SATURDAY 21 MARCH 2026

SAT 00:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m858bzb)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 00:06 Unexpected Elements (w3ct72xk)
In the name of science

After the end of a near 17-year legal battle between popstar Katy Perry and fashion designer Katie Perry, the Unexpected Elements team has been inspired to explore the question at the heart of the case – what's in a name?

First, we hear how marmosets use their calls as a way of naming which friend they’re talking to. Then, we discover why a phenomenon known as auditory pareidolia means you can’t necessarily believe your ears.

We're then joined by David Kaiser, professor of physics and history of science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who explains just how hard it is to put physics into words.

Also, the disappearance of indigenous languages, the law for naming laws, and where did all our hair go?

All that, plus many more Unexpected Elements.

Presenter: Marnie Chesterton with Andrada Fiscutean and Michael Kaloki
Producers: Imy Harper, with Lucy Davies and Sophie Ormiston


SAT 01:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m858gqg)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 01:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmrgl7vqv)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SAT 01:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrytzv)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 01:32 The Global Story (w3ct715n)
Netanyahu is not dead. So why did the internet think he was?

Social media platforms this week have been flooded with a wild rumour: that Benjamin Netanyahu was dead (which he is not). Fake photos and videos of his body, coated with dust and debris, seemed to show that the Israeli prime minister had been killed in an Iranian air strike.

The rumour was false – Netanyahu had not died, nor been involved in a strike. The photos and videos were AI-generated. But when Netanyahu posted several videos of himself, debunking and mocking the rumour, some people on social media still refused to believe these were really him.

Today on the show, Thomas Copeland from BBC Verify explains how the economics of social media drive the creation of AI-generated fake videos – sometimes by people with no strong feelings about the war itself. And we speak to Peter Pomerantsev, author of Nothing Is True and Everything is Possible, who says the essential strategy behind wartime disinformation remains unchanged since ancient times.

Producers: Viv Jones, Valerio Esposito and Xandra Ellin
Executive producer: James Shield
Sound engineer: Travis Evans
Senior news editor: China Collins

(Photo: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shows his hand as he speaks at a cafe Credit: Benjamin Netanyahu/Reuters)


SAT 02:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m858lgl)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmrgl7zgz)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SAT 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zryyqz)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 02:32 Stumped (w3ct6zkr)
Gary Kirsten on India, Pakistan and his hopes for Sri Lanka

Gary Kirsten has been officially appointed head coach of Sri Lanka's men's national side. He aims to build a winning culture in the build up to the 2027 ODI World Cup. Kirsten famously led India to the 2011 World Cup title and also helped South Africa reach the top of the Test rankings. Kirsten reflects on his short spell coaching Pakistan, gives us his thoughts on whether India can dominate red ball cricket and explains to Alison Mitchell how he previously came close to becoming England head coach.

Plus, Alison, Clint Wheeldon and Charu Sharma all discuss a new chapter for Australia's women's team as life after Alyssa Healy begins with their tour to the Caribbean to face West Indies.

Photo Credit: Dallas, Texas - JUNE 05: Head coach Gary Kirsten of Pakistan looks on during a net session as part of the ICC Men's T20 Cricket World Cup West Indies & USA 2024 at Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium on June 05, 2024 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Matt Roberts-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)


SAT 03:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m858q6q)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 03:06 Outlook (w3ct6wjc)
Outlook Mixtape: On your bike

In the 1970s, art student PK Mahanandia cycled from India to Sweden to be reunited with his girlfriend – a Swedish woman called Lotta von Schedvin who just happened to be the exact match for a prophecy PK had been given about his future wife. The pair had met in India while Lotta was on holiday with friends and had instantly fallen in love but were soon separated by over 6000km. They spoke to Jo Fidgen in 2017 about the amazing journey that brought them together at the start of their relationship.

When Felipe Nystrom first heard about Cyclo-cross he thought it sounded awful. The specialist cycling circuit is a gruelling race – part on a bicycle, part carrying a bicycle. But for Felipe, the sport gave him a chance to prove to himself, his son and the many others who have been inspired by his difficult start in life, that it is possible to turn your fortunes around. Felipe had a tough childhood which led to a life on the streets and addiction to drugs and alcohol. Rehab was just the beginning of his recovery, it was cycling that gave him a new meaning. He explains to Outlook's Matthew Kenyon how he discovered cycling and almost by accident became Costa Rican National Road Racing Champion. Today, he often comes last in races – he's a decade or more older than the rest of the competitors – but he always gets the biggest cheer of the day when he crosses the line. This interview was first broadcast in 2024.

At the age of 24, Mamadou Barry was looking for a new direction in life. He'd failed his final year secondary school exams five times in a row and so, set his sights on a different type of education. He wanted to go to one of the world’s top Islamic universities – the prestigious Al Azhar University in Egypt. But he lived on the other side of Africa in Guinea and didn't have the money for a plane ticket. So, with only $55, a small bag of clothes and tools, and a handwritten map, he set off across the continent on his bicycle in search of an education. Mamadou spoke to Outlook in 2023.

Presenter: Mobeen Azhar
Producer: Andrea Rangecroft

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

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


SAT 03:50 Witness History (w3ct745b)
Women's rights in independent Tunisia

It's 70 years since Tunisian gained independence from France.

In August 1956, it brought in a new equality law that revolutionised women's lives.

Under the socialist President Habib Bourguiba, the North African country became the first in the Muslim world to legalise civil divorce and abortion and to ban polygamy.

Bourguiba also gave women the vote and widened access to education.

Nidale Abou Mrad spoke to Saida El Gueyed, a founding member of the Tunisian Women's Union, in 2019.

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

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

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

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

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

(Photo: Members of the Tunisian Women's Union. Credit: Courtesy of Saida El Gueyed)


SAT 04:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m858tyv)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 04:06 Unexpected Elements (w3ct72xk)
[Repeat of broadcast at 00:06 today]


SAT 05:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m858ypz)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 05:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmrgl8bqc)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SAT 05:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrz9zc)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 05:32 Dear Daughter (w3ct9085)
Being a girl dad

Ajit, a dad from India, tells Namulanta about realising just how tough the world can be for his daughters as they grow up in a male dominated society.

He’s funny, honest and totally unfiltered as he talks about being on a huge learning curve as a ‘girl dad’, and admits that parenting is far harder than any management job he’s ever had.

And the conversation ends with a very emotional moment, as Ajit reveals how he discovered what truly matters in his life.

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


SAT 05:50 More or Less (w3ct6w0d)
Paul Ehrlich: The man who bet England wouldn’t exist by the year 2000

Paul Ehrlich’s bestselling book The Population Bomb opens with an apocalyptic paragraph.

“The battle to feed all of humanity is over,” it states. “In the 1970s and 1980s hundreds of millions of people will starve to death in spite of any crash programs embarked upon now. At this late date nothing can prevent a substantial increase in the world death rate.”

Professor Ehrlich, who died last week, made a simple argument. The global population was outrunning our capacity to produce enough food to feed everyone. Famine, disease and nuclear Armageddon would follow if the population was not controlled.

The book made him a celebrity, and he regularly spoke in public, warning of the imminent threat to humanity.

Sometimes his warnings were quite vague in terms of the timescale, but other times not - he was reported as saying in 1968 that if current trends continued, by the year 2000, the UK would be a “small group of impoverished islands, inhabited by some 70 million hungry people".

"If I were a gambler," he was quoted as saying, "I would take even money that England will not exist in the year 2000".

But the UK did not collapse, the global death rate did not increase, and we have more food per person now than when he wrote the book.

So, what went wrong with Paul Ehrlich's predictions of a population apocalypse?

If you’ve seen a number or claim that you think More or Less should look at, email moreorless@bbc.co.uk

CONTRIBUTORS

Vincent Geloso, Assistant Professor of economics at George Mason University

Darrell Bricker, global CEO of Ipsos Public Affairs and co-author of Empty Planet, the Shock of Global Population Decline

Peter Alexander, Professor of Global Food Systems at the University of Edinburgh

CREDITS:

Presenter: Charlotte McDonald
Series producer: Tom Colls
Production co-ordinator: Brenda Brown
Sound mix: Dave O’Neil
Editor: Richard Vadon


SAT 06:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m8592g3)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 06:06 Weekend (w172zw8n2htjn52)
Iranians celebrate Persian New Year in wartime

Iran marks the Persian New Year, Nowruz, as war grips the Middle East. We hear from our correspondent about conditions inside the country, which has been enduring a communications blackout.

Also in today’s programme: Three months after Australia introduced its social media ban for under-16s, millions of accounts have reportedly been suspended; and a Russian family is forced apart by censorship laws introduced after the country’s invasion of Ukraine. Plus, US action star Chuck Norris has died at 86.

Presenter Celia Hatton is joined by Sanam Naraghi Anderlini, executive director of ICAN, a Washington-based women’s rights and peacebuilding organisation, and Philip Coggan, a London-based financial journalist and author.

(Photo: Iranian people shop at Tajrish Bazaar, ahead of Nowruz, in Tehran.19 March Credit: Majid-Asgaripour)


SAT 07:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m859667)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 07:06 Weekend (w172zw8n2htjrx6)
Mixed messages from Trump leave more questions over war's end

We’ve been hearing contradictory messages from the US president about when the war against Iran might end. Trump says the US is considering “winding down” operations, but adds that he does not want a ceasefire. He also criticises Nato allies for not helping to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. A former senior Nato commander discusses the alliance’s relationship with Washington.

Also in today’s programme: calls for an investigation into Pakistan’s attack on a drug rehabilitation centre in Kabul; and why the number of Covid-19 deaths in the US has been severely underestimated. Plus, two doctor brothers help treat Iranian victims of the war from their homes in California.

Presenter Celia Hatton is joined by Sanam Naraghi Anderlini, executive director of ICAN, a Washington-based women’s rights and peacebuilding organisation, and Philip Coggan, a London-based financial journalist and author.

(Photo: US President Donald Trump steps from Air Force One upon his arrival in West Palm Beach, Florida. 20 March 2026. Credit: Kevin Lamarque/ Reuters)


SAT 08:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m8599yc)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 08:06 Weekend (w172zw8n2htjwnb)
Trump's messages on Iran war's end unclear

President Donald Trump says the US is considering "winding down" operations against Iran, but that other nations must guard the Strait of Hormuz - a vital shipping lane for oil. Trump also adds he does not want a ceasefire.

Also on today's programme: Why a shortage of fertiliser as a result of the Iran war could lead to sharp rise in food prices across the world; and, an economist tells us why a nineteenth century mechanical piano player shows why AI cannot replace our jobs.

Presenter Celia Hatton is joined by Sanam Naraghi Anderlini, executive director of ICAN, a Washington-based women’s rights and peacebuilding organisation, and Philip Coggan, a London-based financial journalist and author.

(Photo: US President Donald Trump steps from Air Force One upon his arrival in West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., March 20, 2026. Credit: Kevin Lamarque/ Reuters)


SAT 09:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m859fph)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 09:06 BBC Conversations (w3ct6rp2)
Navigating the Strait of Hormuz

The Strait of Hormuz has been effectively closed by Iran for more than a fortnight, preventing vital supplies of oil and gas from leaving the Middle East and sending global fuel prices soaring.

Some 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas is usually carried through the narrow corridor by around 3000 ships a month. Iran has targeted ships in the area, and it’s estimated that over 20 vessels have been hit and at least eight people killed.

In our conversations we bring together sailors to share their experiences of navigating the Strait of Hormuz.

“We would often try and transit at night because we did not want the Iranians to know where our ships were,” Tom, a former US naval officer tells us. “We would reconfigure the lights on our ship to make us look like a merchant vessel – it’s called deceptive lighting – and we would only broadcast with our civilian radar.”

After President Trump said oil tanker crews should show “some guts” and continue to sail through the Strait, we also bring together seafarer organisations concerned for the welfare of their members stuck on ships in the Gulf.

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

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

(Photo: A vessel sailing under a Thai flag is set on fire by an Iranian missile. Credit: Royal Thai Navy/handout/EPA/Shutterstock)


SAT 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zrzsyw)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 09:32 Americast (w3ct8bz9)
Trump v Anthropic: The battle over who controls AI

Away from the war in Iran, the Pentagon is engaged in another battle, with Anthropic and its AI chatbot Claude. After awarding the company a contract potentially worth $200 million last year to integrate their artificial intelligence into the Department of Defence’s classified systems, that relationship has ended with a lawsuit and a threat which puts the future of Anthropic in jeopardy.

Anthropic says it cannot acquiesce to the government’s demand that it breaches its own ‘red lines’ in how its technology is used. The company insists it cannot be used for mass surveillance of US citizens nor in lethal weapons that are operated without human oversight. It has filed lawsuits against the Pentagon.

Justin and Marianna speak to Dean Ball, Trump’s former AI adviser who helped devise much of the Trump administration’s AI policy, about Anthropic’s position and why he thinks the Pentagon have gone too far. They also discuss the controversy around domestic surveillance and how policy makers still do not fully understand how AI technology actually works.

Presenter: Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter and Marianna Spring, social media investigations senior correspondent
Producer: Purvee Pattni, Ben Carter and Alix Pickles
Sound engineer: Michael Regaard
Editor: Sam Bonham

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

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

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

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

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

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


SAT 10:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m859kfm)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 10:06 Not by the Playbook (w3ct8796)
Doing things differently

Growing up, Katrina Webb was crazy about sport. But aged eighteen she had a choice to make. Did she continue to hide her disability? Or embrace it and excel in disability sport. She chose the latter and just year later she would go to the Atlanta Paralympics and win two gold medals, embracing what made her different as a strength.

Team GB skeleton racer, and Milan-Cortina gold medallist, Tabitha Stoecker offers insight into carving (or sliding!) a unique path in one of the world’s most thrilling winter sports. A late night scroll on social media led to a new start in a sport where speed and fearlessness are everything.

Growing up in sweltering Phoenix, Arizona; Alison Levine was a long way from the polar explorers she loved reading about. But, after heart surgery, she was determined to make her dream a reality. She went on to lead the first American all-women expedition up Everest, challenging conventions and drawing strength from adversity in some of the world's harshest environments.

And Great Britain baseball do things differently at the World Baseball Classic, with their own team artist.

Stories that reflect innovation, adversity and the power of embracing unconventional routes to success. Proving that sometimes extraordinary achievements come from daring to do things differently.


SAT 11:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m859p5r)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmrgl9264)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SAT 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zs01g4)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 11:32 Unspun World with John Simpson (w3ct8yvw)
How is the Iran war impacting the global economy?

This week John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses the economic effects of the war in the Middle East, explores how the conflict is actually helping Russia, and looks at how the escalating tensions between Hungary and Ukraine might affect the upcoming elections in Hungary.

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


SAT 12:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m859sxw)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 12:06 The Documentary (w3ct93yz)
Hope and fear: India's space revolution

India is revolutionising its approach to space exploration. To find out why, science journalist Alok Jha follows preparations for the country’s first human spaceflight mission.

For decades, India focused its space programme on limited, inexpensive projects directly benefiting its citizens, such as weather satellites and communications networks. But in recent years, the country earned global recognition with a series of audacious exploratory missions – sending probes to the lunar south pole and Mars. Now, the most ambitious mission yet is underway: India will send humans into space.

Alok Jha speaks to people at the heart of this radical shift to understand how it is happening and what’s driving it. Dr Madhavan Nair, former Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) takes us inside the room where it all began, a high-stakes one-to-one meeting with the prime minister of the time. We relive tense moments of ISRO’s famous Mars mission with its Science Director, Dr Seetha Somasundaram. Indian-American astronaut Anil Menon counts down to his own launch. We visit India’s leading rocket company to witness a start-up boom.

Alongside all the excitement, there are also important questions. Why has India decided to channel so much effort and investment into space exploration? What benefits will it bring to the population? And is ISRO being transparent about its failures, as well as its amazing successes?

As India’s historic human spaceflight launch approaches, Alok reflects on the hopes and fears driving not only this country’s space programme, but the entire 21st-Century space age.

Presenter: Alok Jha
Producer: Dave Anderson
Editor: Anishka Sharma

(Photo: American-Indian Nasa astronaut Anil Menon going through training. Credit "Nasa Johnson")


SAT 13:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m859xp0)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 13:06 Newshour (w172zssmt5pg27m)
Iran says its nuclear facility at Natanz has been attacked again

The United Nations’ nuclear watchdog has said the Natanz nuclear enrichment facility in Iran has suffered “some recent damage” as US-Israeli attacks on the country continue. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed the damage was confined to entrance buildings to the underground fuel enrichment plant.

Also on the programme: a weight loss drug is now off patent in India meaning prices are expected to drop sharply; and the Australian teens grappling with the country's social media ban.

(Photo: Satellite imagery taken in January 2026 showing a new roof over a previously destroyed building at Natanz nuclear site, Iran. Credit: Planet Labs PBC/via Reuters)


SAT 14:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m85b1f4)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 14:06 Sportsworld (w172ztr23rfynsl)
Live Sporting Action

Sportsworld will have live Premier League commentary of Fulham against Burnley. Lee James will be joined by the former Nigerian midfielder and AFCON winner Sunday Oliseh as well as the former Liverpool, Tottenham and Sierra Leone defender Steven Caulker. They will discuss CAF’s decision to overturn the result of the AFCON Final and will also preview the League Cup final between Manchester City and Arsenal as well as Premier League matches.

We’ll also get reaction to the Women’s Asian Cup final between hosts Australia and pre-tournament favourites Japan.

There’s also World Indoor Athletics Championships action and Miami Open tennis. We’ll hear from 2025 Tour de France Femmes winner Pauline Ferrand-Prevot after her first race of the season as she looks to defend the yellow jersey. And we’ll also be in Brazil as MotoGP returns to the country for the first time in over 20 years.

Photo: Bernd Leno of Fulham makes a save from Jacob Bruun Larsen of Burnley during the Premier League match between Burnley and Fulham at Turf Moor on December 13, 2025 in Burnley, England. (Credit: Getty Images)


SAT 18:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m85bjdn)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 18:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmrgl9xf1)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SAT 18:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zs0wp1)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 18:32 Dear Daughter (w3ct9085)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:32 today]


SAT 18:50 Sporting Witness (w3ct7zt4)
The Czech Republic at Euro 96

In 1996, the Czech Republic played in their first major football tournament since the country's formation three years earlier. The unfancied team went on an unexpected run in the competition. One of the stars of the team, Patrik Berger, tells Guy Kilty how it all happened.

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: Patrik Berger in Euro 96. Credit: Lutz Bongarts via Getty Images)


SAT 19:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m85bn4s)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 19:06 The Inquiry (w3ct7242)
How can rewilding help combat climate change?

Rewilding, or letting nature take care of itself, can restore stability to damaged ecosystem components which support life on earth, like fungi, bacteria, vegetation, insects and animals.

But there's now a wider discussion to discover what it’s capable of on a wider scale.

International agreements for reducing the impact of climate change tend to set global targets.

However, individual governments decide how to work towards meeting those goals at a national level.

Some rewilding initiatives improve biodiversity, but it can have negative impacts too.

This week on The Inquiry, we’re asking ‘How can rewilding help combat climate change?’

Contributors:
Carolina Soto-Navarro, head of Wilder Nature at Rewilding Europe
Brendan Fisher, professor in the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, at University of Vermont, US
David Nogues Bravo, professor in biodiversity, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
Steve Carver, professor of rewilding and wilderness science, University of Leeds, UK

Presenter: Charmaine Cozier
Producers: Jill Collins and Daniel Rosney
Researcher: Evie Yabsley
Editor: Tom Bigwood
Technical Producer: Cameron Ward
Production Management: Phoebe Lomas and Liam Morrey

(Photo: Galapagos giant tortoise. Credit: Anadolu/Getty Images)


SAT 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zs10f5)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 19:32 The Global Jigsaw (w3ct8yxd)
Iran's media at war

The war in Iran through the eyes of the Islamic Republic, and how Tehran’s restrictions on information went full throttle. In this episode we peek under the bonnet of the machinery that shapes official narratives and controls the media in Iran. And we revisit the turbulent first days of the war as they unfolded on national TV, from the death of Ayatollah Khamenei to the surprise apology by President Pezeshkian and the rise of a new Supreme Leader.

Producer: Kriszta Satori, Barry Sadid, Krassi Ivanova Twigg
Presenter: Krassi Ivanova Twigg
Music: Pete Cunningham


SAT 20:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m85brwx)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 20:06 The Arts Hour (w3ct6zvs)
Ryan Gosling on his role in Project Hail Mary

Nikki Bedi is joined by critic Hanna Flint to discuss cultural highlights of the week:

Canadian actor and Hollywood star Ryan Gosling on his role as a reluctant astronaut in the sci-fi adventure movie, Project Hail Mary.

British artist Dame Tracey Emin, famous for her raw, confessional works... talks about her retrospective exhibition, A Second Life and why she is more relevant today, than ever.

Chinese British author Jung Chang recommends a book of Danish fairytales and tells us why.

Oscar winning Irish actor Cillian Murphy discusses reprising his role as Thomas Shelby in the Peaky Blinders movie, The Immortal Man.

Macedonian filmmaker Georgi M Unkovski talks to Nikki Bedi about his latest film DJ Ahmet...which has Electronic Dance Music and sheep.

Nigerian singer and musician Seun Kuti talks about liberation music and his father Fela Kuti’s legacy.

And the Oscar winning cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw on breaking into a male dominated industry.

Photo Credit: Getty Images


SAT 21:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m85bwn1)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 21:06 Newshour (w172zssmt5ph16n)
UK condemns Iranian attack on Diego Garcia base

Britain has insisted it will not be drawn into a wider conflict after a key military base in the Indian Ocean was targeted by an Iranian missile attack. Also on the programme: Robert Mueller, who led the investigation into whether Russia interfered in the 2016 US presidential election won by Donald Trump, has died; and the K-Pop phenomenon, BTS, has played a massive comeback concert in Seoul. 

(Photo: A United States Air Force Rockwell B-1 Lancer Bomber arrives at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire.Saturday March 7, 2026. Ben Birchall/PA Wire)


SAT 22:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m85c0d5)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 22:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmrglbddk)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SAT 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zs1cnk)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 22:32 This Is Africa (w3ct72ff)
Senzaa and Josiah De Disciple

Buckle up with DJ Edu the Afroboss as we meet the Togolese Beyonce. Senzaa, a singer-songwriter with a passion for live performances, talks us through her musical journey from gospel to RnB and Afropop – with a shoutout to the priest who told her to chase her dreams. She tells us how her big hit Evanem – all about the loneliness women often experience in a relationship – has struck a deep chord with audiences.

And back on the scene in South Africa is Josiah De Disciple. Best known as one half of the pioneering amapiano duo JazziDisciples, he speaks about how his upbringing in the township of Alexandra in Johannesburg has shaped his sound – and how a deep spiritual journey is now guiding the music he’s creating as a solo artist.


SAT 23:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m85c449)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 23:06 Not by the Playbook (w3ct8796)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:06 today]



SUNDAY 22 MARCH 2026

SUN 00:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m85c7wf)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 00:06 BBC Conversations (w3ct6rp2)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:06 on Saturday]


SUN 00:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zs1m4t)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 00:32 The Documentary (w3ct8ywb)
Europe's night train renaissance: Still on track?

Night trains are making a comeback, once again connecting Europe’s cities with the promise of green, serene and iconic journeys.

Just a decade ago, it appeared to be the end of the line for the continent’s sleeper services. But revitalised routes, new operators and innovative cabin designs have sparked renewed excitement around overnight train travel.

Yet even as demand from passengers continues to boom, an array of obstacles puts the revival at risk. A number of major new routes have already hit the buffers, and entrepreneurial sleeper train operators face a host of challenges.

Is a European night train renaissance simply a nostalgic pipedream, or is it full steam ahead? Speaking to railway operators, innovators and industry insiders, Jack Butcher rides the rails to find out.

Producer and presenter: Jack Butcher
Executive producer: Robert Nicholson
A Whistledown production for the BBC World Service

(Photo: Interior of an OBB Nightjet sleeper train compartment. Credit: Jack Butcher)


SUN 01:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m85ccmk)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 01:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmrglbrmy)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SUN 01:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zs1qwy)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 01:32 Dear Daughter (w3ct9085)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:32 on Saturday]


SUN 01:50 Sporting Witness (w3ct7zt4)
[Repeat of broadcast at 18:50 on Saturday]


SUN 02:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m85chcp)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmrglbwd2)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SUN 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zs1vn2)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 02:32 Health Check (w3ct6vkv)
Does your home country impact your cancer risk?

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

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

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

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

Presenter: Laura Foster
Producers: Jonathan Blackwell and Georgia Christie


SUN 03:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m85cm3t)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 03:06 The Documentary (w3ct93yz)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Saturday]


SUN 04:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m85cqvy)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 04:06 From Our Own Correspondent (w3ct6tsz)
Iran War: A sharp escalation in the Gulf

The US-Israeli war with Iran has seen a marked escalation with strikes on some of the world’s biggest gas fields. Israel’s attack on the South Pars gas field triggered a swift response from Tehran, which launched strikes on the Ras Laffan terminal in Qatar – the world’s largest liquefied natural gas facility - and other Gulf countries. Frank Gardner describes the reactions to Iran's rhetoric which he heard recently in Riyadh and Doha.

In Caracas, billboards and banners of Venezuela's former President Nicolas Maduro still line the roads after he was seized in January by US special forces. His old party - the PSUV - is still in control of the country's government, although there have been signs that acting President Delcy Rodriguez is more amenable to political and economic demands from the US. There's a little more room to speak out, but many young Venezuelans are sceptical that much will change, says Ione Wells.

Next week, the BBC’s Russian Service marks its 80th anniversary. The service’s editor Jenny Norton reflects on how the team have had to find ways to adapt after the Kremlin's clampdown on media freedoms and the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and on the experience of leaving Moscow to set up a new base in Latvia.

In South Korea, a new genre of movies is taking the entertainment world by storm: the “micro-drama.” They're one- or two-minute-long shows with intense plotlines, made to be watched on your phone - and to keep you coming back for the next episode. Jake Kwon went behind the scenes of one production in Seoul.

Introduced by Pascale Harter.

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

(Photo: Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, at a press conference in Doha on 19 March, 2026. Credit: Mustafa Hatipoglu/Getty Images)


SUN 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zs234b)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 04:32 Unspun World with John Simpson (w3ct8yvw)
[Repeat of broadcast at 11:32 on Saturday]


SUN 05:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m85cvm2)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 05:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmrglc7mg)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SUN 05:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zs26wg)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 05:32 The Documentary (w3ct8ywb)
[Repeat of broadcast at 00:32 today]


SUN 06:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m85czc6)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 06:06 Weekend (w172zw8n2htmk25)
A review of the week with the latest news.


SUN 07:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m85d33b)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 07:06 Weekend (w172zw8n2htmnt9)
A review of the week with the latest news.


SUN 08:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m85d6vg)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 08:06 Weekend (w172zw8n2htmskf)
A review of the week with the latest news.


SUN 09:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m85dbll)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 09:06 From Our Own Correspondent (w3ct6tsz)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:06 today]


SUN 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zs2pvz)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 09:32 The Food Chain (w3ct70zz)
What to eat to run a marathon

What should runners should eat to train for, and complete, a marathon?

With major races like the London and Boston marathons approaching, more people than ever are taking on the 26.2-mile challenge. But what should you actually eat to fuel that distance?

Ruth Alexander is joined by one of the most successful marathon runners in history, Paula Radcliffe, who held the women’s world record for 16 years. She shares what it takes to fuel months of marathon training, and what it feels like when things go wrong during a race.

Also on the programme is former world champion runner Steve Cram, now a coach and commentator, who explains the common nutrition mistakes he sees among recreational runners.

And Performance Director of the dsm-firmenich Running Team, Valentijn Trouw tells us what it’s like to oversee the performance programmes of elite athletes including marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge.

Ruth asks them what runners should fuel their training, what to eat in the crucial days before a race, and how to avoid “hitting the wall” on marathon day.

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

Produced by Izzy Greenfield.
Sound Engineer: Annie Gardiner
Picture: Credit - Getty. Paula Radcliffe competes in a marathon


SUN 10:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m85dgbq)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 10:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct6xz2)
Making cities feel quieter

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

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

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


SUN 10:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zs2tm3)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 10:32 The Fifth Floor (w3ct70vg)
Bangladeshi newspapers attacked by mob

On 18th December 2025, the offices of two of Bangladesh's biggest newspapers, The Daily Star and Prothom Alo, were surrounded by mobs, attacked and set on fire. At The Daily Star, journalists were forced to take shelter on the roof of the building as smoke billowed through the lift shaft. They were rescued hours later by the military and many required hospital treatment. The BBC's Soutik Biswas went to Dhaka to talk to journalists caught up in the violence and to investigate the social media posts that may have driven it.

Hallyu, or the Korean wave, is what South Koreans call the international success of TV shows like Squid Game and K-Pop Demon Hunters. The phenomenon has grown exponentially since the 1990s, encompassing South Korean music, TV, drama, food and cosmetics. Boy band BTS have been central to the Hallyu craze since they got together in 2010. Their decision to go on hiatus so they could complete their military service sparked debate in South Korea. Now, as they prepare for a huge return concert in Seoul, Suhnwook Lee of BBC Korean joins the online queue for tickets.

The Fifth Floor is at the heart of global storytelling on the BBC World Service, bringing you the best stories from journalists in the BBC's 43 language services. We're here to help you make sense of the stories making headlines around the world; to excite your curiosity and to get to grips with the facts.

Recent episodes have investigated Russia’s youth armies and how they make soldiers of Ukrainian children; featured the BBC team who were the first journalists to the site of the Nigerian school kidnappings and reflected the effects of internet blackouts in Iran, Uganda and India.

If you want to know more about Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, and the legacy of Hugo Chavez; or how Vladimir Putin’s network of deep cover spies operates; or why Donald Trump signed an executive order granting white South Africans asylum in the US, we have all those stories and more.

Presented by Irena Taranyuk

Produced by Laura Thomas, Caroline Ferguson and Hannah Dean.


(Photo: Irena Taranyuk.)


SUN 11:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m85dl2v)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmrglcz37)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SUN 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zs2yc7)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 11:32 Dear Daughter (w3ct9085)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:32 on Saturday]


SUN 11:50 More or Less (w3ct6w0d)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:50 on Saturday]


SUN 12:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m85dptz)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 12:06 BBC Conversations (w3ct6rp2)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:06 on Saturday]


SUN 12:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zs323c)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 12:32 The Global Jigsaw (w3ct8yxd)
[Repeat of broadcast at 19:32 on Saturday]


SUN 13:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m85dtl3)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 13:06 Newshour (w172zssmt5pjz4q)
Israeli Prime Minister visits site of latest Iranian strike

More than 160 people have been injured - some seriously - in Iranian missile strikes on two southern Israeli towns close to a nuclear facility, according to Israeli emergency officials. We hear about the medical situation on the ground and take a look at Israel's nuclear capabilities.

Also on the programme: Italian voters give their verdict on a government plan to have more power over the judiciary; and a US comedy institution makes its UK debut as Saturday Night Live hits British screens.

(Picture: Ultra Orthodox Jewish residents look on at the scene of a direct hit of an Iranian missile in Arad, Israel. Credit: Abir Sultan/EPA/Shutterstock)


SUN 14:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m85dyb7)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 14:06 The Climate Question (w3ct703d)
Can better buses fix city pollution?

Transport is one of the fastest-growing sources of greenhouse gas emissions, and in cities around the world it is also one of the biggest daily frustrations. Congestion, pollution and long journeys to work affect millions of people every day.

In this episode of The Climate Question, Jordan Dunbar explores how cities can move large numbers of people more quickly, cheaply and with fewer emissions. With most urban journeys still dominated by private cars, the challenge is how to shift people towards more efficient forms of transport.

He speaks to Dario Hidalgo, a transport expert based in Bogotá, where a system known as Bus Rapid Transit has helped transform how millions of people travel. By giving buses dedicated lanes, larger vehicles and faster boarding systems, cities can move more people using fewer vehicles, cutting both congestion and emissions. Variations of the model are now being used in cities around the world.

Jordan also hears from Sarah Kaufman, Director of the NYU Rudin Center for Transportation in New York, about why similar systems can be harder to implement in dense cities, and how measures like congestion charging are helping to reduce traffic and fund improvements to public transport.

While electric cars are often seen as part of the solution, both experts say reducing the number of cars on the road altogether is key. From buses to bikes, they explore how cities might redesign transport systems to be cleaner, faster and more efficient.

Guests:
Dario Hidalgo – Professor of Transport and Logistics, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá
Sarah Kaufman – Director, NYU Rudin Center for Transportation, New York

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

Production team: Grace Braddock, Diane Richardson, Nik Sindle
Sound Engineer: Tom Brignell and Mike Regaard
Production Coordinator: Brenda Brown
Editor: Melanie Stewart-Smith

Image: Guillermo Legaria/AFP via Getty Images


SUN 14:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zs39lm)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 14:32 Happy News (w3ct6tzs)
The Happy Pod: Beers, braids and bonding

We meet the men on a mission to help fellow Dads connect with their daughters, through a movement called 'pints and ponytails'. It is a chance to learn how to do a range of girls' hairstyles, over a couple of beers. But organisers say they leave with more than just salon skills, as the shared experience encourages men to open up about other parenting challenges.

Also, an unexpected solution that could help in the fight againt both plastic pollution and Parkinson's disease.

Rhinos return to a national park in Uganda for the first time in more than forty years. It is hoped they willl help establish a thriving population, improving the ecosystem, creating jobs and attracting tourists.

Plus, aging well - researchers found that around a third of people over the age of 65 saw improvements in their physical and mental abilities. And how a holiday souvenir from Morocco turned out to be a previously unknown type of rock.

Presenter: Holly Gibbs
Music: Iona Hampson

(Photo: A group of dads in the pub holding hair styling dummies. Credit: @TheSecretLifeOfDads)


SUN 15:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m85f22c)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 15:06 Sportsworld (w172ztr23rg1pft)
Live Sporting Action

Delyth Lloyd presents live commentary of the EFL Cup final between Arsenal and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium. Delyth will be joined at Wembley by Steve Round - former assistant manager to Mikel Arteta when Arsenal won their last major piece of silverware, the 2020 FA Cup - to build up to our commentary game, as well as discussing Sunday's three Premier League games.

We'll also look ahead to the Madrid derby between Real and Atletico at the Bernabeu and discuss the final day of the World Athletics Indoor Championships.

(Photo: The Carabao Cup trophy during the Carabao Cup Fourth Round match between Wrexham and Cardiff City at Racecourse Ground on October 28, 2025 in Wrexham, Wales. (Credit: Getty Images)


SUN 19:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m85fk1w)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmrgldy28)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SUN 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zs3xb8)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 19:32 Over to You (w3ct8sh4)
A focus on East Asia

The East Asia region, comprising of China, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Hong Kong, Macau, Mongolia and Taiwan, is undeniably a key player on the world stage.

We go behind the scenes of The Fifth Floor, the programme that brings the news from the BBC World Service language services. We hear how people in Seoul are reacting to the comeback of BTS, the superstar South Korean boyband, whose first tour since 2022 kicks off in April.

Hong Kong cinema has influenced film-makers around the world. For a recent In the Studio episode, film-maker Shan Ng followed Kwan Pun Leung, one of the cinematographers of the Hong Kong and 20th Century classic, In the Mood for Love. We hear what Shan learnt following a fellow film-maker and what surprised her about Kwan's process.

In November 2025, the BBC World Service launched a new visualised podcast, Asia Specific. Presented by veteran journalist, Mariko Oi, it covers the Asia Pacific region, of which East Asia is part of. Mariko tells Qasa why a podcast for the region was essential and the stories they hope to cover.

And finally, in February, the director general Tim Davie warning that the network would run out of funding if a deal was not agreed with the government. His warnings set the Over to You inbox alight with questions and concern. Qasa speaks with the head of the school of journalism, media and culture at Cardiff University, Dr Matt Walsh and explores what all this means for the World Service.


SUN 20:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m85fnt0)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 20:06 Unexpected Elements (w3ct72xk)
[Repeat of broadcast at 00:06 on Saturday]


SUN 21:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m85fsk4)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 21:06 Newshour (w172zssmt5pky3r)
Israel steps up offensive in southern Lebanon

The president of Lebanon, Joseph Aoun, says Israel's military action in the south of his country is a prelude to a full-scale ground invasion. Israel has started blowing up bridges over a crucial river in southern Lebanon, saying it is targeting infrastructure used by Hezbollah. Could Israel be about to take the next step in the Middle Eastern conflict?

Also in the programme: French voters have gone to the polls - will they tack to the centre ground or lurch to the far-left and far-right? And a British version of the celebrated US TV show Saturday Night Live has made its debut - did it translate well across the Atlantic?

(Photo shows smoke rising after an Israeli strike on a bridge near Qasmiyeh, Lebanon on 22 March 2026. Credit: Amr Abdallah Dalsh/Reuters)


SUN 22:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m85fx98)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 22:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlmrglf99n)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SUN 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zs48kn)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 22:32 The Fifth Floor (w3ct70vg)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:32 today]


SUN 23:00 BBC News (w172zwx5m85g11d)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 23:06 The Climate Question (w3ct703d)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:06 today]


SUN 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy01zs4d9s)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 23:32 Assignment (w3ct6rd1)
How to spend billions fast: Carney’s defence deadline

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

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

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

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

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



MONDAY 23 MARCH 2026

MON 00:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgl01p)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 00:06 From Our Own Correspondent (w3ct6tsz)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:06 on Sunday]


MON 00:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f828cb2)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 00:32 BBC Inside Science (w3ct8ty4)
Is quantum computing having its moment?

In a bid to invest in the future of computing and keep emerging quantum companies on their shores, the UK government has announced a £2 billion ‘Quantum Leap’ fund. Tom Whipple heads to ORCA Computing in London to find out exactly how close we are to realising that quantum future and the industries that may be revolutionized in the process.

After Iranian missiles have hit a key helium production plant in Qatar, stability of the global supplies of the element have been called into question. Dr Rebecca Ingle from University College London clues us in on just how much of the world relies on Helium and why it is the irreplicable “cryogenic king” of the elements.

Plus, can potatoes grow on the moon? And what can pythons tell us about weight loss? Reporter Gareth Mitchell joins Tom for their pick of this week's science news.

Presenter: Tom Whipple
Producer: Alex Mansfield and Katie Tomsett
Production co-ordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth
Editor: Martin Smith


MON 01:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgl3st)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 01:06 The Newsroom (w172zwln3qwkht6)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 01:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f828h26)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 01:32 Discovery (w3ct6sxg)
The Life Scientific: Jehane Ragai

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


MON 02:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgl7jy)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zwln3qwkmkb)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f828ltb)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 02:32 CrowdScience (w3ct6sv6)
Can I unlock my car using my head?

CrowdScience listener Doug has been experimenting with holding his wireless garage key to his chin. Why? Because he's testing a strange trick of physics.

The range of a key can apparently double when held against your head rather just being held in your hand. Could this really be true, and if so why?

Presenter Caroline Steel goes on a wavy journey of self-experimentation with antennas. She follows the story of Doug as he wanders the streets of Calgary in Alberta, Canada testing the key on his head from different distances and even testing it on his dog Maura’s head.

To understand the physics behind all this, Caroline meets Dr Lina Mohjazi, Lecturer of Autonomous Systems and Connectivity at the University of Glasgow and Guy Vandenbosch, Professor of Electromagnetic Radiation at KU Leuven University in Leuven, Belgium.

Presenter: Caroline Steel
Producer: Tom Bonnett
Editor: Ben Motley

(Photo: Hand holding a car key remote in front of a red car - stock photo Credit: vadishzainer via Getty Images)


MON 03:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjglc92)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 03:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct6xz2)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:06 on Sunday]


MON 03:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f828qkg)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 03:32 The Fifth Floor (w3ct70vg)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:32 on Sunday]


MON 04:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjglh16)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 04:06 The Newsroom (w172zwln3qwkw1l)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f828v9l)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 04:32 The Conversation (w3ct70b6)
Supporting women with endometriosis

It's thought that around one in ten women of childbearing age have endometriosis, yet it often takes years of excessively painful periods and struggles to conceive before a diagnosis. And while there's no cure, surgery can help relieve symptoms. Datshiane Navanayagam talks to women from Hungary and South Africa working to improve treatment and diagnosis.

Adrienn Salamon lives with endometriosis. She waited many years for a diagnosis, and surgery enabled her to get IVF treatment. She started Női Egészségért Alapítvány, a women's health foundation in Hungary that supports women suffering from the disorder. She is also on the board of the World Endometriosis Society and says no woman should go through the same struggle with the condition that she experienced.

Dr Lusanda Shimange-Matsose is a gynaecologist, reproductive endocrine and infertility specialist in South Africa. She is director of Medfem Fertility Clinic in Johannesburg and is also a member of the Pan African Society of Endometriosis, offering support for women across the continent.

Produced by Jane Thurlow

(Image: (L) Adrienn Salamon, credit Johanna Krivocenko. (R) Lusanda Shimange-Matsose, courtesy Lusanda Shimange-Matsose.)


MON 05:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgllsb)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 05:06 Newsday (w172zsq5gzwjzsx)
Iran says the Strait is "open to all but those who violate our soil"

Iran warns it would fully close the Strait of Hormuz if Washington followed through with President Trump's threat to "obliterate" power plants in Iran.

The head of the The International Energy Agency has said the US and Israeli war with Iran has led to an oil crisis in the Middle East that is worse than the two oil shocks of the Nineteen Seventies (1970s), and the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war put together.

US R&B singer R Kelly is currently serving a 30 year sentence for sex trafficking and child sex abuse. One of his victims tells us her story.

(Photo: Cargo ships in the Gulf, near the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from northern Ras al-Khaimah;Credit: Reuters)


MON 06:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjglqjg)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 06:06 Newsday (w172zsq5gzwk3k1)
Israel warns of 'several more weeks' of fighting In Iran

Airstrikes continue as Israel warns of 'several more weeks' of fighting. Loud explosions have been heard in Iran.

With less than 18 hours away from the US President Donald Trump's deadline for Iran to re-open the Strait of Hormuz – Iran says they might close the Strait completely if its energy infrastructure is struck.

And a report just released by the World Meteorological Organisation says that the past 11 years have been the hottest on record.

(Photo: A mother and son walk near a building destroyed in a strike, amid the U.S.- Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran; Credit: Alaa Al-Marjani/ Reuters)


MON 07:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjglv8l)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 07:06 Newsday (w172zsq5gzwk795)
Iran and Israel exchange fire power

Iran has launched a barrage of missiles setting off alerts across northern Israel even as the Israeli military unleased a fresh wave of attacks on Tehran, causing loud explosions.

Major Asian stock markets fell sharply on Monday after the US and Iran threatened to intensify hostilities as the war enters its fourth week. We get the latest from the Philippines as thee country is hard hit by the recent development.

And in sport - Manchester City win another league title at the expense of Arsenal.

(Photo: Israeli soldiers inspect the site of a damaged building following barrages of Iranian missiles; Credit: Amir Cohen/Reuters)


MON 08:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjglz0q)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 08:06 The Interview (w3ct7x14)
Nadia Calviño, EIB President: Can Europe compete?

“We put the money where Europe's priorities are. Many people may think defence is about tanks. No, defence is also about energy security. It is about social cohesion and territorial cohesion. That's the European brand. So we need to act in all these areas in order to ensure peace, security, stability on our continent.”

Peter Macjob speaks to Nadia Calviño, President of the European Investment Bank, about Europe’s shifting priorities, and the growing urgency around defence and security.

With wars, energy shocks and tariffs reshaping the global economy, Europe is being forced to rethink its position in a changing world.

The EIB is the EU’s lending arm, mobilising billions of euros to finance infrastructure, energy and technology projects across Europe and the developing world. Calviño, a former Spanish finance minister, took on the role in 2024 at a time of war in Ukraine, rising geopolitical tensions and growing strain on global trade.

The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC, including episodes with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and free speech campaigner Maria Ressa. 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: Peter Macjob
Producers: Osman Iqbal and Lucy Sheppard
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: Nadia Calviño Credit: Krisztian Bocsi/Bloomberg via Getty Images)


MON 08:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f829b93)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct6rz4)
Can Cuba turn its economy around?

Cuba is in the grip of a deep economic crisis. The country’s communist government says it will open up the struggling economy to greater private investment in an effort to tackle it. But will these reforms be enough? And can they happen quickly enough to slow the record number of Cubans leaving the country in search of a better life abroad?

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

Presenter: Will Bain
Producer: Craig Henderson

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

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

Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, the economic impact of the war in the Middle East, and why bond markets are so powerful.

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

(Picture: A man rides a tricycle at a corner of Havana during a blackout on the 16th of March 2026. Credit: Getty Images)


MON 08:50 Witness History (w3ct747m)
The reunification of Germany

When the Berlin Wall fell on 9 November 1989, it marked a turning point in the Cold War in Europe and set in motion the process that led to the reunification of East and West Germany.

But before that could happen, Chancellor Helmut Kohl, had to address fears about the return of a powerful Germany and convince the four allied powers of France, Russia, the US and the UK - which had occupied Germany following the second world war - to agree to both countries reuniting.

After some careful diplomacy and the intervention of the US President, the new Federal Republic of Germany was formed on 3 October 1990, ending 40 years of division.

Joachim Bitterlich, a key advisor to Chancellor Kohl, speaks to Jacqueline Paine.

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: Celebrating German unification, Berlin. Credit: Owen Franken/Corbis via Getty Images)


MON 09:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgm2rv)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 09:06 The Newsroom (w172zwln3qwlgs7)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f829g17)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 09:32 CrowdScience (w3ct6sv6)
[Repeat of broadcast at 02:32 today]


MON 10:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgm6hz)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 10:06 The History Hour (w3ct71x9)
The 'Cyprus Emergency’ and India’s nuclear mango deal

Max Pearson presents a collection of the week's Witness History interviews from the BBC World Service.

We hear from a Cypriot lawyer, imprisoned by the British for almost two years during the "Cyprus Emergency” of 1955-1959.

Our guest, Professor Rebecca Bryant, explains how this period impacted life in Cyprus in the following years.

Plus, the story of India’s controversial nuclear deal with the USA in 2006 and when thousands of people rallied against a racially motivated killing in Norway.

We also learn about the questionable conviction of four men in Mauritius, who became known as the L’Amicale Four, and about how Tunisian independence helped improve women’s rights 70 years ago.

And finally, the remarkable story of when the unfancied Czech Republic reached the final of Euro 96.

Contributors:

Renos Lyssiotis - former Cypriot lawyer.

Dr Rebecca Bryant – Professor of cultural anthropology at Utrecht University.

Ronen Sen – former Indian ambassador to the United States.

Luciana Parvaneh Zehi – friend of Benjamin Hermansen.

Imran Sumodhee – one of the L’Amicale Four.

Saida El Gueyed – founding member of the Women’s Union in Tunisia.

Patrik Berger – former Czech footballer.

(Photo: British troops searching for EOAK fighters in 1956. Credit: Bert Hardy/Getty Images)


MON 11:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgmb83)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zwln3qwlq8h)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f829pjh)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct717y)
Trump's Iran options

As the US and Israel war with Iran enters its fourth week, there are growing number of people in the United States calling for it end. But the military operations are increasing, not winding down.

This is a critical moment where the war could turn into a long drawn-out conflict. Or it could be a moment where Donald Trump dashes for a quick exit.

The BBC’s world affairs correspondent Joe Inwood and the BBC’s Persian service’s Ghoncheh Habibiazad discuss with Tristan where this could all go next?

Producers: Cat Farnsworth and Xandra Ellin

Sound engineer: Travis Evans

Senior news editor: China Collins

Photo: U.S. President Donald Trump gestures as he steps from Air Force One, March 20, 2026. Credit: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters


MON 12:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgmg07)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 12:06 Outlook (w3ct6wr5)
Why I love counselling cult survivors

When Gillie Jenkinson was 18 years old and studying at secretarial college, a woman approached her with a promise: God's eternal love. Captivated by the idea, Gillie threw herself into the evangelical charismatic Christian movement and eventually into a radical offshoot she calls ‘The Community’.

Life inside was suffocating. Members surrendered all their money to the group, lived together under one roof, and obeyed their leader without question. Disobedience, or even the suspicion of ‘sin’, was met with physical punishment. Gillie herself was beaten with a bamboo cane. It was amid this brutality that she found an unexpected kindness in a new arrival named Tony.

After seven years of total devotion, Gillie saw The Community collapse. As it fell apart, Gillie confessed her love to Tony. They escaped together and married, but found themselves gravitating toward other churches she considered controlling. It would take another 14 years before they finally left.

Since then, Gillie has trained as a pastoral counsellor and earned a master's degree in Gestalt psychotherapy. After two residencies at the Wellspring Retreat and Resource Center, she decided to specialise in counselling cult survivors. She has also written a book, Walking Free from the Trauma of Coercive, Cultic and Spiritual Abuse.

Presenter: Mobeen Azhar
Producer: Anna Lacey / Saskia Collette

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

(Photo: Dr Gillie Jenkinson sitting on a couch and smiling: The Outlook Mixtape. Credit: Paul Blythin Visuals)


MON 12:50 Witness History (w3ct747m)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


MON 13:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgmkrc)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 13:06 The Newsroom (w172zwln3qwlyrr)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 13:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f829y0r)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 13:32 The Conversation (w3ct70b6)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


MON 14:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgmphh)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 14:06 Newshour (w172zssn5fzrv23)
Trump postpones strikes on Iran power plants

Donald Trump says the US and Iran have held talks on the ‘complete and total resolution of hostilities’ in the Middle East. We discuss what behind-the-scenes discussions may have been taking place between the two sides.

Also on the programme: Italian voters consider significant changes in its justice system; and AI-powered glasses that can help people living with dementia.

(Picture: President Donald Trump speaking to reporters on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC. Credit: EPA/Shutterstock)


MON 15:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgmt7m)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 15:06 The Interview (w3ct7x14)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


MON 15:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82b5j0)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 15:32 Business Daily (w3ct6rz4)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:32 today]


MON 15:50 World Business Express (w3ct886y)
Markets rally as Trump signals progress with Iran

We bring you the latest reaction after President Trump says the US has held constructive talks with Iran, even as Iran has denied any dialogue with the US.

Also, South Korea has a new central bank chief, Shin Hyun-song, known for predicting the 2008 financial crisis.

And Huel, the British meal replacement brand comes under new ownership.


MON 16:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgmxzr)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 16:06 Outside Source (w173068bdjvpt3q)
Trump postpones power plant strikes

President Trump has said there've been major points of agreements in talks with Iran after ordering the US military to postpone threatened strikes against the Iranian power infrastructure for five days. Iran has denied holding direct talks but acknowledges countries in the region have been trying to reduce tensions. We speak to our correspondent in Washington and to BBC Persian. We also hear from residents inside Iran and from people around the world about their views on the war.

Our business correspondent explains what the impact of today's announcements has been on oil prices.

We also bring together Israelis do discuss their experiences and views on the war.

And after far fewer people than expected attended the BTS comeback concert in Seoul, we hear from fans about whether the hype didn’t quite live up to expectations.

Presenter: Pria Rai.

(Photo: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media before departing West Palm Beach aboard Air Force One, Florida, U.S., March 23, 2026. Credit: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)


MON 17:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgn1qw)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 17:06 Outside Source (w173068bdjvpxvv)
Trump says Iran and US both 'want to make a deal'

President Trump has said there have been major points of agreement between the US and Iran in discussions aimed at ending current hostilities, after he suspended American strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure. Mr Trump claimed Iran had agreed not to pursue nuclear weapons. However, Iran has denied there is any direct dialogue with Washington. We speak to our correspondent in Jerusalem.

It is difficult to cover Iran because of restrictions on access, but the BBC's diplomatic correspondent, Caroline Hawley - in London - has been looking into the human toll of the war, with colleagues pulling together testimonials from victims and their relatives, humanitarian workers and others.

We explain a new UN climate warning, amid concerns that a natural weather pattern known as El Niño could soon bring further heat records.

A collision between a passenger plane and a fire truck on the runway at New York's LaGuardia airport has left the pilot and co-pilot dead. Our correspondent explains.

The UK government has been holding an emergency meeting to plan the government's response to the impending economic impact of the Iran war. We find out what's been the focus.

Presenter: Pria Rai.

(Photo: A view of a residential building damaged by a strike, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran, Iran, March 23, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters)


MON 18:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgn5h0)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 18:06 Outlook (w3ct6wr5)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 today]


MON 18:50 Witness History (w3ct747m)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


MON 19:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgn974)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zwln3qwmp7j)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82bnhj)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct6z6h)
2026/03/23 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 (w172zwx5zjgndz8)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 20:06 From Our Own Correspondent (w3ct6tsz)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:06 on Sunday]


MON 20:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82bs7n)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 20:32 Discovery (w3ct6sxh)
Superbugs: Resistance rising, part 1

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


MON 21:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgnjqd)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 21:06 Newshour (w172zssn5fzsp90)
President Trump: the US and Iran have held talks

US President Donald Trump says the US and Iran have held talks on the "complete and total resolution of hostilities" in the Middle East. However, Iran's parliament speaker denies discussions have taken place, saying "fake news" is being used to "manipulate" the oil markets.

Also on the programme: With world attention focused on the Iran war, there’s been a new increase in Israeli settler attacks in the occupied West Bank; and we head to a new exhibition which explores the changing relationship between humans and their pets.

(Photo: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media before departing West Palm Beach aboard Air Force One on th 23rd of March, 2026. Credit: REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque)


MON 22:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgnngj)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 22:06 The Newsroom (w172zwln3qwn1gx)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82c0qx)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 22:32 World Business Report (w3ct76v9)
Oil, outages and energy shifts: the global ripples from the Middle East

As the war in the Middle East continues, other regions adjust. The price of oil dropped after President Trump said discussions with Iran had taken place. Meanwhile, the Philippines, which gets most of its fuel from the Persian Gulf, has declared a four-day work week to reduce energy demand; Suranjana Tewari is in Manila with the latest. We also look at the drive towards solar energy across Sub-Saharan Africa and how this conflict could accelerate trends in the renewable energy sector. In Cuba, more than 10 million people lost power to their homes after their national grid collapsed. Will Bain looks at the future of the Caribbean island.
And Leonid Radvinsky, who founded OnlyFans has died. We discuss how this platform provides much more than just adult content.

(Picture: A protest opposing fuel price hikes in Manila, Philippines, 20 March 2026. Credit: ROLEX DELA PENA/EPA)


MON 23:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgns6n)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 23:06 The Interview (w3ct7x14)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


MON 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82c4h1)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 23:32 The Conversation (w3ct70b6)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]



TUESDAY 24 MARCH 2026

TUE 00:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgnwys)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 00:06 The History Hour (w3ct71x9)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:06 on Monday]


TUE 01:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgp0px)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 01:06 The Newsroom (w172zwln3qwndq9)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 01:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82ccz9)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 01:32 The Global Story (w3ct717y)
[Repeat of broadcast at 11:32 on Monday]


TUE 02:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgp4g1)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zwln3qwnjgf)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82chqf)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 02:32 Assignment (w3ct6rd2)
Nepal: 'Shot like enemies'

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

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

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

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

This was an investigation for BBC Eye and Assignment.

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

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


TUE 03:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgp865)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 03:06 Outlook (w3ct6wr5)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Monday]


TUE 03:50 Witness History (w3ct747m)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 on Monday]


TUE 04:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgpcy9)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 04:06 The Newsroom (w172zwln3qwnryp)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82cr6p)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 04:32 In the Studio (w3ct6vvx)
The Romeros

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

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

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

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

Presenter: Kurt Brookes

Producers: Ashley Byrne and Kurt Brookes

A Made in Manchester production for the BBC World Service


TUE 05:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgphpf)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 05:06 Newsday (w172zsq5gzwmwq0)
US and Iran give differing accounts of potential talks

An Iranian foreign ministry official says Tehran has received "points from the US" via mediators as a "potential precursor to talks", according to the BBC's US partner, CBS News.

The White House says speculation about meetings "should not be deemed as final", our Washington correspondent reports.

The price of oil has again risen to over $100 a barrel, after plunging on Monday.

(Photo: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks with U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth at Memphis Air National Guard Base in Memphis; Credit: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)


TUE 06:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgpmfk)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 06:06 Newsday (w172zsq5gzwn0g4)
Vance and Witkoff 'may meet' Iranian officials In Pakistan

Amid conflicting reports about possible US-Iran negotiations, a senior Iranian foreign ministry official told the BBC's US partner CBS News: “We received points from the US through mediators and they are being reviewed."

This has meant the suspension of America's threat to bomb Iranian energy infrastructure with a consequent boost to stock markets, hoping for an end to Iran's blockade of the straits of Hormuz.

And a BBC Eye investigation has uncovered how a global criminal trade in baby eels operates, threatening endangered species.

(Photo: U.S. President Donald Trump, with Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth; Credit: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)


TUE 07:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgpr5p)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 07:06 Newsday (w172zsq5gzwn468)
White House says plans for Iran talks remain 'fluid'

Pakistan's foreign ministry spokesman told the BBC that his country was willing to host talks if both sides desired them.Pakistan’s prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, spoke by telephone to the Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian.

Key regional players have undoubtedly been exploring diplomatic channels, we'll go to Egypt as one of the countries mentioned in helping negotiations.

And a BBC investigation looks at the illegal trade in baby eels, feeding a market in Asia that threatens to devastate a vulnerable species.

(Photo: US President Donald Trump walks on the South Lawn of the White House; Credit: Yuri Gripas/EPA/Shutterstock)


TUE 08:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgpvxt)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 08:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct6xz3)
The Kindergarten makeover

How mums are helping transform early years education in Ghana.

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

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

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

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

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


TUE 08:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82d766)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct6s85)
Could the Arctic rewrite global trade?

We explore the potential and the challenges for Arctic shipping. As global warming causes sea ice to retreat, passages are opening up through this vast frozen Arctic Ocean. We explore what these routes are, who’s using them, and examine the players with big ambitions to develop these shipping shortcuts.

We also take a closer look at the realities of operating in extreme conditions so far north, asking if the rewards really outweigh the risks?

And we hear from local Arctic leaders, concerned about the growing shipping traffic. Might the global trade map really be redrawn?

To get in touch with the team, send us an email to businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Adrienne Murray

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: Arctic ship leaving Tasiilaq in Greenland after having unloaded at the docks in the harbour. Credit: Getty Images)


TUE 08:50 Witness History (w3ct74p6)
The only Pope to visit New Zealand

In November 1986, Pope John Paul II visited New Zealand as part of his longest ever world tour.

He gave an open-air mass at Auckland Domain in front of thousands of people.

He remains the only Pope to have visited the country.

Jen Dale speaks to Michael Jarka who was in the crowd and performed as part of a Polish cultural dance group for the pontiff.

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: Pope John Paul II kisses the ground upon his arrival in Auckland airport. Credit: Jean-Claude Delmas/AFP via Getty Images )


TUE 09:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgpzny)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 09:06 The Newsroom (w172zwln3qwpcpb)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82dbyb)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 09:32 Assignment (w3ct6rd2)
[Repeat of broadcast at 02:32 today]


TUE 10:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgq3f2)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 10:06 The Arts Hour (w3ct6zvs)
[Repeat of broadcast at 20:06 on Saturday]


TUE 11:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgq756)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zwln3qwpm5l)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82dlfl)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct71dg)
The Venezuela model for regime change

Nicolas Maduro, the deposed president of Venezuela, is due to appear in court in New York this week alongside his wife, Cilia Flores. The pair face charges of cocaine trafficking and possession of machine guns, which they deny.

Meanwhile in their home country, the Trump-approved interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, has been making deals with the US government over Venezuela’s oil and critical minerals.

The BBC’s South America correspondent, Ione Wells, has been in Caracas to find out how much life has altered under Rodriguez’s leadership, and to what extend Donald Trump may see this regime change as a blueprint for US intervention elsewhere.



Producers: Sam Chantarasak, Valerio Esposito and Hannah Moore

Executive producers: Bridget Harney and James Shield

Mix: Travis Evans

Senior news editor: China Collins

Photo: Venezuela's interim President Delcy Rodriguez. Credit: Reuters/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria


TUE 12:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgqbxb)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 12:06 Outlook (w3ct6x5v)
Strangers to coworkers to friends to... sisters?

Americans Julia Tinetti and Cassandra Madison were in their 20s when they met while working in the same bar. They quickly realised they had lots in common: both had been adopted as babies, both grew up in Connecticut, both had tattoos of the Dominican Republic flag, and they even looked alike. Their physical resemblance and connection was so strong that coworkers and customers joked they must be related. Julia and Cassandra embraced the idea, even referring to themselves as sisters. They went so far as to compare adoption papers – but when the details didn’t match, the whole matter was put to bed. Years later, when Cassandra received a genetic test as a Christmas gift, she ended up finding her birth family. In the process, long-held secrets emerged and revelations which pointed back, unexpectedly, to Julia.

Presenter: Asya Fouks
Producer: Emily Naylor

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

(Photo: Cassandra Madison (L) and Julia Tinetti (R) at an airport. Cassandra has long brown hair in braids, Julia's hair is short and a darker shade of brown. Credit: Julia Tinetti)


TUE 12:50 Witness History (w3ct74p6)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


TUE 13:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgqgng)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 13:06 The Newsroom (w172zwln3qwpvnv)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 13:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82dtxv)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 13:32 In the Studio (w3ct6vvx)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


TUE 14:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgqldl)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 14:06 Newshour (w172zssn5fzvqz6)
Confusion about talks between Washington and Tehran

As confusion surrounds the prospect of talks between Washington and Tehran over a possible end to the war, could Iran's parliamentary speaker play a role? We learn more about that speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.

Also in the programme: The AI company Anthropic vs the Pentagon; and rescuing moon bears from captivity in Vietnam.

(Photo: A view of a residential building damaged by a strike, in the US-Israeli conflict with Iran. Tehran, March 23, 2026. Credit: Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters)


TUE 15:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgqq4q)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 15:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct6xz3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


TUE 15:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82f2f3)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 15:32 Business Daily (w3ct6s85)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:32 today]


TUE 15:50 World Business Express (w3ct8890)
State of emergency in the Philippines over fuel

The Philippines has declared a state of national energy emergency as the conflict in the Middle East cuts fuel supplies. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said he had signed an executive order to safeguard energy security amid severe disruption to global supply chains. The Philippines is highly dependent on fuel imports and particularly vulnerable to disruptions in production and shipments. The US-Israel war with Iran - and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route - has sent shock waves through global energy markets, causing soaring prices and shortages.

Meanwhile Slovenia has become the first EU member state to implement fuel rationing as many countries experience steep hikes in fuel prices. In Slovenia, this has resulted in so-called "fuel tourism", as drivers from neighbouring countries, particularly Austria, take advantage of the lower, regulated prices here. Under the new measures, private motorists in Slovenia will be restricted to a maximum purchase of 50 litres of fuel per day. Businesses and farmers have a more generous allowance of 200 litres.

And after eight years of negotiation, the EU and Australia have signed new trade deal that will remove the vast majority of tariffs for both markets.
As a result European shoppers could soon see more Australian beef on the shelves and the EU will be able to sell more cars, chemicals and steel in Australia.


TUE 16:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgqtwv)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 16:06 Outside Source (w173068bdjvsq0t)
Oil prices rise

Oil prices have reached above $100 a barrel for Brent crude, as markets start to settle following Monday's hopes of de-escalation in the Middle East. We hear from our correspondents around the world and speak to farmers about how the US-Israel war with Iran is impacting their lives.

And the first boat of a flotilla carrying medical supplies and food to Cuba has reached Havana. The communist run island is experiencing an acute energy crisis as a fuel blockade imposed by the United States continues. Our correspondent Will Grant speaks to us about his reporting from Cuba.

Outside Source presenter: Rob Young.

(Photo: A motorist refuels a vehicle at a petrol station in Belgrade, Serbia. Credit: Andrej Cukic/EPA/Shutterstock)


TUE 17:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgqymz)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 17:06 Outside Source (w173068bdjvstry)
US says plans for talks with Iran remain 'fluid'

The White House has told the BBC plans for talks with Iran remain "fluid", after Iranian officials denied any contact with the US had taken place. Our correspondents will bring us all the latest news from the war and we hear from people inside Iran.

The authorities in Ukraine say Russian attacks overnight were among the worst in 10 days. We speak to MPs about the situation there.

And 80 years ago today the first BBC Russian Service programme aired. We speak to the team about the events have changed the course of history, from the first human spaceflight to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Outside Source presenter: Rob Young.

(Credit: US President Donald Trump speaks with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at Memphis Air National Guard Base in Memphis, Tennessee, March 23, 2026. Credit: Reuters/Kevin Lamarque)


TUE 18:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgr2d3)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 18:06 Outlook (w3ct6x5v)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 today]


TUE 18:50 Witness History (w3ct74p6)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


TUE 19:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgr647)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zwln3qwql4m)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82fkdm)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct6zc0)
2026/03/24 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 (w172zwx5zjgr9wc)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 20:06 Assignment (w3ct6rd2)
[Repeat of broadcast at 02:32 today]


TUE 20:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82fp4r)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 20:32 Tech Life (w3ct6zq9)
How will AI help my doctor?

We discuss how AI could help health professionals work better, detect diseases earlier and even change the way people around the world look after themselves.

Also this week: Shiona McCallum interviews a businesswoman who is trying to make female health tech more accessible and affordable. And we have a good news story that originated on the darker side of the internet.

Presenter: Shiona McCallum
Producer: Tom Quinn

(Image: A photo of a female doctor sitting at a desk in a hospital lab. She is using AI technology on a laptop computer. Credit: Getty Images)


TUE 21:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgrfmh)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 21:06 Newshour (w172zssn5fzwl63)
Trump says negotiations to end war happening "right now"

US President Donald Trump says negotiations to end the Iran war are happening "right now" and Tehran is "talking sense". His comments come a day after Iranian officials denied any contact with the US had taken place, calling claims of talks "fake news".

Also on the programme: We hear from expectant mothers in Havana about the impact of the US blockade on their care; and the Virunga National Park in the DRC is celebrating the rare birth of its second set of mountain gorilla twins.

(Photo: US President Donald Trump speaks during a swearing-in ceremony in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC on the 24th of March, 2026. Credit: GRAEME SLOAN/POOL/EPA/Shutterstock)


TUE 22:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgrkcm)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 22:06 The Newsroom (w172zwln3qwqyd0)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82fxn0)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 22:32 World Business Report (w3ct76cl)
From state of emergency to rationing: Fuel shortages cause chaos across the globe

The Philippines government has declared a state of emergency. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said fuel supply in the country is in ‘imminent danger' as prices continue to surge because of the war in the Middle East. Meanwhile, Slovenia introduces fuel rationing to stop ‘fuel tourism’ and Kenya’s flower industry is struggling with cancelled flights and disrupted sales. As Australia closes hundreds of petrol stations, many ask where this crisis is headed, and when it will end. Andrew Peach has the latest.

The Trump administration says it will pay the French energy giant, TotalEnergies, nearly $1bn to cancel plans to build wind farms off the US eastern coast. President Trump has moved to scrap sustainable energy sources and increase fossil fuel production. And dynamic ticket pricing is back in the news. A group representing football fans, acting with consumer group Euroconsumers, have filed a complaint against Fifa at the European Commission for ‘abusing its monopoly position’ in ticket sales for the 2026 World Cup. Fifa says it is focused on ensuring fair access to matches.

(Picture: Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announces a national energy emergency due to disruption from the US-Israel war with Iran. Credit: EZRA ACAYAN/POOL/EPA)


TUE 23:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgrp3r)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 23:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct6xz3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


TUE 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82g1d4)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 23:32 In the Studio (w3ct6vvx)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]



WEDNESDAY 25 MARCH 2026

WED 00:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgrsvw)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 00:06 The Arts Hour (w3ct6zvs)
[Repeat of broadcast at 20:06 on Saturday]


WED 01:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgrxm0)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 01:06 The Newsroom (w172zwln3qwr9md)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 01:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82g8wd)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 01:32 The Global Story (w3ct71dg)
[Repeat of broadcast at 11:32 on Tuesday]


WED 02:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgs1c4)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zwln3qwrfcj)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82gdmj)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 02:32 The Climate Question (w3ct703d)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:06 on Sunday]


WED 03:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgs538)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 03:06 Outlook (w3ct6x5v)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Tuesday]


WED 03:50 Witness History (w3ct74p6)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 on Tuesday]


WED 04:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgs8vd)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 04:06 The Newsroom (w172zwln3qwrnvs)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82gn3s)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 04:32 World of Secrets (w3ct8yw8)
The Darkest Web

6. My brother, the abuser

The time has come to arrest Alisa’s brother, Staton Grubert. Thirty armed agents commando crawl up a dirt track to his trailer in Texas. Staton has no idea that his time is up. Will Alisa finally get closure?

And in a state in the South West, Greg is reunited with Lucy, the girl who had been abused for six years.

This podcast includes some upsetting scenes and discussions of child sexual abuse.

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

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

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


WED 05:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgsdlj)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 05:06 Newsday (w172zsq5gzwqsm3)
Iran says 'non-hostile' ships can pass Strait of Hormuz

Iran has told the United Nations' Maritime Organisation that ships with no ties to Israel or the United States could pass safely through the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway has been closed to tankers since the US-Israeli military campaign began.

The United States says it has sent Iran a 15 point plan to end the war. The plan is said to have been delivered via Pakistan. We speak to a Pakistani senator about what is known.

The Ghanaian president, John Dramani Mahama, has accused the Trump administration of "normalizing the erasure of Black history". We speak to Ghana's Foreign Minister.

Presenters: James Copnall and Anne Soy.

(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. Credit: Reuters)


WED 06:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgsjbn)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 06:06 Newsday (w172zsq5gzwqxc7)
Israel exchanges strikes with Iran

Israel and Iran are continuing to exchange strikes, while six people have been killed in southern Lebanon. Meanwhile President Trump says talks to end war with Iran are happening now and Washington has handed over a 15 point plan to Iran.

Iran says that it will allow "non-hostile vessels" through the Strait of Hormuz, relieving pressure on energy supplies. Philippines has declared a national energy emergency as global oil prices surge.

The Ghanaian president, John Dramani Mahama, has accused the Trump administration of "normalising the erasure of Black history". We speak to Ghana's foreign minister.

Presenters: James Copnall and Anne Soy

(Photo: People look on following Iranian missile barrages in central Israel. Credit: Ronen Zvulun/Reuters)


WED 07:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgsn2s)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 07:06 Newsday (w172zsq5gzwr13c)
Oil prices fall with signals of de-escalation of war in Middle East

President Trump said negotiations to end the war with Iran were taking place. Iran has told the United Nations that it would allow "non-hostile" commercial shipping to cross the Strait of Hormuz.

Jetstar New Zealand has apologised after cancelling some domestic services and flights between Australia and New Zealand due to what it says are rising jet fuel prices.

The Ghanaian president, John Dramani Mahama, has accused the Trump administration of "normalising the erasure of Black history". We speak to Ghana's foreign minister.

Presenters: James Copnall and Anne Soy

(Photo: The Callisto tanker sits anchored in Port Sultan Qaboos as the traffic is down in the Strait of Hormuz, in Muscat. Credit: Benoit Tessier/Reuters)


WED 08:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgsrtx)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 08:06 The Interview (w3ct7x7x)
Joy Phumaphi, African Leaders Malaria Alliance: Malaria is an all of society challenge

“Malaria is an all of society challenge. When you look at the environmental issues, addressing the breeding sites for mosquitoes, it’s an all of society issue…it is not just the responsibility of the heads of state.”

Daniel Dadzie hears from Joy Phumaphi, Executive Secretary of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance, or ALMA.

ALMA was founded with the goal of eradicating malaria in Africa by 2030. Now, Joy Phumaphi concedes this is not going to happen.

In fact, she says only a few countries across the continent will hit this target, thanks to a “perfect storm” of climate change, insecticide and drug resistance, spiralling costs and cuts in aid. She also highlights the risk that private sector development projects can create breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

Thank you to Daniel Dadzie, Albert Kirui and Brian Khisa their help in making this programme.

The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC, including episodes with South Africa’s Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi and Sarah Mullally, the Archbishop of Canterbury. 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: Daniel Dadzie
Producer: Albert Kirui, Brian Khisa and Lucy Sheppard
Editors: Damon Rose and Justine Lang

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

(Image: Joy Phumaphi Credit: Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images)


WED 08:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82h439)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct6sdp)
ICE: Is it chilling the US economy?

Last year, around 4000 federal officers were deployed in Minneapolis in a major immigration crackdown.

Local firms say the resulting upheaval and protests didn’t just disrupt local people’s lives, they also damaged the economy. But has the anti-immigration drive had a similar impact across the US?

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

Presenter: Ed Butler
Producer: Josh Martin

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

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

Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, the economic impact of the war in the Middle East, and why bond markets are so powerful.

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

(Picture: Masked federal agents wearing a Police ICE jacket, stand in a hallway at the New York Federal Plaza Immigration Court inside the Jacob K. Javitz Federal Building in New York on the 17th of March 2026. Credit: Getty Images)


WED 08:50 Witness History (w3ct74rg)
How a Maasai community in Kenya overcame a deadly drought

In 2013, after losing most of their cattle, a Maasai community in Kajiado County formed an organisation to protect their land and culture.

It's called ‘Ildalalekutuk Maasai Action for Development' and was formed by Dalmas Tiampati.

He tells Megan Jones how the aim was to help the community become more resilient and find ways to protect the culture.

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: Dalmas Tiampati. Credit: Maasai Action for Development)


WED 09:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgswl1)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 09:06 The Newsroom (w172zwln3qws8lf)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82h7vf)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 09:32 The Climate Question (w3ct703d)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:06 on Sunday]


WED 10:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgt0b5)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 10:06 The Documentary (w3ct93yz)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Saturday]


WED 11:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgt429)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zwln3qwsj2p)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82hhbp)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct71gq)
Are we heading for World War Three?

It has been almost a month since Israel and the US launched their war against Iran, and already there have been strikes in more than a dozen countries, with reports of over 2,000 people killed across the region. As the war drags on and more countries get involved, there are concerns this conflict could escalate into something truly global.

We speak to emeritus professor of International History at the University of Oxford, Margaret MacMillan, and explore how world wars start, how they end and what can be done to avoid them.

Producers: Chris Benderev and Lucy Pawle

Executive producer: James Shield

Sound engineer: Travis Evans

Senior news editor: China Collins

(Photo: US Military aircraft perform 4th of July flyover past New York City and New Jersey, 4 July 2020. Credit: Mike Segar/Reuters)


WED 12:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgt7tf)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 12:06 Outlook (w3ct6xdr)
Bringing the beat back: The accidental heroes of hip-hop

In 1971, childhood best friends and self-taught musicians Patrick Patterson and Steve Scipio created Cymande, a funk band inspired by their Caribbean heritage. But they struggled to find success, facing racism and an unwelcoming British music industry.

Disillusioned, Patrick and Steve put away their guitars and became lawyers instead. But unknown to them, their music developed a cult following and would shape the golden age of hip-hop, influencing the likes of Grandmaster Flash, De La Soul and The Fugees.

Decades later in their 60s, Patrick and Steve would make an unexpected and triumphant return. They are featured in the documentary, Getting it back: The story of Cymande. (This episode was first broadcast in 2023)

Presenter: Mobeen Azhar
Producer: Maryam Maruf

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

(Photo: A black and white photo from the 1970s of eight members of


WED 12:50 Witness History (w3ct74rg)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


WED 13:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgtckk)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 13:06 The Newsroom (w172zwln3qwsrky)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 13:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82hqty)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 13:32 World of Secrets (w3ct8yw8)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


WED 14:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgth9p)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 14:06 Newshour (w172zssn5fzymw9)
Iran: US 'negotiating with itself'

An Iranian military spokesman has accused the United States of 'negotiating with itself' over the conflict in the Middle East, amid uncertainty over the prospects of meaningful peace talks. President Donald Trump has insisted his administration is talking to the 'right people' in Iran, and that they badly wanted a deal to end the war.

Also in the programme: five survivors of Jeffrey Epstein come together for the first time to speak about their ordeal; and the man who persuaded a would-be-bomber not to blow up a hospital has received one of Britain's highest honours.

(Picture: US President Donald Trump speaks during a swearing-in ceremony in the Oval Office of the White House on 24 March 2026. Credit: GRAEME SLOAN/POOL/EPA/Shutterstock)


WED 15:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgtm1t)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 15:06 The Interview (w3ct7x7x)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


WED 15:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82hzb6)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 15:32 Business Daily (w3ct6sdp)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:32 today]


WED 15:50 World Business Express (w3ct88c2)
Asian economies feel the pain of the US-Israel war with Iran

Asian economies are feeling the pain of the US-Israel war with Iran.The Chief Economist at the Asian Development Bank, tells us that the conflict in the Middle East could prove 'traumatic', knocking as much as 1.3% of Asian GDP growth, depending on how long it goes on for. Albert Park believes that the countries most vulnerable include Sri Lanka, Maldives, Laos, Bangladesh and Pakistan.

Meanwhile the price of jet fuel has more than doubled since the start of the war with Iran, with numerous major airlines raising their prices. Jetstar New Zealand cancelled some domestic services and flights between Australia and New Zealand. Vietnam Airlines also scrapped almost a two dozen domestic flights a week.

And why shares in the Chinese toy-maker Pop Mart – who make Labubu Dolls – have tumbled more than twenty percent…their biggest drop in nearly a year.

Presenter: Sarah Rogers
Senior Producer: Craig Henderson


WED 16:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgtqsy)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 16:06 Outside Source (w173068bdjvwlxx)
Iran rejects US peace plan as 'excessive'

Iran has received a 15-point peace plan from the US according to reports from Pakistan, which is acting as an intermediary. The plan - which has not been made public - reportedly includes Iran dismantling nuclear facilities, in exchange for the lifting of sanctions. Iran has reportedly rejected the proposal. We speak to our correspondent in Washington and to our reporter who covers Iran for BBC Monitoring.

As strikes in Lebanon continue, business owners in Beirut share the impact they’ve felt so far.

OpenAI has shut down its artificial intelligence (AI) video-generation app Sora less than two years after its unveiling made headlines for creating realistic clips based on simple prompts. Two AI experts discuss the future of the industry.

The former Google executive, Matt Brittin, has been named as the new director-general of the BBC. We speak to our media and culture editor.

And in a wide-ranging interview, five Epstein survivors have been sharing their stories of grief and anger with the BBC.

Presenter: Rob Young

(Photo: Emergency personnel work at the site of a strike on a residential building, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran, 23 March, 2026. Credit: Majid Asgaripour/West Asia News Agency/Reuters)


WED 17:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgtvk2)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 17:06 Outside Source (w173068bdjvwqp1)
Iran issues five conditions to end war

Iran has rejected a US peace plan as "excessive" and issues five conditions to end the war, an Iranian official tells state media. The list of conditions laid out by the official include a conclusion to the war "across all fronts", and payment of reparations. Our security correspondent in Doha explains today's
developments.

We also speak to our business experts about how the war is impacting the global economy.

A young Iberian lynx caught mid play has won the Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice Award 2026. We speak to photographers about what it takes to capture an award-winning shot.

US jury has found Meta and YouTube liable for woman's childhood social media addiction in landmark trial. We speak to a tech expert about what the ruling means.

And Liverpool fans share their thoughts after Mohamed Salah confirmed he will leave the club at the end of the season.

Presenter: Rob Young.

(Photo: A U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft refuels a B-52H Stratofortress bomber during the Operation Epic Fury attack on Iran over the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, March 20, 2026. Credit: U.S. Air Force/handout via REUTERS.


WED 18:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgtz96)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 18:06 Outlook (w3ct6xdr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 today]


WED 18:50 Witness History (w3ct74rg)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


WED 19:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgv31b)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zwln3qwth1q)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82jg9q)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct6zf8)
2026/03/25 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 (w172zwx5zjgv6sg)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 20:06 The Climate Question (w3ct703d)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:06 on Sunday]


WED 20:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82jl1v)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 20:32 Health Check (w3ct6vkw)
Antimicrobial resistance in conflict zones

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

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

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

Presenter: Claudia Hammond
Producer: Jonathan Blackwell


WED 21:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgvbjl)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 21:06 Newshour (w172zssn5fzzh36)
Meta and Google found liable in landmark trial

A 20 year-old Californian woman has been awarded a total of $6 million in damages after taking Meta and Google to court, accusing the tech giants of making her addicted to social media. The jury found the firms liable for negligence, contributing to her mental health problems.

Also in the programme: Iran's foreign minister has said officials are reviewing US proposals on ending the war, but that Tehran has no intention of holding talks with the United States; and Sarah Mullally has been officially installed as the first woman to lead the Anglican Communion.

(Photo: Attorney for Kayle GM, Mark Lanier (C) speaks to the media after a jury found Meta and YouTube liable in the social media addiction trial outside the Los Angeles Superior Court, in Los Angeles, California, USA, 25 March 2026. Credit: Ted Soqui/EPA/Shutterstock)


WED 22:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgvg8q)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 22:06 The Newsroom (w172zwln3qwtv93)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82jtk3)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 22:32 World Business Report (w3ct76k8)
Meta and YouTube found liable in landmark social media addiction trial

A Los Angeles jury has handed down an unprecedented win for a young woman who sued Meta and YouTube over her childhood addiction to social media. We hear the latest.

Since the war in the Middle East erupted, attention has focused on oil and gas flows through the Strait of Hormuz. However, the Gulf is also a major producer of aluminium and helium. We look at how disruption has spread into other commodities.

And it’s not just commodities and supply chains feeling the pressure. Airlines are watching oil prices closely, because fuel is one of their biggest costs. We hear from the boss of AirAsia Group, the Malaysian budget airline, on what might happen, should oil prices remain high.

(Picture: Attorney for Kayle GM, Mark Lanier (C) speaks to the media outside the Los Angeles Superior Court, in Los Angeles, California, USA, 25 March 2026. Credit: Photo by TED SOQUI/EPA/Shutterstock).


WED 23:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgvl0v)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 23:06 The Interview (w3ct7x7x)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


WED 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82jy97)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 23:32 World of Secrets (w3ct8yw8)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]



THURSDAY 26 MARCH 2026

THU 00:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgvprz)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 00:06 The Documentary (w3ct93yz)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Saturday]


THU 01:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgvtj3)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 01:06 The Newsroom (w172zwln3qwv6jh)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 01:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82k5sh)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 01:32 The Global Story (w3ct71gq)
[Repeat of broadcast at 11:32 on Wednesday]


THU 02:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgvy87)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zwln3qwvb8m)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82k9jm)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 02:32 The Documentary (w3ct90jj)
From famine to hope: Women reshape Madagascar

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

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

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

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

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

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


THU 03:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgw20c)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 03:06 Outlook (w3ct6xdr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Wednesday]


THU 03:50 Witness History (w3ct74rg)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 on Wednesday]


THU 04:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgw5rh)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 04:06 The Newsroom (w172zwln3qwvkrw)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82kk0w)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 04:32 The Food Chain (w3ct7100)
How to have a stress-free family meal

Are your family meals calm and connected?

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


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

Produced by Lexy O'Connor and Rumella Dasgupta.

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


THU 05:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgw9hm)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 05:06 Newsday (w172zsq5gzwtpj6)
Trump insists that Iran wants to make a deal

President Trump said Iran's leaders are "afraid" to admit they are negotiating with US. The Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, told state media Iran had no intention of negotiating for now and the country will keep defending itself. We head to Riyadh to find out what the position is there to this conflict.

Transport workers are holding a two day strike over the cost of fuel in the Philippines, as the Middle East conflict continues to affect oil prices and supply. We take a closer look at how Asian economies have been impacted by this war.

And in a landmark case, a court in Los Angeles has handed down an unprecedented win to a young woman who sued the companies Meta and Google over her childhood addiction to social media.

Presenters: James Copnall and Anne Soy.

(Photo: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during the National Republican Congressional Committee. Credit: Ken Cedeno/Reuters).


THU 06:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgwf7r)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 06:06 Newsday (w172zsq5gzwtt8b)
US says Iran "afraid" to admit they are negotiating deal

Donald Trump has said Iran's leaders are "afraid" to admit they are negotiating with the US. The US president was speaking after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told state media Iran had "no intention of negotiating for now" and the country will keep "defending" itself. We report on what residents of Iran have been telling the BBC.

We go to Oman, once a key player in mediating talks between the United States and Iran.

The former president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, appears in court again today in New York, facing drug-trafficking and weapons charges after US special forces captured him on 3 January. Since then, Venezuela’s government has begun working with Washington, opening its oil and mining sectors to foreign investment and releasing some political prisoners. We report on what has changed in Venezuela since President Maduro's departure.


Presenters: James Copnall and Anne Soy

(Photo:Iranians stand behind a cordon near damaged residential buildings in northern Tehran. Credit: Abedin Taherkenareh/EPA).


THU 07:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgwjzw)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 07:06 Newsday (w172zsq5gzwty0g)
President Trump says Iran badly want to make a deal to end war

President Trump has said Iran's leaders are "afraid" to admit they are negotiating with the United States. Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, says it has no intention of negotiating for now but acknowleded it has received proposals through an intermediary.

So where does this leave regional security and in particular life in Lebanon where Israel continues to target the Iranian backed group Hezbollah. We speak to Lebanon's Education Minister.

We head to Saudi Arabia and hear how people there believe Iran is dancing the "dance of death".

And Senegal submits it's challenge to the Confederation of African Football's decision to strip them of the Africa Cup of Nations title


Presenters: James Copnall and Anne Soy.

(Photo: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Credit: Martial Trezzini/EPA)


THU 08:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgwnr0)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 08:06 The Inquiry (w3ct7243)
Is the revolution in Cuba over?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


THU 08:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82l10d)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct6s3n)
No suits, four-day weeks: Asia's energy crunch

With a state of emergency in the Philippines and a series of four-day working weeks and fuel rationing across many countries, the global energy crisis caused by the war in Iran is wreaking havoc on Asia's economies.

We look at why the continent seems so exposed, and what governments and businesses are doing in response, with some extreme steps being taken including four-day weeks and the ditching of office attire.

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

Presenter: Will Bain
Producers: Rebecca Smyllie and Josh Martin
Additional production: Tran Vo in Bangkok
Sound mix: Toby James

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: Employees of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) queue at lobby elevators at office headquarters in Pasig City, Metro Manila, Philippines. Following a directive from Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., government offices began implementing an interim four-day on-site working week scheme as part of energy conservation efforts. Credit: EPA/Shutterstock)


THU 08:50 Witness History (w3ct74ks)
The first Great Wall of China trek

In May1984, three friends starting trekking along the Great Wall of China. It took 508 days for them to complete and they became the first people to do it.

They finally reached their destination at the Jiayu Pass on 24 September 1985, having documented the condition of the wall every step of the way.

The men became national heroes, as the press followed their progress. Dong Yaohui spoke to Rebecca Kesby in 2017 about the inspiration for their journey.

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: Dong Yaohui, Wu Deyu and Zhang Yuanhua. Credit: Dong Yaohui)


THU 09:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgwsh4)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 09:06 The Newsroom (w172zwln3qww5hj)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82l4rj)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 09:32 The Documentary (w3ct90jj)
[Repeat of broadcast at 02:32 today]


THU 10:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgwx78)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 10:06 The Explanation (w3ct7ytk)
The Media Show: Cold-calling Trump

Donald Trump’s phone number is apparently not impossible to come by – but there’s also a strategy as to what time of day to call. Edward Luce of the Financial Times and Max Tani, media editor at Semafor, discuss tactics.
Matt Brittin has been appointed as the BBC’s new Director General, following a long career at Google where he led operations across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Alex Farber, Media Correspondent at The Times, gives his assessment.
A new BBC podcast, Everything is Fake (and Nobody Cares), addresses questions around misinformation and shifting audience trust in the world around us. Presenter Jamie Bartlett outlines the themes behind the project.

Presenters: Ros Atkins and Katie Razzall
Producer: Lucy Wai
Assistant Producer: Emily Channon
Researcher: Ruth Waites
Technical Coordinator: Mark Dickins
Sound: Sarah Kimberley


THU 10:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82l8hn)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 10:32 Happy News (w3ct6tzs)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:32 on Sunday]


THU 11:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgx0zd)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zwln3qwwdzs)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82ld7s)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct71b6)
The cities built on scamming us all

Have you ever received a call from a stranger regarding student loans you don’t owe? An Amazon order you never placed? An unpaid parking ticket for a car you don’t own? If so, it’s possible that you’ve been the target of a scam orchestrated by a criminal syndicate thousands of miles away.

The so-called “scam centres” of Southeast Asia bring in billions of dollars a year, expertly swindling unsuspecting foreigners out of their savings. Today, BBC Southeast Asia correspondent Jonathan Head offers an inside look at these formidable hubs of corruption and human trafficking, and explains how governments around the world are working to intervene.

Producers: Xandra Ellin and Viv Jones
Executive producer: Bridget Harney
Mix: Travis Evans
Senior news editor: China Collins

Photo: New high rises in the city of Shwe Kokko, Myanmar, visible from Thailand's border. Credit: Jonathan Head/BBC.


THU 12:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgx4qj)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 12:06 Outlook (w3ct6wyy)
X-Cetra: How our pre-teen record became an unlikely hit

In the year 2000, four pre-teen best friends from California – Ayden, Jessica, and sisters Mary and Janet – had the idea of starting a pop group. They called themselves X-Cetra and started writing songs. They asked Mary and Janet's mum Robin, an experimental musician, for help recording an album, which they called Stardust. Robin paired the girls’ songs of pre-teen crushes, joy and angst, with some tracks sent to her by a producer friend in Berlin. But when the girls finally heard the finished record, which sounded a lot stranger and more experimental than the Spice Girls-esque sound they had been imagining, they were mortified. On the verge of becoming teenagers, and with adolescent self-consciousness kicking in, they pushed the album to one side and deliberately forgot all about it. The girls grew up and eventually lost touch as they left home for college and got on with their lives. It would be 20 years before a chance internet search by one of the girls revealed that not only was a copy of their album Stardust online, but people seemed to really like it. Not long after, in a surreal turn of events, they got a call from a record label, who wanted to reissue it. A quarter of a century late, X-Cetra were about to hit the big time.

Ayden has directed a documentary about the band called Summer 2000: The X-Cetra Story.

Presenter: Asya Fouks
Producer: Zoe Gelber

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

(Photo: A collage of two images of X-Cetra. In the left image, from left to right, Ayden, Janet, Jessica and Mary in the year 2000. In the right image, the same girls in 2026. Credit: Robby Klein/Getty)


THU 12:50 Witness History (w3ct74ks)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


THU 13:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgx8gn)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 13:06 The Newsroom (w172zwln3qwwnh1)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 13:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82lmr1)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 13:32 The Food Chain (w3ct7100)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


THU 14:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgxd6s)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 14:06 Newshour (w172zssn5g01jsd)
Israel claims to have killed key Iranian naval commander

Israel says it's killed a top Iranian naval commander, responsible for overseeing the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, while President Trump tells Iran to get serious about negotiations. We hear from a supporter of the government in Tehran.

Also in the programme: former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is due to appear in court in New York today for only the second time since his capture at the beginning of January - we hear how his country’s been doing since his departure; and a new exhibition in London explores experiences and perceptions of ageing, from adolescence to older age - through art, science and popular culture.

(IMAGE: Alireza Tangsiri, Head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy, who Israel claims to have killed (undated file photo) / CREDIT: sourced from EVN/IR IRGC navy chief stills/1041/26/3)


THU 15:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgxhyx)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 15:06 The Inquiry (w3ct7243)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


THU 15:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82lw79)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 15:32 Business Daily (w3ct6s3n)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:32 today]


THU 15:50 World Business Express (w3ct88rg)
Meta and Alphabet shares fall following social media trial defeat

A California jury found Meta and YouTube designed addictive products that harmed young people. The plaintiff was awarded damages of $6m; Meta to pay 70% and YouTube the remainder.

Transport workers in the Philippines are on strike over the price of fuel driven by surging oil prices as the Middle East continues. The Filipino government which declared an energy state of emergency this week has introduced fuel subsidies and free bus rides for affected commuters, but protesters say the measures are not enough.

And the boss of Air Canada is under pressure to resign, after releasing a condolence message for the recent deaths of two pilots in English only. One of the pilots killed in Sunday's collision at LaGuardia Airport was from French-speaking Quebec.


THU 16:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgxmq1)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 16:06 Outside Source (w173068bdjvzhv0)
Is the Dubai dream over?

The war in Iran has spilled out across the region, with countries across the Gulf being hit by Iranian missiles and drones. Dubai is home to millions of expats, and for decades the city has cultivated an image of stability and safety in a volatile region. So is this image now gone? We speak to people who live or holiday there to hear their thoughts.

The former Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro is appearing in court in New York on charges of narco-terrorism and drug trafficking. Our correspondent is in Venezuela to hear reaction from people there.

We speak to parents about what it's like raising children in the age of social media, after an unprecedented win for a young woman who sued Meta and YouTube over her childhood addiction to social media.

Presenter: Luke Jones

Photo: Boats are docked at Dubai Creek Harbour March 6, 2026. Credit: Reuters/Amr Alfiky


THU 17:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgxrg5)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 17:06 Outside Source (w173068bdjvzml4)
Former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in court

Former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores are appearing at a New York court after being charged with narco-terrorism and weapons offences. We speak to people in Venezuela to hear how their lives have changed since Maduro was overthrown in January.

The International Olympic Committee has introduced a ban on transgender women taking part in female categories across all sports. We speak to our reporter to find out more.

The trailer for the new Harry Potter TV series has been released. It's also been announced that talk show host Stephen Colbert will write the new Lord of the Rings film. So why does every film seem to be getting a remake? We speak to Emma Jones from BBC Talking Movies.

Presenter: Luke Jones

Photo: Captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in New York for an initial appearance to face U.S. federal charges January 5, 2026. Credit: Reuters/Eduardo Munoz


THU 18:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgxw69)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 18:06 Outlook (w3ct6wyy)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 today]


THU 18:50 Witness History (w3ct74ks)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


THU 19:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgxzyf)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zwln3qwxcyt)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82mc6t)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct6z8r)
2026/03/26 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 (w172zwx5zjgy3pk)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 20:06 The Documentary (w3ct90jj)
[Repeat of broadcast at 02:32 today]


THU 20:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82mgyy)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 20:32 BBC Inside Science (w3ct8ty5)
The future of space travel

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

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

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

Presenter: Tom Whipple

Producer: Harrison Lewis and Katie Tomsett

Production co-ordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth

Editor: Martin Smith


THU 21:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgy7fp)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 21:06 Newshour (w172zssn5g02d09)
Trump: US will be Iran's 'worst nightmare' if there's no peace plan

State media in Iran say officials have sent their response to a fifteen-point US plan to end the war and are now awaiting an American reply. Speaking at the White House, President Trump again insisted that Iran was "begging" for a deal despite repeated denials in Tehran.

Also on the programme, lawyers have tussled over how to fund the defence of the ousted Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro at his second court hearing since his capture by US troops; and, the IOC has banned transgender women from all Olympic women's sports.

(President Trump hosts cabinet meeting at the White House, Washington, USA - 26 Mar 2026. WILL OLIVER/POOL/EPA/Shutterstock)


THU 22:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgyc5t)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 22:06 The Newsroom (w172zwln3qwxr66)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82mqg6)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 22:32 World Business Report (w3ct75z5)
Meta shares slide after landmark ruling on social media addiction

Meta shares slide after landmark ruling on social media addiction. Shares of Alphabet, Google's parent company, were also down but not as sharp as Meta stock. Jurors found that Meta, which owns Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp, and Google, owner of YouTube, intentionally built addictive social media platforms that harmed the 20-year old's mental health. We look at the numbers and find out what investors are thinking.

The global energy crisis is already wreaking havoc on economies across Asia, and the impact could soon be felt worldwide. It’s not just about higher cooking gas bills or queues at petrol stations, as Will Bain has been finding out.

And what happens when you let artificial intelligence take over your holiday plans? We hear from one travel columnist who decided to find out by handing a two-night seaside break over to Google’s Gemini, with no guidebooks, no travel agent, and no help from friends.

(Picture: Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg departs the office of U.S. Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) following a meeting at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 26, 2026. Credit: REUTERS/Nathan Howard).


THU 23:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgygxy)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 23:06 The Inquiry (w3ct7243)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


THU 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82mv6b)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 23:32 The Food Chain (w3ct7100)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]



FRIDAY 27 MARCH 2026

FRI 00:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgylp2)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 00:06 The Explanation (w3ct7ytk)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:06 on Thursday]


FRI 00:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82myyg)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 00:32 Unspun World with John Simpson (w3ct8yvx)
US pauses strikes on Iran’s energy infrastructure

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

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


FRI 01:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgyqf6)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 01:06 The Newsroom (w172zwln3qwy3fl)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 01:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82n2pl)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 01:32 The Global Story (w3ct71b6)
[Repeat of broadcast at 11:32 on Thursday]


FRI 02:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgyv5b)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zwln3qwy75q)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82n6fq)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 02:32 Tech Life (w3ct6zq9)
[Repeat of broadcast at 20:32 on Tuesday]


FRI 03:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgyyxg)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 03:06 Outlook (w3ct6wyy)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Thursday]


FRI 03:50 Witness History (w3ct74ks)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 on Thursday]


FRI 04:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgz2nl)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 04:06 The Newsroom (w172zwln3qwygnz)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82nfxz)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 04:32 Heart and Soul (w3ct6vqd)
Deaf Umrah

Islamic religious practice is deeply entwined with sound, from the call to prayer to memorizing the Quran: learning to recite the holy text is very much an oral tradition relying on listening and repetition. All this poses a unique challenge for deaf Muslims who wish to engage fully with their faith.

In November 2025, a group of pilgrims from the United Kingdom travelled to Mecca for Umrah, supported throughout in British Sign Language. Led by Al Isharah, a charity focused on helping deaf Muslims access Islam fully, they take part in the pilgrimage in places where much of what is said and done is communicated through sound.

Through reflections from presenter Zainam Bostan and pilgrims including Jani and Zahid, the programme explores faith, belonging and accessibility, and asks what changes when religious teaching is explained visually, not only heard. The programme follows them through key moments, from the first sight of the Kaaba to the press of the crowds during Tawaf.

Presenter: Zainam Bostan
Producer: Katie Harris
A CTVC production for BBC World Service


FRI 05:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgz6dq)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 05:06 Newsday (w172zsq5gzwxlf9)
Trump extends Iranian deadline again

President Trump has again extended a deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz. He had threatened to strike power plants in the country if it did not reopen the waterway. He said the pause follows a request by the Iranian government.

Meanwhile attacks on Iran and Lebanon continue by Israel. The BBC has investigated the nature of some of these attacks on Iran and analysed data about the areas being targetted and the munitions being used.

We look at the impact the US-Israeli war against Iran and Hezbollah is having on energy prices in South Africa.

Presenters: James Copnall and Krupa Padhy.

(Photo:US President Donald Trump with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. Credit:Will Oliver/EPA).


FRI 06:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgzb4v)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 06:06 Newsday (w172zsq5gzwxq5f)
Trump moves deadline on Iran

President Trump has again extended a deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz. He had threatened to strike power plants in the country if it did not reopen the waterway. He said the pause follows a request by the Iranian government.

Meanwhile Israel continues to strike Iran and Lebanon. The BBC gets rare insight into the consequences for civilians in Tehran and also looking at the places that have been targetted and the munitions being used.


We look at President Trump's approval rating in the United States as he attends a key conservative party conference

And why African Americans are returning to Ghana to build new lives. This week the United Nations recognised the transatlantic slave trade as "the gravest crime against humanity."

Presenters: James Copnall and Krupa Padhy.

(Photo:US President Donald J. Trump delivers remarks during a cabinet meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington. Credit: Will Olver/EPA).


FRI 07:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgzfwz)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 07:06 Newsday (w172zsq5gzwxtxk)
Trump pausing strikes on Iranian energy sites

President Trump has again extended a deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz. He had threatened to strike power plants in the country if it did not reopen the waterway. He said the pause follows a request by the Iranian government.

Meanwhile Israel continues to strike Iran and Lebanon. The BBC gets rare insight into the consequences for civilians in Tehran and also looking at the places that have been targetted and the munitions being used.

And we head to Qatar and look at how Gulf states are dealing with attacks on their energy infrastructure, we speak to a former senior Qatari ambassador.

Presenters: James Copnall and Krupa Padhy.

(Photo: US President Donald Trump with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth listens to remarks during a cabinet meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington. Credit: Will Oliver/EPA).


FRI 08:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgzkn3)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 08:06 The Interview (w3ct8c4m)
Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, head of the WTO: What is going on in the Middle East will have a significant impact on trade

“The global economy is full of uncertainty… business doesn't do that well with uncertainty. So with respect to trade… what is going on in the Middle East will have a significant impact on trade”

Ben Thompson speaks to Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Director General of the World Trade Organisation.

The global trade system - embodied by the WTO - is supposed to bring countries together by setting and enforcing the rules for them to sell goods and services to each other as well as resolve trade disputes.

This week in Cameroon a WTO ministerial Conference is taking place against the backdrop of war in the Middle East and unprecedented challenges to the established world trading system.

The war, President Trump's tariffs and a growing urge for independence are all impacting the way goods and services flow across borders.

In this interview Dr Okonjo-Iweala discusses the restrictions coming into force and their impact on global trade. She also talks about the need to reform the trading system so it works better for all parties.

The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC, including episodes with Samantha Power, former US ambassador to the UN and Dame Sarah Mullally, the archbishop of Canterbury. 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: Ben Thompson
Producers: Jonathan Josephs, Clare Williamson
Editor: Damon Rose

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

(Image: Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Credit: PIERRE ALBOUY/AFP via Getty Images)


FRI 08:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82nxxh)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct6rtm)
Mighty Patch founder Ju Rhyu

We meet the founder of Hero Cosmetics, the brand behind Mighty Patch, a skin patch that's designed to improve the appearance of acne. Patches like these have become increasingly mainstream.

We hear how Ju Rhyu went from being jobless during two recessions to creating a global, best-selling product. And we learn why she prefers being an employee now, rather than the boss.

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

Presenter: Leanna Byrne
Producer: Niamh McDermott

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

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

Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, the economic impact of the war in the Middle East, and why bond markets are so powerful.

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

(Picture: Ju Rhyu, founder of Hero Cosmetics. Credit: Ju Rhyu)


FRI 08:50 Witness History (w3ct745c)
Anthony Bourdain's Don't Eat Before Reading This

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


FRI 09:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgzpd7)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 09:06 The Newsroom (w172zwln3qwz2dm)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82p1nm)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 09:32 BBC Inside Science (w3ct8ty5)
[Repeat of broadcast at 20:32 on Thursday]


FRI 10:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgzt4c)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 10:06 Unexpected Elements (w3ct72xl)
A bumper edition

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

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

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

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

All that, plus many more Unexpected Elements.

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


FRI 11:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjgzxwh)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zwln3qwz9ww)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82p94w)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct715p)
Meta and YouTube lose in a landmark trial

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

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

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

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

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

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


FRI 12:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjh01mm)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 12:06 Outlook (w3ct6wjd)
Outlook Mixtape: Thunder and lightning

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

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

Presenter: India Rakusen
Producer: Thomas Harding Assinder

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

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


FRI 12:50 Witness History (w3ct745c)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


FRI 13:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjh05cr)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 13:06 The Newsroom (w172zwln3qwzkd4)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 13:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82pjn4)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 13:32 Heart and Soul (w3ct6vqd)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


FRI 14:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjh093w)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 14:06 Newshour (w172zssn5g04fph)
Germany says US and Iranian negotiators plan to meet in Pakistan

Germany says American and Iranian negotiators plan to meet in Pakistan, at the same time as reports suggest the US is to send 10,000 more troops to the Middle East. We get the latest and hear from victims of the strikes on Tehran.

Also in the programme: will Cuba's economic near-collapse lead to political upheaval? We have a first-hand report from the island; and a unique eyewitness account of female sperm whales acting like midwives.

(IMAGE: View of the Prime Minister's House building, as Pakistan offers to help mediate talks between the United States and Iran, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Islamabad, Pakistan March 25, 2026 / CREDIT: REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro)


FRI 15:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjh0dw0)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 15:06 The Interview (w3ct8c4m)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


FRI 15:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82ps4d)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 15:32 Business Daily (w3ct6rtm)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:32 today]


FRI 15:50 World Business Express (w3ct88h6)
Fears of fuel shortages lead to panic buying in Australia

As prices soar, petrol and diesel pumps are running dry at hundreds of service stations across Australia. But is the shortage caused by panic buying rather than lack of fuel?

We hear from India where generic replacements for the weightloss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy are bringing cheaper drugs to the local market.

And Hollywood actor turned producer Eva Longoria says a Warner Bros. Discovery–Paramount mega merger will be bad news for creativity in the movie business.


FRI 16:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjh0jm4)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 16:06 Outside Source (w173068bdjw2dr3)
Israel targets Iran missile site

Israel says it has targeted a "major" missile and sea mining production facility in central Iran. Meanwhile, G7 foreign ministers meeting in France have called for an end to attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure in the war in Iran. We hear from people inside Iran, and get the latest on today's developments from our correspondents.

Data examined by the BBC shows the devastating impact of Israeli attacks on Iran. We hear a report by our senior international investigations correspondent who has had a rare access inside Tehran using satellite imagery, social media content and interviews.

Governments around the world are desperately trying to offset the effects of the Middle East conflict on rising oil prices. We hear about the situation in Myanmar, where at least three people are reported to have died from heat stroke while queueing for fuel.

We also look at how the war has affected tourism around the world and hear from tour guides and hotel owners in Sri Lanka, Egypt, and Turkey.

Presenter: Rob Young.

(Photo: Iranian rescuers work on destroyed buildings as US-Israeli airstrikes continue, Tehran, Iran Islamic Republic Of - 27 Mar 2026. Credit: ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH/EPA)


FRI 17:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjh0nc8)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 17:06 Outside Source (w173068bdjw2jh7)
Rubio says Iran operation to last weeks, not months

Two nuclear-related facilities have been attacked in Iran, but there has been no release of radioactive material, Iranian state media says.

The US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says Washington expects to finish operations in Iran in the next couple of weeks. Opinion polls in the US show that Americans don't like the conflict. Our North America correspondent has been gauging the mood among Republicans in Texas.

US officials say the personal email account of the FBI chief, Kash Patel, has been compromised. Our cyber correspondent explains.

We speak to experts and parents about the government guidance in England, which recommends limiting screen time to one hour a day for children under five, while advising that under-twos should not watch screens alone.

Presenter: Rob Young.

(Photo: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks to the press following a G7 Foreign Ministers' meeting with Partner Countries before his departure at the Bourget airport in Le Bourget, outside Paris, France, March 27, 2026. Credit: Brendan Smialowski/REUTERS)


FRI 18:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjh0s3d)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 18:06 Outlook (w3ct6wjd)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 today]


FRI 18:50 Witness History (w3ct745c)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


FRI 19:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjh0wvj)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zwln3qx08vx)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82q83x)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct6z47)
2026/03/27 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 (w172zwx5zjh10ln)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 20:06 BBC Conversations (w3ct6rp3)
Bombings in Lebanon

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


FRI 20:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82qcw1)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 20:32 CrowdScience (w3ct6sv7)
Could AI present CrowdScience?

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

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

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

Presenters: Caroline Steel and Anand Jagatia

Producer: Anand Jagatia

Additional production: Lorna Stewart

Editor: Ben Motley

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


FRI 21:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjh14bs)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 21:06 Newshour (w172zssn5g058xd)
UN says Lebanon at risk of ‘humanitarian catastrophe’

The UN says there's no longer any safe space for civilians to find refuge in Lebanon, even in Beirut. Israel has been carrying out a widespread offensive against Hezbollah. With nearly a million people displaced by the war in Lebanon, we speak to the Deputy Prime Minister - how are they coping?

Also, the British government is being urged to apologise to tens of thousands of women in who were forced to give up their babies after the Second World War because they weren't married.

And a new study says AI is giving bad advice to flatter its users!


(Photo: A displaced woman from Majdal Zoun in southern Lebanon smokes a sigarette, at the Jaafareya High School, now used as a temporary shelter for displaced people, amid escalating hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, as the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran continues, in Beirut, Lebanon, March 27, 2026. Credit: Reuters)


FRI 22:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjh182x)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 22:06 The Newsroom (w172zwln3qx0n39)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82qmc9)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 22:32 World Business Report (w3ct76ps)
BYD profits fall 19%: What’s driving the decline?

BYD has reported a 19% fall in annual profit, its first decline in four years, despite rising sales as price pressure in China weighs on margins. We look at what’s driving the slowdown,and what it means for the wider electric vehicle industry.

We also examine the increasingly competitive market for electric cars, set against a backdrop of rising global oil prices.

While oil prices continue to rise, the cost of weight loss drugs could be heading in the opposite direction. And we look at how a small, family-run business in Slovenia has become a major force in skiing.

(Picture: Photo by RUNGROJ YONGRIT/EPA/Shutterstock (16787185n)
A visitor inspects a BYD Atto 1 electric vehicle on display at the 47th Bangkok International Motor Show 2026 in Nonthaburi, on the outskirts of Bangkok, Thailand, 23 March 2026.)


FRI 23:00 BBC News (w172zwx5zjh1cv1)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 23:06 The Interview (w3ct8c4m)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


FRI 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zwy0f82qr3f)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 23:32 Heart and Soul (w3ct6vqd)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]