Podcasts about campaigners

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.

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.

Campaigners in Cambridge are calling for tighter controls on Houses in Multiple Occupation — known as HMOs — arguing that some parts of the city are seeing too many family […]

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

We look at a topic which is animating voters in rural Scotland ahead of the election. Campaigners from Angus to the Highlands worry about plans for giant pylons. They say it could blight the landscape and want to see the proposed schemes ditched. Energy giants SSEN say the upgrades are necessary for the country's grid. So how much will this matter come May 7?

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.

Campaigners in Northern Ireland are aiming to expand concessionary transport for a wider range of blind and partially sighted people.Amelia learned more from Julianne Crothers who shares why the cause is so important to her.Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB' written in bold black capital letters and underline with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio' is written in black in a smaller font. 

We're joined by Actor, Activist and Broadcaster, Peter Egan, who is talking about why he is campaigning and raising awareness for the seven million hens in the UK are kept in so-called “enriched cages”, where each bird has space roughly the size of an A4 sheet of paper, preventing them from fully stretching their wings, foraging or dust bathing. Campaigners say the UK is falling behind several European countries on animal welfare, with Austria banning enriched cages in 2020, France banning new cage systems in 2018 and Germany now fully cage-free. Peter also chats about his work as a huge advocate for dogs, not least in being a Patron for the charity that Anna is an Ambassador for - All Dogs Matter!Follow Peter on InstagramGet 20% off your first purchase by using the promo code AnnaWebb20 when you check out at Naturaw.co.ukThis episode is powered by Antinol. We're super proud to be working with them and you can enjoy at 10% discount on your purchase by using our promocode ANNAWEBB. Remember - you're supporting A Dog's Life by supporting our proud sponsor!For more about Anna go to annawebb.co.ukMusic and production by Mike Hanson for Pod People ProductionsCover art by JaijoCover photo by Rhian Ap Gruffydd at Gruff Pawtraits

Campaigners have branded plans to build 725 homes in their village as “beyond comprehension”, claiming it would double the population. The outline planning application for a mixed-use neighbourhood in Meopham would be 50% affordable and targeted at first-time buyers and downsizers. Also in today's podcast, a controversial massive housing development backed by Prince William has been given the green light despite claims it would be an “eyesore” and a “Trojan Horse” for even more homes. After hours of debate in a council meeting last night, the 2,500-home estate on the southeast edge of Faversham has been approved.  A mum-of-two says she was “put through hell” by one of her late husband's clients who refused to pay for building work carried out shortly before his death. You can hear from Jo-Anne Mapp, whose husband was in the process of renovating a home in Whitstable when he died in July last year. One of Medway's MPs has told us graffiti in her constituency is making the area look uncared for and unloved. Naushabah Khan's reported an increase in tags on walls in Gillingham and has started a campaign to clean it up. And in football, you can hear from the manager after Gillingham were soundly beaten at home by Milton Keynes Dons last night.  The Gills conceded three goals in 18 first-half minutes – they're the third team since the start of the year to beat the Gills at Priestfield by three goals or more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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.

A Snodland man has spoken of the moment he suffered a broken arm during a road rage attack in Maidstone. Phil Webster had been approaching a roundabout on the A249 when he says he was cut up by another vehicle. Also in today's podcast, more than 40 people have been arrested as Kent Police crack down on fraud. Officers have been targeting suspected criminals who defraud others through romance scams, unnecessary building repairs and postal scams. Campaigners have welcomed news that a merger of two private schools in Kent has been put on hold. St Lawrence College in Ramsgate announced last week it was going to close its site and join forces with Dover College. Parents criticised a lack of consultation and bosses now say they will reconsider options open to them. Hear from Laura Holden who has a child there. There are plans to spend £4 million on another bridge over the River Medway in Maidstone. It would run alongside the existing High Level Rail Bridge and be specifically for cyclists. In sport,  it's a home game for Gillingham this weekend, following last week's victory away at Barrow. The Gills scored in the dying seconds to secure a 1-0 victory after three losses in a row. We've been catching up with striker Seb Palmer-Holden and manager Gareth Ainsworth. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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)

Clare disability campaigners are set to join a national protest next week following severe payment cuts. According to the Disability Federation of Ireland, many disability households in Clare are up to €1,400 worse off than they were last year, following cuts to "one-off" supports in Budget 2026. The national protest, taking place on Saturday February 28th, demands an Emergency Winter Payment for people with disabilities, despite the government's previous refusal of the €400 payment earlier this month. Ennistymon-based disability rights activist Ann Marie Flanagan says people are being forced to looks elsewhere.

Paul Byrne talks to Kenneth O'Flynn TD who has asked City Council to re-examine how the Active Travel plan is implemented in the hope trees in Farranree might be saved. He also talks to Laura who chaired a meeting last night and to Margaret who has been very active in getting support for the campaign to save the trees Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A young security guard who was seriously injured by a “wild” patient in a hospital ward fears she may never return to her job.Lou Wicks was attacked by an intoxicated man as she and her colleagues tried to restrain him in the emergency department of Maidstone Hospital.Also in today's podcast, a young man allegedly murdered on his 25th birthday has been described as a “beloved son” whose “memory will live on in the hearts of those who loved him”.Robert Else was discovered with injuries consistent with stab wounds at a house in Eythorne last Thursday – one man has been arrested and charged. A family from Snodland say all their possessions and memories have been lost, after a devastating fire at their home.The blaze broke out in the property on Gassons Road a week ago – you can hear from dad Adam who says they've had to throw everything away even their son's toys. Campaigners near Gravesend say it's vital a stretch of greenbelt isn't lost to housing - as plans emerge for a new estate.Developers say they want to build 154 properties on agricultural land in Istead Rise – so far, more than 1,300 people have objected. And in football, Gillingham boss Gareth Ainsworth admitted he let rip at half-time after a first-half horror show against Bromley on Saturday.He was fuming with his side's poor defending as the League 2 leaders raced into a 3-0 lead within 28 minutes at Priestfield before going on to complete a 4-1 victory. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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.

Investigations are underway following reports a woman had her drink spiked while out celebrating her 21st birthday in Maidstone.Tia Jennings was at Bierkeller on Gabriel's Hill on January 10th when she started acting out of character - she then collapsed outside a short time later. We've asked the venue a number of times for a comment.Also in today's podcast, the mother of a teenager killed in a crash in Thanet says the number of people caught over the limit during a crackdown last month is 'shocking'.18-year-old Ethan Entwhistle was a passenger in a car that hit a tree in Broadstairs in October 2023 - the driver was more than twice the drink drive limit.Police stopped around 300 motorists for drink and drug driving offences in the county in December.Families in Kent are being asked to share their experience of maternity and neonatal care for a major national review.The 'Call for Evidence' will be used to shape recommendations to improve services across England - hear from Zoe Finn who lost her son Carter when his heart stopped beating while she was 35 weeks pregnant.The MP for Ashford has signed an open letter to the Prime Minister calling for a ban on social media use for people under the age of 16.Sojan Joseph is the only Kent MP to put his name to the letter and joined 60 others from across the country.Campaigners from Kent are due at the High Court as a legal challenge against plans for a second runway at Gatwick Airport gets under way.It's after the transport secretary gave approval last September for the airport to bring its Northern runway into regular use as part of a 2-point £2 billion expansion.In sport, Lenni Cirino has signed a contract extension with Gillingham. The new deal keeps the left-back at the club until the end of this season.And, find out who Chatham Town's women will be playing the fifth round of the FA Cup. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Uncertainty about whether a farm will break even, let alone make a profit, is concerning arable farmers, according to Dame Minette Batter's recent report on farm profitability. Lower prices for arable products, rising costs of energy and farm machinery, and the suspension of environmental payments under the Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme are making some arable farmers ask if they should keep growing crops at all, according to her report. The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board has just produced its latest figures for what farmers are planning to plant this year. We ask what growers are deciding to do.The rapid expansion of large solar farms in many parts of the country has caused consternation among many people in the countryside. Campaigners say that although they support green energy, they're concerned at the scale of the developments. The Council for the Protection of Rural England in Norfolk is forming an alliance of local councils and protest groups to support people opposing the projects.All week we're looking at how farmers can make themselves and their businesses more resilient. A new movement in Scotland is helping farmers prioritise their physical and mental health.Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney

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.

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

There are warnings that an increase in the amount of sugar cane that can be imported into the UK tariff-free will impact British sugar beet farmers, who are already getting a lower price for their produce because of an oversupply of sugar. The government has announced that 325 thousand tonnes of raw cane sugar, sourced from anywhere in the world, will be tariff-free from 1st January 2026. That's a 25% increase by volume on previous years. Campaigners have warned a huge oversupply of battery storage sites for renewable energy is threatening to blight Scotland's countryside. The charity Action to Protect Rural Scotland, or APRS, says a study it's publishing today shows there is four times as much battery storage planned as we are likely to need for the transition to green energy. That, it says, means unnecessary damage, planning blight and lost farmland across the country.And we attend the sale of an unrivalled collection of vintage farm wagons and horse drawn carts - amassed over 40 years - which went under the hammer at an auction in Dorset. Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Sally Challoner.

Campaigners in the UK have urged ministers there to allow schools to pilot a four day work week in order to tackle worsening teacher burnout and recruitment and retention issues. The 4 Day Week Foundation says it's not about doing less, but doing work smarter to ensure staff wellbeing. So should it be done here too?Pat spoke to James Reeves, Campaign Manager, 4 Day Week Foundation and Eric Nelligan, Assistant Principal, St Munchin's College.

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.

Campaigners are organising a protest outside the Dáil in November, against the use of Compulsory Purchase Orders for the proposed Dundalk Bay to Carlingford Greenway. To discuss further with Shane was Francie Gorman, President of the Irish Farmers' Association.

Campaigners are gathering on the Kent coast this weekend to protest against sewage leaks and rising water bills.SOS Whitstable says Labour aren't doing enough to tackle the issue, more than a year after winning the general election.Also in today's podcast, police in Kent have told us they're providing reassurance to the Jewish community in the county following a terrorist attack in Manchester.Two people died when a man drove into crowds outside a synagogue before attacking people with a knife. Hear how MPs in Kent have reacted to what happened.It's been confirmed today Sarah Mullally is the new Archbishop of Canterbury.The former nurse is the first female head of the Church of England and takes over the role from Justin Welby who stood down in January. Hear from our reporter who's at Canterbury Cathedral.A coven of witches in Kent has been told they can't hold a psychic fair in a village hall, just six days before it was due to take place.The Coven of the Sacred Oak booked Bredhurst Village Hall for the event to share their skills and raise money.More than 10,000 dancers from around 60 different countries are going to be heading to Medway over the next few days.The Towns are hosting the qualifiers for the 72nd International Dance Festival ahead of the final at the Royal Albert Hall in London.Celia Imrie's going to be heading to Kent to chat about her new book.The Bridget Jones's Diary and Thursday Murder Club star will be at the Hazlitt Theatre as part of Maidstone LitFest.In sport, Gillingham will be looking to bounce straight back this weekend from their first defeat of the season.They lost 1-0 to Harrogate Town at Priestfield last Saturday and head to MK Dons tomorrow.Assistant boss Richard Dobson is taking charge of the side while manager Gareth Ainsworth is away having heart surgery. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Also, leading loyalist Winston Irvine has prison sentence doubled by Court of Appeal.

PJ hears that thousands of submissions to Cork County Council are starting to change minds about the proposed Cork-Kinsale Greenway route, talks to Mandy Jane who never gave up on returning a watch to its owner, learns about the work of the Kindness Krew on Patrick St from a location report by Opinion Line Producer Paul Byrne. And more... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Mercator projection, a map that's been around for over 450 years and which most people use, distorts size. It stretches land masses farther from the equator. It can make Greenland looks the same size as Africa, when in reality Africa is actually around 14 times bigger. Campaigners want schools, organisations and governments to use a different one - the Equal Earth map. And now the African Union, which represents all 55 states on the continent, has endorsed the “Correct the Map” campaign.The BBC's Makuochi Okafor explains some of the arguments for switching to a different map and also the wider implications of showing Africa as smaller than it really is.Moky Makura, from Africa No Filter, tells us what her organisation is hoping to achieve with the Correct the Map campaign. Plus Edwin Rijkaart, known to his YouTube subscribers as Geodiode tells us why we use the Mercator projection in the first place. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Benita Barden, Chelsea Coates and Abiona Boja Editor: Verity Wilde

Following the surprise announcement by Leeside Leisure that they have cancelled plans for a casino in Bandon, PJ speaks to Adrian Lennihan who led the campaign against it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Campaigners are calling for free public transport in London, as travel fares are set to rise above inflation until 2030 - but is it feasible? The Standard's City Hall and Transport Editor Ross Lydall joins us to discuss the issue, alongside his latest reporting on the worrying rise of fare evasion across London's transport network. And in part two, why the Bifana, a traditional Portuguese sandwich, is proving popular with diners in the capital. Sandwich aficionado and food writer Sam Wilson offers a tantalising glimpse into the latest food trend. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

AP correspondent Laurence Brooks reports on campaigners wanting to change the world map to show Africa's true size.

In 2013, Jakarta's governor moved to outlaw the use of dancing monkeys on the city's streets.The Indonesian tradition saw macaques made to perform for passers-by - often restrained by chains and dressed in plastic masks. Campaigners said the animals were frequently subjected to harsh treatment and poor living conditions.Animal rights activist Femke den Haas played a key role in securing the ban. She tells Vicky Farncombe that it was the suffering of one particular monkey, Johnny, that spurred her to take action.Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more. Recent episodes explore everything from the death of Adolf Hitler, the first spacewalk and the making of the movie Jaws, to celebrity tortoise Lonesome George, the Kobe earthquake and the invention of superglue. We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: Eva Peron – Argentina's Evita; President Ronald Reagan and his famous ‘tear down this wall' speech; Thomas Keneally on why he wrote Schindler's List; and Jacques Derrida, France's ‘rock star' philosopher. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the civil rights swimming protest; the disastrous D-Day rehearsal; and the death of one of the world's oldest languages.(Photo: A dancing monkey in Jakarta. Credit: Getty Images)

Passenger trains haven't run to Youghal since 1987, but a growing local movement says it's time to put them back on track. PJ Coogan spoke with Michael Beecher, chair of the East Cork Railway Alliance, about the group's rapid growth, thousands-strong petitions, and the mounting frustration over gridlocked roads on the N25. Campaigners believe the return of the Cork–Youghal line could transform travel for East Cork and West Waterford. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The National Farmers Union says the fight over inheritance tax on farms is not over, despite the publication of draft legislation which shows that the government isn't backing down. Campaigners against the re-impostion of the tax, which will be levied at 20 per cent on assets over a million pounds from April next year had hoped that the government would, at least, change aspects of the policy. The Government argues that its a fair tax which the majority of farm businesses either won't be liable for, or can plan for. A record breaking wet winter has been followed by a record breaking dry spring and early summer in many parts of the UK - with three heatwaves thrown in for good measure. So managing water has become a huge challenge for farmers, which we're exploring all this week on the programme. And, traditional Eel fishermen on Lough Neagh in Northern Ireland have said they're cancelling their season, and one of the factors they blame is water pollution. It comes as the Northern Ireland Executive has proposed more stringent measures to reduce run off from farms, which are strongly opposed by the Ulster Farmers Union.Presenter: Charlotte Smith Producer: Sarah Swadling

Baroness Margaret Hodge tells Nuala McGovern why she thinks routine mammograms should be extended to women over 70. The former Labour MP was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 80. She requested a mammogram after realising she hadn't been invited to have one in nearly a decade. Routine screening is currently only available in the UK for women aged 50-70. As England's Lionesses prepare for their Euro 2025 semi-final with Italy tonight, their efforts have been overshadowed by the racial abuse suffered by defender Jess Carter. The team's decided not to take the knee against racism in tonight's game, with coach Sarina Wiegman saying her players feel the gesture isn't 'good enough.' Now the head of Sport England, Chris Boardman, has written to Ofcom to express "deep concern" over the abuse directed at England's women's football team on social media. He joins Nuala, along with former Lioness and now pundit Lianne Sanderson. Campaigners in Northern Ireland want the way Victim Personal Statements are dealt with in courts there to change. At the moment people do not have the automatic right to read their own statements as part of the judicial process. Nuala talks to Commissioner Designate for Victims of Crime Northern Ireland, Geraldine Hanna, and campaigner Julieanne Boyle, who didn't get the opportunity to address the court during her case and wants to see a change for other victims. Georgina Moore's second novel River of Stars is set in a floating community on the Thames. A romance and family saga spanning three generations of women, it was inspired by her own move from self-confessed ‘ageing party girl' to houseboat mum. Georgina joins Nuala in the Woman's Hour studio to talk about island life and writing on the water.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Sarah Jane Griffiths

Campaigners want more done to ensure ocean biodiversity and the marine environment is preserved. 

Kate Corrigan, whose son Nathan was killed on the A5 road almost four years ago, gives her reaction to the legal ruling the construction of an upgrade of the road should not go ahead in its current form.

Campaigners are calling for the ingredients of sourdough to be laid out in law. So are there too many loaves on sale that are more sourfaux than sourdough? Leyla Kazim investigates.This programme features a visit to the Batch event at the Long Table in Stroud to meet baker and author David Wright as well as Chris Young from the Real Bread Campaign. Nutritionist Dr Vanessa Kimbell discusses how sourdough impacts on our gut health and bread historian Professor Steven Kaplan chews over whether more regulation is strictly necessary and questions how it would be enforced.Cereal scientist Stanley Cauvain shines a light on a huge moment in British baking - the invention of the Chorleywood process - and Jules Chambe from the award-winning Wild Frog Bakehouse in Oxfordshire looks to his native France where the government did act to protect the beloved baguette.Produced in Bristol by Robin Markwell for BBC Audio Featuring the "Happy Knocker-Upper" 1960s Mother's Pride television advert featuring Dusty Springfield

A shortage of volunteers means some clubs have struggled to restart following the Covid pandemic in 2020. Campaigners say more needs to be done to raise awareness of the issue.