SATURDAY 28 MARCH 2026

SAT 00:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjh1hl5)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 00:06 Unexpected Elements (w3ct72xl)
A bumper edition

Japanese pedestrians have been forcefully colliding with each other in a spate of butsukari otoko – or ‘bumping man’ – incidents and the Unexpected Elements team has been inspired to investigate some bumpy science.

First, what does your heart desire? Well, at a cellular level, the perfect match! We hear how your heart is built by cells going speed dating. Then, we discuss how birds avoid in-flock collisions, and we learn all about mesmerising murmurations.

Next, we’re joined by science journalist and author Robin George Andrews, who tells us about NASA’s mission to avoid a city-killing disaster by bumping into an asteroid before it can bump into us.

Also, a colourful question about migraines, a surprising new treatment for them, and the scientists who took antimatter for a test drive.

All that, plus many more Unexpected Elements.

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


SAT 01:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjh1mb9)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 01:06 The Newsroom (w172zwln3qx10bp)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SAT 01:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82qzlp)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 01:32 The Global Story (w3ct715p)
Meta and YouTube lose in a landmark trial

In a bellwether case, a jury in Los Angeles found on Wednesday that Meta and YouTube are responsible for a young woman’s childhood addiction to social media, and intentionally built addictive platforms that harmed her health.

The companies say they intend to appeal against the verdict, which could set a legal precedent and have far-reaching consequences.

Marianna Spring, the BBC’s social media investigations correspondent, has spent the past year speaking to whistleblowers and insiders from social media companies, revealing how algorithms designed to connect people have been helping to tear them apart. We ask if this week’s verdict is just the start of something much bigger.

The BBC is throwing open the doors to Maida Vale Studios on Saturday 25 April for Castfest, a one-day celebration bringing its biggest news podcasts directly to fans. Apply for Castfest tickets below.

Producer: Valerio Esposito and Cat Farnsworth
Sopund engineer: Travis Evans
Senior news editor: China Collins

(Photo: Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg leaves the court at the case accusing Meta and Google's YouTube of harming kids' mental health through addictive platforms, 18 February, 2026. Credit: Mike Blake/Reuters)


SAT 02:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjh1r2f)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zwln3qx142t)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SAT 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82r3bt)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 02:32 Stumped (w3ct6zks)
IPL 2026: Can Virat Kohli lead RCB to back-to-back titles?

The IPL returns for its 19th edition and Royal Challengers Bengaluru start as the defending champions for the first time in their history.

Former IPL player and now commentator Abhinav Mukund joins Eleanor Oldroyd, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma to discuss the big IPL talking points ahead of the start of the season.

Can RCB win back-to-back titles and should teams expect “a scary version” of Virat Kohli now he goes in as a T20 specialist?

Will this be MS Dhoni’s last dance in the IPL? Mukund gives his view as his former team-mate and how he expects Chennai Super Kings to utilise both Dhoni and new signing Sanju Samson.

There’s also talk around Cameron Green and whether being the most expensive overseas player in IPL history will add extra pressure on the Australian? Plus, what to expect from teenager Vaibhav Suryavanshi and has Ben Duckett made the right decision to focus on England over the IPL?

The Stumped team also reflect on the news England coach Brendon McCullum, Test captain Ben Stokes and director of cricket Rob Key are all remaining in their posts, despite the 4-1 Ashes series defeat. Is it the right decision and how can England “evolve”?

Image: Virat Kohli of Royal Challengers Bengaluru lifts the IPL trophy following the trophy presentation in the 2025 IPL Final match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings at Narendra Modi Stadium on June 03, 2025, in Ahmedabad, India. (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)


SAT 03:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjh1vtk)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 03:06 Outlook (w3ct6wjd)
Outlook Mixtape: Thunder and lightning

The Thunder was the most notorious and elusive poaching ship in the world; for ten years governments had struggled to catch it. Then, in 2014, a crew from the organisation Sea Shepherd, known for its anti-whaling activity, found it illegally hunting Patagonian toothfish in the ice floes of the Antarctic and decided to try and stop it. They pursued the Thunder for 110 days over 10,000 nautical miles before a dramatic stand-off in the Gulf of Guinea. Captain Peter Hammarstedt, from Sea Shepherd, tells Jo Fidgen about the dramatic chase. On-board recordings in this piece are from the documentary Ocean Warriors: Chasing the Thunder, courtesy of Brick City TV. This interview was first broadcast in 2020.

Laura Impallomeni was struck by lightning while travelling in Kerala in 2005. In the days that followed she was consumed by an obsessive hunger to play a musical instrument, changing the course of her life. Now a professional jazz trombonist with her own quintet, Laura reflects on the part the lightning strike may have played in achieving her ambitions. This interview was first broadcast in 2024.

Presenter: India Rakusen
Producer: Thomas Harding Assinder

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 (w3ct745c)
Anthony Bourdain's Don't Eat Before Reading This

In April 1999, Anthony Bourdain's essay Don't Eat Before Reading This was published.

It was an unfiltered look into restaurant kitchen culture. It launched his career as a celebrity chef.

He changed the way television told stories about food. Surya Elango speaks to Philip Lajaunie, his friend and former boss at Les Halles restaurant, in New York.

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: Chef Anthony Bourdain. Credit: Fairfax Media via Getty Images)


SAT 04:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjh1zkp)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 04:06 Unexpected Elements (w3ct72xl)
[Repeat of broadcast at 00:06 today]


SAT 05:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjh239t)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 05:06 The Newsroom (w172zwln3qx1hb6)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SAT 05:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82rgl6)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 05:32 Inheritance: Samsung (w3ct94gt)
Samsung

1. My kingdom for a horse

In 2017, the heir to South Korea’s biggest company is facing jail, leaving it with an uncertain future. After 80 years of business, how did Samsung get here? And how did a deal meant to secure family control of the company go so wrong?

In this brand-new 10-part series from the BBC World Service, we take you behind closed doors - inside the billion-dollar deals and the family power struggles that shape global empires. When your relatives are also your business partners, every decision is personal. In these dynasties, the boardroom is not just about profit - it is about survival.

Presenter: Elise Hu
Producers: Simon Tulett and Sally Abrahams
Fact-checkers: Matt Toulson and Su-Min Hwang
Music: Thomas Ross Fitzsimons
Sound engineer: Charlie Brandon-King.
Series editor: Matt Willis
With special thanks to Geoffrey Cain, Sojin Lim, Jaeyeon Lee, Jake Kwon and, also, Mary Wilkinson.
Senior commissioning producer: Sarah Green
Commissioning editor: Jon Manel

Inheritance is a BBC Long Form Audio production


SAT 05:50 More or Less (w3ct6w0f)
How much water does AI consume?

As Artificial Intelligence continues to expand rapidly, some people have raised concerns about its potential environmental impact - in particular its use of water, which is used to cool both data centres and the power generators that supply them with electricity.

One recent book on AI contained the alarming prediction that AI could consume between 4 and 6 trillion litres a year by 2027. Could this eye-popping figure be right? If not, what is the correct figure, and is it a big number?

The devil, as ever, is in the detail, and with the help of expert Alex de Vries-Gao, the More or Loss team has taken a deep dive to get to the truth about AI and water consumption.

If you’ve seen a number in the news and you think More or Less should take a look, email the team on moreorless@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Charlotte McDonald
Producer/reporter: Nathan Gower
Sound engineer: Dave O’Neil
Editor: Richard Vadon


SAT 06:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjh271y)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 06:06 Weekend (w172zw8nfs49srx)
Iranian missile hits US military base in Saudi Arabia

An Iranian missile attack has reportedly wounded soldiers at a US military base in Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile top US officials have said they're hopeful of talks with Iran in the coming days, and expect the war in the Middle East to conclude in weeks, not months. 

Also in today's programme: Police in Florida say that the golfer Tiger Woods has been taken into custody and charged with "driving under the influence" after crashing his car; and, automatic AI translation, which has brought content creators new audiences, has also raised privacy concerns

Presenter Paul Henley is joined by Arash Azizi, Iranian American historian, lecturer at Yale University and Katja Hoyer, a German-British historian and author, living in the UK.

(Photo: An Iranian missile flies toward Israel, amid the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran, as seen from Jerusalem, March 27, 2026. Credit: Jamal Awad/ Reuters)


SAT 07:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjh2bt2)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 07:06 Weekend (w172zw8nfs49xj1)
Iran war: One month on

It is exactly one month since the US and Israel started Operation Epic Fury in Iran, which shows no signs of abating. Heavy airstrikes on Iran continued overnight, as Israel announced it was carrying out fresh attacks. But the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, said that he expected the military operation to end within weeks.

Also in today's programme: Viewers regularly call in to 'Jan e gap', a talk-show programme broadcast from the US into Afghanistan. It is available to about a third of the Afghan population who possess the right satellite service, which the Taliban doesn't control; and why does meningitis still kill people in Britain?

Presenter Paul Henley is joined by Arash Azizi, Iranian American historian, lecturer at Yale University and Katja Hoyer, a German-British historian and author, living in the UK.

Photo: Iranian rescuers work on destroyed buildings as US-Israeli airstrikes continue, Tehran, Iran Islamic Republic Of - 27 Mar 2026 Credit:
Abedin Taherkenareh/ EPA


SAT 08:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjh2gk6)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 08:06 Weekend (w172zw8nfs4b185)
Iran war: Civilian death toll mounts

The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) says that 1,464 civilians including at least 217 children have been killed in Iran in the first month of the conflict, which began on 28 February.

Also on today's programme: BBC Russian Service this week marked 80 years since its first regular radio broadcast aired; and, a senior military figure in Germany tells the programme western leaders must “join the dots” on the war in Iran and the Russia's Ukraine invasion.

Presenter Paul Henley is joined by Arash Azizi, Iranian American historian, lecturer at Yale University and Katja Hoyer, a German-British historian and author, living in the UK.

(Photo: Pictures of child victims killed in strikes in Tehran Credit: Majid-Asgaripour/ Reuters)


SAT 09:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjh2l9b)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 09:06 BBC Conversations (w3ct6rp3)
Bombings in Lebanon

Lebanon’s citizens are again caught under fire. As many as a million people are displaced as they search for a place of safety and there are fears of a major humanitarian crisis.

The attacks are being carried out by Israel, which says it is targeting Hezbollah – an Iranian-backed militia and political party. The fighting has resumed as part of the wider conflict across the Middle East. Israel says its aim is to stop Hezbollah attacking communities in northern Israel.

In our conversations, families in Lebanon share their experiences, once again, of living under attack and being on the move to stay safe.

“As soon as the bombs started raining that morning, I waited until my family evacuated from the south, I met them at my home and then we booked a hotel and moved,” Tasnim tells us. “These past couple of weeks have been basically moving between friends’ houses – honestly speaking what’s extremely heart-wrenching is that we’ve got used to this.”

After a ceasefire in 2024, the Lebanese economy was beginning to slowly recover after years of stagnation. We bring together Lebanese business owners and hear how they are coping as the fighting resumes.

Presenter: Rob Young
BBC producers: Adam Chowdhury and Angela Sheeran
Boffin Media presenter: Richard Hollingham
Editors: Arja Haikonen and Simon Peeks

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

(Photo: A girl sits on a pallet in a temporary encampment for displaced people, during Eid al-Fitr celebrations, marking the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, following an escalation between Hezbollah and Israel, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Beirut, Lebanon, March 21, 2026. Credit: /Yara Nardi/Reuters)


SAT 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82rykq)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 09:32 Americast (w3ct8bzb)
What is RFK doing to vaccines for children in America?

A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from making big changes to vaccines for children in the United States. It’s a blow to Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy - RFK Jr - a longtime vaccine sceptic who was given free rein by Donald Trump to “go wild with health”.

Since taking office a year ago, Kennedy has sought to slash the number of recommended shots for children from 17 to 11. The American Academy of Paediatrics and other large medical groups have sued, saying Kennedy's changes violate federal law and are based on ideology instead of science.

In this episode, Marianna and Justin unpack what this means for Donald Trump’s big plan
to - as he puts it - "Make America Healthy Again” with Dr Debra Houry, the former director of the CDC (Centre of Disease Control and Prevention) who resigned in August 2025.


HOSTS:
• Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter
• Marianna Spring, Social Media Investigations Correspondent

GUEST:
• Dr Debra Houry, former Medical Director of the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention

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

APPLY FOR CASTFEST TICKETS: https://www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/shows/castfest-2026

This episode was made by Emma Close and Alix Pickles. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. 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 (w172zwx5zjh2q1g)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 10:06 Not by the Playbook (w3ct8797)
The swan effect

When we see our sporting heroes it's often in highly pressurised situations... and yet the look calm, controlled and steely eyed... but what we see on the surface often belies the hard work, dedication and hidden struggles. It's called the "swan effect". All poise and grace on top, whilst paddling furiously underneath. This week the remarkable stories of athletes who take control despite the struggles and challenges are unseen by us fans.

Exactly two years ago we sat down with film director Helen Tither who had something of a pipe dream. To tell the story of soccer team, The Manchester Corinthians. The woman's team, based just a couple of miles from the BBC Sport Studios, dominated around the world...and all while its players including Monica Curran were officially banned from participating in the sport. Well fast forward to present day and "Corinthians: We Were the Champions" premiered on the big screen in March 2026 and so it was time to invite Helen and Monica back on the show

Joanna Garland is a young tennis player making her way up the world rankings. She turned professional more than 6 years ago, and now, still aged just 24 she is currently ranked 117th in the world. As such you might expect her life to be one full of the trappings of professional sport. Luxury travel, big pay days and an entourage. But the truth is very different. And nothing illustrates her challenges better than being inches from a life changing million dollar victory and her punishing travel schedule.

There's nothing we love more than bringing you upbeat inspiring stories that leave us feeling all warm inside...but the truth is life isn't always like that, and Elise Headley's story sadly illustrates that the dream you can spend your entire life time chasing, could leave you living a nightmare. At just 10 years of age Elise developed a love for the pool and soon it became apparent that with hard work and dedication she could be an elite swimmer and compete at the Olympics. The years rolled on and despite success, something wasn't right. What Elise reveals is a brutally honest appraisal of life as an elite athlete, and one she is sure is shared by many.


Sometimes pressure comes primarily from within yourself, sometimes its brought on by coaches, colleagues of close family... but Majlinda Kelmendi had the weight of an entire nation on her shoulders! At the Rio 2016 Olympics, she was expected bring home the first medal for Kosovo since the small country gained independence. The two-time World Champion judoka came from a nation that had endured years of oppression and war, and she'd previously had to compete under the Albanian flag.

Photo: Corinthians Ladies FC on tour at Sporting Lisbon 1958 Portugal. Featured in The Corinthians We Were The Champions. Credit/Copyright: Films Not Words/Anne Grimes


SAT 11:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjh2tsl)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zwln3qx26sz)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SAT 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82s61z)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 11:32 Unspun World with John Simpson (w3ct8yvx)
US pauses strikes on Iran’s energy infrastructure

This week John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses Donald Trump’s decision to call a halt to US attacks against Iran’s power plants, examines what the future might hold for the Iranian people, and explores the significance of the first manned journey to the Moon in half a century.

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


SAT 12:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjh2yjq)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 12:06 The Documentary (w3ct95dh)
Billion dollar babies

Eels are a popular food in parts of Asia, but they can’t be commercially bred in captivity. Coupled with trade bans to protect the highly endangered fish, this has led to baby eels becoming one of the most trafficked creatures in the world.

We are in the UK where the last remaining eel trader in the country has a licence to export baby eels to stock a conservation project in Russia. But questions have been raised over whether this is really what is going on. We visit an investigative journalist in Poland who has been looking into these exports to Russia and elsewhere in Eastern Europe. With access to a member of an organised crime gang from Hong Kong, we hear how smugglers evade the French authorities to export baby eels to Asia. We also visit the Caribbean where a new and booming demand for glass eels is having a big impact on communities and politics in the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

A co-production from BBC Eye Investigations and DOCDAYS Productions.


SAT 13:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjh328v)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 13:06 Newshour (w172zssn5g076vg)
Houthis launch missile attack on Israel

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi movement have launched a missile strike on Israel for first time since the war began.

The group says it fired a barrage of ballistic missiles "targeting sensitive Israeli military sites", after Israel says it intercepted a missile from Yemen. The intervention comes as Israel continues bombing Lebanon, aiming for the pro-Iranian Hezbollah, but catching many other Lebanese in its wake.

Also in the programme: We'll hear from a mother and son forced apart for years by the state because she was unmarried; Nepal's former prime minister under arrest just a day after the new government took power; and a former Haitian culture minister turned documentary maker on the prescience of George Orwell.

(Photo shows a Houthi soldier operating a machine gun on a pickup truck in Sanaa, Yemen on 27 March 2026. Credit: Yahya Arhab/EPA)


SAT 14:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjh360z)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 14:06 Sportsworld (w172ztr2h0rqtdf)
Live sport from around the world with news, interviews and analysis.


SAT 18:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjh3p0h)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 18:06 The Newsroom (w172zwln3qx320w)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SAT 18:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82t18w)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 18:32 Inheritance: Samsung (w3ct94gt)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:32 today]


SAT 18:50 Sporting Witness (w3ct7zt5)
First official penalty shootout

On 5 August 1970, a pre-season match between second division Hull City and European giants Manchester United changed football forever.

With the game drawn, it became the first professional competitive fixture in the world to be decided by a penalty shootout. Tied matches were previously decided by coin tosses, the drawing of lots, or replays.

The match was in the inaugural season of the Watney Cup which was a short-lived English knockout competition.

Manchester United’s team included George Best, Denis Law and Bobby Charlton.

Hull City player Frankie Banks and fan Martyn Kelly, who was 11 at the time, tell Phil Jones how the penalties played out.

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: The penalty shootout between Hull City and Manchester United. Credit: Hull City AFC)


SAT 19:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjh3srm)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 19:06 The Inquiry (w3ct7243)
Is the revolution in Cuba over?

Cuba is facing one of its most severe humanitarian crises in decades.

For years, Cuba relied heavily on oil from Venezuela. Those supplies have largely stopped, contributing to widespread fuel shortages. Electricity blackouts have become increasingly common, disrupting daily life across the country.

The United States has blocked fuel shipments to Cuba as part of wider pressure linked to its economic and political policies. Meanwhile, the Cuban government has warned it will resist any external interference in its domestic affairs.

With economic strain growing and living conditions worsening, this week on The Inquiry, we’re asking: ‘Is the revolution in Cuba over?’

Contributors:
Lillian Guerra, professor of Cuban and Caribbean history at the University of Florida, US
Ricardo Torres, research fellow at American University, US
Christopher Sabatini, senior research fellow for Latin America at Chatham House, UK
Renata Segura, programme director for Latin America and the Caribbean at the International Crisis Group, US

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

(Photo: Havana, the capital of Cuba, during a blackout in March 2026. Credit: Yamil Lage/Getty Images)


SAT 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82t510)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 19:32 The Documentary (w3ct99qg)
Benjamin Netanyahu: Israel's longest-serving PM

Benjamin Netanyahu is Israel’s longest serving prime minister. He was born in Tel Aviv in 1949, the year after the State of Israel was founded. One of three brothers, Netanyahu spent much of his early years in the United States pursuing his education. But following his older brother’s death, Netanyahu found himself drawn into a career in the public eye. Using his military experience to advise on security matters, in 1984 Netanyahu became Israel’s Ambassador to the UN and established himself as a champion of Israel on the international stage.

He returned to Israel and entered the world of politics; in 1993, he became the leader of the Likud party, and was elected prime minister in 1996, a position he has held for much of the following decades. Mark Coles profiles the longest-serving Israeli prime minister

(Photo: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference in Jerusalem, 19 March 2026, amid the US-Israel conflict with Iran. Credit: Ronen Zvulun//EPA)


SAT 20:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjh3xhr)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 20:06 The Arts Hour (w3ct6zvt)
Raoul Peck discusses his new George Orwell documentary

Nikki Bedi is joined by critic Arifa Akbar to discuss cultural highlights of the week:

Filmmaker Raoul Peck, Haiti’s former Minister of Culture talks about his new documentary exploring the enduring relevance of writer George Orwell, 2 + 2 = 5

Musicians Vanessa Williams and Joshua Idehen speak about their Catholic upbringings.

Scottish actor James McAvoy discusses his directorial debut, California Schemin’.

And Indian novelist Deepa Anappara reveals the historical inspiration for her new novel The Last of Earth about travellers in 19th century Tibet

Producer: Ciaran Bermingham

Photo Credit: Matthew Avignone


SAT 21:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjh417w)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 21:06 Newshour (w172zssn5g085th)
Yemen's Houthis launch missile attacks against Israel

The Iranian- backed Houthis in Yemen have launched another missile attack against Israel, less than twenty four hours after their first foray into the US-Israeli war on Iran. There are fears that the Iranian proxy's entry could further disrupt global shipping. Also in the programme: No Kings protests are taking place across the US against the Trump administration; and how a truck transporting twelve tonnes of chocolate bars belonging to Swiss food company Nestle disappeared en route between Italy and Poland.

(Photo: Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea announces a new attack on Israel via a televised statement, in Sana'a, Yemen. Credit: YAHYA ARHAB/EPA/Shutterstock)


SAT 22:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjh4500)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 22:06 The Newsroom (w172zwln3qx3k0d)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SAT 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82tj8d)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 22:32 This Is Africa (w3ct72fg)
JC Kibombo

How do you keep on making music when you’ve been forced to flee your home? That is the question JC Kibombo has faced.

Like other artists from Goma in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, rumba artist JC Kibombo left when the city was seized by M23 rebel fighters in January 2026.

In this episode, JC Kibombo tells This Is Africa about his music style, the challenges of recording songs in his new location, Beni, and the Amani music festival which has had to relocate but which is due to take place in Lubumbashi in April 2026.

As becomes clear, JC believes music has an important role to play in bringing people together and promoting peace.


SAT 23:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjh48r4)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 23:06 Not by the Playbook (w3ct8797)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:06 today]

SUNDAY 29 MARCH 2026

SUN 00:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjh4dh8)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 00:06 The Newsroom (w172zwln3qx3shn)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SUN 00:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82trrn)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 00:32 Inheritance: Samsung (w3ct94gt)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:32 on Saturday]


SUN 00:50 Sporting Witness (w3ct7zt5)
[Repeat of broadcast at 18:50 on Saturday]


SUN 02:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjh4j7d)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zwln3qx3x7s)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SUN 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82twhs)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 02:32 Health Check (w3ct6vkw)
Antimicrobial resistance in conflict zones

For the last few weeks, the news has been dominated by the situation in the Middle East. Joining Claudia Hammond is BBC Health Correspondent James Gallagher who speaks with Dr Antoine Abou Fayad, a microbiologist and medicinal chemist based in Beirut, Lebanon. He reveals that war, just like the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, provides the perfect storm to accelerate the spread of multidrug-resistant infections. And nobody is safe.

Following the recent meningitis B outbreak in the UK which has killed two people and led to the rollout of vaccines and preventative antibiotics, Claudia and James discuss how meningitis outbreaks are dealt with in the ‘meningitis belt’ - an area stretching across 26 sub-Saharan African countries and talk about a new vaccine aiming to stop deadly meningitis epidemics which has been confirmed to be safe following analysis of vaccination campaigns in Nigeria and Niger.

And India's snakebite crisis is killing near sixty thousand people every year, about six people every hour. Journalist Chhavi Sachdev joins us to discuss the progress of India’s National Action Plan to tackle snakebite envenoming which launched two years ago.
Also, what time of day do you exercise? Well, a new study using Fitbit-derived heart rate data has found that people who regularly exercised early in the morning were significantly less likely to have coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes or obesity compared with people who exercised later in the day.

Presenter: Claudia Hammond
Producer: Jonathan Blackwell


SUN 03:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjh4mzj)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 03:06 The Documentary (w3ct95dh)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Saturday]


SUN 04:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjh4rqn)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 04:06 From Our Own Correspondent (w3ct6tt0)
Cuba's power failures

Pascale Harter introduces correspondents' and writers' stories from Cuba, Lebanon, China, Iran and the Iranian diaspora.

More than ten million people were left in the dark this week in Cuba, as the third major electricity blackout in a month hit the island. As the US trade embargo and limits on fuel imports bite harder, daily life is becoming more and more difficult to navigate. In Havana, Will Grant heard Cubans newly willing to criticise their own government in public.

Following the US-Israel bombardment of Iran, and Hezbollah's attacks on Israel in response, Lebanon was quickly drawn into yet another war. For many Lebanese, much of their lives has been spent amid conflict or its aftermath of war. Carine Torbey reports from Beirut.

Although it's often co-operated with Iran, China has so far kept its distance from the war - a strategy perhaps designed to leverage longer-term advantages over the United States on the world stage. But global uncertainty still brings its own challenges for Beijing, says Laura Bicker.

The spring equinox recently marked the Persian New Year festival of Nowruz - though this time it wasn't much of celebration for many people, with Iran at war. Leila Molana Allen reflects on how Iranians inside the country - and abroad, as part of the huge Iranian global diaspora - have been trying to draw strength from their most ancient traditions.

Producer: Polly Hope
Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith
Production Co-ordinator: Katie Morrison

(Image: A woman holds a flashlight while walking with a man on a street during a blackout in Havana. Cuba Credit: Yamil LAGE / AFP via Getty Images)


SUN 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82v401)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 04:32 Unspun World with John Simpson (w3ct8yvx)
[Repeat of broadcast at 11:32 on Saturday]


SUN 05:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjh4wgs)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 05:06 The Newsroom (w172zwln3qx48h5)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SUN 05:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82v7r5)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 05:32 The Documentary (w3ct90jj)
From famine to hope: Women reshape Madagascar

Women and girls make up 60% of the world’s food insecure - yet they are also at the frontline of feeding their communities.

In southern Madagascar, forests no longer cast shade over the villages of Androy. Once celebrated as the “Green Island” for its extraordinary biodiversity, Madagascar is now known as the “Red Island”, its deep red soil exposed by decades of deforestation, drought and environmental collapse. The land has turned to dust, harvests have failed and famine has followed.

Lying off the south-eastern coast of Africa, Madagascar has been pushed into crisis by a deadly combination of climate change, poverty and environmental degradation. In 2021, more than 1.6 million people faced acute food insecurity, while nearly half of all children under five were chronically malnourished. Rainfall has become increasingly unpredictable, and when it does arrive it often comes as destructive cyclones, wiping out entire seasons of crops. Today, Madagascar is one of the most food insecure countries in the world.

Women and children are the most vulnerable, despite the fact that women produce around 80% of the country’s food yet own less than 10% of the land.

Journalist Georgie Styles travels from the war-like scenes and dust-choked streets of Ambovombe, the capital of the Androy region, to the windswept farms of the Tsimananada commune. Along the way, she meets women from across Madagascar who are defying famine and patriarchal norms, experimenting with agro-ecological farming and adapting to a rapidly changing climate, determined not just to survive, but to reclaim their land and their future.

Produced and Presented by Georgie Styles
Sound Design and Mix by Rowan Bishop
A 2 Degree’s West Production for BBC World Service


SUN 06:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjh506x)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 06:06 Weekend (w172zw8nfs4dkxw)
Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis vow to continue strikes on Israel

As the war in the Middle East intensifies, Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen threaten to play a bigger role. Pakistan hosts talks in Islamabad an attempt to de-escalate tensions on the month-old war.

Also in today's programme: Large protests have taken place across the US against the Trump administration; and, can films help viewers cope with news of death and destruction around the world?

Presenter Paul Henley is joined by Isabel Hilton, journalist and founder of the London-based "Dialogue Earth" - tackling environmental issues in China and across the world and Annette Idler, director of the global security programme at Oxford University's Pembroke College.

Photo:Houthi supporters rally in solidarity with Iran amid regional tensions, Sanaa, Yemen . 27 Mar 2026 Credit: Yahya Arhab/EPA


SUN 07:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjh53z1)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 07:06 Weekend (w172zw8nfs4dpp0)
Houthis vow more attacks as US troops arrive in Middle East

The Houthis in Yemen have vowed to keep targeting Israel in the coming days, after launching their first attacks since the war in the Middle East began a month ago.

Also in today's programme: After a court ruled that Meta failed to take adequate action to stop child exploitation on its platform, we'll ask if it will reduce the sexual abuse of children online; and, we learn about 'olfactory heritage' the cultural movement dedicated to increasing our awareness of the smells of the past.

Presenter Paul Henley is joined by Isabel Hilton, journalist and founder of the London-based 'Dialogue Earth' and Annette Idler, director of the global security programme at Oxford University's Pembroke College.

Photo: Houthi supporters rally in solidarity with Iran amid regional tensions, Sanaa, Yemen. 27 Mar 2026. Credit: Yahya Arhab/EPA


SUN 08:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjh57q5)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 08:06 Weekend (w172zw8nfs4dtf4)
US-Israeli airstrikes continue against Tehran

The Houthis in Yemen vow to keep targeting Israel in the coming days, after the group launched their first attacks since the war in the Middle East began a month ago.

Also in today's programme: a prominent Cuban-American tells us why's he's optimistic that the US blockade of Cuba will lead to stability for the communist country; and, a new film about the enduring relevance of the novelist, George Orwell's political nightmares. We'll hear from his son.

Presenter Paul Henley is joined by Isabel Hilton, journalist and founder of the London-based 'Dialogue Earth' and Annette Idler, director of the global security programme at Oxford University's Pembroke College.

Photo: An Iranian child injured in a strike is treated at Mofid Children's Hospital in Tehran Credit: Majid Asgaripour/Reuters)


SUN 09:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjh5cg9)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 09:06 From Our Own Correspondent (w3ct6tt0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:06 today]


SUN 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82vqqp)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 09:32 The Food Chain (w3ct7100)
How to have a stress-free family meal

Are your family meals calm and connected?

Or have they become dominated by battles with fussy kids or awkward teens?


Mum-of-one Ruth Alexander gets advice from experts who share the secrets to taking the stress out of family dinner and how to cope with fussy eaters. She finds out how we can make the table a place everyone wants to be at, tots, teens and adults alike.

Produced by Lexy O'Connor and Rumella Dasgupta.

Image: A small angry boy with blonde hair is holding a bowl of food and threatening to tip it on the floor as his parents' hands reach out to stop him. Credit:Getty/ skynesher


SUN 10:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjh5h6f)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 10:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct6xz3)
The Kindergarten makeover

How mums are helping transform early years education in Ghana.

Pre-school, or early years education, is seen by experts as providing an important foundation for children’s schooling and development. Ghana has long been a leader in this field, and has boasted a mandatory pre-school programme for almost twenty years. Yet the impact on children’s educational outcomes has been disappointing. Now the Ghanaian government is trying something new: a makeover of their Kindergarten provision to make it more fun and accessible to children. With the help of international NGO Lively Minds, they aim to wake the “sleeping giants” of education - the country’s mothers and fathers.

And we hear the poem 'Things I Love About People' - written by Hot Poet Liv Torc with your suggestions - following our recent programme 'The power of poetry'.

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
Reporter: Justice Baidoo
Producer: William Kremer
Editor: Jon Bithrey
Sound mix: Hal Haines

(Image: Parents and children at the Boffourkrom M/A KG school, near Sunyani, Ghana)


SUN 10:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82vvgt)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 10:32 The Fifth Floor (w3ct70vh)
Eighty years of the BBC Russian Service

The BBC's Russian service marks its 80th anniversary this week.  In eight decades, it has grown from a shortwave radio service to a multimedia operation reaching upwards of six million people per week, despite ongoing blocking in Russia. As a 14-year-old boy Oleg Boldyrev discovered BBC Russian on shortwave radio whilst camping with his parents in the woods. He eventually ended up working for the service as a journalist both in London and Moscow. He talks to The Fifth Floor about some of the service's most memorable moments and how the current authorities continue to try to stop their citizens getting access to BBC news.

 Indonesia's Makassar Strait is one of the world's busiest shipping routes, with 36,000 ships passing between the islands of Sulawesi and Kalimantan annually. Beneath the surface, the area was once home to thriving corals. But by the early 2000s, the ecosystem was under threat of dying out completely as a result of coral damage caused by ship collisions, anchors and fishing practices. BBC Indonesian's Lesthia Kertopati explains how a group of young, predominantly female divers is setting out to restore the coral.

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.

Presenter: Faranak Amidi.
Producer: Caroline Ferguson and Laura Thomas

(Photo: Faranak Amidi. Credit: Tricia Yourkevich)


SUN 11:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjh5lyk)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zwln3qx4zyy)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SUN 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82vz6y)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 11:32 Inheritance: Samsung (w3ct94gt)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:32 on Saturday]


SUN 11:50 More or Less (w3ct6w0f)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:50 on Saturday]


SUN 12:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjh5qpp)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 12:06 BBC Conversations (w3ct6rp3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:06 on Saturday]


SUN 12:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82w2z2)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 12:32 The Documentary (w3ct99qg)
[Repeat of broadcast at 19:32 on Saturday]


SUN 13:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjh5vft)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 13:06 Newshour (w172zssn5g0b00f)
Talks under way in Pakistan to end Middle East war

With talks under way in Islamabad to end the war in the Middle East, we’ll hear from Pakistan’s former ambassador to the US.

Also on the programme: we hear from Myanmar where the global energy crisis has left kilometres-long queues at petrol stations; and veteran Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgard reflects on his latest Oscar-winning film Sentimental Value.

(Photo: The USS Tripoli (LHA-7) amphibious assault ship enters the Singapore Strait, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, as seen from Singapore, March 17, 2026. REUTERS/Edgar Su)


SUN 14:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjh5z5y)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 14:06 The Climate Question (w3ct703f)
What's it like being a chief heat officer?

As climate change makes the world hotter, some cities have appointed so-called Chief Heat Officers to try to improve their response to record-breaking temperatures.

In 2024, Graihagh Jackson spoke to two women who have done the job in Freetown, Sierra Leone, and Monterrey, Mexico. What does their role involve? What solutions are out there? And do they get enough funding?

Plus, Umaru Fofana reports from Freetown on what happens when extreme heat grips the city. Umaru talks to locals forced to sleep outside because of the temperature, despite risks to their health and safety. And he also investigates a new piece of building design that might help people living in informal settlements.

Got a question or comment? email us at theclimatequestion@bbc.com

Presenter: Graihagh Jackson
Producer: Osman Iqbal
Sound engineer: James Beard and Tom Brignell
Editor: Simon Watts


SUN 14:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82wbgb)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 14:32 Happy News (w3ct6tzt)
The Happy Pod: The hug that stopped a bombing

A patient who stopped a bomb attack at a hospital has revealed he hugged the would-be-attacker to calm him down. Nathan Newby spent two hours talking to the armed man and persuaded him to abandon his plan. He received the George Medal for bravery from King Charles this week.

Also: how a viral video of pack of dogs has captured the attention of animal lovers across China and beyond.

England's Football Association has apologised to a women's team who defied its fifty-year ban on female players. The sport's governing body praised the Manchester Corinthians as trailblazers.

And: Millions of people are flocking to see Washington DC's beloved cherry trees in full bloom. The National Cherry Blossom Festival celebrates international friendship, as the trees were a gift from Tokyo over a hundred years ago.

Presenter: Holly Gibbs
Music composed by Iona Hampson

(Photo: Nathan Newby receiving the George Medal from King Charles. Credit: PA News)


SUN 15:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjh62y2)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 15:06 Sportsworld (w172ztr2h0rtq9j)
Live sport from around the world with news, interviews and analysis.


SUN 19:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjh6kxl)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zwln3qx5yxz)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SUN 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82wy5z)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 19:32 In the Studio (w3ct6vvx)
The Romeros

Brenda and John Romero are towering figures in modern game development - creators whose work has shaped how millions of players experience digital worlds. From their base in Galway on Ireland's west coast, the couple continue to push their craft into new territory.

For In the Studio, presenter and long‑time gaming fan Kurt Brookes follows the Romeros as they embark on another major project - an ambitious game that brings together a large team of artists, designers and developers. Kurt gains rare access to the creative heartbeat of the studio, witnessing the intensity, imagination and unpredictability that come with building a game at scale.

What drives two industry legends to keep reinventing themselves after decades at the forefront of their field? And what does it take to steer a project through an ever‑shifting landscape?

An intimate, behind‑the‑scenes portrait of creativity, resilience and the relentless pull of making something new.

Presenter: Kurt Brookes

Producers: Ashley Byrne and Kurt Brookes

A Made in Manchester production for the BBC World Service


SUN 20:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjh6pnq)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 20:06 Unexpected Elements (w3ct72xl)
[Repeat of broadcast at 00:06 on Saturday]


SUN 21:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjh6tdv)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 21:06 Newshour (w172zssn5g0byzg)
Pakistan hosts talks on ending Iran war

Pakistan's foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, has said that both Iran and the United States have expressed confidence in his country to facilitate talks on reducing tensions in the Middle East conflict.

Also in the programme: the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem is prevented from celebrating a private mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre; and a UN summit moves to protect 40 migratory species.

(A handout photo made available by the Pakistani Foreign Offices shows Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Pakistan's deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar during a meeting in Islamabad, Pakistan, 29 March 2026. CREDIT: PAKISTAN FOREIGN OFFICE/HANDOUT/EPA/Shutterstock)


SUN 22:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjh6y4z)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 22:06 The Climate Question (w3ct703f)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:06 today]


SUN 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82x9fc)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 22:32 Assignment (w3ct6rd2)
Nepal: 'Shot like enemies'

Nepal has just held a historic election — one that has toppled the old political guard and swept a new generation of leaders into power, many backed by Gen-Z voters.

The elections were called after young people took to the streets to protest against corruption and a political class which was slow to change.

But the protest of 8 September 2025 got out of hand and the police struggled to maintain order. It resulted in the death of 19 young protesters. The following day, more protests led to the fall of the government.

Drawing on more than 4000 videos filmed on the streets, testimony from police and protesters and an exclusive leaked record of police radio, Subina Shrestha reveals how Nepali authorities lost control of this protest. And ask - did Nepal’s police, army and politicians fail a generation desperate for change?

This was an investigation for BBC Eye and Assignment.

Producer: Charlotte McDonald
Sound engineer: Andy Fell
Production co-ordinator: Katie Morrison
Editor: Penny Murphy

(Photo: Gen Z protesters clash with police after breaking barricades outside the parliament house at the Federal Parliament in Kathmandu, Nepal, on 8 September, 2025. Credit: Safal Prakash Shrestha/Getty Images)


SUN 23:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjh71x3)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 23:06 The Newsroom (w172zwln3qx6fxh)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SUN 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82xf5h)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 23:32 The Fifth Floor (w3ct70vh)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:32 today]

MONDAY 30 MARCH 2026

MON 00:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjh75n7)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 00:06 From Our Own Correspondent (w3ct6tt0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:06 on Sunday]


MON 00:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82xjxm)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 00:32 BBC Inside Science (w3ct8ty5)
The future of space travel

Are we, at last, getting the spacefaring future we were promised back in the 1960s? This week, NASA has been outlining ambitions for a base on the Moon and, perhaps more surprisingly, the development of a new class of spacecraft powered by nuclear electric propulsion. Dr Hannah Sargeant at the University of Leicester explains the potential of nuclear-powered space travel, how it could take us further into the solar system than ever before, and why it has taken decades for the technology to reach this point.

Meanwhile, a lorry carrying a very unusual cargo has been making careful laps around the campus of CERN in Switzerland. This week science reporter Caroline Steel has been enthralled by the controlled transportation of antimatter. With insights from Dr Harry Cliff at the University of Cambridge, explore why trapping and moving antimatter is such a milestone for physicists.

Plus, rising beaver populations in the UK and the science of brain preservation. Caroline Steel joins Tom for her pick of the week’s science news.

Presenter: Tom Whipple

Producer: Harrison Lewis and Katie Tomsett

Production co-ordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth

Editor: Martin Smith


MON 01:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpj7zl)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 01:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqdzl4vp0v)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 01:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcc896m7z)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 01:32 Discovery (w3ct6sxh)
Superbugs: Resistance rising, part 1

The rapid spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria is already claiming lives and a far greater global crisis is on the horizon. In the first episode of a three-part series, reporter Roland Pease traces the rise of resistance since the discovery of penicillin, its consequences for patients, and how bacteria are getting widening the treatment gap.


MON 02:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpjcqq)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 02:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqdzl4vsrz)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 02:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcc896r03)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 02:32 CrowdScience (w3ct6sv7)
Could AI present CrowdScience?

CrowdScience listener Po wants to know whether AI could one day replace all human jobs. And while he requests that CrowdScience continues to be hosted by people, it made presenters Caroline Steel and Anand Jagatia wonder – could an AI really present this show?

To find out more about how AI models work and what they’re capable of, Caroline Steel speaks to AI journalist Alex Hern from The Economist. She creates an AI version of herself with Nicky Birch, Innovation Lead for the BBC’s generative AI program, and hears how the BBC is attempting to navigate the ethical use of this new technology.

Anand Jagatia speaks to phonetician Prof James Kirby about how synthetic AI voices have become so convincing, as well as why they still sound slightly unnatural. And Anand and Caroline ponder whether there could ever be a place for AI presenters on the airwaves.

Presenters: Caroline Steel and Anand Jagatia

Producer: Anand Jagatia

Additional production: Lorna Stewart

Editor: Ben Motley

(Photo: Mirror image of presenter Caroline holding microphone Credit: BBC)


MON 03:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpjhgv)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 03:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct6xz3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:06 on Sunday]


MON 03:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcc896vr7)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 03:32 The Fifth Floor (w3ct70vh)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:32 on Sunday]


MON 04:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpjm6z)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 04:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqdzl4w187)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 04:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcc896zhc)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 04:32 The Conversation (w3ct99n6)
My image was used without my consent

From “deepfakes” to “stealth filming”, women around the world are having their image stolen and shared online. Datshiane Navanayagam speaks to two women tackling this problem.

Uma Subramanian works for an Indian helpline called Meri Trustline, run by RATI Foundation, which offers help for women whose image has been used.

Kirana Ayuningtyas had her image digitally manipulated and shared online. She uses her social media profile, @k.for.kirana, to help other women in Indonesia.

Warning: this programme contains details that some listeners may find disturbing.

Producers: Rebecca Moore and Hannah Sander

(Image: (L) Uma Subramanian, credit Sanghamitra SV. (R) Kirana Ayuningtyas, credit Kirana Ayuningtyas.)


MON 05:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpjqz3)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 05:06 Newsday (w1730c189bd3t4v)
Trump says he is considering seizing Iran's Kharg Island

Donald Trump has said he wants to "take" Iran's oil. Speaking to reporters on board the plane, Trump said: "But we've had regime change if you look already because the one regime was decimated, destroyed, they're all dead". He also said he believes Iran is likely to make a deal with the US.

A month into the Iran War, and many Americans are  beginning to ask when will it be over - we hear a special report from the US State of Alabama.

(Photo: US President Donald Trump talks to members of the media aboard Air Force One. Credit: Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters)


MON 06:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpjvq7)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 06:06 Newsday (w1730c189bd3xwz)
Trump says US could seize Iran's key oil terminal on Kharg Island

President Trump says that negotiations with Iran are going 'extremely well' and that a deal could be reached with Iran "very soon" as thousands of US ground troops head to the Middle East.

Could the US seize key Iranian islands or conduct coastal raids - and what would the American public make of that... We'll hear from an American veteran.

Mr Trump added that Iran gave '20 big boats of oil' starting from tomorrow morning as oil prices continue to rise - Nick Marsh on our Singapore Business Desk will have more on that.

And despite an ongoing civil war and military consolidating power - Myanmar will soon choose a new president - we'll bring you the latest on that, but first this news.

(Photo: A handout satellite image made available by Copernicus, the European Union's Earth Observation Programme n 14 March 2026 shows Kharg island; Credit: EPA/Shutterstock)


MON 07:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpjzgc)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 07:06 Newsday (w1730c189bd41n3)
Donald Trump says he could 'take the oil in Iran'

Thousands of US marines are in the region, with special forces and paratroopers on the way. The US administration is making it known the president is considering anything from a raid on Iran’s oil export terminal Kharg Island to an audacious, but likely implausible, operation to seize its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, which Trump calls Iran’s "nuclear dust".

Speaking on Air Force One last night, he said Iran was ready to hand it over and if not, it would not have a country anymore.

A month into the Iran War, and many Americans are  beginning to ask when will it be over - for some in Alabama the support for the war is still there.

(Photo: US President Donald Trump talks to members of the media aboard Air Force One en route to Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, US., 29 March, 2026. Credit: Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters)


MON 08:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpk36h)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 08:06 The Interview (w3ct8kkz)
Mohammed Idris, Nigeria’s Information Minister: Stopping militant attacks

“I don't think they failed. I think that more work needs to be done. Nigerian security agencies are working around the clock to ensure that this does not happen again. We don't want to see people being attacked, we don't to see people denied sleep as a result of the activities of these criminals and religious extremists.”

Victoria Uwonkunda speaks to Mohammed Idris, Nigeria’s Information Minister, about renewed concerns over security following a wave of deadly suicide bombings in the country’s north-east, which killed more than 20 people and injured more than 100.

The violence has raised fresh questions about whether the authorities can prevent such attacks.

Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country and one of its largest economies, but it faces pressing challenges. From tackling brain drain and creating opportunities for a young and fast-growing population, to managing its role as a major oil producer in an uncertain global economy.

The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC, including episodes with Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky, and Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of the UN. 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: Victoria Uwonkunda
Producers: Lucy Sheppard 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: Mohammed Idris Credit: REUTERS)


MON 08:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcc897ggw)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct8gfk)
After Liberation Day: Who is footing the tariffs bill?

For nearly 12 months, a raft of import duties - tariffs - have made it much more expensive to ship consumer goods into the United States. They have shaken up global trade and according to the Federal Reserve, significantly raised inflation. But who is really footing the bill for all of them?

To get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Ed Butler
Producers: Rebecca Smyllie and Craig Henderson

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.

(Photo: US President Donald Trump delivers remarks on reciprocal tariffs as US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick holds a chart during a Make America Wealthy Again event at the White House, Washington DC, 2 April 2025. Credit: Getty Images)


MON 08:50 Witness History (w3ct8r32)
Echo and the elephants

In 1972, the world’s longest-running study of wild elephants was first launched in Kenya, making a star of one of its subjects – Echo.

For decades, the Amboseli Elephant Research Project followed Echo and the rest of the park’s population to learn more about their behaviour, communication and social bonds.

And in 1990, when the project began to attract wider attention, a documentary TV crew asked to film one of the groups. It was the start of Echo’s life in front of the camera.

The grand old matriarch would help raise four generations of her family, protecting them from attacks by lions, conflicts with local farmers, and the effects of famine.

Dr Cynthia Moss, who set up the project, tells Jane Wilkinson about the highs and lows of following Echo and the elephants.

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: Echo in the Amboseli National Park, Kenya,1996. Credit: Carla Signorini/Alamy)


MON 09:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpk6ym)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 09:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqdzl4wmzw)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 09:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcc897l70)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 09:32 CrowdScience (w3ct6sv7)
[Repeat of broadcast at 02:32 today]


MON 10:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpkbpr)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 10:06 The History Hour (w3ct71xb)
A papal visit and German reunification

Max Pearson presents a collection of the week's Witness History interviews from the BBC World Service. Our guest is Paulina Guzik, International editor with the Catholic wire service, OSV News.

We start in 1986 when Pope John Paul II visited New Zealand.

Then, we hear about the reunification of Germany in 1989 from a key political advisor.

How one Maasai community overcame a devastating drought in 2013.

The recollections of one of the first people to walk the entire length of the Great Wall of China in 1984.

Next, the first official penalty shootout in 1970 that changed football forever.

Finally, we look at an essay published in 1999 that was an unfiltered look into restaurant kitchen culture.

Contributors:

Michael Jarka - a man who met Pope John Paul II.

Paulina Guzik - OSV News.

Joachim Bitterlich - a key advisor to Chancellor Helmut Kohl.

Dalmas Tiampati - founder of Ildalalekutuk Maasai Action for Development.

Yaohui Dong - one of the first to walk the entire length of the Great Wall of China.

Frankie Banks - former Hull City player.

Martyn Kelly - a football fan.

Philip Lajaunie - Anthony Bourdain's former boss at Les Halles restaurant, New York.

(Photo: Pope John Paul II blesses the crowd during Mass at Auckland Domain. Credit: Reuters/Luciano Mellace)


MON 11:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpkgfw)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 11:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqdzl4wwh4)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 11:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcc897tq8)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct8mbs)
Is the Iran war helping Putin?

With the world’s attention on the war in Iran, Vladimir Putin appears to be stepping up Russia’s war in Ukraine. Last week saw the biggest Russian drone attack since the beginning of the war.

Some Ukrainians believe Putin is doing this precisely because the world is looking the other way. Russia also appears to be benefiting from the Iran war in other ways – oil prices have skyrocketed at the same time as Trump has loosened sanctions on Russian oil. On the other hand, it’s been a difficult few months for Russian allies in Tehran, Caracas and Havana.

The author, academic and Russia analyst Mark Galeotti joins us to examine the ways in which the war in Iran could help or hinder Putin.

Apply for Castfest tickets: https://www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/shows/castfest-2026
Email us: theglobalstory@bbc.com

Producers: Xandra Ellin and Cat Farnsworth
Executive producer: James Shield
Sound engineer: Travis Evans
Senior news editor: China Collins

(Photo: Russian President Vladimir Putin, in Russia, 27 March. Credit: Gavriil Grigorov/EPA/Shutterstock)


MON 12:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpkl60)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 12:06 Outlook (w3ct8hx1)
I managed 'Britain's worst football team' to chase my dream

British-Asian football manager, Shadab Iftikhar grew up in Preston in northern England, completely obsessed by the beautiful game. Introduced to it by his older brother, he spent his childhood playing in the streets, analysing live matches and testing his tactical ideas on the popular computer game, Football Manager.

While his playing abilities were limited, Shadab soon realised his sporting talents lay in calling the shots from the sidelines and, inspired by his highly-decorated managerial icon, Rafa Benitez, Shadab dreamed of becoming a football manager himself. It was a lofty ambition considering his South Asian heritage, a group that remains significantly under‑represented in the elite game in England, particularly in coaching roles. But Shadab’s unwavering determination and self‑belief set him on a mission to rival the best in the business. But it wasn't a straight road.

At 17, he created his own opportunities by setting up clubs and approaching professional teams around the world to gain experience. Nothing seemed to work, until an encounter with former Wigan Athletic manager Roberto Martinez. This led to a scouting role and Shadab’s first break into the professional game. His whirlwind journey has since taken him to coaching and manager­ial positions in countries far from home, including Pakistan, Bhutan and Mongolia, as well as to the 2022 World Cup with Belgium, the world’s top-ranked team at the time. He even attempted to rescue the infamous Fort William FC, once described as the worst team in Britain. Shadab's documentary with Fort William FC is called Fight at the Fort

Abandoned by his parents and placed in an orphanage at the age of seven, Robert Sundholm began street‑hustling for money and taking on odd jobs to survive. While working as a janitor at 60, he picked up a paintbrush and discovered a natural talent for art. Splitting his time between mopping floors and sketching, Robert’s work was noticed in 2009 by attorney and artist Daniel Belardinelli. Impressed by his raw ability, Daniel helped curate Robert’s first exhibition and launch a late‑blooming career. This interview was first broadcast in 2017

Presenter: Jo Fidgen
Producer: Tommy Dixon

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

(Photo: Shadab Iftikhar standing in front of a mountainous scenery)


MON 12:50 Witness History (w3ct8r32)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


MON 13:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpkpy4)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 13:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqdzl4x3zd)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 13:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcc89826j)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 13:32 The Conversation (w3ct99n6)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


MON 14:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpktp8)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 14:06 Newshour (w1730bmxxvrlmxb)
Trump renews threats on Iranian infrastructure

President Trump has posted on social media another warning that he would, in his words, 'obliterate' Kharg island and Iran's power plants, if the Strait of Hormuz is not immediately reopened to allow oil and gas tankers to travel freely.

Also on the programme: how are countries around the world responding to the price of oil reaching $116 a barrel? And paintings by Renoir, Cezanne and Matisse have been stolen from a museum in Italy. Is there's even a market for this type of stolen art?

(Picture: President Trump on Air Force One. Credit: Reuters)


MON 15:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpkyfd)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 15:06 The Interview (w3ct8kkz)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


MON 15:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcc8989ps)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 15:32 Business Daily (w3ct8gfk)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:32 today]


MON 15:50 World Business Express (w3ct8d31)
Why is the cost of diesel rising faster than other fuels?

We look at why the cost of diesel has risen nearly 100% since the start of the war in Iran according to ICE.

Plus Sarah Rogers finds out why the cost of subscriptions could rise after the World Trade Organisation failed to reach a deal on ecommerce tariffs.

And the growing market for fast fashion in India.


MON 16:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpl25j)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 16:06 Outside Source (w1730c68vvc8r19)
Trump threatens to 'obliterate' Iran's energy facilities

President Trump says he's negotiating with the Iranian leadership to end the war, but has renewed threats to hit its energy infrastructure. We hear from Iranians inside the country and get the latest from our correspondents.

As the war rages on, we've been speaking to Americans and the Iranian diaspora to get their reactions to the war. We hear some messages from them.

We also hear from oil traders and stockbrokers about how volatile markets are affecting their day-to-day work.

The Lebanese army says one of its soldiers has been killed in an Israeli strike on a checkpoint in the south of the country. Our correspondent in Beirut gives details.

The Israeli military says it is withdrawing an entire battalion from the occupied West Bank after soldiers detained and assaulted a CNN television crew last week. Our newsroom reporter explains.

A sanctioned Russian oil tanker has arrived in Cuban waters today, after weeks of an energy crisis on the communist island. We get details from our reporter.

Presenter: Rahul Tandon

(Photo: President Donald Trump talks to members of the media aboard Air Force One en route to Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, US, 29 March, 2026. Credit: Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters)


MON 17:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpl5xn)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 17:06 Outside Source (w1730c68vvc8vsf)
What is Nasa's Artemis II mission?

Nasa's Artemis II mission will send four astronauts on the first crewed journey around the Moon in more than 50 years. The voyage is set to launch on 1 April from Florida. For the next two weeks — with new episodes every day — we’ll be running a special series from our space podcast, 13 Minutes Presents: Artemis Two.

President Trump says he's negotiating with the Iranian leadership to end the war, but has renewed threats to hit its energy infrastructure. We hear from Iranians inside the country and look at the military options President Trump may be considering.

As the war rages on, we've been speaking to Americans and the Iranian diaspora to get their reactions to the war. We hear some messages from them.

Presenter: Rahul Tandon.

(Photo: The Artemis II crew, (L-R), mission specialist Jeremy Hansen of CSA (Canadian Space Agency), mission specialist Christina Koch, commander Reid Wiseman and pilot Victor Glover stand together after arriving at the Launch and Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Titusville, Florida, USA, 27 March 2026. Credit:CRISTOBAL HERRERA-ULASHKEVICH/EPA)


MON 18:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpl9ns)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 18:06 Outlook (w3ct8hx1)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 today]


MON 18:50 Witness History (w3ct8r32)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


MON 19:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjplfdx)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 19:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqdzl4xvg5)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 19:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcc898sp9)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct8rjm)
2026/03/30 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 (w1730nkjxjplk51)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 20:06 From Our Own Correspondent (w3ct6tt0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:06 on Sunday]


MON 20:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcc898xff)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 20:32 Discovery (w3ct8js4)
Superbugs: Resistance rising, part 2

The rapid spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria is already claiming lives and a far greater global crisis is on the horizon.

In this three part series for Discovery, reporter Roland Pease traces how we reached this point, uncovers the forces driving resistance ever faster, and meets the scientists racing to outpace evolving superbugs before our lifesaving medicines fail for good.

Episode 2 - The chemists' challenge. With all the low-hanging fruit in the antibiotic search space gone, chemists are having to work harder and be cleverer to top up the antibiotic pipeline. The chances of finding even one successful compound in a working life are low, but can new approaches like AI or genetics make the difference?


MON 21:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjplnx5)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 21:06 Newshour (w1730bmxxvrmh47)
US President says he's still talking to Iran

President Trump says he's negotiating with Iran's leadership to end the war, while again threatening to strike its energy infrastructure. Iran has dismissed American demands as excessive and 'illogical'. We hear from a former US army officer on President Trump's military options.

Also in the programme: Israel's parliament passes a new law introducing the death penalty for terrorists. A critic of the law tells us it's framed just to target Palestinians; and a Sex Pistol celebrates the 50th anniversary of punk rock.

(Photo: A member of the Iranian security forces stands guard next to a banner honouring former Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei in Tehran on 30 March 2026. Credit: ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH/EPA/Shutterstock)


MON 22:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjplsn9)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 22:06 The Interview (w3ct8kkz)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


MON 22:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcc8994xp)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 22:32 The Conversation (w3ct99n6)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


MON 23:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjplxdf)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 23:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqdzl4ybfp)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 23:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcc8998nt)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 23:32 World Business Report (w3ct8fmq)
Kharg Island: What role does it play in Iran’s economy?

The White House deflects questions about US threat to hit Iranian energy infrastructure. President Trump expects Iran to make a deal to end the war.

He has said he'd strike targets including electricity plants, and Iran's main oil-exporting site, Kharg Island.

Presenter Andrew Peach examines what this all means for Iran and its neighbours in the Middle East.

(Photo: A handout satellite image made available by Copernicus, the European Union's Earth Observation Programme, on 14 March 2026 shows Kharg island, Iran, 07 March 2026. Credit: European Union Copernicus Sentinel-2 IMAGERY HANDOUT/EPA/Shutterstock)

TUESDAY 31 MARCH 2026

TUE 00:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpm14k)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 00:06 The History Hour (w3ct71xb)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:06 on Monday]


TUE 01:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpm4wp)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 01:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqdzl4ykxy)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 01:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcc899j52)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 01:32 The Global Story (w3ct8mbs)
[Repeat of broadcast at 11:32 on Monday]


TUE 02:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpm8mt)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 02:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqdzl4ypp2)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 02:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcc899mx6)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 02:32 Assignment (w3ct8h0x)
India’s shadow children

Stephanie was brought up in France in a French family, but her birth parents are Indian – she is an intercountry adoptee. In the 1980s and 1990s thousands of babies, like Stephanie, were adopted from India into white, western families. Now, inter-country adoption is more regulated, and there is a recognition that this is a practice open to abuse – several countries have banned it altogether.

In France, Stephanie grew up very happily with her adoptive mum and dad. But after they both died, she began to think more about her origins. And she experienced a desire to reconnect with her motherland. Stephanie journeys into rural India in the state of Maharashtra with journalist, Tanya Datta. Together they attempt to find Stephanie’s birth mother. Along the way, Stephanie discovers she is not an ‘absolutely abandoned and destitute child’ found on the roadside as she has been led to believe her whole life, but was born to an unmarried teenager. Nearly 40 years later, will she find that 50-something woman?

Producer/presenter: Tanya Datta
Producer in London:Linda Pressly
Sound engineer: James Beard
Editor: Penny Murphy

(Photo: Stephanie as a baby with her adoptive father. Credit: Stephanie)


TUE 03:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpmdcy)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 03:06 Outlook (w3ct8hx1)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Monday]


TUE 03:50 Witness History (w3ct8r32)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 on Monday]


TUE 04:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpmj42)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 04:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqdzl4yy5b)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 04:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcc899wdg)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 04:32 In the Studio (w3ct8l51)
Kubra Khademi: Transformimg memory, exile and defiance into art

On a busy street in Kabul, a young artist steps into traffic wearing a steel sculpture she has shaped around her breasts and buttocks. She calls the piece Armour. Within minutes, a crowd gathers. Days later, death threats force her to flee the country.

Today, Afghan artist Kubra Khademi lives in exile in France, creating bold multidisciplinary works that confront patriarchy while reclaiming the female body as a site of power, sexuality and resistance. Drawing on personal history and the cultures she grew up in across Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan, her art blends performance, painting and symbolism to challenge deeply rooted taboos around women’s bodies.

For her latest series, Origin of the Universe, Khademi paints surreal scenes of women giving birth to animals — images inspired by a story her grandmother once told her about strength and survival.

Following her creative process, Sahar Zand joins Khademi in her studio as she paints one of the works, revealing how memory, exile and defiance are transformed into art.


TUE 05:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpmmw6)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 05:06 Newsday (w1730c189bd6q1y)
Israeli Prime Minister says war is "beyond halfway point"

The Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has said that more than half of his military aims over Iran have been achieved. He was speaking on US television after Donald Trump made renewed threats against Iran.

We go to India to look at what a sharp drop in natural gas supplies from the Gulf has meant for people there. Asia is by far the world's largest consumer of the fuel and takes more than 80 percent of Qatar's exports.

And we look at what caused the building collapse in Ghana during a church service this week that killed three people. Emergency teams are still clearing the scene in the capital Ghana.

Presenters: Rob Young and Catherine Byaruhanga.

(Photo: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Credit: Ronen Zvulun/Reuters).


TUE 06:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpmrmb)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 06:06 Newsday (w1730c189bd6tt2)
Israel says more than half of country's military aims in Iran achieved

The Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has said that more than half of his military aims over Iran have been achieved. He was speaking on US television after Donald Trump made renewed threats against Iran. We speak to someone familiar with the American war plans.

Israel has launched a new wave of attacks on Lebanon, damaging and destroying buildings in the village of Hanouiyeh, as well as in Beirut. We speak to a mother who has fled her home with her two daughters.

And the Artemis II mission is set to take to the skies for a lunar flyby on Wednesday. The first crewed mission to the Moon in more than 50 years.

Presenters: Rob Young and Catherine Byaruhanga.

(Photo: Israeli Prime MInister Benjamin Netanyahu. Credit: Amir Cohen/ Reuters).


TUE 07:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpmwcg)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 07:06 Newsday (w1730c189bd6yk6)
Netanyahu says more than half of war objectives against Iran achieved

The Israeli prime minister says his country has achieved more than half of its military objectives against Iran but refuses to give a an end date to this war.
Meanwhile Donald Trump has issued new threats to "obliterate" Iran's power plants, oil wells and "possibly" water desalination plants if a deal is not reached soon. We speak to someone familiar with the American war plans.

Ghana sacks its football coach with only months to go before the World Cup.

Korean Air says it is moving into emergency management mode to buffer the impact of surging jet fuel costs as the global economy worsens.

And the Artemis II mission is set to take to the skies for a lunar flyby on Wednesday. The first crewed mission to the Moon in more than 50 years.

Presenters: Rob Young and Catherine Byaruhanga

(Photo: US President Trump meets Israeli PM. Credit: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)


TUE 08:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpn03l)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 08:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct8t0j)
Empowering the LGBT community

**This episode contains offensive language

How two projects in Kenya and Spain are helping LGBT communities.

Setting up a business can be tricky.  There can be many hurdles including lack of access to capital and other unexpected costs.  The challenges are particularly acute for LGBT entrepreneurs in Kenya who can be denied bank loans and face possible extortion. We meet a group of LGBT entrepreneurs who have created a dedicated fund for the community to help get businesses off the ground.
 
We also visit the site of a new retirement home for LGBT people funded by Madrid’s regional government. The hope is that the home located in the Spanish capital and being set up by the Fundacion 26 de Diciembre will give residents the chance to live their lives with a greater sense of freedom and also a chance to find community. And we hear about a similar project in Sweden.

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: Alex Collins
Reporters: Michael Kaloki and Esperanza Escribano
Editor: Jon Bithrey
Sound mix: Andrew Mills

(Image: Carolina outside a building in Madrid that's being converted into a care home, credit Isa Salcedo, Fundacion 26 de Diciembre)


TUE 08:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcc89bccz)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct8gql)
The whistleblower who exposed a massive tax scam

We hear from a man who was once a high-earning, high flyer in the finance industry. But, after he blew the whistle on a major financial scandal, he found himself unemployable and being sued for every cent he owned. Jas Bains tells us his story.

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

Producer/presenter: Theo Leggett

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.

(Photo: Jas Bains at the height of his career. Credit: Jas Bains)


TUE 08:50 Witness History (w3ct985m)
The discovery of the Terra Nova shipwreck

In 2012, a team of researchers discovered one of the most famous polar shipwrecks - the Terra Nova.

The ship was famous for carrying Britain’s doomed explorers in their race to reach the South Pole more than a century ago.

It was later sunk - laying unseen on the seabed for decades.

Oceanographer Leighton Rolley tells Megan Jones how he and the rest of his crew used sound waves to find the hidden wreck.

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: The SS Terra Nova, Antarctica 1912. Credit: Royal Geographical Society/Getty Images)


TUE 09:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpn3vq)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 09:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqdzl4zjwz)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 09:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcc89bh43)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 09:32 Assignment (w3ct8h0x)
[Repeat of broadcast at 02:32 today]


TUE 10:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpn7lv)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 10:06 The Arts Hour (w3ct6zvt)
[Repeat of broadcast at 20:06 on Saturday]


TUE 11:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpncbz)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 11:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqdzl4zsd7)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 11:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcc89bqmc)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct8mh9)
Has Trump pushed Cuba to the brink of collapse?

While still engaged in a war with Iran, Donald Trump’s attention is also on Havana. The US president suggested last week that he expects to soon have the “honour” of “taking Cuba, in some form”. He added “Whether I free it, take it—I think I can do anything I want with it.”

The Trump administration has tightened a longstanding US economic embargo on the Caribbean island, and created a near-total fuel blockade. Cuba was already in the grip of a severe economic crisis, and while a Russian oil tanker has recently reached the island, the blockade has pushed the country to the brink of collapse.

We speak to the BBC’s Will Grant, who has recently returned from the island, to discuss what Trump wants in Cuba, and whether the Cuban Revolution can survive its biggest test in decades.


Producers: Aron Keller and Viv Jones

Executive producer: Penny Murphy

Sound engineer: Travis Evans

Senior news editor: China Collins


Photo: Havana street during a blackout. Credit: Ernesto Mastrascusa/EPA/Shutterstock


TUE 12:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpnh33)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 12:06 Outlook (w3ct8jbl)
How I found the community I love

Durell Knights always knew he was different, he remembers playing with dolls and being teased by boys on the streets of his New York neighbourhood but it wasn’t easy for him to admit, even to himself, that he was gay. He joined the US army, where homosexuality was banned, as a teenager. He avoided questions by pretending to have a young son. Back in New York he fell into drug addiction and crime. What could have been a prison sentence was replaced with a stint in rehab. And it was while he was doing community work, as part of that sentence, that he started to turn his life around. Along with the Gay Men’s Health Crisis, GMHC Durell now runs support groups for the men his community nearly lost.

At the age of 26, Livey Van Wyk became the youngest person ever to be elected as mayor in Namibia. It was an achievement made all the more remarkable given her journey to that point. When she was 17 years old and still at school, Livey discovered she was pregnant. Soon after, she was diagnosed as HIV positive – something she and her family considered, mistakenly, to be a death sentence. She was stigmatised for her condition and was even physically attacked by her townspeople. But as Livey learned more about the disease, she became determined to end the stigma around it. She set out to educate her community and was eventually elected mayor, as she told Jo Fidgen in 2016.

Presenter: Asya Fouks
Producer: Julian Siddle

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

(Photo: Durell Knights, smiling at the camera looking relaxed and comfortable. Credit Durell Knights)


TUE 12:50 Witness History (w3ct985m)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


TUE 13:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpnlv7)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 13:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqdzl500wh)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 13:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcc89bz3m)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 13:32 In the Studio (w3ct8l51)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


TUE 14:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpnqlc)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 14:06 Newshour (w1730bmxxvrpjtf)
President Trump urges countries to 'go get their own oil' from the Strait of Hormuz

We look at America's goals in the war with Iran, and we ask what Israel's strategy is, as regards the conflict in Iran and Lebanon.

Also on the programme: the latest report on sexual violence directed at women and girls in Sudan; and the world's longest running international music competition, Eurovision heads to Asia.

(Image: Illustration shows 3D-printed miniature model depicting US President Donald Trump pointing at a map showing the Strait of Hormuz. Credit: Dado Ruvic/Reuters)


TUE 15:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpnvbh)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 15:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct8t0j)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


TUE 15:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcc89c6lw)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 15:32 Business Daily (w3ct8gql)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:32 today]


TUE 15:50 World Business Express (w3ct8d7k)
Why Sri Lanka is raising electricity prices for most households

The Sri Lankan government has increased electricity prices for most households by more than 8% as fuel costs surge due to the Iran conflict.

Plus, Bisi Adebayo looks at the impact the war is having on jet fuel costs and how British and American food giants, Unilever and McCormick, have agreed a deal to combine parts of their food businesses.


TUE 16:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpnz2m)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 16:06 Outside Source (w1730c68vvccmyd)
Trump tells allies to 'go get your own oil' from the Strait of Hormuz

US President Donald Trump has lashed out at the UK and other countries, telling them to "go get your own oil" from the Strait of Hormuz. He wrote on social media: "You'll have to start learning how to fight for yourself, the USA won't be there to help you anymore, just like you weren't there for us." Our correspondents explain more.

Meanwhile, a Kuwaiti oil tanker carrying millions of barrels of crude oil has been hit near Dubai, with officials blaming Iran for the strike. We speak to representatives of other sailors stranded in the Gulf.

And Céline Dion has announced her return to the stage, four years after she was diagnosed with an incurable condition that affected her singing voice and her ability to walk. We speak to people with Stiff Person Syndrome.

Presenter: Rahul Tandon

(Photo: US President Donald Trump talks to members of the media aboard Air Force One en route to Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, US, 29 March, 2026. Credit: Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters)


TUE 17:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpp2tr)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 17:06 Outside Source (w1730c68vvccrpj)
US says 'upcoming days will be decisive' in Iran war

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth says the "upcoming days will be decisive" and that more vessels are travelling through the Strait of Hormuz. We speak to our correspondent.

A new report by the medical charity MSF says rape and sexual violence remain part of everyday life in areas of Sudan. Our correspondent explains.

And Ghana have sacked manager Otto Addo, 72 days before the start of this summer's World Cup. We speak to sports journalists there.

Presenter: Rahul Tandon

(Photo: US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth speaks during a briefing held with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine (not pictured), at the Pentagon in Washington DC, 31 March, 2026. Credit: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)


TUE 18:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpp6kw)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 18:06 Outlook (w3ct8jbl)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 today]


TUE 18:50 Witness History (w3ct985m)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


TUE 19:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjppbb0)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 19:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqdzl50rc8)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 19:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcc89cpld)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct8rp4)
2026/03/31 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 (w1730nkjxjppg24)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 20:06 Assignment (w3ct8h0x)
[Repeat of broadcast at 02:32 today]


TUE 20:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcc89ctbj)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 20:32 Tech Life (w3ct8jxn)
Putting polluters in court

Climate change is making devastating extreme weather more common. Tech Life's Yasmin Morgan-Griffiths explores the science that could help communities take polluters to court.

Also this week: we look at whether the boom in AI is causing a boom in electronic waste. And as astronauts head back to the Moon, we meet a veteran NASA space robot that's on a mission to return home.

Presenter: Chris Vallance
Producer: Tom Quinn

(Photo: Smoke billows from a chimney at a coal-fired power station in Eastern Europe. The light of the sun is obscured by the dense dark smoke clouds. Credit: Reuters)


TUE 21:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjppkt8)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 21:06 Newshour (w1730bmxxvrqd1b)
President Trump hits out at US allies over Iran

President Trump hits out at US allies over Iran -- telling them to grow a backbone and go and get the oil stuck in the Strait of Hormuz. His Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth then joins the fray. Do they have a point?

Also in the programme: has the European Union reached breaking point with Israel? A NASA scientist on a huge week for space travel; and wolf bites woman on a German city street - we hear the case for the defence.

(IMAGE: 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 U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in United Arab Emirates, March 11, 2026 / CREDIT: REUTERS/Stringer//File Photo)


TUE 22:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpppkd)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 22:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct8t0j)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


TUE 22:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcc89d1ts)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 22:32 In the Studio (w3ct8l51)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


TUE 23:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjppt9j)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 23:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqdzl517bs)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 23:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcc89d5kx)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 23:32 World Business Report (w3ct8fs7)
Two of the biggest names in your kitchen could soon be joining forces

Unilever, the company behind brands like Hellmann’s and Knorr, has agreed to combine its food business with US spice and flavour giant McCormick & Company. What does it tell us about where big consumer brands are heading next?

Also, South Africa cuts fuel duties as the impact of the war in Iran feeds through to prices at the pump.

Leanna Byrne hears from a business person and our correspondent who has been out to witness the situation.

(Photo: Hellmann's, a brand of Unilever, is seen on display in a store in Manhattan, New York City, US, 24 March, 2022. Credit: Andrew Kelly/Reuters)

WEDNESDAY 01 APRIL 2026

WED 00:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjppy1n)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 00:06 The Arts Hour (w3ct6zvt)
[Repeat of broadcast at 20:06 on Saturday]


WED 01:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpq1ss)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 01:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqdzl51gv1)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 01:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcc89df25)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 01:32 The Global Story (w3ct8mh9)
[Repeat of broadcast at 11:32 on Tuesday]


WED 02:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpq5jx)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 02:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqdzl51ll5)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 02:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcc89djt9)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 02:32 The Climate Question (w3ct703f)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:06 on Sunday]


WED 03:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpq991)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 03:06 Outlook (w3ct8jbl)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Tuesday]


WED 03:50 Witness History (w3ct985m)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 on Tuesday]


WED 04:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpqf15)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 04:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqdzl51v2f)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 04:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcc89ds9k)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 04:32 Good Bad Billionaire (w3ct8c9f)
Arnold Schwarzenegger: Muscles, movies, money

How bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger went from Mr Universe to all-action cinematic superstar and billionaire investor.

BBC business editor Simon Jack and journalist Zing Tsjeng take us back to Schwarzenegger’s youth in post-war Austria and a childhood marked by poverty. Bodybuilding gave him a way out and he took it, going all the way to Hollywood. But he made even more money from investments than he did from acting. Schwarzenegger also had a fourth career as governor of California.

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, before asking the audience to decide if they are good, bad, or just billionaires.

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.

Audio for this episode was updated on 8th October 2025.


WED 05:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpqjs9)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 05:06 Newsday (w1730c189bd9lz1)
Trump says US will be leaving Iran "very soon"

Donald Trump has indicated he'll end hostilities with Iran soon, with or without a deal. He said the US had already accomplished all its war aims and Iran was no longer putting up a fight. We discuss this with a former US Chief of Staff of Special Operations at United States Central Command.

A tanker has been hit by an "unknown projectile" off the coast of Qatar's capital of Doha, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operation.

And NASA's Artemis II is expected to launch into space for its mission to the moon today. We hear from Jeremy Hansen, who will be the first Canadian to go to the moon as one of the crew members.

Presenters: James Copnall and Catherine Byaruhanga.

(Photo: US President Donald Trump attends the signing ceremony for an executive order. Credit: Evan Vucci/Reuters).


WED 06:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpqnjf)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 06:06 Newsday (w1730c189bd9qq5)
Trump says war in Iran will end in "two or three weeks"

Donald Trump has indicated he'll end hostilities with Iran soon, with or without a deal. He said the US had already accomplished all its war aims and Iran was no longer putting up a fight. We look at where this leaves Israel in its war against Iran and the Iranian backed group Hezbollah in Lebanon.

We take a closer look at how the conflict is impacting energy supplies in Asia.

And NASA's Artemis II is expected to launch into space for its mission to the moon today. We speak to a chief exploration scientist at NASA.

Presenters: James Copnall and Catherine Byaruhanga.

(Photo: US President Donald Trump. Credit: Aaron Schwartz/EPA).


WED 07:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpqs8k)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 07:06 Newsday (w1730c189bd9vg9)
Trump says war with Iran could end in coming weeks

Donald Trump has said the United States could end its war against Iran in two or three weeks, whether "we have a deal or not". So why are US ground troops still congregating in the Middle East. We speak to a former American special forces colonel.

Meanwhile the Iranian President has said his country would consider ending the war if it received guarantees against future attacks. Asian stock markets have surged on hopes that the conflict will end soon.

And the last countries to qualify for the Football World Cup have been decided. Ten African countries have made it to the tournament, who are they?

Presenters: James Copnall and Catherine Byaruhanga.

(Photo: President Donald Trump in Oval Office. Credit: Evan Vucci/Reuters)


WED 08:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpqx0p)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 08:06 The Interview (w3ct98gn)
Winnie Byanyima, head of UNAids: I am somebody who fights for social justice and gender equality

Winnie Byanyima, head of UNAids. has devoted her life to advancing human rights and equality, first in her home country Uganda, and then on the global stage: “We live in a complex world, a challenging world. I am somebody who fights for social justice and gender equality, and I continue to do so. It's maybe a tough environment, but I do not change my position. I don't alter it at all.”

Part of the pro-democracy movement in Uganda, she is now a critic of the country’s leadership and what she believes to be the wrongful arrest and detention of her husband Kizza Besigye.

And as the leader of a global organisation charged with co-ordinating the response to HIV Aids, she is having to weigh up funding cuts, a loss of trust in the UN and increasing global conflict.

The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC, including episodes with Joy Phumaphi of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance and artist Tracey Emin. 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: Catherine Byaruhanga
Producers: Clare Williamson and Osman Iqbal
Editor: Damon Rose

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

(Images: Winnie Byanyima Credit: Fabrice Coffrini/AFP)


WED 08:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcc89f892)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct98rp)
Afterlife: The business of celebrity legacies

We explore the growing industry built around the legacies of celebrities after their deaths. We hear from estate managers, the agents representing the deceased and from those reviving these stars in a market the ethics of which are still being debated.

To get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Sean Allsop

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: The premiere of "EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert" on the 9th of February 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. Credit: Getty Images)


WED 08:50 Witness History (w3ct987w)
New Nordic cuisine

In 2004, Danish food entrepreneur Claus Meyer launched the ‘Nordic Kitchen Manifesto’, kick-starting a revolution in Nordic cooking focused on local seasonal ingredients.

The new approach was most famously embodied by the Copenhagen restaurant Meyer founded, Noma, which was anointed the world’s best restaurant five times.

New Nordic cuisine is credited with shifting global dining away from the importation of products, and towards its core tenets - freshness, seasonality and localism. Claus Meyer speaks to 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: Plates of Nordic cuisine. Credit: Sergei Gapon/AFP)


WED 09:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpr0rt)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 09:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqdzl52ft2)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 09:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcc89fd16)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 09:32 The Climate Question (w3ct703f)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:06 on Sunday]


WED 10:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpr4hy)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 10:06 The Documentary (w3ct95dh)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Saturday]


WED 11:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpr882)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 11:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqdzl52p9b)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 11:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcc89fmjg)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct8mkk)
JD Vance’s Iran test

When Donald Trump was re-elected on a ‘no more wars’ promise, his vice-president was his staunchest ally, criticising previous US foreign interventions, most notably in Iraq, as well as the US’ recent financial support for Ukraine.

And yet, the vice-president, who has substantial MAGA support and is expected to run for the 2028 presidency, now finds himself among Trump’s team negotiating an end to the US-Israel war on Iran, a war he was reportedly skeptical of launching.

What tactics will Vance use to secure both the interests of the president abroad, and his own domestic popularity among MAGA supporters who do not support the war? BBC Washington correspondent Daniel Bush joins us to discuss.

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


WED 12:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjprd06)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 12:06 Outlook (w3ct8jkc)
I started throat singing in the shower and found fame

Tanya Tagaq was born and raised in the remote Arctic community of Cambridge Bay, Nunavut. In the 1950s, her mother and other Inuit families were forcibly relocated by the Canadian government to the High Arctic, in a plan to assimilate Indigenous people into the dominant European-Canadian culture. Many, including Tanya's family, were made to reject their language and traditions.

At 15, in 1990, Tanya became the first in her family to attend a residential school, an institution further designed to "Europeanise" Indigenous customs. An experience Tanya describes as a challenging period of her life that resulted in her attempting to take her own life. After being taken out of school by her parents, Tanya completed her studies via correspondence.

Four years later, she was studying fine arts in Halifax, when homesickness set in. A special delivery from home would soon provide comfort. Alongside her favourite packet of noodles and warm socks, there was a cassette tape of traditional Inuit throat singing, which inspired Tanya to begin experimenting with the sound itself. She started in the shower, honing the traditional duet form into her own solo style. Then a public performance at a rave caught the attention of the global star, Björk, who asked her to join her tour in 2001. And so Tanya's international career had its accidental launch.

Today, Tanya Tagaq is an award-winning musician, performer, and author. She has been honoured for her contributions to art and Indigenous culture. Her latest album is called Saputjiji.

Presenter: Jo Fidgen
Producer: Marcia Veiga and Julian Siddle

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

(Photo: A collage of three images of Tanya Tagaq. The left shows her in a white lace dress in a forest. The middle image shows her in a white patterned dress and leather black boots, holding onto an orange backdrop. The right image is a selfie of her in a fur-lined hood and headphones. Credit: Sebastian Buzzalino)


WED 12:50 Witness History (w3ct987w)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


WED 13:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjprhrb)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 13:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqdzl52xsl)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 13:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcc89fw0q)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 13:32 Good Bad Billionaire (w3ct8c9f)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


WED 14:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjprmhg)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 14:06 Newshour (w1730bmxxvrsfqj)
Strikes between Israel and Iran continue

Global stock markets have risen and the oil price has fallen, after President Trump again said the war against Iran could be over in a couple of weeks. Britain says it will host a multi-national meeting this week to discuss how to re-open the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump says he is "strongly considering" pulling the United States out of NATO. We will hear from a former US ambassador to NATO.

Also, South Africa's government sends in the army to fight criminal gangs.

And the countdown to NASA's Artemis moon mission! Plus fifty years since the birth of Apple computing.


(Photo: A person reacts to the damage near a business building including the Qatari Al Araby TV office, after an airstrike in northern Tehran, Iran, 29 March 2026. Credit: EPA)


WED 15:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjprr7l)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 15:06 The Interview (w3ct98gn)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


WED 15:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcc89g3hz)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 15:32 Business Daily (w3ct98rp)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:32 today]


WED 15:50 World Business Express (w3ct8d9t)
Could there be a revival of the coal industry?

South Korea has lifted caps on electricity from coal and the Philippines and Vietnam are boosting coal-fired power. Sarah Rogers explores whether or not the coal industry could see a long-term revival.

Plus, we hear from the man behind the 'i' in iMac as Apple turns fifty years old.


WED 16:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjprvzq)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 16:06 Outside Source (w1730c68vvcgjvh)
Space enthusiasts gather to watch Artemis II launch

We speak to people who are among the 400,000 people expected to cram the causeways, beaches and motel balconies of Florida's Space Coast for the launch attempt of Artemis II. Our space expert answers audience questions about the mission.

Colleagues from BBC Monitoring explain how today’s developments in the Iran war are being reported around the world.

Donald Trump has arrived at the Supreme Court, the first sitting US president to attend a session there. Justices are hearing arguments on his move to end automatic citizenship for babies born in the US. We have the latest from our correspondent outside the court.

And with viral videos circulating of children lifting heavy weights, we explore how safe strength training really is for kids under the age of 10, and we speak to a nine-year-old girl who can lift more than three times her own body weight.

Presenter: James Reynolds

(Photo: People set cameras to photograph Nasa's Artemis II mission to orbit the moon, with the next-generation moon rocket, the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the Orion crew capsule, on Pad 39B ahead of its launch at the Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, Florida, US, 31 March, 2026. Credit: Brendan McDermid/Reuters)


WED 17:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjprzqv)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 17:06 Outside Source (w1730c68vvcgnlm)
Trump says Iran has asked for a ceasefire

Global stock markets have risen and the oil price has fallen, after President Trump again said the war against Iran could be over in a couple of weeks. He also claimed Iran had asked for a ceasefire which Washington would consider if the Strait of Hormuz was opened. Iran's foreign ministry described the claim as false and baseless. We speak to our Washington correspondent.

Thousands of space enthusiasts are expected to cram the causeways, beaches and motel balconies of Florida's Space Coast for the launch attempt of Artemis II. We have the latest episode of the BBC's space podcast, "13 Minutes Presents: Artemis II".

We speak to Italian football fans after the four-time champions failed to qualify for a third World Cup.

Presenter: James Reynolds.

(Photo: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during the signing ceremony for an executive order on mail ballots, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., March 31, 2026. Credit: Evan Vucci/Reuters)


WED 18:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjps3gz)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 18:06 Outlook (w3ct8jkc)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 today]


WED 18:50 Witness History (w3ct987w)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


WED 19:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjps773)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 19:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqdzl53n8c)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 19:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcc89glhh)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct8rrd)
2026/04/01 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 (w1730nkjxjpsbz7)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 20:06 The Climate Question (w3ct703f)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:06 on Sunday]


WED 20:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcc89gq7m)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 20:32 Health Check (w3ct8k25)
What next for sunscreen in Australia?

In Australia last year, it was discovered that hardly any sunscreen products actually offered the protection listed on the bottle. Now the Australian regulator has finally proposed sweeping reforms in the country known to be a skin cancer hotspot. Dr Michelle Wong, chemist and science communicator of LabMuffin Beauty Science explains what impact the changes might make.

Northern Cyprus is one of the cheapest places to get IVF treatment. However, a British couple have recently discovered their children, conceived at a clinic in the country, are not biologically related despite the couple requesting the same sperm donor for both children. We find out more about what happened and how IVF clinics are regulated globally.

How mosquitoes could be used to vaccinate bats against rabies and nipah, and the potential benefit to human health.

In Ghana, Pakistan, Rwanda, and South Africa more than half of patients with serious injuries failed to reach medical care within an hour of being injured according to new research. Dr Leila Ghalichi, Senior Researcher at Department of Applied Health Sciences at the University of Birmingham explains what could be done to improve the situation.

And, how sperm behaves in space, and what that means for colonising other planets.

Presenter: Claudia Hammond
Producer: Hannah Robins
Assistant Producer: Jonathan Blackwell


WED 21:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpsgqc)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 21:06 Newshour (w1730bmxxvrt8yf)
NASA to launch its first crewed mission to the Moon in more than half a century

NASA is to launch the Artemis II mission to the Moon, more than half a century after the last Apollo missions – we’ll hear from one of the four surviving astronauts who have set foot on the Moon.

Also in the programme: US President Donald Trump attends a Supreme Court hearing about his attempt to end birthright citizenship by executive order; and how a hundred driverless taxis all suddenly stopped mid-journey in a city in China – so how robust is the tech?

(Photo: The Artemis II Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft at Launch Complex 39B ahead of the mission launch at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, US. Credit: Reuters/ Brendan McDermid)


WED 22:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpslgh)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 22:06 The Interview (w3ct98gn)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


WED 22:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcc89gyqw)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 22:32 Good Bad Billionaire (w3ct8c9f)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


WED 23:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpsq6m)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 23:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqdzl5447w)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 23:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcc89h2h0)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 23:32 World Business Report (w3ct8fvh)
How will rising oil prices affect airlines?

Jet fuel prices are surging as the war in Iran unsettles airlines and global travel. Leanna Byrne examines what it could mean for ticket prices and the wider economy. Also, a new weight loss pill from Eli Lilly promises to shake up the booming obesity drug market. And as Apple turns 50, what’s next for the garage start-up that became one of the world’s most powerful companies.
(Photo: A general view of the PCK refinery, a crude oil processing facility supplying gasoline, jet fuel, diesel and fuel oil, in Schwedt/Oder, Germany, March 31, 2026. Credit: Lisi Niesner/Reuters)

THURSDAY 02 APRIL 2026

THU 00:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpstyr)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 00:06 The Documentary (w3ct95dh)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Saturday]


THU 01:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpsypw)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 01:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqdzl54cr4)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 01:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcc89h9z8)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 01:32 The Global Story (w3ct8mkk)
[Repeat of broadcast at 11:32 on Wednesday]


THU 02:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpt2g0)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 02:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqdzl54hh8)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 02:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcc89hfqd)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 02:32 The Documentary (w3ct97cx)
The saltmakers

In India's Gujarat state lies the Little Rann of Kutch, a sprawling salt marsh desert where temperatures soar to 50 degrees Celsius. This harsh landscape is home to the Agariyas, nomadic tribal families who have harvested salt here since the 16th Century. For eight months of every year, they migrate to this harsh environment, living in temporary shacks and pumping briny groundwater into vast pans where it evaporates into gleaming, sturdy crystals. This traditional practice, responsible for 75% of India's salt production, is now under a grave existential threat.

This documentary explores the precarious lives of these farmers as they battle a rapidly changing climate. Seasonal cycles, predictable for centuries, have become erratic. Unexpected rains and sudden cyclones frequently wash away months of intensive labour, leaving families in mounting debt. Despite providing an essential global commodity, these workers earn three percent of the salt's final value, living without running water or basic sanitation.

Hope emerges through innovation and activism. Scientists at the Central Salt and Marine Chemical Research Institute are introducing new types of pan linings and solar-powered pumps to reduce costs and increase yields. Activists like Pankti Jog fight for land rights, healthcare and education, establishing mobile schools in old buses for the next generation. Yet, the future remains a gamble. While some children dream of becoming teachers or police officers, many feel tethered to the salt by heritage and lack of choice.

Presenter/producer: Chhavi Sachdev
Producer: Tom Woolfenden
A Just Radio production for BBC World Service

(Photo: An Indian man holds a pile of salt in both hands. Credit: Chhavi Sachdev)


THU 03:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpt664)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 03:06 Outlook (w3ct8jkc)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Wednesday]


THU 03:50 Witness History (w3ct987w)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 on Wednesday]


THU 04:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpt9y8)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 04:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqdzl54qzj)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 04:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcc89hp6n)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 04:32 The Food Chain (w3ct8svs)
Is kitchen culture changing?

Is the culture of professional kitchens shifting?

In recent weeks, one of the restaurant world’s most influential figures stepped down amid allegations about his conduct at work. It’s been widely reported that former employees accused René Redzepi, founder of Copenhagen’s Noma, of creating a toxic working environment involving verbal and physical abuse. Redzepi has since apologised publicly, saying he has worked to change.

Ruth Alexander uses this moment as a starting point to explore a broader question: what is, and what should be, the culture inside professional kitchens?

For many chefs, stories of gruelling hours, intense pressure and explosive tempers have long been part of the industry. But are those conditions still the norm today, or is a different kind of kitchen culture beginning to take shape?

Ruth is joined by three chefs from different generations and parts of the world, each reflecting on their own experiences of coming up in the industry, and how those experiences have shaped the way they run their kitchens now.

Jun Tanaka, chef-owner of Michelin-starred restaurant The Ninth in London, looks back on starting out more than three decades ago. Preeti Mistry, executive chef at Silver Oak in California, shares her perspective after 25 years in the industry. And Manon Fleury, head chef at Datil in Paris and co-founder of an organisation working to prevent violence in kitchens, explains why she believes change is both necessary and possible.

They discuss whether the old hierarchies and harsh environments are being left behind, what a healthier kitchen culture could look like, and what still needs to change.

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

Producer: Izzy Greenfield
Sound engineer: Annie Gardiner
Image: credit - getty


THU 05:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjptfpd)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 05:06 Newsday (w1730c189bddhw4)
Artemis II blasts off from Cape Canaveral

Nasa's Artemis II mission finally blasted off from earth on its mission to circle the moon, with the first crewed flight there in more than 50 years. It took off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, carrying four astronauts, The group are aiming to make a ten day flight, circling around the far side of the Moon and returning to earth. We hear from our science editor who was at the launch.

In an address from the White House, President Trump has declared the US is "nearing completion" of its various military objectives and vows to "finish the job" in the near future. We bring you reaction to that speech.

And we speak to the brother of the Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Narges Mohammadi, who is reportedly in a critical condition in prison after a suspected heart attack.

Presenters: James Copnall and Catherine Byaruhanga.

(Photo: NASA's Artemis II mision to fly by the moon, lifts off from Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral. Credit: Joe Skipper/Reuters).


THU 06:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjptkfj)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 06:06 Newsday (w1730c189bddmm8)
Artemis II launches successfully

Nasa's Artemis II mission finally blasted off from earth on its mission to circle the moon, with the first crewed flight there in more than 50 years. It took off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, carrying four astronauts, The group are aiming to make a ten day flight, circling around the far side of the Moon and returning to earth.

In a prime time televised address US President Donald Trump said his core "objectives are nearing completion" in Iran. We look at what presidential supporters made of the speech.

And with millions of people displaced by the conflict in Lebanon we discuss some of the challenges facing those providing aid to the internally displaced.

Presenters: James Copnall and Catherine Byaruhanga.

(Photo: Artemis II mission launch at Kennedy Space Centre. Credit: Cristobal Herrara/EPA).


THU 07:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjptp5n)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 07:06 Newsday (w1730c189bddrcd)
Artemis II lifts off from Kennedy Space Center

Artemis II has finally taken off into space. It’s the first crewed lunar voyage in more than 50 years. The four astronauts onboard for the 10 day mission will not land on the moon but may witness views of the lunar landscapes that have never been seen by human eyes.

US president Donald Trump has claimed that Washington has destroyed Iran's military capability and is close to achieving Washington's war aims. We find out what President Trump's thought of the speech.

Meanwhile Iran's foreign minister has rejected Donald Trump's words, that his country has asked for a a ceasefire as "false and baseless".

Presenters: James Copnall and Catherine Byaruhanga

(Photo: Nasa's Artemis II mission to fly by the moon takes off from the Kennedy Space Center. Credit: Steve Nesius/Reuters)


THU 08:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjptsxs)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 08:06 The Inquiry (w3ct98pf)
Why is basic income being debated?

Ireland has a new permanent government scheme providing regular cash transfers to 2,000 artists. The people who can access it range from circus performers to opera singers.

It follows a pilot of more than three years, which is believed to have brought a return on investment to the economy.

Big tech backs basic income schemes like this to offset the consequences AI is having on the workforce. Leading economists believe it could create a dystopian world. Nevertheless, more governments are piloting or planning to introduce schemes like this.

Contributors:
Dr Jenny Dagg, assistant lecturer, Maynooth University, Ireland
Dr Catarina Neves, postdoctoral fellow, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
Daron Acemoglu, 2024 Nobel Prize winner in economics, institute professor, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, US
Dr Jurgen De Wispelaere, acting chair of the Basic Income Earth Network.

Presenter: Charmaine Cozier
Producer: Daniel Rosney
Researcher: Evie Yabsley
Editor: Tom Bigwood
Technical Producer: Craig Boardman
Production Management: Phoebe Lomas and Liam Morrey

(Photo: A customer withdraws euro bills from an ATM in Sofia. Credit: Bloomberg/Getty Images)


THU 08:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcc89j565)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct8gl2)
Is this social media's 'Big Tobacco moment'?

We look at the fallout from the recent court case which found Meta and Google liable for harming the mental health of one their young users and deliberately making their platforms addictive.

Some have suggested this is “a tobacco moment” for Big Tech – comparable to the time when cigarette companies were forced to acknowledge that their products were harmful.

We ask if social media companies should be brought into line, and if they can be. And if reforms are agreed, what would a responsible social media landscape look like?

To get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Gideon Long
Producer: 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: Left to right, Victims families and supporters Shelby Knox, Amy Neville, Mary Rodee, Laura Marquez-Garrett, Sarah Gardner, and Lennon Torres react to the verdict outside the Los Angeles Superior Court on the 25th of March 2026. Credit: Getty Images)


THU 08:50 Witness History (w3ct98b4)
Spain welcomes Picasso’s Guernica

In 1981 one of the world’s most iconic works of art – Guernica - was finally handed to Spain after a 44-year exile.

Pablo Picasso had created the huge mural in 1937 followed the bombing of the Basque town of Guernica during the Spanish civil war.

And, after being shown in Paris, the painting went on tour in Europe and America, where it was loaned to the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

At the time, Picasso swore the painting would never hang in Spain until the country returned to democracy.

It wasn't until after the death of the dictator General Francisco Franco that discussions began to transfer the painting to Spain. Ambassador Rafael Fernandez-Quintanilla was one of the negotiators.

Jane Wilkinson has been through the BBC archives to find out how Rafael helped end the exile. Additional archive from British Pathe.

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: Guernica on display in Madrid, 1981. Credit: Gianni Ferrari/Getty Images)


THU 09:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjptxnx)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 09:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqdzl55bq5)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 09:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcc89j8y9)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 09:32 The Documentary (w3ct97cx)
[Repeat of broadcast at 02:32 today]


THU 10:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpv1f1)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 10:06 The Explanation (w3ct98m5)
The Media Show: How far should reporters go with AI?

Artificial intelligence is starting to change how some journalists work, as newsrooms test whether it can help produce more content. One reporter says AI is now helping him write more than 600 articles a year. Nick Lichtenberg, Business Editor at Fortune, Jane Martinson, Professor of Financial Journalism, City, University of London, and Max Goldbart, International TV Co-Editor, Deadline, discuss the pros and cons of letting AI into the newsroom.
Two major court cases in the United States have put fresh attention on social media and its impact on young users. In Los Angeles, a jury found Meta and Google liable after deciding their platforms were intentionally designed to be addictive. In New Mexico, Meta was ordered to pay damages over claims it misled users about child safety. Lily Jamali, BBC North America Technology Correspondent, outlines developments from Silicon Valley, and Aza Raskin, co-founder of the Centre for Humane Technology, reflects on the design of features such as infinite scroll.
In the UK, new research is being developed to understand how social media affects teenagers. A large study involving thousands of students will test limits on usage, alongside a government-backed pilot looking at restrictions for under-16s. Professor Amy Orben, psychologist at the University of Cambridge, explains how the research will work and what it aims to measure.

Presenters: Katie Razzall and Ros Atkins
Producer: Lisa Jenkinson
Content producer: Lucy Wai
Sound engineer: Mark Pickett


THU 10:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcc89jdpf)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 10:32 Happy News (w3ct6tzt)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:32 on Sunday]


THU 11:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpv555)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 11:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqdzl55l6f)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 11:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcc89jjfk)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct8mf1)
I wargamed Iran for the Pentagon - here is how it could end

Roughly 10,000 additional US troops have now arrived in the Middle East, giving President Trump options ranging from an invasion of Kharg Island to an elaborate special forces operations to seize Iran’s ‘nuclear dust’.

For years, the Pentagon has run war games to try and plan for what might happen if the US went to war with Iran. Our guest, Ilan Goldenberg, was in the room during the Obama years, taking part.

Ilan Goldenberg is Senior Vice President and Chief Policy Officer at J Street. Previously, he was an adviser on Iran for President Barack Obama, and for Vice President Kamala Harris.

Producers: Lucy Pawle and Viv Jones

Sound engineer: Travis Evans

Senior news editor: China Collins

(Photo: President Donald Trump. Credit: Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters)


THU 12:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpv8x9)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 12:06 Outlook (w3ct8j3t)
Alone in the Pacific on the upturned hull of my boat

One day, when Tom Robinson was 14 years old, he woke up, looked in the mirror and made a decision that would dictate the course of his life – that he would become the youngest person to row across the Pacific Ocean. He trained as a boat builder, taught himself design and handcrafted his boat from scratch. He named her Maiwar after the local indigenous name for the Brisbane River which he rowed on every day to travel to and from school.

In 2022, aged 23, Tom set off from Peru. The subsequent 14 months involved blissful solitude, broken only by a warm welcome on one of the world's most remote islands, flying fish that landed in his lap and passing turtles. Tom was in his element. And then came the freak wave that left him standed on the upturned hull of his boat for hours, with no idea of when, or even if, rescue would come.

Presenter: Mobeen Azhar
Producer: Emily Naylor

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

(Photo: Tom Robinson in his boat, Maiwar, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. It's cloudy with blue skies and the sun is setting. Credit: Tom Robinson)


THU 12:50 Witness History (w3ct98b4)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


THU 13:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpvdnf)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 13:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqdzl55tpp)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 13:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcc89jrxt)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 13:32 The Food Chain (w3ct8svs)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


THU 14:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpvjdk)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 14:06 Newshour (w1730bmxxvrwbmm)
What will Artemis mission find on the far side of the Moon?

The four Nasa astronauts on the Artemis II Moon mission are preparing for its next stage, after their first sleep in space. We speak to former astronaut Tim Peake about Nasa's plan for them to travel around the Moon.

Also in the programme: Britain hosts a meeting on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and a historic warship discovered on the seabed of Copenhagen harbour.

(Photo: Nasa's Artemis II mission to fly by the moon lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, US, 1 April, 2026. Credit: Joe Skipper/Reuters)


THU 15:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpvn4p)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 15:06 The Inquiry (w3ct98pf)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


THU 15:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcc89k0f2)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 15:32 Business Daily (w3ct8gl2)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:32 today]


THU 15:50 World Business Express (w3ct8d59)
Countries hold summit over Strait of Hormuz trade crisis

More than forty countries take part in a virtual gathering in a bid to reopen the vital shipping lane. The UK is playing host to the meeting, joined by other countries across the world caught up in the trade crisis caused by near closure of the Strait of Hormuz, due to the US-Israel war in Iran.

UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper opened the event by condemning what she described as "Iranian recklessness" in closing the Strait of Hormuz and "hitting global economic security". The talks are trying to find a solution to fully opening up the vital shipping lane.

Among those represented at the talks is South Korea – a country particularly dependent on foreign oil imports. Earlier its president put its economy on what he described as "a wartime footing" by encouraging people to follow a range of measures to preserve fuel, as well as proposing a special Government financial support package. We look at how the production of plastics are being badly hit.

And it’s a year since President Trump declared his ‘Liberation Day’, bringing in sweeping tariffs on countries across the globe. The latest US Trade figures published today - Thursday - show the US trade deficit widened in February to just over $57 billion…so has the policy been working?

Presenter: Sarah Rogers
Senior Producer: Craig Henderson


THU 16:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpvrwt)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 16:06 Outside Source (w1730c68vvckfrl)
Artemis II mission to set course to the Moon

The four astronauts on the Artemis II mission are preparing for the next stage of their voyage around the Moon. We have the latest on the mission, and we explore the renewed space race between the United States, China and Russia.

President Macron of France has accused the Trump administration of giving contradictory messages about the war against Iran -- and warned that using military action to reopen the Strait of Hormuz is unrealistic. His comments come as more than 40 countries hold talks about finding diplomatic solutions to reopening the Strait of Hormuz. We get an update from our correspondent.

Oil prices are up and world stock markets are down, after a much-anticipated Donald Trump speech failed to offer a pathway to unblocking the Strait of Hormuz. We speak to three people who drive for a living about the impact.

And when Megan Thee Stallion fell ill onstage during her Broadway performance, an understudy had to step in. We talk to understudies about what it’s like to wait for a moment that might never come.

Presenter: James Reynolds

(Photo: Nasa's Artemis II mission to fly by the moon, comprising of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with the Orion crew capsule, lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, US, 1 April, 2026. Credit: Joe Skipper/Reuters)


THU 17:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpvwmy)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 17:06 Outside Source (w1730c68vvckkhq)
Trump's speech: What do his voters think?

Oil prices surged, after a televised address by President Trump failed to offer viable ways to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. We hear from Americans who voted for him.

In his speech Trump also threatened to bomb the country back to "the stone ages". So what is the mood inside Iran? The regime in Tehran has imposed an internet blackout and security forces are threatening anyone passing information to the foreign media. But using trusted sources the BBC has managed to obtain testimonies from ordinary Iranians suffering under wartime conditions. We have hidden their identities and are not using their real voices. Our special correspondent Fergal Keane reports.

The four Nasa astronauts on the Artemis II Moon mission, have performed important tasks to prepare their spacecraft for a lunar flyby. We have the latest episode of the BBC's space podcast, 13 Minutes Presents: Artemis II, and we speak to two people who played key roles in the mission.

Presenter: James Reynolds

(Photo: US President Donald Trump makes an address to the Nation from the Cross Hall of the White House, Washinton DC, USA, 1 April 2026. Credit: Doug Mills/EPA/Shutterstock)


THU 18:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpw0d2)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 18:06 Outlook (w3ct8j3t)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 today]


THU 18:50 Witness History (w3ct98b4)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


THU 19:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpw446)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 19:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqdzl56k5g)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 19:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcc89khdl)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct8rlw)
2026/04/02 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 (w1730nkjxjpw7wb)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 20:06 The Documentary (w3ct97cx)
[Repeat of broadcast at 02:32 today]


THU 20:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcc89km4q)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 20:32 BBC Inside Science (w3ct977d)
Responding to your science questions

This week, we’re letting you run the airwaves. Victoria Gill puts your science questions to Catherine Heymans, Astronomer Royal for Scotland and Professor of Astrophysics at the University of Edinburgh, Mark Maslin, Professor of Earth System Science at University College London, and Penny Sarchet, Managing editor of New Scientist.

If you’ve ever wondered why men have nipples, how gravity slingshots work, or whether photosynthesis could solve our energy problems, that’s all on this week’s BBC Inside Science.

Presenter: Victoria Gill
Producers: Ella Hubber & Debbie Kilbride
Editor: Martin Smith
Production Co-ordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth


THU 21:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpwcmg)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 21:06 Newshour (w1730bmxxvrx5vj)
Trump replaces US Attorney General Pam Bondi

President Trump has sacked Pam Bondi as the US Attorney General. She was a close ally of Mr Trump but had been criticised for her handling of the release of files relating to the late sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein. Writing on social media, Mr Trump described her as a loyal friend saying she had done a tremendous job overseeing a crackdown on crime but was moving to a new role in the private sector. Mr Trump's former personal lawyer, the Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, will take over on a temporary basis.

Also in the programme: nations meet to find a solution to the Strait of Hormuz; and Artemis 2 heads out of orbit.

(Photo: Former US Attorney General Pam Bondi attends a swearing-in ceremony in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 24 March 2026. CREDIT: GRAEME SLOAN/POOL/EPA/Shutterstock)


THU 22:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpwhcl)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 22:06 The Inquiry (w3ct98pf)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


THU 22:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcc89kvmz)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 22:32 The Food Chain (w3ct8svs)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


THU 23:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpwm3q)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 23:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqdzl5714z)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 23:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcc89kzd3)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 23:32 World Business Report (w3ct8fpz)
SpaceX eyes take off with over $1 trillion valuation

Elon Musk’s SpaceX is preparing to go public. Could it become one of the world’s most valuable companies?

One year on from “Liberation Day”, when sweeping tariffs reshaped global trade, we ask who’s winning and who’s paying the price.

And from bankruptcy to comeback, Leanna Byrne speaks to the boss of Polaroid about why instant cameras are thriving again.

(Photo: NASA's SpaceX Crew-9 mission lifts off in a Dragon spacecraft, on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, from the launch pad of Space Launch Complex-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, USA, 28 September 2024. Credit: Cristobal Herrera-Ulashkevich/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock).

FRIDAY 03 APRIL 2026

FRI 00:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpwqvv)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 00:06 The Explanation (w3ct98m5)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:06 on Thursday]


FRI 00:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcc89l347)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 00:32 Happy News (w3ct6tzt)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:32 on Sunday]


FRI 01:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpwvlz)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 01:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqdzl578n7)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 01:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcc89l6wc)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 01:32 The Global Story (w3ct8mf1)
[Repeat of broadcast at 11:32 on Thursday]


FRI 02:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpwzc3)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 02:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqdzl57ddc)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 02:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcc89lbmh)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 02:32 Tech Life (w3ct8jxn)
[Repeat of broadcast at 20:32 on Tuesday]


FRI 03:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpx337)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 03:06 Outlook (w3ct8j3t)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Thursday]


FRI 03:50 Witness History (w3ct98b4)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 on Thursday]


FRI 04:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpx6vc)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 04:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqdzl57mwm)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 04:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcc89ll3r)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 04:32 Heart and Soul (w3ct983c)
God, grief and the chatbot

When Megan Garcia travelled to Rome, she carried with her a mother’s grief.

At the Vatican she met the Pope and asked him to pray for her son Sewell, who died last year at the age of 14. In the months after his death, Megan discovered something she says she had never imagined: for more than a year, Sewell had been spending hours talking to an artificial-intelligence chatbot which he believed was a real person. He formed a deep emotional attachment to it, confiding in it about his life and feelings.

Megan believes that relationship played a part in her son’s death. She is now pursuing legal action against the company behind the chatbot, arguing that safeguards for young users were inadequate. The company disputes the claims.

But this is not only a story about technology. It is also a story about faith.

Rather than losing her belief, Megan says her tragedy intensified it. She turned to prayer and devotion to the Virgin Mary, finding comfort in the idea of a mother who also knew the pain of losing a child.

“I felt like Our Lady was grieving for me as a mother who lost a child,” she says. “And I was grieving for her as a mother who lost a child. We were grieving together.”

For Heart and Soul, we hear Megan’s story in her own words — a deeply personal journey through grief, belief, and the new moral questions raised by artificial intelligence: what happens when machines become companions, and where do faith, responsibility and protection meet in a digital world?

[Photo Description: Megan Garcia with her son Sewell, Photo Credit: Megan Garcia]

Presenter: Colm Flynn
Series Producer: Rajeev Gupta
Editor: Chloe Walker
Production Coordinator: Mica Nepomuceno

If you are suffering distress or despair and need support, you could speak to a health professional or an organisation that offers help. Details of support available in many countries can be found at Befrienders Worldwide — that’s befrienders dot org.


FRI 05:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpxblh)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 05:06 Newsday (w1730c189bdhds7)
Artemis II blasts towards Moon

The crew of Nasa's Artemis II mission has just made a critical move to push out of our planet's orbit towards the Moon. That's called a "translunar injection burn" and lasted for some six minutes. It's first time that humans have left Earth's orbit since 1972, during NASA's last manned mission to the Moon. We catch up with Nasa to find out how the mission is going.

There have been a couple of high profile departures at the top of American political and military life. The Attorney General, Pam Bondi, seen as a fierce defender of the Trump Administration, has nevertheless been removed. There had been criticism of her handling of the Epstein files. And the US Defence Secretary, Pete Hegseth, has asked the Army Chief of Staff, General Randy George, to step down and retire immediately, an extraordinary move amid an ongoing war with Iran.

The US and Israel have carried out widespread air strikes across Iran, a day after President Donald Trump repeated his threat to bomb the country back to the stone age. So with such ongoing threats, what is the mood among the people of Iran? We hear from people inside the country.

Presenters: James Copnall and Catherine Byaruhanga.

(Photo: Artemis II mission. Credit: Nasa).


FRI 06:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpxgbm)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 06:06 Newsday (w1730c189bdhjjc)
Artemis II mission completes a critical engine burn

The four NASA astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft are now heading to the Moon, the first manned lunar mission in more than 50 years. After spending a day orbiting the earth, the Artemis Two mission completed a critical main engine burn that propelled the capsule on its journey to the far side of the Moon, which the crew should reach by Monday. We speak to a former Nasa astronaut.

The Burmese parliament is meeting to elect a new president. He's widely expected to be the coup leader, General Min Aung Hlaing.

President Donald Trump has relieved Pam Bondi, from her job as the US Attorney General. Ms Bondi, who had been seen as a close ally of the president, had faced harsh criticism of her handling of the release of files related to the late sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein.

Presenters: James Copnall and Catherine Byaruhanga.

(Photo: Artemis II crew describe spectacular moment in space after leaving space. Credit: Nasa).


FRI 07:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpxl2r)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 07:06 Newsday (w1730c189bdhn8h)
Artemis II mission on its way to far side of the Moon

The Artemis II mission has completed a critical engine burn pushing the Orion spacecraft on its journey to the far side of the Moon. In a livestream from space the astronauts have described the "spectacular" view of Earth. Back at NASA headquarters they say the astronauts are "doing great". We assess the mission so far.

Israel has intensified it's attacks on Lebanon this week, targeting what it says are senior members of the Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah. With more than one million people displaced in the country what are the challenges for those providing relief?

And President Macron of France has accused President Trump of undermining NATO, the transatlantic defence alliance and told him "be serious". We look at the pulls and strains on the defence alliance since the start of the the war against Iran.

Presenters: James Copnall and Catherine Byaruhanga

(Photo: The crew of Artemis. Credit: Joe Skipper/Reuters)


FRI 08:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpxptw)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 08:06 The Interview (w3ct98jx)
Jeremy Hansen, astronaut: Moon mission shows best of humanity

“I hope humanity will stop for a moment when four humans are on the far side of the moon and be reminded that we can do a better job as humans of just lifting each other up. Not destroying, but creating together.”

Rebecca Morelle and Tim Peake speak to Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen ahead of the launch of Artemis II.

Hansen is one of four crew members of NASA’s latest mission into Space. Launching from Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, Artemis II will be heading to the Moon and will circle it before returning home. Although they won’t be landing, it’s the first time in over half a century that humans have ventured to the Moon.

If the mission is successful, it’ll result in some historic firsts: Hansen will become the first non-American to leave low-Earth orbit with crewmates Christina Koch the first woman and Victor Glover the first person of colour to do so too.

Thank you to the 13 Minutes 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 Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro, former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, and Ugandan human rights lawyer Nicholas Opiyo. 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.

Presenters: Rebecca Morelle and Tim Peake
Producers: Ben Cooper, Alex Mansfield and Sophie Ormiston
Editor: Damon Rose

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

(Image: Jeremy Hansen Credit: Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo / AFP via Getty Images)


FRI 08:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcc89m238)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct8g91)
The self-taught coder building a drone empire

We hear from a founder who taught himself how to code as a child, set up several businesses, and now with his drone delivery firm Manna Air Delivery - one of the largest in Europe - is trying to challenge aviation regulations around the world.

Serial entrepreneur Bobby Healy talks about how being from a poor background helped him build a leading company, which is now becoming a major global player, and why, even as a busy CEO, he still loves writing computer code into the early hours.

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

Presenter: Sarah Rogers
Producers: Niamh McDermott and Jay Behrouzi
Sound mix: Nathaniel Danter

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: Bobby Healy next to a drone. Credit: Bobby Healy)


FRI 08:50 Witness History (w3ct98dd)
The first commercially successful electronic cigarette

In the summer of 2003, pharmacist Hon Lik was one of millions of smokers in China.

He was coughing a lot and having problems with his breathing and wondered if he could make an alternative cigarette.

After various experiments, he created a vape prototype. It went on sale in May 2004 and was instantly a hit - selling 100,000 in China.

Hon tells Megan Jones how he brought it to market.

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: Hon Lik smokes his invention. Credit: Frederic J Brown/AFP via Getty Images)


FRI 09:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpxtl0)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 09:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqdzl587m8)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 09:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcc89m5vd)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 09:32 BBC Inside Science (w3ct977d)
[Repeat of broadcast at 20:32 on Thursday]


FRI 10:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpxyb4)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 10:06 Unexpected Elements (w3ct8kc6)
Putting science on the map

China’s ambitious underwater mapping operation takes us on a voyage into the depths of ocean and map science.

We look at what a network of underwater microphones can tell us about underwater geography, noisy ships, and whale conversations, and how it took nearly 300 researchers working together to map 140 000 neurons in a fruit fly’s brain.

Then, we are joined by biogeochemist and author Karen Lloyd, who tells us about the long-lived microbes living deep in the crust below the sea floor, how they survive for 100 000 years, and what their mysterious existence tells us about life and evolution.

And forget sunken treasures – we will talk about the valuable, potato-sized mineral nodules that grow on the sea floor, and the pros, cons and current legality of mining them. Plus – how dolphins can help us track down abandoned undersea explosives.

All that and even more unexpected elements.

Presenter: Marnie Chesterton, with Katie Silver and Tristan Ahtone
Producers: Ella Hubber, with Lucy Davies and Georgia Christie


FRI 11:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpy228)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 11:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqdzl58h3j)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 11:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcc89mfbn)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct8m8j)
Why the Royal visit to the US is dividing Brits

King Charles and Queen Camilla will visit Washington DC this month at a time when the transatlantic relationship is at its lowest point in decades.

The King is facing a difficult time at home in the UK too, with significant public opposition to the visit and anger over his brother Andrew’s association with Jeffrey Epstein. Andrew has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

Can the King and Queen sprinkle some royal magic on President Trump and improve the royal image at the same time? Asma and Tristan are joined by the BBC’s senior royal correspondent, Daniela Relph.


Producers: Cat Farnsworth and Xandra Ellin

Executive producer: James Shield

Mix: Renee Park

Senior news editor: China Collins


Photo: President Donald Trump and King Charles III at a state banquet at Windsor Castle, in September 2025.


FRI 12:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpy5td)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 12:06 Outlook (w3ct8hp8)
Outlook Mixtape: Bedtime Stories

Andrés Ruzo is a geothermal scientist who grew up in the United States, the son of Peruvian and Nicaraguan parents. When he used to visit Peru as a boy, his grandfather would tell him ancient legends of mythical places. Little did he know one of those stories would come to life in a very real way.

There's a grandmother in Bangalore who loves telling Indian folktales, she has an audience of thousands of kids from all around the world. Her name is Sarla Minni, though she's known to her followers as Kahaniwali Nani, the Hindi for storytelling granny.

When Icelandic singer Hafdís Huld was expecting her first child she and husband Alisdair retreated to their loft in the Icelandic countryside and started to craft music for their unborn baby. The result was an album of lullabies called Vögguvísur, it became the most-streamed in Icelandic history.

In a corner of a grocery store in Istanbul there is a sanctuary for bookworms. Shopkeeper Kanber Bozan has transformed the lives of local children by turning a section of his shop into a library. Selin Girit visited "Uncle Kanber's" store.

In the 1960s English civil servant Richard Adams drove his daughters Juliet and Rosamond to school and told them a story to pass the time. The tale was about rabbits trying to find a new place to live after developers move onto their field, and it became the best-selling children's classic Watership Down. Juliet and Rosamond tell us about the novel that changed their family's lives.

Presenter: Mobeen Azhar
Producer: Emily Naylor

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 (w3ct98dd)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


FRI 13:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpy9kj)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 13:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqdzl58qls)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 13:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcc89mntx)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 13:32 Heart and Soul (w3ct983c)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


FRI 14:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpyf9n)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 14:06 Newshour (w1730bmxxvrz7jq)
Trump threatens to destroy Iran infrastructure

President Donald Trump says the US "hasn't even started destroying what's left in Iran", adding that Iranian bridges are "next, then electric power plants." Mr. Trump has also signalled his openness to diplomacy in an effort to end the war. Iran has launched fresh strikes on Israel and Gulf nations, after the US and Israel stepped up their attacks on Iran's infrastructure.

Also in the programme: an update on the progress of the Artemis II moon mission; and the unusual way octopuses have sex.

(Picture: US President Donald J. Trump. Credit: ALEX BRANDON/POOL/EPA/Shutterstock)


FRI 15:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpyk1s)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 15:06 The Interview (w3ct98jx)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


FRI 15:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcc89mxb5)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 15:32 Business Daily (w3ct8g91)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:32 today]


FRI 15:50 World Business Express (w3ct8d0s)
French container ship reportedly passes through Strait of Hormuz

Several sources are reporting that a French-owned container ship has successfully braved the troubled Strait of Hormuz. The CMA CGM Kribi is believed to be the first western vessel to pass through the passage since the outbreak of the US-Israeli war against Iran. It is reported to have passed close to the coast of Iran.

It comes as Iran carried out two attacks on commercial plants in Kuwait . The first attack was on one of the biggest oil refineries in the Middle East. The second at a power and desalination plant. In a third incident, in Abu Dhabi, operations had to be suspended at a gas facility when debris fell on to the site causing a fire.

Also in the programme we report on better-than-expected jobs news for the US. And we hear from a trade expert who examines President Trump’s latest tariff announcements of up to 100% on some imported medicines.

And why the price of chocolate is remaining stubbornly high, despite the price of cocoa - the raw material that makes it - falling by 70% over the last two years.

Presenter: Gideon Long
Senior producer: Craig Henderson


FRI 16:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpynsx)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 16:06 Outside Source (w1730c68vvcnbnp)
Trump threatens to strike Iran's bridges and power plants

Iran has carried further further attacks on critical infrastructure in Arab Gulf States, as it continues to strike its neighbours in response to the US-Israeli bombing campaign. President Trump has threatened further escalation, saying the US hadn't even started destroying what's left in Iran -- including bridges and power plants. We hear from people in Iran, and get the latest from our correspondent.

The four astronauts on the Artemis II mission have now left Earth’s orbit. We speak to two experts with opposing views on whether missions like Artemis are worth pursuing.

And in Australia, shark attacks on humans remain rare but are on the rise. Three Australians who survived shark attacks share their terrifying experiences.

Presenter: James Reynolds.

(Photo: A view of the destruction at the B1 suspension bridge by a US airstrike in the city of Karaj, Alborz province, Iran, 03 April 2026. Credit: Abedin Taherkenareh/EPA)


FRI 17:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpysk1)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 17:06 Outside Source (w1730c68vvcngdt)
US fighter jet downed in Iran

Iran has shot down a US fighter jet over the west of the country. We speak to our correspondent from BBC Persian and military analyst Mikey Kay.

Iran has continued its attacks on its Gulf neighbours, even as President Trump threatened to escalate the US military campaign against Iran. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claims Israeli strikes have destroyed 70% of Iran's steel production capacity. We hear from people in Iran and get the latest from our correspondent.

The astronauts on board the Orion spacecraft have been describing the spectacular views they've been enjoying of Planet Earth. We have the latest episode of the BBC's space podcast, "13 Minutes Presents: Artemis II".

We hear from our correspondent in Myanmar on what to expect from the country’s new President, Min Aung Hlaing - the military leader who launched a coup in 2021.

Presenter: James Reynolds.

(Photo: Wreckage of downed US aircraft, Tehran, Iran Islamic Republic Of - 05 Apr 2026. Credit: SEPAH NEWS HANDOUT/EPA)


FRI 18:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpyx95)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 18:06 Outlook (w3ct8hp8)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 today]


FRI 18:50 Witness History (w3ct98dd)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


FRI 19:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpz119)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 19:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqdzl59g2k)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 19:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcc89nd9p)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct8rgc)
2026/04/03 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 (w1730nkjxjpz4sf)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 20:06 BBC Conversations (w3ct8m3d)
Surviving a shark attack

Shark attacks on humans are rare, but they are slowly on the rise in Australia where all our guests are from. In this episode, they share the terrifying moment when they realised they were under attack. For Brett Connellan in New South Wales, it was an encounter with a Great White.

“Out of nowhere I get hit with this immense force from my right side and this force was so strong it threw me off my surf board,” he says. “I landed in the water and before I could even look around and figure out what had happened I look down and see this shark biting into my right leg. This for me is that distinct moment when time just stops.”

Brett is joined by fellow survivors Justine Barwick and Dave Pearson. Together the share their stories and discuss life, death and why they ultimately feel lucky.

Presenter: James Reynolds
BBC producer: Isabella Bull
Boffin Media producer: Sue Nelson
Editors: Harriet Oliver and Arja Haikonen
A Boffin Media production in partnership with BBC World Service Outside Source

(Photo: Brett Connellan, swimming underwater in the sea holding onto his surf board. Credit: Sam Tolhurst)


FRI 20:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcc89nj1t)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 20:32 CrowdScience (w3ct8k6p)
Will rabbits become super predators?

Listener Bart in Australia sees invasive species in his area almost every day – rabbits, foxes, and cats. They were transplanted to Australia from Europe more than 100 years ago, but seem to be thriving in their new home.

This got him wondering: how are they going to evolve, now that they are in a new habitat? Can we predict what future evolution will look like based on what we already know?

To find out, Marnie Chesterton visits Sandy Ingelby at the Australian Museum, who manages the mammal collection. She shows Marnie how indigenous Australian animals have evolved to suit where they live.

On the island of Tasmania, Marnie meets the famous Tasmanian Devil and keeper Jono Thomas. Andy Flies from the University of Tasmania explains how the devil is evolving in real-time in response to a health crisis.

So what might the invasive species in Bart’s backyard look like over the next 100 years? We’ll find out, with a little bit of help from palaeontologist Matt McCurry and millions of murderous toads.



Presenter: Marnie Chesterton

Producer: Margaret Sessa-Hawkins

Editor: Ben Motley

(Photo: Wild rabbit- stock photo Credit: John Porter via Getty Images)


FRI 21:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpz8jk)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 21:06 Newshour (w1730bmxxvs02rm)
US fighter plane comes down in southern Iran

The US pilot reportedly ejected and has been rescued, despite an Iranian bounty offered for his capture. Another crew member may still be missing in Iran. We hear the latest, and discuss the perils of rescue missions in hostile territory with former US Marine Corps Special Operations specialist Jonathan Hackett.

Also in the programme: Myanmar general installed as president of the country in a bid for legitimacy by the military regime; and the friction between Pope Leo XIV and a US administration at war.

(Photo: A US Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft takes off for a mission supporting Operation Epic Fury during the Iran war at an undisclosed location, March 9, 2026. Credit: US Air Force/Handout via REUTERS)


FRI 22:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpzd8p)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 22:06 The Interview (w3ct98jx)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


FRI 22:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcc89nrk2)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 22:32 Heart and Soul (w3ct983c)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


FRI 23:00 BBC News (w1730nkjxjpzj0t)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 23:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqdzl59y22)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 23:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcc89nw96)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 23:32 World Business Report (w3ct8fkg)
Is the Strait of Hormuz opening up again?

After weeks of disruption in the Middle East, ships are starting to move again through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global trade and fuel supplies. But it’s still a fragile return, and the risks remain high for companies and crews.

We’ll hear how the conflict is affecting seafarers, with thousands stranded or unable to get to work, and what that says about the wider impact on global shipping.

We’ll also look at the knock-on effects for trade, with millions of kilograms of tea stuck in Kenya as exporters struggle to get goods moving.

And in the US, hiring has picked up more strongly than expected — but we hear from people on the ground who say finding work is still a real challenge.

(Picture: LPG tanker arrives in Mumbai despite rising tensions at Strait of Hormuz, India - 01 Apr 2026. Photo by DIVYAKANT SOLANKI/EPA/Shutterstock.)