservationists in Oxfordshire. And, we speak to the Welsh couple who have defied odds of more than 24 trillion to one, and won the National Lottery for a second time.

Germany's Chancellor says "huge progress" has been made in Berlin during negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. His optimism was echoed by US President Donald Trump who said, "we're closer now than we have been, ever." But questions remain over security guarantees for Kyiv and whether they'll be asked to surrender territory. We hear from a Foreign Office minister and a senior Ukrainian MP.Also on the programme: a day after the deadly attack on a Jewish celebration in Sydney, we discuss the security implications and hear from a survivor.And a BBC investigation finds nearly 90 flights linked to Jeffrey Epstein flew to and from UK airports, some with British women on board, who may have been trafficked.

The King said in a personal message that his cancer treatment will be reduced next year, thanks to early diagnosis, effective intervention and an adherence to doctors' orders.   Also on the programme: the Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, has said he is not 'comfortable' with a puberty blockers clinical trial that's set to go ahead in January, even though the clinical advice was to proceed with it. We hear from Gazans who having survived war and mass displacement, now face a winter storm and flooding. And, we reflect on the life and legacy of Scottish comedian Stanley Baxter, who has died at the age of 99.

A UK-based Hong Kong pro-democracy activist tells us fake, sexually-explicit images were sent to her neighbours.Also on the programme: As the Trump administration ramps up its campaign against Venezuela's president, it has also been helping the opposition leader leave the country. Encouraging news about efforts to slow climate change. And, a new documentary that looks at the legacy of the reality TV show To Catch A Predator.

Next week's strike by resident doctors in England may be averted after ministers offered the British Medical Association a fresh deal. Wes Streeting's offer includes a rapid expansion of specialist training posts as well as covering out-of-pocket expenses such as exam fees. The doctors' union has agreed to put the offer to members over the coming days, we hear from one resident doctor.Also on the programme: The United States has seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, in an escalation of the Trump administration's pressure campaign on Nicolas Maduro.And Israeli pop star and actress Noa Kirel condemns a decision by European broadcasters to pull out of next year's Eurovision Song Contest due to Israel's participation.

President Zelensky says he will seek to change the law to allow Ukraine elections to be held. Donald Trump has doubled down on his criticism of how European countries are being changed by immigration. And an artistic glass ceiling has been broken - as the Turner Prize goes to a sculptor with a learning disability.

Syrians are out on the streets across the country, celebrating a year on from the end of a fifty-year dictatorship. But with economic issues and sectarian violence persisting, how can Syria move onto a brighter future?Also in the programme: A new gene therapy proves promising for blood cancer patients; President Trump announces a $12bn support package for US farmers; and Paramount battles Netflix with a new bid to buy Warner Bros.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino presented Donald Trump with a newly created FIFA Peace Prize at the World Cup draw in Washington DC. The 2026 tournament will be held in the US, Canada and Mexico.Also on the programme: Netflix has agreed to buy Warner Bros' streaming and studio business, potentially paving the way for a radical reshaping of the entertainment industry; and the BBC finds that more than 250 LGBT people were subjected to electric shock aversion therapy by the NHS in the 1960s and 70s. We hear from a survivor.

Spain, Ireland, Slovenia and the Netherlands have all said they won't send acts to the Eurovision Song Contest next May in protest at Israel's participation. There have been calls for Israel to be excluded because of the war in Gaza, but members of the European Broadcasting Union, which organises the contest, rejected a push for a vote on the issue. Also on the programme: an Inquiry finds the Russian President Vladimir Putin "morally responsible" for the death by poisoning of Dawn Sturgess in Salisbury; and we remember Steve Cropper, the legendary guitarist who's died at the age of 84.

The President of the European Commission, Ursula Von Der Leyen, has set out revised plans to use frozen Russian assets to loan money to Ukraine. Meanwhile, a German arms manufacturer invests in a drone manufacturing plant in Swindon to boost Europe's defence. Also on the programme, Somali Americans in Minnesota react to president Trump's attack on their community; and the chance discovery of one of the world's largest species of octopus in Aberdeenshire.

Two of US President Donald Trump's closest envoys, Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner, today met with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin used the meeting to warn that Russia was not planning for war with Ukraine's European backers but was 'ready' for that eventuality. Also on the programme: we debate Justice Secretary David Lammy proposes scrapping jury trials for some cases; and we hear about the snake-handling church that's inspired a new piece of music.

UK-US agree zero tariffs deal on pharmaceutical products. The agreement means that the NHS will have to pay more for new medicines. We speak to a leading member of pharmaceutical industry. Also: The chairman of the Office for Budget Responsibility resigns after the body mistakenly released its assessment of the budget early. We hear from one MP supportive of the chairman's decision to quit. And Zootropolis, the new Disney animation that is breaking records.