Podcasts about campaigners

The Off-Key Choir in Southport on Merseyside has a simple motto: just because you can't sing doesn't mean you shouldn't. Around 80 members come together every week to sing their hearts out, without the pressure to hit all the right notes. Since it was formed in 2018, the choir has also acted as a support group. It has become so popular there is now a waiting list to join.Also: the successful canopy bridge project giving animals a safe way to cross roads in the vast Amazon rainforest. How a pirate ship themed video game is helping stroke survivors in Mexico to regain mobility. A pilot scheme from Guide Dogs is turning ultrasound scans into 3D printed models for expectant parents with sight loss to feel their unborn baby's features. Campaigners across Africa are celebrating after a UN vote to adopt a new world map reflecting the true size of the continent. Plus, as a new Gruffalo book is released, we hear why the original story resonates with so many children. (Image: Sheila Byrne, member of the Off-Key Choir. Credit: BBC)Presenter: Chantal Hartle. Music: Iona Hampson

In a dramatic and closely fought vote on 11 September 2026, the House of Commons rejected legislation that would have legalised assisted dying for terminally ill adults in England and Wales. MPs voted 286 to 270 against the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill at its second reading, a majority of just 16 that ended the latest parliamentary effort to change the law.Brought to you by the English Programme. Featuring news, politics, popular culture, celebrity trivia, quizzes, book readings, and a whole host of fun.Support Our Rescue Cats | Our Blog | Get New Episodes By Email | Rumble | X | YouTube | NewsK365 on Spreaker | Get New Blog Posts By Email | Throne Wishlist |

In a striking reversal, former Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries has publicly admitted that the Online Safety Act she helped steer through Parliament has failed in its core aims. Brought to you by the English Programme. Featuring news, politics, popular culture, celebrity trivia, quizzes, book readings, and a whole host of fun.Support Our Rescue Cats | Our Blog | Get New Episodes By Email | Rumble | X | YouTube | NewsK365 on Spreaker | Get New Blog Posts By Email | Throne Wishlist |

In a dramatic and closely fought vote on 11 September 2026, the House of Commons rejected legislation that would have legalised assisted dying for terminally ill adults in England and Wales. MPs voted 286 to 270 against the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill at its second reading, a majority of just 16 that ended the latest parliamentary effort to change the law.Brought to you by the English Programme. Featuring news, politics, popular culture, celebrity trivia, quizzes, book readings, and a whole host of fun.Support Our Rescue Cats | Our Blog | Get New Episodes By Email | Rumble | X | YouTube | NewsK365 on Spreaker | Get New Blog Posts By Email | Throne Wishlist |

In a striking reversal, former Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries has publicly admitted that the Online Safety Act she helped steer through Parliament has failed in its core aims. Brought to you by the English Programme. Featuring news, politics, popular culture, celebrity trivia, quizzes, book readings, and a whole host of fun.Support Our Rescue Cats | Our Blog | Get New Episodes By Email | Rumble | X | YouTube | NewsK365 on Spreaker | Get New Blog Posts By Email | Throne Wishlist |

In CI News this week: MPs reject dangerous plans to legalise assisted suicide in England and Wales, Stormont has been warned that a ‘conversion therapy' ban will bake gender self-ID into law, and more than ten thousand people march for life in London. You can download the video via this link. Featured stories ‘Praise God': Assisted suicide Bill defeated in House of Commons Stormont ‘conversion therapy' Bill enables self-ID in law, top KC warns Campaigners urge PM to tackle ‘censorship crisis' March for Life: ‘Abortion wounds families'

Should children of parents receiving benefits continue to be given priority when it comes to funded pre-school places? He argues he's 'levelling the playing field' but anti-poverty campaigners say it'll widen the attainment gap Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A round-up of the main headlines in Sweden on 31st August 2026. You can hear more reports on our homepage www.radiosweden.se, or in the app Sveriges Radio. Presenter/producer: Kris Boswell.

On 31st October 2004, Uruguayans voted to enshrine water as a human right in their constitution, the first country in the world to do so. The so-called water referendum was organised by an alliance of residents' associations, trade unions, scientists, and environmentalists. Campaigners on horseback criss-crossed the country, they held community meetings in towns and villages across Uruguay and collected 283,000 signatures, the number required to make the government hold a plebiscite, which they overwhelmingly won. The campaign began when two local water companies were privatised and residents complained that those who could not afford the fees were cut off from the water supply.Six years after Uruguay's referendum, the United Nations General Assembly declared water and sanitation a universal human right and 30 countries have since included the right to water in their constitutions.Carmen Sosa, a member of the water workers trade union, tells Grace Livingstone how they galvanised the country.Witness History is a short BBC World Service podcast about history that takes you inside big moments from the past through first-hand testimony and archive. Each weekday, in around nine minutes, we revisit one moment that helped shape the world and hear it through the voice of someone who was there. Scientists, artists, campaigners, soldiers, leaders and everyday people tell their true stories.When you subscribe to Witness History, you'll be taken inside turning points in world affairs from West Africa's fight back against Boko Haram in 2015 to the behind-closed-doors talks that led to the US-Cuba “thaw” and the surprise announcement of restored relations. You'll discover what it was like to experience disasters and how people recovered from them, including the Tabasco floods in Mexico, Portugal's worst train disaster, and the huge clean-up after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. You'll explore culture and ideas too: Sweden's Expedition Robinson, often credited as the first modern reality TV game show; the friendship between The Beatles' George Harrison and Indian sitarist Ravi Shankar; and the night a tiger attack brought Las Vegas superstars Siegfried and Roy's show to a sudden end. And if you're curious about inventions, we'll tell you how air fryers, BlackBerry, YouTube, Alexa, GPS, superglue, the shopping cart (shopping trolley) and bubble tea were created.If you're new to Witness History, the appeal is simple: real voices, one strong true story, and a fresh way to understand today through events from history – all in the time it takes to enjoy a cup of tea or a walk around the block. Join millions of BBC World Service podcast listeners around the globe and enjoy the insight, context and detail Witness History will bring you.(Photo: Carmen Sosa. Credit: Grace Livingstone)

PJ hears how the MV Matthew might have fetched €3.36 million, why campaigners are demanding access to Skyclarys, efforts to save Kinsale's community orchard. And more... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Campaigners are worried what's proposed will weaken safeguards around products children handle and use. 

You might know someone struggling in a relationship looking for help. Our special guest today is behind a new ?conversation starter evangelism resource?. He says we have been created for relationships. Life, Culture and Current Events from a Biblical Perspective with Neil Johnson.Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham's government sent mixed messages over whether it was considering a public inquiry into Jeffrey Epstein's activities in Britain. Victims minister Alex Davies-Jones said Burnham was taking the issue seriously, had agreed to meet Epstein survivors and was examining what action could be taken. Justice minister Jake Richards similarly said no stone should be left unturned and indicated that Burnham would consider the available options. Hours later, however, Downing Street clarified that a public inquiry was not being actively considered, while the Ministry of Justice said the government was only reviewing possible ways to support survivors and address broader systemic failures.The government was also reviewing demands for an inquiry into Mohamed Al Fayed, the former Harrods owner accused by hundreds of women of sexual assault, rape, exploitation and trafficking. Campaigners called for a wider “impunity” inquiry examining how wealthy and powerful men allegedly benefited from institutional protection, potentially covering Epstein, Al Fayed and allegations against West Ham co-owner David Sullivan. Supporters wanted any Epstein inquiry to investigate how he traveled through Britain, including his reported use of military airfields while accompanied by women who may have been trafficked. Former minister Jess Phillips argued that survivors deserved answers about whether parts of the British state had enabled abuse, while Epstein survivor Lisa Phillips said she hoped a meeting with Burnham would lead to accountability, reform and greater protection for future victims.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsources:Andy Burnham insists no plans for Epstein inquiry – hours after two ministers say government is looking into it | The Independent

Prime Minister Andy Burnham's government sent mixed messages over whether it was considering a public inquiry into Jeffrey Epstein's activities in Britain. Victims minister Alex Davies-Jones said Burnham was taking the issue seriously, had agreed to meet Epstein survivors and was examining what action could be taken. Justice minister Jake Richards similarly said no stone should be left unturned and indicated that Burnham would consider the available options. Hours later, however, Downing Street clarified that a public inquiry was not being actively considered, while the Ministry of Justice said the government was only reviewing possible ways to support survivors and address broader systemic failures.The government was also reviewing demands for an inquiry into Mohamed Al Fayed, the former Harrods owner accused by hundreds of women of sexual assault, rape, exploitation and trafficking. Campaigners called for a wider “impunity” inquiry examining how wealthy and powerful men allegedly benefited from institutional protection, potentially covering Epstein, Al Fayed and allegations against West Ham co-owner David Sullivan. Supporters wanted any Epstein inquiry to investigate how he traveled through Britain, including his reported use of military airfields while accompanied by women who may have been trafficked. Former minister Jess Phillips argued that survivors deserved answers about whether parts of the British state had enabled abuse, while Epstein survivor Lisa Phillips said she hoped a meeting with Burnham would lead to accountability, reform and greater protection for future victims.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsources:Andy Burnham insists no plans for Epstein inquiry – hours after two ministers say government is looking into it | The IndependentBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-moscow-murders-and-more--5852883/support.

'Census No Religion' Campaign Organiser Steve Marton joined Will and Stacey. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kmart's $89 camera glasses, similar to the more expensive Meta version, promise to provide the ability to capture photos and videos hands-free. Campaigners against smart glasses are urging the Australian government to implement harsher laws on non-consensual filming.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham's government sent mixed messages over whether it was considering a public inquiry into Jeffrey Epstein's activities in Britain. Victims minister Alex Davies-Jones said Burnham was taking the issue seriously, had agreed to meet Epstein survivors and was examining what action could be taken. Justice minister Jake Richards similarly said no stone should be left unturned and indicated that Burnham would consider the available options. Hours later, however, Downing Street clarified that a public inquiry was not being actively considered, while the Ministry of Justice said the government was only reviewing possible ways to support survivors and address broader systemic failures.The government was also reviewing demands for an inquiry into Mohamed Al Fayed, the former Harrods owner accused by hundreds of women of sexual assault, rape, exploitation and trafficking. Campaigners called for a wider “impunity” inquiry examining how wealthy and powerful men allegedly benefited from institutional protection, potentially covering Epstein, Al Fayed and allegations against West Ham co-owner David Sullivan. Supporters wanted any Epstein inquiry to investigate how he traveled through Britain, including his reported use of military airfields while accompanied by women who may have been trafficked. Former minister Jess Phillips argued that survivors deserved answers about whether parts of the British state had enabled abuse, while Epstein survivor Lisa Phillips said she hoped a meeting with Burnham would lead to accountability, reform and greater protection for future victims.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsources:Andy Burnham insists no plans for Epstein inquiry – hours after two ministers say government is looking into it | The IndependentBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

More from UKMFA and HART on the Folic Acid ScandalIs the UK government's recent mandate to fortify non-wholemeal wheat flour with synthetic folic acid a sound public health initiative or a danger to public health and violation of medical ethics and informed consent?In this episode of the UK Medical Freedom Alliance (UKMFA) Medical Ethics Report, host Ian Humphreys is joined by Dr Liz Evans (CEO of UKMFA) and Dr Ros Jones (retired paediatrician and co-chair of HART).The panel discuss the UKMFA and HART Open Letter sent on 26th June to James Murray, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which highlighted serious risks faced by the public from a recent change to UK law requiring the mandatory fortification of non-wholemeal flour with synthetic folic acid, and urged him to repeal the amendment.Dr Evans and Dr Jones go on to analyse the woeful response they received on 24th July from the Department of Health & Social Care's (DHSC) “Correspondence Officer”. A response that failed to meaningfully address a single point made in the UKMFA/HART letter or any of our concerns, but that just reiterated their argument that the policy will reduce Neural Tube Defects (NTDs) and improve folate status in the population. And claiming that evidence reviews and modelling studies have established appropriate levels and safety and that people can avoid ingestion of folic acid if they choose wholemeal flour products.This wide-ranging and informative discussion covers the historical context of food regulation and the many ramifications of the new law including:Health risks to specific vulnerable groupsThe lack of informed consent when adding a synthetic drug to a staple foodPotential dangers of mass-medicating the population, who have different susceptibilities to the side-effects of synthetic folic acid, some even warned by the NHS not to take folic acidThe inadequate and flawed safety studiesThe inability to control the individual dose of folic acid depending on individual diet, which will lead to dramatic differences in intake across the population.Dr Jones and Dr Evans highlight the need to raise public awareness of this policy, urging listeners to educate themselves and others and to take action.New UKMFA Campaign - Protect Our Daily BreadUKMFA have launched a new campaign called Protect Our Daily Bread - No Fortification of Flour.Please visit our campaign page on which you will find a lot of information including; links to the joint open letter and Government response, an excellent and informative series of HART articles covering every aspect of the folic acid issue, podcast interviews, and the link to a Government Petition authored by Dr Clare Craig “End the mandatory fortification of white flour with folic acid immediately” which we are urging everyone to sign and share widely.The petition currently has over 43,000 signatures so has forced a Government written response, which you can read on the petition page. We need to get this to 100,000 signatures to force a Parliamentary debate.information including; links to the joint open letter and Government response, an excellent and informative series of HART articles covering every aspect of the folic acid issue, podcast interviews, and the link to a Government Petition authored by Dr Clare Craig “End the mandatory fortification of white flour with folic acid immediately” which we are urging everyone to sign and share widely.The petition currently has over 43,000 signatures so has forced a Government written response, which you can read on the petition page. We need to get this to 100,000 signatures to force a Parliamentary debate.Video Chapters00:00 - Preview: Risk vs. Benefit of Folic Acid00:36 - Welcome & Introduction to UKMFA01:04 - Guest Introductions: Dr Liz Evans & Dr Ros Jones01:28 - UKMFA/HART Open Letter to James Murray, DHSC Secretary of State02:53 - The UK Mandate on Flour Fortification Explained04:12 - Difference Between Natural Folate and Synthetic Folic Acid05:39 - Legal & Historical Context of Bread & Flour Regulations07:00 - Clinical Trial Evidence & Risk Breakdown11:00 - NHS Guidelines: Who Should Avoid Folic Acid?12:42 - Practical Challenges for Consumers & Eating Out14:20 - Unmetabolized Folic Acid & MTHFR Genetic Variants17:42 - Reviewing the DHSC Government Response Letter24:00 - Potential Health Risks, Cancer Data & Global Trends28:50 - Campaign Actions: Parliamentary Petition & Writing to MPs34:40 - Summary & Final RemarksUK Medical Freedom Alliance freely offers this video and article. However, a donation will help us continue to expose the truth and uphold our medical rights and freedoms.To make a donation, please visit https://donorbox.org/ukmfa_podcast

Last week, the government announced a 20% cut in business rates for pubs, clubs and music venues from April. These spaces are increasingly used for coffee mornings, parent and toddler groups, book clubs etc. - the new church hall for many - and they've become a really important "third space" for communities especially for groups that support women. The government has said it wants to protect these venues that are the beating heart of many communities. But is this announcement enough to save an industry that has taken a big economic battering in recent years? Joining Kylie Pentelow, Beverley Whitrick, Chief Executive of the Music Venues Trust, sociologist Dr Lisa McKenzie and 22-year-old pub landlady Elsa Mckenna, who's trying to make exactly this model work.Actor Vicky Krieps is known best to UK audiences for acclaimed performances in films including Corsage and the Academy Award winning film Phantom Thread. She has also appeared in many European films including Hanna, Two Lives, and The Chambermaid Lynn. Vicky joins Kylie Pentelow to discuss her latest film, Love Me Tender, a moving and powerful drama about a mother forced to fight for her relationship with her son after choosing to live openly as a gay woman. The film, directed by Anna Cazenave Cambet and based on Constance Debré's novel, is out in UK cinemas early next month.Campaigners who work with women to encourage them to report crime are concerned that the Early Release Scheme proposed by the government could put them off engaging with the justice system altogether.  Andy Burnham has since announced a pause and a review of the scheme, which would have seen around 700 prisoners released from September. Today we hear from a campaigner, herself a survivor of sexual abuse, who fears the policy and the current uncertainty. 'Sam' (not her real name) reported and helped secure the conviction of the man who violently attacked and raped her 23 years ago. A month ago, before the scheme was paused, she received a letter from the Ministry of Justice warning that her attacker would be released early. She joins us alongside Harriet Wistrich, Director of the Centre for Women's Justice.New analysis on mummies of Egyptian princesses shows they were warriors not just pampered queens with the signs pointing to them being highly skilled archers. They even carried wounds consistent with those made by daggers at close combat. It's an intriguing finding but perhaps an even bigger question is why discoveries like this still have the power to surprise us. We delve into how much of history is shaped not just by the evidence itself but by the assumptions we bring to it. Historian, broadcaster and author Bettany Hughes, whose new children's book explores the lives of people in Ancient Egypt, joins Kylie along with Professor of History Olivette Otele.Presenter: Kylie Pentelow Producer: Simon Richardson

Social spending not war spending – that was the unified message from a collective of organisations who rallied outside the ALP national conference here in Adelaide. The campaigners are concerned about the rising commitment to military spending including $33 million per day for 30 years pledged to AUKUS. Amid Australia’s rising rents, widening social disparity growing cost-of-living pressures, the group urge Labor for reform. Independent foreign policy, scraping AUKUS, climate action and ending poverty are just a few of their calls. The Wire attend was on the ground at Saturday's event. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new law has come into effect making the offering of sex in exchange for rent a criminal offence in Ireland.  Campaigners have welcomed the legislation as a major step forward in protecting vulnerable people, particularly women who may be at risk of exploitation while searching for accommodation.   However, many say the work doesn't end there, with calls for greater public awareness, Garda training and stronger enforcement of the new law.   To discuss what this legislation means and why it's so significant, Alan Morrissey was joined by Bridget Barron, President of Ennis & District Soroptimists, and Aisling Nolan, National Communications Officer with Soroptimist Ireland. Image (c) erndndr from Getty Images Signature via Canva

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This programme was recorded before the police announced an investigation into Ann Widdecombe's death.Ann Widdecombe's political career spanned decades, serving as Conservative MP for Maidstone for 23 years, and a minister in John Major's government, then later becoming an MEP and joining Reform UK in 2023. She was also well known for her TV appearances including taking part in Strictly Come Dancing. Kylie speaks to her colleague in the Conservative party Baroness Anne Jenkin and BBC political correspondent Nick Eardley.Campaigners and a cross-party group of MPs and peers presented a petition to Downing Street yesterday, signed by over 100,000 people, urging the government to increase bereavement support for the first time in nearly a decade. Widow's Fight – who started the petition - say bereaved young families are falling into poverty. Kylie is joined by Holly O'Connor from Widow's Fight and Caroline Voaden, Liberal Democrat MP for South Devon, who was widowed when her children were young, and is supporting the campaign.The Bayeux Tapestry arrived in London in the early hours of this morning, under the cover of darkness, the first time it has left France for over 900 years. Meanwhile in Cambridgeshire, one woman has been painstakingly recreating the tapestry for the last decade.  Mia Hansson joins Kylie to explain why she took on this massive project.This week we have heard about three different new diagnostic tests being developed for endometriosis, a condition thought to affect one in 10 women. We find out what these tests are, how long before they are available, and whether they could reduce the average nine year wait for a diagnosis in the UK. Kylie Pentelow hears from Evelyn Scott, author of A Bloody Scandal - How Medicine Fails Women in Pain and Elisabeth Bean, an NHS consultant gynaecologist and diagnostics chair of the British Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy.Saint Olga of Kyiv, patron saint of Ukraine has her saint's day tomorrow. In Ukraine, she's a beloved religious figure, but she was also a real woman, known for exacting brutal revenge on those who crossed her. BBC Ukrainian's Irena Taranyuk joins Kylie to discuss Olga's mythological story, what she symbolises for Ukrainians and why her story is still relevant to women today.

A key disability benefit is not working for millions of disabled people or the government and needs fundamental change, says a review by Sir Stephen Timms. Campaigners warn David Lammy, the Secretary of State for Justice, that a lack of safeguards over prisoners' early release puts abuse victims at risk, and British wildcard Arthur Fery has beaten Italy's Flavio Cobolli in straight sets to reach a semi-final showdown at Wimbledon.

Campaigners are describing it as a landmark moment for cancer survivors.   The Government's "Right to Be Forgotten" legislation has now completed its passage through the Oireachtas, meaning eligible cancer survivors will have legal protection when applying for mortgage protection insurance. Lahinch-based health campaigner John Wall, who is living with stage IV prostate cancer, has long campaigned for better supports for people affected by cancer, and he joined Alan Morrissey in-studio to discuss.  Photo (c) aluxum from Getty Images Signature via Canva

Many people needing urgent psychological care have no choice but to attend a hospital emergency department. Dr Louise Rooney, Policy and Research Manager with Mental Health Reform, joined Rachael in studio.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has apologised to women forced to give up their babies or separated from their mothers at birth under a system of forced adoptions that targeted unmarried women for decades after World War II. An estimated 185,000 children were separated from their mothers in Britain. - کییراستارمر، صدراعظم بریتانیا، از زنانی عذرخواهی کرده است که در چارچوب یک نظام فرزندخواندگی اجباری در دهه‌های پس از جنگ جهانی دوم، به دلیل ازدواج‌ نکردن، مجبور شدند نوزادان خود را برای فرزندخواندگی واگذار کرده یا هنگام تولد از مادران شان جدا شدند؛. تخمین شده در نتیجه این سیاست، حدود ۱۸۵۰۰۰ کودک در بریتانیا از مادران خود جدا شده‌اند.British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has apologised to women forced to give up their babies or separated from their mothers at birth under a system of forced adoptions that targeted unmarried women for decades after World War II.An estimated 185,000 children were separated from their mothers in Britain. -

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has apologised to women forced to give up their babies or separated from their mothers at birth under a system of forced adoptions that targeted unmarried women for decades after World War II. An estimated 185,000 children were separated from their mothers in Britain.British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has apologised to women forced to give up their babies or separated from their mothers at birth under a system of forced adoptions that targeted unmarried women for decades after World War II.An estimated 185,000 children were separated from their mothers in Britain.

There has been strong anger and concern in Ennistymon following Clare County Council's decision to proceed with the removal of mature, decades-old trees in the town square as part of ongoing public realm regeneration works.     The felling of the first tree last week prompted immediate reaction from local residents, who are now urging the council to pause the works and reconsider the layout to preserve the remaining trees.    Campaigners say they are not opposed to the regeneration of the square but believe the existing trees could be retained with only minor design adjustments.     The move has also drawn attention in the context of recent national and EU-level warnings on biodiversity loss, with locals questioning why established trees are now being removed despite no previous concerns about their condition.    For more on this, Alan Morrissey was joined by Maeve Stone, a concerned local. Photo (c) Phil Evenden from Pexels via Canva

Around half of the world's languages are in danger of disappearing, according to UNESCO. Languages often become endangered when parents stop talking in them to their children, when schools no longer offer them on the curriculum - or when governments don't recognise them as official languages that need to be protected. Campaigners are calling for more efforts to preserve them - and the history, heritage and culture they carry - and they're using an unlikely tool: AI. But there are concerns that artificial intelligence could actually create more language inequality, because it's mainly trained on a handful of dominant languages.So, could AI stop endangered languages from going extinct? Or will it speed up their demise?Journalist and author Sophia Smith Galer joins us to explain how languages become endangered, how AI is being used to combat this and the risks of using the technology to preserve languages. And we hear from Ivory Yang in the US, who built an AI tool to help preserve her grandmother's endangered language, Nüshu.Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Chelsea Coates and William Lee Adams Video producer: Baldeep Chahal Editor: Verity Wilde

After months of uncertainty and a nationwide campaign to protect the role of Special Needs Assistants, the Save Our SNAs Campaign Group is welcoming the publication of a new Department of Education circular outlining the role of SNAs in schools. The updated guidance replaces a previous circular that sparked concern among SNAs, parents and educators, with fears that the role could be restricted and that some children with additional needs could lose out on vital support. Campaigners say the new circular represents an important step forward, particularly with the explicit recognition of students' communication and regulation needs. To discuss what the changes mean for SNAs, students and families, and whether concerns about the future of the profession have now been addressed, Alan Morrissey was joined by Ennis Fianna Fáil Councillor and Special Needs Assistant, Antoinette Baker Bashua. Photo (c) Robbie Kane via Dublin Live

PM Mark Carney to unveil national strategy for safe AI development in Toronto. New details in a CBC investigation into AI deepfakes of dozens of Canadian women. Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a renewed ceasefire; Hezbollah rejects the plan. Campaigners launch massive "Reboot FIFA" drive demanding ethics probe into President Gianni Infantino. Five Eyes alliance warns Chinese spies are using LinkedIn and Indeed to steal state secrets. US House of Representatives pass resolution to prevent President Donalt Trump from taking more military action against Iran. Allan Schoenborn, found not criminally responsible in the murder of his 3 children in 2008, now named Ken John Johnson, on conditional release. Canadian goalie Carter Hart starring in Stanley Cup Final with Vegas Golden Knights, 1 year after sexual assault acquittal.

Mick and Paul discuss the stab murder of Qayyum Balogun amid a row at a nightclub venue on Dublin's Grafton Street. The 21 year old Nigerian national was stabbed numerous times and later declared dead in hospital. Campaigners have since called for justice as gardai launch a murder probe. They also discuss the mystery death of Ballyfermot native Thomas Griffin, who is believed to have fled his attackers by jumping into the River Liffey. Meanwhile wife killer Joe O'Reilly has graduated in business from behind bars, much to the outrage of his victim's family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A warning - the following story contains elements that may distress some people. The UK could become the latest country to bring in major restrictions on children's use of social media. Campaigners say the platforms can be so damaging to under 16s that some have harmed themselves or even taken their lives.

Comedian, actor and writer Dawn French is best known as one half of one of the UK's most successful comedy double acts, and as the fictional vicar Geraldine Granger. She's also a bestselling author, and her latest book, Enough, is her fifth novel — her eighth book in total. It blends dark humour with some tougher themes she thinks are important to explore. She joins Nuala to discuss.More than 10,000 pregnant women and girls, primarily unmarried mothers, passed through mother and baby homes in Northern Ireland from the 1920s to the 1990s. Survivors have long campaigned for compensation and have criticised Stormont's proposed redress scheme. The current bill limits compensation to the families of victims who died after 29 September 2011. Yesterday, an amendment to remove the cut-off date was not selected for debate at the Assembly. Campaigners say this excludes many women who were 'failed in life and now failed in death.' The legislation will also establish an inquiry into the institutions. Nuala is joined by BBC Ireland Correspondent Chris Page and Mechelle Dillon from the campaign group Birth Mothers and their Children for Justice.There were 35,000 assaults on staff in Scotland's schools in the last academic year, according to a BBC investigation. New figures suggest assaults by pupils have increased by 55% in just two years. Unions say the true total is likely to be far higher, as not all incidents are recorded. Nuala is joined by the BBC education and social affairs correspondent in Scotland, Lucy Adams, who's been investigating the issue, and Mandy MacDowell, UNISON Scotland's education lead, which represents support staff. Two Weeks in August is a new BBC One drama series centred on a group of old university friends who reunite in Greece for what's meant to be a relaxing holiday, but when an illicit kiss sparks escalating tensions, things unravel in unexpected, even slightly supernatural ways. Nuala is joined by its writer and creator Catherine Shepherd and one of its stars, Jessica Raine, known for Call the Midwife, Wolf Hall and The Devil's Hour.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Dianne McGregor

Campaigners protest the cut-off date in redress scheme for mother and baby homes.

A new propagation technique could help restore the ash tree to our landscapes. Scientists across the UK have been working to propagate saplings from resistant trees, but currently that takes between 2 and 5 years. Now researchers at the John Innes Centre have developed a speedier system, which they hope everyone could use, even at home, with the help of household bleach.Campaigners are calling for a full-scale clean-up of beaches on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent following the discovery of a large quantity of illegally dumped clinical waste.The University of Suffolk and a local group have been monitoring bats using bioacoustics to track their ultrasonic calls as they visit people's gardens.Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

A Hythe man who stole thousands of pounds from his dad and secretly arranged his cremation without telling his family has appeared in court. Richard Avery had been estranged from dad George for 20 years, and took cash from his bank account within days of his death in 2022. The 56 year-old from Battery Point admitted fraud by false representation. Also on today's podcast, hear the moment a man was kicked out of a Canterbury City Council meeting just days after being convicted of harassing a councillor. Kenneth Little narrowly avoided being issued with a restraining order after appearing in court recently. Campaigners fighting to reopen a derelict cinema in Deal have staged a protest while dressed as Star Wars characters. The Regent building has been empty since 2008 and recent plans to redevelop the site fell through. A Kent mum's told the podcast how she's determined not to let her son's deafness define who he is as a person. David from Hythe was born during covid and failed his newborn hearing screening - he was eventually diagnosed with complex bilateral hearing loss at six months old. Mum Tracey Washington immediately learnt sign language and 6 year-old David's recently been fitted with implants. In sport, it was a win for Gillingham over the bank holiday weekend - finishing the season on a high. They beat Shrewsbury Town 1-0 at Priestfield on Saturday - ending the campaign 17th in league two. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The latest episode of Never Mind The Bar Charts features the authors of a great new book, Tribal Politics: How Brexit Divided Britain. Sara Hobolt and James Tilley discuss how the Brexit referendum was the trigger for new political identities, identities which have persisted. We also discuss their surprising finding about the role for social media in forging anti-Brexit identities, as well as lessons from their research for pro-European campaigners. Show notes Tribal Politics: How Brexit Divided Britain by Sara Hobolt and James Tilley: Waterstones / Amazon / Bookshop (independent bookshops). The previous episodes with the authors of Brexitland: Maria Sobolewska and Rob Ford. Brexitland: Identity, Diversity and the Reshaping of British Politics by Maria Sobolewska and Rob Ford: Waterstones / Amazon / Bookshop (independent bookshops) Sara Hobolt on Bluesky. Theme tune by Hugo Lee. New to listening to podcasts? Here are some tips on how to listen to podcasts. Check out some of this show's most popular previous episodes. Note: Links to books are affiliate links that generate a commission on sales made.

A group of residents in Kilkee are preparing to take a High Court challenge against plans for a new wastewater treatment plant proposed by Uisce Éireann. The development, which was previously refused by Clare County Council and recommended for refusal by an inspector from An Bord Pleanála, was ultimately approved — a decision that's sparked serious concern locally. Campaigners say the proposal could pose risks to Kilkee's beach, marine environment, and its well-known Cliff Walk, and they're now racing to raise funds ahead of a crucial court date on June 17th. Alan Morrissey spoke about this with Kilkee residents Ellie Byrne and Joanne Dillon, and Ellie began by highlighting the Cliff Walk and its importance to Kilkee. Image © Visit Clare

emocleW, emocleW, emocleW to the Distraction Pieces Podcast with Scroobius Pip!This is your bonus FRIDAY REWIND episode! Today, we catch up with Will & Phoebe of FULL FACT.ORG, originally episode 13 from 2015-01-07.As Pip mentions on the intro, it is quite a weird episode. This is of course not down the awesome guests representing FullFact, but more down to how drastically the media and basic human landscape has changed since the episode was broadcast 11 years ago. We've seen how much can change in a week - so with our perspective over a decade later, it's like stepping back into a very bizarre alternative timeline. What's weird is that the phrase "fake news" was a mere glint in some shady folks eyes, and also that this chat happened 5 years before a pandemic, which was where misinformation truly had its time in the sun. Let alone artificial intelligence. This is some novel-worthy stuff right here. Anyway - without getting too caught up in all of the chaos, FullFact is a VERY important organisation who specialise in neutralising dis/mis-information and set out to fully fact check what gets out there, so listen knowing that you can and should check in on their site regularly. It's not a grift, it's not a hoax, it's an honest place where bullshit goes to die. They can use that if they want (it's good right?). ENJOY!PIP'S PATREON PAGE if you're of a supporting natureFULLFACTINSTAGRAMPIP TWITCH • (music stuff)PIP INSTAGRAMSPEECH DEVELOPMENT WEBSTOREPIP TWITTERPIP IMDBPOD BIBLE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Should we now disregard the Quiet Revival findings? What kind of leader will Sarah Mullally be? How can we combat social media addiction?In this episode of In:Dependence, Phil Topham (FIEC Executive Director), John Stevens (FIEC National Director), and Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Associate National Director) discuss stories in the news and what we can learn from them for church leadership.Show notesStatement from Paul Williams, Chief Executive Officer, Bible Society (biblesociety.org.uk)Church attendance report pulled after YouGov finds 'fraudulent' responses (bbc.co.uk)Dame Sarah Mullally acknowledges 'victims and survivors' as she's installed as archbishop (bbc.co.uk)Campaigners welcome Meta and YouTube's defeat in landmark social media addiction trial (bbc.co.uk)About In:Dependence: In:Dependence is FIEC's official podcast, where you'll hear conversations on topics for church leaders.Podcast music: Drifting by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Future Infinite⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.About FIEC: We are ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠a fellowship of Independent churches⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ with members of the family across England, Scotland and Wales. Our mission is to see those Independent churches working together with a big vision: to reach Britain for Christ.00:00 - News in brief03:48 - FIEC update07:40 - Quiet Revival issues and withdrawal13:20 - Archbishop of Canterbury installation22:39 - Taking responsibility in leadership27:43 - Addiction to social media

Shein is back in the headlines, as a court in Paris considers whether the fast-fashion giant’s online platform should be suspended. The retailer has faced intense scrutiny after disturbing products including child-like sex dolls - which were discovered on its site late last year. Campaigners say this isn’t just a European issue, pointing to a rise in the sale of child-like sex dolls to Australians through major online platforms like Shein and Temu. With advocates warning these dolls may normalise child abuse, and argue some platforms are using questionable tactics to bypass strict laws and border enforcement in Australia. In this bonus episode of The Briefing, Tara Cassidy is joined by Caitlin Roper from Collective Shout, who is leading the campaign for stronger action. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Health campaigners in Clare have expressed "anger and deep frustration" following the announcement that a site has been identified for a new hosptial campus for the Midwest. Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill has approved the acquisition of a 43-acre site in Raheen in Limerick. The Friends of Ennis Hospital claims 130,000 people in Clare along with a further 80,000 in Tipperary will see limited benefit from the hospital being located in the city. Chairperson Angel Coll says while investment in Midwest is positive, she believes it's incredibly disappointing that the site will be located so close to University Hospital Limerick.

Allen covers Nova Scotia’s ambitious 60 GW Wind West offshore plan and the standoff between Ottawa and developers over who invests first. Plus a scaled-back English onshore project faces local opposition, Blue Elephant Energy triples its German wind portfolio, Adani prepares to build India’s longest onshore blade, and Rivian signs a wind PPA to power its Illinois factory. Sign up now for Uptime Tech News, our weekly newsletter on all things wind technology. This episode is sponsored by Weather Guard Lightning Tech. Learn more about Weather Guard’s StrikeTape Wind Turbine LPS retrofit. Follow the show on YouTube, Linkedin and visit Weather Guard on the web. And subscribe to Rosemary’s “Engineering with Rosie” YouTube channel here. Have a question we can answer on the show? Email us! There is something happening in the wind business right now. Something big … and something small. Let us start with big. In Nova Scotia … Premier Tim Houston has a dream. He calls it Wind West. Sixty gigawatts of offshore wind turbines. A transmission line to move that power across Canada and into the United States. The price tag … sixty billion dollars. Forty billion for the turbines. Twenty billion for the cables. But Ottawa says … not so fast. Federal Energy Minister Tim Hodgson told reporters the Major Projects Office needs to see private industry commit first. No private partners … no national interest designation. And here is the catch. The developers want to see transmission infrastructure before they invest. Ottawa wants to see developers before it invests. Everybody is waiting for everybody else. Still … Houston is not worried. He says the response from developers has been … through the roof. French firm Q Energy has already applied to pre-qualify. And Natural Resources Canada just put up nearly five million dollars for a feasibility study. Houston says the wind is there. It blows … a lot. The only question is where the power goes. Now … across the Atlantic. In England … a developer is learning that sometimes bigger is not better. Calderdale Energy Park wanted to build sixty-five turbines on Walshaw Moor near Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire. That would have made it the largest onshore wind farm in England. Last April they cut it to forty-one. Now … thirty-four. That would match the current largest site at Keadby in Lincolnshire. Campaigners say it will still damage the peat bogs and threaten ground-nesting birds. A local parish council survey found ninety-three percent of residents opposed. The developer says it could power a quarter million homes. That application goes to the Planning Inspectorate in November. Meanwhile … in Hamburg, Germany … Blue Elephant Energy is doing some shopping. The company just acquired a three hundred eighty-one megawatt wind portfolio from Wind-Projekt. That is thirty-seven operating wind farms in northern Germany. Two hundred sixty megawatts already feeding the grid. Another forty-six megawatts under construction … coming online this year. And seventy-five more megawatts in the pipeline for twenty twenty-seven. This deal will triple their German wind capacity … from one hundred seventy-three to five hundred thirty-three megawatts. It still needs approval from the German Federal Cartel Office. Now … to India. The Adani Group is about to build the longest onshore wind turbine blade in the country. Ninety-one-point-two meters. That is the length of a football field. Those blades will create a rotor diameter of one hundred eighty-five meters. Each rotation sweeps an area larger than three football fields combined. The factory is at Mundra in the state of Gujarat. Current capacity … two-point-two-five gigawatts per year. They plan to double that to five … and eventually reach ten. India added six-point-three gigawatts of wind last year alone. That was an eighty-five percent jump over the year before. And finally … back home in the American heartland. Rivian … the electric vehicle maker … just signed a power purchase agreement with Apex Clean Energy. Fifty megawatts from the proposed Goose Creek wind farm in Piatt County, Illinois. That wind farm sits within an hour of Rivian’s flagship plant in Normal, Illinois. With this deal … Rivian could power up to seventy-five percent of its factory with carbon-free energy. An electric truck company … powered by wind. So let us step back. Nova Scotia dreams of sixty gigawatts off its coast. An English moor fights over thirty-four turbines. A German company triples its wind portfolio overnight. India builds blades as long as football fields. And an American truck maker turns to the prairie wind to build its future. From the North Atlantic to the plains of Illinois … from the moors of Yorkshire to the coast of Gujarat … the wind keeps blowing. And people … keep building. And that is the state of the wind industry for the first of March twenty twenty-six. Join us for the Uptime Wind Energy podcast tomorrow.

Billions of pounds is lost each year to fraud, be that by criminals simply stealing someone's money or by thieves tricking victims into giving them their details before draining their bank accounts. It's a crime that is massively under-reported, with very low conviction rates too. To tackle this, a new agency's been created called 'Report Fraud'. It replaces the problematic "Action Fraud" which had been the place for victims to report fraud for over a decade. Paul Lewis interviews Chief Superintendent Amanda Wolf who's the Head of Report Fraud.There are calls for a cut in the interest rate on some student loans. In recent weeks some graduates have been saying they feel they were missold their loans, because they're only paying off interest on what they owe, despite high levels of payments. The Department for Education says that its making what it called "tough but fair" decisions to protect taxpayers and students. We'll discuss that with the Higher Education Policy Institute.There is growing pressure from charities and MPs for the government to introduce statutory regulation of the bailiff sector in England and Wales as a matter of urgency. Campaigners say it's about making sure people who are in debt aren't on the receiving end of bad practice form bailiffs breaking the rules.And half a million households on heat networks now have new protections when it comes to their heating bills.Presenter: Paul Lewis Reporters: Bisi Adebayo and Dan Whitworth Researcher: Niamh McDermott Editor: Jess Quayle(First broadcast on Radio 4 12pm Saturday 31st January 2026)

There's been a stark warning to MPs about the number of women pensioners living in poverty. The house of commons work and pensions committee has been hearing the pension system is dysfunctional, and contributing to more gender disparity, that's according to the feminist economic think tank the Women's Budget Group, which gave evidence yesterday. Anita Rani is joined by their incoming director Dr Daniella Jenkins and Sarah Pennells, consumer specialist at Royal London finance company.New figures revealed in a super-complaint suggest tens of thousands of sexual offence investigations are taking years to complete with some stretching beyond seven years to complete. Campaigners say excessive police delays are causing serious harm to survivors leaving them in limbo and may even be breaching their human rights. The complaint has been submitted by a coalition of legal and support organisations including Cambridge Rape Crisis Centre. Anita is joined by one of the co-authors, Ellie Ball, an Independent Sexual Violence Advisor Manager, who's helped survivors of sexual violence navigate the criminal justice system for over a decade.Madeleine Gray's first book Green Dot was a big hit and she's just published her second novel – Chosen Family. She joins Anita to discuss her fairy tale debut novel story, how then writing a second was daunting and why your ‘chosen family' is so important.Is there a gender gap when it comes to using AI? Journalist Olivia Petter says the men she meets are obsessed with using it but believes that women are far more cautious. Studies show women are less likely to use AI in the workplace. As the government rolls out free AI training for every UK adult, the question is: what happens if women don't feel equally confident or equally protected in this new AI driven world? Olivia and Prof Gina Neff from the  Minderoo Centre for Technology and Democracy at the University of Cambridge join Anita to discuss. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Corinna Jones

China's controversial ‘super embassy' has been approved, after years of debate over the security risks. Campaigners had called on ministers not to give the site the green light, given its proximity to important internet cables that support the City of London. MI5 have admitted they can't 'wholly eliminate' the national security risks around the site. Megan McElroy is joined by James Heale and Sophia Gaston, research fellow at King's College London, to discuss. There's more international chaos for Keir Starmer too – overnight, Donald Trump described plans to hand over the soverignty of the Chagos islands as 'an act of great stupidity.' Where on earth does this leave the special relationship? Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts.Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Justice Secretary David Lammy has announced plans for a sweeping range of reforms to criminal courts in England and Wales. The proposals include scrapping jury trials for cases where sentences are likely to be less than three years and for trials involving ‘particularly technical and lengthy fraud and financial offences'. They will only be kept for the most serious offences, including murder, robbery and rape. However there are fears that the proposed changes will have a disproportionate impact on women, whether as victims or when accused of a crime and then particularly for women of colour. Nuala McGovern discusses the reforms with Fiona Rutherford, Chief Executive of legal reform charity Justice, barrister Emma Torr, Co-chief of Appeal, a law practice dedicated to challenging wrongful convictions, and Val Castell, Deputy National Chair of the Magistrates' Association. A petition has been launched calling for a national endometriosis registry to track and audit data on diagnosis, treatment and surgery outcomes. It's been spearheaded by Jessica Smith, who, like an estimated one and a half million women in the UK, suffers with endometriosis, a condition which occurs when the tissue, similar to the lining of the uterus, grows in other places, such as the ovaries and the fallopian tubes. Campaigners say the level of care is a post code lottery, with long wait lists and that by streamlining this information some of the gaps in care could be eliminated. Jessica joins Nuala along with Professor Ranee Thakar, President of the Royal College of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians.The Women's Institute has announced a big change - from next April it will no longer offer membership to transgender women. The UK Supreme Court earlier this year ruled that the legal definition of a woman can only be based on biological sex. This comes the day after it was announced that transgender girls can no longer join the Girl Guides, Brownies or Rainbows. The Women's Institute says it's decision comes with the ‘utmost regret.' Melissa Green, Chief Executive of the National Federation of Women's Institutes explains why they came to this decision. The BBC's political correspondent Phil Sim gives the background.Do you like everything to be perfect for Christmas dinner party hosting – the spotless house, the elaborate menu, the Instagram-worthy table setting? But what if the secret to a great dinner party isn't perfection, but scruffy hosting – a trend that is apparently transforming the way we gather together and makes stress-free dinner parties more attainable - perhaps a one-pot dinner, mismatched cutlery, toys under the table or children running around screaming. Helen Thorn, Comedian, Podcaster and one half of Scummy Mummies tells Nuala why she embraces this type of hosting. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Andrea Kidd

They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day - but what happens when thousands of children arrive at school too hungry to learn? In this programme, Jaega Wise looks into how the Government's new free breakfast club scheme is being rolled out across England, seven months into a trial involving 750 primary schools. While the policy which aims to tackle hunger and improve attendance is welcomed by all, schools and campaigners raise questions about it's future funding and the exclusion of secondary schools and some special school pupils.At Holy Trinity Church of England School in Tottenham, Jaega visits a breakfast club being run in partnership with Chefs in Schools, where hot food is cooked fresh each morning in the same kitchen that serves lunch. In Weston-super-Mare, headteacher Marie Berry explains why her school's breakfast club is a lifeline for families - and why she's keen to be included in the new scheme. Campaigners at Sustain argue breakfast clubs could be a powerful tool to support local food producers and promote sustainable sourcing - and urge the Government to back that vision.We also hear from the charity Magic Breakfast, which provides food to 300,000 children at breakfast clubs every day, and from Olivia Bailey MP at the Department for Education. Food writer Michael Zee of @SymmetryBreakfast discusses Britain's breakfast culture, and why we so often eat the same thing every day.Presented by Jaega Wise Produced by Natalie Donovan for BBC Audio in Bristol.