Roundup

History of London's bridges

Who was assassinated on Waterloo Bridge? How did a hairdresser save Hammersmith Bridge? Why do London's bikers meet on Chelsea Bridge? From 03:30 to 09:30, Sandi Toksvig and guest co-host Bonnie Langford interview Chris Roberts, author of "Cross River Traffic: A History of London's Bridges" (Granta).

James Armistead

Colonial Williamsburg interpreter Richard Josey talks about an enslaved man who became a valuable spy during the Revolution.

Mao Zedong (2nd of 5)

In Episode 2 of Junch Chang and Jon Halliday's interpretation of the life of Chairman Mao -- "Mao: The Unknown Story" -- he is plotting a rise to the top of the political pile. He is in the pay of Moscow and must pit his wits against the might of the Nationalists. Meanwhile, he still finds the time and sensitivity to write poetry.

The Norman warrior

The most powerful military force in 11c Europe -- the Normans -- are History Professor Bob Packett's topic in today's "History According to Bob." Packett teaches at Maple Woods Community College, in Kansas City, Missouri.

Aztec festivals

History Professor Bob Packett discusses the festivals of the Aztec solar calendar in today's "History According to Bob." Packett teaches at Maple Woods Community College, in Kansas City, Missouri.

Empire (2nd of 90) -- 1155: Ireland, the first colony

The first proper colonisation took place not in the West or East Indies, nor in America, but in Ireland. Ireland was the first English colony. In 1155, Pope Adrian IV published a Papal Bull Laudabiliter giving Henry II authority over Ireland. The document's value was that it authorized invasion. "This Sceptred Isle: Empire" is a narrative history of the British Empire from Ireland in the 12th century to the independence of India in the 20th, told in 90 programmes written b

27 September 1996: Afghan forces routed as Kabul falls

The capital of Afghanistan has fallen to opposition militia after three days of fierce fighting. Taleban forces consolidated their grip on Kabul after storming the presidential palace -- the country's seat of government -- 24 hours ago. Ousted President Burhanuddin Rabbani, his prime minister and his military chief are being hunted by the radical Islamic group who branded them "national criminals". The former president, Mohammed Najibullah, and his brother have already been murdered by

Jimmy Doolittle Dies, September 27, 1993

Today in 1993, Jimmy Doolittle, aged 96, died in California. The four-star general served his country during three wars and was one of the most highly decorated American airmen of all time. His contributions to the world of aviation spanned more than four decades and helped make military and civilian flight the commonplace activity that it is today.

IRA has completed disarmament: de Chastelain

The head of the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning has said that he is satisfied that the IRA has completed its disarmament. General de Chastelain said the decommissioning body had reported to the Irish and British governments that it had observed and verified events to put beyond use all of the arms in the IRA's possession. He said the arms decommissioned included ammunition, rifles, machine guns, mortars, missiles, handguns, explosives and explosive substances.

Blair hails "important step" in peace process

British Prime Minister Tony Blair has hailed the IICD confirmation of IRA decommissioning as 'an important development' in the Northern Ireland peace process. Mr Blair welcomed the news that the amount of arms and material decommissioned by the IRA was "consistent with the assessments provided by the security services of the two governments last year". Speaking at the Labour Party conference in Brighton, he highlighted the efforts to achieve decommissioning made by successive British g

Paisley: "No transparent verification"

Democratic Unionist Party leader Rev Ian Paisley has said there was no transparent verification of IRA decommissioning in today's announcement. He said today's announcement showed the duplicity and dishonesty of the two governments and the IRA. Mr Paisley said the "Not one iota was given to verify that assurance," he said. He dismissed the independent witnesses, saying they were approved by the IRA and therefore were accepted by the IRA and in no way could be independent.

Brandt Goldstein & "Storming the Court"

In 1992, Yale law students sued the U.S. government over the detention of Haitian refugees held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Author Brandt Goldstein -- attorney and writer whose work has been published in the "New York Times" Magazine and "Slate" -- explains how this case became precedent for human rights concerns over suspected terrorists held at the military base today.

Winston Churchill woos Clementine Hosier

Pug and Clemmy Cat (aka Winston Churchill and Clementine Hosier) commence their epistolary romance in a dramatic reading of "Speaking for Themselves: The Personal Letters of Winston and Clementine Churchill", edited by their daughter Mary Soames, with the couple portrayed by actors Alex Jennings and Sylvestra Le Touzel.

Simon Schama & "Rough Crossings"

Historian, writer and broadcaster Simon Schama joins a panel discussion in the first programme in a new season of"Start the Week", which sets the cultural agenda every Monday. Guests are drawn from the top movers and shakers in politics, history, science and the arts. Award-winning journalist Andrew Marr also welcomes zoologist Andrew Parker, art curator Iris Müller-Westermann and former Downing Street insider Lance Price. Whilst Schama contributes throughout the programme, for 9 minutes startin

Mao Zedong (1st of 5)

As part of the BBC "Who Runs Your World" season, "Off the Shelf" features a compelling new biography of the dictator Chairman Mao. So expansive is the study that our five part reading will focus on what is often the most intriguing part of a dictator’s life -- how did he get to power? Skill, luck, treachery, or plain old destiny? He was born in an ancient province. He doted on his mother, hated his father and married the first of four wives aged eighteen. His formative years

Empire (1st of 90) -- No grand plan

How was it that the people of a small island race off the European mainland came to dominate the world? That is perhaps the most intriguing question of the British Empire. Even the term 'Empire' means something different today than it did in the days of Henry VIII or Elizabeth I's astrologer John Dee. Dee is said to have put the idea of colonial expansion in the queen's mind. "This Sceptred Isle: Empire" is a narrative history of the British Empire from Ireland in the 12th

26 September 1960: Kennedy & Nixon clash in TV debate

More than 60 million Americans tuned in to watch the first-ever televised debate between the two candidates running for the White House. Republican candidate Vice President Richard Nixon and Senator John F Kennedy, the Democratic candidate, appeared in a studio in Chicago, Illinois, for the first of a series of four debates. The first "Great Debate" centred on domestic issues. Each candidate was given eight minutes to make an opening speech. There followed a series of questions from a

Voices in the news

A sound montage of some of the voices in this past week's news, including a friend of the late Simon Weisenthal; Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV); Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT); R. David Paulsion, acting director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency; Connie Mallet, a bartender at Channelview Ice House in Texas; Capt. Jesse Garcia of the Dallas Fire Department; Meteorologist Chris Landsea of the National Hurricane Center; Judge Robert Eckels of Harris County, Texas.

DeChastelain to confirm IRA decommissioning

RTÉ News has learned that the chairman of the decommissioning body, General John DeChastelain, will meet representatives of the Irish and British governments tomorrow to tell them that full decommissioning of IRA weapons has taken place. General DeChastelain will present a detailed inventory of decommissioned weapons to the British and Irish governments before making the list available at a news conference. Two independent witnesses will make a statement at the press conference to say that the p

The ghosts of Gallipoli: Revisiting the Anzac battlefields

In the annual New South Wales History Council Lecture, Dr Bruce Scates explores the historical experience of pilgrimage to Gallipoli, and other battlefields of the Great War. Ninety years after the landing in 1915, the Anzac Day commemorations at Gallipoli continue to draw thousands of 'pilgrims' each year. From old soldiers to young backpackers, the Anzac pilgrimage has gained in popularity in recent years, and might almost be considered a rite of passage for many Australians. In his lecture, B