SATURDAY 11 APRIL 2026

SAT 00:00 BBC News (w1730nkk8t0rscs)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 00:06 Unexpected Elements (w3ct8kc7)
Is everyone accounted for?

This month, India began the immense undertaking of surveying its population of 1.4 billion people in the world’s largest ever census. Inspired by this huge task, the Unexpected Elements team explores some population science.

First, counting – or miscounting – populations. The global human population may be much larger than previously thought as research shows counts may have missed those living in more remote areas. And we learn about the species stuck in a neverending “species limbo”, where they’ve gone unseen for decades but still can’t officially be declared extinct.

Next, we’re joined by geneticist Dr Ambroise Wonkam, one of the researchers behind the Three Million African Genomes project, who tells us why sequencing more African genomes is the key to unlocking a wealth of vital genetics knowledge.

Also, Mumbai’s out of tune musical road, how we know volcanoes are extinct, and the weight of the internet.

All that, plus many more unexpected elements.

Presenter: Caroline Steel, with Chhavi Sachdev and Candice Bailey.
Producers: Lucy Davies, with Ella Hubber, Imy Harper and Georgia Christie.


SAT 01:00 BBC News (w1730nkk8t0rx3x)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 01:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqfbvh3b55)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SAT 01:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcqjmg8d9)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 01:32 The Global Story (w3ct8m8k)
The gathering economic storm

One condition of the US and Israel’s two-week ceasefire agreement with Iran is that ships must be able to safely use the Strait of Hormuz, the route through which approximately 20% of the world’s oil and liquified natural gas supplies travel.

In theory, the deal should cut the prices of fuel worldwide, as well as allowing essential supplies of fertiliser, helium and other goods to reach businesses. But the fragility of the ceasefire is leaving markets uncertain, and prices remain volatile.

Will the ceasefire eventually help lower costs? And if so, when? Sean Farrington, presenter of the BBC’s Wake Up To Money, joins us to explain.

For our explainer on the conflict in Lebanon, listen back to our episode from March 19th: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3ct71b5.

Producers: Hannah Moore, Aron Keller and Cat Farnsworth

Executive Producer: James Shield

Mix: Travis Evans

Senior news editor: China Collins


SAT 02:00 BBC News (w1730nkk8t0s0w1)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 02:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqfbvh3fx9)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SAT 02:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcqjmgd4f)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 02:32 Stumped (w3ct99f1)
South Africa's Wiaan Mulder on life at Essex, Lara's record and the impact player rule

Essex and South Africa all-rounder Wiaan Mulder talks about his life in the County Championship and shares his thoughts on the impact player rule in the Indian Premier League. Nikesh Rughani, Charu Sharma and Jim Maxwell also ask him about his famous 367 declaration to protect Brian Lara's 400 runs Test record.

There's discussion on pace bowling as Bhuvneshwar Kumar made IPL history by becoming the first fast bowler to take 200 wickets in the competition and James Anderson reached a rare feat in the opening game of the County Championship. He got James Sales out in the opening game of the season, only 21 years ago, he also dismissed his father, David Sales. What's the secret to the pacer's longevity?

And the team explores the relationship between cricket and poetry as they find out about the new book, Catching the Light – A New Anthology of Cricket Poetry, which is out this month.

Photo: Wiaan Mulder of South Africa celebrates taking the wicket of Travis Head of Australia during day two of the ICC World Test Championship Final 2025 between South Africa and Australia at Lord's Cricket Ground on June 12, 2025 in London, England. (Credit: ICC via Getty Images)


SAT 03:00 BBC News (w1730nkk8t0s4m5)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 03:06 Outlook (w3ct8hp9)
Outlook Mixtape: The view from space

As the Artemis 2 Moon mission nears its finale, Mobeen Azhar looks at some lesser-known aspects of life in space.

But first, preparations for departure. The original Apollo teams spent time in Iceland before their trips to the Moon in the 1960s and 1970s. The current Artemis crew did the same because Iceland landscape is somewhat similar to the Moon. In 2017 Saskia Edwards travelled to Husavik to meet Orlygur Orlygsson, an Icelander who made it his mission to document this essential part of the crews' preparations.

Like everyone else, the astronauts who spend months on the International Space Station need some down time. And as it turns out, among all that new technology surrounding them, some people crave the familiar. Flight engineer and mission specialist Karen Nyberg had always been an avid quilter so, as she told Jo Fidgen in 2022, it seemed natural for her to pursue her hobby in space.

Before training as an astronaut, Stuart Roosa worked as a specialist firefighter for the US Forest Service. When he became the Command Module pilot of Apollo 14, he took a number of tree seeds with him into the Moon's orbit. He wanted to see how they might be affected by space. After their return to Earth, the seeds were successfully germinated and planted all across the US and elsewhere as mementoes of space travel. Stuart's son Christopher picked up the story of the Moon Trees when he spoke to Richard Black in 2005.

Spacecraft are fiendishly complex pieces of technology, costing many millions. But what if there was another, simpler way to experience the fringes of space? Computer scientist and skydiving enthusiast Alan Eustace used a helium-filled balloon to carry him to 41 kilometres above the surface of the Earth. Then he let go of the balloon and sky-dived back down. Alan spoke to Jo Fidgen a few months after his breath-taking jump from stratosphere in 2014. At the time of making this Mixtape, Alan is still the world record-holder for the highest-altitude free-fall jump.

The number of people working on a space mission operated by NASA or their Russian or Chinese counterparts, is vast. But still, despite all that combined brain power, things don't always go to plan. Afghan cosmonaut Abdul Ahad Mohmand had first-hand experience of this in 1988 when the return space vehicle he occupied with fellow cosmonaut Vladimir Lyakhov developed serious technical issues.

Astronauts at the International Space Station are about 10 times further from the Earth than Alan and usually complete a full orbit of the Earth in around every 90 minutes. Astronaut Edward Lu describes what our planet looks like from up there.

Presenter: Mobeen Azhar
Compliation Producer: Radek Boschetty

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 (w3ct98df)
The turtle freed after 41 years in captivity

In 1984, loggerhead sea turtle Jorge became trapped in fishing nets and was moved to an aquarium in Mendoza.

He was kept in captivity for more than 40 years until legal action and a campaign led to the closure of the aquarium and his release in 2025.

But, where is he now?

Megan Jones asks marine biologist Alejandro Saubidet, who was in charge of his rehabilitation.

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: Jorge. Credit: Andres Larrovere/via Getty)


SAT 04:00 BBC News (w1730nkk8t0s8c9)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 04:06 Unexpected Elements (w3ct8kc7)
[Repeat of broadcast at 00:06 today]


SAT 05:00 BBC News (w1730nkk8t0sd3f)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 05:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqfbvh3t4p)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SAT 05:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcqjmgrct)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 05:32 Inheritance: Samsung (w3ct94gw)
Samsung

3. The princes’ rebellion

When Samsung’s chairman has to choose who will take over the business once he’s gone, he looks to his three sons. But a betrayal from within the heart of the family shakes up the succession. Which member of the Lee family should take the top job?

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 isn’t just about profit - it’s about survival.

Host: Elise Hu
Producers: Simon Tulett and Sally Abrahams
Fact-checkers: Matt Toulson and Su-Min Hwang
Music: Thomas Ross Fitzsimons
Mixing and sound design: Charlie Brandon-King
Series editor: Matt Willis
With special thanks to Geoffrey Cain, Sojin Lim, Jaeyeon Lee, Jake Kwon and 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 (w3ct998j)
Dr Spock’s dangerous advice on baby sleep

Sometimes it is obvious to everyone when an idea is harmful, or a piece of advice is damaging. But not always. Occasionally bad ideas and terrible advice end up being accepted in society and supported by people in authority.

In such circumstances, one of the most powerful tools for changing people's minds is evidence – scientific studies that show beyond doubt that the bad idea is, indeed, a bad idea.

That's the subject of a new book by Helen Pearson, titled Beyond Belief: How Evidence Shows What Really Works.

An editor at the scientific journal Nature in her day job, the book chronicles those determined individuals who shake up the status quo by gathering just the right kind of evidence.

One story in that book stood out to us on More or Less as it shows just what happens when you don't have the evidence you need to challenge a dangerous way of doing things.

It's the story of a piece of advice from childcare expert Dr Benjamin Spock.

In a 1958 revision of his bestselling parenting guide Baby and Childcare he made a small change to his advice on sleeping position – advising parents to put their babies to sleep on their front.

It eventually became clear that this sleeping position was associated with a significant increase in the risk of sudden infant death, or cot death.

Presenter: Charlotte McDonald
Series producer: Tom Colls
Production co-ordinator: Brenda Brown
Sound engineer: Rod Farquhar
Editor: Richard Vadon

Getty Image: Baby laying down in a cot


SAT 06:00 BBC News (w1730nkk8t0shvk)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 06:06 Weekend (w1730c5gsd2sw91)
Iranian delegation arrives in Pakistan for peace talks with US

Iranian negotiators have arrived in Pakistan ahead of peace talks with the United States due to take place this weekend. Islamabad has established itself as a key player in bringing the US and Iran to the negotiating table, after it helped secure a two-week ceasefire.

Also in the programme: the Artemis II astronauts have safely returned to Earth, completing the crew’s 694,481-mile journey to the Moon and back; and ahead of his latest tour, we hear from the legendary Jamaican-born bass-baritone Sir Willard White.

Presenter Julian Worricker is joined by Dr Roxane Farmanfarmaian, a professor of international politics and specialist on the Middle East at the University of Cambridge, and Jeanna Smialek, Brussels bureau chief at The New York Times.

(Photo: a group of men walk under a digital screen displaying news of US-Iran peace talks along a road in Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital, on April 10, 2026. Credit: Farooq Naeem/AFP via Getty Images)


SAT 07:00 BBC News (w1730nkk8t0smlp)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 07:06 Weekend (w1730c5gsd2t015)
US delegation for negotiations with Iran lands in Islamabad

US Vice President JD Vance has arrived in Islamabad alongside the US delegation. Peace talks are due to begin in Pakistan’s capital today. Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf has said a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Tehran’s frozen assets must happen before negotiations begin.

Also in the programme: after a “textbook touchdown”, the four astronauts of the Artemis II lunar mission have safely returned to Earth; and scientists are predicting a change in global weather patterns later this year, caused by an expected El Niño event.

Presenter Julian Worricker is joined by Dr Roxane Farmanfarmaian, a professor of international politics and specialist on the Middle East at the University of Cambridge, and Jeanna Smialek, Brussels bureau chief at The New York Times.

(Photo: US Vice President JD Vance walks to speak to the media before boarding Air Force Two for expected departure to Pakistan, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, US, April 10, 2026. Credit: Jacquelyn Martin/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo)


SAT 08:00 BBC News (w1730nkk8t0srbt)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 08:06 Weekend (w1730c5gsd2t3s9)
Artemis II crew complete historic mission to the Moon

NASA’s Orion space capsule has made a successful splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, concluding a ten-day mission that sent its four astronauts on a journey around the Moon and deeper into space than any humans before them.

Also in the programme: US and Iranian negotiators arrive in Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital, ahead of peace talks; and after a successful run on Broadway in New York, a new musical celebrating Sir Alexander Fleming’s discovery of penicillin comes to London.

Presenter Julian Worricker is joined by Dr Roxane Farmanfarmaian, a professor of international politics and specialist on the Middle East at the University of Cambridge, and Jeanna Smialek, Brussels bureau chief at The New York Times.

(Photo: NASA astronauts Victor Glover and Christina Koch sit on the flight deck of a US Navy ship after they and fellow crewmates were extracted from their Orion spacecraft which splashed down in the Pacific Ocean, April 10, 2026. Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls/Handout via REUTERS)


SAT 09:00 BBC News (w1730nkk8t0sw2y)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 09:06 BBC Conversations (w3ct8m3f)
Hopes for a 'fragile' Middle East ceasefire

The week began with a threat from US President Donald Trump that a ‘whole civilisation would die’, and it ended with peace talks. We bring together people from across the Middle East to share their experiences of the past few days.

We hear from Iranians in the UK tracking explosions near their family homes in Iran, and Israelis divided by the latest ceasefire. With peace talks due to get underway this weekend in Pakistan, the US Vice President, JD Vance, described the ceasefire as a ‘fragile truce’.

Meanwhile, as Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there is ‘no ceasefire in Lebanon’ we hear from people in the country where air strikes have intensified.

“I was in a normal café with young people working and a strike hit just a few hundred metres away, maybe less,” Nada, a journalist in Beirut tells us. “Civilians are directly impacted and affected by the strikes, I don’t even understand why they’re striking anymore.

Presenter: James Reynolds
BBC producers: Anjolaoluwa, Ben Davis and Mimi Fawaz
Boffin Media producer: Richard Hollingham
Editors: Arja Haikonen and Harriet Oliver
A Boffin Media production in partnership with the BBC World Service Outside Source team.

(Photo: Houthi supporters demonstrate in solidarity with Iran, amid a two-week ceasefire between US and Iran. Credit: Khaled Abdullah/Reuters)


SAT 09:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcqjmh7cb)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 09:32 Americast (w3ct8lyx)
Is Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth waging a holy war against Iran?

Why has Hegseth fired top generals from the military, and how does he use religion to justify America’s war aims? We look at the frontman for the US war in Iran, the former Fox News host, Pete Hegseth. A key feature of his Pentagon press briefings are his religious rhetoric, which may reveal the motivation behind his reforms of the U.S. military.

Despite only narrowly making it through the confirmation process to become defense secretary in the first place, Hegseth has become a key figure in the White House as he looks to reshape the Pentagon by rolling back on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policies and removing many key figures at the top of the Pentagon.

Justin Webb and Anthony Zurcher, speak to Eric Schmitt from The New York Times, a longtime national security correspondent who recently left his press desk inside the Pentagon after refusing to accept new Trump administration rules that restrict their movements and who they can talk to. Justin and Eric discuss the reasons why Donald Trump wanted Hegseth in post, the impact so far of the changes he is making inside the Pentagon, and whether he is eyeing up a presidential run of his own one day.

Presenter: Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter and Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent
Proudcer: George Dabby with Alix Pickles
Technical producer: Mike Regaard
Editor: Sam Bonham

Get in touch:
• Join our online community: 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

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: 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: bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/p05299nl
Radical: bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0gg4k6r
The Global Story: bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/w13xtvsd


SAT 10:00 BBC News (w1730nkk8t0szv2)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 10:06 Not by the Playbook (w3ct9968)
Clinging on

Sometimes the daily grind can feel like climbing the sheer face of a mountain, and all that's keeping you hanging are the very tips of your fingers. This week, four inspirational female athletes tell us their secret to what has made the difference between clinging on and fulfilling their dreams and giving up and falling down.

A couple of months ago Sasha DiGiulian attempted the latest in a long line of extraordinary achievements. She wanted to become the first woman to "free climb" the toughest route of the infamous El Capitan in Yosemite. The Platinum route. An already-difficult task was made tougher a week or so into the climb when a storm hit... There was nothing left to do other than hunker down and cling on in her tiny 4ft x 6ft "portaledge", a specialised suspended shelter used for sleeping on big-wall climbs. Sasha has been telling me all about surviving and thriving her most audacious and frightening challenging to date.

In August the inaugural season of the Women's Pro Baseball League will get underway. The WPBL is the first professional baseball league for women for more than 70 years, and for one woman it will mark a significant staging post on the way to making her dream of a game truly available to all, come true. Justine Siegal was recently announced as the Commissioner of the WPBL a fitting position for the woman who has broken more barriers in the sport than anyone else. She became the first female coach of a professional men's baseball team, the first woman to throw batting practice to an MLB team, and first female coach employed by an MLB team, and like so many with a love for the game it started as a child, with grandpa in tow!

The Portuguese coastal town of Nazaré draws, siren-like, surfers from all over the world. Why? Well it's here that the largest recorded waves are produced and crash down. Lena Kenma is one of only a handful of women who can handle such an endeavour. Born in Germany she moved to Nazaré to pursue her dream of tackling all the Atlantic could throw at her. What she found was that it wasn't Mother Nature who provides the biggest challenge to success.

In 1982 Julie Moss made history when she crawled to the finish line, having collapsed just metres from the end of the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii. It was her first competitive triathlon and she came second, but as she explains to Not by the Playbook's Rebecca Kesby, that heroic fight for the line changed her life, and her attitude to the sport.

Photo: Rock climber, Sasha DiGiulian climbs to gold medal at the 2011 World Championships (Credit: Matt McClain for The Washington Post via Getty Images)


SAT 11:00 BBC News (w1730nkk8t0t3l6)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 11:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqfbvh4jmg)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SAT 11:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcqjmhgvl)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 11:32 Health Check (w3ct8k26)
How awe can boost your health

As the Artemis II crew return to Earth, we uncover the health benefits of the feeling of awe with world-renowned expert, Dacher Keltner. We also discuss how we might find more awe in our everyday lives.

What impact is the Iran war having on global health? Journalist Andrew Green unpicks the ramifications of shipping restrictions, ‘black rain’ in Tehran and hacking attacks on medical suppliers.

How two boyhood friends have helped developed a new kind of prosthesis with a programme based in Guadalajara. Our reporter Rogelio Navarro has the story.

Progress on our understanding of Noma, a severe gangrenous disease of the mouth and face. Plus, how some blind people are using echolocation to help them detect objects in their environment.

Presenter: Claudia Hammond
Producer: Hannah Robins and Jonathan Blackwell

(Photo: Nasa astronaut and Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman peers out of one of the Orion spacecraft's main cabin windows, looking back at Earth, as the crew travels towards the Moon, 2 April, 2026. Credit: Nasa/Reuters)


SAT 12:00 BBC News (w1730nkk8t0t7bb)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 12:06 World Questions (w3ct8snp)
Nepal

Gen Z protestors were shot dead in the street, Nepal’s state buildings were razed to the ground, and the government collapsed last autumn. Now, after an historic election, the country is taking a step into the unknown with a new government. It is led by a rapper-turned-politician and it’s pledged to the aims of its youth.

Jonny Dymond and a panel in Kathmandu debate audience questions covering the death and destruction of September 2025, future prospects for the country’s young adults, and the danger of a continuing Middle Eastern war to life in Nepal.


The Panel:

Rakshya Bam: Youth activist and Coordinator of the Gen Z Front

Shishir Khanal MP: Minister for Foreign Affairs

Dr Prakash Mahat: Former Finance Minister and Spokesperson for Nepali Congress Party

Dr Mandira Sharma: Director, Asia and Pacific Region, International Commission of Jurists


Producer: Charlie Taylor

(Photo: A demonstrator holding Nepal's flag celebrates at the Singha Durbar office complex
Credit: Reuters)


SAT 13:00 BBC News (w1730nkk8t0tc2g)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 13:06 Newshour (w1730bmy942v59j)
US and Iran officials attend peace talks in Islamabad

US and Iranian officials are meeting the Pakistani prime minister separately to discuss extending the two-week ceasefire between their two countries. Iranian TV, however, says talks could be cancelled if Tehran’s conditions are not met. We hear the latest from the BBC’s Chief International correspondent.

Also on the programme: A look ahead at tomorrow’s elections in Hungary where Prime Minister Viktor Orban could fall from power after 16 years; and a successful splashdown in the Pacific Ocean for the returning Artemis II astronauts.

(Photo: US Vice President JD Vance waves after arriving for talks with Iranian officials in Islamabad, Pakistan, Saturday 11th April 2026. Credit: Jacquelyn Martin/Pool via REUTERS)


SAT 14:00 BBC News (w1730nkk8t0tgtl)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 14:06 Sportsworld (w1730c8rk9hl1z7)
Live Sporting Action

The Premier League returns and Sportsworld brings you live commentary of Brentford against Everton.

The former Cameroon, Tottenham and Newcastle defender Sebastien Bassong and former Liverpool and Crystal Palace defender Martin Kelly join Lee James to build up to that match and the rest of the weekend’s action.

Sportsworld will also be live at Augusta for round two of golf’s Masters. It’s also the final weekend of the NBA regular season, semi-finals of Monte Carlo tennis and there will be reaction to this year’s Grand National.

Image: Igor Thiago of Brentford F.C. celebrates his goal during the Premier League match between Everton and Brentford in Liverpool, England, on January 4, 2026. (Photo by Mike Morese/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)


SAT 18:00 BBC News (w1730nkk8t0tyt3)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 18:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqfbvh5cvc)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SAT 18:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcqjmjb2h)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 18:32 13 Minutes Presents: Artemis II (w3ct9b82)
13 Minutes Presents: Artemis II

Artemis and the return to the Moon. The BBC’s space podcast will be following the Artemis II mission every day for two weeks. Nasa plans to return to the Moon for the first time in more than half a century and the next step is Artemis II. The mission aims to send four astronauts – on a spacecraft called Orion - to loop around the Moon. They plan to go further from Earth than any human in history. The story of Artemis II will be told by space scientist, Maggie Aderin-Pocock, and British astronaut, Tim Peake, and US space journalist Kristin Fisher. The last crewed mission to The Moon was Apollo 17 in 1972.
Orion’s crew is scheduled to be: Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen.
13 Minutes is the BBC’s space podcast, telling epic space stories. It’s produced by the BBC Audio Science Unit for the BBC World Service.
Theme music by Hans Zimmer and Christian Lundberg and produced by Russell Emanuel, for Bleeding Fingers Music.


SAT 19:00 BBC News (w1730nkk8t0v2k7)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 19:06 The Inquiry (w3ct98pg)
Is it time to scrap the Commonwealth Games?

For the second time in 12 years Glasgow is preparing to host the Commonwealth Games after Australia’s Victoria state pulled out because of increased costs. Victoria’s withdrawal raised questions about whether the 2026 games would go ahead before Glasgow agreed to step in.

Staging a sporting mega-event is expensive and governments face increasing scrutiny over public spending. Victoria’s decision raised wider questions about affordability for potential hosts. At the same time, critics question the Games’ political relevance, given its origins in Britain’s colonial past.

The Commonwealth Games Federation says the event can be delivered in a more sustainable way and argues that it brings cultural and economic benefits to host cities, but recent editions have run into significant costs and budget pressures.

This week on The Inquiry, Tanya Beckett asks ‘Is it time to scrap the Commonwealth Games?’

Contributors:
Dr Stuart Whigham, senior lecturer in sport, coaching and physical education at Oxford Brookes University, UK
Dr Matthew McDowell, lecturer in sport policy, management, and international development at the University of Edinburgh, UK
Dr Verity Postlethwaite, lecturer in strategic event management at Loughborough University, UK
Professor Gayle McPherson, associate dean for research at the University of the West of Scotland, and director of legacy and community engagement for Commonwealth Games Scotland, UK

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

(Photo: 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medals. Credit: Adrian Dennis/Getty Images)


SAT 19:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcqjmjftm)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 19:32 Happy News (w3ct8nw7)
The Happy Pod: From a small town, to the moon

The mayor of Ingersoll beams with pride at the Canadian town being represented on Artemis II. Ingersoll is home to 15,000 people, including the astronaut Jeremy Hansen, who is the mission specialist. Also, we speak to two former Nasa astronauts about why the Artemis II mission has gripped people around the world.

Plus, the garden designed to support people with Parkinson's disease. It will go on display in May at the British Chelsea Flower Show, and then find its roots at a specialist hospital. The woman who has a memorial bench in honour of her survival. The couple who held a sustainable wedding in Utrecht Central Station and, the rescue operation in New Zealand which reunited Molly the dog with her owner Jessica, one week after they were separated.

Presenter: Holly Gibbs.
Music: Iona Hampson

(Photo: The Nasa Artemis II crew, mission specialist Christina Koch, mission specialist Jeremy Hansen, commander Reid Wiseman, and pilot Victor Glover, inside the Orion spacecraft on their way home. Credit: Nasa/Reuters)


SAT 20:00 BBC News (w1730nkk8t0v69c)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 20:06 The Arts Hour (w3ct8h7r)
Film-maker Olive Nwosu

Nikki Bedi talks to Nigerian British film-maker Olive Nwosu about her debut feature, Lady, and discusses this week’s cultural highlights with cultural critic Bidisha.

Emmy Award-winning American actor Noah Wyle on TV medical drama, The Pitt.

Argentinian film-maker and opera director Penny Woolcock on growing up in Buenos Aires

Chilean Belgian director Felipe Bustos Sierra on his documentary film, Everybody to Kenmure Street.

American actor Elizabeth Moss discusses her role in the series, Imperfect Women.

And, Egyptian-Irish writer Salma El-Wardany talks about reframing mythology from a female perspective.

(Photo: Nigerian-British film-maker Olive Nwosu Credit: Scott A. Garfitt)


SAT 21:00 BBC News (w1730nkk8t0vb1h)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 21:06 Newshour (w1730bmy942w48k)
Iran-US peace talks continue into the night

US and Iranian officials are continuing with their direct talks with Pakistan in Islamabad on bringing an end to conflict in the Middle East. The US Central Command says two American navy ships have sailed through the Strait of Hormuz, in the first such move since the war with Iran began. President Trump had earlier said Washington had started clearing mines from the waterway, a claim denied by Tehran.

Also in the programme: Hungary prepares to go to the polls; and how British exceptionalism led the Cambridge five who spied to despise the people they betrayed.

(Photo: Vice President JD Vance walks up a flight of stairs to meet with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for talks about Iran, Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Islamabad. CREDIT: Jacquelyn Martin/Pool via REUTERS)


SAT 22:00 BBC News (w1730nkk8t0vfsm)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 22:06 Not by the Playbook (w3ct9968)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:06 today]


SAT 23:00 BBC News (w1730nkk8t0vkjr)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 23:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqfbvh5zl0)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SAT 23:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcqjmjxt4)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 23:32 This Is Africa (w3ct8tcv)
Malakey

Trying to stand out in a country with such a rich musical heritage as Mali can be tough, especially when your family isn’t fully behind your ambitions. But Malakey has carved out a place with his unusual genre-busting sound – a blend of traditional rhythms, RnB, jazz, urban music and rap. Big hits include Baby Myra, Bossoumani, Fana Ba and Yako, which reached over 11 million views on YouTube. And he’s collaborated with one of the greats of Malian music – the kora player Sidiki Diabaté – as well as popular, hard-hitting rapper Weei Soldat.

Malakey tells This is Africa how he was almost about to give up on music when he got his lucky break when he performed his first concert. He recalls how he only found out his grandmother was also a singer after four years of trying to break in. That’s given his music more of a meaning. He’s now on a mission to keep his Bambara musical roots alive - but in a way that is urban and more enjoyable for modern audiences.

Plus DJ Edu the Afroboss spins his latest mix of new music coming out of Africa.

SUNDAY 12 APRIL 2026

SUN 00:00 BBC News (w1730nkk8t0vp8w)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 00:06 BBC Conversations (w3ct8m3f)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:06 on Saturday]


SUN 00:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcqjmk1k8)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 00:32 The Documentary (w3ct8xr6)
The Extractor

Hilik Magnus is Israel’s foremost search and rescue specialist. He has performed missions, public and private, for over thirty years across six continents. He has worked under the radar during disasters such as 2004’s tsunami and 2008’s Mumbai terror attacks. He has worked with everyone, from grieving families to cartels and the Taliban, all for the simple purpose of returning people to where they belong.

Now, he opens up about this secretive world, and talks frankly about his origins and values.

The start, in the 1990s, was simple. His operating base was an abandoned train carriage in the southern desert of Israel with three telephones and a dial-up connection.

Hilik did not know what awaited him. All he knew was that he felt a ‘shlichut’ – ‘higher purpose’ in Hebrew – to help save lives, to return the unburied to their grieving families.

Yet the business grew and now employs 80 people in a hi-tech hub in Tel Aviv. There is GPS, GSM, fibre-optic, and over 2,500 calls for help every year.

In the midst of this change, Hilik is finding it hard to connect the now and then. For him, the purity of the work was in shepherding lost souls, alive or dead, to their rightful place. Strange, mystical encounters at 6,000m above sea-level. Exposing national corruption in Bolivia. Not board meetings and touchscreens. He hates the city and all it implies. Yet the world moves on, and the work means everything to him. When he lets himself stop, his 76 years catch up with him, leading to days laid up in bed.

Producer: Jeremy Neumark Jones
Assistant producer: Robert Neumark Jones
A Whistledown production for BBC World Service

(Photo: Hilik Magnus. Credit: Magnus International PR)


SUN 01:00 BBC News (w1730nkk8t0vt10)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 01:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqfbvh6728)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SUN 01:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcqjmk59d)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 01:32 Inheritance: Samsung (w3ct94gw)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:32 on Saturday]


SUN 01:50 Sporting Witness (w3ct8rwy)
International football's biggest ever beating: 31-0

In April 2001, the small island nation of American Samoa took on Australia in the World Cup qualifiers. You could only play for the team if you held an American passport, which automatically ruled out the majority of the American Samoans, leaving them to resorting to picking schoolboys to play for them.

What followed was the biggest defeat in international football – 31-0.

In 2024, goalkeeper Nicky Salapu told Uma Doraiswamy about how he felt as the 31 goals flew in past him.

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: Nicky Salapu in goal for American Samoa against Australia in 2001. Credit: Darren England/Allsport Getty Images)


SUN 02:00 BBC News (w1730nkk8t0vxs4)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 02:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqfbvh6btd)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SUN 02:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcqjmk91j)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 02:32 Health Check (w3ct8k26)
[Repeat of broadcast at 11:32 on Saturday]


SUN 03:00 BBC News (w1730nkk8t0w1j8)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 03:06 World Questions (w3ct8snp)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Saturday]


SUN 04:00 BBC News (w1730nkk8t0w58d)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 04:06 From Our Own Correspondent (w3ct99bs)
Donald Trump and a dangerous ultimatum

Pascale Harter introduces correspondents' and reporters' stories from the United States, Ukraine, Indonesia and Morocco.

Citizens of Iran and nearby Gulf countries held their breath after US President Donald Trump threatened 'a whole civilisation would die' if a ceasefire wasn’t agreed. State Department correspondent Tom Bateman has been following the proclamations of an unpredictable Commander in Chief.

The BBC's Vitaly Shevchenko is originally from Ukraine and recently returned home for the first time since Russia's full-scale invasion began in 2022. While there, he saw how the war has reshaped Kyiv, and how the town of Bucha is recovering from the massacre which took place at the start of the conflict.

In Indonesia, tourist hotspots and remote beaches alike are being hit by waves of plastic waste, with social media videos of floating rubbish tips going viral. Rebecca Henschke recently plunged into the plastic problem at first hand while snorkeling in once pristine waters.

The Amazigh are North Africa’s most-populous indigenous group, having inhabited the region for centuries before Arab migrations. With their own script, languages, and traditional customs, the Amazigh also have their own calendar. Peter Yeung travelled to a village in the Atlas Mountains to welcome in the year 2976.

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

(Image: President Donald Trump conducts a news conference in the White House briefing room about the war in Iran Credit: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)


SUN 04:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcqjmkjjs)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 04:32 BBC Inside Science (w3ct977f)
Return to the moon

This week, humans once again looked down on the magnificent desolation of the lunar surface, from the orbit of the moon itself. They saw earth rise and earth set. They named the craters on the far side. They travelled further from Earth than any human has travelled before. Now, the Artemis mission returns home. Libby Jackson, Head of Space at the Science Museum, joins Inside Science to illuminate whether this lunar flyby is nothing but a test ride or significant for the future of human spaceflight and science.

Nasa believes Artemis II will pave the way to not only land on the moon but establish a lunar base. Kelly Weinersmith, author of A City on Mars, joins Tom to discuss the complications that are likely to arrive when and if humans attempt to establish a semi-permanent presence on the lunar surface. Is it really possible?

Presenter: Tom Whipple
Producer: Harrison Lewis and Katie Tomsett
Editor: Martin Smith


SUN 05:00 BBC News (w1730nkk8t0w90j)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 05:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqfbvh6q1s)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SUN 05:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcqjmkn8x)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 05:32 The Documentary (w3ct8xr6)
[Repeat of broadcast at 00:32 today]


SUN 06:00 BBC News (w1730nkk8t0wdrn)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 06:06 Weekend (w1730c5gsd2ws64)
US-Iran peace talks end without a deal

Vice-President JD Vance, who led the US delegation, says America and Iran have not reached an agreement after marathon peace talks in Islamabad. Iranian state media has accused the US of making “unreasonable demands” that prevented negotiations from progressing. Pakistan has emerged as an unexpected intermediary between the US and Iran over the past few weeks, after it helped broker a two-week ceasefire.

Also in the programme: Hungarians go to the polls in a vote that could end Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s 16 years in power; and a group of people impacted by gun violence in Chicago have created an album to highlight the epidemic of violence in their communities.

Presenter Julian Worricker is joined by Nina dos Santos, journalist, broadcaster and a director at the Freuds communications agency in London, and Ricardo Avelar, a journalist from El Salvador who fled the country and has been based in the UK for the past two years.

(Photo: US Vice-President JD Vance and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif shake hands during high-stakes peace talks in Islamabad, Pakistan, April 11, 2026. Credit: Jacquelyn Martin/Pool via REUTERS)


SUN 07:00 BBC News (w1730nkk8t0wjhs)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 07:06 Weekend (w1730c5gsd2wwy8)
Pakistan urges US and Iran to uphold ceasefire

Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has released a statement following the conclusion of peace talks, urging both sides that it is “imperative that the parties continue to uphold their commitment to ceasefire”. The US and Iranian delegations failed to reach a deal following marathon peace talks in Pakistan’s capital.

Also in the programme: French film director François Ozon brings Albert Camus’ classic existentialist novel ‘L’ Étranger’ to the big screen in a new adaptation; and how the Colombian city of Medellín is working to establish itself as the world’s reggaeton capital.

Presenter Julian Worricker is joined by Nina dos Santos, journalist, broadcaster and a director at the Freuds communications agency in London, and Ricardo Avelar, a journalist from El Salvador who fled the country and has been based in the UK for the past two years.

(Photo: a vehicle believed to be carrying US Vice President JD Vance leaves Islamabad, Pakistan, April 12, 2026. Credit: Sohail Shahzad/EPA/Shutterstock)


SUN 08:00 BBC News (w1730nkk8t0wn7x)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 08:06 Weekend (w1730c5gsd2x0pd)
Voting begins in high-stakes Hungarian election

Hungarians go to the polls in a vote that could end Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s 16 years in power, and have profound implications for the country, and wider Europe. Opposition leader Péter Magyar, who formed a grassroots party after splitting from the ruling Fidesz party, has emerged as the biggest threat to Mr Orbán’s leadership.

Also in the programme: NASA has welcomed home the four Artemis II astronauts at a special reception in Houston; and we speak to two members of the legendary British rock band Deep Purple, after they met with a long-time superfan, Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

Presenter Julian Worricker is joined by Nina dos Santos, journalist, broadcaster and a director at the Freuds communications agency in London, and Ricardo Avelar, a journalist from El Salvador who fled the country and has been based in the UK for the past two years.

(Photo: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his wife Aniko Levai vote during the Hungarian parliamentary election in Budapest, Hungary, April 12, 2026. Credit: Bernadett Szabo/REUTERS)


SUN 09:00 BBC News (w1730nkk8t0ws01)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 09:06 From Our Own Correspondent (w3ct99bs)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:06 today]


SUN 09:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcqjml48f)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 09:32 The Food Chain (w3ct8svt)
So you think you can't cook?

Many people feel they can’t cook, or don’t know where to start. Studies suggest that in some countries, fewer people are preparing meals from scratch, and a lack of confidence in the kitchen can be a big part of the problem.

Ruth Alexander explores what holds people back from cooking, and how to overcome it. Drawing on her own experience of learning later in life, she asks: can anyone become a confident cook?

She’s joined by three guests who spend much of their lives in the kitchen, and who know that not everyone starts out with natural ability.

Robin Van Creveld, founder and director of Community Chef in Lewes, England, teaches people practical cooking skills through a social enterprise. Tokunbo Koiki, founder of Tokunbo’s Kitchen Catering Company and London African Food Week, joins from Lagos to share her approach to making cooking accessible and enjoyable. And Pak Wai Hung, owner of 288 Bar and Wok restaurant in Cheltenham, explains how building confidence can be just as important as learning techniques.

Together, they share simple, realistic ways to get started, from overcoming fear of failure to building basic skills and routines. Ruth asks them how beginners can gain confidence, what essential skills really matter, and how to make cooking feel less intimidating.

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

Producer: Izzy Greenfield
Sound Engineer: Hal Haines
Picture: Credit – Getty.


SUN 10:00 BBC News (w1730nkk8t0wwr5)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 10:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct5tw0)
Fashion without barriers

What we wear helps us express ourselves and communicate to others in the most immediate way. But the tools we frequently use to do that, such as clothing and haircare are not available to everyone equally.

One in six of us has a disability of some sort - according to the World Health Organisation - but most clothing and beauty brands don’t take account of that. From making shops accessible to catering for differences in design and size, few companies address these particular needs.

This week on People Fixing The World we’re talking to people trying to change that. Hair and Care is a London-based hairstyling workshop which helps people with visual impairments take better care of their hair.

Plus, we bring together two entrepreneurs who’ve brought adaptive clothing to Africa and Asia allowing people with disabilities to fully express themselves in the way they dress. We also meet the UK-based adaptive clothing company that could affect the way we all dress – by working with technology companies to develop a scanner that will help in tailoring for all body shapes.

Presenter: Myra Anubi
Reporters: Emma Tracey, Claire Bowes
Producer: Claire Bowes
Series Producer: Jon Bithrey
Editor: Tom Bigwood
Sound mix: Hal Haines

(Image: Wearapy model photoshoot)


SUN 10:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcqjml80k)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 10:32 The Fifth Floor (w3ct8sq9)
Bringing India's daughters back home

In India, official figures suggest that one in three women experience domestic violence. In 2023, police registered over 130,000 cases of marital abuse and more than 6,000 women were killed in disputes relating to dowries. Despite these high numbers, societal attitudes to domestic abuse are changing only very slowly in the country, with families often reluctant to be seen to be interfering in a daughter's marriage. Now a new short film, Band Baaja Bitiya (Hindi for "a wedding band and a daughter") is setting out to push the pace of change. Geeta Pandey, Women and Social Affairs Editor for BBC India, looked into the true story that inspired the film.

In February this year, a Kenyan woman called Joy, who was a 19-year-old student at the time, discovered that she was at the centre of a viral video circulating on the  social media platform, TikTok. In it, she is approached  by a man who says he is from Russia and their interaction is secretly filmed by him. Several other similar clips of women were shared widely online. The creator of the videos had been promoting himself online as a so-called pickup coach and his content has proved extremely popular. But for many of the women, these videos have had real life consequences. Mungai Ngige from the BBC's Disinformation Unit investigates.

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: Laura Thomas and Caroline Ferguson

(Photo: Faranak Amidi. Credit: Tricia Yourkevich)


SUN 11:00 BBC News (w1730nkk8t0x0h9)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 11:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqfbvh7fjk)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SUN 11:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcqjmlcrp)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 11:32 Inheritance: Samsung (w3ct94gw)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:32 on Saturday]


SUN 11:50 More or Less (w3ct998j)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:50 on Saturday]


SUN 12:00 BBC News (w1730nkk8t0x47f)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 12:06 BBC Conversations (w3ct8m3f)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:06 on Saturday]


SUN 12:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcqjmlhht)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 12:32 Assignment (w3ct8h0y)
Albania: Land, money and the sea

Albania has had many different faces over the last hundred years. Once ruled by the Ottomans, it became a kingdom before turning into a totalitarian communist state after the Second World War. During this time, no one was allowed in or out; all private property became state-owned, and bunkers sprang up across the country. After the fall of the communist regime, Albania descended into chaos. In 1996, a pyramid scheme that three quarters of the population had paid into, collapsed. People lost everything, and the country, especially the south, erupted into violence.

These days, Albania is aiming to shake off its past and transform its reputation from a country marked by corruption to one known for luxury tourism. With its miles of unspoilt beaches, snow capped mountains, and olive groves that could rival anything Greece has to offer, it’s unsurprising that it’s quickly attracting investors. Among them are Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner, who are hoping to build a resort on an island off the coast of Vlorë. They have visited the secluded beaches of Zvërnec and Nartë; currently home only to endangered monk seals, sea turtles, and a few sheep. They, like others, hope to benefit from new government incentives to build luxury 5 star plus resorts.

However, ghosts of Albania’s communist past remain. Land disputes, allegations of corruption, and a lack of infrastructure could derail these resorts before they’ve even broken ground. For Assignment, Emily Wither travels to Albania to find out whether it will be able to re-brand itself, and whether its dream of luxury escapism will become a reality.

Producer: Lizzy McNeill
Sound engineer: Neil Churchill
Production co-ordinator: Katie Morrison
Editor: Penny Murphy

(Photo: PPNEA biologists look for monk seals at Narta Beach, southern Albania)


SUN 13:00 BBC News (w1730nkk8t0x7zk)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 13:06 Newshour (w1730bmy942y26m)
Tehran says US failed to gain Iran's trust during talks

The United States and Iran are blaming each other for their peace talks in Pakistan ending without agreement. The leader of Iran's negotiating team has said that the United States 'ultimately failed' to gain the trust of the Iranian delegation. The US vice-president JD Vance said Washington's terms had represented its "best and final offer".

Also in the programme: Hungarians are voting in an election that could see an end to Viktor Orban's 16 years as prime minister; and legendary Indian singer, Asha Bhosle, has died at the age of 92.


(Photo: Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif meets with Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf (L). Credit: Reuters)


SUN 14:00 BBC News (w1730nkk8t0xcqp)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 14:06 The Climate Question (w3ct99h9)
Earthquakes and climate change

Earthquakes are caused by a sudden release of stress along faults in the earth's crust, not by climate change, but some new studies suggest that melting glaciers and permafrost may influence when, where and how often seismic activity occurs.

In this episode, hosts Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar chat to seismologist Dr. Verena Simon from the Swiss Seismology Service and Associate Professor of Geosciences at Colorado State University, Sean Gallen.

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

Production team: Diane Richardson, Grace Braddock
Sound Engineer: Tom Brignell and Philip Bull
Production Coordinator: Brenda Brown.
Editor: Simon Watts.

(Photo by Annabelle Chih/Getty Images)


SUN 14:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcqjmlr02)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 14:32 Happy News (w3ct8nw7)
[Repeat of broadcast at 19:32 on Saturday]


SUN 15:00 BBC News (w1730nkk8t0xhgt)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 15:06 Sportsworld (w1730c8rk9hp2mg)
Live Sporting Action

Delyth Lloyd presents live Premier League commentary of Chelsea against Manchester City at Stamford Bridge.

Delyth will be joined by Sportsworld's Mani Djazmi and the former Chelsea, Fulham and Australia goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer to build up to the commentary game, as well as discussing Sunday's other three Premier League games and the weekend's other big talking points.

Sportsworld will also discuss the final round of the Masters at Augusta, the final of the Monte Carlo, and reflect on Tyson Fury's return to the boxing ring against Arslanbek Makhmudov.

Image: Phil Foden of Manchester City battles with Cole Palmer of Chelsea during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Chelsea at Etihad Stadium on January 4, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)


SUN 19:00 BBC News (w1730nkk8t0xzgb)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 19:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqfbvh8dhl)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SUN 19:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcqjmmbqq)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 19:32 In the Studio (w3ct8l52)
Chef Rodolfo Guzman: Chilean summer menu

Pink tomato ice cream decorated with edible poppy flowers feature on the summer menu created by chef Rodolfo Guzman for his celebrated Santiago restaurant Borago. Jane Chambers hears how the menu celebrates native Chilean plants like wild mountain coconuts.


SUN 20:00 BBC News (w1730nkk8t0y36g)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 20:06 Unexpected Elements (w3ct8kc7)
[Repeat of broadcast at 00:06 on Saturday]


SUN 21:00 BBC News (w1730nkk8t0y6yl)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 21:06 Newshour (w1730bmy942z15n)
Hungary election: Viktor Orbán ousted after 16 years in power

Péter Magyar is expected to be the new Prime Minister as Orbán's 16-year reign comes to an end. Record numbers of Hungarians showed up at the polls for an election which was seen as pivotal to the future of Hungary and Europe. Magyar has promised closer ties to the EU and an anti-corruption agenda. Our presenter in Budapest Rajini Vaidyanathan speaks to people on the ground to discuss what this new chapter means for the country.

Also on the programme: Donald Trump says he wants to intercept all ships who pay Iran to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. We discuss the legal implications of his suggestion with marine lawyer Caroline Tuckett. And, the British rockband Deep Purple are touring the world where they met an unexpected huge fan - the Japanese prime minister.

(Photo: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban reacts as people applaud after the announcement of the partial results of parliamentary election in Budapest, Hungary, April 12, 2026. Credit: REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo


SUN 22:00 BBC News (w1730nkk8t0ybpq)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 22:06 The Climate Question (w3ct99h9)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:06 today]


SUN 22:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcqjmmpz3)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 22:32 Assignment (w3ct8h0y)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:32 today]


SUN 23:00 BBC News (w1730nkk8t0ygfv)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 23:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqfbvh8wh3)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SUN 23:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcqjmmtq7)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 23:32 The Fifth Floor (w3ct8sq9)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:32 today]

MONDAY 13 APRIL 2026

MON 00:00 BBC News (w1730nkk8t0yl5z)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 00:06 From Our Own Correspondent (w3ct99bs)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:06 on Sunday]


MON 00:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nlcqjmmygc)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 00:32 BBC Inside Science (w3ct977f)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 on Sunday]


MON 01:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2b2k68)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 01:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqfq3sdz7j)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 01:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sxrxgn)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 01:32 Discovery (w3ct8js5)
Superbugs: Resistance Rising Part 3

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 3 - Failed market. A successful new antibiotic must not only treat bacteria that resist existing therapies, it must be kept in reserve for only the hardest cases lest new kinds of resistance evolve, and yet it must pay back the developers' investment. No wonder several leading antibiotic companies have failed financially in the past 8 years. Is there a way to make antibiotic development pay?


MON 02:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2b2nyd)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 02:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqfq3sf2zn)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 02:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sxs16s)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 02:32 CrowdScience (w3ct8k6q)
When will the next super-volcano erupt?

Is the world sitting on a ticking time bomb? CrowdScience listener Christel recently watched a documentary about a volcanic eruption in 536 AD that left her native Sweden under a cloud of ash for three years. It got her thinking, do we know when this could happen again?



With more than 300 volcanoes – and 24 of them listed as currently active – the Philippines is a country where trying to predict eruptions has huge real world consequences.



Presenter Anand Jagatia travels to Manila to meet the scientists at PHIVOLCS, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, including the head of their Volcano Monitoring and Eruption Prediction Division, Mariton Antonia Bornas, to find out how they try to predict volcanic activity in the country and help make sure communities are evacuated out of harm’s way.



He travels with the team to Taal volcano, which experienced violent eruptions in 2020 and has been active again this year, to visit the observatory monitoring for signs of future activity and to hike to the main crater of the volcano with resident volcanologist Paolo Reniva.



He also speaks to Dr George Cooper from Cardiff University in the UK about what makes a volcano a supervolcano, and to ask the all important question of if we know when this will happen again.


Presenter: Anand Jagatia

Producer: Dan Welsh

Editor: Ben Motley

(Photo: Smoke Emitting From Volcanic Mountain Against Sky - stock photo -EyeEm Mobile GmbH via Getty Images)


MON 03:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2b2spj)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 03:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct5tw0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:06 on Sunday]


MON 03:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sxs4yx)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 03:32 The Fifth Floor (w3ct8sq9)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:32 on Sunday]


MON 04:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2b2xfn)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 04:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqfq3sfbgx)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 04:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sxs8q1)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 04:32 The Conversation (w3ct99n8)
How war shapes women's lives

As war flares across the Middle East, and conflicts rage in other parts of the world, it is often said that women and girls are the hardest hit by war. But what does that actually mean in practice? What are the key statistics that tell us how conflicts impact women? And what role are women playing in peace processes too?
Datshiane Navanayagam speaks to two women who look at how war shapes women’s lives. Idil Absiye is a policy advisor on Women, Peace and Security at the United Nations, and is based in Kenya. Dr Laura Muñoz-Encinar is an archaeologist and forensic anthropologist at the Spanish National Research Council. Her main focus is the Spanish Civil War, a conflict from almost a century ago that offers many lessons for today.

Producer: Hannah Sander

(Image: (L) Laura Muñoz-Encinar, credit Laura Muñoz-Encinar. (R) Idil Absiye, credit Idil Absiye.)


MON 05:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2b315s)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 05:06 Newsday (w1730c190w0p3cj)
Péter Magyar wins a landslide election victory

Opposition supporters in Hungary have been partying late into the night, after a landslide election victory for Peter Magyar and his pro- EU Tisza party that's sent shock waves across the continent. They've won more than two- thirds of the seats in parliament, which will allow them to change Hungary's constitution.

After peace talks came and went...US President Trump has announced an immediate naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. What does that mean for a global economy stressed by the war?

(Photo: Backdropped by the Parliament building, Chairman of the opposition Tisza Party Peter Magyar (C) addresses supporters after his party won landslide victory in the general elections in Budapest, Hungary, 12 April 2026; Credit: Robert Hegedus/EPA/Shutterstock)


MON 06:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2b34xx)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 06:06 Newsday (w1730c190w0p73n)
Orbán era swept away by Magyar's Hungary election win

Viktor Orbán's 16 years in power is over, and the system condemned as an "electoral autocracy" lies in tatters, defeated by a 45-year-old former party insider who convinced a majority of Hungarians to bring it to an end.

The change in government has been welcomed by governments around Europe who have long been frustrated by Mr Orban's close ties to Russia and his obstruction of policies designed to support Ukraine. We'll hear from Russia about the impact this might have on the Kremlin's foreign policy.

And talks to end the war in Iran have ended without progress. President Trump has responded by announcing plans to blockade ships travelling through the Strait of Hormuz.

(Photo: Supporters of the Tisza Party celebrate during the party's election night watch event; Credit: Tibor Illyes/EPA/Shutterstock)


MON 07:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2b38p1)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 07:06 Newsday (w1730c190w0pbvs)
Historic victory for Magyar and Tisza in Hungary

Mr Magyar told a huge crowd in Budapest that they'd taken Hungary back, after toppling the system of the long- term prime minister, Viktor Orban. Mr Magyar said Hungary would once again be a strong ally of the European Union and NATO. What next now for Hungary and relations with EU and USA.

After peace talks came and went...The US military says it will begin a blockade of Iranian ports . Iran says any military vessels that approach the shipping route will be "dealt with severely", What does that mean for a global economy stressed by the war?

(Photo: Peter Magyar, leader of the opposition Tisza party, waves a Hungarian flag as he celebrates; Credit: Leonhard Föger/Reuters)


MON 08:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2b3df5)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 08:06 The Interview (w3ct8kl1)
Mark Suzman, Gates Foundation: Countries should be embarrassed

“The fact that we are now the world's largest funder of the World Health Organisation should be a major embarrassment to every country on this planet.”

Sam Fenwick speaks to Mark Suzman, CEO of Gates Foundation, the world’s largest philanthropic organisation, about why he thinks cuts to global aid spending is costing lives.

He says the Foundation has overtaken world governments to become the largest financial backer of the WHO. Last year, the United States scaled back parts of its overseas aid budget. It wasn’t the only county to do so, with many governments including the UK, Germany, France and Japan all spending less.

For an institution with little democratic accountability, Mark Suzman is asked whether there is too much reliance on the Gates Foundation globally and whether its priorities are the right ones.

Thank you to the Business Daily team for its help in making this programme.

The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC, including episodes with Joy Phumaphi, Executive Secretary of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance, and Samantha Power, former US Ambassador to 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: Sam Fenwick
Producer: Cordelia Hemming
Editor: Damon Rose

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

(Image: Mark Suzman Credit: Hollie Adams/Bloomberg via Getty Images)


MON 08:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sxsrpk)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct8gfm)
The Dutch village at risk from an energy project

Today - a Dutch fishing village that could be wiped off the map to make room for a mega‑energy hub.

We visit Moerdijk, to meet families, eel‑smokers and shopkeepers. What does their fight tell us about the quiet dilemmas in the global race for clean energy?

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

Presented and produced by Anna Holligan

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: View of some boats in Moerdijk, Netherlands.)


MON 08:50 Witness History (w3ct8r34)
The creation of My Little Pony

My Little Pony first appeared in shops in the United States in 1983 and in that decade alone more than 100 million would be sold.

But American toymaker Bonnie Zacharle tells Josephine McDermott how her idea to make a pony you could play with like a doll was turned down several times. She reveals the toys she liked to play with as a child living in Japan, how she updated Mr Potato Head and how her pony design first hit the market as a much bigger, harder model called My Pretty Pony.

She says she told her friend in toy marketing to get out of her office when she first suggested the ponies should come in pastel pinks and purples instead of realistic dun, black and grey colours. But she concedes that market testing showed it was what the customer wanted and she’s very proud of what she’s achieved.

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 original prototype of My Little Pony. Credit: Bonnie Zacharle)


MON 09:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2b3j59)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 09:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqfq3sfy6k)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 09:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sxswfp)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 09:32 CrowdScience (w3ct8k6q)
[Repeat of broadcast at 02:32 today]


MON 10:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2b3mxf)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 10:06 The History Hour (w3ct99kz)
Hitler’s teeth and the Leaning Tower of Pisa

Max Pearson presents a collection of the week's Witness History interviews from the BBC World Service. Our guest is Sahar Saleem, an Egyptian paleoradiologist specialising in using medical imaging technology to study mummies and ancient artefacts.

We start with the story a Jewish interpreter who helped guard Adolf Hitler's teeth in the final days of the Second World War.

Then, the engineering efforts to reduce the tilt of the Leaning Tower of Pisa - which kept it closed to the public for 11 years.

We hear a Nepalese activist recall the massive protests that led to the restoration of multi-party democracy in 1990.

Plus, a childhood memory of the first major surrealist exhibition in New York.

Finally, we hear of the current whereabouts of Jorge, a popular Argentine sea turtle.

Contributors:

Lyubov Summ - granddaughter of interpreter Yelena Rzhevskaya.

Nunziante Squeglia - professor of geotechnics at the University of Pisa.

Durga Thapa - Nepalese activist.

Carroll Janis - performer at the first major surrealist exhibition.

Nicky Salapu - former goalkeeper for American Samoa,

Alejandro Saubidet - Argentine marine biologist.

(Photo: Pisa Leaning Tower and Pisa Cathedral, in the celebrated Piazza dei Miracoli. Credit: Getty)


MON 11:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2b3rnk)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 11:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqfq3sg5pt)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 11:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sxt3xy)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct8mbv)
What was the point of Artemis II?

The Artemis II crew are back on solid ground having travelled further from earth than any human has before.

The mission was an undoubted success. But aside from getting some stunning photos of the moon’s surface and the tiny blue dot we call home, what did we actually learn? And was it just a big PR exercise?

BBC science correspondent Georgina Rannard joins us to discuss the point of the mission and what is next for Nasa.

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

(Photo: The Artemis II crew of Nasa astronauts attend a press conference the day after splashing down in the Pacific Ocean, at Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base in Houston, Texas, US. Credit: Lexi Parra/Reuters)


MON 12:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2b3wdp)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 12:06 Outlook (w3ct8hx3)
I was taken as a baby, I didn’t know who I was, part 1

This episode contains outdated racial language that some might find offensive.

Jackie McCarthy O’Brien was just a baby when police officers flanked by a nun and a priest came to her unmarried mother’s door in Limerick, Ireland and took her. She would grow up in an industrial school where silence is expected, questions are discouraged, and even the simplest routines come with cruelty. As a mixed-race child, she is singled out, made to feel different, less than, and alone. Every Saturday, a woman with ‘sad eyes’ comes to visit her, but Jackie doesn’t know who she is. She has no real understanding of what a mother is, or what family means.

Jackie shares her story over two episodes. In this first episode she recounts the early years of her life, but when she is eventually taken out of the institution aged five, instead of freedom, she finds herself in a home that feels just as unfamiliar, surrounded by people she doesn’t know and can’t yet trust.

But slowly, beyond this childhood, a different sense of identity begins to form. It will take her onto the pitch, into the green jersey of Ireland and the record books, and towards a version of herself that can hold on to love.

Presenter: Jo Fidgen
Producer: Edgar Maddicott

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

(Photo: A damaged grainy photograph taken of Jackie as a young girl. Credit: Courtesy of Jackie McCarthy O’Brien)


MON 12:50 Witness History (w3ct8r34)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


MON 13:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2b404t)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 13:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqfq3sgf62)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 13:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sxtcf6)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 13:32 The Conversation (w3ct99n8)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


MON 14:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2b43wy)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 14:06 Newshour (w1730bmyndd4y40)
Magyar's pro-European party wins crucial majority in Hungary

Péter Magyar's centre-right pro-European Tisza party wins crucial two thirds majority in Hungary. The landslide win ends Viktor Orbán's 16 years in power and opens the door to major changes. Newshour is live in Budapest where the news is sinking in; and we get reaction from Europe and Russia.

Also in the programme: the US is set to begin a blockade of Iran's ports in an hour's time – we ask what it could achieve; President Trump denounces the Pope, who's arrived in Algeria at the start of a tour of Africa; and could microscopic fungi hold the key to future supplies of chocolate?

(Photo: Leader of the Hungarian opposition Tisza Party, Peter Magy, holds a press conference after winning two-thirds of the votes in parliamentary elections, Budapest, Hungary, 13 April, 2026. Credit: Tibor Illyes/EPA/Shutterstock)


MON 15:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2b47n2)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 15:06 The Interview (w3ct8kl1)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


MON 15:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sxtlxg)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 15:32 Business Daily (w3ct8gfm)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:32 today]


MON 15:50 World Business Express (w3ct8d33)
US blockade of Strait of Hormuz begins

The US has begun its blockade of the key shipping route the Strait of Hormuz after talks with Iran failed to reach an agreement. President Donald Trump says it's in response to Iran "knowingly failing" to reopen the strait. Iran says the blockade is illegal and has accused the US of piracy. It's estimated that around 800 vessels are stuck in the Straits, many loaded with cargo. As the blockade begins we look at what guidance is being offered to shipping companies.

As the people of Hungary wake up to a new political leadership we look at the challenges facing its ailing economy after Viktor Orban steps aside, and closer ties with the EU are firmly on the agenda for the winner Peter Magyar and his Tisza party.

And we pay tribute to the woman who inspired the 90s classic song 'Brimful of Asha' as thousands gather in Mumbai to celebrate the life of one of Bollywood's biggest playback singers Asha Bhoslay  who has died aged 92 and leaves behind an empire worth almost 27-million-dollars.

Presenter: Leanna Byrne
Senior Producer: Craig Henderson


MON 16:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2b4cd6)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 16:06 Outside Source (w1730c69lczv17z)
US Navy begins blockade of Iranian ports

The US military is due start enforcing a blockade of the Iranian coastline about now in response to the failure of peace talks with Iran at the weekend. With the help of our correspondents, we explain what this means.

With Viktor Orbán’s 16 years in power over, we speak to Hungarians about their expectations for the new leadership.

We speak to journalists covering Pope Leo’s trip to Africa, as he says he will continue to speak out against the Iran war after facing fierce criticism from President Trump.

Presenter: Rahul Tandon

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


MON 17:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2b4h4b)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 17:06 Outside Source (w1730c69lczv503)
US blockade of Iranian ports takes effect

The US president warns that any Iranian "fast attack ships" caught trying to approach the blockade will be immediately eliminated. Our reporter from BBC Verifty has been monitoring the situation at the the Strait of Hormuz.

With Viktor Orbán’s 16 years in power over, we speak to Hungarians about their expectations for the new leadership.

The vice president of France's olympic commitee has resigned on Monday following allegations he profiteed from merchandising from the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Our reporter explains.

And, we talk to sports psychologists about how athletes and teams like Arsenal prepare for an intense phase of the English Premier League title race, after losing at the weekend.

Presenter: Rahul Tandon.

(Photo: A map showing the Strait of Hormuz is seen in this illustration, taken 23 March, 2026.Credit: Dado Ruvic/Reuters)


MON 18:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2b4lwg)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 18:06 Outlook (w3ct8hx3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 today]


MON 18:50 Witness History (w3ct8r34)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


MON 19:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2b4qml)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 19:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqfq3sh4nv)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 19:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sxv2wz)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct8rjp)
2026/04/13 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 (w1730nkkn2b4vcq)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 20:06 From Our Own Correspondent (w3ct99bs)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:06 on Sunday]


MON 20:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sxv6n3)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 20:32 Discovery (w3ct8js6)
Dark Breath

In July 2024 a startling scientific paper was published.

Headlined ‘Evidence of dark oxygen production at the abyssal seafloor’, scientists told how they had discovered oxygen being made two and a half miles down, at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean.

Their claim centred on small polymetallic nodules on the seafloor, and the key question - could these lumps of metal somehow be making oxygen in complete darkness?

It was an extraordinary finding that, if proven, could overturn hundreds of years of scientific knowledge about how this crucial ingredient for life is made. It prompted global headlines and split scientists.

But a year and a half on, are we any closer to knowing the answer... Is dark oxygen really possible?

BBC News science correspondent Victoria Gill investigates for BBC Radio 4, and finds so much more than a scientific anomaly.

Dark Breath is the story of a scientific controversy played out in real time. A row about science that became personal. And a discovery that crashed headlong into the debate about whether we should mine metals from the deep sea.

What does the story tell us about the messy and human scientific process? And what bearing does it have on the decision to exploit some of the last untouched parts of our planet?

Presenter: Victoria Gill
Producer: Gerry Holt
Editor: Ilan Goodman


MON 21:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2b4z3v)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 21:06 Newshour (w1730bmyndd5sbx)
US blockade comes into force

A US blockade of the Iranian coastline has come into force, after the failure of peace talks between the US and Iran at the weekend. The US says all vessels will be subject to interception, diversion and capture, except those transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports.

Also in the programme: President Trump criticises the Pope; and the controversial ‘taxi test’ being used in job interviews.

(Photo: US President Trump at the White House in Washington, DC,13 Apr 2026. CREDIT: SALWAN GEORGES/POOL/EPA/Shutterstock)


MON 22:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2b52vz)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 22:06 The Interview (w3ct8kl1)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


MON 22:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sxvg4c)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 22:32 The Conversation (w3ct99n8)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


MON 23:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2b56m3)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 23:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqfq3shmnc)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 23:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sxvkwh)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 23:32 World Business Report (w3ct8fms)
Trump’s shipping blockade, the Philippines’ tax breaks, and Hungary’s political shakeup

As President Trump blocks ships travelling to and from Iran through the Strait of Hormuz, how will this affect Iranian oil exports?

The Philippines has suspended taxes on paraffin and cooking gas to help keep food prices low; we hear from a chef who tells us how this will impact his restaurant business.

With Victor Orban ousted, what does the future hold for Hungary under newly-elected Peter Magyar’s leadership?

And, Bollywood icon, Asha Bhosle has died leaving behind an over $20 million empire of restaurants and music royalties.

TUESDAY 14 APRIL 2026

TUE 00:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2b5bc7)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 00:06 The History Hour (w3ct99kz)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:06 on Monday]


TUE 01:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2b5g3c)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 01:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqfq3shw4m)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 01:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sxvtcr)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 01:32 The Global Story (w3ct8mbv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 11:32 on Monday]


TUE 02:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2b5kvh)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 02:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqfq3shzwr)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 02:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sxvy3w)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 02:32 Assignment (w3ct8h0z)
Pakistan: Hospitals putting children at risk of HIV

Outbreaks of HIV have become regular occurrences in Pakistan. And too frequently it is the children who suffer. In the city of Taunsa, for example, children have tested positive for HIV while their parents have not. So what has been going on?

Reporter Ghazal Abbasi investigates what and who is to blame. With the help of a staff insider and undercover recording in the city’s main hospital, the BBC finds shocking lapses in medical protocol. Medicine vials and syringes are often reused for different children. Cross-contamination seems inevitable. But the local authorities deny the hospital is at the centre of the problem.

Reporter: Ghazal Abbasi
Producer: John Murphy
Sound engineer: Neil Churchill
Editor: Penny Murphy

(Photo: Ten-year-old Asma at the grave of her younger brother)


TUE 03:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2b5plm)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 03:06 Outlook (w3ct8hx3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Monday]


TUE 03:50 Witness History (w3ct8r34)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 on Monday]


TUE 04:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2b5tbr)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 04:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqfq3sj7d0)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 04:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sxw5m4)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 04:32 In the Studio (w3ct8l53)
British Queen Elizabeth II's century of fashion

The late Queen Elizabeth II often wore the colours of the Commonwealth on overseas visits - helping to spread "soft power" - as seen in a new exhibition of her clothes in London. The BBC's Senior Royal Correspondent Daniela Relph has a behind-the-scenes look at Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style at the King's Gallery - including how curator Caroline de Guitaut selected outfits from each of the ten decades of the late Queen's life.

On show are not only examples of the 'Royal uniform' - a day dress with matching coat, a string of pearls and a handbag (famously with no money inside) - but also more daring outfits like the tassled suede jacket with First Nations-style floral motifs on the shoulders which was given to her on a visit to Yellowknife, Canada in 1970, which she wore with her evening gown and tiara. The diplomatic power of her clothes is shown in a white gown with a green waterfall train reflecting the colours of the Pakistani flag, a dress worn in Japan with kimono-shaped sleeves adorned with cherry blossom across the skirt and outfits decorated with maple leaves and lotus flowers for visits to Canada and India.

The silk which the late Queen's wedding dress was made from has started to degrade so conservator Cecilia Oliver has skilfully reinforced the Sir Norman Hartnell gown - though the pearls on the detachable15 foot train have remained in place, as they were sewn on individually. The veil just needed a light vacuum to remove dirt picked up in Westminster Abbey. Another historic garment on show is the late Queen's Christening gown commissioned by Queen Victoria in 1841, which has now been worn by more than 60 Royal babies.

During the last 10 years of her life the late Queen wore clothes designed by Stewart Parvin, who used bold blocks of colour which suited her and also made her visible in a crowd, helping to promote high quality British design and tailoring.

Presenter: Daniela Relph
Producers: Paula McGrath and Adele Tobe


TUE 05:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2b5y2w)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 05:06 Newsday (w1730c190w0s08m)
Lebanon enters talks with Israel

On Monday, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem urged Lebanon to cancel the planned meeting with Israel. The group rejects the idea of direct negotiations with Israel.

The purpose of the talks is to end the conflict engulfing southern Lebanon where Israel is striking Hezbollah positions, forcing hundreds of thousands of civilians to flee, killing more than 2,000.

The US blockade of ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz has come into force, targetted at those vessels travelling from Iran. We look at what impact this will have on the globally economy and in particular how China will react to the potential damage to the global economy.

(Photo: Israeli army excavators demolish buildings in the southern Lebanese village of Mais al-Jabal. Credit: Atef Safadi/EPA/Shutterstock)


TUE 06:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2b61v0)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 06:06 Newsday (w1730c190w0s40r)
Talks to end the conflict in Lebanon due to start in Washington

The purpose of the talks is to end the conflict engulfing southern Lebanon where Israel is striking Hezbollah positions, forcing hundreds of thousands of civilians to flee.

On Monday, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem urged Lebanon to cancel the planned meeting with Israel. The group rejects the idea of direct negotiations with Israel.

US Vice President JD Vance accuses Iran of 'economic terrorism' in Strait of Hormuz as US blockade comes into effect . We look at what impact this will have on the globally economy and in particular how China will react to the potential damage to the global economy.

(Photo: Omar, 13, who says he survived the Israeli strike, looks on as he talks to his brother on the balcony of their apartment at the site of an Israeli strike. Credit: Zohra Bensemra/Reuters)


TUE 07:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2b65l4)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 07:06 Newsday (w1730c190w0s7rw)
Rubio to attend direct rare talks between Israel and Lebanon

The Lebanese authorities first want to broker a ceasefire in Israel’s ongoing war with Hezbollah. However, Israel has ruled that out, insisting that the Iran-backed group must be disarmed.

Hezbollah has rejected the talks and said it won't abide by anything that's agreed.

US Vice President JD Vance accuses Iran of 'economic terrorism' in Strait of Hormuz as US blockade comes into effect . We look at what impact this will have on the globally economy and in particular how China will react to the potential damage to the global economy.

(Photo: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio gives remarks as he meets New Zealand's Foreign Minister. Credit: Aaron Schwartz/Reuters)


TUE 08:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2b69b8)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 08:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct8t0l)
Back from the brink: Uganda’s gentle giants

Myra Anubi is in Uganda visiting the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. It is one of the few places that gorillas still exist in the wild, and even better, in recent years their numbers have actually been rising and they are no longer considered critically endangered.

This is partly down to the hard work of Dr Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka and the Conservation Through Public Health organisation. They engage with communities living close to the gorillas, who were often poaching them and destroying their habitat, to help them better understand the animals and tap into the potential for ecotourism. They also encourage other forms of enterprise, supporting local coffee farmers with training and investment.

Myra meets former poachers now involved in conservation and speaks with local farmers - often women - who look after the coffee plantations. She talks to the village conservation teams involved in protecting the gorillas. And of course, goes into the forest to get a glimpse of these incredible creatures herself.

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: Richard Kenny
Editor: Jon Bithrey
Sound engineer: Andrew Mills

(Photo: A mountain gorilla in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Credit: Richard Kenny)


TUE 08:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sxwnln)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct8gqn)
Iran’s economy: Counting the cost of war

Iran’s economy is under strain from war, long-standing sanctions and a nationwide internet shutdown.

We hear from people inside the country, and ask how much damage has been done, and how recovery could begin.

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

Presenter: Rahul Tandon
Producer: David Cann

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

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

Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, 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: An Iranian man reads a copy of the Iranian daily newspaper Jame Jam with the headline 'Sea Bluff' outside a kiosk in Tehran, Iran, on the 13th of April 2026, as the conflict between Iran and the US over the Strait of Hormuz continues. Credit: Abedin Taherkenareh/EPA/Shutterstock)


TUE 08:50 Witness History (w3ct985p)
Roddy Doyle: Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha

In 1993, the Irish writer Roddy Doyle won the prestigious Booker Prize for Fiction. His novel, Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha, was remarkable for the way it conveyed gritty drama through the eyes of a 10-year-old boy.

Roddy tells Ben Henderson about his inspiration for Paddy Clarke, how he balanced writing with becoming a father and teaching, and the emotions of the night he won the award.

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: Roddy Doyle. Credit: Dominic Ledwidge O'Reilly/Getty Images)


TUE 09:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2b6f2d)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 09:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqfq3sjv3n)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 09:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sxwsbs)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 09:32 Assignment (w3ct8h0z)
[Repeat of broadcast at 02:32 today]


TUE 10:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2b6jtj)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 10:06 The Arts Hour (w3ct8h7r)
[Repeat of broadcast at 20:06 on Saturday]


TUE 11:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2b6nkn)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 11:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqfq3sk2lx)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 11:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sxx0v1)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct8mhc)
Is the Strait of Hormuz Iran’s trump card?

The United States began implementing a blockade of all ships entering and exiting Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday. President Trump took to social media and warned that any Iranian ships trying to approach the blockade would be “immediately ELIMINATED.”

The blockade and escalating threats come after weeks of Iran being in control of one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.

And over the weekend, delegates from the US and Iran failed to reach a resolution after 21 hours of peace talks.

The Trump administration has repeatedly insisted it’s winning the war, but so has the government in Tehran, which believes it is negotiating from a position of power.

To help us understand why - and what Iran wants - Tristan and Asma are joined by Parham Ghobadi from the BBC Persian Service.

Producers: Cat Farnsworth, Xandra Ellin and Aron Keller
Sound engineer: Travis Evans
Executive producer: Richard Fenton Smith
Senior news editor: China Collins


TUE 12:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2b6s9s)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 12:06 Outlook (w3ct8jbn)
I was taken as a baby, I didn’t know who I was, part 2

Taken from her mother as a baby and raised in an Irish institution, Jackie McCarthy O’Brien grew up in silence, facing prejudice because of the colour of her skin, and with no real sense of who she was or where she belonged.

Jackie shares her story over two episodes of Outlook. In this second part of her story, we hear how Jackie begins to build a life on her own terms. Through sport, she discovers a sense of purpose and belonging, pulling on the green jersey of Ireland and going on to make history as the first mixed-race woman to represent her country in both football and rugby.

But even as she achieves this, questions about her past remain. For years, she has believed one version of her story - about her mother, her father, and where she comes from. When she finally learns the truth, it is not what she expected. Instead of anger, she finds something else: understanding, and a deep sense of love. And alongside that, she finds the confidence to live more openly, embracing who she is, and who she loves.

This programme contains a reference to suicide. If you've been affected by some of the issues that have come up in Jackie's story, and are suffering distress or despair, you could speak to a health professional, or an organisation that offers support. There are details of help available in many countries at befrienders.org

Presenter: Jo Fidgen
Producer: Edgar Maddicott

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

(Photo: Jackie playing football for Ireland. Credit: Jackie McCarthy O’Brien)


TUE 12:50 Witness History (w3ct985p)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


TUE 13:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2b6x1x)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 13:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqfq3skb35)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 13:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sxx8b9)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 13:32 In the Studio (w3ct8l53)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


TUE 14:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2b70t1)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 14:06 Newshour (w1730bmyndd7v13)
Israeli and Lebanese officials to meet in Washington

Israeli and Lebanese officials to meet to discuss Israel's campaign against the Iran-backed group Hezbollah. We report from southern Lebanon.

Also in the programme: a BBC investigation into Greek police recruiting mercenaries to push migrants back into Turkey; the rise and fall of the Chinese property developer who was once Asia's richest person but has now pleaded guilty to fraud; conservation success in Uganda where numbers of mountain gorillas are rising; and could small talk be good for you?

(IMAGE: Israeli soldiers stand among destroyed buildings in southern Lebanon, near the Israel-Lebanon border, as seen from the Israeli side of the border in northern Israel, April 14, 2026 / CREDIT: REUTERS/Florion Goga)


TUE 15:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2b74k5)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 15:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct8t0l)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


TUE 15:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sxxhtk)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 15:32 Business Daily (w3ct8gqn)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:32 today]


TUE 15:50 World Business Express (w3ct8d7m)
IMF warns of global recession

In its World Economic Outlook report the International Monetary Fund says that, in a worst case scenario -  where oil, gas and food prices spike and remain high this year and next - global growth could fall below 2% in 2026. That's if the US-Israel war with Iran continues and high energy prices persist. It said the most severe conditions that could lead to a worldwide slowdown would include oil prices reaching an average $110 per barrel this year and hitting $125 in 2027. Based on these assumptions, the IMF said inflation could reach as much as 6% next year. We hear how Africa's fuel crunch continues - but with hopes there for a more stable future...

Evergrande was once China’s biggest real estate firm, before its debt crisis sent shockwaves through the wider economy.Today the founder of the collapsed property giant Hui Ka Yan pleaded guilty to a series of fraud charges. It's a case that marks a major moment in the fallout from the company’s collapse.

And- how a gold pocket watch owned by a hero rescuer during the sinking of the Titanic could fetch up to one hundred and thirty five thousand dollars at auction...

Presenter: Leanna Byrne
Senior Producer: Craig Henderson


TUE 16:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2b7899)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 16:06 Outside Source (w1730c69lczxy52)
Pakistan hospital at centre of child HIV outbreak caught reusing syringes in BBC Eye investigation

A BBC Eye investigation has uncovered evidence of life-threatening malpractice on the paediatric ward of a Pakistani hospital previously linked to an HIV outbreak. Undercover filming caught staff re-using blood-contaminated syringes. Our investigations reporter provides details.

Police in Greece have been recruiting migrants to push other migrants back across its land border with Turkey, according to wide-ranging evidence uncovered by the BBC. We are joined by our Europe Correspondent, Jessica Parker.

Direct talks between Lebanese and Israeli officials are getting underway in the US - the first such negotiations in decades. Our correspondent joins from Washington.

Health officials in Gaza City say an Israeli airstrike on a police vehicle has killed at least four people, including a child. While the most fierce fighting between Israel and Hamas has come to a halt, the territory remains in a state of limbo. We have a conversation with aid workers there.

Hollywood star Timothée Chalamet has been thanked by the Royal Ballet and Opera for boosting the London institution's ticket sales following the actor's claims that "no-one cares" about them. We speak to the BBC's Culture reporter.


Presenter: Rahul Tandon
(Photo: Asma, 10, was diagnosed with HIV despite her mother, Sughra, testing negative. Credit:BBC Eye )


TUE 17:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2b7d1f)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 17:06 Outside Source (w1730c69lczy1x6)
IMF: Prolonged Iran war could trigger global recession

Countries worldwide would face the slowest economic growth since the Covid-19 pandemic if the Iran war carries on for longer, according to the International Monetary Fund. The warning comes as finance ministers and central bank heads gather in Washington for the spring meetings of the IMF and the World Bank. Our business correspondent joins from Washington.

BBC Verify is analysing data on Iran-linked ships that have passed through the Strait of Hormuz since the US blockade of Iranian ports started on Monday. We discuss with Verify reporter Joshua Cheetham.

Pakistani officials say they're working to bring the US and Iran together for a second round of peace talks. Our global affairs reporter Anbarasan Ethirajan gives details.

As Israel and Lebanon hold peace talks in Washington, the first such negotiations in decades, fighting continues between the Israeli military and Hezbollah. We hear from our correspondents in Beirut and Jerusalem.

Health officials in Gaza City say an Israeli airstrike on a police vehicle has killed at least four people, including a child. Although the fiercest fighting between Israel and Hamas has come to a halt, Gaza remains in a state of limbo. We have a conversation with aid workers there.

Colombia is launching a plan to cull its invasive hippopotamus population, which was introduced to the country in the 1980s by the late drug lord, Pablo Escobar. We speak to journalists who have been covering this story and have visited the hippos.


Presenter: Rahul Tandon
(Photo: The IMF's Director of Monetary and Capital Markets Tobias Adrian speaks during a press briefing on the global financial stability report at the IMF in Washington, DC, USA, April 14, 2026. Credit: JIM LO SCALZO/EPA/Shutterstock)


TUE 18:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2b7hsk)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 18:06 Outlook (w3ct8jbn)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 today]


TUE 18:50 Witness History (w3ct985p)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


TUE 19:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2b7mjp)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 19:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqfq3sl1ky)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 19:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sxxzt2)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct8rp6)
2026/04/14 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 (w1730nkkn2b7r8t)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 20:06 Assignment (w3ct8h0z)
[Repeat of broadcast at 02:32 today]


TUE 20:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sxy3k6)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 20:32 Tech Life (w3ct8jxq)
Sharing the road with driverless cars

Chris Vallance finds out about research to help self-driving cars communicate with other road users. Hear what happened when he came into contact with a virtual vehicle!

Also this week: you've probably seen the app on TV news recently, but how does MarineTraffic know which ships are doing what in the Strait of Hormuz? And Shiona McCallum checks out changes to Roblox age checks for children.

Presenter: Chris Vallance
Producer: Tom Quinn

(Photo: Illustration of a driverless car on a main road approaching a pedestrian crossing, with people walking in front of and around the side of the car and sensors detectimg its surroundings. Credit: Getty Images)


TUE 21:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2b7w0y)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 21:06 Newshour (w1730bmyndd8p80)
US blockade of Iran ports 'irresponsible and dangerous', China says

China, the biggest buyer of Iranian oil, has described the American blockade as 'irresponsible' while the IMF is warning that the global economy could slip into recession because of the Iran war. Also on the programme: Israel and Lebanon have held direct talks for the first time in decades, to discuss the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah; and we hear about the return of a centuries‑old stone carving of the Zimbabwe bird - the country's sacred national emblem.

(A vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, Credit: Reuters)


TUE 22:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2b7zs2)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 22:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct8t0l)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


TUE 22:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sxyc1g)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 22:32 In the Studio (w3ct8l53)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


TUE 23:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2b83j6)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 23:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqfq3sljkg)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 23:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sxygsl)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 23:32 World Business Report (w3ct8fs9)
IMF warns conflict could tip global economy into recession

With the Global recession warning from the International Monetary Fund, Andrew Peach looks at rising oil, gas and food prices, and how they could force central banks to keep interest rates higher for longer.

Also, European airlines call for emergency support as the conflict disrupts aviation.

And we ask whether America’s tipping culture improves service or simply keeps wages low.

(Photo: People walk in front of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) HQ2 building in Washington, DC, USA, 13 April 2026. Credit: SHAWN THEW/EPA/Shutterstock)

WEDNESDAY 15 APRIL 2026

WED 00:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2b878b)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 00:06 The Arts Hour (w3ct8h7r)
[Repeat of broadcast at 20:06 on Saturday]


WED 01:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2b8c0g)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 01:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqfq3sls1q)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 01:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sxyq8v)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 01:32 The Global Story (w3ct8mhc)
[Repeat of broadcast at 11:32 on Tuesday]


WED 02:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2b8grl)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 02:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqfq3slwsv)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 02:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sxyv0z)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 02:32 The Climate Question (w3ct99h9)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:06 on Sunday]


WED 03:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2b8lhq)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 03:06 Outlook (w3ct8jbn)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Tuesday]


WED 03:50 Witness History (w3ct985p)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 on Tuesday]


WED 04:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2b8q7v)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 04:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqfq3sm493)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 04:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sxz2j7)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 04:32 Good Bad Billionaire (w3ct8c9p)
Luciano Benetton: Famous fashion to cultural controversy

Luciano Benetton rose from poverty in postwar Italy to found a chain of 7,000 high street fashion stores and create some of the most controversial advertising campaigns in history, becoming a billionaire along the way.

Journalist Zing Tsjeng and BBC business editor Simon Jack discover how it all started for Luciano Benetton with a yellow sweater knitted by his sister, on a journey that takes in Benito Mussolini, Dolce Vita, Formula One, and Princess Diana. But Benetton wasn’t just about fashion; with photographer Oliviero Toscani, the entrepreneur launched a series of highly controversial ad campaigns that tackled race, religion, AIDS, and the death penalty, that made the fashion brand infamous.

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 billionaire stories of fortune, power, economics, ambition and moral responsibility to explore how they achieved financial success, before asking the audience to decide if they are good, bad, or just billionaires.
Some of the people we've featured previously on Good Bad Billionaire include Tyler Perry, Evan Spiegel, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Henry Ford, LeBron James, Selena Gomez and Martha Stewart. Every episode is available to listen wherever you get your BBC podcasts.

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


WED 05:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2b8tzz)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 05:06 Newsday (w1730c190w0vx5q)
Donors meet to discuss aid to Sudan

Today marks three years since civil war erupted in Sudan. It was triggered by a power struggle between the regular army and paramilitary fighters, the Rapid Support Forces. The fighting has led to a de-facto partition of the country and created the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. Today donors meet in Berlin to discuss aid to the country and how to revive stalled peace efforts.

We look at whether China is being strengthened by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East with an American diplomat who knows the country well.

Pope Leo the 14th is continuing his African tour with a visit to Cameroon. During his three day visit he will meet President Paul Biya, hold a mass in a huge stadium in Douala, and travel to Bamenda - the largest city in Anglophone Cameroon.

Presenters: James Copnall and Catherine Byaruhanga.

(Photo: A displaced boy from al-Fashir gets down from a truck, at a displacement camp in Al-Dabba, Sudan. Credit: El Tayeb Siddig/Reuters).


WED 06:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2b8yr3)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 06:06 Newsday (w1730c190w0w0xv)
Aid donors meet in Berlin to discuss war in Sudan

Aid donors are meeting in Berlin on the third anniversary of Sudan's civil war to discuss how to mobilise aid, and revive peace talks. A power struggle between the army, and the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces, has effectively partitioned Sudan, and led to the world's largest humanitarian crisis.

Lebanon and Israel have agreed to hold further direct negotiations, which the US say will hopefully lead to long term peace. We look at what has been achieved so far.

We report on how Cameroon is preparing for Pope Leo's visit.

Presenters: James Copnall and Catherine Byaruhanga.

(Photo: Displaced women stand in line as they wait their turn to recieve aid in Sudan. Credit: El Tayeb Siddig/Reuters).


WED 07:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2b92h7)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 07:06 Newsday (w1730c190w0w4nz)
Conference to discuss war in Sudan

Aid donors are meeting in Berlin on the third anniversary of Sudan's civil war to discuss how to mobilise aid, and revive peace talks. A power struggle between the army and the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces, has effectively partitioned Sudan, and led to the world's largest humanitarian crisis. We speak to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

We head to Iran and speak to one of the few aid organisations in the country.

And we look at Pope Leo's tour of African nations as he heads to Cameroon today.

Presenters: James Copnall and Catherine Byaruhanga.

(Photo. Displaced people ride an animal drawn cart, following RSF attacks on ZamZam displacement camp. Credit: Reuters).


WED 08:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2b967c)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 08:06 The Interview (w3ct98gq)
John Healey, UK Defence Secretary: Russia’s covert operations

“It was three submarines. We tracked them 24/7 for over a month to make sure that we are able to say to Putin, we see what you’re doing, we’re watching you. It means that if there is ever any damage to our cables or our pipelines, we know we can hold Putin to account. We know he can’t deny it.”

Adam Fleming speaks to John Healey, the UK Defence Secretary, after he revealed Russian submarines have been carrying out covert operations over the UK’s deep-sea cables and pipelines, critical to energy and internet traffic.

He says the activity could form part of a wider strategy to map infrastructure in peacetime, and target it during conflict.

While global attention is focused on the Middle East, he argues Britain cannot be distracted from what he calls its “primary threat”, and that the UK and its Nato allies must remain on constant alert to Russian activity.

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: Adam Fleming
Producers: 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: John Healey Credit: Thomas Traasdahl / Ritzau Scanpix / AFP via Getty Images)


WED 08:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sxzkhr)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct98rr)
Reinventing Kodak

Kodak was written off as a casualty of the digital age. Now, it's betting on film again.

We hear from the chief executive, Jim Continenza, on rebuilding manufacturing, reviving analogue, and turning an industrial icon back around. And we learn why going backwards can be harder than going forwards.

We also hear how a conversation with Hollywood director Christopher Nolan got him truly interested in the medium of film.

If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk
 
Presented and produced by Leanna Byrne

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: A photographer using a Kodak instant camera in Jakarta, Indonesia. Credit: Getty Images)


WED 08:50 Witness History (w3ct987y)
The assassination of Thomas Sankara

In October 1987, one of Africa's most radical leaders, Captain Thomas Sankara, was gunned down in a coup in Burkina Faso.

His overthrow was orchestrated by his old friend, Blaise Compaore.

Thomas Sankara's brother, Paul, spoke to Alex Last in 2013.

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: Thomas Sankara at the international press conference in Paris 1986. Credit: Langevin Jacques/Getty Images)


WED 09:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2b99zh)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 09:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqfq3smr0r)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 09:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sxzp7w)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 09:32 The Climate Question (w3ct99h9)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:06 on Sunday]


WED 10:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2b9fqm)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 10:06 World Questions (w3ct8snp)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Saturday]


WED 11:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2b9kgr)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 11:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqfq3smzj0)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 11:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sxzxr4)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct8mkm)
Trump v Pope

Pope Leo XIV has said he has “no fear of the Trump administration”, after his criticism of the Iran war drew scorn from President Donald Trump.

On Sunday, the US President called the Pope “weak on crime and terrible on foreign policy”, and posted a now-deleted AI image of himself depicted as a Christ-like figure.The posts caused outrage among Catholics and the religious right, but he has said he will not apologise to the Pope.

We speak to BBC presenter and author Edward Stourton, who has reported on religious affairs and US politics for decades, about what happens when an American president takes on an American Pope.

Producers: Sam Chantarasak, Xandra Ellin and Lucy Pawle

Executive producer: James Shield

Mix: Travis Evans

Senior news editor: China Collins

Photo: Pope Leo XIV addresses journalists during the flight heading to Algiers on April 13, 2026. Credit: Reuters/Alberto Pizzoli.


WED 12:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2b9p6w)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 12:06 Outlook (w3ct8jkf)
The musician who turned a garden into an orchestra

British musician and composer Helen Anahita Wilson has long been drawn to the hidden musical possibilities of the world around her. From an early age, she was fascinated by sound, not only from conventional instruments but from everyday objects – turning books, bowls of water, and reclaimed materials into tools for music‑making. Classically trained as a pianist, Helen built a career exploring experimental and minimalist music, influenced by composers like Steve Reich as well as by rhythmic traditions from South Asia.

But when Helen was in her mid‑30s preparing to travel to India for her PhD, her life was abruptly derailed by a diagnosis of breast cancer. Plans were cancelled overnight as she went into intensive treatment, coinciding with the start of the Covid pandemic. During long, isolating periods in hospital, music became both a refuge and a way of navigating profound uncertainty. And as Helen’s body and hearing changed, she began listening differently. She returned to the music of her childhood for comfort, but also noticed new rhythms all around her – in chemotherapy machines, treatment schedules, and the strings of numbers printed on labels. She turned that medical data into sound, sketching rhythmic patterns and compositions during long hospital sessions. What started as a private coping strategy soon evolved into a way of communicating her experience without words.

Helen became interested in exploring the links between medicine, science, and sound, especially in connection to her own recovery. Once she discovered that many chemotherapy drugs are derived from plants, she travelled to London’s Chelsea Physic Garden, and in the oncology section she recorded the bioelectrical activity of medicinal plants. She translated those readings into music, treating the garden like an orchestra, with each plant playing a distinct role or specific instrument. A periwinkle became a harp, the bark of a yew tree became a viola. She called the composition, Linea Naturalis.

Helen’s work has since been exhibited at the London Art Fair.

Presenter: India Rakusen
Producer: Maryam Maruf

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

(Photo: Helen Anahita Wilson is pictured with long brown hair, wearing a black t-shirt, jeans, glasses and headphones. She’s sitting on a patch of green grass scattered with small brown leaves, looking down at a laptop in front of her. She is live mixing plant-generated audio and playing two midi controller keyboards and a tanpura, a long-necked four-stringed instrument originating from South Asia. Credit: James Joyce)


WED 12:50 Witness History (w3ct987y)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


WED 13:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2b9sz0)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 13:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqfq3sn708)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 13:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sy057d)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 13:32 Good Bad Billionaire (w3ct8c9p)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


WED 14:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2b9xq4)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 14:06 Newshour (w1730bmynddbqy6)
Sudan enters fourth year of war

Three years since the start of Sudan's brutal civil war, international donors are meeting in Berlin to discuss ways to end the country's dire humanitarian crisis. We hear from a top UN aid official and an acclaimed Sudanese author.

Also in the programme: a new online search engine helps people to discover if their ancestors were members of the Nazi party; and we speak to the director of a new film The Wizard of the Kremlin.

(Photo: Internally Displaced Persons in Sudan. Credit: UNHCR/Ala Kheir)


WED 15:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bb1g8)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 15:06 The Interview (w3ct98gq)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


WED 15:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sy0dqn)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 15:32 Business Daily (w3ct98rr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:32 today]


WED 15:50 World Business Express (w3ct8d9w)
Pressure on US to ease global economic pain

World finance ministers meeting in Washington DC have been voicing their anger and frustration at the US because of the financial strains being placed on the global economy caused by its military offensive in the Middle East. Rachel Reeves from the UK described the US-Israel war with Iran as 'folly' while France's finance minister Roland Lescure called for renewed efforts to unblock the Strait of Hormuz. The calls come as Iran's military widens its threats on shipping in the Gulf to include the Red Sea and the Gulf of Oman - if the US naval blockade of Iranian ports continues. 

The International Monetary Fund has been warning of the risk of a global recession at its Spring Conference in Washington DC. There was further evidence of these concerns today. Hermes is the latest fashion house, after LVMH and Gucci-owner Kering to say sales have been weaker than expected at the start of this year...with spending hit both in the Middle East, but also fewer tourists visiting Paris and buying handbags and designer clothes. And there has been continued unrest in parts of India over wages, as the increased costs of living caused by the crisis continue to hurt the economy. 

Also in the programme - are hedge fund managers cashing in on the uncertainty of whether firms will receive refunds on tariffs?

And we discover why Google is clamping down on so-called ‘back button hijacking’...when sites mess with your browser so you can’t leave.

Presenter: Leanna Byrne
Senior producer: Craig Henderson


WED 16:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bb56d)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 16:06 Outside Source (w1730c69ld00v25)
The human cost of the Sudan war

The conflict in Sudan has seen human suffering on a huge scale, with 65% of the population in need of food, water, shelter and medicine. Thousands of people have been killed, and millions forcibly displaced. We speak to our correspondent who covers the war, and we hear from Sudanese people living in exile about what their families are enduring back home.

As we await developments on the possible resumption of US-Iran talks in Pakistan, we turn our attention to Lebanon and speak to people who have left the country.

Iran has warned that it will block trade through the Red Sea as well as the Gulf and the Sea of Oman if the US continues its own blockade of Iranian ports and shipping. We speak to our colleagues from BBC Verify and from our Global China Unit.

Presenter: James Reynolds

(Photo: A Sudanese person, who fled from the internally displaced persons (IDP) Zamzam camp, rests while on their way to the Tawila Camps amid the ongoing conflict between Sudan's army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), in North Darfur, Sudan, 23 April 2025. Credit: Marwan Mohamed/ EPA-EFE)


WED 17:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bb8yj)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 17:06 Outside Source (w1730c69ld00yt9)
Iran threatens to block Red Sea and Gulf trade

The Iranian military has threatened shipping in the Gulf, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Oman if the US naval blockade continues. We speak to our correspondent in Washington and to our colleague with BBC Persian.

We also bring details of a BBC investigation exposing how some migrants are allegedly being coached to claim they are gay in order to remain in the UK.

Officials in southern Turkey say at least nine people have been killed in a high school shooting. We have the latest.

The conflict in Sudan has seen human suffering on a huge scale, with 65% of the population in need of food, water, shelter and medicine. Thousands of people have been killed, and millions forcibly displaced. We speak to Sudanese people living in exile about what their families are enduring back home.

One of the most searched stories online worldwide today is the name of the influencer Clavicular - who has reportedly been hospitalised after collapsing during a live stream. He's widely known for an online trend called looksmaxxing. Our reporter explains.

Presenter: James Reynolds.

(Photo: Cargo ships in the Gulf, near the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from northern Ras al-Khaimah, near the border with Oman’s Musandam governance, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in United Arab Emirates, March 11, 2026. Credit: Stringer/REUTERS)


WED 18:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bbdpn)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 18:06 Outlook (w3ct8jkf)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 today]


WED 18:50 Witness History (w3ct987y)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


WED 19:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bbjfs)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 19:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqfq3snyh1)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 19:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sy0wq5)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct8rrg)
2026/04/15 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 (w1730nkkn2bbn5x)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 20:06 The Climate Question (w3ct99h9)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:06 on Sunday]


WED 20:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sy10g9)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 20:32 Health Check (w3ct8k27)
Risky requests for unvaccinated blood on the rise

A minority of patients requiring blood transfusions are increasingly requesting ‘unvaccinated’ blood in the United States, per a new report published in the journal Transfusion. Our studio guest today, genito-urinary consultant Vanessa Apea, explains how this can lead to potentially dangerous delays and higher risks.

Presenter Claudia Hammond speaks to Dr Angela Wu, from the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine and Oxford Tobacco Addiction Group at the University of Oxford, about a new overview of the best available evidence worldwide for smoking cessation. The study, published in the journal Addiction, has found that nicotine‑containing e‑cigarettes appear to be more effective for stopping people smoking than other interventions.

We hear how metabolic liver disease could affect nearly 1.8 billion people by 2050, according to new research published in The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology journal. The growing number of cases means that many people are at risk of developing serious complications, however, the study also found that although more people are developing the disease, the overall impact on health has remained stable due to advances in treatment and care.

We also hear from BBC World Service reporter Sen Nguyen in Vietnam as Hanoi plans to pilot a new low-emission zone from July to tackle air pollution. We hear what the proposed changes are and with the prevalence of diesel motorbikes in the city, how prepared are residents, workers and businesses for this change?

And Claudia and Vanessa discuss whether living with friends may quietly be altering your gut bacteria, following new research published in the journal Molecular Ecology.

Presenter: Claudia Hammond
Producer: Jonathan Blackwell and Hannah Robins


WED 21:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bbry1)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 21:06 Newshour (w1730bmynddcl53)
Will the US-Iran ceasefire be extended?

The White House says indirect talks about the extension of a ceasefire between the US and Iran were productive and ongoing - hours after Pakistani mediators arrived in Tehran. Meanwhile, hundreds of ships remain stranded due to blockades in the Strait of Hormuz. We hear from a major shipping company.

Also on the programme: a Sudanese author reflects on 3 years of conflict; and we take a tour of a new exhibition celebrating 125 years of Black British music. (Photo: A handout photo made available by the Iranian Foreign Ministry Office shows Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (R) and Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir during a meeting in Tehran, Iran. Credit:HANDOUT/EPA/Shutterstock)


WED 22:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bbwp5)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 22:06 The Interview (w3ct98gq)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


WED 22:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sy17yk)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 22:32 Good Bad Billionaire (w3ct8c9p)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


WED 23:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bc0f9)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 23:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqfq3spfgk)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 23:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sy1cpp)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 23:32 World Business Report (w3ct8fvk)
Trump threatens to fire Fed chairman

President Trump has threatened to fire US Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell if he does not step aside next month, raising concerns over central bank independence and market uncertainty.

Pakistan remains involved in diplomatic efforts over the US, Israel and Iran conflict, as questions grow over whether this could bring any economic benefit amid domestic pressure.

And travellers across several European airports are facing long delays due to the EU’s new entry and exit system, with some missing flights after hours in queues.

(Photo: U.S. President Donald Trump and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell speak during a tour of the Federal Reserve Board building, in Washington DC, July 24, 2025. Credit: REUTERS/Kent Nishimura)

THURSDAY 16 APRIL 2026

THU 00:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bc45f)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 00:06 World Questions (w3ct8snp)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Saturday]


THU 01:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bc7xk)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 01:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqfq3spnyt)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 01:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sy1m5y)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 01:32 The Global Story (w3ct8mkm)
[Repeat of broadcast at 11:32 on Wednesday]


THU 02:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bccnp)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 02:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqfq3spspy)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 02:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sy1qy2)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 02:32 The Documentary (w3ct99zf)
Back to books: Sweden’s digital backlash

Sweden, once a global poster child for digital education, is changing course. The Nordic nation previously championed a screen-first approach; laptops and tablets have been the norm in classrooms since the 2010s. Now, the country is pivoting back to basics, reintroducing physical textbooks, limiting screen time, and investing heavily in school libraries.

Stockholm-based reporter Maddy Savage explores why one of the world’s most tech-savvy countries is embracing analogue learning once again. Driving the shift are falling international test scores and growing anxiety over the potential impact of heavy screen use on pupils' concentration, and how children process information.

While the move broadly has political support and backing from the OECD, it has sparked a debate over future-proofing the next generation. In an era of rapid AI integration, critics worry that reducing classroom technology could dent digital literacy and widen the inequality gap. The concern is that children with parents who lack the digital skills to support them will be left behind.

We hear from the teachers, parents, pupils and researchers at the heart of this transition.

(Photo: Swedish high school students opening their books. Credit: Maddy Savage)


THU 03:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bchdt)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 03:06 Outlook (w3ct8jkf)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Wednesday]


THU 03:50 Witness History (w3ct987y)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 on Wednesday]


THU 04:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bcm4y)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 04:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqfq3sq166)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 04:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sy1zfb)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 04:32 The Food Chain (w3ct8svv)
How to eat more fibre and why you should!

Food Chain presenter Ruth Alexander was confident that she was eating a healthy diet, in particular, a diet that included enough fibre. But it turns out, like many of us, her fibre intake has been falling short of the recommended amount.

In fact all over the world most of us are failing to eat enough, despite the growing trend for so called "fibremaxxing" where people try to maximise their daily intake.

So how can we boost our fibre intake? And does it really have to involve chia seeds?

Ruth picks the brains of fibre expert Professor Joanne Slavin from the University of Minnesota and Fathima Abdoola, known as The Cultural Dietitian, based in Brisbane Australia. And psychologist Phillippa Lally from the University of Surrey in the UK, explains how we can make our well intentioned new habits stick.

Producer: Lexy O’Connor

Sound engineer: Andrew Mills

(Image: A close up of a steaming bowl of Persian barley soup, in a blue bowl, with a woman’s hands holding it. Credit: Getty Images)

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


THU 05:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bcqx2)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 05:06 Newsday (w1730c190w0yt2t)
Iran talks on extending ceasefire productive says US

The White House says talks on extending the ceasefire between the United States and Iran are “productive” and continuing just hours after Pakistani mediators arrived in Tehran. The current two-week truce is due to expire next Wednesday. We report from Iran.

We also look at the talks taking place between Israel and Lebanon. The first direct negotations between the two sides in decades.

And we head to Cameroon where Pope Leo has been greeted by the faithful in churches and community events.

Presenters: James Copnall and Catherine Byaruhanga.

(Photo: Iranians cross the street in front of a large-scale billboard referring to the Strait of Hormuz and reading in Persian 'Forever on Iran's hand' is displayed at a square in Tehran. Credit: Abedin Taherkenareh/EPA).


THU 06:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bcvn6)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 06:06 Newsday (w1730c190w0yxty)
Pakistani mediators arrive in Tehran

The White House says talks on extending the ceasefire between the United States and Iran are “productive” and continuing just hours after Pakistani mediators arrived in Tehran. The current two-week truce is due to expire next Wednesday. We report from Iran.

Meanwhile talks between Israel and Lebanon take place today. The goal is to reach a ceasefire between Israel and the Iran backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. We discuss the volatile situation on the ground with the United Nations peacekeepers in Lebanon.

And we head to Cameroon where Pope Leo has been greeted by the faithful in churches and community events.

Presenters: James Copnall and Catherine Byaruhanga.

(Photo: The Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir during a meeting in Tehran. Credit: Iranian handout/EPA).


THU 07:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bczdb)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 07:06 Newsday (w1730c190w0z1l2)
Israel-Lebanon talks

President Trump has suggested that the leaders of Israel and Lebanon will speak to each other today for the first time in more than 30 years. In a social media post, Mr Trump said he was trying to get "a little breathing room" between the two countries, but gave no further details. It comes as Israel continues to press ahead in its campaign against the Iran backed group Hezbollah. We speak to a former Israeli prime minister.

Meanwhile Pakistani mediators have arrived in Tehran, hoping to shore up a ceasefire between Iran and the US, which is set to expire next week. We speak to our chief international correspondent in Iran.

And we speak to Sudanese billionaire, Mo Ibrahim, as Sudan marks the third year of a brutal civil war.

Presenters: James Copnall and Catherine Byaruhanga

(Photo: Girls displaced following Israeli evacuation orders ride a scooter at a makeshift encampment in Beirut, Lebanon. Credit: Zohra Bensemra/Reuters)


THU 08:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bd34g)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 08:06 The Inquiry (w3ct98ph)
How will countries boycotting Eurovision affect the contest?

Broadcasters from The Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland, Spain and Slovenia are all boycotting May’s Eurovision Song Contest because Israel is participating.

Sources within Israel’s broadcaster say calls for it to be banned are unjustified, and organisers of the contest insist it must remain politically neutral, describing the event as "a platform for displaying the importance of peace and unity in a divided world".

The boycott has sparked one of the biggest crises in Eurovision’s 70-year history. In several cases, the position to withdraw also reflects wider pressure from politicians and public opinion. How will countries boycotting Eurovision affect the contest?’

Contributors:
Natalija Gorščak, president of the management board of RTV, Slovenia
Dr Bárbara Barreiro León, lecturer in film and visual Culture, University of Aberdeen, UK
Dr Heather Dichter, associate professor of sport history and sport management, De Montfort University, UK
Dr Dean Vuletic, author Postwar Europe and the Eurovision Song Contest, Luxembourg

Presenter/Producer: Daniel Rosney
Editor: Tom Bigwood
Sound Engineer: James Bradshaw
Production Management: Phoebe Lomas and Liam Morrey

(Photo: Eurovision flags. Credit: Georg Hochmuth/Getty Images)


THU 08:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sy2gdv)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct8gl4)
How wrestling became big business

Professional wrestling has grown into a global entertainment industry worth billions of dollars, driven by sponsorships, new broadcasting deals, and a growing online audience.

We step inside the ring, exploring how wrestling has become big business, from streaming and new sponsorships to the global fanbase willing to pay for multiple subscriptions.

We also hear from the new and emerging wrestling franchises, aiming to change the sport.

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

Presenter: Megan Lawton
Producer: Sam Gruet

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: Wrestler, Ben Webb aka Trent Seven.)


THU 08:50 Witness History (w3ct98b6)
The introduction of Sharia law in Aceh, Indonesia

Aceh in Sumatra is the only Indonesian province where Sharia Law, Islamic religious law, is in force. It followed years of conflict between Aceh and the central government.

In Arabic, Sharia means "the clear, well-trodden path to water". It is derived from the Quran, Islam's holy book and from the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad.

Interpretation of Islamic law is nuanced according to local culture and customs, which means the application of Sharia Law may look quite different from country to country.

Azwar Abubakar was the acting governor of Aceh who oversaw the first implementation of Sharia Law - a public caning - on 24 June 2005. He speaks to Surya Elango.

(Photo: Azwar Abubakar. Credit: Tarmizy Harva via Reuters)

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.


THU 09:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bd6wl)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 09:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqfq3sqmxv)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 09:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sy2l4z)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 09:32 The Documentary (w3ct99zf)
[Repeat of broadcast at 02:32 today]


THU 10:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bdbmq)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 10:06 The Explanation (w3ct98m7)
The Media Show: Artemis II and Nasa’s media machine

The Artemis II mission has been presented as a major milestone in human spaceflight, with global audiences following live coverage and access provided by NASA. Questions have been raised about how official feeds, astronaut storytelling and media partnerships shaped reporting. Rebecca Morelle, BBC News science editor, describes the reporting environment she experienced.

The BBC has announced plans to cut around 2,000 jobs and save £500 million, citing financial pressures including declining licence fee income and rising production costs. The changes come ahead of charter renewal negotiations and increased competition. Rhodri Talfan Davies, the BBC’s acting director general, outlines the scale of the challenge.

A Kuwaiti-American journalist is reportedly being held by authorities in Kuwait after posting footage of a US Air Force jet crash near Kuwait City. The case has drawn attention to press freedom in the region. Jodie Ginsberg, CEO of the Committee to Protect Journalists, sets out the known details.

Presenters: Katie Razzall and Ros Atkins
Producer: Lisa Jenkinson
Content producer: Lucy Wai
Sound engineer: Callum McLean


THU 10:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sy2px3)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 10:32 Over to You (w3ct99kk)
How to report on war

In this episode of Over To You, we hear listener feedback about how they think the BBC World Service is reporting on the recent war in Iran. Plus, we find out how the World Service approaches reporting on global conflict in general, from protecting programme-makers and contributors in dangerous locations, to sharing sensitive content about war online.


THU 11:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bdgcv)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 11:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqfq3sqwf3)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 11:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sy2tn7)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct8mf3)
Mythos: The AI model that’s ‘too powerful’ for public release

Anthropic, one of Silicon Valley’s leading AI firms, have built a new model which they say is too dangerous to be released to the public.

Instead, they are only giving access to Claude Mythos Preview to a handful of big companies to help them find and fix security vulnerabilities. The company says the model has already found weak spots in “every major operating system and web browser”. Is this a genuine example of an AI company acting responsibly, or more of a carefully calibrated publicity move?

We speak to the BBC’s North America tech correspondent, Lily Jamali, about whether this is a watershed moment for AI.

Producers: Viv Jones and Aron Keller

Digital producer: Matt Pintus

Mix: Travis Evans

Executive producer: James Shield

Senior news editor: China Collins


Credit: Jurassic Park (1993) / Dir: Stephen Spielberg / Universal Pictures

Photo: Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei. Reuters/Denis Balibouse.


THU 12:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bdl3z)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 12:06 Outlook (w3ct8j3w)
My Persian sci-fi musical, and why my mum's the star

HOSSEI is an Sydney-based artist and costume designer. His own career was put on hold in 2015, when his mum Nahid suffered a stroke and he became her full-time carer. The family had left Iran in the 1980s, in the turbulent years after the Islamic revolution. Nahid sacrificed her tight-knit family network, her successful teaching career, and a sense of her own identity in Iran, to give her three young children a better life in Australia and adjusting to this new reality was hard. After the knock to her health in later life, she withdrew from the world.

It was during their domestic isolation that HOSSEI's creativity began to flourish again. He began writing down the funny and insightful things his mum said, turned them into lyrics, and created a stage play for her to star in called Thunderbloom. He describes it as a Persian sci-fi pop musical, the ultimate celebration of all mums and carers. Set in outer space, it brought them both back in touch with the joys of life on earth.

Presenter: Jo Fidgen
Producer: Elena Angelides

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

(Photo: A photograph of HOSSEI and his mum Nahid standing side by side, holding hands, singing joyfully, wearing matching fuchsia suits. Credit: HOSSEI)


THU 12:50 Witness History (w3ct98b6)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


THU 13:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bdpw3)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 13:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqfq3sr3xc)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 13:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sy324h)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 13:32 The Food Chain (w3ct8svv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


THU 14:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bdtm7)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 14:06 Newshour (w1730bmynddfmv9)
The BBC's Lyse Doucet inside Iran

Iranians tell the BBC's chief international correspondent, Lyse Doucet, they're unsure the ceasefire will hold. Meanwhile, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has warned Iran to choose wisely in negotiations with the United States. He said the US military was reloading and ready to go at the push of a button. We have a report from inside Tehran and ask about the prospects for talks between Lebanon and Israel.

Also in the programme: the South African politician, Julius Malema, has been sentenced to five years in prison for violating gun laws; and we find out how sperm whales mirror the language of humans.

(Photo: Lyse Doucet reporting from Tehran: Credit BBC)


THU 15:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bdycc)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 15:06 The Inquiry (w3ct98ph)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


THU 15:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sy39mr)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 15:32 Business Daily (w3ct8gl4)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:32 today]


THU 15:50 World Business Express (w3ct8d5c)
Could Europe have ‘maybe six weeks of jet fuel left’?

The International Energy Agency boss Fatih Birol has warned Europe has ‘maybe just six weeks of jet fuel left’ as the Middle East conflict continues to disrupt energy supplies. So what could that mean for airlines and travel?

Plus, how did China’s economy grow by 5%, faster than expected despite the Iran war?

And Australia’s fuel supplies face added pressure after a major fire at one of the country’s two oil refineries.


THU 16:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bf23h)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 16:06 Outside Source (w1730c69ld03qz8)
Satellite images reveal scale of Israeli demolitions in Lebanon

With speculation about possible talks between Israel and Lebanon, our BBC Verify reporter explains what satellite images and videos reveal about the scale of Israeli demolitions in southern Lebanon. We also get an update from BBC Verify about the situation at the Strait of Hormuz.

As Ukraine says Russia has launched hundreds of drones and missiles at cities across the country, we hear from ordinary people about what they’ve been experiencing on the ground.

Pope Leo has said the world is being ravaged by a handful of tyrants in extraordinary comments during his visit to Cameroon, days after being criticised by Donald Trump. We speak our reporter.

And, after Northern Ireland joined several countries around the world in offering paid leave to parents affected by miscarriage, we bring together two couples to share their experiences

Presenter: James Reynolds

(Photo: Smoke rises from Khiyam, a Lebanese village near the border with Israel, amid escalation between Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel, as seen from northern Israel, 18 March, 2026. Credit: Ammar Awad/Reuters)


THU 17:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bf5vm)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 17:06 Outside Source (w1730c69ld03vqd)
Trump says Israel-Lebanon ceasefire to begin within hours

US President Donald Trump says Israeli and Lebanese leaders have agreed a 10-day ceasefire beginning within hours. We have the latest from our correspondents in Beirut and Jerusalem, and we get reaction from the Lebanese.

Migrants in the UK are falsely claiming to be victims of domestic abuse in order to stay in the country, a BBC investigation has discovered. We get details from our reporter.

We also speak to actors about the difficulties of landing roles, after a viral video by an Australian actress detailed how she narrowly missed out on a recent audition.

Presenter: James Reynolds

(Photo: A view of the site after the last remaining bridge linking southern Lebanon to the rest of the country was severed by an Israeli strike, in Qasmiyeh, Lebanon, 16 April, 2026. Credit: Louisa Gouliamaki/Reuters)


THU 18:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bf9lr)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 18:06 Outlook (w3ct8j3w)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 today]


THU 18:50 Witness History (w3ct98b6)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


THU 19:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bffbw)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 19:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqfq3srvd4)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 19:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sy3sm8)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct8rly)
2026/04/16 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 (w1730nkkn2bfk30)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 20:06 The Documentary (w3ct99zf)
[Repeat of broadcast at 02:32 today]


THU 20:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sy3xcd)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 20:32 BBC Inside Science (w3ct977g)
Forty years on from nuclear disaster

For 40 years scientists have been fascinated by the exclusion zone surrounding the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine. Professor Jim Smith from the University of Portsmouth is one of those scientists, a frequent visitor over the past 20 years. He joins Inside Science to explain whether the region still suffers after the nuclear fallout and how how it has shaped European energy production.

It is a month for anniversaries, and with David Attenborough turning 100, each week we take a look at a species which has found itself named after the behavioural ecologist.

And finally, the latest science news in the world of astronomy brought to you by astronomer Dr Jeni Millard.


THU 21:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bfnv4)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 21:06 Newshour (w1730bmynddgh26)
Trump announces 10-day Lebanon ceasefire

President Trump has announced that there will be a ceasefire in Lebanon where Israel has been engaged in a war with Hezbollah. The US leader said both countries had agreed that a ten day pause in fighting would begin at midnight local time. Mr Trump also said he'd be inviting the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu and the Lebanese president, Joseph Aoun to the White House for talks.

Also in the programme: As a dispute with the Vatican over the Middle East war continues, President Trump has dismissed comments by Pope Leo who'd said the world was being ravaged by tyrants; and another missing page in the life story of William Shakespeare has been found - the London home he bought three years before he died.

(Photo: US President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media on the South Lawn of the White House before departing on Marine One, in Washington, DC on 16 April 2026. Credit: Graeme Sloan/Pool/EPA/Shutterstock)


THU 22:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bfsl8)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 22:06 The Inquiry (w3ct98ph)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


THU 22:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sy44vn)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 22:32 The Food Chain (w3ct8svv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


THU 23:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bfxbd)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 23:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqfq3ssbcn)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 23:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sy48ls)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 23:32 World Business Report (w3ct8fq1)
Jet fuel warning in Europe

The head of the International Energy Agency Fatih Birol says the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz could trigger what he calls the largest energy crisis the world has ever faced. He's warned Europe may have as little as six weeks of jet fuel left. It comes as airlines across the world struggle with fuel supplies and cost. Airlines in Nigeria are warning they may suspend flights from Monday over soaring jet fuel prices and South Korean Airlines say they will impose the highest level of surcharges they can on flights in May as global oil prices surge due to the tensions in the Middle East.

Netflix's second quarter profits fall short of expectations and it announced that its chairman and co-founder Reed Hastings is stepping down from the board after 29 years. Netflix stepped back from a battle to control Warner Bros Discovery earlier this year.

Sweden, one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world, will be going back to basics with the use of physical books, pens, and paper for their students, but some tech companies are concerned that the move could damage pupils' job prospects.

And we explore why Allbirds whose trainers were worn by Hollywood stars and President Obama are getting out of footwear and into artificial intelligence.

FRIDAY 17 APRIL 2026

FRI 00:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bg12j)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 00:06 The Explanation (w3ct98m7)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:06 on Thursday]


FRI 00:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sy4dbx)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 00:32 Happy News (w3ct8nw7)
[Repeat of broadcast at 19:32 on Saturday]


FRI 01:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bg4tn)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 01:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqfq3sskvx)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 01:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sy4j31)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 01:32 The Global Story (w3ct8mf3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 11:32 on Thursday]


FRI 02:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bg8ks)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 02:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqfq3sspm1)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 02:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sy4mv5)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 02:32 Tech Life (w3ct8jxq)
[Repeat of broadcast at 20:32 on Tuesday]


FRI 03:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bgd9x)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 03:06 Outlook (w3ct8j3w)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Thursday]


FRI 03:50 Witness History (w3ct98b6)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 on Thursday]


FRI 04:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bgj21)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 04:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqfq3ssy39)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 04:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sy4wbf)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 04:32 Heart and Soul (w3ct983f)
Jamaica: Shaken, not broken

From historic buildings linked to emancipation to tiny village chapels, Jamaica is home to the world’s highest density of churches. The Caribbean Island faced a profound spiritual crisis after Hurricane Melissa devastated many of the 1600 sacred spaces where people gathered to worship.

Journalist and presenter Nick Davis, who has returned to his family's roots and now lives on the island, takes us on an emotional journey back to Black River and Lacovia, in the heart of the hardest-hit areas. Nearly six months on from one of the worst storms in living memory, Nick joins volunteers as they continue to dig through the rubble and salvage what they can.

We meet some of the people who lost everything, and explore how faith communities are helping to build back stronger. Their places of worship may be razed to the ground, but those who once gathered here demonstrate how faith brings fresh hope and a resilience that reaches far beyond the bricks and mortar.

Presenter: Nick Davis
Producer: Matt O'Donoghue
Production co-ordinator: Mica Nepomuceno
Editor: Chloe Walker

(Photo: St Elizabeth's Church at Black River. Credit: Matt O'Donoghue)


FRI 05:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bgmt5)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 05:06 Newsday (w1730c190w11pzx)
Lebanon-Israel ceasefire

A ten day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon has come into effect. The truce first announced by the US President has been welcomed by Lebanon's president and the Israeli Prime Minister. The Iranian backed group Hezbollah has acknowledged the truce but not said if it will abide by it. We look at the difference the truce might make after weeks of conflict.

The BBC is reporting from Tehran and witnessed first hand the destruction suffered by the city after weeks of missile and drone attacks.

And on a visit to Cameroon, Pope Leo has denounced those he called "tyrants” and “masters of war", as he heard first hand testimonies of people affected by the conflict in Cameroon’s Anglophone regions.

Presenters: James Copnall and Krupa Padhy.

(Photo: A group of men celebrates as displaced people return to their homes after a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel went into effect, in Sidon, Lebanon. Credit: Aziz Taher/Reuters).


FRI 06:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bgrk9)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 06:06 Newsday (w1730c190w11tr1)
Israel-Lebanon ceasefire begins

A ten day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon has come into effect. The truce first announced by the US President has been welcomed by Lebanon's president and the Israeli Prime Minister. The Iranian backed group Hezbollah has acknowledged the truce but not said if it will abide by it. We look at the difference the ceasefire will make to the conflict in the Middle East.

The BBC is reporting from Tehran and witnessed first hand the destruction suffered by the city after weeks of missile and drone attacks.

And on a visit to Cameroon, Pope Leo has denounced those he called "tyrants” and “masters of war", as he heard first hand testimonies of people affected by the conflict in Cameroon’s Anglophone regions.

Presenters: James Copnall and Krupa Padhy.

(Photo: Displaced people return to their homes after a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel went into effect, at the southern suburbs of Beirut. Credit:Mohamed Azakir/Reuters).


FRI 07:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bgw9f)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 07:06 Newsday (w1730c190w11yh5)
A ceasefire for Israel and Lebanon

A ten day ceasefire between Israel and Lebonon has come into effect. The truce first announced by Donald Trump has been agreed by the leaders of both countries. We find out what part the United States played to secure the deal.

A warning for air travellers in Europe that the continent has "maybe six weeks of jet fuel left".

And we speak to astronaut Sunita Williams. We get her impressions of what the space mission Artemis II has accomplished and also talk about the very long time she spent in space.

Presenters: James Copnall and Krupa Padhy.

(Photo: A person gestures while holding a Hezbollah flag as they ride past a damaged building, after a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel went into effect, in the southern suburbs of Beirut. Credit: Adnan Abidi/Reuters).


FRI 08:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bh01k)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 08:06 The Interview (w3ct98jz)
The Epstein survivors speak

Victoria Derbyshire speaks to survivors of paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier who died in prison in 2019 while awaiting a trial for sex trafficking.

The interview took place in Washington DC, two weeks before Melania Trump, US First Lady, gave an unexpected press conference at the White House where she called for congressional hearings for the Epstein survivors.

Millions of documents, emails and photographs are now in the public domain and show Epstein’s connections to high profile figures from politics, business and royalty.

In this interview, which some listeners may find upsetting, Chauntae Davies, Joanna Harrison, Jena-Lisa Jones, Wendy Pesante and Lisa Phillips share their experiences, and discuss the impact that the abuse has had on their lives.

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

If you’ve been affected by this programme, you can reach out to Befrienders Worldwide for help by visiting befrienders.org

The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. 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 Derbyshire
Producers: Katherine Hodgson, Charlotte Sexton, Carys Nally and Ben Cooper
Editor: Damon Rose

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


FRI 08:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sy5c9y)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct8g93)
L.O.L. Surprise creator Isaac Larian

Isaac Larian left Iran as a 17 year-old with $750 and went on to build a successful career in the US toy industry. Today, at 72, he’s the founder and chief executive of MGA Entertainment, one of the largest privately owned toy companies in the United States.

Over the years, he’s been involved in several high-profile toy launches: from Bratz in 2001 to the acquisition of Little Tikes in 2006, and more recently the L.O.L. Surprise range of toys.

He talks about his journey in life and in business and why he thinks the setbacks along the way are essential to success. 

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.

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

Presenter: Rahul Tandon
Producers: Victoriya Holland and Ahmed Adan

(Photo: Isaac Larian, founder and CEO of MGA Entertainment, sitting in front of some dolls. Credit: MGA Entertainment)


FRI 08:50 Witness History (w3ct98dg)
Discovering Hans Christian Andersen's 'lost fairytale'

In October 2012, a local historian stumbled upon a misplaced pamphlet in the Danish Archives.

It was a story called the Tallow Candle and is believed to be Hans Christian Andersen’s first fairytale.

Ejnar Askgaard, Curator and Senior Researcher at Museum Odense, verified the document.

He speaks to Surya Elango.

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: Hans Christian Andersen. Credit: Hulton-Deutsch Collection via Getty Images)


FRI 09:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bh3sp)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 09:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqfq3stjty)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 09:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sy5h22)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 09:32 BBC Inside Science (w3ct977g)
[Repeat of broadcast at 20:32 on Thursday]


FRI 10:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bh7jt)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 10:06 Unexpected Elements (w3ct8kc8)
The ribbiting science of frogs

In 2025, Russian-born scientist Kseniia Petrova picked up some spliced frog embryos from a laboratory in France and brought them back to the USA to aid her research into ageing and cancer. She was detained by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), charged with smuggling and had her visa revoked.

Now though, a judge has ruled that the scientist’s visa was wrongly cancelled.

Inspired by this story, the Unexpected Elements team find out how embryos and sperm behave in space.

Next, we discover that embryos can regenerate limbs, and new research could help us unlock those skills as adults.

We also reveal the unexpected link between frogs and pregnancy tests, and find out about a devastating fungus that’s wreaking havoc on amphibians.

And don't miss probiotics for coral reefs, dessert stomachs and the weird physics of time.

All that, plus many more Unexpected Elements.

Presenter: Marnie Chesterton, with Katie Silver and Camilla Mota
Producers: Alice Lipscombe-Southwell, with Ella Hubber and Georgia Christie


FRI 11:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bhc8y)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 11:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqfq3stsb6)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 11:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sy5qkb)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct8m8l)
The Chinese cyber-attack that could have stolen data from every American

In 2024, reports emerged of a highly sophisticated cyber espionage campaign against US telecoms companies, which some analysts believe went all the way up to the Chinese government.

The group behind this campaign would later be codenamed Salt Typhoon, and it is believed to have quietly infiltrated critical US telecoms infrastructure in order to collect private information on influential Americans – including presidential candidates. In the process, it may have also swept up data from millions of ordinary Americans. The Chinese government has denied responsibility for Salt Typhoon.

We speak to former Deputy National Security Adviser Anne Neuberger, who was working inside the White House when the attacks were first uncovered. We also speak to BBC cyber correspondent Joe Tidy about how this hack unfolded – and what it reveals about who may be winning the cyber war.

Producer: Aron Keller

Sound engineer: Travis Evans

Executive producer: James Shield

Senior news editor: China Collins

(Photo: Analysts in the Security Operations Center at the Dell Secure Works office in South Carolina, US. Credit: Stephen Morton/Getty Images)


FRI 12:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bhh12)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 12:06 Outlook (w3ct8hpb)
Outlook Mixtape: Going solo

Vera Brandes was 16 and still at school when she first started organising jazz concerts in her home town of Cologne, Germany. In her Mum's fur coat, big colourful glasses and brimming with confidence she looked like she belonged on the scene. Aged 18, she heard the acclaimed US jazz pianist Keith Jarrett was looking to perform in Cologne. Vera ended up organising the gig. It was to be a totally improvised, solo performance with just Keith and a piano. The venue was booked, the concert had sold out and Keith had arrived. But when he got to the venue, he found on stage an old rehearsal piano with broken strings, sticky keys and malfunctioning pedals – it was unplayable. The story of how a musical masterpiece was created out of that seemingly impossible situation has become legendary. The recording of Keith Jarrett's performance that night, simply called the Köln Concert, became the biggest-selling solo piano album of all time.

When Tom Robinson was 14 years old he 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 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. And then came the freak wave that left him stranded on the upturned hull of his boat for hours, with no idea of when, or even if, rescue would come.

Presenter: India Rakusen
Producer: May Cameron

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 (w3ct98dg)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


FRI 13:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bhls6)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 13:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqfq3sv0tg)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 13:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sy5z1l)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 13:32 Heart and Soul (w3ct983f)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


FRI 14:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bhqjb)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 14:06 Newshour (w1730bmynddjjrd)
Iran reopens Strait of Hormuz

Iran's foreign minister says the Strait of Hormuz is "completely open" to commercial ships as long as the ceasefire remains in place.

But the US president Donald Trump said the US blockade of the strait will continue until a deal is made.

The announcement comes as European leaders came together to promote a unified message that the strait must be opened without tolls and without restrictions.

Also in the programme: We'll look at the ceasefire brokered between Lebanon and Israel and how people on both sides have reacted; the UK prime minister comes under renewed pressure over his former US ambassador; and why the Strait of Gibraltar is a treasure-trove of shipwrecks.

(Photo shows a protest rally in Tehran, Iran on 17 April 2026. Credit: Abedin Taherkenareh/EPA)


FRI 15:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bhv8g)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 15:06 The Interview (w3ct98jz)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


FRI 15:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sy66jv)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 15:32 Business Daily (w3ct8g93)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:32 today]


FRI 15:50 World Business Express (w3ct8d0v)
Oil prices plunge after Iran says Strait of Hormuz is open again

Iran's Foreign Minister says ships can again use the crucial Persian Gulf sea route while a ceasefire continues to hold.

Markets have reacted sharply to the news. The price of Brent Crude fell 10 percent on the news. Shares in oil companies have fallen, while shares in airlines and other heavy energy users have risen sharply.

And we hear from Lebanon about how the country's economy is faring.


FRI 16:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bhz0l)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 16:06 Outside Source (w1730c69ld06mwc)
Iran reopens Strait of Hormuz

Iran says it is reopening the Strait of Hormuz as long as the ceasefire in Lebanon is in place but Washington and Tehran appear to have differing interpretations of the initiative. We explain the developments.

Tens of thousands of displaced Lebanese people are taking advantage of the 10-day ceasefire to head back to the south of the country, despite warnings not to do so. We speak to our correspondent in the country, and we get reaction from Lebanese and Israelis.

The British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, says he is furious he was not told his former ambassador to Washington failed security checks before being appointed - in a scandal that is threatening his premiership. Our political correspondent explains.

We speak to those involved in efforts to rescue whales, as teams off Germany’s northern coast try to free a humpback whale that has been stranded for weeks.

A series of smash-and-grab robberies have hit Pokémon card shops across the UK as the increasingly popular collectible cards soar in value. Our reporter explains.

And we examine the future of the breakaway, Saudi backed LIV Golf, amid rumours that the tour may be on the brink of collapse.

Presenter: James Reynolds

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


FRI 17:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bj2rq)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 17:06 Outside Source (w1730c69ld06rmh)
Oil prices plunge as Iran says Strait of Hormuz 'open'

The Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi has announced the Strait of Hormuz will be open to all commercial vessels while Israel's ceasefire in Lebanon is in place. President Trump has insisted the opening of the Strait of Hormuz is not subject to the Lebanese ceasefire. We speak to our business, security and Middle East correspondents.

Pope Leo has been holding a big open-air Mass in Cameroon. We hear from two Catholics with opposing views on the row between the Pope and President Trump.

The US and Hamas held their first direct talks since the Gaza ceasefire this week, as part of efforts to advance the fragile US-brokered agreement. We get an update on the situation in Gaza, and speak to students there.

Presenter: James Reynolds

(Photo: A petrol pump nozzle filling the tank of a car at a petrol forecourt in London, Britain, 10 March 2026. Credit: Neil Hall/EPA)


FRI 18:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bj6hv)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 18:06 Outlook (w3ct8hpb)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 today]


FRI 18:50 Witness History (w3ct98dg)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


FRI 19:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bjb7z)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 19:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqfq3svr97)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 19:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sy6pjc)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct8rgf)
2026/04/17 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 (w1730nkkn2bjg03)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 20:06 BBC Conversations (w3ct8m3g)
Experiences of miscarriage

Losing a child during pregnancy is a subject that is not often talked about but can be traumatic and, in some cultures, even lead to feelings of shame.

We bring together two couples who share their experiences of miscarriage. They discuss the strain it has put on their relationships and the support offered – or not – to those grieving.

“You are grieving for someone that you’ve never met, and you never will get to know, but you still feel sad,” Catharina in Sweden tells us. “So even though I try to be rational about it, it was very difficult because my feelings and my body was telling me something completely different.”

Earlier this month, Northern Ireland became the first part of the UK where a woman and her partner are entitled to two weeks of paid leave if they experience a miscarriage at any stage of pregnancy.

New Zealand, India, and the Philippines also have laws aimed at supporting grieving couples as they deal with the trauma of miscarriage and come to terms with the loss of their unborn child.

Presenter: James Reynolds
BBC producer: Adam Chowdhury
Boffin Media producer: Richard Hollingham
Editor: Harriet Oliver and Arja Haikonen

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

(Photo: Anonymous woman. Credit: Phil Coomes)


FRI 20:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sy6t8h)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 20:32 CrowdScience (w3ct8k6r)
Why does salt taste so good?

Salt can be found in almost every kitchen in the world. But how did this seemingly simple ingredient become the world's favourite flavour enhancer?



This week, Crowdscience sets out to uncover why these tiny crystals have such a powerful effect on us. We explore the magic behind this tiny mineral that has shaped our tongues, our culture, and our cravings.



Our investigation begins with CrowdScience listener George, who heard from a friend that if he added a few grains of salt to his morning coffee, he could make it taste less bitter. Following some light investigation at his local coffee chain, he began wondering why salt make things taste more delicious.



To try and find an answer, presenter Anand Jagatia heads to a salt mine in Austria with Daniel Bradner, an archaeologist from the Natural History Museum of Vienna. The mine is 200 kilometres from the sea, so where does all the salt come from?



In London, UK, we meet Adriana Cavita, a chef who helps us explore how salt transforms what we eat:  sharpening aromas, softening harsh flavours, and boosting sweetness.



We explore the receptors inside our mouth with taste expert Courtney Wilson from the University of Colorado School of Medicine in the US, to find out how we detect whether there’s too much or too little salt in our food.   



And we meet Joel Geerling, Associate Professor of Neurology at the University of Iowa, US, who’s been looking inside the brain to try and work out why we crave salt. He’s discovered an incredible system that’s highly engineered to give us an appetite for salt. Could it be the answer to George’s question?



Presenter: Anand Jagatia

Producer: Robbie Wojciechowski

Editor: Ben Motley

(Photo: Measuring Teaspoon of Sea Salt with Vibrant Colors - stock photo JannHuizenga via Getty Images)


FRI 21:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bjkr7)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 21:06 Newshour (w1730bmynddkcz9)
Iran: Strait of Hormuz open during ceasefire

President Trump and Iranian officials have said the Strait of Hormuz is open to all commercial vessels, although shipping firms say they're remaining cautious. Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said the vital waterway would be navigable while the Lebanon ceasefire was in place, warning ships to use designated safe lanes. But Tehran warned it may retract this if Mr Trump continued with his threat to maintain a US blockade on Iranian ports until a comprehensive peace deal is reached. The price of oil has dropped on the announcement.

Also in the programme: finance chiefs warn that a new AI tool could jeopardise global banking; and Japan creates a new word for days over 40 degrees celsius.

(Photo: A drone view shows the Malta-flagged tanker Agios Fanourios I, an oil tanker that sailed through the Strait of Hormuz, arriving in Iraq’s territorial waters off Basra, Iraq, April 17, 2026. Credit: REUTERS/Mohammed Aty)


FRI 22:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bjphc)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 22:06 The Interview (w3ct98jz)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


FRI 22:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sy71rr)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 22:32 Heart and Soul (w3ct983f)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


FRI 23:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bjt7h)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 23:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqfq3sw78r)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 23:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sy75hw)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 23:32 World Business Report (w3ct8fkj)
IMO warning for ships in the Strait of Hormuz

Iran has announced that the Strait of Hormuz is open, but the Secretary General of the International Maritime Organisation tells us he wouldn't advise ships to use it yet.

Andrew Peach looks at how the impact of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East is continuing to affect oil and petrol prices.

Elsewhere the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank have resumed dealings with Venezuela, nearly two decades after its former president Hugo Chávez cut ties.

And we look at what's happening in the gaming industry where its stars are at the BAFTA Games Awards in London.

Global business news, with live guests and contributions from Asia, Latin America and the USA.

(Picture: A vessel at the Strait of Hormuz, off the coast of Oman’s Musandam province on the 12th of April, 2026. Credit: Reuters)