Sirimavo Bandaranaike was elected prime minster of Sri Lanka, or Ceylon as it was known then, in 1960 following the assassination of her husband, Solomon Bandaranaike and became the first female prime minister in the world. We hear from Dr Asanga Welikala about her legacy. Plus the first Arab leader to visit Israel, the former hostage taken captive by Somali ... Show More
Jun 28
Robert Kennedy's funeral train and the opening of the Medellin Metro
Max Pearson presents a collection of the week's Witness History interviews from the BBC World Service, all related to trains and journeys which have helped to shape our world.Our guest Nicky Gardner, travel writer and co-author of Europe by Rail: the Definitive Guide, discusses t ... Show More
50m 58s
Feb 2022
The first Emirati female teacher
In the 1960s, it was extremely rare for women in what is now the United Arab Emirates to go to school. At the time the future country was a collection of Emirates under British protection. The Trucial states, as they were known, were run by Sheikhs. The Sheikdoms were acutely tra ... Show More
9m 30s
Jun 2023
Season 6: Hear the lives of some of history’s most notable women
In season 6, we hear about some of history’s most notable women. A 'Mother of the Nation', a communist revolutionary, an aviation pioneer, an unconventional artist, a politician and a survivalist. Winnie Mandela out on Friday, June 23rd! Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, ... Show More
1m 36s
Mar 2021
Alva Myrdal - the woman who made modern Sweden
In 1982, the Swedish social reformer, writer and diplomat, Alva Myrdal, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her work on nuclear disarmament. She was only the 7th woman in history to win the award, which she received jointly with Mexican diplomat Alfonso Garcia Robles. In the 19 ... Show More
9m 48s