logo
episode-header-image
Jun 28
42m 56s

Europe facing heatwave

Bbc World Service
About this episode

Southern European countries have issued health and fire warnings as temperatures may exceed forty Celsius this weekend. Spanish emergency services are on standby for a surge in heatstroke cases, while Italian authorities are advising residents in several cities to stay indoors during the middle of the day. We hear from the UN Habitat's Global Heat Officer, Dr Eleni Myrivili.

Also in the programme: reportage from our Chief International Correspondent Lyse Doucet in Iran; a controversial smoking ban in France; and a high-profile wedding in Venice.

(Photo: People cool off in a fountain during a heatwave, in Rome, Italy, 28 June 2025. Credit: ANGELO CARCONI/EPA/Shutterstock)

Up next
Yesterday
Kenya's president calls for protestors to be shot in the legs
Kenya's President William Ruto has ordered police to shoot protesters in the legs any protesters targeting businesses. The UN and human rights groups have accused the police of using excessive force during a wave of anti-government protests. Also on the programme, as Europe's top ... Show More
47m 28s
Yesterday
Sheikh Hasina caught on tape authorising shooting of protesters
A BBC investigation has found that the former prime minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, authorised her security forces to use lethal force against protestors last summer. The evidence is a leaked tape verified by the BBC. An estimated 1,400 people were killed and 12,000 injure ... Show More
43m 6s
Jul 8
Malaria breakthrough for babies
A new treatment for malaria in babies and very small children has just been approved; we hear more about the drug expected to save many lives.Also in the programme: is Israel's new plan to create a so-called “humanitarian city” for Palestinians in Gaza from where they could “volu ... Show More
47m 27s
Recommended Episodes
Apr 2024
Is extreme weather the new normal?
There’s been massive flooding in Dubai, with twice the annual amount of rain in a single day. Roads, runways and shopping malls were flooded. Meanwhile, West Africa has been dealing with one of its worst heatwaves. Late March and early April saw consistent temperatures above 40 d ... Show More
14m 59s
Jul 4
Boiling in Brussels: Climate fights and Orbán vs. Pride
Europe baked, the Atomium shut early — and Brussels finally unveiled its long-delayed climate target. Host Sarah Wheaton speaks with POLITICO Climate Reporter Louise Guillot, Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent Nick Vinocur and EU Politics Reporter Max Griera about the EU’s new 2 ... Show More
39m 17s
Aug 2024
Cruising might be causing a climate crisis + Headlines
Cruise ships have doubled in size in the last two decades - and so has their impact on the environment. A new report from European lobby group Transport and Environment is warning that by 2050, cruise ships will be eight times bigger than the Titanic and the industry’s emissions ... Show More
19m 58s
Sep 2024
Giorgia Meloni: Redefining Italy’s place in Europe and the world
Italy’s prime minister Giorgia Meloni is playing a central role in the country’s recent significant political developments. Her right-wing coalition government, which is inter alia focused on tightening immigration policies and promoting an Italian nationalist agenda, continues t ... Show More
33m 6s
Feb 2021
Super Mario to the rescue
This week, former European Central Bank Chief Mario Draghi was sworn in as the country’s prime minister and the head of a unity government and put an end to weeks of political turmoil. His cabinet is the third administration that Italy sees in less than three years. But how stabl ... Show More
25m 55s
Mar 2025
Protect Against Carbon Monoxide Poisoning While Traveling | Guinness' Popularity Surges Ahead of St. Patrick's Day | Jason Isaacs Talks "White Lotus"
Republicans in Congress are facing backlash at town hall events as voters voice concerns over deep federal job cuts and the state of the economy under President Trump and Elon Musk's policies. Some GOP lawmakers have canceled events, while others, like one in North Carolina, are ... Show More
43m 4s
Sep 2023
The mystery of Europe’s heat death hotspot
Ian Sample hears from the Guardian’s Europe environment correspondent, Ajit Niranjan, about the reporting he has been doing for the launch of our new Europe edition. He talks about Osijek, a Croatian city that has the highest heat mortality rate in Europe … but no one knows why. ... Show More
15m 5s