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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.

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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

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International

Newborn baby buried alive in India fights for her life

The baby was found by chance when a shepherd, who had taken his goats to the area for grazing, heard faint cries coming from under a mound of earth.

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The baby is being treated in the neonatal intensive care unit of the government-run medical college and hospital there.

A 20-day-old baby girl who was found buried alive in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh is fighting for survival, hospital authorities say.

BBC News reported that the baby was found by chance when a shepherd, who had taken his goats to the area for grazing, heard faint cries coming from under a mound of earth.

Once he went closer, he saw a tiny hand sticking out of the mud. After he alerted the villagers, police were called in who came and dug out the baby.

Police have not said who they suspect for the crime, but similar cases of abandonment and attempts to kill female children are blamed on India’s preference for sons, which is widely acknowledged to be the reason for its skewed gender ratio.

The incident took place in Shahjahanpur district in India’s most populous state. The baby is being treated in the neonatal intensive care unit of the government-run medical college and hospital there.

Medical college principal Dr Rajesh Kumar told the BBC that the infant was brought in on Monday, smeared in dirt and gasping for air as mud had gone into her mouth and nostrils.

“She was in a critical condition, she was showing signs of hypoxia or oxygen deficiency. She had been bitten by insects and also some animal,” Dr Kumar said.

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International

Nestle shareholders wants chairman Paul Bulcke to step down

Mr Freixe’s removal came a year after predecessor Mark Schneider suddenly departed and 2½ months after Mr Bulcke said he would step down in 2026.

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PHOTO: AFP

Nestle investors have called for chairman Paul Bulcke to step down over the departure of a second chief executive in just over a year.

The Financial Times (FT) reported that shareholders are concerned about the manner the former chief executive Laurent Freixe and the way investigations into his conduct were handled exacerbated their concerns over governance at Nestle and led them to question Mr Bulcke’s decision-making.

“I don’t think Mr Bulcke will move on before April but he should have left when Mr Mark Schneider was forced out,” Mr Alexandre Stucki, founder of AS Investment Management, which represents founding family investors in Nestle,” said.

The Swiss food giant abruptly dismissed Mr Freixe at the beginning of September for failing to disclose a romantic relationship with a subordinate.

Mr Freixe’s removal came a year after predecessor Mark Schneider suddenly departed and 2½ months after Mr Bulcke said he would step down in 2026.

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Crime

JUST IN: FBI Releases Video of Charlie Kirk Shooter, Recovers Weapons Nearby (Photos)

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The FBI’s Salt Lake City Field Office on Friday released video footage of the man suspected of fatally shooting conservative activist Charlie Kirk fleeing a rooftop after the incident on September 10, 2025.

The bureau, in a statement accompanied by the video link shared on X on Friday, noted that the video shows the shooter climbing onto a rooftop shortly before the attack and then jumping off and fleeing the scene after firing the fatal shots.

Investigators also reportedly found the weapon and ammunition used in the shooting in a wooded area near the university.

The agency wrote, “The FBI has released a video and more photos of the shooter in the Utah Valley shooting. The subject is seen jumping from the rooftop of a building after the shooting.

Person of interest in Charlie Kirk's murder case
FBI releases new photos of person of interest in Charlie Kirk’s murder case.
Person of interest in Charlie Kirk's murder case
FBI releases new photos of person of interest in Charlie Kirk’s murder case.

“Around 12 pm Mountain Time on September 10, 2025, the subject climbed up to a rooftop; after he shot and killed Charlie Kirk, he jumped off and ran away. He left a gun and ammunition in a wooded area near the university.

“Trace evidence collected from the rooftop scene included shoe impressions, a forearm imprint, and a palm print. Anyone with information in this case should call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or visit fbi.gov/utahvalleyshooting.”

Person of interest in Charlie Kirk's murder case
FBI releases new photos of person of interest in Charlie Kirk’s murder case.
Person of interest in Charlie Kirk's murder case
FBI releases new photos of person of interest in Charlie Kirk’s murder case.

The bureau added that it is working closely with law enforcement partners to seek justice in the murder of Charlie Kirk.

Credit: X| FBISaltLakeCity

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