International
BBC World Service to cut 130 roles to save £6m in 2025/26
As part of the changes the BBC would decommission eight podcasts and radio programmes: Africa Daily, The Forum, The Cultural Frontline, The Explanation, Business Matters… and Over to You.
BBC World Service will cut a net 130 jobs, including in the UK, as it battles to save £6m in the year ahead.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced an extra £32.6m for the BBC World Service for 2025/26 in November.
But the BBC said that despite this “welcome uplift”, previous licence-fee freezes, global inflation “and the need for ongoing digital and technological upkeep have meant savings are necessary”.
It added that it is competing against international news organisations with much bigger budgets meaning “increased competition for staff, platforms and frequencies, and audiences”.
The £6m savings needed for the next financial year will largely be met by the net reduction of 130 roles.
The BBC said these will include closing posts across the BBC World Service in the UK and internationally and in BBC Monitoring, which reports and analyses news from around the world and will also see a reinvestment “in strategically important skills”.
There will also be “changes to the commissioning mix” on World Service English and a reshaping of some World Service Language teams to become more digitally-focused.
According to the National Union of Journalists, the BBC aims to meet its targets for the cuts through voluntary redundancies wherever possible.
BBC World Service English controller John Zilkha wrote in an email to staff that as part of the changes the BBC would decommission eight podcasts and radio programmes: Africa Daily, The Forum, The Cultural Frontline, The Explanation, Business Matters, the 1530 World Business Report, Pick of The World and Over to You.
Another show, Science in Action, will be closed and replaced with Inside Science. Zilkha said a new monthly audience feedback programme will be commissioned.
Jonathan Munro, global director and deputy chief executive of BBC News, said: “While the result of the latest grant-in-aid funding settlement means we are able to maintain all of our existing language services, we were clear it would not stave off difficult decisions in order to remain globally competitive and meet our savings requirements.
“These changes will ensure we operate effectively with the resource we have, creating the most impact for audiences internationally.”
The BBC said its commitment to high-quality journalism across its 42 language services is “undiminished”.
NUJ general secretary Laura Davison said the plans are “yet another blow to journalists at the BBC.
Proposals will see the loss of talented and experienced journalists committed to the unrivalled journalism produced by the World Service and relied upon by countries globally.
“The freezing of the licence fee has had a profound impact still felt acutely today; we need a commitment from government to provide long-term sustainable funding that allows the provision by teams including over 40 language services to thrive.
“It is wrong journalists are once more bearing the brunt of changes at a time when the BBC’s journalism and soft power is needed more than ever. As we support members impacted by cuts, we urge the BBC to engage meaningfully with us to do all it can to protect jobs.”
The BBC joins several UK and US broadcasters announcing job cuts in January including CNN, NBC News and London Live. Other news organisations cutting roles include the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Dotdash Meredith, Huffpost and DC Thomson.
The last round of cuts affecting journalists at the BBC was announced in October, with 185 jobs expected to go across the news and current affairs department including through the end of the interview programme Hardtalk, tech show Click and the Asian Network’s bespoke news service.
▪︎Press Gazette
International
Nigeria remains committed to religious freedom – Tinubu replies Trump
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to religious freedom amid the allegation of genocide against Christians in the country by the Donald Trump administration.
In a statement he personally signed and shared by Bayo Onanuga his spokesman,Tinubu said his administration had since 2023, maintained open and active engagement with both Christian and Muslim leaders to strengthen national unity and address security challenges affecting communities across the country.
“The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality. Nor does it take into consideration the consistent and sincere efforts of the government to safeguard freedom of religion and beliefs for all Nigerians,” Tinubu said.
He reiterated that religious freedom and tolerance have long been “a core tenet of our collective identity,” adding that Nigeria “opposes religious persecution and does not encourage it.
”Tinubu emphasised that his government remains committed to working closely with the United States and other international partners “to deepen understanding and cooperation on the protection of communities of all faiths.
”Read the full statement below:
Nigeria stands firmly as a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty.Since 2023, our administration has maintained an open and active engagement with Christian and Muslim leaders alike and continues to address security challenges which affect citizens across faiths and regions.
The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality, nor does it take into consideration the consistent and sincere efforts of the government to safeguard freedom of religion and beliefs for all Nigerians.
Religious freedom and tolerance have been a core tenet of our collective identity and shall always remain so. Nigeria opposes religious persecution and does not encourage it.
Nigeria is a country with constitutional guarantees to protect citizens of all faiths.
Our administration is committed to working with the United States government and the international community to deepen understanding and cooperation on protection of communities of all faiths.
BOLA AHMED TINUBUPRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA

International
Trump orders US Military to resume nuclear weapons testing
Because of other countries’ testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis. That process will begin immediately,” Trump posted.
President Donald Trump on Thursday directed the United States military to resume nuclear weapons testing, ending a 33-year break.
The announcement came on Truth Social, minutes before he met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Busan, South Korea.
” Because of other countries’ testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis. That process will begin immediately,” Trump posted.
“Russia is second, and China is a distant third, but will be even within 5 years.
”The move appears aimed at both Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Russia recently carried out a series of nuclear-related tests, though the Kremlin said none involved actual nuclear explosions.
“Until now, we didn’t know that anyone was testing ” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, adding that Russia would only test in response to another country doing so.
No nuclear power other than North Korea has conducted explosive testing in over 25 years. The U.S. last tested in 1992, Russia in 1990, and China in 1996.
International
UK: King Charles strips his brother, Andrew of ‘Prince’ title, mansion
Andrew, 65, the second son of the deceased Queen Elizabeth II, has faced growing scrutiny over his relationship with the late sex offender Epstein.
Britain’s King Charles has stripped his younger brother, Andrew, of his title of prince and ordered him to vacate his Windsor home, Buckingham Palace.
The move seeks to further distance the royal family from Andrew’s ties to the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
Andrew, 65, the second son of the deceased Queen Elizabeth II, has faced growing scrutiny over his relationship with the late sex offender Epstein.
Earlier this month, he was directed to stop using his title of Duke of York.
The king has now taken tougher measures by removing all of Andrew’s remaining titles, meaning he will henceforth be known simply as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.
According to the palace, a formal notice has been issued requiring him to surrender the lease of his Royal Lodge mansion on the Windsor Estate. He is expected to relocate to private accommodation on the Sandringham estate in eastern England.
The decision, which comes as King Charles continues cancer treatment, is seen as one of the most decisive actions taken against a senior royal in modern British history.
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