SATURDAY 14 MARCH 2026

SAT 00:00 BBC News (w172zwx57zvh6ch)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 00:06 Unexpected Elements (w3ct72xj)
Out for blood

With this year’s Oscars on the horizon, and vampire film Sinners nominated for a record-breaking 16 awards, the Unexpected Elements team sinks their teeth into some blood-sucking science.

First, we discover that Vlad the Impaler, the Romanian prince who inspired Dracula, may have not only had blood on his hands, but also in his tears. We also hear about a woman in Guadeloupe with the world’s newest and rarest blood type.

We’re then joined by Dr Naomi Ewald from the UK’s Freshwater Habitats Trust who tells us all about nature’s little bloodsuckers – leeches – and why their use in medicine is not just a practice consigned to the history books.

Also, the gravity-defying gecko of the Gambia, how close are we to producing artificial blood, and the Patagonian dinosaur that looks like a judgemental chicken.

All that, plus many more Unexpected Elements.

Presenter: Marnie Chesterton
Producers: Ella Hubber, with Sophie Ormiston, Lucy Davies and Imy Harper


SAT 01:00 BBC News (w172zwx57zvhb3m)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 01:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmd68gq40)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SAT 01:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxzpqg5pd0)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 01:32 The Global Story (w3ct715m)
How the Oscars went international

On Sunday, many of the film industry’s biggest stars will gather in Los Angeles for Hollywood’s biggest night: the 98th annual Academy Awards.

Looming over the celebrations are some major upheavals in Hollywood: big corporate mergers, the incursion of AI, and mass layoffs. And it’s against that backdrop that the Oscars are increasingly nominating films, filmmakers, and actors from elsewhere in the world.

BBC film reporter and critic Tom Brook explains how the Oscars went global, and what it can tell us about the status of American soft power.

Producers: Xandra Ellin and Valerio Esposito

Executive producer: James Shield

Mix: Travis Evans

Senior news editor: China Collins

Photo: Workers make preparations for the 98th annual Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles Credit: Reuters / Caroline Brehman


SAT 02:00 BBC News (w172zwx57zvhfvr)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmd68gtw4)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SAT 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxzpqg5t44)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 02:32 Stumped (w3ct6zkq)
Men’s T20 World Cup Final: India demolish New Zealand to retain title

On this week's Stumped with Alison Mitchell, Clint Wheeldon and Sunil Gupta; after India's men's side banished the ghosts of 2023 and defended their T20 World Cup title on home soil, we look back at a one-sided final and ask whether anyone can match them in white ball cricket?

Plus, we hear from Afghanistan cricketer Tooba Khan Sarwari on how life has been over the last 12 months - including that visit to the Women's World Cup in India - and her hopes for the future.

Photo: Suryakumar Yadav Captain of India along with the teammates lifts the trophy after winning the ICC Men's T20 World Cup India & Sri Lanka 2026 Final between India and New Zealand at Narendra Modi Stadium on March 8, 2026 in Ahmedabad, India. (Credit: MB Media/Getty Images)


SAT 03:00 BBC News (w172zwx57zvhklw)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 03:06 Outlook (w3ct6wjb)
Outlook Mixtape: Friday the 13th

For a lot of people, when the 13th of a month lands on a Friday, it's a signal to be on high alert. The date carries a reputation for misfortune and dread. Some of that can be traced back to a single iconic figure: Jason Voorhees. He’s the hockey-mask-clad killer at the centre of the Friday the 13th movie franchise. Actor and stuntman Kane Hodder brought the character to life across multiple films, yet his own brush with real-world horror proved just as harrowing. During a fire stunt gone badly wrong, Kane sustained severe burns across half of his body. Remarkably, after recovering, he chose to face the flames again as he told Jo Fidgen in 2020.

British-Nigerian writer Nuzo Onoh struggled during her school years, pushed back against her father, and endured physical punishment throughout her childhood. As an adult, she fell into line, pursuing a career in law. Her father’s death unlocked something in her. Suddenly, stories rooted in Igbo traditions and the eerie memories of her early life began pouring onto the page. When she set out to find a publisher, though, she realized her work existed in a category of its own. Undeterred, she set about creating a home for horror literature through an African lens and ultimately claimed one of the field's highest honours. This story was first broadcast in 2024.

At 13 years old, Marie McCreadie lost her voice entirely. For more than ten years, she was completely unable to speak. Some accused her of faking it while others pointed to darker, supernatural explanations. The real story, however, turned out to be stranger than any of those theories. She shared her experience with Outlook's Andrea Kennedy back in 2019.

Presenter: Jo Fidgen
Producer: Saskia Collette

Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com or WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707

(Photo: A transparent 60-minute cassette tape on a white background with a white label with the words: The Outlook Mixtape. Credit: Getty Images)


SAT 03:50 Witness History (w3ct7459)
Casablanca: Making one of Hollywood’s greatest movies

When Warner Bros assigned twin brothers and screenwriters Julius Epstein and Philip Epstein to adapt a stage play for the big screen in 1942, no one could have predicted the impact it would have.

Casablanca has since become one of the most recognisable and quotable films of all time, firmly embedded in Hollywood history. But what appears effortless on screen was anything but behind the scenes.

The late Leslie Epstein, son and nephew of Julius and Philip respectively, tells Louis Harnett O’Meara about the twins’ hijinks and the challenges involved in the making of an all-time classic. An Ember production.

Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there.

For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more.

Recent episodes explore everything from the death of Adolf Hitler, the first spacewalk and the making of the movie Jaws, to celebrity tortoise Lonesome George, the Kobe earthquake and the invention of superglue.

We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: Eva Peron – Argentina’s Evita; President Ronald Reagan and his famous ‘tear down this wall’ speech; Thomas Keneally on why he wrote Schindler’s List; and Jacques Derrida, France’s ‘rock star’ philosopher.

You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the civil rights swimming protest; the disastrous D-Day rehearsal; and the death of one of the world’s oldest languages.

(Photo: Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman in Casablanca. Credit: United Achieves via Getty Image)


SAT 04:00 BBC News (w172zwx57zvhpc0)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 04:06 Unexpected Elements (w3ct72xj)
[Repeat of broadcast at 00:06 today]


SAT 05:00 BBC News (w172zwx57zvht34)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 05:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmd68h63j)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SAT 05:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxzpqg65cj)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 05:32 Dear Daughter (w3ct9084)
The gift of life

Brenda, a Canadian mother living with chronic kidney disease, was facing a long and uncertain wait for a transplant, until 2013 when her daughter Kielah stepped forward with an extraordinary act of love.

Kielah volunteered to donate a kidney, but when tests revealed she wasn’t a match, she refused to give up. Instead, she entered Canada’s paired exchange programme, donating her kidney to a stranger so that Brenda could receive a compatible one in return.

In a poignant letter for Dear Daughter, Brenda reflects on the “ticking clock” of living with a transplant and her daily gratitude for the daughter whose selflessness saved her life. Now a mother herself, Kielah tells Namulanta Kombo about watching her mum’s decline and why, despite the risks, she didn’t hesitate to give up a kidney to save her mum.

To find out more about Dear Daughter, to take part, or read our privacy notice, please go to www.bbcworldservice.com/deardaughter. Or you can contact the team via WhatsApp on +44 800 030 4404.


SAT 05:50 More or Less (w3ct6w0c)
Transgender women in sport: Does ‘comparable’ mean ‘equal’?

In most sports, men compete against men and women compete against women. That is generally considered fair, because men are faster, more powerful and have greater endurance.

But there is an ongoing controversy about transgender women - people who were born male and now identify as women. Is it fair for them to compete in the women’s sport category or do they have an advantage?

A study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine recently added to the debate with an analysis that found the strength and fitness of transgender women is “comparable” with that of women.

More or Less looks into the research to explain what it does, and does not, say.

Contributors:

Professor Alun Williams, Manchester Metropolitan University

Credits:

Presenter: Charlotte McDonald
Reporter: Tom Colls
Production co-ordinator: Brenda Brown
Sound Mix: Gareth Jones
Editor: Richard Vadon


SAT 06:00 BBC News (w172zwx57zvhxv8)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 06:06 Weekend (w172zw8mq7hrhk7)
President Trump: US has "totally obliterated" every military target on Iran's Kharg Island

President Trump says the US has "totally obliterated" every military target on Iran's Kharg Island. Around 90% of Iran's oil exports pass through the island making it a critical economic lifeline for Tehran. Mr Trump said oil infrastructure was not targeted, but warned it could be.

Also on the programme: Lebanon's health ministry says at least 12 medical workers have been killed in an Israeli strike on a healthcare centre in the south of the country; and we hear from the Latvian athletes who clinched the country's first ever medal at a Winter Paralympics.

Joining our presenter Julian Worricker to discuss these stories and more are Ellie Geranmayeh, a senior policy fellow and deputy head of the Middle East and North Africa programme at the European Council on Foreign Relations, and Alistair Burt, former Minister of State for the Middle East at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the UK.

(Photo: A satellite image shows an oil terminal at Kharg Island, Iran, on the February 25, 2026. Credit: Planet Labs PBC/Handout via REUTERS)


SAT 07:00 BBC News (w172zwx57zvj1ld)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 07:06 Weekend (w172zw8mq7hrm9c)
US military has bombed key Iranian island, President Trump says

President Donald Trump says "every military target" on Iran's key oil island has been "totally obliterated", but there was no damage to oil infrastructure. Kharg Island is a tiny but strategic terminal 22 miles off the coast of Iran. The US embassy in Baghdad, the Iraqi capital, has also been hit by a missile.

Also on the programme: We consider what the toll of this war may be on the environment; and Haitian Paralympian Ralph Etienne returns to weekend to reflect on his time at the winter games.

Joining our presenter Julian Worricker to discuss these stories and more are Ellie Geranmayeh, a senior policy fellow and deputy head of the Middle East and North Africa programme at the European Council on Foreign Relations, and Alistair Burt, former Minister of State for the Middle East at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the UK.

(Photo: President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media before boarding Air Force One fat Joint Base Andrews, Maryland o the 13th of March 2026. Credit: REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque)


SAT 08:00 BBC News (w172zwx57zvj5bj)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 08:06 Weekend (w172zw8mq7hrr1h)
United States strikes military targets on Kharg island

The Lebanese health ministry says medical personnel have been killed in an Israeli strike on a primary healthcare centre in the south of the country. The ministry says it was the second Israeli attack on the health sector within hours, with an earlier strike killing two paramedics. Lebanon says more than eight hundred people have been killed in Israeli airstrikes since the conflict began two weeks ago, two hundred of them children.

Also in the programme: we hear from a Russian diplomat on the easing of sanctions; and an Egyptian view on the war in the Middle East.

Joining our presenter Julian Worricker to discuss these stories and more are Ellie Geranmayeh, a senior policy fellow and deputy head of the Middle East and North Africa programme at the European Council on Foreign Relations, and Alistair Burt, former Minister of State for the Middle East at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the UK.

(Photo: Rescuers work at a building after an Israeli airstrike hit the Haret Saida area of Sidon, southern Lebanon, 14 March 2026. CREDIT: STRINGER/EPA/Shutterstock)


SAT 09:00 BBC News (w172zwx57zvj92n)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 09:06 BBC Conversations (w3ct6rp1)
Women and the future of Formula 1

Motor racing is one of the few sports where men and women can – in theory – compete on equal terms. But you wouldn’t think that from looking at almost any race.

Only one in ten drivers in motorsport are women and most compete in karting, the category of racing where professional drivers tend to begin their careers. The last woman to take part in an F1 race was Italy’s Lella Lombardi, and that was 50 years ago.

To increase the pool of female drivers and return women to the top ranks of motor racing, F1 Academy was set up. In our conversation, three F1 Academy drivers – Rachel Robertson, Alba Larsen and Esmee Kosterman – share their experiences of speed, ambition and the sexism they have often faced from boys they have raced against.

“They always tell me ‘Oh it’s not for girls’ and ‘it’s not your sport’ – they make fun of it," says Esmee. “I really love to do this sport, and I don’t care what they think.”

Presenter: James Reynolds
BBC producer: Isabella Bull
Boffin Media producer: Richard Hollingham
Editors: Arja Haikonen and Harriet Oliver

A Boffin Media production in partnership with the BBC World Service Outside Source team.

(Photo: Esmee Kosterman. Credit: F1 Academy Ltd/Parc Ferme)


SAT 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxzpqg6nc1)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 09:32 Americast (w3ct8bz8)
Is Cuba Trump’s next target after Iran?

President Trump has renewed his threat of a “friendly takeover” of Cuba, saying the island is in deep trouble and that the Cuban government is desperate to make a deal. In this episode, Justin and Anthony look at how seriously we should we be taking these threats, and look into the talks taking place between the US and Cuba.

Pressure on Cuba has been building since the capture of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro earlier this year, a long-time ally of Cuba’s government. The Trump administration has effectively cut off oil supplies into Cuba by stopping shipments of Venezuelan oil, and threatening to impose tariffs on any country which supplies the island with oil.

With the prospect of a worsening humanitarian crisis, as Cuba deals with mass blackouts - its electricity grid is powered by oil - affecting all areas of Cuba’s economy and society including schools, hospitals, agriculture and tourism, will the country make a deal with the US? Who is involved in the talks, and how does Trump’s approach differ from other US presidents?

We speak to Peter Kornbluh, co-author of Back Channel to Cuba: The Hidden History of Negotiations between Washington and Havana, who is also a senior analyst at the National Security Archive about the talks between the US and Cuba.

HOSTS:
• Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter
• Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent

GET IN TOUCH:
• Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB
• Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480
• Email Americast@bbc.co.uk
• Or use #Americast

This episode was made by Purvee Pattni, Mhairi MacKenzie, Grace Reeve and Rufus Gray. The technical producer was Rohan Madison. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app.

You can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers.

US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155

Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Americast also makes lots of other podcasts, including Newscast. If you enjoy Americast (and if you're reading this then you hopefully do), then we think that you will enjoy some of our other pods too. See links below.

Newscast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/p05299nl
Radical: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0gg4k6r
The Global Story: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/w13xtvsd
Top Comment: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/m001mssm


SAT 10:00 BBC News (w172zwx57zvjdts)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 10:06 Not by the Playbook (w3ct8795)
On top of the world!

The Seven Summits are considered one of the greatest challenges in mountaineering worldwide. It takes some effort to to conquer the highest peaks on all seven continents. Imagine doing that as double above-knee amputate! Well that's the extraordinary achievement of Nepalese-British adventurer Hari Budha Magar who recently made history, again, by reaching the summit of Mount Vinson in Antarctica, thus successfully completing his “Seven Summits” mission. He tells us about is extraordinary story from the depths of despair to literally being on top of the world.

The first Winter Paralympics were held in the Swedish town of Örnsköldsvik in 1976. Nearly two-hundred competitors came from 16 countries. We hear from two blind skiing competitors with very different experiences - Finnish multi-gold medallist, Pertti Sankilampi, and Londoner Mike Brace, who learnt his sport shortly before the Games.

Paralympic gold medallist Matt "The Armless Archer" Stutzman is back with a new series of his podcast Rising Phoenix. This time his focus is on the extraordinary tales of winter Paralympians. But could we ever see Matt on the slopes? He also reflects on how much his gold medal performance in Paris meant to him and his family and how having retired after those Games, he has plenty to "dwell on" with the next Paralympics in front of his home crowd in LA 2028.

When Dani Aravich is not winning Paralympic gold, and by the way she's trying to add more as you read this, she is thinking about how she can raise the visibility of Para sport. Sadly when the curtain comes down on the games in Milan/ Cortina many people won't engage with para-sports until the LA Games in 2028. Determined to change that she has launched "Culxtured" a platform for fans to get excited about para-sport and where para-athletes can tell their story to the world. A bit like us really ! But we don't mind a bit of competition. She's not doing it on her own, she's been joined by amongst others, former Paralympic swimming medalist Anna Johannes. One of Culxtured's plans is to create their own podcast, so we thought we'd give them a chance to practice by getting Dani and Anna to interview themselves, whilst we put our feet up!

PHOT: Hari Budha Magar who lost his legs serving as a Gurkha’s in Afghanistan, the first double above the knee amputee to Climb Mount Everest (Credit: Ryan Sosna-Bowd/Getty Images


SAT 11:00 BBC News (w172zwx57zvjjkx)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmd68hxl9)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SAT 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxzpqg6wv9)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 11:32 Unspun World with John Simpson (w3ct8yvv)
What do people in Iran think about the war?

This week Caroline Hawley, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, explores what life in Iran is like as the war intensifies, analyses what the US objectives are for the war and whether they are obtainable, and examines the possibility of a new war in Ethiopia and its implications for the region.

Producer: Kate Cornell
Executive Producer: Benedick Watt
Commissioning Editor: Vara Szajkowski


SAT 12:00 BBC News (w172zwx57zvjnb1)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 12:06 World Questions (w3ct750b)
Guyana

Although its population is small, it's the world’s fastest growing economy – thanks to the discovery of vast amounts of offshore oil and gas. But how will Guyana’s newly found wealth be distributed – and who will feel its benefits?
Jonny Dymond and a panel of political leaders and businesspeople face tough questions from a lively audience in the country’s capital, Georgetown.
The Panel:
Ashni Singh: Minister of Finance for the governing PPP/C Party
Tabitha Sarabo-Halley: Opposition MP, WIN party
Ayodele Dalgety-Dean: Chair of SISPRO – a women led energy company
Clinton Urling: Secretary of the Private Sector commission of Guyana

Producer: Helen Towner

(Image: Oil platform on the background of Guyana flag. Credit: Anton Petrus/Getty Images)


SAT 13:00 BBC News (w172zwx57zvjs25)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 13:06 Newshour (w172zssmfxcnxms)
Trump says military targets on Iran's key oil island 'obliterated'

The US military has given more details about its strikes last night on Kharg Island, where most of Iran's oil exports are shipped from. It said it had struck more than 90 military sites, including missile storage facilities. Video on social media showed multiple explosions, including at an airfield.

Also in the programme: our correspondent has been to a Kurdish Peshmerga mountain base in Iraq; and we meet the man who did the make-up and prosthetics for the new film Frankenstein.

(Photo: A satellite image shows an oil terminal at Kharg Island, Iran, February 25, 2026. 2026 Credit: Planet Labs PBC/Handout via Reuters)


SAT 14:00 BBC News (w172zwx57zvjwt9)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 14:06 Sportsworld (w172ztr1rh45j5r)
Live Sporting Action

We’ll have live Premier League commentary of Burnley against Bournemouth. Lee James will be joined by the former Liverpool, Tottenham and USA goalkeeper Brad Friedel and the former Burnley, Newcastle and Republic of Ireland midfielder Jeff Hendrick. They’ll preview that game as well as big matches for leaders Arsenal and title chasers Manchester City.

Away from the Premier League, we’ll check in at the quarter final stage of the Women’s Asian Cup.

There’s also the first sprint race of the Formula One season at the Chinese Grand Prix, the final round of Six Nations matches with France, Scotland and Ireland all in contention for the trophy and the penultimate day of action at the Winter Paralympic Games.

And we’ll be in the USA for the round three of golf’s Players Championship, the men’s tennis semi finals at Indian Wells and in Miami for the quarter finals of Baseball’s World Classic.

Photo: Marcus Tavernier of AFC Bournemouth tackles Josh Cullen of Burnley during the Premier League match between Bournemouth and Burnley at Vitality Stadium on December 20, 2025 in Bournemouth, England. (Credit: Getty Images)


SAT 18:00 BBC News (w172zwx57zvkcst)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 18:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmd68jrt6)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SAT 18:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxzpqg7r26)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 18:32 Dear Daughter (w3ct9084)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:32 today]


SAT 18:50 Sporting Witness (w3ct7zt3)
The first Women’s Six Nations Rugby Championship

Nathalie Amiel was a star of French rugby for more than fifteen years, from when she started playing internationally aged 15.

She was part of the team which won the Five Nations, as well as the European Championship four times.

In 2002 Nathalie crowned her long career with a win in the first ever Women's Six Nations Rugby Championship.

Nathalie spoke to Laura Jones in 2023.

Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive and testimony. Sporting Witness is for those fascinated by sporting history. We take you to the events that have shaped the sports world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes, you become a fan in the stands as we take you back in time to examine memorable victories and agonising defeats from all over the world. You’ll hear from people who have achieved sporting immortality, or those who were there as incredible sporting moments unfolded.

Recent episodes explore the forgotten football Women’s World Cup, the plasterer who fought a boxing legend, international football’s biggest ever beating and the man who swam the Amazon river. We look at the lives of some of the most famous F1 drivers, tennis players and athletes as well as people who’ve had ground-breaking impact in their chosen sporting field, including: the most decorated Paralympian, the woman who was the number 1 squash player in the world for nine years, and the first figure skater to wear a hijab. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the tennis player who escaped the Nazis, how a man finally beat a horse in a race, and how the FIFA computer game was created.

(Photo: Nathalie (right) playing Rugby in 2002. Credit: Craig Prentis/Getty Images)


SAT 19:00 BBC News (w172zwx57zvkhjy)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 19:06 The Inquiry (w3ct7241)
Why is Poland’s economy booming?

In February, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk posted a social media video celebrating new figures from the International Monetary Fund suggesting that the average person in Poland now has slightly more spending power than the average person in Spain, the European Union’s fourth largest economy.

It’s a symbolic milestone for a country that emerged from communism just over three decades ago and once struggled with hyperinflation and economic upheaval. In 2025, Poland’s economy also passed the trillion-dollar mark, putting it in an elite group of just 20 countries globally.

Investment from across the EU has helped drive growth. But can Poland keep its edge as labour shortages grow and the war in neighbouring Ukraine continues to shape the region?

This week on The Inquiry, Tanya Beckett asks: Why is Poland’s economy booming?

Contributors:
Dr Pawel Bukowski, lecturer in economics at University College London and Polish Academy of Sciences, UK
Iga Magda, associate professor at the Warsaw School of Economics, Poland
Katarzyna Rzentarzewska, chief CEE macro economist at Erste Group Bank AG, Austria
Rafal Benecki, chief economist at ING, Poland

Presenter: Tanya Beckett
Producer: Matt Toulson
Researcher: Evie Yabsley
Editor: Tom Bigwood
Technical Producer: Cameron Ward
Production Management: Phoebe Lomas and Liam Morrey

(Photo: A high street in Warsaw. Credit: NurPhoto/Getty Images)


SAT 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxzpqg7vtb)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 19:32 Good Bad Billionaire (w3ct8c9z)
Larry Ellison: Winning the database wars

Larry Ellison’s business mantra is simple: “It is not sufficient that I succeed — everyone else must fail.” From humble beginnings as an adopted child in Chicago to becoming one of the richest men in history, BBC business editor Simon Jack and journalist Zing Tsjeng trace the relentless ascent of one of Silicon Valley’s most combative and controversial figures.

After recognising the commercial potential of databases, Larry Ellison founded Oracle in the 1970s and spent the next two decades driving an aggressive sales culture that fuelled meteoric growth — and nearly sank the company in an accounting scandal. But Larry Ellison rebuilt his company into a global enterprise software giant, and in recent years has extended his influence beyond technology into Hollywood. All while amassing fighter jets, yachts, and even a Hawaiian island.

Good Bad Billionaire is the podcast that explores the lives of the super-rich and famous, tracking their wealth, philanthropy, business ethics, and success. There are leaders who made their money in Silicon Valley, on Wall Street and in high street fashion. From iconic celebrities and CEOs to titans of technology, the podcast unravels tales of fortune, power, economics, ambition and moral responsibility. Simon and Zing put their subjects to the test with a playful, totally unscientific scorecard — then hand the verdict over to you: are they good, bad, or simply billionaires? Here's how to contact the team: email goodbadbillionaire@bbc.com or send a text or WhatsApp to +1 (917) 686-1176. Find out more about the show and read our privacy notice at www.bbcworldservice.com/goodbadbillionaire


SAT 20:00 BBC News (w172zwx57zvkm92)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 20:06 The Arts Hour (w3ct6zvr)
Director Baz Luhrmann on EPIC: Elvis Presley in Concert

Nikki Bedi is joined by critic Guy Lodge to discuss cultural highlights of the week:

Australian auteur Baz Luhrmann on his second film about the King of Rock n Roll....EPIC: Elvis Presley in Concert.

American author Julia Quinn, creator of the bestselling Bridgerton books shares why she’s so drawn to this Regency period of history.

Scottish filmmaker Aidan Zamiri talks about bringing ‘Brat summer’ to the big screen in his mockumentary, The Moment with Charli XCX.

Spanish director Oliver Laxe on creating desert raves in his extraordinary film Sirāt.

Filmmaker Alessio Rigo de Righi talks to Nikki about his Italian western, Heads or Tails.

And Grammy award-winning Icelandic singer Laufey on the joys of working with an orchestra.

Photo Credit: Getty Images


SAT 21:00 BBC News (w172zwx57zvkr16)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 21:06 Newshour (w172zssmfxcpwlt)
Trump urges other powers to send ships to help secure Strait of Hormuz

The US president has called on the UK and other allies to join the United States in sending ships to help secure the Strait of Hormuz. His comments come after he said US forces had “obliterated” military targets on Iran’s key Kharg Island - a commercial lifeline for the Iranian regime. We discuss these latest developments with Mark Kimmitt, former US Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs under George W. Bush.

Also on today’s programme: an Israeli strike in southern Lebanon has killed 12 medical workers; and we hear from Cuba, where protesters have attacked a Communist Party office.


(Photo: Kharg Island - a military target on Kharg Island, that was struck by the US forces. Source: U.S. Central Command on social media / X / @CENTCOM)


SAT 22:00 BBC News (w172zwx57zvkvsb)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 22:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmd68k7sq)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SAT 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxzpqg871q)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 22:32 This Is Africa (w3ct72fd)
Kivumbi King

Kivumbi King is a poet, rapper and singer from Kigali, Rwanda. He’s part of a new generation of Rwandan musicians who have been breaking musical boundaries and trying to put his country on the musical map. His danceable tunes are a special blend of traditional rhythms, contemporary beats and soulful vocals.


SAT 23:00 BBC News (w172zwx57zvkzjg)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 23:06 Not by the Playbook (w3ct8795)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:06 today]

SUNDAY 15 MARCH 2026

SUN 00:00 BBC News (w172zwx57zvl38l)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 00:06 BBC Conversations (w3ct6rp1)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:06 on Saturday]


SUN 00:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxzpqg8gjz)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 00:32 The Documentary (w3ct8yxr)
Namibia’s hydrogen superpower dream

A near-pristine desert wilderness on Southern Africa’s remote Atlantic coast in Namibia could host a huge green hydrogen development, raising hope for wealth and desperately needed jobs. Supporters say it could help tackle youth unemployment, which is among the highest in the world.

But there are big questions about what the plan will mean for people and wildlife living nearby. The development would take place next to a national park that is home to rare plants and animals. Conservationists warn it could damage fragile desert habitats and put pressure on the coastal ecosystem.

Johannes Dell travels to the port town of Lüderitz and the surrounding desert to hear from the people who would live with the changes. He meets young Namibians, hoping they will have a part to play in Namibia’s green energy future. Johannes speaks to scientists studying the plants and animals that may be at risk, and officials who believe the project could transform the country’s future.

Producer/presenter: Johannes Dell
Executive producer: Anna Stewart
A CTVC production for BBC World Service

Image: A sign outside the Namibian town of Grasplatz (Credit: Johannes Dell)


SUN 01:00 BBC News (w172zwx57zvl70q)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 01:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmd68km13)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SUN 01:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxzpqg8l93)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 01:32 Dear Daughter (w3ct9084)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:32 on Saturday]


SUN 01:50 Sporting Witness (w3ct7zt3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 18:50 on Saturday]


SUN 02:00 BBC News (w172zwx57zvlbrv)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmd68kqs7)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SUN 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxzpqg8q17)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 02:32 Health Check (w3ct6vkt)
Using lasers to fight brain cancer

New research from Yale shows that aging doesn’t have to result in mental and physical decline. In fact, they found that nearly half of older adults actually improved in cognitive or physical ability over a 12-year period. Dr Graham Easton, a family doctor, discusses what this can teach us about what we can and can’t control when it comes to aging.

Brain tumours can be notoriously difficult to treat because many therapeutic drugs are not allowed through the blood-brain barrier – an extremely selective system that controls access in and out of the brain. Now, researchers at the University of Southern California have shown that laser-induced tumour heating can open blood-brain barrier, improving the effectiveness of immunotherapy in brain cancer.

Erica Benke reports from Finland, where the Winter Swimming World Cup is underway, looking at why winter swimming is growing in popularity and what researchers say about its real health effects and risks.

A once‑rare form of organ donation is now transforming transplant care in the U.S and other countries, offering hope to thousands on waiting lists. These new techniques are allowing doctors to keep organs in good condition for longer, even after the donor’s heart has stopped beating. Plus, researchers in Hungary are training AI to better identify mosquitos by their sound, with hopes to accurately monitor populations of the deadliest animal on Earth.

Presenter: Laura Foster
Producer: Anna Charalambou
Assistant Producer: Georgia Christie


SUN 03:00 BBC News (w172zwx57zvlghz)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 03:06 World Questions (w3ct750b)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Saturday]


SUN 04:00 BBC News (w172zwx57zvll83)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 04:06 From Our Own Correspondent (w3ct6tsy)
Iran War: Life under bombardment

Pascale Harter introduces stories from Iran, Qatar, Ukraine and Nepal.

For people living in Iranian cities under attack, it’s not at all clear when, or how, the US-Israeli war with Iran might end. More than 1300 Iranians have so far been killed, after bomb, missile and drone strikes across the country. A widespread telecommunications blackout has made it hard to see or hear at first hand what civilians are going through, but several Iranians tell BBC Persian's Sarah Namjoo they are struggling to lead a normal life.

Qatar is among several Gulf states that have faced Iranian strikes on military and civilian sites since the war began. Many of these countries tried to stop the war, and intercede between Iran and its enemies - but that hasn't stopped Iran from hitting hotels, oil infrastructure and shipping in the region. Barbara Plett Usher gauges the mood in Doha.

Several Gulf nations have turned to Ukraine for advice on downing Iranian drones. So far, teams of Ukrainian drone experts have arrived in Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Jordan to help. James Landale, the BBC diplomatic correspondent, explains from Kyiv how a new global role may lie ahead for Ukraine.

Nepal has just held an historic election. Last year, anti-corruption protests led by young Nepalis turned violent, prompted a lethal backlash from the police, and led to the fall of the former government and the resignation of the Prime Minister. Young voters have handed rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah and his party, the RSP, a landslide victory - the first in decades. Can he satisfy their demands for change? Our South Asia Correspondent Azadeh Moshiri has been in Kathmandu.

Producer: Polly Hope
Editor: Richard Vadon
Production Co-Ordinator: Katie Morrison
(Image: An Iranian woman gestures while standing on the ruins of a building destroyed during the U.S.-Israeli military campaign , in Tehran, Iran. Credit: Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images)


SUN 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxzpqg8yjh)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 04:32 Unspun World with John Simpson (w3ct8yvv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 11:32 on Saturday]


SUN 05:00 BBC News (w172zwx57zvlq07)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 05:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmd68l30m)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SUN 05:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxzpqg928m)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 05:32 The Documentary (w3ct8yxr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 00:32 today]


SUN 06:00 BBC News (w172zwx57zvltrc)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 06:06 Weekend (w172zw8mq7hvdgb)
Donald Trump threatens further strikes

President Donald Trump has threatened further strikes on Iran’s Kharg Island oil export hub and has urged allies to send warships to secure the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking on NBC News, Mr Trump said the US strikes had “totally demolished” most of Kharg Island and warned that he may order further strikes. He said Tehran appeared ready to make a deal to end the conflict, but for him the terms were not good enough yet.

Also in the programme: violent protests in Cuba; and we look ahead to the Oscars.

Joining our presenter Julian Worricker to discuss these stories and more are Harmonie Toros, Professor in Politics and International Relations at the University of Reading, and Nadine White, a journalist and film-maker based in the UK. Nadine is editor of the Black Current News magazine.

(Photo: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media before boarding Air Force One for travel to Florida, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, U.S., March 13, 2026. CREDIT: REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque)


SUN 07:00 BBC News (w172zwx57zvlyhh)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 07:06 Weekend (w172zw8mq7hvj6g)
Trump says Tehran appears ready to make a deal

There have been a series of new strikes on the Iranian capital, Tehran. Residents in the city told the BBC they heard explosions late on Saturday night. Iranian media reported that missiles hit an industrial area on Saturday in Isfahan province, killing at least fifteen factory workers.

Also in the programme: the fashion of the UK Royal Family; and the Winter Paralympics come to a close.

Joining our presenter Julian Worricker to discuss these stories and more are Harmonie Toros, Professor in Politics and International Relations at the University of Reading, and Nadine White, a journalist and film-maker based in the UK. Nadine is editor of the Black Current News magazine.

(Photo: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media before boarding Air Force One for travel to Florida, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, U.S., March 13, 2026. CREDIT: REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque)


SUN 08:00 BBC News (w172zwx57zvm27m)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 08:06 Weekend (w172zw8mq7hvmyl)
Trump: US not ready to make deal to end the war with Iran

US President Donald Trump has said in an interview with NBC Iran wants to make a deal to end the war, but he doesn't want to yet "because the terms are not good enough."

Also on the programme: France is holding the first round of local elections, with mayors being chosen in 35,000 communes across the country; and we meet the men in the UK celebrating the joy of ordinary things at the Dull Men's Club.

Joining our presenter Julian Worricker to discuss these stories and more are Harmonie Toros, Professor in Politics and International Relations at the University of Reading in the UK, and Nadine White, the editor of the Black Current News magazine and a film-maker.

(Photo: President Donald Trump looks on before boarding Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, on the 13th of March, 2026. Credit: REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque)


SUN 09:00 BBC News (w172zwx57zvm5zr)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 09:06 From Our Own Correspondent (w3ct6tsy)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:06 today]


SUN 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxzpqg9k84)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 09:32 The Food Chain (w3ct70zy)
Giving it all up for food

Ruth Alexander meets three people who gave up well-paid, high-flying careers to start all over again in the world of food.

Nisha Katona left a career as a child protection barrister behind to start Mowgli, a chain of Indian restaurants in the UK, physically building her first restaurants herself.

Judy Joo worked in finance on Wall Street but decided to give it up to go to culinary school. After starting at the bottom in various restaurant kitchens she founded the Korean restaurant chain Seoul Bird, which has outlets in the UK and the US.

Duc Ngo was an engineer who felt he lacked purpose and joy. So he left his job to start a sandwich shop in Helsinki. But it wasn’t easy. He took to Tiktok to document its rise, fall and rebirth as a bistro, The Alley.

So did they all make the right decision and would they change anything? Ruth finds out...

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: thefoodchain@bbc.co.uk

Produced by Lexy O'Connor.

Sound Engineer: Annie Gardiner

Image: A smiling woman is behind a cafe door. She is turning the “closed” sign to “open”. Credit MoMo Productions/Getty images.


SUN 10:00 BBC News (w172zwx57zvm9qw)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 10:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct6xz1)
The power of poetry

Can poetry change how we think, feel and act? We’re looking at how poetry is being used in some innovative and unexpected ways. We’ll hear from the Hot Poets - a group who ‘live translate’ at conferences on everything from climate change to coding. They’ve taken part in several UN climate change meetings - listening to complex presentations on science and summarising the information in a poem. They say it helps bring little known - but positive - news about climate science to a wider audience, changing despair into hope.

In Singapore we meet the medical students learning about poetry to help them become more compassionate doctors at the medical school which says medicine - like life - is not black and white. And we find out which member of our BBC team is a spoken word poet and how she is among a growing number of people worldwide to find community and belonging through open mic nights.

Plus we set our listeners a poetry challenge!

People Fixing The World from the BBC is about brilliant solutions to the world's problems. We release a new edition every Tuesday. We'd love you to let us know what you think and to hear about your own solutions. You can contact us on WhatsApp by messaging +44 8000 321721 or email peoplefixingtheworld@bbc.co.uk. And please leave us a review on your chosen podcast provider.

Presenter: Myra Anubi
Producers: Claire Bowes
Researcher: Helena Warwick-Cross
Editor: Jon Bithrey
Sound mix: Hal Haines

With thanks to: Dr Helen Johnson of the School of Humanities and Social Science at the University of Brighton

(Image: BBC production co-ordinator Maria Ogundele at HOTEP Healing Through Words poetry open mic night)


SUN 10:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxzpqg9p08)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 10:32 The Fifth Floor (w3ct70vf)
Iran war: What's life like inside Iran?

The United States and Israel have now been at war with Iran for two weeks, since 28th February. In that time, there have been over 1200 civilian deaths in Iran, including 168, most of them children, at a girls’ school in Minab, central Iran. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who had ruled Iran for over forty years, was killed on the first day of the war. There have been wider casualties throughout the region. Iran has fired missiles at neighbouring countries, including Dubai, Kuwait, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Israel.

For journalists at BBC Persian, reporting on the war from outside of the country has been incredibly difficult. The internet has been shut down on the 90 million people living inside Iran, making it difficult for people to get information on what is happening round them and which locations are being hit by bombing. It is also extremely difficult for Iranians outside the country to contact those inside.

BBC Persian's Ghoncheh Habibiazad and Taraneh Fathalian; and BBC Monitoring's Sarbas Nazari, discuss what is known about the situation within Iran. This edition was recorded on 12th March 2026.


The Fifth Floor is at the heart of global storytelling on the BBC World Service, bringing you the best stories from journalists in the BBC's 43 language services. We're here to help you make sense of the stories making headlines around the world; to excite your curiosity and to get to grips with the facts.
 
Recent episodes have investigated Russia’s youth armies and how they make soldiers of Ukrainian children; featured the BBC team who were the first journalists to the site of the Nigerian school kidnappings and reflected the effects of internet blackouts in Iran, Uganda and India.
 
If you want to know more about Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, and the legacy of Hugo Chavez; or how Vladimir Putin’s network of deep cover spies operates; or why Donald Trump signed an executive order granting white South Africans asylum in the US, we have all those stories and more.

Presented by Faranak Amidi.

Produced by Caroline Ferguson and Laura Thomas



(Photo: Faranak Amidi. Credit: Tricia Yourkevich.)


SUN 11:00 BBC News (w172zwx57zvmfh0)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmd68lthd)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SUN 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxzpqg9srd)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 11:32 Dear Daughter (w3ct9084)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:32 on Saturday]


SUN 11:50 More or Less (w3ct6w0c)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:50 on Saturday]


SUN 12:00 BBC News (w172zwx57zvmk74)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 12:06 BBC Conversations (w3ct6rp1)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:06 on Saturday]


SUN 12:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxzpqg9xhj)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 12:32 Good Bad Billionaire (w3ct8c9z)
[Repeat of broadcast at 19:32 on Saturday]


SUN 13:00 BBC News (w172zwx57zvmnz8)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 13:06 Newshour (w172zssmfxcrtjw)
Iran war: Saudi Arabia, UAE and Kuwait report attacks

Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait all reported attacks overnight, with air defences working to intercept them, though the frequency is much less than in the early days of the conflict. Earlier the Iranians urged the UAE to evacuate the port zones of Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Fujairah. We hear about Iran's strategy.

Also in the programme: Pakistan accuses the Afghan Taliban of crossing a red line by launching drones into its airspace; and how an Oscar-nominee picked a fight with the worlds of ballet and opera.

(Photo: Smoke rises in the Fujairah oil industry zone, caused by debris after interception of a drone by air defences, according to the Fujairah media office, during the US/Israel conflict with Iran. Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, March 14, 2026. Credit: Reuters)


SUN 14:00 BBC News (w172zwx57zvmsqd)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 14:06 The Climate Question (w3ct703c)
Q&A: Beavers, solar panels in the Sahara and nuclear waste

The Climate Question panel answer your queries. Do beavers protect the planet? Should we put solar panels in deserts? And why does the world need to upgrade its electricity grids?

Host Graihagh Jackson puts your head-scratchers to Justin Rowlatt, BBC climate editor; Akshat Rathi, senior climate reporter for Bloomberg News and host of Bloomberg's Zero podcast; and Caroline Steel, presenter of BBC CrowdScience.

Got a question for the next listeners' show? You can email us at theclimatequestion@bbc.com or leave a WhatsApp message at + 44 8000 321 721

Production team: Diane Richardson and Grace Braddock
Sound Mix: Tom Brignell and Johnny Hall
Production Coordinator: Brenda Brown
Editor: Simon Watts

Picture Credit: A beaver. Arterra/Universal Images Group via Getty Images


SUN 14:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxzpqgb4zs)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 14:32 Happy News (w3ct6tzr)
The Happy Pod: Turning my toddler's tales into tunes

Stephen Spencer has set his daughter's stories to music. What started as something he posted for his few followers has turned into a social media sensation, with fans around the world left smiling, laughing or even crying by the catchy tunes and often bizarre lyrics.

Also: how a chance conversation between two women on a train led to one donating her eggs so the other could have a baby. When Anita revealed her fertility issues, Ginny instantly offered to help.

A surgeon who successfully operated on a patient hundreds of kilometres away says it opens up new possibilities for people around the world. He was able to remotely control a surgical robot in real time, thanks to advances in technology.

In Singapore, medical students are learning to be more compassionate doctors by studying poetry. Those behind the course say it helps the students to understand nuance in how patients are feeling.

Plus are dogs that howl along to music actually singing, and how a sly fox accidentally made a transatlantic voyage.

Our weekly collection of inspiring, uplifting and happy news from around the world.

Presenter: Holly Gibbs. Music composed by Iona Hampson.


SUN 15:00 BBC News (w172zwx57zvmxgj)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 15:06 Sportsworld (w172ztr1rh48jtz)
Live Sporting Action

Delyth Lloyd presents live Premier League commentary of Liverpool against Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield. Delyth will be joined by former Sierra Leone, Tottenham and Liverpool defender Steven Caulker and Mani Djazmi to preview our commentary game, as well as discussing Sunday's three other Premier League games.

We'll also reflect on the final day of the Winter Paralympics, F1 Chinese Grand Prix and AFC Women's Asian Cup Quarterfinals. Plus, we look forward to the men and women's singles finals at Indian Wells.

Photo: Hugo Ekitike of Liverpool heads the second goal during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on December 20, 2025 in London, England. (Credit: Getty Images)


SUN 19:00 BBC News (w172zwx57zvndg1)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmd68msgf)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SUN 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxzpqgbrqf)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 19:32 The Global Jigsaw (w3ct8yxc)
The women of IS: Part three

What next for the Syrian detention camps and their residents? After the fall of the so-called “caliphate”, tens of thousands of women and children from around the world - followers of the Islamic State group as well as its victims - ended up in a handful of camps in north-eastern Syria. Once run by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, those camps are now in the process of being closed down by the Syrian authorities. This series explores the trauma that led to the prolonged existence of the camps and what the future might hold for their residents.

In part three, we discuss justice and rehabilitation, as well as where the latest dramatic events leave the story.

Contributors: Mina al-Lami, Barry Marston, Clare Denning, Samia Hosny, Mohammed al-Jumaily, Bryn Windsor
Producer: Kriszta Satori, Elchin Suleymanov
Presenter: Krassi Ivanova Twigg
Music: Pete Cunningham


SUN 20:00 BBC News (w172zwx57zvnj65)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 20:06 Unexpected Elements (w3ct72xj)
[Repeat of broadcast at 00:06 on Saturday]


SUN 21:00 BBC News (w172zwx57zvnmy9)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 21:06 Newshour (w172zssmfxcsshx)
Iran says no reason to “talk with Americans”

US President Donald Trump says he’s not ready to make a deal with Iran because the terms for one aren't good enough yet. We'll hear from Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi who says his country has never even requested a ceasefire with the US and get the latest on the situation in Iran from a BBC Persian journalist.

Also on the programme: Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine tells us concerns for his safety have prompted him to leave the country two months after the disputed presidential election; and who's in the running ahead of this year’s upcoming Oscars ceremony?

(Photo: Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi speaking to CBS News, 16th March 2026. Credit: "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan", CBS News)


SUN 22:00 BBC News (w172zwx57zvnrpf)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 22:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmd68n4pt)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SUN 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxzpqgc3yt)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 22:32 The Fifth Floor (w3ct70vf)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:32 today]


SUN 23:00 BBC News (w172zwx57zvnwfk)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 23:06 The Climate Question (w3ct703c)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:06 today]


SUN 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwxzpqgc7py)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 23:32 Assignment (w3ct6rd0)
Ukraine: The War Behind the War

No one wants to do Major Serhiy Laziuk’s job. He travels from house to house in Lviv, western Ukraine, bringing families news of their loved ones at the front who are killed or missing in action. ‘I tell them I have a sealed letter, that I must deliver by hand,’ he says. Then he arrives at the door to break the news. Serhiy has delivered hundreds of notifications, often three or four a day. ‘You never know how people will react. Some stay calm, some become hysterical. Some blame me for the death of their son…’

Small wonder that Ukraine is in a military recruitment crisis, with many men of fighting age asking for exceptions, or hiding in their houses. ‘Mykola’ hasn’t been outside for a year and a half for fear of the draft. He and his wife sent their teenage son out of Ukraine in 2022 at the start of the full scale invasion. Of course they want Ukraine to win the war, they say. But the price of sacrificing father or son is too high. ‘Mykola’ has even cut an opening in his fence so he can watch out for patrols picking up men from the streets.

Assignment, the War Behind the War is presented by Richard Pendry and produced by Monica Whitlock. Dmytro Horyevoy is the producer in Ukraine and Neil Churchill mixed the programme.

The Assignment series editor is Penny Murphy.

(Image: Major Serhiy Laziuk Credit: Richard Pendry/BBC)

MONDAY 16 MARCH 2026

MON 00:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m84svfv)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 00:06 From Our Own Correspondent (w3ct6tsy)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:06 on Sunday]


MON 00:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrh6q7)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 00:32 BBC Inside Science (w3ct8ty3)
Is the Earth warming faster than we expected?

This week new research suggests that in recent years the Earth has been warming faster than we predicted. But scientists are undecided on whether this change is going to be permanent. Laura Wilcox, Professor of Aerosol-Climate Interactions at the University of Reading explains.

Tom Whipple is joined by Kit Yates, Author and Professor of Mathematical Biology and Public Engagement at the University of Bath. They mark the ten year anniversary of a game of ‘Go’ in which a computer programme called AlphaGo beat human Go champion Lee Sodol. Computer scientist at Google DeepMind Thore Graepel was witness to the game and talks about why the event has become a crucial moment in the story of AI.

Kit also brings Tom his pick of the science news.

To discover more fascinating science content, head to bbc.co.uk, search for BBC Inside Science and follow the links to The Open University.

Presenter: Tom Whipple
Producers: Clare Salisbury and Alex Mansfield
Editor: Martin Smith
Production Co-ordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth


MON 01:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m84sz5z)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 01:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmrgksc6c)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 01:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrhbgc)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 01:32 Discovery (w3ct6sxf)
The Life Scientific: Tony Juniper

Tony Juniper is an environmentalist who has worn many hats, over the course of his career. After developing a passion for birds in childhood, his first job saw him working to save endangered parrots - including a successful effort to bring back the Spix's macaw from the edge of extinction. Tony went on to hold leading campaigning roles with some of the world's best known environmental organisations, from Friends of The Earth to the World Wildlife Fund. He also acted as an advisor to King Charles's International Sustainability Unit and co-authored three books with the monarch. Today, Tony has swapped lobbying and campaigning for advising the government, as head of the advisory body Natural England: not without its challenges, but he says they are still outweighed by the positives. Talking to Professor Jim Al-Khalili about his enduring love for nature and hopes for the future, Tony explains his optimism that we can and will recognise the urgent need to protect and restore our planet; and why ultimately, that means saving ourselves.


MON 02:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m84t2y3)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmrgksgyh)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrhg6h)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 02:32 CrowdScience (w3ct6sv5)
Can I really manifest the future?

CrowdScience listener Kassy in India wants to know if there’s any science to support the practice of ‘manifesting’ – the idea that you can make your wishes come true just by writing down your goals and sending your dreams out to the universe. Is it just a wacky belief or can it be backed up by research?

Caroline Steel looks at the evidence to see if manifesting works. She talks to researcher Lucas Dixon in Australia, who has found that people who believe in manifesting are more likely to take risky financial decisions or end up bankrupt.

She meets neuroscientist Sabina Brennan in Ireland who argues that psychology has already proven that our thoughts and beliefs shape our reality, through cognitive behavioural therapy for example. So there is evidence to show that some of the techniques in manifesting can work.

Caroline also talks to psychologist Gabriele Oettingen in the US, whose research has demonstrated that just thinking about our wishes actually decreases our energy and makes it less likely that we’ll achieve our goals. She’s come up with her own method for increasing the likelihood of success.

And Caroline tries out a manifesting technique for herself. Can it help her realise her dreams?

Presenter: Caroline Steel

Producer: Jo Glanville

Editor: Ben Motley

(Photo: Enthusiastic brunette girl celebrating- stock photo Credit: Mix and Match Studio / 500px via Getty Images)


MON 03:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m84t6p7)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 03:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct6xz1)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:06 on Sunday]


MON 03:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrhkym)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 03:32 The Fifth Floor (w3ct70vf)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:32 on Sunday]


MON 04:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m84tbfc)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 04:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmrgksqfr)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrhppr)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 04:32 The Conversation (w3ct70b5)
How mother tongue moulds us

Datshiane Navanayagam speaks to two women who research what happens to our thoughts, feelings and behaviours when we speak many languages. To what extent do we have a “mother tongue” – and what happens if we stop using it?

Dr Aneta Pavlenko is a Ukrainian-American linguist who looks at the emotional impact of moving between languages.

Professor Núria Sebastián Gallés is a Spanish cognitive psychologist who studies bilingual toddlers and young babies.

Produced by Rebecca Moore and Hannah Sander

(Image: (L) Aneta Pavlenko, courtesy Aneta Pavlenko. (R) Núria Sebastián Gallés, courtesy Núria Sebastián Gallés.)


MON 05:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m84tg5h)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 05:06 Newsday (w172zsq53qkrv62)
US discusses coalition to escort ships through Strait of Hormuz

In an interview with Financial Times, Trump also said that it would be "very bad for the future of NATO" if allies do not help secure the Strait of Hormuz.

Japan has just started to release oil from its reserves as part of a coordinated attempt to try to reduce global oil prices, which have risen since the US-Israeli war on Iran began.


And we'll be going live to Los Angeles as the Oscars biggest movie awards ceremony wraps up. The political thriller One Battle After Another has been the biggest winner of the night.

(Photo: The Liberia flagged tanker Shenlong, carrying crude oil from Saudi Arabia to India via the Strait of Hormuz; Credit:/Divyakant Solanki/
EPA/Shutterstock)


MON 06:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m84tkxm)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 06:06 Newsday (w172zsq53qkryy6)
Trump calls on countries to secure the Strait of Hormuz

In an interview with the Financial Times, the US leader warned that NATO faced "a very bad future" if member states didn't come to America's aid.

We'll hear from people inside Iran -- and those fleeing the country -- as heavy attacks on the capital Tehran continued overnight.

And we'll be going live to Los Angeles as the Oscars biggest movie awards ceremony wraps up. The political thriller One Battle After Another has been the biggest winner of the night.

(Photo: The Callisto tanker sits anchored as the traffic is down in the Strait of Hormuz amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Muscat, Oman; Credit: Benoît Tessier/Reuters)


MON 07:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m84tpnr)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 07:06 Newsday (w172zsq53qks2pb)
Trump warns NATO if it doesn't help secure Strait of Hormuz

US President Donald Trump said he was speaking to "about seven" countries about "policing" the Strait of Hormuz. He added that "it will be interesting to see" which countries do help the US with what he called "a very small endeavour".

Israel says it still has thousands of targets in Iran- we bring you a report from there.

One Battle After Another wins six Oscars, including best picture. who were the other winners and losers. It is all coming up.

(Photo: .S. President Donald Trump speaks during a Women's History Month event; Credit: Evan Vucci/Reuters)


MON 08:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m84ttdw)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 08:06 The Interview (w3ct7x13)
Tracey Emin, artist: I’ve been given a second chance

“When you've been really nihilistic in your life when you're younger, and then you feel you've been given a second chance.”

Emma Barnett speaks to artist Dame Tracey Emin about her life and career.

Emin rose to fame in the 1990s as a disruptor of the art world, with her works, such as the sculpture ‘My Bed’, gaining widespread media attention. Having been at the forefront of the modern art scene for over three decades, a solo exhibition has now opened at the Tate Modern in London showcasing 40 years of her work.

She’s well-known for channelling her life experiences into her artwork. Following a troubled childhood, in which she was a victim of sexual abuse, Emin battled alcohol addiction throughout her adult life. However, she gave up alcohol after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer in 2020 - which is now in remission.

Emin views the experience as a ‘second life’, and believes the lifestyle change has been for the better.

Thank you to the Ready to Talk with Emma Barnett team for their help in making this programme.

The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC, including episodes with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, free speech campaigner Maria Ressa, and Olympic cyclist Sir Bradley Wiggins. You can listen on the BBC World Service on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 0800 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out three times a week on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts.

Presenter: Emma Barnett
Producers: Ben Cooper, Mark Ward and Clare Williamson
Editor: Justine Lang and Damon Rose

Get in touch with us on email TheInterview@bbc.co.uk and use the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.

(Image: Tracey Emin posing beside her artwork during a preview of her upcoming show, Tracey Emin: A Second Life at The Tate Modern in London. Credit: ADRIAN DENNIS / AFP via Getty Images)


MON 08:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrj5p8)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct6rz3)
China’s new economic reality

We look at what China’s latest “Two Sessions” reveal about the direction of the world’s second-largest economy.

With Beijing setting its lowest GDP growth target since 1991, the focus appears to be shifting from rapid expansion to stability in an increasingly uncertain global economy. We explore what that means for businesses, investors and young people trying to find work in China today.

If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Rahul Tandon
Producer: David Cann

Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute, daily deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, why bond markets are so powerful, China's property bubble, and Gen Z's experience of the current job market.

We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include Google's Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and the CEO of Canva, Melanie Perkins.

(Picture: Chinese President Xi Jinping, centre right, and Premier Li Qiang, centre left, arrive at the closing session of the National People's Congress at the Great Hall of the People on the 12th of March 2026 in Beijing, China. Credit: Getty Images)


MON 08:50 Witness History (w3ct747l)
The nuclear mango deal

On 2 March 2006, the United States and India finalised a controversial nuclear deal, ending India's three decades of international isolation over its nuclear policy.

Sweetening the deal, President George W Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced cooperative agreements not just on nuclear power but also on the import of Indian mangoes.

Surya Elango speaks to Ronen Sen, the former Indian ambassador to the US.

Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by and curious about the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there.

For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more.

Recent episodes explore everything from how the Excel spreadsheet was developed, the creation of cartoon rabbit Miffy and how the sound barrier was broken.

We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: the moment Reagan and Gorbachev met in Geneva, Haitian singer Emerante de Pradines’ life and Omar Sharif’s legendary movie entrance in Lawrence of Arabia.

You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, like the invention of a stent which has saved lives around the world; the birth of the G7; and the meeting of Maldives’ ministers underwater. We cover everything from World War Two and Cold War stories to Black History Month and our journeys into space.

(Photo: President George W Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on 2 March 2006. Credit: Jim Young via Reuters)


MON 09:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m84ty50)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 09:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmrgktb5d)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrj9fd)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 09:32 CrowdScience (w3ct6sv5)
[Repeat of broadcast at 02:32 today]


MON 10:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m84v1x4)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 10:06 The History Hour (w3ct71x8)
Movie history: Seven Samurai and Casablanca

Max Pearson presents a collection of the week's Witness History interviews from the BBC World Service. Our guest is media, culture and creative industries lecturer Sarah Jilani.

We start in 1954 with the Japanese film Seven Samurai which is widely considered to be one of world cinema's most influential films.

Then, we hear about the 2006 Hindi film Rang de Basanti which broke box-office records and inspired thousands of young Indians to march for justice.

We delve into the BBC Archives to hear from director Leni Riefenstahl about one of the most controversial propaganda movies ever made, Triumph of the Will, which was filmed at the Nazis’ Nuremberg rally in 1934.

Next, we hear about the challenges of making the Hollywood 1942 classic, Casablanca, from the late son and nephew of the screenwriters.

Finally, the story of the Spanish language fantasy, Pan's Labyrinth, which took the world by storm in 2006.

Contributors:

Hisao Kurosawa - movie producer, head of the Kurosawa Production Company and son of Seven Samurai director Akira Kurosawa.

Sarah Jilani - a Lecturer in the Department of Media, Culture and Creative Industries, City St George's, University of London.

Kamlesh Pandey - screenwriter.

Leni Riefenstahl - film maker (from BBC Archive).

Leslie Epstein - the late son and nephew of screenwriters Julius and Philip Epstein respectively.

Ivana Baquero - actress.

(Photo: Ingrid Bergman with Humphrey Bogart in a still from Casablanca. Credit: Universal History Archive/Getty Images)


MON 11:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m84v5n8)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmrgktknn)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrjjxn)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct717x)
Was the air strike on an Iranian school a war crime?

WARNING: This episode contains some graphic descriptions of violence.

Since an air strike on a school in Iran two weeks ago, the Pentagon has faced mounting questions over the possible involvement of the US military. Iranian officials say the strike killed 168 people, including about 110 children.

US media have reported that military investigators believe American forces were likely responsible for hitting the school unintentionally – but that they have not reached a final conclusion.

Today, Merlyn Thomas from BBC Verify explains what we know so far about the strike. And we speak to Oona Hathaway, a professor of international law at Yale University who previously worked at the US Department of Defence, about the potential legal consequences.

Producers: Sam Chantarasak and Aron Keller

Executive producer: James Shield

Mix: Travis Evans

Studio manager: Mike Regaard

Senior news editor: China Collins

Photo: People attend the funeral of the victims following a reported strike on a school in Minab, Iran, March 3, 2026. Credit: Amirhossein Khorgooei/ISNA/WANA via Reuters.


MON 12:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m84v9dd)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 12:06 Outlook (w3ct6wr4)
Scarpetta: Creating the hero I needed as a child

Patricia Cornwell began life in a chaotic household with a single mother who suffered from severe mental health problems and then with a cruel and abusive foster carer. Through the turmoil Patricia longed for someone to swoop in and rescue her but they never came. Eventually she found work in a morgue as a technical writer. It was there, watching a medical examiner that she was inspired to write. She created the character Kay Scarpetta, a crime-fighting forensic pathologist; someone who brings order to horror and chaos. The books became bestsellers and ended up spawning a whole new genre of crime shows - most recently including the TV series Scarpetta with Nicole Kidman. Patricia shared her story with Outlook's Emily Webb in 2023

Presenter: Mobeen Azhar
Producer: Andrea Kennedy

Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com or WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707

(Photo: Patricia Cornwell looks directly at the camera with a smile. She is wearing a black top with a black leather jacket. Credit: Getty Images)


MON 12:50 Witness History (w3ct747l)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


MON 13:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m84vf4j)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 13:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmrgktt4x)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 13:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrjsdx)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 13:32 The Conversation (w3ct70b5)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


MON 14:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m84vjwn)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 14:06 Newshour (w172zssmt5nzpg8)
Trump pressures Nato to reopen Strait of Hormuz

As the Iran war goes into its third week, which countries will heed President Trump's call to help unblock the flow of global oil? We hear from a former British army officer who served as Nato’s deputy supreme allied commander of Europe.

Also on the programme: whistleblowers tell the BBC social media giants have allowed harmful content on feeds to entice users; and a new study finds that babies experiment with deceptive behaviour much earlier than previously thought.

(Photo: US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters aboard Air Force One on a flight back to Washington on March 15, 2026. Credit: Reuters)


MON 15:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m84vnms)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 15:06 The Interview (w3ct7x13)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


MON 15:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrk0x5)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 15:32 Business Daily (w3ct6rz3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:32 today]


MON 15:50 World Business Express (w3ct886x)
Oil tensions and global trade risks

Global energy markets remain jittery after a drone strike at the UAE's Port of Fujairah forced a temporary halt in oil loading, raising concerns about the vulnerability of key Gulf export routes even as the Strait of Hormuz stays mostly closed.

Meanwhile, the White House is seeking to assemble an international naval coalition to escort ships through the strait.

In Japan, the nation's once-ubiquitous vending machines are in decline, with numbers down 23% since their 1985 peak of 2.2 million.


MON 16:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m84vscx)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 16:06 Outside Source (w173068b18jxnhw)
Germany and UK resist being pulled into wider Iran war

Germany and Britain have ruled out any Nato involvement in attempts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to shipping. President Trump has said it will be very bad for Nato if it doesn't get involved, though the alliance is only a defensive partnership. Our correspondents explain where Europe and also China stand.

Meanwhile, Israel says it has detailed plans for at least a further three weeks of war against Iran. Our BBC Persian colleague explains the situation inside Iran.

We round up the key highlights and big conversations from the Oscars.

Presenter: Rahul Tandon

(Photo: Tankers sail in the Gulf, near the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from northern Ras al-Khaimah, near the border with Oman’s Musandam governance, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, in United Arab Emirates, 11 March, 2026. Credit: Reuters)


MON 17:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m84vx41)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 17:06 Outside Source (w173068b18jxs80)
Blunt response by some Nato members to Trump's call for help

Germany says the war against Iran has nothing to do with Nato and it won't join any effort to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to oil shipments, despite pressure from President Trump. Britain says it's working with allies on a plan to restore freedom of navigation but won't be drawn into the wider conflict. We speak to our UK correspondent and journalists in Germany and France.

Our correspondents in Jerusalem, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia give the latest on the situation on the ground.

We hear from female cinematographers about their work, following Autumn Durald Arkapaw’s win as the first woman to receive the Oscar for best cinematography.

Presenter: Rahul Tandon.

(Photo: German Minister for Foreign Affairs Johann David Wadephul arrives ahead of a Foreign Affairs Council meeting at the Council of the European Union in Brussels, Belgium, 16 March 2026. Credit: Olivier Hoslet/EPA)


MON 18:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m84w0w5)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 18:06 Outlook (w3ct6wr4)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 today]


MON 18:50 Witness History (w3ct747l)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


MON 19:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m84w4m9)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmrgkvjmp)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrkhwp)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct6z6g)
2026/03/16 GMT

BBC sports correspondents tell the story behind today's top sporting news, with interviews and reports from across the world.


MON 20:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m84w8cf)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 20:06 From Our Own Correspondent (w3ct6tsy)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:06 on Sunday]


MON 20:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrkmmt)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 20:32 Discovery (w3ct6sxg)
The Life Scientific: Jehane Ragai

Ever heard of the unsuccessful Dutch painter who decided to humiliate his critics by forging Vermeers, which the artworld subsequently dubbed 'masterpieces'? Or the businessman who bought a Marc Chagall painting that he displayed with pride for years, before a television investigation revealed to his horror that it was a fake? Today we're exploring the scientific techniques used to reveal forged artworks - and bring down scammers still trying to make millions from fake masterpieces. Jehane Ragai is an Emeritus Professor of Chemistry at the American University in Cairo, with a passion for science matched by her love of arts and culture. Early in her career Jehane helped analyse the Great Sphinx of Giza and later became fascinated by the world of art forgery, leading to her acclaimed book, ‘The Scientist and the Forger’. Her life has not been without its difficulties, but - perhaps unsurprisingly, as the daughter of renowned Egyptian feminist Doria Shafik - she’s not one to shy away from a challenge. And as she tells Professor Jim Al-Khalili, Jehane feels priveleged to have been able to integrate her twin passions into a career; advice she now passes on to her students


MON 21:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m84wd3k)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 21:06 Newshour (w172zssmt5p0jp5)
Trump repeats his call for other nations to assist in securing the Strait of Hormuz

President Trump has criticised US allies for their reluctance to help break the Iranian blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, saying countries protected by American troops did not want to get involved. The EU's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, said there was no appetite among EU nations to extend the bloc's Red Sea naval mission to help reopen the waterway.

Also in the programme: Israel says people displaced by its war with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon won't be allowed home until northern Israel is safe from attack; a new study finds that babies experiment with deceptive behaviour much earlier than we previously thought; and the daughter of the woman who popularized Swedish death cleaning, on why end-of-life tidying struck such a chord.


(Photo credit: Getty Images)


MON 22:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m84whvp)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 22:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmrgkvww2)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrkw42)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 22:32 World Business Report (w3ct76v8)
Global financial fraud hits $442bn

A report out from Interpol states that an estimated $442bn dollars were lost worldwide last year to financial fraud. In its annual report, Interpol said AI-enhanced fraud was now almost five times more profitable than traditional methods, with AI systems able to autonomously plan and execute complete fraud campaigns. Vishala Sri-Pathma finds out more.

China sets its lowest growth target in decades. The focus appears to be shifting from rapid expansion to stability in an increasingly uncertain global economy. What does this mean for China today? In Kolkata, the upswing in the oil price is trickling into everyday life, we hear how gas shortages are affecting biryani sellers across the city.


MON 23:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m84wmlt)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 23:06 The Interview (w3ct7x13)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


MON 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrkzw6)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 23:32 The Conversation (w3ct70b5)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]

TUESDAY 17 MARCH 2026

TUE 00:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m84wrby)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 00:06 The History Hour (w3ct71x8)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:06 on Monday]


TUE 01:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m84ww32)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 01:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmrgkw83g)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 01:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrl7cg)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 01:32 The Global Story (w3ct717x)
[Repeat of broadcast at 11:32 on Monday]


TUE 02:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m84wzv6)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmrgkwcvl)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrlc3l)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 02:32 Assignment (w3ct6rd1)
How to spend billions fast: Carney’s defence deadline

The Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney, has given his generals and admirals an unusual command: spend money. Lots of it. Quickly. For years, it was the other way around. Canada wore the uniform of a serious Nato ally – while undershooting the alliance’s 2% of GDP defence spending target. Now, spurred by what Carney has called a “rupture” in geopolitics, Ottawa is adding billions to hit Nato’s target by 31 March 2026 – the end of the fiscal year.

Military leaders are scrambling to reverse a culture of frugality and long planning cycles. Parliament’s budget watchdog has said the Department of National Defence sometimes struggles to spend the funds it already has. The Conservative defence critic has said the new billions are money “the department won’t be able to shovel out the door.”

Neal Razzell follows the money to see what changes - and what doesn’t - when a military tries to expand at speed. In Quebec, at Canada’s main basic training base, he watches the rebuild begin - as recruits and instructors grapple with the limits of time, staff and space. In British Columbia, at the Navy’s Pacific headquarters, he asks the commander of Maritime Forces Pacific what “spend fast” can actually fix in a fleet Carney says is less than half operational.

Producer: Neal Razzell
Sound engineer: Neil Churchill
Production co-ordinator: Katie Morrison
Editor: Penny Murphy

(Image: Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney. Credit: Office of the Prime Minister)


TUE 03:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m84x3lb)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 03:06 Outlook (w3ct6wr4)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Monday]


TUE 03:50 Witness History (w3ct747l)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 on Monday]


TUE 04:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m84x7bg)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 04:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmrgkwmbv)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrlllv)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 04:32 In the Studio (w3ct6vvw)
Mariam Issoufou: Designing a museum

Architect Mariam Issoufou has always been very ambivalent about museums: "Who decided that the only way to look at art is inside this intimidating, grand building, full of looted objects? For me, they are where history goes to die". So she was sceptical about accepting the job of designing a new museum in the city of Tambacounda, Senegal. Will she succeed in creating a museum that breaks the mould?

With thanks to Mariam Issoufou and her team, Bassem and Wassim Shaaban, Professor Harriet Harriss PhD, Professor Lesley Lokko OBE, the Josef and Anni Albers Foundation, and Nicholas Fox Weber

Producer: Olivia Humphreys
Executive producer: Leonie Thomas
Additional recording by Sally Herships
An Overcoat Media production


TUE 05:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m84xc2l)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 05:06 Newsday (w172zsq53qkvr35)
Hundreds of people reported dead in Kabul

A Taliban spokesman said at least four hundred had been killed with another two hundred and fifty injured. There's been no independent verification of those numbers, but a BBC reporter on the scene said the facility had been reduced to a blazing ruin.

As President Trump continues to demand that other nations help secure the passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, more European leaders have said no.

An Oscar-winning director will join us to talk about his documentary "Mr Nobody Against Putin" -- and accepting that famous golden statuette at the Academy Awards.

(Photo: A man walks at the site of a drug users rehabilitation hospital destroyed in what the Taliban said was a Pakistani air strike in Kabul; Credit:
Sayed Hassib/Kabul, Afghanistan


TUE 06:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m84xgtq)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 06:06 Newsday (w172zsq53qkvvv9)
Afghanistan accuses Pakistan of killing hundreds in hospital strike

The hospital in Kabul was hit on Monday evening, killing some people and injuring others, the government's spokesman said on X.

Pakistan denies striking any health facility, saying it "precisely targeted military installations and terrorist support infrastructure" in Kabul and the eastern province of Nangahar.

Lebanon says seven people were killed in Israeli strikes on Monday as the Iran-backed armed group, Hezbollah, fired missiles and rockets into Israel.

President Trump says he is surprised more world leaders are not eager to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz through which a fifth of global oil supplies pass. We'll speak to a retired Korean general

(Photo: Smoke rises as firefighters work to extinguish a fire at the site of a drug users rehabilitation hospital destroyed in what the Taliban said was a Pakistani air strike in Kabul; Credit: Sayed Hassib/Reuters


TUE 07:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m84xlkv)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 07:06 Newsday (w172zsq53qkvzlf)
People are feared dead or injured at a drug treatment centre in Kabul

A BBC team saw at least thirty bodies in the aftermath of the attack in the hospital. Survivors have described the ceiling falling in on them. Pakistan has denied targeting the medical centre, saying it was hitting military and not civilian sites.

The US embassy in Iraq's capital Baghdad has been hit by dornes , in what's been described as "the most intense assault" since attacks started. We speak to our correspondent in the region

And we hear form the mother of the girl at the centre of The Oscar nominated film "The Voice of Hind Rajab"

(Photo: Debris lies in a room of a drug users rehabilitation hospital destroyed in what the Taliban said was a Pakistani air strike in Kabul; Credit: Yunus Yawar/Reuters)


TUE 08:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m84xq9z)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 08:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct6xz2)
Making cities feel quieter

Cities are getting bigger - and louder. As urban noise increases, we look at how sound itself can be used to make things feel quieter. Myra Anubi visits an audio lab in London to experience immersive soundscapes for herself and then hears how a park in Montreal, Canada uses sounds from the ocean to sooth urban stress. And we hear about campaigners' hopes for making a difference in one of the noisiest countries of them all, India.

People Fixing The World from the BBC is about brilliant solutions to the world's problems. We release a new edition every Tuesday. We'd love you to let us know what you think and to hear about your own solutions. You can contact us on WhatsApp by messaging +44 8000 321721 or email peoplefixingtheworld@bbc.co.uk. And please leave us a review on your chosen podcast provider.

Presenter: Myra Anubi
Producer: Natasha Fernandes
India reporter: Chhavi Sachdev
Sound engineer: Annie Gardiner
Editor: Jon Bithrey


TUE 08:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrm2lc)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct6s84)
Germany turns to India for skilled workers

Germany is in the throes of a demographic crisis, in which there are not enough young people entering the labour market to replace those who are retiring.

There is an annual net loss of 400,000 to the workforce and the shortage is particularly acute in many of the traditional craft industries.

One solution appears to lie overseas and in particular, India. We hear from young Indians who have signed up for apprenticeships in a range of industries in Germany’s south-west, close to the border with Switzerland.

If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Tim Mansel

Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute, daily deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, why bond markets are so powerful, China's property bubble, and Gen Z's experience of the current job market.

We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include Google's Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and the CEO of Canva, Melanie Perkins.

(Picture: Ajay Kumar Chandapaka, an apprentice mechanic from India at Dold Spedition, a haulage firm in Buchenbach in the Black Forest in Germany.)


TUE 08:50 Witness History (w3ct74p5)
The L'Amicale Four

In 1999, a fire at the L’Amicale gambling house in Port Louis, Mauritius, killed seven people. The fire began during riots that followed a disputed football final between the Catholic Fire Brigade and the Muslim supported Scouts Club.

Police arrested dozens of suspects, and four men were later convicted of arson and murder. They became known as the L’Amicale Four.

Years later, a group of senior lawyers reviewed the case and found major gaps in the original investigation, raising new questions about what really happened.

Katie Harris hears from Imran Sumodhee, one of the L’Amicale Four.

A CTVC production.

Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there.

For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more.

Recent episodes explore everything from the death of Adolf Hitler, the first spacewalk and the making of the movie Jaws, to celebrity tortoise Lonesome George, the Kobe earthquake and the invention of superglue.

We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: Eva Peron – Argentina’s Evita; President Ronald Reagan and his famous ‘tear down this wall’ speech; Thomas Keneally on why he wrote Schindler’s List; and Jacques Derrida, France’s ‘rock star’ philosopher.

You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the civil rights swimming protest; the disastrous D-Day rehearsal; and the death of one of the world’s oldest languages.

(Picture: A crowd of supporters for the L'Amical Four. Credit: l’express)


TUE 09:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m84xv23)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 09:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmrgkx72h)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrm6bh)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 09:32 Assignment (w3ct6rd1)
[Repeat of broadcast at 02:32 today]


TUE 10:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m84xyt7)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 10:06 The Arts Hour (w3ct6zvr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 20:06 on Saturday]


TUE 11:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m84y2kc)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmrgkxgkr)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrmftr)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct71df)
How does war affect a child’s brain?

For nearly forty years, Fergal Keane has reported for the BBC from some of the world’s most brutal conflicts – in Gaza, Iraq, Rwanda, Sudan, Ukraine and beyond – and in that time interviewed scores of children who are the innocent victims of adult wars.

As he came to understand the impacts of trauma on young minds, Keane began too to experience his own mental breakdowns – the result of a troubled childhood and a career spent running towards danger – and was eventually diagnosed with PTSD.

In today’s episode, he reflects on what he has learned from his own experiences and reporting about how childhood traumas can be treated, and the hope for those living through today’s wars.


Producer: Hannah Moore

Executive producer: Bridget Harney

Mix: Travis Evans

Senior news editor: China Collins


Photo: Displaced children play in Gaza, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Haitham Imad/ EPA/ Shutterstock.


TUE 12:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m84y69h)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 12:06 Outlook (w3ct6x5t)
Speaking Scots helped me find my voice – and millions listen

Len Pennie is a Scottish performance poet and advocate for the Scots language. In the aftermath of an abusive relationship, Len took to writing poetry in Scots and English and posting them online. She also posted a series of videos called Scots Word of the Day on her social media, and her posts attracted millions of views. Aged just 24 Len published her debut collection of poetry and the book became an instant bestseller. She's recently published a second collection of poetry titled Poyums Annaw.

David Main is the director of Calton Athletic, an addiction recovery support group in Glasgow in Scotland, established over 40 years ago. He talks to Outlook's Tommy Dixon about how the organisation brought him health and community and supported him in his own recovery many years ago. The group's ethos of tough love, accountability and physical exercise caught the attention of the filmmakers behind the Scottish cult-classic film Trainspotting, who visited the group before filming began and credited them as 'special advisors.'

Presenter: Tommy Dixon
Producer: May Cameron and Tommy Dixon

Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com or WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707

(Photo: Len Pennie is standing outside amongst trees. Her long red hair flows either side of her face and she wears a blue jacket and black T-shirt. She looks straight into the camera. Credit: Katherine Anne Rose)


TUE 12:50 Witness History (w3ct74p5)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


TUE 13:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m84yb1m)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 13:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmrgkxq20)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 13:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrmpb0)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 13:32 In the Studio (w3ct6vvw)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


TUE 14:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m84yfsr)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 14:06 Newshour (w172zssmt5p2lcc)
Israel claims to have killed more senior Iranian leaders

Israel claims to have killed more senior members of Iran's leadership; we ask what the death of security chief Ali Larijani could mean for the war.

Also in the programme: in the Afghan capital Kabul, dozens of people have been killed in an airstrike on a drug treatment centre, which the Taliban government has blamed on Pakistan; why is one of the world's most influential tech billionaires in Rome lecturing about the Antichrist? And we hear about the endearing qualities of a newly discovered subatomic particle.

(IMAGE: Ali Larijani, former chairman of the parliament of Iran, attends a press conference after meeting with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in Beirut, Lebanon November 15, 2024 / CREDIT: Reuters / Thaier Al-Sudani / File Photo)


TUE 15:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m84ykjw)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 15:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct6xz2)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


TUE 15:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrmxt8)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 15:32 Business Daily (w3ct6s84)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:32 today]


TUE 15:50 World Business Express (w3ct888z)
Oil prices continue surge

The escalation in the Middle East is continuing to drive up energy prices, with the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments, effectively closed. We bring you the latest on oil prices and how wider stock markets are responding.

Despite higher prices, US oil production is not accelerating as some might expect. The number of active rigs remains below last year’s levels, and investment in new drilling is expected to stay modest into 2026.

At the same time, political tensions are adding another layer of uncertainty. US President Donald Trump says he is considering delaying a planned summit with China’s President Xi Jinping, citing both the ongoing conflict with Iran and efforts to reopen key shipping routes. So how is this being viewed from Beijing?

And as energy costs climb, businesses around the world are already feeling the pressure. In Kolkata, makers of one of India’s most famous dishes, biryani, say gas shortages and rising costs are hitting their livelihoods, as we hear from restaurant owners struggling to keep up with demand.


TUE 16:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m84yp90)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 16:06 Outside Source (w173068b18k0kdz)
Israel says it's killed Iran's security chief

Israel's defence minister says its military has killed Iran's security chief Ali Larijani in an airstrike. In the US, a top counterterrorism official has resigned over the ongoing conflict. We speak to our correspondents across the world to hear the latest, and speak to political reporters in the US.

Medical sources in Afghanistan have told the BBC they've received more than 100 bodies following a Pakistani airstrike on a drug treatment centre. Pakistan denies striking the facility deliberately. We speak to our reporters from both countries.

The first weekend of this year's all-female F1 Academy racing series has shone the spotlight on the growing role of women in the industry. We speak to some of the people involved.

Presenter: Rahul Tandon

Photo: Ali Larijani holds a press conference after a meeting with Lebanese Parliament Speaker in Beirut, Lebanon, 13 August 2025. Credit: Wael Hamzeh/
EPA/Shutterstock


TUE 17:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m84yt14)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 17:06 Outside Source (w173068b18k0p53)
Trump lashes out at Nato allies

President Trump says he's been informed by most NATO allies that they don't want to get involved in the war on Iran -- though he claimed they agreed with what the US was doing. He said America no longer needed or desired NATO assistance -- and never did. We bring you the latest from our correspondents around the world.

As Israel steps up its military operations inside Lebanon, the Lebanese government now says more than 1 million people have been displaced. We speak to people living there.

Discussing California governor Gavin Newsom's dyslexia, Donald Trump said presidents 'should not have learning disabilities'. We speak to people with dyslexia in the US to hear their reaction.

Presenter: Rahul Tandon

Photo: Donald Trump during a bilateral meeting with Taoiseach Micheal Martin at the White House in Washington DC Tuesday March 17, 2026. Credit: Niall Carson/PA Wire


TUE 18:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m84yxs8)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 18:06 Outlook (w3ct6x5t)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 today]


TUE 18:50 Witness History (w3ct74p5)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


TUE 19:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m84z1jd)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmrgkyfjs)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrndss)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct6zbz)
2026/03/17 GMT

BBC sports correspondents tell the story behind today's top sporting news, with interviews and reports from across the world.


TUE 20:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m84z58j)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 20:06 Assignment (w3ct6rd1)
[Repeat of broadcast at 02:32 today]


TUE 20:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrnjjx)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 20:32 Tech Life (w3ct6zq8)
Screen time ‘rewiring our brains’

We dig through the evidence on the effect of screen time on babies and young children, with the help of some parents and experts. And after hearing our story of a woman who got her voice back with the help of AI, a listener got in touch to tell us his own moving story of hearing his father’s voice for the first time in 50 years.

Producers: Imran Rahman-Jones and Vuyelo Ndlovu
Presenter: Shiona McCallum

(Image: A baby holds a smartphone, looking at the screen while lying in bed. Credit: Getty Images.)


TUE 21:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m84z90n)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 21:06 Newshour (w172zssmt5p3fl8)
Top US counterterrorism official resigns over Iran war

Joe Kent, the head of the US National Counterterrorism Centre and a long-time Trump supporter, has announced his resignation from the role. He said he could not in good conscience back the administration's war. The BBC’s US State Department correspondent gives us more details on this development.

Also on the programme: At least 100 people are dead after a Pakistani airstrike hit an Afghan hospital; how Fijian bull sharks appear to have preferred swimming companions while avoiding others; and a man living close to the Ukrainian front line tells us what daily life is like as the war with Russia continues.

(Photo: Joe Kent speaking into a microphone. Credit: Bloomberg via Getty Images)


TUE 22:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m84zdrs)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 22:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmrgkyss5)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrns15)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 22:32 World Business Report (w3ct76ck)
As oil price surges, will US fracking production increase?

The US Israel war with Iran has caused significant disruption to the global supply of oil and caused major economic upheaval. The US government has granted permission to domestic oil producers to drill in Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico, but much of America's oil comes from fracking. So will the frackers be taking advantage of current high oil prices to increase production? Vishala Sri-Pathma has the latest.

In Sri Lanka, the government has announced an emergency shift to a four‑day work week to conserve dwindling fuel reserves, amid growing fears over petrol shortages. The Sri Lankan government has now declared that every Wednesday will now be a public holiday to cut fuel consumption on the island.

Elsewhere, there were real worries in Dublin that Donald Trump’s tax agenda could see US multinationals paying far less corporation tax in Ireland on their European profits. However, those fears haven’t materialised. US tariffs have generally not been applied to pharmaceutical products which are Ireland's main export to the US. Meanwhile, the Irish economy has also been underpinned by a continuing corporation tax windfall.


TUE 23:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m84zjhx)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 23:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct6xz2)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


TUE 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrnws9)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 23:32 In the Studio (w3ct6vvw)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]

WEDNESDAY 18 MARCH 2026

WED 00:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m84zn81)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 00:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmrgkz18f)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 01:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m84zs05)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 01:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmrgkz50k)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 01:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrp48k)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 01:32 The Global Story (w3ct71df)
[Repeat of broadcast at 11:32 on Tuesday]


WED 02:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m84zwr9)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmrgkz8rp)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrp80p)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 02:32 The Climate Question (w3ct703c)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:06 on Sunday]


WED 03:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m8500hf)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 03:06 Outlook (w3ct6x5t)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Tuesday]


WED 03:50 Witness History (w3ct74p5)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 on Tuesday]


WED 04:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m85047k)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 04:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmrgkzj7y)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrphhy)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 04:32 World of Secrets (w3ct8yw7)
The Darkest Web

5. Buried hard drives

Pete and Greg have learnt about a paedophile calling himself “Twinkle”, who runs a website dedicated to sharing images of very young children.
At first, they have no idea who he is or where he could be, but slowly Twinkle gives himself away. Working with investigators in Brazil and Portugal the agents discover that Twinkle is a young man living in rural Portugal. Greg flies out to assist with the arrest and discovers some very disturbing scenes.

This episode talks about child sexual abuse from the very start, and includes some upsetting scenes.

For further information on the issues raised in the programme, contact support organisations in your own country. For a list of organisations in the UK that can provide support go to bbc.co.uk/actionline.

Reporter and Presenter: Sam Piranty
Writer and Producer: Annabel Deas
Script advice: Matt Willis
Sound design: Neil Churchill
Composer: Rob Lewis
Executive Producer: Rebecca Henschke
Commissioning Senior Producer: Sarah Green
Commissioning Editor: Jon Manel

The Darkest Web is a BBC Eye production for the BBC World Service.


WED 05:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m8507zp)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 05:06 Newsday (w172zsq53qkyn08)
Iran warns of 'decisive response' after death of security chief

Iran's army chief has warned of a "decisive" response after the country's Security Chief, Ali Larijani, was killed in an Israeli strike. He was overseeing Iran's military response, and was regarded by many as someone the US could eventually do a deal with.

The BBC has obtained footage and interviews from Tehran which tells a story of strained nerves, as residents wait for the next blast and live in fear of the state security apparatus.

A top counterterrorism official in the United States, Joe Kent, has resigned saying the ongoing conflict with Iran was "absolutely wrong" and that Iran does not pose a threat.

And Senegal have been stripped of their victory in the Africa Cup of Nations in favour of Morocco after a review of their players' conduct in the final.

Presenters: Anne Soy and Rob Young

(Photo: Ali Larijani. Credit: Omar Sanadiki/Reuters)


WED 06:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m850cqt)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 06:06 Newsday (w172zsq53qkyrrd)
Israel launches deadly strikes on Beirut

Israel has launched a series of deadly strikes in central Beirut and ordered mass evaucations in southern Lebanon, as it ramps up its air and ground offensive against Hezbollah. We bring you the latest.

Iran's army chief has warned of a "decisive" response after the country's Security Chief, Ali Larijani, was killed in an Israeli strike. He was overseeing Iran's military response, and was regarded by many as someone the US could eventually do a deal with.

President Zelensky has warned that the conflict in the Middle East may mean there is a shortage of missiles for his fight against Russia. Speaking to the BBC, Mr Zelensky said President Trump's only priority for the war in Ukraine was to stop it, not to defend Kyiv from its aggressor.

The Senegalese football federation says it will appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, after the country was stripped of its recent Africa Cup of Nations title over the players' conduct. The Confederation of African Football declared their opponents in the final, Morocco, winners instead.

Presenters: Anne Soy and Rob Young

(Photo:Emergency personnel work at the site of a collapsed building, in the aftermath of an Israeli strike, following an escalation between Hezbollah and Israel amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran. Credit:Mohamed Azakir/Reuters)


WED 07:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m850hgy)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 07:06 Newsday (w172zsq53qkywhj)
Israel continues to strike Lebanon

The Israel military has struck targets in central Beirut in the Lebanese capital. It has also launched attacks in the city's southern suburbs where the Iran backed militant group Hezbollah has influence. We go live to Beirut. And we report from southern Lebanon where more than one million people have been displaced and more than 900 killed by the fighting.

There have also been Iranian attacks on Tel Aviv in Israel where two people were killed. The attacks follow the killing Ali Larijani, the head of the country's Supreme National Security Council.

And we get reaction to the decision by the Confederation of African Football to strip Senegal of its recent Africa Cup of Nations title.

Presenters: Anne Soy and Rob Young

(Photo:Damaged vehicles in the aftermath of an Israeli strike in Zuqaq al-Blat district in central Beirut, following an escalation between Hezbollah and Israel amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran. Credit:Mohamed Azakir/Reuters)


WED 08:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m850m72)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 08:06 The Interview (w3ct7x7w)
Alexander Stubb, President of Finland: We live in a world of disorder

“The changing date was the war in Ukraine in February 2022, and then probably the new American administration. So we don't know where the world is going to land. We live a little bit in a world of disorder right now.”

Matt Chorley speaks to Alexander Stubb, President of Finland about shifting global priorities and allegiances.

President Stubb is known for his good relationship with his American counterpart Donald Trump, forged in part over their shared love of golf. But in spite of this he believes it is right that Nato, as a defensive alliance, should stay out of the war in Iran. This, he says, is the US and Israel’s conflict.

Thank you to the BBC Newsnight team for its help in making this programme.

The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC, including episodes with Polish President Karol Nawrocki and the Mayor of Kyiv Vitali Klitschko. You can listen on the BBC World Service on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 0800 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out three times a week on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts.

Presenter: Matt Chorley
Producers: Jonathan Aspinwall, Adam Bowen, Katherine Hodgson, Jack Hunter and Osman Iqbal
Editor: Justine Lang and Damon Rose

Get in touch with us on email TheInterview@bbc.co.uk and use the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.

(Image: Alexander Stubb Credit: Jason Alden/Bloomberg via Getty Images)


WED 08:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrpzhg)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct6sdn)
The cost of calling home

If you’re living thousands of miles from home, how do you keep in touch, especially when your loved ones don’t have reliable internet?

There’s a growing market across Africa and beyond for apps helping to cut the costs of international calls to older phones. And some operators have much grander ambitions.

If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Matthew Kenyon

Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute, daily deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, why bond markets are so powerful, China's property bubble, and Gen Z's experience of the current job market.

We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include Google's Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and the CEO of Canva, Melanie Perkins.

(Picture: Oluseyi Akinnibosun, Nigerian entrepreneur and app developer who's living in the Netherlands, about to make a call.)


WED 08:50 Witness History (w3ct74rf)
Oslo's anti-racism demonstration

On 1 February 2001, at least 30,000 people rallied in Oslo after the murder of 15-year-old Benjamin Hermansen by neo-Nazis.

It is thought to be Norway's first racially motivated killing.

News reports said the rally saw the largest crowd in Oslo since the liberation of Norway in 1945.

Benjamin's childhood friend, Luciana Parvaneh Zehi, tells Jen Dale about the march and the events leading up to it.

Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by and curious about the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there.

For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more.

Recent episodes explore everything from how the Excel spreadsheet was developed, the creation of cartoon rabbit Miffy and how the sound barrier was broken.

We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: the moment Reagan and Gorbachev met in Geneva, Haitian singer Emerante de Pradines’ life and Omar Sharif’s legendary movie entrance in Lawrence of Arabia.

You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, like the invention of a stent which has saved lives around the world; the birth of the G7; and the meeting of Maldives’ ministers underwater. We cover everything from World War Two and Cold War stories to Black History Month and our journeys into space.

(Picture: Demonstration in Oslo. Credit: Sveinung Ystad/Shutterstock)


WED 09:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m850qz6)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 09:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmrgl03zl)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrq37l)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 09:32 The Climate Question (w3ct703c)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:06 on Sunday]


WED 10:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m850vqb)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 10:06 World Questions (w3ct750b)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Saturday]


WED 11:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m850zgg)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmrgl0cgv)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrqbqv)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct71gp)
Listener Q&A on Iran

Since the start of the US-Israel war on Iran, The Global Story listeners have been contacting us with questions: about the causes of the war, the legality of it, and how other countries are responding. As Gulf states get drawn further into the conflict, might they send military reinforcement? And if the Iranian regime were to fall, could islamist groups such as Isis seize an opportunity to claim more power?

In today’s episode, we answer all of these and more, with BBC world affairs editor, John Simpson.

Producers: Hannah Moore and Xandra Ellin
Sound engineer: Travis Evans
Senior news editor: China Collins

Photo: A woman marches with an Iranian monarchy flag during a 'Freedom for Iran' protest in New York, New York, USA, 15 March 2026. Credit: Olga Fedorova/Shutterstock


WED 12:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m85136l)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 12:06 Outlook (w3ct6xdq)
The street kid who built a boxing academy

Zimbabwean boxer Tobias Mupfuti was just eight years old when he became homeless after his mother was no longer able to take care of him. Sleeping rough, begging for food from tourists or scavenging the dumpsite, he eked out a survival on the streets of Victoria Falls. But life was tough and Tobias would often get harassed by older children on the street, so his brother suggested he learn how to box to defend himself. Tobias followed him to a boxing club where he quickly discovered he had a talent. When his coach and then his brother left town, he continued training by himself in the bush, using a grain sack filled with sand as a makeshift punching bag. Training every day, by his early 20s he had gathered a small following of younger street kids who would watch him throw punches with curiosity. Eventually, he decided to start training them himself, forming the Victoria Falls Boxing Club, which has since grown into a boxing academy and children’s home. Tobias’ story has recently inspired an award-winning short film called Rise.

Golda Schultz is a South African Soprano based in Berlin, Germany, but her path to operatic greatness is not a typical one. Born in the early 1980s at the height of apartheid, Golda grew up within a bubble, surrounded by people who looked like her and so the realities of racial segregation in the rest of South Africa seemed somewhat remote. That was until the early 1990s, when Golda's town was besieged by white supremacists who objected to everything the place stood for. Her love of music led her to the stage but her mind and body threatened to disrupt her ambitions. Golda spoke to Mobeen Azhar in 2024.

Presenter: Mobeen Azhar
Producer: Zoe Gelber

Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com or WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707

(Photo: A portrait of Tobias looking at the camera, photographer is Jessie Rowlands )


WED 12:50 Witness History (w3ct74rf)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


WED 13:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m8516yq)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 13:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmrgl0lz3)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 13:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrql73)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 13:32 World of Secrets (w3ct8yw7)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


WED 14:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m851bpv)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 14:06 Newshour (w172zssmt5p5h8g)
Israel bombs the heart of the Lebanese capital

Israel bombs the heart of the Lebanese capital as it escalates its offensive against the Iran-backed group Hezbollah. We hear from a former Lebanese health minister in Beirut and ask a former senior Israeli army officer about his country's aims.

Also in the programme: anger and delight in African football after its governing body strips Senegal of the Africa Cup of Nations title and hands it to Morocco; and what is "Muskism" and how does understanding Elon Musk's approach to business help us understand the Trump Administration, and our changing world? We talk to the co-author of a new book on the billionaire.

(Photo: People stand amidst debris at the site of an Israeli strike, following an escalation between Hezbollah and Israel amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, Zuqaq al-Blat district in central Beirut, Lebanon, 18 March, 2026. Credit: Khalil Ashawi/Reuters)


WED 15:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m851gfz)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 15:06 The Interview (w3ct7x7w)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


WED 15:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrqtqc)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 15:32 Business Daily (w3ct6sdn)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:32 today]


WED 15:50 World Business Express (w3ct88c1)
Oil shock spreads global strain

Oil prices have jumped above 109 dollars a barrel after airstrikes hit Iran’s South Pars gas field, the world’s largest natural gas reserve, shared with Qatar, raising fresh concerns about supply during an already volatile period.

In Bangladesh, the impact of the oil price is becoming increasingly visible. The country, which relies on imports for around 95 percent of its energy, is seeing long queues at fuel stations as fears of shortages grow. The government has even shut down universities in an effort to conserve electricity, affecting students across the country.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s president Bola Ahmed Tinubu has begun a two-day state visit to the UK, with trade and investment high on the agenda. With bilateral trade already worth up to 10 billion dollars annually, could the visit could unlock new opportunities and reshape the economic relationship.


WED 16:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m851l63)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 16:06 Outside Source (w173068b18k3gb2)
Iran war: Displaced Lebanese

After Israel launched a series of attacks on Lebanon’s capital, Beirut, we hear from people who have been displaced following the escalation of the conflict.

Israel has struck an Iranian petrochemical complex on the world's largest natural gas field -- in a significant new escalation in the US-Israeli war with Iran. Tehran has vowed to retaliate. BBC Verify journalists explain what's been happening in the conflict.

And we get reaction from fans to the ruling that declared Morocco the winner of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations - two months after Senegal’s controversial walk-off.

Presenter: James Reynolds.

(Photo: People evacuate their homes, carrying their belongings, after an Israeli strike hit an apartment in a building in the Zuqaq al-Blat district of central Beirut, Lebanon, 18 March 2026. Credit: WAEL HAMZEH/EPA)


WED 17:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m851py7)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 17:06 Outside Source (w173068b18k3l26)
Iran's largest gas field attacked

Iran says it will take "decisive action" after its South Pars gas field was reportedly hit by Israeli strikes. We get the latest from BBC Persian.

After Israel launched a series of attacks on Lebanon’s capital, Beirut, we hear from people who have been displaced following the escalation of the conflict.

US Senators have been questioning the Trump intelligence team. We discuss the key moments.

An advert for a video and image editing tool that implied viewers could digitally remove a woman's clothing has been banned by the UK advertising regulator. We speak to our tech reporter.

After the new Spider-Man and Dune trailers were released today, we bring together people from trailer houses to discuss how much film trailers really matter.

Presenter: James Reynolds.

(Photo: A view of a part of the phase 19 of the South Pars gas field in Assalooyeh on Iran's Persian Gulf coast 1,400 km (870 miles) south of Tehran on August 23, 2016. Credit: Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images)


WED 18:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m851tpc)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 18:06 Outlook (w3ct6xdq)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 today]


WED 18:50 Witness History (w3ct74rf)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


WED 19:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m851yfh)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmrgl1bfw)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrr9pw)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct6zf7)
2026/03/18 GMT

BBC sports correspondents tell the story behind today's top sporting news, with interviews and reports from across the world.


WED 20:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m85225m)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 20:06 The Climate Question (w3ct703c)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:06 on Sunday]


WED 20:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrrfg0)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 20:32 Health Check (w3ct6vkv)
Does your home country impact your cancer risk?

North Korean defectors and lifelong South Korean residents have significantly different cancer rates, despite their genetic similarities; new research finds. Presenter Laura Foster unpacks this study, explaining what it tells us about how upbringing and environment contribute to different cancer rates, and how migration can change these risks.

A new study has found GLP-1s – drugs typically used to treat diabetes and obesity – could have an unexpected benefit for patients dealing with substance abuse disorders. Laura speaks with Ziyad Al-Aly, a clinical epidemiologist and Veterans Affairs physician at Washington University in St Louis to understand what this could mean for treating drug and alcohol addictions, and what questions still need answers before this treatment can be rolled out.

Last weekend, Kenya’s National Environment Management Authority rolled out new waste management rules to better dispose of products containing plastic, but the new laws are expected to increase the price of sanitary pads by 20%. Global health reporter based in Nairobi, Dorcas Wangira joins Laura to unpack what these policies mean for the accessibility of sanitary products, and what alternative solutions are needed to balance access with environmental impact. They also discuss how a drug to treat Parkinson’s disease can be made from waste plastic bottles using a pioneering method.

And Jane Chambers reports from Peru about the growing prevalence of anaemia, speaking to local healthcare workers about what steps families can be taken to help their children recover.

Presenter: Laura Foster
Producers: Jonathan Blackwell and Georgia Christie


WED 21:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m8525xr)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 21:06 Newshour (w172zssmt5p6bhc)
Israel attacks Iranian petrochemical complex

There is "extensive damage" from missile attacks on the Ras Laffan industrial site, Qatar's state-owned petroleum company says. The site was among those listed by Iran in a warning that it would take "decisive action" after its South Pars gas field facilities were reportedly hit by Israeli strikes. Earlier, Israel launched a series of strikes on Lebanon's capital Beirut, as it continues its offensive against Hezbollah. We hear voices from across the Middle East.

Also on the programme: Senegal has called for an international investigation after its national men's football team is stripped of its African Cup title, following January's chaotic match against Morocco; and we hear from the researchers using maths to understand why some clothes designs keep coming back into fashion.

(Photo: A view of the South Pars gas field in Assalooyeh on Iran's Persian Gulf coast south of Tehran Credit: Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images)


WED 22:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m8529nw)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 22:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmrgl1pp8)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrrny8)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 22:32 World Business Report (w3ct76k7)
How important is the South Pars field to global gas supply?

With coordinated strikes on Iran's installations on the world's largest gas field and reprisals against facilities in Qatar, we ask what this means for the region and for supplies of gas worldwide.
Conflict in the Middle East has already had an effect on airlines, with some carriers cancelling flights. We take a look at how an airlines pay for their fuel and why this can make a difference to how resilient they are to oil price shocks.
And entertainment and theme part giant Disney has a new CEO. We find out what's in Josh D'Amaro's in-tray as he takes the helm at a time of intense competition.


WED 23:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m852ff0)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 23:06 The Interview (w3ct7x7w)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


WED 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrrspd)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 23:32 World of Secrets (w3ct8yw7)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]

THURSDAY 19 MARCH 2026

THU 00:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m852k54)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 00:06 World Questions (w3ct750b)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Saturday]


THU 01:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m852nx8)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 01:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmrgl21xn)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 01:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrs15n)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 01:32 The Global Story (w3ct71gp)
[Repeat of broadcast at 11:32 on Wednesday]


THU 02:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m852snd)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmrgl25ns)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrs4xs)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 02:32 The Documentary (w3ct8ywb)
Europe's night train renaissance: Still on track?

Night trains are making a comeback, once again connecting Europe’s cities with the promise of green, serene and iconic journeys.

Just a decade ago, it appeared to be the end of the line for the continent’s sleeper services. But revitalised routes, new operators and innovative cabin designs have sparked renewed excitement around overnight train travel.

Yet even as demand from passengers continues to boom, an array of obstacles puts the revival at risk. A number of major new routes have already hit the buffers, and entrepreneurial sleeper train operators face a host of challenges.

Is a European night train renaissance simply a nostalgic pipedream, or is it full steam ahead? Speaking to railway operators, innovators and industry insiders, Jack Butcher rides the rails to find out.

Producer and presenter: Jack Butcher
Executive producer: Robert Nicholson
A Whistledown production for the BBC World Service

(Photo: Interior of an OBB Nightjet sleeper train compartment. Credit: Jack Butcher)


THU 03:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m852xdj)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 03:06 Outlook (w3ct6xdq)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Wednesday]


THU 03:50 Witness History (w3ct74rf)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 on Wednesday]


THU 04:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m85314n)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 04:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmrgl2f51)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrsdf1)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 04:32 The Food Chain (w3ct70zz)
What to eat to run a marathon

What should runners should eat to train for, and complete, a marathon?

With major races like the London and Boston marathons approaching, more people than ever are taking on the 26.2-mile challenge. But what should you actually eat to fuel that distance?

Ruth Alexander is joined by one of the most successful marathon runners in history, Paula Radcliffe, who held the women’s world record for 16 years. She shares what it takes to fuel months of marathon training, and what it feels like when things go wrong during a race.

Also on the programme is former world champion runner Steve Cram, now a coach and commentator, who explains the common nutrition mistakes he sees among recreational runners.

And Performance Director of the dsm-firmenich Running Team, Valentijn Trouw tells us what it’s like to oversee the performance programmes of elite athletes including marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge.

Ruth asks them what runners should fuel their training, what to eat in the crucial days before a race, and how to avoid “hitting the wall” on marathon day.

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: thefoodchain@bbc.co.uk

Produced by Izzy Greenfield.
Sound Engineer: Annie Gardiner
Picture: Credit - Getty. Paula Radcliffe competes in a marathon


THU 05:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m8534ws)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 05:06 Newsday (w172zsq53ql1jxc)
Trump warns Iran against further attacks on Qatar energy fields

President Trump has warned Iran not to attack a key Qatari liquefied natural gas complex at Ras Laffan again. The complex is the largest gas hub. That strike followed an Israeli attack on a major Iranian gas field in the Gulf, South Pars.

We look at the recent assassinations of key leaders in Iran and the current power dynamics at the top of the Islamic Republic.

In Lebanon we look at the hard decisions being made by parents who try to secure the safety of their children in the current crisis.

And the Senegalese government has called for an independent international investigation into what it calls "suspected corruption" at African football's governing body after it stripped Senegal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title and awarded it to Morocco.

Presenters: Rob Young and Anne Soy.

(Photo: QatarEnergy's liquefied natural gas production facilities in Ras Laffan Industrial City. Credit:Reuters).


THU 06:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m8538mx)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 06:06 Newsday (w172zsq53ql1nnh)
Qatar says Iran attacked energy hub

President Trump has warned Iran not to attack a key Qatari liquefied natural gas complex at Ras Laffan again. The complex is the largest gas hub. That strike followed an Israeli attack on a major Iranian gas field in the Gulf, South Pars.

The Israeli military has issued a strict evacuation order for much of southern Lebanon, saying it would soon target key river crossings. We look at the mass displacement of people in the country.

And the Senegalese government has called for an independent international investigation into what it calls "suspected corruption" at African football's governing body after it stripped Senegal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title and awarded it to Morocco. We speak to a Senegalese member of the Confederation of African Football.

Presenters: Rob Young and Anne Soy

(Photo: The headquarters of state-owned petroleum company QatarEnergy, in Doha, Qatar. Credit: Hannibal Hanschke/EPA).


THU 07:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m853dd1)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 07:06 Newsday (w172zsq53ql1sdm)
Iran attacks Qatari energy hubs

President Trump has warned Iran not to attack a key Qatari liquefied natural gas complex at Ras Laffan again. The complex is the largest gas hub. That strike followed an Israeli attack on a major Iranian gas field in the Gulf, South Pars.

We look at the mass diplacement currently taking place in Lebanon as Israel continues its campaign against Iranian backed group, Hezbollah, in the country.

And Senegal says it will contest the decision by the Confederation of African Football to strip it of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. We speak to a former coach of the national team.

Presenters: Anne Soy and Rob Young

(Photo: QatarEnergy's liquefied natural gas (LNG) production facilities, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Ras Laffan Industrial City, Qatar. Credit: Reuters).


THU 08:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m853j45)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 08:06 The Inquiry (w3ct7242)
How can rewilding help combat climate change?

Rewilding, or letting nature take care of itself, can restore stability to damaged ecosystem components which support life on earth, like fungi, bacteria, vegetation, insects and animals.

But there's now a wider discussion to discover what it’s capable of on a wider scale.

International agreements for reducing the impact of climate change tend to set global targets.

However, individual governments decide how to work towards meeting those goals at a national level.

Some rewilding initiatives improve biodiversity, but it can have negative impacts too.

This week on The Inquiry, we’re asking ‘How can rewilding help combat climate change?’

Contributors:
Carolina Soto-Navarro, head of Wilder Nature at Rewilding Europe
Brendan Fisher, professor in the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, at University of Vermont, US
David Nogues Bravo, professor in biodiversity, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
Steve Carver, professor of rewilding and wilderness science, University of Leeds, UK

Presenter: Charmaine Cozier
Producers: Jill Collins and Daniel Rosney
Researcher: Evie Yabsley
Editor: Tom Bigwood
Technical Producer: Cameron Ward
Production Management: Phoebe Lomas and Liam Morrey

(Photo: Galapagos giant tortoise. Credit: Anadolu/Getty Images)


THU 08:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrswdk)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct6s3m)
Oil crisis lessons from Iran to Kuwait

As the world faces another energy crisis, what can past shocks teach us?

We look back at earlier oil crises to understand how conflict has disrupted global supply - and what that means for markets today.

We hear from a former boss of one of the world’s biggest oil companies, BP, on the challenges the business faced when Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait.

And as many of us are now facing rising prices at the pumps, we explore how reliant we’ve become on oil and whether it’s possible to reduce our dependence on it anytime soon.

If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Rahul Tandon
Producers: Rebecca Smyllie and Josh Martin

Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute, daily deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, the economic impact of the war in the Middle East, and why bond markets are so powerful.

We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include Google's Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and the CEO of Canva, Melanie Perkins.

(Picture: Plumes of smoke rise over the oil depot tanks hit by joint Israel-US overnight in a station north west of the Iranian capital, Tehran, the 8th of March 2026. Credit: Getty Images)


THU 08:50 Witness History (w3ct74kr)
The 'Cyprus Emergency'

Between 1955 and 1959, a Greek-Cypriot paramilitary group called EOKA rebelled against British colonial rule in Cyprus. In response, the British authorities declared a state of emergency.

A young Cypriot lawyer named Renos Lyssiotis joined EOKA. He was interrogated and imprisoned by the British authorities for nearly two years. He looks back on the period with Ben Henderson.

Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by and curious about the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there.

For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more.

Recent episodes explore everything from how the Excel spreadsheet was developed, the creation of cartoon rabbit Miffy and how the sound barrier was broken.

We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: the moment Reagan and Gorbachev met in Geneva, Haitian singer Emerante de Pradines’ life and Omar Sharif’s legendary movie entrance in Lawrence of Arabia.

You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, like the invention of a stent which has saved lives around the world; the birth of the G7; and the meeting of Maldives’ ministers underwater. We cover everything from World War Two and Cold War stories to Black History Month and our journeys into space.

(Photo: Camp Kokkinotrimithia in Cyprus where the British imprisoned suspected EOKA fighters, 1956. Credit: Jack Esten/Getty Images)


THU 09:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m853mw9)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 09:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmrgl30wp)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrt04p)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 09:32 The Documentary (w3ct8ywb)
[Repeat of broadcast at 02:32 today]


THU 10:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m853rmf)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 10:06 The Explanation (w3ct7ytj)
The Media Show: Reporting from Inside Iran

A small number of international journalists have been allowed into Iran following the start of conflict involving the US and Israel. CNN’s Frederik Pleitgen describes his experience.

The 98th Academy Awards took place as viewing figures continue to fall and the film industry faces wider change. Tom Brook, Correspondent, BBC News, and Katey Rich, Awards Editor, The Ankler, outline changes in awards coverage and the relationship between Hollywood and the media.

Presenters: Katie Razzall and Ros Atkins
Producer: Lisa Jenkinson
Assistant Producer: Laura Cain
Researcher: Ruth Waites
Sound: Jack Wilfan
Technical Coordinator: Margot Campanaro


THU 10:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrt3wt)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 10:32 Over to You (w3ct8sh4)
A focus on East Asia

The East Asia region, comprising of China, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Hong Kong, Macau, Mongolia and Taiwan, is undeniably a key player on the world stage.

We go behind the scenes of The Fifth Floor, the programme that brings the news from the BBC World Service language services. We hear how people in Seoul are reacting to the comeback of BTS, the superstar South Korean boyband, whose first tour since 2022 kicks off in April.

Hong Kong cinema has influenced film-makers around the world. For a recent In the Studio episode, film-maker Shan Ng followed Kwan Pun Leung, one of the cinematographers of the Hong Kong and 20th Century classic, In the Mood for Love. We hear what Shan learnt following a fellow film-maker and what surprised her about Kwan's process.

In November 2025, the BBC World Service launched a new visualised podcast, Asia Specific. Presented by veteran journalist, Mariko Oi, it covers the Asia Pacific region, of which East Asia is part of. Mariko tells Qasa why a podcast for the region was essential and the stories they hope to cover.

And finally, in February, the director general Tim Davie warning that the network would run out of funding if a deal was not agreed with the government. His warnings set the Over to You inbox alight with questions and concern. Qasa speaks with the head of the school of journalism, media and culture at Cardiff University, Dr Matt Walsh and explores what all this means for the World Service.


THU 11:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m853wck)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmrgl38cy)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrt7my)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct71b5)
The war in Lebanon, explained

Shortly after the US-Israeli war with Iran began, a second war broke out between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Lebanese authorities say that more than 900 people, including at least 111 children, have been killed in Israeli attacks since 2 March. More than a million others have been forced to leave their homes.

On Wednesday, Israel widened its air strikes from the southern suburbs of Beirut into the city centre. And there are fears that what Israel has called a “limited” ground operation could lead to an occupation of the south. Israel says it is targeting not only Hezbollah fighters and leaders, but also businesses it claims are linked to the group and help finance its military operations.

From his post in Beirut, BBC Middle East correspondent Hugo Bachega explains the long history of the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, and we ask what could come next.

Producers: Chris Benderev and Aron Keller
Sound engineer: Travis Evans
Senior news editor: China Collins

Photo Credit: Smoke rises after an Israeli strike in central Beirut's Bachoura neighbourhood, following an escalation between Hezbollah and Israel, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Beirut, Lebanon, 12 March, 2026. Creit: Claudia Greco/Reuters


THU 12:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m85403p)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 12:06 Outlook (w3ct6wyx)
The fighter pilot who saved 148 lives

Tammie Jo Shults dreamed of flying fighter jets. But sexism meant she was rejected repeatedly by the military. She persisted and, eventually, a US Navy recruiter gave her the chance to become one of their first female fighter pilots. She spent 10 years flying fighter jets and training other pilots, honing the skills and composure that, one day, would allow her to land a beleaguered passenger plane on a wing and a prayer.

After leaving the US Navy Tammie Jo joined Southwest Airlines as a civilian pilot. On 17 April, 2018 she was the captain of a routine passenger flight when debris from a catastrophic engine failure smashed a hole in a passenger window at 30,000 feet. In cockpit recordings from the incident Tammie Jo sounds cool, calm and precise, just relaying the facts.

The plane was flying sideways on one engine. Harnessing all the skills she gained from training the Navy’s fighter pilots she managed to wrestle the aircraft safely onto the runway in Philadelphia. After the window broke, one passenger was serously injured and later died, but the other 148 passengers and crew all survived.

Presenter: Asya Fouks
Producer: Hetal Bapodra and Julian Siddle

Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com or WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707

(Photo: Lieutenant Tammie Jo Shults, one of the first women to fly Navy tactical aircraft, posing in front of an F/A-18A with Tactical Electronics Warfare Squadron 34 in 1992. She is wearing a pilot's jumpsuit and holding her helmet in her right hand. Credit: US Navy/PH2 Thomas P. Milne/Getty Images)


THU 12:50 Witness History (w3ct74kr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


THU 13:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m8543vt)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 13:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmrgl3hw6)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 13:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrth46)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 13:32 The Food Chain (w3ct70zz)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


THU 14:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m8547ly)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 14:06 Newshour (w172zssmt5p8d5k)
Gas price soars after strikes on Qatar hub

Oil and gas prices have risen sharply after fresh strikes hit energy infrastructure in the Middle East, including Qatar's main gas facility.

Gas prices jumped by about 25% on wholesale markets in the UK and Europe in early trading, before easing slightly. We've also been hearing from the US defence secretary Pete Hegseth who says the Pentagon will go to Congress to ask for funding for the war as it continues on.

President Trump says he knew nothing about the Israeli attack on the Iranian South Pars facility; we'll examine what this says about US-Israeli military co-operation.

Also in the programme: The world's longest coastal path is opening in England; and newly discovered letters from the renowned palaeontologist Mary Anning show even she got sick of fossils.

(Photo shows a file photo of QatarEnergy's liquefied natural gas production facility in Ras Laffan Industrial City, Qatar on 2 March 2026. Credit: Reuters)


THU 15:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m854cc2)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 15:06 The Inquiry (w3ct7242)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


THU 15:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrtqmg)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 15:32 Business Daily (w3ct6s3m)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:32 today]


THU 15:50 World Business Express (w3ct88rf)
Gas prices soar after strikes on energy facilities in Qatar and Iran

Gas prices rise sharply following an attack on Qatar's Ras Laffan energy complex. QatarEnergy has confirmed "extensive damage" to the plant used to convert natural gas into LPG.
The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz has hit some Asian countries particularly hard because of their dependence on energy supplies from the Middle East. We hear from people in the Philippines and Morocco about how they're coping with rising fuel prices.


THU 16:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m854h36)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 16:06 Outside Source (w173068b18k6c75)
Iran war: Gas prices rise sharply

Energy prices have surged after strikes on key gas facilities in Qatar and Iran, as the Middle East war continues to escalate. We answer audience questions about the impact of the war on global energy and gas prices.

The American Defence Secretary, Pete Hegseth, has said there is no time frame for ending the war. We discuss the latest with our correspondent in Washington.

As thousands of sailors remain stranded on oil tankers and freight ships in the Persian Gulf, we hear from seafarers’ unions about the conditions they’re facing.

The government of Senegal has called for an international independent investigation into the decision to strip its men's national football team of its Africa Cup of Nations title. Our sports reporter explains.

Presenter: James Reynolds.

(Photo: QatarEnergy's liquefied natural gas (LNG) production facilities, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Ras Laffan Industrial City, Qatar March 2, 2026. Credit: Stringer/REUTERS)


THU 17:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m854lvb)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 17:06 Outside Source (w173068b18k6gz9)
Trump says no plans to deploy US troops

President Trump is hosting the Japanese prime minister Sanae Takaichi at the White House. During today's press conference, President Trump was asked if he plans to send more US troops into the region, and he answered that he is not putting troops anywhere. But even if he was planning to, Trump told the reporter, "I wouldn't tell you". We speak to our correspondent in Washington.

Air strikes on key gas facilities in Qatar and Iran have caused energy prices to surge. We speak to our correspondent in Dubai.

An Iranian military spokesman said Iran would completely destroy the energy infrastructure of America's allies in the region if its own facilities continued to be targeted. Our colleague from BBC Persian has the latest.

We hear the voices of ordinary Ukrainians who worry that global attention on the Iran war could prolong their own conflict.

And, we speak to dog behaviourists about a new study suggesting that mixed breed dogs are more likely to display “undesirable behaviours” than their purebred parents.

Presenter: James Reynolds

(Photo: US President Donald Trump shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, with US Vice President JD Vance sitting next to them in the Oval Office, the White House, Washington DC, 19 March, 2026. Credit: Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters)


THU 18:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m854qlg)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 18:06 Outlook (w3ct6wyx)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 today]


THU 18:50 Witness History (w3ct74kr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


THU 19:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m854vbl)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmrgl47bz)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrv6lz)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct6z8q)
2026/03/19 GMT

BBC sports correspondents tell the story behind today's top sporting news, with interviews and reports from across the world.


THU 20:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m854z2q)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 20:06 The Documentary (w3ct8ywb)
[Repeat of broadcast at 02:32 today]


THU 20:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrvbc3)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 20:32 BBC Inside Science (w3ct8ty4)
Is quantum computing having its moment?

In a bid to invest in the future of computing and keep emerging quantum companies on their shores, the UK government has announced a £2 billion ‘Quantum Leap’ fund. Tom Whipple heads to ORCA Computing in London to find out exactly how close we are to realising that quantum future and the industries that may be revolutionized in the process.

After Iranian missiles have hit a key helium production plant in Qatar, stability of the global supplies of the element have been called into question. Dr Rebecca Ingle from University College London clues us in on just how much of the world relies on Helium and why it is the irreplicable “cryogenic king” of the elements.

Plus, can potatoes grow on the moon? And what can pythons tell us about weight loss? Reporter Gareth Mitchell joins Tom for their pick of this week's science news.

Presenter: Tom Whipple
Producer: Alex Mansfield and Katie Tomsett
Production co-ordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth
Editor: Martin Smith


THU 21:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m8552tv)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 21:06 Newshour (w172zssmt5p97dg)
The global impact of energy price rises

It has been a day of turmoil on the world's financial markets after Israel - on Wednesday - struck an Iranian facility in the South Pars gas field, part of the world's biggest natural gas field, which Iran shares with Qatar. That, in turn, prompted Iran to retaliate against energy facilities in Qatar and its other Gulf neighbours sending the price of both gas and oil surging upwards.

Also in the programme: a mysterious signal is being broadcast in the Farsi language on shortwave radio from Europe - what is it? And how a conversation in the Caribbean Sea about quantum information led to a big prize.

(Photo: Traders work on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) floor after the opening bell in New York, USA, 19 March 2026. Credit: Sarah Yenesel /EPA/Shutterstock)


THU 22:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m8556kz)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 22:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmrgl4llc)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrvkvc)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 22:32 World Business Report (w3ct75z4)
Shockwaves hit energy market as gas price soars

Global energy security is facing one of its most serious tests in years. Two of the world’s most important gas production sites, Qatar’s Ras Laffan LNG hub and Iran’s South Pars facility, have been hit in coordinated missile strikes. Ras Laffan alone supplies around a fifth of the world’s liquefied natural gas, and the damage is reported to be extensive. What does this mean for the global gas supply? Vishala Sri-Pathma has the latest.

The war in Iran could result in a 0.5% decline in global goods trade this year, according to a World Trade Organisation annual forecast. Last year international trade in goods and services trade was worth $34.65 trillion which is about a third of the global economy. In Nigeria, the vast gas reserves are becoming even more strategically important in a volatile global energy climate. So what does this mean for Akwa Ibom, one of Nigeria’s key oil‑producing states?


THU 23:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m855bb3)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 23:06 The Inquiry (w3ct7242)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


THU 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrvplh)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 23:32 The Food Chain (w3ct70zz)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]

FRIDAY 20 MARCH 2026

FRI 00:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m855g27)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 00:06 The Explanation (w3ct7ytj)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:06 on Thursday]


FRI 00:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrvtbm)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 00:32 Unspun World with John Simpson (w3ct8yvw)
How is the Iran war impacting the global economy?

This week John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses the economic effects of the war in the Middle East, explores how the conflict is actually helping Russia, and looks at how the escalating tensions between Hungary and Ukraine might affect the upcoming elections in Hungary.

Producer: Kate Cornell
Executive Producer: Benedick Watt
Commissioning Editor: Vara Szajkowski


FRI 01:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m855ktc)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 01:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmrgl4ytr)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 01:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrvy2r)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 01:32 The Global Story (w3ct71b5)
[Repeat of broadcast at 11:32 on Thursday]


FRI 02:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m855pkh)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmrgl52kw)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrw1tw)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 02:32 Tech Life (w3ct6zq8)
[Repeat of broadcast at 20:32 on Tuesday]


FRI 03:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m855t9m)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 03:06 Outlook (w3ct6wyx)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Thursday]


FRI 03:50 Witness History (w3ct74kr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 on Thursday]


FRI 04:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m855y1r)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 04:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmrgl5b24)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrw9b4)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 04:32 Heart and Soul (w3ct6vqc)
Can yoga be Christian?

Yoga is an ancient practice with its roots in Hinduism. It originated over 5,000 years ago in northern India, but for many, has now evolved from a spiritual path into the wellness practice known globally. In the West, millions now do yoga as a form of exercise and wellbeing. It is an industry thought to be worth tens of billions of dollars.

But as it has boomed, yoga has been interpreted in new and sometimes controversial ways. What has been dubbed 'Christian yoga' has gained loyal supporters, who say it helps them reconnect body and soul. But not everyone agrees. Some within the Hindu faith argue that Christian yoga risks stripping an ancient practice of its religious roots. Then, there are Christians who say the practice is “not of Jesus,” and warn that it could open the door to non-Christian spirituality. Megan Lawton meets teachers of Christian yoga and those who don't believe yoga and Christianity can ever be compatible.

Producer: Sam Gruet
Presenter: Megan Lawton
Production co-ordinator: Mica Nepomuceno
Editor: Chloe Walker

(Photo: Meditation, yoga and top view of woman with prayer hands sitting on a yoga mat. Credit: Kobus Louw)


FRI 05:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m8561sw)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 05:06 Newsday (w172zsq53ql4ftg)
Israel says it 'acted alone' in strikes on Iranian gas field

On Thursday, US President Donald Trump issued a typically strongly worded statement after attacks on a major gas field shared by Iran and Qatar the previous day.

In a long post on Truth Social, Trump threatened Iran and said he didn't know about Israel's plans for the attack, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has backed up.

We'll hear a report from our correspondent in Jerusalem as the streets of the Old City are now largely deserted with its most sacred Christian, Muslim and Jewish sites closed to the public.

And in South Korea, we'll hear how one band's comeback concert in Seoul after a nearly four-year hiatus has fans in a frenzy.
t
(Photo: People walk near farmland by the Zubair oil field as gas flares rise in the distance; Credit: Essam Al-Sudani/Reuters)


FRI 06:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m8565k0)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 06:06 Newsday (w172zsq53ql4kkl)
Israel says it will hold off future attacks on Iranian gas fields

An Israeli attack on Iran's South Pars gas field on Wednesday, followed by Iranian attacks on Qatari gas installations caused steep rises in the prices of gas and oil.

Meanwhile, Iran has continued to fire missiles towards Gulf countries and Israel.

As the death toll in Lebanon passes 1,000 according to authorities - we'll hear from someone who lost loved ones to Israeli airstrikes.

(Photo: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference, amid the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran; Credit: Ronen Zvulun/Reuters)


FRI 07:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m856994)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 07:06 Newsday (w172zsq53ql4p9q)
Gulf countries and Israel are under renewed attacks by Iran

A number of Gulf countries are again coming under attack from drones and missiles fired by Iran. The United Arab Emirates said its air defences were having to respond to incoming missiles and drones. Bahrain said a warehouse was set alight by shrapnel from what it called 'Iranian aggression'.

The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, says Israel will hold off future attacks on Iranian gas fields after being asked to do so by President Trump - as explosions are heard in Iran and sirens blare in Gulf countries - we get a view from Israel and speak to our correspondent in Doha.

Part of of a flotilla bringing aid has arrived in Cuba. We speak to an Italian member of the European parliament who is there.

(Photo: Rescue forces work among debris following an Iranian rocket attack that hit Beit Shemesh near Jerusalem; Credit: Abir Sultan/EPA/Shutterstock)


FRI 08:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m856f18)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 08:06 The Interview (w3ct8c4l)
Ali Bahreini, Iran’s UN Ambassador: No surrender

“Donald Trump was indicating that they will attack Iran for a few days and then the system will collapse, and then they will repeat what they have done in Venezuela. And everything went into a different direction. The Iranian nation is not a nation to surrender.”

Evan Davis speaks to Ali Bahreini, Iran’s Ambassador to the United Nations, about the ongoing war. He talks about Iran’s nuclear negotiations, how it says the war is unfolding, and why it believes their strikes on neighbouring countries are justified.

Bahreini has represented the Islamic Republic of Iran in international diplomacy since 1999. He is now speaking at a time of heightened regional and global tension, following a wave of strikes by the United States and Israel, and Iran’s retaliatory attacks across the Middle East.

Despite senior Iranian figures being killed, Bahreini insists Iran remains defiant and will never surrender.

Thank you to the PM team for its help in making this programme.

The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC, including episodes with Polish President Karol Nawrocki and Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary General.

You can listen on the BBC World Service on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 0800 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out three times a week on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts.

Presenter: Evan Davis
Producers: Guy Emanuel, Caleb Darwin, Lucy Shepperd, Osman Iqbal
Editor: Justine Lang and Damon Rose

Get in touch with us on email TheInterview@bbc.co.uk and use the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.

(Image: Ali Bahreini Photo by SALVATORE DI NOLFI/EPA/Shutterstock (16721914l)


FRI 08:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrws9n)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct6rtl)
The struggle to find care that sparked a business

We meet Chika Madubuko, the founder and CEO of Greymate Care, an online platform that connects people that need support with professional caregivers in Nigeria. It’s a business that was born in 2016 after her family struggled to find a trustworthy carer for her grandmother.

If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Leanna Byrne
Producers: Ahmed Adan and Niamh McDermott

Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute, daily deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, the economic impact of the war in the Middle East, and why bond markets are so powerful.

We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include Google's Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and the CEO of Canva, Melanie Perkins.

(Picture: Chika Madubuko. Credit: Chika Madubuko)


FRI 08:50 Witness History (w3ct745b)
Women's rights in independent Tunisia

It's 70 years since Tunisian gained independence from France.

In August 1956, it brought in a new equality law that revolutionised women's lives.

Under the socialist President Habib Bourguiba, the North African country became the first in the Muslim world to legalise civil divorce and abortion and to ban polygamy.

Bourguiba also gave women the vote and widened access to education.

Nidale Abou Mrad spoke to Saida El Gueyed, a founding member of the Tunisian Women's Union, in 2019.

Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by and curious about the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there.

For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more.

Recent episodes explore everything from how the Excel spreadsheet was developed, the creation of cartoon rabbit Miffy and how the sound barrier was broken.

We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: the moment Reagan and Gorbachev met in Geneva, Haitian singer Emerante de Pradines’ life and Omar Sharif’s legendary movie entrance in Lawrence of Arabia.

You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, like the invention of a stent which has saved lives around the world; the birth of the G7; and the meeting of Maldives’ ministers underwater. We cover everything from World War Two and Cold War stories to Black History Month and our journeys into space.

(Photo: Members of the Tunisian Women's Union. Credit: Courtesy of Saida El Gueyed)


FRI 09:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m856jsd)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 09:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmrgl5xss)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrwx1s)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 09:32 BBC Inside Science (w3ct8ty4)
[Repeat of broadcast at 20:32 on Thursday]


FRI 10:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m856njj)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 10:06 Unexpected Elements (w3ct72xk)
In the name of science

After the end of a near 17-year legal battle between popstar Katy Perry and fashion designer Katie Perry, the Unexpected Elements team has been inspired to explore the question at the heart of the case – what's in a name?

First, we hear how marmosets use their calls as a way of naming which friend they’re talking to. Then, we discover why a phenomenon known as auditory pareidolia means you can’t necessarily believe your ears.

We're then joined by David Kaiser, professor of physics and history of science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who explains just how hard it is to put physics into words.

Also, the disappearance of indigenous languages, the law for naming laws, and where did all our hair go?

All that, plus many more Unexpected Elements.

Presenter: Marnie Chesterton with Andrada Fiscutean and Michael Kaloki
Producers: Imy Harper, with Lucy Davies and Sophie Ormiston


FRI 11:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m856s8n)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmrgl6591)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrx4k1)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct715n)
Netanyahu is not dead. So why did the internet think he was?

Social media platforms this week have been flooded with a wild rumour: that Benjamin Netanyahu was dead (which he is not). Fake photos and videos of his body, coated with dust and debris, seemed to show that the Israeli prime minister had been killed in an Iranian air strike.

The rumour was false – Netanyahu had not died, nor been involved in a strike. The photos and videos were AI-generated. But when Netanyahu posted several videos of himself, debunking and mocking the rumour, some people on social media still refused to believe these were really him.

Today on the show, Thomas Copeland from BBC Verify explains how the economics of social media drive the creation of AI-generated fake videos – sometimes by people with no strong feelings about the war itself. And we speak to Peter Pomerantsev, author of Nothing Is True and Everything is Possible, who says the essential strategy behind wartime disinformation remains unchanged since ancient times.

Producers: Viv Jones, Valerio Esposito and Xandra Ellin
Executive producer: James Shield
Sound engineer: Travis Evans
Senior news editor: China Collins

(Photo: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shows his hand as he speaks at a cafe Credit: Benjamin Netanyahu/Reuters)


FRI 12:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m856x0s)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 12:06 Outlook (w3ct6wjc)
Outlook Mixtape: On your bike

In the 1970s, art student PK Mahanandia cycled from India to Sweden to be reunited with his girlfriend – a Swedish woman called Lotta von Schedvin who just happened to be the exact match for a prophecy PK had been given about his future wife. The pair had met in India while Lotta was on holiday with friends and had instantly fallen in love but were soon separated by over 6000km. They spoke to Jo Fidgen in 2017 about the amazing journey that brought them together at the start of their relationship.

When Felipe Nystrom first heard about Cyclo-cross he thought it sounded awful. The specialist cycling circuit is a gruelling race – part on a bicycle, part carrying a bicycle. But for Felipe, the sport gave him a chance to prove to himself, his son and the many others who have been inspired by his difficult start in life, that it is possible to turn your fortunes around. Felipe had a tough childhood which led to a life on the streets and addiction to drugs and alcohol. Rehab was just the beginning of his recovery, it was cycling that gave him a new meaning. He explains to Outlook's Matthew Kenyon how he discovered cycling and almost by accident became Costa Rican National Road Racing Champion. Today, he often comes last in races – he's a decade or more older than the rest of the competitors – but he always gets the biggest cheer of the day when he crosses the line. This interview was first broadcast in 2024.

At the age of 24, Mamadou Barry was looking for a new direction in life. He'd failed his final year secondary school exams five times in a row and so, set his sights on a different type of education. He wanted to go to one of the world’s top Islamic universities – the prestigious Al Azhar University in Egypt. But he lived on the other side of Africa in Guinea and didn't have the money for a plane ticket. So, with only $55, a small bag of clothes and tools, and a handwritten map, he set off across the continent on his bicycle in search of an education. Mamadou spoke to Outlook in 2023.

Presenter: Mobeen Azhar
Producer: Andrea Rangecroft

Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com or WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707

(Photo: A transparent 60-minute cassette tape on a white background with a white label with the words: The Outlook Mixtape. Credit: Getty Images)


FRI 12:50 Witness History (w3ct745b)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


FRI 13:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m8570rx)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 13:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmrgl6ds9)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 13:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrxd19)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 13:32 Heart and Soul (w3ct6vqc)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


FRI 14:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m8574j1)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 14:06 Newshour (w172zssmt5pc92n)
Iran marks Persian new year under US-Israeli bombardment

Nowruz is a traditional festival that marks the spring equinox, the rebirth of nature and the start of the new year in Iran and other countries. But this year's Nowruz will be the first many in the country have experienced at war. And across the Gulf, millions of Muslims are marking Eid al-Fitr, the end of Ramadan, under the shadow of war. We hear from journalists in Iran and the UAE.

Also on the programme: Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez has announced sheis replacing the country's senior military commanders, a day after replacing the longtime Defence Minister General Vladimir Padrino López; and we examine how artificial intelligence is being used in the publishing industry.

(Photo: Iranian people shop at Tajrish Bazaar in Tehran, ahead of Nowruz, on the 19th of March, 2026. Credit: Majid Asgaripour/West Asia News Agency/Reuters)


FRI 15:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m857885)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 15:06 The Interview (w3ct8c4l)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


FRI 15:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrxmjk)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 15:32 Business Daily (w3ct6rtl)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:32 today]


FRI 15:50 World Business Express (w3ct88h5)
'Work from home and limit flights', urges IEA, as fuel crisis deepens

The International Energy Agency wants people to cut their energy consumption. The IEA warned that the impact from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz would “become more and more severe”.

And the South Korean boyband BTS are back after an interruption for its members to do national service. They have also released a new album and announced a world tour.


FRI 16:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m857d09)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 16:06 Outside Source (w173068b18k9848)
Iran war: The global impact

We look at what the world is doing about the Iran war and hear from our correspondents in the US, Russia, China, India, Europe, and the Gulf.

Israel says it has killed the intelligence chief of Iran's Basij militia which is part of the powerful Revolutionary Guards corps. Kuwait's biggest oil refinery has been hit by drones as Iran continues to respond to US-Israeli attacks. We have the latest from BBC Persian.

We also hear from Iranians outside the country about how they are marking the Persian New Year, Nowruz.

And, Iranian journalists abroad share their experiences of reporting on a story that affects their own families.

Presenter: James Reynolds.

(Photo: A destroyed vehicle amid rubble at the site of a strike on a residential building, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran, Iran, March 16, 2026. Credit: Majid Asgaripour/West Asia News Agency via Reuters)


FRI 17:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m857hrf)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 17:06 Outside Source (w173068b18k9cwd)
Trump calls Nato allies 'cowards' over Strait of Hormuz

Israel says its strikes on Iran have killed the intelligence chief of the Basij militia. We hear from Iranians who have crossed the border with Turkey. Meanwhile, President Trump has stepped up his criticism of Nato allies, describing them as cowards for refusing to help open the Strait of Hormuz. We get the latest from our correspondent and from BBC Verify.

And, Iranian journalists abroad share their experiences of reporting on a story that affects their own families.

Hollywood action star Chuck Norris has died aged 86, his family says. Our entertainment correspondent looks back on his life and career.

We hear from fans of BTS who have gathered in Seoul, where the K-pop group will kick off a world tour.

Presenter: James Reynolds

(Photo: Cargo ships in the Gulf, near the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from northern Ras al-Khaimah, near the border with Oman’s Musandam governance, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, in United Arab Emirates, 11 March, 2026. Credit: Reuters)


FRI 18:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m857mhk)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 18:06 Outlook (w3ct6wjc)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 today]


FRI 18:50 Witness History (w3ct745b)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


FRI 19:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m857r7p)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmrgl7482)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zry3j2)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct6z46)
2026/03/20 GMT

BBC sports correspondents tell the story behind today's top sporting news, with interviews and reports from across the world.


FRI 20:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m857vzt)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 20:06 BBC Conversations (w3ct6rp2)
Navigating the Strait of Hormuz

The Strait of Hormuz has been effectively closed by Iran for more than a fortnight, preventing vital supplies of oil and gas from leaving the Middle East and sending global fuel prices soaring.

Some 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas is usually carried through the narrow corridor by around 3000 ships a month. Iran has targeted ships in the area, and it’s estimated that over 20 vessels have been hit and at least eight people killed.

In our conversations we bring together sailors to share their experiences of navigating the Strait of Hormuz.

“We would often try and transit at night because we did not want the Iranians to know where our ships were,” Tom, a former US naval officer tells us. “We would reconfigure the lights on our ship to make us look like a merchant vessel – it’s called deceptive lighting – and we would only broadcast with our civilian radar.”

After President Trump said oil tanker crews should show “some guts” and continue to sail through the Strait, we also bring together seafarer organisations concerned for the welfare of their members stuck on ships in the Gulf.

Presenter: James Reynolds
BBC producers: James Beardsworth and Isabella Bull
Boffin Media producer: Richard Hollingham
Editors: Arja Haikonen and Harriet Oliver

A Boffin Media production in partnership with the BBC World Service Outside Source team.

(Photo: A vessel sailing under a Thai flag is set on fire by an Iranian missile. Credit: Royal Thai Navy/handout/EPA/Shutterstock)


FRI 20:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zry786)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 20:32 CrowdScience (w3ct6sv6)
Can I unlock my car using my head?

CrowdScience listener Doug has been experimenting with holding his wireless garage key to his chin. Why? Because he's testing a strange trick of physics.

The range of a key can apparently double when held against your head rather just being held in your hand. Could this really be true, and if so why?

Presenter Caroline Steel goes on a wavy journey of self-experimentation with antennas. She follows the story of Doug as he wanders the streets of Calgary in Alberta, Canada testing the key on his head from different distances and even testing it on his dog Maura’s head.

To understand the physics behind all this, Caroline meets Dr Lina Mohjazi, Lecturer of Autonomous Systems and Connectivity at the University of Glasgow and Guy Vandenbosch, Professor of Electromagnetic Radiation at KU Leuven University in Leuven, Belgium.

Presenter: Caroline Steel
Producer: Tom Bonnett
Editor: Ben Motley

(Photo: Hand holding a car key remote in front of a red car - stock photo Credit: vadishzainer via Getty Images)


FRI 21:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m857zqy)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 21:06 Newshour (w172zssmt5pd49k)
Trump calls Nato allies 'cowards'

US President says Nato allies are "cowards" for refusing to help open the Strait of Hormuz, as the head of the International Energy Agency claims the closure of the waterway poses the "greatest global energy security challenge in history”.

Also in the programme: Iranian-American artist Shirin Neshat on celebrating the ancient Persian festival of Nowruz; and the action movie star, and martial arts expert Chuck Norris has died aged 86.

(Photo: US President Trump departs the White House to spend the weekend at Mar-a-Lago on 20 March 2026. Credit: Shawn Thew/Pool/EPA/Shutterstock)


FRI 22:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m8583h2)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 22:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmrgl7hhg)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrygrg)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 22:32 World Business Report (w3ct76pr)
IEA warns looming global energy crisis is worst in history

The head of the International Energy Agency has told the BBC that governments need to “be more vocal” about cutting energy usage amid what he called the “greatest global energy security challenge in history”. Dr Birol is now calling on countries to cut demand suggesting lower speed limits, avoiding air travel, even restricting the use of private cars. Last week the IEA coordinated the release of 400 million barrels of strategic oil reserves, which is around 20% of the total reserves. However, the global oil price has only risen since then. David Harper has the latest.

Gold prices have fallen sharply from around $5000 per ounce to just over $4500. Traditionally seen as a 'safe haven' in times of global uncertainty, why is the price of gold dropping now? Banking giant JP Morgan Chase say they are now trialling software to analyse employee working hours. The firm say that this will enable them to prioritise staff wellbeing, but it has raised questions about the ethics of logging every video call or keystroke.


FRI 23:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m858776)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 23:06 The Interview (w3ct8c4l)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


FRI 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrylhl)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 23:32 Heart and Soul (w3ct6vqc)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]