SATURDAY 18 APRIL 2026
SAT 00:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bjxzm)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 00:06 Unexpected Elements (w3ct8kc8)
The ribbiting science of frogs
In 2025, Russian-born scientist Kseniia Petrova picked up some spliced frog embryos from a laboratory in France and brought them back to the USA to aid her research into ageing and cancer. She was detained by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), charged with smuggling and had her visa revoked.
Now though, a judge has ruled that the scientist’s visa was wrongly cancelled.
Inspired by this story, the Unexpected Elements team find out how embryos and sperm behave in space.
Next, we discover that embryos can regenerate limbs, and new research could help us unlock those skills as adults.
We also reveal the unexpected link between frogs and pregnancy tests, and find out about a devastating fungus that’s wreaking havoc on amphibians.
And don't miss probiotics for coral reefs, dessert stomachs and the weird physics of time.
All that, plus many more Unexpected Elements.
Presenter: Marnie Chesterton, with Katie Silver and Camilla Mota
Producers: Alice Lipscombe-Southwell, with Ella Hubber and Georgia Christie
SAT 01:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bk1qr)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 01:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqfq3swgs0)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
SAT 01:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sy7f04)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SAT 01:32 The Global Story (w3ct8m8l)
The Chinese cyber-attack that could have stolen data from every American
In 2024, reports emerged of a highly sophisticated cyber espionage campaign against US telecoms companies, which some analysts believe went all the way up to the Chinese government.
The group behind this campaign would later be codenamed Salt Typhoon, and it is believed to have quietly infiltrated critical US telecoms infrastructure in order to collect private information on influential Americans – including presidential candidates. In the process, it may have also swept up data from millions of ordinary Americans. The Chinese government has denied responsibility for Salt Typhoon.
We speak to former Deputy National Security Adviser Anne Neuberger, who was working inside the White House when the attacks were first uncovered. We also speak to BBC cyber correspondent Joe Tidy about how this hack unfolded – and what it reveals about who may be winning the cyber war.
Producer: Aron Keller
Sound engineer: Travis Evans
Executive producer: James Shield
Senior news editor: China Collins
(Photo: Analysts in the Security Operations Center at the Dell Secure Works office in South Carolina, US. Credit: Stephen Morton/Getty Images)
SAT 02:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bk5gw)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 02:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqfq3swlj4)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
SAT 02:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sy7jr8)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SAT 02:32 Stumped (w3ct99f2)
Praful Hinge: Has the IPL discovered a new star?
Praful Hinge made history on his debut by taking three wickets in his very first over. The seamers’ haul included dismissing teenage sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi for a first-ball duck. Nikesh Rughani, Jim Maxwell and Sunil Gupta examine his impact in the league.
It's a tradition dating back over 150 years: the latest edition of the little yellow book, the 2026 Wisden Almanack is out. Editor Lawrence Booth joins the team to discuss the five cricketers of the year.
And with the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup less than two months away, Australian selector Shawn Flegler admits Sophie Molineux's captaincy may need to be reconsidered if her injury problems continue.
Photo: Sunrisers Hyderabad's Praful Hinge celebrates the wicket of Rajasthan Royals' Dhruv Jurel with teammates (Credit: REUTERS/Stringer)
SAT 03:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bk970)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 03:06 Outlook (w3ct8hpb)
Outlook Mixtape: Going solo
Vera Brandes was 16 and still at school when she first started organising jazz concerts in her home town of Cologne, Germany. In her Mum's fur coat, big colourful glasses and brimming with confidence she looked like she belonged on the scene. Aged 18, she heard the acclaimed US jazz pianist Keith Jarrett was looking to perform in Cologne. Vera ended up organising the gig. It was to be a totally improvised, solo performance with just Keith and a piano. The venue was booked, the concert had sold out and Keith had arrived. But when he got to the venue, he found on stage an old rehearsal piano with broken strings, sticky keys and malfunctioning pedals – it was unplayable. The story of how a musical masterpiece was created out of that seemingly impossible situation has become legendary. The recording of Keith Jarrett's performance that night, simply called the Köln Concert, became the biggest-selling solo piano album of all time.
When Tom Robinson was 14 years old he made a decision that would dictate the course of his life – that he would become the youngest person to row across the Pacific Ocean. He trained as a boat builder and handcrafted his boat from scratch. He named her Maiwar after the local indigenous name for the Brisbane River which he rowed on every day to travel to and from school. In 2022, aged 23, Tom set off from Peru. The subsequent 14 months involved blissful solitude, broken only by a warm welcome on one of the world's most remote islands, flying fish that landed in his lap and passing turtles. And then came the freak wave that left him stranded on the upturned hull of his boat for hours, with no idea of when, or even if, rescue would come.
Presenter: India Rakusen
Producer: May Cameron
Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com or WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707
(Photo: A transparent 60-minute cassette tape on a white background with a white label with the words: The Outlook Mixtape. Credit: Getty Images)
SAT 03:50 Witness History (w3ct98dg)
Discovering Hans Christian Andersen's 'lost fairytale'
In October 2012, a local historian stumbled upon a misplaced pamphlet in the Danish Archives.
It was a story called the Tallow Candle and is believed to be Hans Christian Andersen’s first fairytale.
Ejnar Askgaard, Curator and Senior Researcher at Museum Odense, verified the document.
He speaks to Surya Elango.
Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by and curious about the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there.
For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more.
Recent episodes explore everything from how the Excel spreadsheet was developed, the creation of cartoon rabbit Miffy and how the sound barrier was broken.
We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: the moment Reagan and Gorbachev met in Geneva, Haitian singer Emerante de Pradines’ life and Omar Sharif’s legendary movie entrance in Lawrence of Arabia.
You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, like the invention of a stent which has saved lives around the world; the birth of the G7; and the meeting of Maldives’ ministers underwater. We cover everything from World War Two and Cold War stories to Black History Month and our journeys into space.
(Photo: Hans Christian Andersen. Credit: Hulton-Deutsch Collection via Getty Images)
SAT 04:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bkdz4)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 04:06 Unexpected Elements (w3ct8kc8)
[Repeat of broadcast at
00:06 today]
SAT 05:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bkjq8)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 05:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqfq3swyrj)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
SAT 05:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sy7wzn)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SAT 05:32 Inheritance: Samsung (w3ct94gx)
Samsung
4. Shoes to fill
In the 1980s KH Lee takes charge of Samsung, but the business is struggling in a competitive global electronics market. It’s up to him to turn it around, and secure its future for the next generation with a complex succession plan.
In this brand-new 10-part series from the BBC World Service, we take you behind closed doors- inside the billion-dollar deals and the family power struggles that shape global empires. When your relatives are also your business partners, every decision is personal. In these dynasties, the boardroom isn’t just about profit - it’s about survival.
Host: Elise Hu
Producers: Simon Tulett and Sally Abrahams
Fact-checkers: Matt Toulson and Su-Min Hwang
Music: Thomas Ross Fitzsimons
Mixing and sound design: Charlie Brandon-King
Series editor: Matt Willis
With special thanks to Geoffrey Cain, Sojin Lim, Jaeyeon Lee, Jake Kwon and Mary Wilkinson
Senior commissioning producer: Sarah Green
Commissioning editor: Jon Manel
Inheritance is a BBC Long Form Audio production
SAT 05:50 More or Less (w3ct998k)
Is Trump right that wind turbines are killing millions of birds?
US president Donald Trump is no fan of wind turbines, or windmills as he calls them.
Not only does he think they ruin the view from a golf course he owns in Scotland, but they are also deadly to birds.
“If you love birds, you’d never want to walk under a windmill,” he said in 2019.
“It’s a very sad, sad sight. It’s like a cemetery. We put a little statue for the poor birds.”
Earlier this year he posted on Truth Social saying that wind turbines were killing “millions” of birds.
But is that true? We speak to Dr Hannah Ritchie, Deputy Editor at Our World in Data and senior researcher at the University of Oxford, who has dug into the numbers on bird mortality and wind turbines.
Credits:
Presenter: Charlotte McDonald
Producer: Mhairi MacKenzie
Series producer: Tom Colls
Production co-ordinator: Brenda Brown
Sound mix: Sue Maillot
Editor: Richard Vadon
SAT 06:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bkngd)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 06:06 Weekend (w1730c5h4ndl0ww)
Iran says Hormuz won't stay open if US blockade continues
Iran threatens to close the Strait of Hormuz again if the US blockade of Iranian ports continues.
Also in today's programme: the French National Assembly has passed a new law promising the return of tens of thousands of stolen African artworks. Marie-Cécile Zinsou, a French-Beninese art historian, shares her thoughts on the new law; and the continuing debate on Christopher Columbus' birthplace.
Presenter Gary O'Donoghue is joined by Anna Matveeva, Senior Visiting Research Fellow at the Russia Institute at King's College London, and Chietigj Bajpaee, Senior Research Fellow for South Asia at the international affairs think tank Chatham House.
Photo: A drone view shows the Malta-flagged tanker Agios Fanourios I arriving in Iraq’s territorial waters off Basra. 17 April 2026. Reuters/ Mohammed Aty
SAT 07:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bks6j)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 07:06 Weekend (w1730c5h4ndl4n0)
Dispute over Iran's enriched uranium
Donald Trump says Iran will give up its enriched uranium in a deal to end the war. Tehran says they have agreed "no such thing".
Also on today's programme: Donald Trump says Iran will give up its enriched uranium in a deal to end the war. Tehran says they have agreed "no such thing".
Also on today's programme: Iran threatens to reverse its decision to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. We hear about the cost the uncertainty is causing to American farmers; and Hungary's incoming prime minister says he plans to map out agreement points with the European Union prior to forming a government.
Presenter Gary O'Donoghue is joined by Anna Matveeva, senior visiting research fellow at the Russia Institute at King's College London, and Chietigj Bajpaee, senior research fellow for South Asia at the international affairs think tank Chatham House.
Photo: A handout satellite image made available by Maxar Technologies shows a closer view of tunnel entrances to the Fordo underground uranium enrichment following US airstrikes, in Iran, 22 June 2025.Credit: EPA/ Shutterstock
SAT 08:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bkwyn)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 08:06 Weekend (w1730c5h4ndl8d4)
Iran says Hormuz will shut if US blockade continues
Iran threatens to reverse its decision to reopen the Strait of Hormuz unless the United States ends its blockade of Iranian ports.
Also on today's programme: President Trump insists the US will take possession of Iran's highly enriched uranium as part of a deal to end its nuclear programme, contradicting Iran's stance on the matter; and we are joined by the granddaughter of Ludwig Koch, a pioneering nature broadcaster who became a household name in Britain in the 1930s after fleeing Nazi Germany.
Presenter Gary O'Donoghue is joined by Anna Matveeva, senior visiting research fellow at the Russia Institute at King's College London, and Chietigj Bajpaee, senior research fellow for South Asia at the international affairs think tank Chatham House.
(Photo: A satellite image shows the ship movement at the Strait of Hormuz on April 17, in Space. Credit: Copernicus Sentinel -2/Reuters)
SAT 09:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bl0ps)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 09:06 BBC Conversations (w3ct8m3g)
Experiences of miscarriage
Losing a child during pregnancy is a subject that is not often talked about but can be traumatic and, in some cultures, even lead to feelings of shame.
We bring together two couples who share their experiences of miscarriage. They discuss the strain it has put on their relationships and the support offered – or not – to those grieving.
“You are grieving for someone that you’ve never met, and you never will get to know, but you still feel sad,” Catharina in Sweden tells us. “So even though I try to be rational about it, it was very difficult because my feelings and my body was telling me something completely different.”
Earlier this month, Northern Ireland became the first part of the UK where a woman and her partner are entitled to two weeks of paid leave if they experience a miscarriage at any stage of pregnancy.
New Zealand, India, and the Philippines also have laws aimed at supporting grieving couples as they deal with the trauma of miscarriage and come to terms with the loss of their unborn child.
Presenter: James Reynolds
BBC producer: Adam Chowdhury
Boffin Media producer: Richard Hollingham
Editor: Harriet Oliver and Arja Haikonen
A Boffin Media production in partnership with the BBC World Service Outside Source team.
(Photo: Anonymous woman. Credit: Phil Coomes)
SAT 09:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sy8cz5)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SAT 09:32 Americast (w3ct8lyy)
Have the Democrats found a new strategy to scare Trump?
Why has an oyster fisherman from Maine - criticised for having a Nazi tattoo - become a frontrunner for the Democrats, and one of their best hopes to help take back the US Senate in this year’s midterm elections?
The north eastern state of Maine has become integral for Democrats as they look to unseat Republican senator Susan Collins, and elect their first Democrat senator in decades. But it also tells a bigger story, about how the Democratic party is looking to take on Donald Trump more widely, beyond this November’s midterms and into the 2028 presidential elections.
Justin and Anthony unpack what Maine tells us about Democrat strategy and why Graham Platner, currently polling first, is not a typical Democrat candidate. And does it tell us something significant about what voters want in 2026?
Plus, we speak to Josh Keefe, a reporter for the nonprofit Maine Monitor, who went to school with Graham Platner. He discusses his memories of Platner, what Mainers think about his tattoo and Reddit scandals, and he tells us what he loves about his state as in the return of our United States of Americast feature.
HOSTS:
• Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter
• Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent
GUEST:
• Josh Keefe, Reporter for the Maine Monitor
GET IN TOUCH:
• Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB
• Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480
• Email Americast@bbc.co.uk
• Or use #Americast
This episode was made by George Dabby with Alix Pickles and Grace Reeve. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app.
You can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers.
US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155
Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Americast also makes lots of other podcasts, including Newscast. If you enjoy Americast (and if you're reading this then you hopefully do), then we think that you will enjoy some of our other pods too. See links below.
Newscast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/p05299nl
Radical: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0gg4k6r
The Global Story: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/w13xtvsd
Top Comment BBC Sounds - Top Comment - Available Episodes
SAT 10:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bl4fx)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 10:06 Not by the Playbook (w3ct9969)
Organ-ised chaos
It's amazing how many people are involved in anyone sporting endeavour... Of course the athletes are the stars of the show, but then there's coaches, physiotherapist and umpires. And beyond them there are cameramen, hot dog sellers and security staff. This week we spend some time with some of those people we don't think of as crucial to our enjoyment of sport, but without them we'd really miss them!
Benny Drawbars is a man who occupies an almost unique position in sport, one that straddles the very best "old timey" traditions of sport and the modern and exciting way we all now experience sport. How? Well each week Benjamin Wooley steps into the Climate Pledge Arena, home of NHL team Seattle Kraken, blows gently on his fingers, cracks his knuckles and morphs into Benny Drawbars, the demon organist! But is this most wonderful of traditions, heard mostly in the US at hockey and baseball games a dying art?
In some ways you could say Ken Calwell has had a career in pizza, but that would do him no justice! He has in fact he has headed up some of your favourite fast food companies, from Pizza Hut to Dominoes and now Papa Murphy... He even had a spell at Wendy's! So why would we want to chat to a man who has spent his life marketing pizza, how ever delicious that might sound!? Well he also created an advert you probably saw during the Super Bowl, the only one not "selling" a product! But first we chatted about his life before and after August 8th 1991 and what happened on that day that changed everything
To win a gold medal at the Summer Games or it's winter counterpart is a pretty amazing feet, but to win gold at BOTH, well that's the preserve of a very very few number of athletes. American Kendall Gretsch is one of them. Born with spina bifida which has severely limited the use of her legs, she won gold in the Para-triathlete in Tokyo in 2021 and has now won multiple Paralympic Winter golds, including just a few weeks ago in Milan Cortina, topping the podium in the cross-country skiing.
Imagine creating a swimsuit so good it would have to be banned?! That's what Jason Rance and his team at Speedo's research and development Aqualab did ahead of the Beijing Olympic Games in August 2008. Wearing the LZR Racer swimsuit, United States swimmer Michael Phelps won a record eight gold medals at the Water Cube. Athletes wearing the swimsuit would shatter 30 world records in the space of three months. The suit developed with space agency Nasa and the reduction in skin friction drag was so significant, some called it "technological doping".
Photo: The organist for the Chicago Blackhawks plays a tune during an NHL game with the Los Angeles Kings and Chicago Blackhawks circa 1978 at the Chicago Stadium in Chicago, Illinois. (CREDIT: B Bennett/Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty Images Studios/Getty Images)
SAT 11:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bl861)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 11:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqfq3sxp79)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
SAT 11:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sy8mgf)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SAT 11:32 Health Check (w3ct8k27)
Risky requests for unvaccinated blood on the rise
A minority of patients requiring blood transfusions are increasingly requesting ‘unvaccinated’ blood in the United States, per a new report published in the journal Transfusion. Our studio guest today, genito-urinary consultant Vanessa Apea, explains how this can lead to potentially dangerous delays and higher risks.
Presenter Claudia Hammond speaks to Dr Angela Wu, from the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine and Oxford Tobacco Addiction Group at the University of Oxford, about a new overview of the best available evidence worldwide for smoking cessation. The study, published in the journal Addiction, has found that nicotine‑containing e‑cigarettes appear to be more effective for stopping people smoking than other interventions.
We hear how metabolic liver disease could affect nearly 1.8 billion people by 2050, according to new research published in The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology journal. The growing number of cases means that many people are at risk of developing serious complications, however, the study also found that although more people are developing the disease, the overall impact on health has remained stable due to advances in treatment and care.
We also hear from BBC World Service reporter Sen Nguyen in Vietnam as Hanoi plans to pilot a new low-emission zone from July to tackle air pollution. We hear what the proposed changes are and with the prevalence of diesel motorbikes in the city, how prepared are residents, workers and businesses for this change?
And Claudia and Vanessa discuss whether living with friends may quietly be altering your gut bacteria, following new research published in the journal Molecular Ecology.
Presenter: Claudia Hammond
Producer: Jonathan Blackwell and Hannah Robins
SAT 12:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2blcy5)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 12:06 In Our Time (w3ct9763)
The Mariana Trench
Misha Glenny and guests discuss one of the wonders of the natural world. In 1875 in the western Pacific, the crew of HMS Challenger discovered the Mariana Trench which turned out to be deeper than Everest is high, by two kilometres. Trenches like Mariana form when one tectonic plate slips under another and heads down and there are around fifty of them globally. While at one time some thought it was too dark and deep for life there and others wildly imagined monsters, the truth has turned out to be much more surprising.
With:
Heather Stewart, Director of Kelpie Geoscience and Associate Professor at the University of Western Australia
Jon Copley, Professor of Ocean Exploration and Science Communication at the University of Southampton
Alan Jamieson, Director of the Deep Sea Research Centre at the University of Western Australia
SAT 13:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2blhp9)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 13:06 Newshour (w1730bmynddm9xc)
Iran closes Strait of Hormuz again
Iran's central military command has said it has closed the Strait of Hormuz again, accusing the United States of continuing its naval blockade of ships sailing to and from Iran's port.
We hear the latest from our correspondent in the Middle East and we speak from a captain on one of the ships stranded in the Strait of Hormuz.
Also in the programme: the perils of using AI chatbots to diagnose illnesses; and China's love affair with snooker.
(Photo: A drone view of a tanker arriving in Iraq's territorial waters after sailing through the Strait of Hormuz. Credit: Mohammed Aty / Reuters)
SAT 14:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2blmff)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 14:06 Sportsworld (w1730c8rxktc6l2)
Live Sporting Action
Sportsworld will have live Premier League commentary of Leeds, fresh of their win against Manchester United, against bottom of the table Wolves. Lee James will be joined by the former Wolves and England winger Matt Jarvis and the former Nottingham Forest manager and West ham assistant Mark Warburton to look ahead to that big match in the relegation battle.
They will also preview another big game for Tottenham against Brighton and Bournemouth’s first game since Andoni Iraola announced his summer departure.
We’ll go to the Bundesliga to see how Marie-Louise Eta fared in her first match in charge of Union Berlin, after becoming the first ever female to be appointed head coach of a men’s team in Europe’s top five leagues.
There’s also Women’s World Cup 2027 qualifiers, Women’s Rugby Union Six Nations and we’ll be in New York to see if Alycia Baumgardner defended her WBA, WBO and IBF super-featherweight titles.
We’ll also hear from Uruguay’s history making World Athletics Championships bronze medallist Julia Paternain ahead of her debut London Marathon.
And we’ll be in Spain for the semi finals of the Barcelona Open and a preview of the Copa Del Rey final between Atletico Madrid and Real Sociedad.
Photo: Leeds United's Jack Harrison watches as teammate Gabriel Gudmundsson battles in the air with Wolverhampton Wanderers' Jhon Arias during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leeds United at Molineux in Wolverhampton, England, on September 20, 2025. (Credit: NurPhoto via Getty Images)
SAT 18:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bm3dy)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 18:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqfq3syjg6)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
SAT 18:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sy9gpb)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SAT 18:32 Inheritance: Samsung (w3ct94gx)
[Repeat of broadcast at
05:32 today]
SAT 18:50 Sporting Witness (w3ct8rwz)
The Fabiola Rule
In the 1990s, rollerblading had separate competitions for men and women. That changed in 2000, when the two were combined into one mixed competition.
Brazilian Fabiola Da Silva was so good against the men that the change became known as the "Fabiola Rule". For more than a decade, she consistently finished in the top 10 against the men, defying expectations, and winning silver at the 2002 Latin X Games.
Fabiola Da Silva 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: Fabiola Da Silva at X Games Xperience. Credit: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
SAT 19:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bm752)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 19:06 The Inquiry (w3ct98ph)
How will countries boycotting Eurovision affect the contest?
Broadcasters from The Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland, Spain and Slovenia are all boycotting May’s Eurovision Song Contest because Israel is participating.
Sources within Israel’s broadcaster say calls for it to be banned are unjustified, and organisers of the contest insist it must remain politically neutral, describing the event as "a platform for displaying the importance of peace and unity in a divided world".
The boycott has sparked one of the biggest crises in Eurovision’s 70-year history. In several cases, the position to withdraw also reflects wider pressure from politicians and public opinion. How will countries boycotting Eurovision affect the contest?’
Contributors:
Natalija Gorščak, president of the management board of RTV, Slovenia
Dr Bárbara Barreiro León, lecturer in film and visual Culture, University of Aberdeen, UK
Dr Heather Dichter, associate professor of sport history and sport management, De Montfort University, UK
Dr Dean Vuletic, author Postwar Europe and the Eurovision Song Contest, Luxembourg
Presenter/Producer: Daniel Rosney
Editor: Tom Bigwood
Sound Engineer: James Bradshaw
Production Management: Phoebe Lomas and Liam Morrey
(Photo: Eurovision flags. Credit: Georg Hochmuth/Getty Images)
SAT 19:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sy9lfg)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SAT 19:32 Happy News (w3ct8nw8)
The Happy Pod: Filling the empty chair left by my best friend
We meet the man helping to tackle loneliness by offering strangers somewhere to sit and chat. Dean Perryman started the Empty Chairs project, honouring the memory of his best friend. After he posted the concept online, it has been replicated around the world.
Also, how technology has allowed a dancer with a muscle-wasting disease to see herself performing on stage again. A headset allowed Breanna Olson to control a digital avatar with her brainwaves in real time.
Plus, we meet the 95-year-old swimmer still breaking records and showing no signs of slowing down. Brazil gets its own tartan. And we introduce you to Marcus, the black labrador too friendly to be a guide dog, but who has found his calling supporting cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.
Presenter: Holly Gibbs
Music: Iona Hampson
(Photo: Dean Perryman hosting an Empty Chairs event in his distinctive orange hoodie. Credit: @EmptyChairsUK)
SAT 20:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bmbx6)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 20:06 The Arts Hour (w3ct8h7s)
Croatian actor Slavko Sobin
Nikki Bedi talks to Croatian Actor Slavko Sobin about his film, Surviving Earth, and discusses the week's cultural highlights with critic Zing Tsjeng
British singer songwriter Harry Styles on his new album, Kiss All The Time. Disco Occasionally
Australian Oscar-winning actor Cate Blanchett on working with the visionary director, Jim Jarmusch
Brazilian Montenegrin writer Monika Radojevic on telling her parents' love story in the novel, Stranger Land
We hear from Pixar's Pete Docter and the actor Dave Franco who stars in their latest animation film, Hoppers
And the 'Queen of African Music', Beninese singer Angelique Kidjo reveals how she was inspired by her mother
(Photo: Slavko Sobin. Credit: Luka Nizetic)
SAT 21:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bmgnb)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 21:06 Newshour (w1730bmynddn8wd)
Ships report attacks as Strait of Hormuz recloses
Iran's navy says the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the US blockade on Iranian ports is lifted. It says the continuing US blockade is a "breach of the ceasefire" and warns that ships approaching the vital shipping channel "will be targeted". We hear from our Chief International Correspondent in Tehran.
Also on the programme: the ongoing row over the appointment of Lord Peter Mandelson, a friend of Jeffrey Epstein, as UK ambassador to Washington; and tributes are being paid to one of France's most celebrated film stars, Nathalie Baye, who's died at the age of 77.
(Photo: A vessel at the Strait of Hormuz, off the coast of Oman’s Musandam province on April 12, 2026. Credit: Reuters)
SAT 22:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bmldg)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 22:06 Not by the Playbook (w3ct9969)
[Repeat of broadcast at
10:06 today]
SAT 23:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bmq4l)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SAT 23:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqfq3sz45v)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
SAT 23:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2syb2dz)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SAT 23:32 This Is Africa (w3ct8tcw)
Aiza
Aiza calls herself the Afrobop Queen – and her music is upbeat, playful, rhythmic; a unique blend of African diasporic music like jazz, bossa nova, and hip-hop.
Aiza was born in Canada to Burundian parents. She was named one of the breakthrough artists of 2023 by Canada’s public service broadcaster after she released her debut 10-track album, Sovereignty, which features bangers like Majimbo and Cocoa Butter.
Her music has been featured on hit shows like Ginny and Georgia. She’s also an actor, starring in the Netflix series Jupiter’s Legacy, as well as creating with her sister the award-winning CBC talk show series Real Blackity Talk.
Aiza tells This is Africa how emotional and life-changing it was to go to Burundi for the very first time in 2017, and how her music is designed to make you feel good – and move. She also reveals a secret only those close to her know.
Plus, DJ Edu the Afroboss’s latest mix of the hottest tunes coming out of Africa.
SUNDAY 19 APRIL 2026
SUN 00:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bmtwq)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 00:06 BBC Conversations (w3ct8m3g)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:06 on Saturday]
SUN 00:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2syb653)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SUN 00:32 The Documentary (w3ct99zf)
Back to books: Sweden’s digital backlash
Sweden, once a global poster child for digital education, is changing course. The Nordic nation previously championed a screen-first approach; laptops and tablets have been the norm in classrooms since the 2010s. Now, the country is pivoting back to basics, reintroducing physical textbooks, limiting screen time, and investing heavily in school libraries.
Stockholm-based reporter Maddy Savage explores why one of the world’s most tech-savvy countries is embracing analogue learning once again. Driving the shift are falling international test scores and growing anxiety over the potential impact of heavy screen use on pupils' concentration, and how children process information.
While the move broadly has political support and backing from the OECD, it has sparked a debate over future-proofing the next generation. In an era of rapid AI integration, critics worry that reducing classroom technology could dent digital literacy and widen the inequality gap. The concern is that children with parents who lack the digital skills to support them will be left behind.
We hear from the teachers, parents, pupils and researchers at the heart of this transition.
(Photo: Swedish high school students opening their books. Credit: Maddy Savage)
SUN 01:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bmymv)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 01:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqfq3szcp3)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
SUN 01:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2syb9x7)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SUN 01:32 Inheritance: Samsung (w3ct94gx)
[Repeat of broadcast at
05:32 on Saturday]
SUN 01:50 Sporting Witness (w3ct8rwz)
[Repeat of broadcast at
18:50 on Saturday]
SUN 02:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bn2cz)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 02:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqfq3szhf7)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
SUN 02:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sybfnc)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SUN 02:32 Health Check (w3ct8k27)
[Repeat of broadcast at
11:32 on Saturday]
SUN 03:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bn643)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 03:06 In Our Time (w3ct9763)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:06 on Saturday]
SUN 04:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bn9w7)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 04:06 From Our Own Correspondent (w3ct99bt)
Lebanon ceasefire: An uneasy calm
The truce announced between Israel and Lebanon provides some respite from the bombings in Beirut and southern Lebanon - but how far will Hezbollah keep to its terms? Hugo Bachega reports from the Lebanese capital on the impact of the deadliest day of the most recent round of conflict.
In northern Israel, some towns have already endured repeated attacks from Hezbollah - and while people have adapted to living in the firing line, there are questions over how safe the ceasefire can keep them in future. Nick Beake hears from the residents of Metula, Israel's northernmost town.
Peter Magyar's Tisza party has swept the board in Hungary's election, and is promising to govern the country differently. Nick Thorpe examines how the change it promises might trickle down to the local level.
The Japanese island of Okinawa is known for its unusually high concentration of centenarians - people who've made it to 100 years of age and beyond. A healthy diet, allotment gardening, and lots of social contact all play their part, but Christine Finn found that the key might be something more nebulous: a sense of living with purpose.
Intoruduced by Pascale Harter.
(Photo: First responders stand amid rubble at the site of an Israeli airstrike in Beirut. Credit: AFP)
SUN 04:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sybp4m)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SUN 04:32 BBC Inside Science (w3ct977g)
Forty years on from nuclear disaster
For 40 years scientists have been fascinated by the exclusion zone surrounding the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine. Professor Jim Smith from the University of Portsmouth is one of those scientists, a frequent visitor over the past 20 years. He joins Inside Science to explain whether the region still suffers after the nuclear fallout and how how it has shaped European energy production.
It is a month for anniversaries, and with David Attenborough turning 100, each week we take a look at a species which has found itself named after the behavioural ecologist.
And finally, the latest science news in the world of astronomy brought to you by astronomer Dr Jeni Millard.
SUN 05:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bnfmc)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 05:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqfq3szvnm)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
SUN 05:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sybswr)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SUN 05:32 The Documentary (w3ct99zf)
[Repeat of broadcast at
00:32 today]
SUN 06:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bnkch)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 06:06 Weekend (w1730c5h4ndnxsz)
Iran says US blockade a 'breach of ceasefire conditions'
Iran's Revolutionary Guard says it is closing the Strait of Hormuz in response to America's continuing blockade.
Also on today's programme: in South Korea, there is a rise in the popularity of women authors giving feminists a new voice; and we take you back to the city of Pripyat, built for Chernobyl workers, for a love story that began on a dance floor and a wedding that went ahead just hours after the disaster.
Presenter Gary O'Donoghue is joined by Anton Spisak, a political economist and senior fellow at the Centre for European Reform, and Dalal Mawad, an award-winning Lebanese journalist and author of All She Lost.
(Photo: Ships and tankers in the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Musandam, Oman, April 18, 2026. Credit: Reuters)
SUN 07:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bnp3m)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 07:06 Weekend (w1730c5h4ndp1k3)
Israeli soldier killed in southern Lebanon
A second Israeli soldier has been killed in southern Lebanon, a day after a truce with Hezbollah took effect. It follows the death of a French UN peacekeeper in an attack Israel blames on Iran-backed Hezbollah, who denies responsibility. We are joined by a former Lebanon foreign minister.
Also in today's programme: America's top banks have posted nearly fifty billion dollars in quarterly profits as the Iran war shakes global markets; and, heritage sites in Iran, Israel and Lebanon have become the latest casualties of the war.
Presenter Gary O Donoghue is joined by Anton Spisak, a political economist and senior fellow at the Centre for European Reform and Dalal Mawad is an award-winning Lebanese journalist and author of All She Lost.
Photo: French UN peacekeepers stand near the bridge linking southern Lebanon to the rest of the country, which was hit earlier in an Israeli strike, after a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel went into effect, in Qasmiyeh, Lebanon, April 18, 2026. Reuters/Louisa Gouliamaki
SUN 08:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bnsvr)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 08:06 Weekend (w1730c5h4ndp597)
Bulgarians go to the polls for the eighth time in five years
Bulgaria which goes to the polls today for the eighth time in just five years as the country struggles to break a cycle of collapsing coalitions and political instability. Polling stations open at
7am local time (0400 GMT) and are due to close at 1700 GMT, according to AFP.
Also on today's programme: Astronaut Jeremy Hansen's daughter, Ashley Hansen describes the feeling of seeing her dad in space after his return from Artemis II mission; and more on how the catwalk fashion show evolved and changed through the ages.
Presenter Gary O'Donoghue is joined by Anton Spisak, a political economist and senior fellow at the Centre for European Reform, and Dalal Mawad, an award-winning Lebanese journalist and author of All She Lost.
Photo: Rumen Radev, former Bulgarian president and leader of Progressive Bulgaria coalition, votes during the parliamentary election, in Sofia, Bulgaria, April 19, 2026. Reuters/Stoyan Nenov
SUN 09:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bnxlw)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 09:06 From Our Own Correspondent (w3ct99bt)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:06 today]
SUN 09:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2syc8w8)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SUN 09:32 The Food Chain (w3ct8svv)
How to eat more fibre and why you should!
Food Chain presenter Ruth Alexander was confident that she was eating a healthy diet, in particular, a diet that included enough fibre. But it turns out, like many of us, her fibre intake has been falling short of the recommended amount.
In fact all over the world most of us are failing to eat enough, despite the growing trend for so called "fibremaxxing" where people try to maximise their daily intake.
So how can we boost our fibre intake? And does it really have to involve chia seeds?
Ruth picks the brains of fibre expert Professor Joanne Slavin from the University of Minnesota and Fathima Abdoola, known as The Cultural Dietitian, based in Brisbane Australia. And psychologist Phillippa Lally from the University of Surrey in the UK, explains how we can make our well intentioned new habits stick.
Producer: Lexy O’Connor
Sound engineer: Andrew Mills
(Image: A close up of a steaming bowl of Persian barley soup, in a blue bowl, with a woman’s hands holding it. Credit: Getty Images)
If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: thefoodchain@bbc.co.uk
SUN 10:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bp1c0)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 10:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct8t0l)
Back from the brink: Uganda’s gentle giants
Myra Anubi is in Uganda visiting the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. It is one of the few places that gorillas still exist in the wild, and even better, in recent years their numbers have actually been rising and they are no longer considered critically endangered.
This is partly down to the hard work of Dr Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka and the Conservation Through Public Health organisation. They engage with communities living close to the gorillas, who were often poaching them and destroying their habitat, to help them better understand the animals and tap into the potential for ecotourism. They also encourage other forms of enterprise, supporting local coffee farmers with training and investment.
Myra meets former poachers now involved in conservation and speaks with local farmers - often women - who look after the coffee plantations. She talks to the village conservation teams involved in protecting the gorillas. And of course, goes into the forest to get a glimpse of these incredible creatures herself.
People Fixing The World from the BBC is about brilliant solutions to the world's problems. We release a new edition every Tuesday. We'd love you to let us know what you think and to hear about your own solutions. You can contact us on WhatsApp by messaging +44 8000 321721 or email peoplefixingtheworld@bbc.co.uk. And please leave us a review on your chosen podcast provider.
Presenter: Myra Anubi
Producer: Richard Kenny
Editor: Jon Bithrey
Sound engineer: Andrew Mills
(Photo: A mountain gorilla in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Credit: Richard Kenny)
SUN 10:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sycdmd)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SUN 10:32 The Fifth Floor (w3ct8sqb)
Counting the soldiers dying for Russia
Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine is now in its fifth year and armies on both sides have faced massive losses. Authorities in Ukraine regularly publish the numbers of their soldiers who have been killed, but Russian authorities haven’t released official numbers for their dead since 2022. Throughout the war, Olga Ivshina of BBC Russian has been using open-source information to keep track of how many Russian soldiers have been killed and trying to find out more about their lives.
At the end of January, six people were caned in public for violating Sharia law in Aceh, Indonesia. Caning is a common punishment for breaking Islamic law in the religiously conservative state, although the practice has drawn criticism from rights groups. Aceh has a unique identity within Indonesia and is the only part of the country to practice Sharia. Astudestra Ajengrastri of BBC Indonesian explains more about Aceh's history and why it chooses to be different from the rest of the country.
The Fifth Floor is at the heart of global storytelling on the BBC World Service, bringing you the best stories from journalists in the BBC's 43 language services. We're here to help you make sense of the stories making headlines around the world; to excite your curiosity and to get to grips with the facts.
Recent episodes have investigated Russia’s youth armies and how they make soldiers of Ukrainian children; featured the BBC team who were the first journalists to the site of the Nigerian school kidnappings and reflected the effects of internet blackouts in Iran, Uganda and India.
If you want to know more about Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, and the legacy of Hugo Chavez; or how Vladimir Putin’s network of deep cover spies operates; or why Donald Trump signed an executive order granting white South Africans asylum in the US, we have all those stories and more.
Presenter: Faranak Amidi.
Producer: Laura Thomas and Caroline Ferguson
Presented by Faranak Amidi.
(Photo: Faranak Amidi. Credit: Tricia Yourkevich.)
SUN 11:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bp534)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 11:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqfq3t0l4d)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
SUN 11:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sycjcj)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SUN 11:32 Inheritance: Samsung (w3ct94gx)
[Repeat of broadcast at
05:32 on Saturday]
SUN 11:50 More or Less (w3ct998k)
[Repeat of broadcast at
05:50 on Saturday]
SUN 12:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bp8v8)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 12:06 BBC Conversations (w3ct8m3g)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:06 on Saturday]
SUN 12:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sycn3n)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SUN 12:32 Assignment (w3ct8h0z)
Pakistan: Hospitals putting children at risk of HIV
Outbreaks of HIV have become regular occurrences in Pakistan. And too frequently it is the children who suffer. In the city of Taunsa, for example, children have tested positive for HIV while their parents have not. So what has been going on?
Reporter Ghazal Abbasi investigates what and who is to blame. With the help of a staff insider and undercover recording in the city’s main hospital, the BBC finds shocking lapses in medical protocol. Medicine vials and syringes are often reused for different children. Cross-contamination seems inevitable. But the local authorities deny the hospital is at the centre of the problem.
Reporter: Ghazal Abbasi
Producer: John Murphy
Sound engineer: Neil Churchill
Editor: Penny Murphy
(Photo: Ten-year-old Asma at the grave of her younger brother)
SUN 13:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bpdld)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 13:06 Newshour (w1730bmynddq6tg)
Shipping halts in Strait of Hormuz, again
Iran says the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the US lifts its blockade on Iranian ports, which it calls a "breach of the ceasefire". We'll hear from inside Iran from Lyse Doucet.
Also on the programme, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing the biggest threat to his leadership; and, amid our modern technology, people rush to independent record stores to celebrate vinyl records.
(Photo:The Malta-flagged tanker Agios Fanourios I, an oil tanker that sailed through the Strait of Hormuz, arrives in Iraq’s territorial waters off Basra,Iraq April 17, 2026. REUTERS/Mohammed Aty)
SUN 14:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bpjbj)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 14:06 The Climate Question (w3ct99hb)
Can technology help us fight flooding in cities?
With more and more people moving to cities, informal settlements are expected to grow. When floods hit these unplanned places, it can be disastrous, as we often don’t know much about them. Crucial questions often remain difficult to answer, like how many people live there, what are the buildings made of, and could they withstand a flood?
In the township of Alexandra in Johannesburg, the BBC’s Nomsa Maseko visits a project using drones and artificial intelligence to help authorities prevent the worst impacts of flooding. And in Porto Alegre in the south of Brazil, we hear how an innovative digital map helped the emergency response – and will soon be available to all for free across the world.
This programme was first broadcast in 2024. You can email us at theclimatequestion@bbc.com
Guests:
Rodrigo Rocha, Partner at the Responsive Cities Institute, Porto Alegre
Dr Caroline Gevaert, Associate Professor at the International Institute for Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation, University of Twente
Nomsa Maseko, the BBC’s South Africa Correspondent
Presenter: Jordan Dunbar
Producer: Osman Iqbal
Researcher: Octavia Woodward
Sound mix: Tom Brignell
Editors: Sophie Eastaugh and Simon Watts
Image: Reuters
SUN 14:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sycwlx)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SUN 14:32 Happy News (w3ct8nw8)
[Repeat of broadcast at
19:32 on Saturday]
SUN 15:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bpn2n)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 15:06 Sportsworld (w1730c8rxktg779)
Live Sporting Action
Delyth Lloyd presents live Premier League commentary of Manchester City against Arsenal as the top two in the table go head-to-head in what could be a potential title decider.
After defeat to Bournemouth last week, will Mikel Arteta’s side bounce back or will Pep Guardiola’s team increase the pressure on the Gunners? Hear the view from both sides during the build-up before full match commentary at 1530 GMT.
There will also be the latest news from the world of sport, including the NBA play-offs and the Barcelona Open tennis.
On the opening weekend of the World Snooker Championship, Delyth speaks to 2010 world snooker champion and this year’s fourth seed Neil Robertson ahead of his first round match at The Crucible.
Photo: Manchester City's Rodri and Arsenal's Bukayo Saka during the Carabao Cup Final match Arsenal and between Manchester City at Wembley Stadium on March 22, 2026 in London, England. (Credit: CameraSport via Getty Images)
SUN 19:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bq425)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 19:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqfq3t1k3f)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
SUN 19:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sydhbk)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SUN 19:32 Over to You (w3ct99kk)
How to report on war
In this episode of Over To You, we hear listener feedback about how they think the BBC World Service is reporting on the recent war in Iran. Plus, we find out how the World Service approaches reporting on global conflict in general, from protecting programme-makers and contributors in dangerous locations, to sharing sensitive content about war online.
SUN 20:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bq7t9)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 20:06 Unexpected Elements (w3ct8kc8)
[Repeat of broadcast at
00:06 on Saturday]
SUN 21:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bqckf)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 21:06 Newshour (w1730bmynddr5sh)
Iran casts doubt over Islamabad talks
President Trump says a US delegation will arrive in Pakistan on Monday for negotiations with Iran. The White House says it will again be led by Vice-President JD Vance. But reports from Iran say hardliners in the leadership are against attending as long as America's blockade of Iranian ports continues.
Also in the programme: The party of the pro-Russian former president, Rumen Radev, is on course to win Bulgaria's general election and more than 150 authors leave a prominent French publisher, but why?
(Photo: A police officer gestures to a vehicle at a check post along a road near Faisal Masjid, as Pakistan prepares to host the U.S. and Iran for the second phase of peace talks in Islamabad, Pakistan April 19, 2026. CREDIT: REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro)
SUN 22:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bqh9k)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 22:06 The Climate Question (w3ct99hb)
[Repeat of broadcast at
14:06 today]
SUN 22:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sydvky)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SUN 22:32 Assignment (w3ct8h0z)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:32 today]
SUN 23:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bqm1p)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
SUN 23:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqfq3t212y)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
SUN 23:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2sydzb2)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
SUN 23:32 The Fifth Floor (w3ct8sqb)
[Repeat of broadcast at
10:32 today]
MONDAY 20 APRIL 2026
MON 00:00 BBC News (w1730nkkn2bqqst)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 00:06 From Our Own Correspondent (w3ct99bt)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:06 on Sunday]
MON 00:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nld2syf326)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 00:32 BBC Inside Science (w3ct977g)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:32 on Sunday]
MON 01:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bmvpt3)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 01:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqg2d363vc)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
MON 01:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nldg27k22h)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 01:32 Discovery (w3ct8js6)
Dark Breath
In July 2024 a startling scientific paper was published.
Headlined ‘Evidence of dark oxygen production at the abyssal seafloor’, scientists told how they had discovered oxygen being made two and a half miles down, at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean.
Their claim centred on small polymetallic nodules on the seafloor, and the key question - could these lumps of metal somehow be making oxygen in complete darkness?
It was an extraordinary finding that, if proven, could overturn hundreds of years of scientific knowledge about how this crucial ingredient for life is made. It prompted global headlines and split scientists.
But a year and a half on, are we any closer to knowing the answer... Is dark oxygen really possible?
BBC News science correspondent Victoria Gill investigates for BBC Radio 4, and finds so much more than a scientific anomaly.
Dark Breath is the story of a scientific controversy played out in real time. A row about science that became personal. And a discovery that crashed headlong into the debate about whether we should mine metals from the deep sea.
What does the story tell us about the messy and human scientific process? And what bearing does it have on the decision to exploit some of the last untouched parts of our planet?
Presenter: Victoria Gill
Producer: Gerry Holt
Editor: Ilan Goodman
MON 02:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bmvtk7)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 02:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqg2d367lh)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
MON 02:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nldg27k5tm)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 02:32 CrowdScience (w3ct8k6r)
Why does salt taste so good?
Salt can be found in almost every kitchen in the world. But how did this seemingly simple ingredient become the world's favourite flavour enhancer?
This week, Crowdscience sets out to uncover why these tiny crystals have such a powerful effect on us. We explore the magic behind this tiny mineral that has shaped our tongues, our culture, and our cravings.
Our investigation begins with CrowdScience listener George, who heard from a friend that if he added a few grains of salt to his morning coffee, he could make it taste less bitter. Following some light investigation at his local coffee chain, he began wondering why salt make things taste more delicious.
To try and find an answer, presenter Anand Jagatia heads to a salt mine in Austria with Daniel Bradner, an archaeologist from the Natural History Museum of Vienna. The mine is 200 kilometres from the sea, so where does all the salt come from?
In London, UK, we meet Adriana Cavita, a chef who helps us explore how salt transforms what we eat: sharpening aromas, softening harsh flavours, and boosting sweetness.
We explore the receptors inside our mouth with taste expert Courtney Wilson from the University of Colorado School of Medicine in the US, to find out how we detect whether there’s too much or too little salt in our food.
And we meet Joel Geerling, Associate Professor of Neurology at the University of Iowa, US, who’s been looking inside the brain to try and work out why we crave salt. He’s discovered an incredible system that’s highly engineered to give us an appetite for salt. Could it be the answer to George’s question?
Presenter: Anand Jagatia
Producer: Robbie Wojciechowski
Editor: Ben Motley
(Photo: Measuring Teaspoon of Sea Salt with Vibrant Colors - stock photo JannHuizenga via Getty Images)
MON 03:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bmvy9c)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 03:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct8t0l)
[Repeat of broadcast at
10:06 on Sunday]
MON 03:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nldg27k9kr)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 03:32 The Fifth Floor (w3ct8sqb)
[Repeat of broadcast at
10:32 on Sunday]
MON 04:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bmw21h)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 04:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqg2d36h2r)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
MON 04:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nldg27kf9w)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 04:32 The Conversation (w3ct99n9)
The women rethinking rice farming
Rice nourishes 3.5 billion people worldwide with women providing the majority of agricultural labour – especially in poorer countries. Datshiane Navanayagam talks to women from India and Tanzania about their work improving the resilience of rice to climate change, and about the lives of female rice farmers.
Ranjitha Puskur is a socio-economist in India leading gender and youth research at the International Rice Research Institute. She's working on innovations that would lead to more equitable outcomes for women in agriculture. She says there would be no food without women. And yet women farmers across the world still face disproportionate barriers in their work.
Dr Pauline Chivenge is a Zimbabwean agronomist working in Tanzania. Her research is focused on management of natural resources for improved crop productivity in Africa and South-East Asia: issues such as soil and water management, and how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Produced by Jane Thurlow
(Image: (L) Ranjitha Puskur. Credit CGIAR. (R) Pauline Chivenge. Credit IRRI)
MON 05:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bmw5sm)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 05:06 Newsday (w1730c19d4bg7zc)
Iran accuses the United States of piracy
The US military said it fired several rounds at the vessel, disabling its engine, after it tried to get past an American blockade. It said the ship ignored repeated warnings over a six hour period. An Iranian military spokesman described the seizure as an act of armed piracy and a violation of the ceasefire.
From our business desk this morning, a special investigation into the insider trading suspicions looming over President Donald Trump's administration.
And a BBC World Service investigation follows a ground-breaking project which uses commercial DNA databases to track down British soldiers who have fathered children and abandoned them in Kenya.
(Photo: Iranian women ride a military vehicle during an anti-US and Israeli rally called 'sacrificed girls' in Tehran; Credit: Abedin Taherkenareh/ Tehran, Iran)
MON 06:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bmw9jr)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 06:06 Newsday (w1730c19d4bgcqh)
Trump says US has seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship
Iran said it was a violation of the ceasefire and it would retaliate soon for the "act of armed piracy. US Central Command later released footage it said showed a naval vessel intercepting a cargo ship. In the footage, a gun can be seen firing in the direction of the cargo ship.
In business, we have a special investigation into insider trading suspicions which have arisen in relation to President Donald Trump's administration.
(Photo: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks about research into mental health treatments in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington; Credit:
Nathan Howard/Reuters)
MON 07:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bmwf8w)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 07:06 Newsday (w1730c19d4bghgm)
Iran says it will retaliate for US seizure of cargo ship
The ship was given "fair warning to stop" in the Gulf of Oman but refused, so the navy "stopped them right in their tracks by blowing a hole in the engine room", Trump says.
Earlier, President Trump said his representatives would be in Pakistan on Monday for negotiations - a White House official says Vice-President JD Vance will lead the US delegation. However, Iran's state media says Tehran has "no plans for now to participate" in the talks.
Early results from parliamentary elections in Bulgaria suggest former president Rumen Radev is poised to win.
(Photo: An Iranian woman holds a gun next to a poster of late Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei; Credit: Abedin Taherkenareh/PA/Shutterstock)
MON 08:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bmwk10)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 08:06 The Interview (w3ct8kl2)
Arlo Parks, singer-songwriter: I want to make music that lasts
“I don't necessarily want it to be the most giant album of all time and be selling out stadiums. I want something that lasts and that feels timeless and thoughtful.”
Mark Savage speaks to Mercury Prize-winning singer-songwriter Arlo Parks about her life and music career.
Born in London, the half Nigerian, quarter Chadian and quarter French artist, real name Anaïs Marinho, has enjoyed great success in her music career since her debut album was released in 2021.
Having broken onto the music scene two years prior, Parks has performed twice at the Glastonbury music festival in England, supported the likes of Harry Styles and Billie Eilish on tour, and even written for Beyoncé.
It’s been something of a whirlwind journey for the 25-year-old, who has returned with a new album after taking some time out of the spotlight in order to reclaim some normality in her life.
The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC, including episodes with director Guillermo del Toro, author Azar Nafisi and actor Arden Cho. 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: Mark Savage
Producer: Ben Cooper
Editor: Damon Rose
Get in touch with us on email TheInterview@bbc.co.uk and use the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.
(Image: Arlo Parks Credit: Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty Images)
MON 08:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nldg27kx9d)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct8gfn)
Getting goods to the ends of the Earth
In one of the most remote and unforgiving regions on the planet, the final stretch of any delivery becomes a test of endurance, ingenuity, and sheer determination.
In this episode, Jane Chambers travels deep into Chilean Patagonia, where last mile delivery, or last-mile logistics, collides with hundreds of kilometres of rugged terrain, unpredictable weather, unpaved roads, and ferry routes that can shut down without warning. It means the price of goods is often very expensive. We hear from the people and companies trying to find solutions.
If you’d like to get in touch with the programme, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk
Presented and produced by Jane Chambers
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: Van driving on Carretera Austral, on the way to Villa O'Higgins, Patagonia, Chile. Credit: Getty Images)
MON 08:50 Witness History (w3ct8r35)
Mymba Kuera: The race to save wildlife at the Itaipu dam
In October 1982, Paraguay and Brazil closed the gates of the Itaipu River, beginning to fill the reservoir of what would soon be the world's largest dam.
Located in a rainforest on the border between the two countries, the Itaipu dam would go on to supply vast amounts of energy for decades. But the rising waters also put thousands of animals at risk, as their habitat was flooded.
To mitigate this, the company launched one of the largest wildlife rescue operations in South America. It was called Mymba Kuera - 'the animals' in Guarani, the local language.
Dario Perez Chena led the operation on the Paraguayan side. He speaks to Stefania Gozzer about the challenges his team faced in saving nearly 30,000 animals.
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: A rescue team trying to grab a monkey. Credit: Itaipu Binacional)
MON 09:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bmwns4)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 09:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqg2d372td)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
MON 09:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nldg27l11j)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 09:32 CrowdScience (w3ct8k6r)
[Repeat of broadcast at
02:32 today]
MON 10:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bmwsj8)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 10:06 The History Hour (w3ct99l0)
Winning the Booker Prize and discovering a lost fairytale
Max Pearson presents a collection of the week's Witness History interviews from the BBC World Service.
This week, the moment when Irish writer Roddy Doyle discovered he'd won one of the most prestigious honours in fiction: The Booker Prize.
And our guest, Merritt Moseley, emeritus professor of English at the University of North Carolina in Asheville, discusses the history of the award.
Plus, we look back at the assassination of radical African leader Thomas Sankara in 1987, and find out more about the Indonesian province that introduced Sharia law.
Also, how Hans Christian Andersen's 'lost fairytale' was discovered in Danish archives, and the female rollerblader who beat the men to grab X Games glory.
Finally, the story behind the creation of the children's playtime favourite, My Little Pony, in 1983.
Contributors:
Roddy Doyle – author of Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha.
Merritt Moseley - emeritus professor of English at the University of North Carolina in Asheville.
Paul Sankara – brother of Captain Thomas Sankara.
Bonnie Zacharle – toymaker.
Azwar Abubakar - acting governor of Aceh.
Ejnar Askgaard - curator and senior researcher, Museum Odense.
(Photo: Roddy Doyle with his prize winning book, 1993. Credit: PA Images)
MON 11:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bmwx8d)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 11:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqg2d37b9n)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
MON 11:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nldg27l8js)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct8mbw)
While the world’s eyes were on Iran, what happened in Gaza?
When the ceasefire deal was announced more than six months ago, there was celebration and relief in Gaza and Israel. But since the US-led Board of Peace announced plans to rebuild Gaza, the Trump administration’s attention has been occupied by other matters.
The success of the ceasefire deal hinges on Hamas disarmament and the full withdrawal of Israeli troops. So what progress has been made?
We speak to Yolande Knell, the BBC's Middle East correspondent, about life inside Gaza since the Iran War began.
Producers: Sam Chantarasak, Lucy Pawle and Xandra Ellin
Studio managers: Dafydd Evans and Mike Regaard
Executive producer: James Shield
Mix: Travis Evans
Senior news editor: China Collins
Photo credits: A displaced Palestinian woman stands on a balcony inside a building damaged during the war at Al-Aqsa University, now used as a shelter, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, April 5, 2026. Photo: Reuters/Haseeb Alwazeer.
MON 12:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bmx10j)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 12:06 Outlook (w3ct8hx4)
Could a sitcom save a man from death row?
On 12 May 2003, Juan Catalan attended a baseball game that he would later say saved his life. It was his local team, the LA Dodgers, versus the Atlanta Braves. The game was exciting, but unremarkable for Juan – apart from a television crew that was filming in his section.
Three months later, Juan arrived at work only to be surrounded by undercover police and arrested in front of his girlfriend and daughter. It was several hours before Juan found out he had been charged with the murder of a 16-year-old girl called Martha Puebla. It was a crime that carried the death penalty. Juan protested his innocence, and later realised he had been at the baseball game the night of her murder. Perhaps, he thought, he could prove his alibi if he had been caught on camera by that TV production.
Eventually, Juan's lawyer Todd Melnik figured out that the show in question was Curb Your Enthusiasm, created by comedian Larry David. The network HBO finally let Todd view the tapes, which contained a direct shot of Juan. But the footage was filmed well before the murder was committed, so Todd had to keep searching for evidence to exonerate Juan. In the end, it was cell tower records that proved Juan could not have killed Martha Puebla.
Since his case was dismissed, Juan has gone on to write a memoir called Played and Todd and Juan's relationship has also blossomed into a friendship. They have even attended Dodgers games together.
Credits: Curb Your Enthusiasm/Whyaduck Productions in association with HBO Entertainment/Jeff Schaffer and Robert B. Weide
Presenter: Jo Fidgen
Producer: Saskia Collette
Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com or WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707
(Photo: Juan Catalan and Todd Melnik smiling and standing side-by-side. Credit: Supplied by Todd Melnik)
MON 12:50 Witness History (w3ct8r35)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 today]
MON 13:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bmx4rn)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 13:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqg2d37ksx)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
MON 13:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nldg27lj11)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 13:32 The Conversation (w3ct99n9)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:32 today]
MON 14:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bmx8hs)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 14:06 Newshour (w1730bmz0npy2qv)
Senior official: Iran will never give up Hormuz
The BBC's Lyse Doucet has been speaking to the senior Iranian lawmaker Ebrahim Azizi, the Chairman of Iran's Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee. He calls America "the world's biggest pirate".
Also in the programme: A BBC investigation finds that British soldiers stationed in Kenya fathered children with local women and in some cases, abandoned them. And a robot wins the Beijing half marathon - is this technological progress or a dystopian nightmare?
(Photo: Iranians walk past an anti-USA and anti-Israel mural on a street in Tehran, Iran, 20 April 2026. Conflict between Iran and the US over the Strait of Hormuz continues as Iran again closed the Strait. Credit: Photo by Abedin Taherkenareh/EPA/Shutterstock)
MON 15:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bmxd7x)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 15:06 The Interview (w3ct8kl2)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:06 today]
MON 15:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nldg27lrj9)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 15:32 Business Daily (w3ct8gfn)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:32 today]
MON 15:50 World Business Express (w3ct8d34)
Tensions in the Gulf as US seizes Iranian ship
Global financial markets have headed south again after tensions between the US and Iran took a turn for the worse over the weekend. American forces attacked and then seized an Iranian cargo ship just east of the Strait of Hormuz, and Iran has responded by saying it will retaliate.
Plus, the BBC’s Nick Marsh has been looking at a story that’s been quietly building in financial markets. Traders placing big bets just before major announcements by US president Donald Trump, including during the Iran war. BBC analysis suggests it may be happening more often than we thought.
MON 16:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bmxj01)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 16:06 Outside Source (w1730c69yn9m5vt)
Kenyans uncover truth about British soldier fathers
A BBC World Service investigation has found that British soldiers who were stationed in Kenya fathered children with local women and, in some cases, abandoned them, in a pattern of behaviour impacting multiple generations. We speak to our reporter who has been investigating.
Iran's president says every rational and diplomatic path should be used to ease tensions with America, but it's still unclear if Iranian officials will attend talks with the US in Pakistan. We speak to our chief international correspondent in Tehran.
Officials in Japan have warned of an increased risk of a "huge" earthquake in the next week after a 7.7 magnitude quake struck off the north-east coast, triggering an evacuation order and warnings of 3m tsunami waves. We have the latest.
And we speak to football fans about the heated title race in the English Premier League, after leaders Arsenal were beaten by Manchester City on Sunday.
Presenter: Rahul Tandon.
(Photo: Nasibo faced financial difficulties after many of her relatives ostracised her for being a single mother)
MON 17:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bmxmr5)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 17:06 Outside Source (w1730c69yn9m9ly)
Conflicting reports over US-Iranian peace talks
President Trump says a US delegation is on its way to Pakistan for the next round of talks with Iran, though it remains unclear whether Iranian officials will attend. We bring analysis from our correspondent in Washington, along with reporters from BBC Persian and BBC Urdu.
After the US seized an Iranian cargo ship attempting to breach its blockade at the Strait of Hormuz, we speak to two maritime analysts about how international maritime law governs actions on the high seas.
The British prime minister, Keir Starmer, says he would not have appointed Peter Mandelson as the UK’s ambassador to the US had he known Lord Mandelson failed the security‑vetting process. Mandelson was later sacked after details emerged of his relationship with the convicted US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Our political correspondent has the latest.
And we hear from our reporter who has been analysing market data amid allegations of insider trading linked to President Trump’s actions during the Iran crisis.
Presenter: Rahul Tandon.
(Photo: Ships and boats in the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Musandam, Oman, April 20, 2026. Credit: Reuters)
MON 18:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bmxrh9)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 18:06 Outlook (w3ct8hx4)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:06 today]
MON 18:50 Witness History (w3ct8r35)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 today]
MON 19:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bmxw7f)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 19:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqg2d3898p)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
MON 19:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nldg27m7ht)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct8rjq)
2026/04/20 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 (w1730nkl0bmxzzk)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 20:06 From Our Own Correspondent (w3ct99bt)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:06 on Sunday]
MON 20:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nldg27mc7y)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 20:32 Discovery (w3ct8js7)
Inside Universe 25
“I shall largely speak of mice,” the paper begins “but my thoughts are on man.”
So begins a truly extraordinary scientific paper, and an equally extraordinary story.
“Death Squared: The Explosive Growth and Demise of a Mouse Population.” was published in 1973 by John Calhoun, and it detailed his increasingly bizarre research into the psychological effects of overcrowding. Over two decades he built a series of ‘rodent utopias’, where he could keep a population of rats or mice, meet all their basic food and shelter needs, but mess around with population levels. He wanted to see how they responded to having to live, cheek-by-tiny-jowl, with far more other rats than they were used to. And it wasn’t pretty. Social orders melted into chaos, rodents fought indiscriminately, or shut themselves away at the top of the enclosure. Mating orders collapsed, population numbers tanked, and eventually, every single rat was dead.
His work came at a prescient time. In the 60s and 70s, the exponentially expanding human population was a hot-button topic, and ‘population panic’ was in full swing. Alongside the expansion of cities, creeping urban sprawl, rising city-centre crime rates and 'urban sinks', there grew a concern that human living conditions were about to take an interminable dive. How would we live, with so many of us on earth? Calhoun’s work was leapt on by the press and public as a dire prediction of our own coming collapse. His rodent utopias became a subject of great interest among architects and city planners, psychologists and sociologists, and anyone fascinated by the human condition. But has his work been misunderstood?
50 years on, what lessons can we take from the work of a ground-breaking but often misunderstood scientist, in the face of a human population now exceeding 8 billion. Emily Knight explores his extraordinary work, its implications for humanity, and the possibility of a human utopia, that might not look anything like you expect.
Presented and Produced by Emily Knight in Cardiff
MON 21:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bmy3qp)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 21:06 Newshour (w1730bmz0npyxyr)
Confusion over second round of Iran-US talks
Confusion surrounds the second round of talks scheduled in Pakistan between US and Iranian officials. Also in the programme: the immunotherapy that could save cancer patients; and comparisons between the King of Horror, Stephen King and Shakespeare.
Photograph: Pakistani security officers outside Islamabad's Red Zone, where most diplomatic missions are based. Credit: Shutterstock
MON 22:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bmy7gt)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 22:06 The Interview (w3ct8kl2)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:06 today]
MON 22:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nldg27mlr6)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 22:32 The Conversation (w3ct99n9)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:32 today]
MON 23:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bmyc6y)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
MON 23:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqg2d38s86)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
MON 23:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nldg27mqhb)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
MON 23:32 World Business Report (w3ct8fmt)
US businesses begin claiming tariff refunds
Andrew Peach hears from businesses reclaiming 'Liberation Day' tariffs in what promises to be the biggest repayment programme in history. Elsewhere, Apple confirms its new CEO as Tim Cook steps down after 15 years at the helm. Electric car sales increase by 50% in Europe - in part due to the rise in fuel prices. And, we find out why nostalgia is still what it used to be in the world of advertising.
(Photo by FILIP SINGER/EPA/Shutterstock)
TUESDAY 21 APRIL 2026
TUE 00:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bmygz2)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 00:06 The History Hour (w3ct99l0)
[Repeat of broadcast at
10:06 on Monday]
TUE 01:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bmylq6)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 01:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqg2d390rg)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
TUE 01:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nldg27myzl)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
TUE 01:32 The Global Story (w3ct8mbw)
[Repeat of broadcast at
11:32 on Monday]
TUE 02:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bmyqgb)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 02:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqg2d394hl)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
TUE 02:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nldg27n2qq)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
TUE 02:32 Assignment (w3ct8h10)
In Iceland's defence
Iceland is an island of great beauty and even greater strategic importance. Its position in the Greenland Iceland UK Gap, the gateway between the Arctic and Atlantic oceans, makes it crucial to Nato operations in the High North.
But Iceland is one of the few nations in the world with no military of its own. A country of approximately 400,000 people, its security relies on the umbrella of protection it derives from being a founding member of Nato, a bilateral agreement with the United States signed in 1951 and a highly skilled coast guard and police force. In a climate of fracturing political alliances, is entrusting national defence so heavily on the guarantees of allies a sustainable strategy? Sandra Kanthal travelled to Reykjavik to find out.
Producer/presenter: Sandra Kanthal
Sound engineer: Neil Churchill
Production co-ordinator: Katie Morrison
Series editor: Penny Murphy
(Photo: Icelandic Coast Guard search and rescue training flight. Credit: BBC)
TUE 03:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bmyv6g)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 03:06 Outlook (w3ct8hx4)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:06 on Monday]
TUE 03:50 Witness History (w3ct8r35)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 on Monday]
TUE 04:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bmyyyl)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 04:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqg2d39czv)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
TUE 04:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nldg27nb6z)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
TUE 04:32 In the Studio (w3ct8l54)
Patti LuPone: Taking the stage at Carnegie Hall
Patti LuPone – three-time Tony and two-time Grammy Award winner – has long reigned as one of Broadway’s most formidable leading ladies. In this edition of In The Studio, we join her in New York for a highly anticipated solo concert at Carnegie Hall.
Best known for defining roles in Evita, Les Miserables, Gypsy, and Sunset Boulevard, LuPone has also sustained a decades-long parallel life on the concert stage – a career she says began simply to “offset unemployment” between Broadway runs. What started as late-night cabaret after Evita evolved into meticulously structured touring shows, each built around narrative, character and the power of lyrics. Her current programme, Matters of the Heart, weaves a tapestry of love stories – from romance and heartbreak to family and devotion – revealing her instinct to treat every song as theatre.
Patti describes her routine on the day of the concert: the soundcheck, the balancing of quartet and voice in a hall famed for its natural acoustics, and the quiet rituals that precede performance. LuPone reflects on nerves, storytelling and the audacity of standing alone before 2,800 expectant faces.
Alongside her collaborators, including musical director Joseph Thalken, she reveals the discipline and trust behind the scenes. This is a portrait of craft at the highest level – the artist, the venue and the alchemy of live performance.
Presenter and producer: Victoria Ferran
Executive producer: Susan Marling
A Just Radio production for BBC World Service
Image: Patti LuPone (Credit: Emilio Madrid)
TUE 05:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bmz2pq)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 05:06 Newsday (w1730c19d4bk4wg)
Iran's chief negotiator casts doubt on peace talks with US
The potential second round comes at a crucial moment. Sources told the BBC on Monday afternoon that the US delegation would be leaving "soon" but did not specify a time, while officials told the New York Times that they would depart on Tuesday. Later on Monday, an Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson said that, "so far", Tehran had "no plans" to attend.
We hear from Lebanon where more than a million people have been displaced.
After 15 years in charge, Tim Cook is stepping down as chief executive of Apple.
(Photo: Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf meets Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati in Beirut; Credit: Amr Abdallah Dalsh/Reuters)
TUE 06:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bmz6fv)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 06:06 Newsday (w1730c19d4bk8ml)
Trump says US will keep Hormuz blockade until Iran deal
President Trump says he is winning a war by 'a lot' and says he is NOT under pressure to make a deal with Iran. It is still unclear whether negotiations there will take place. Iran's chief negotiator has said Tehran will not accept negotiations under the shadow of threats.
We also look at suggestions there are divisions among Iran's leadership on what kind of agreement they should strike with the US.
The fragile ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon continues to hold - we'll hear how one businesswoman is managing to keep her restaurant open and her staff paid.
(Photo: US President Donald Trump speaks about research into mental health treatments in the Oval Office. Credit: Nathan Howard/Reuters)
TUE 07:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bmzb5z)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 07:06 Newsday (w1730c19d4bkdcq)
Live news, business and sport from around the world.
TUE 08:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bmzfy3)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 08:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct8t0m)
Arrows of hope
How archery can help breast cancer recovery.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women globally. The earlier it is diagnosed the higher the chance of survival. Treatment, even when successful, can lead to arm swelling, muscle weakness and low mood. But archery is helping women in Spain overcome both the physical and mental challenges of breast cancer treatment. We visit one group and find out how the sport has increased their strength and confidence and even drained painful swellings.
We also visit a breast cancer survivor in Uganda, who has set up a business making local and affordable prostheses for women who face stigma after losing breasts to the disease.
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/reporter: Claire Bates
Uganda reporter: Halima Athumani
Programme editor: Richard Kenny
Editor: Jon Bithrey
(Image: The Flechas Rosas or Pink Arrows, Claire Bates/BBC)
TUE 08:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nldg27nt6h)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
TUE 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct8gqp)
The new fitness tourism
Have you ever travelled to another city to run a marathon? Or gone away to train with your amateur tennis or hockey club?
Millions of holidaymakers are opting for sport-focused breaks over sun loungers, and the trend is contributing to a sector that's experiencing rapid growth.
If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk
Presented and produced by Daniel Rosney
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: People taking part in an outdoor fitness workout with barbells and step platforms on the French Riviera. Credit: Getty Images)
TUE 08:50 Witness History (w3ct985q)
Europe’s long drought of 2011
In 2011, after months of little or no rain in central and eastern Europe, water levels on some parts of the Danube River fell to their lowest level in 70 years.
It’s one of Europe’s busiest shipping routes, but in November of that year, traffic ground to a halt on major sections of the Danube, and, on the Serbia-Hungary border, dozen of cargo ships were stranded.
In Romania, one of the country’s nuclear power stations was at risk of shutdown because of insufficient water for cooling, and, in Serbia, the drought revealed sunken World War Two ships and unexploded bombs.
In the lower Danube, low water levels also caused a decrease in bird and fish populations.
Kristian Yakimov, an ecologist and tourist guide in Bulgaria, 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: Cracked, muddy ground at the river bank of the Danube river. Credit: Alexanda Rilich/Getty Images)
TUE 09:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bmzkp7)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 09:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqg2d39zqh)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
TUE 09:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nldg27nxym)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
TUE 09:32 Assignment (w3ct8h10)
[Repeat of broadcast at
02:32 today]
TUE 10:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bmzpfc)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 10:06 The Arts Hour (w3ct8h7s)
[Repeat of broadcast at
20:06 on Saturday]
TUE 11:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bmzt5h)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 11:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqg2d3b76r)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
TUE 11:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nldg27p5fw)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
TUE 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct8mhd)
How Pakistan became the peacemaker
For decades, Pakistan sat on the margins of global diplomacy. But now it’s due to be the unlikely venue for another round of peace talks between the US and Iran.
We speak to the BBC’s Pakistan correspondent, Carrie Davies, to ask how the country became a trusted intermediary between the parties in this conflict, and whether it can use this moment to increase its influence on the world stage.
Producers: Cat Farnsworth, Viv Jones, Aron Keller and Xandra Ellin
Studio managers: Mike Regaard and Ricardo McCarthy
Executive producer: James Shield
Mix: Travis Evans
Senior news editor: China Collins
Photo: U.S. Vice President JD Vance with Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir after arriving for first round of talks with Iranian officials in Pakistan, April 11, 2026. Credit: Jacquelyn Martin / Reuters
TUE 12:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bmzxxm)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 12:06 Outlook (w3ct8jbp)
'I can't stop the war but music gives us hope'
For the last four years, British-Ukrainian composer Iryna Gould has been delivering musical instruments - violins, guitars, keyboards, ukuleles - to Ukraine. The instruments had been donated by people in the UK and beyond, and the aim was to get them to children in small towns and villages. These were places that didn't get a lot of media attention but where children were nevertheless keen to continue their musical education despite the devastation wrought by Russian soldiers. The children all craved having a few hours when they could focus on something other than the war. But even though Iryna’s journeys have always been carefully planned, she has repeatedly run into unexpected obstacles.
The recordings of Ukrainian children performing are from the Voice for Ukraine UK documentary Unbreakable Spirit. Iryna Gould’s work Tears is played by Dariia Chepizhna, Marta Stopina, Mariia Vakhnenko, Yevheniia Diachuk and Tetiana Zhuk-Siedova.
Ganesh Eshwar Bhatt is an Indian keyboard player who wouldn’t let his humble origins and his disability stand in the way of his desire to become a professional musician. Ganesh told writer Kavya Murthy why he patiently waited for four decades until the right moment came to devote himself fully to music. In the meantime, Ganesh learnt to play table tennis and became a competitive swimmer even though he has just two fingers.
Presenter: Shahidha Bari
Producer: Radek Boschetty
Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com or WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707
(Photo: Iryna Gould, in a black coat and with her back to the camera, looks at the ruins of a church in Bohorodychne in eastern Ukraine, with the remnants of two large church spires directly in front of her. Credit: Valeria Kostiiushko)
TUE 12:50 Witness History (w3ct985q)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 today]
TUE 13:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn01nr)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 13:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqg2d3bgq0)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
TUE 13:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nldg27pdy4)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
TUE 13:32 In the Studio (w3ct8l54)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:32 today]
TUE 14:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn05dw)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 14:06 Newshour (w1730bmz0nq0zmy)
Iran warns of 'new cards' if fighting resumes
A senior Iranian military officer says the country's armed forces are ready to deliver an immediate response to any renewed hostilities by the US and Israel. The commander, Ali Abdollahi, was speaking with a two-week ceasefire between Washington and Tehran due to expire on Wednesday. It is still unclear whether peace talks in Pakistan will go ahead. We hear from Nate Swanson who served on the Trump Administration’s Iran negotiating team.
Also in the programme: We look at Apple's new boss; and how archery can help women having breast cancer treatment.
(Photo: A banner with a picture of Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is displayed during a ceasefire between the US and Iran. Tehran, April 20, 2026. Credit: Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters)
TUE 15:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn0950)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 15:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct8t0m)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:06 today]
TUE 15:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nldg27pnfd)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
TUE 15:32 Business Daily (w3ct8gqp)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:32 today]
TUE 15:50 World Business Express (w3ct8d7n)
The new head of the Fed?
Kevin Warsh - Donald Trump’s nominee for the post as chairman of the Federal Reserve, the US central bank - appears before senators in a bid to convince them he is the right man for the job. Some senators have threatened to block him unless a criminal probe into the current Fed chair Jay Powell is dropped.
Plus, the end of an era at Apple as Tim Cook steps down as CEO. We look at his replacement.
And the conflict in the Middle East puts a dampener on the German economy.
TUE 16:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn0dx4)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 16:06 Outside Source (w1730c69yn9q2rx)
Will there be more US-Iran peace talks?
Donald Trump says Iran has "no choice but to send" delegates to Pakistan for talks with the US. In an interview with CNBC, the president says he is confident the US will "end up with a great deal". We take a walk to our colleagues at BBC Persian for the latest on the talks.
Children aged 17 or younger will face a lifelong ban on buying cigarettes in the UK. Our health editor explains.
Apple has named John Ternus as its new chief executive to replace Tim Cook, who is stepping down after 15 years of leading the technology giant. Our tech editor joins us.
And we take a walk around the BBC's newsroom in London to speak to our reporters to find out what they are working on today. One of the stories is a ruling from the European Union's top court, which says an anti-LGBTQ+ law in Hungary breaches EU rules.
Outside Source presenter: James Reynolds.
(Photo: US President Donald Trump reacts during the signing of an executive order aimed at expanding federal research into psychedelic drugs to treat veterans suffering from PTSD and traumatic brain injuries, in the Oval Office, White House, Washington, DC, 18 April 2026. Credit: Allison Robbert/Pool/EPA/Shutterstock)
TUE 17:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn0jn8)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 17:06 Outside Source (w1730c69yn9q6j1)
Trump says he's confident of "a great deal" with Iran
US President Donald Trump says Iran has "no choice but to send" delegates to Pakistan for talks with the US. In an interview with CNBC, the president says he is confident the US will "end up with a great deal". Asked if he would extend the ceasefire if negotiations seemingly progress, the US president says: "I don't want to do that". Trump later says: "I expect to be bombing 'cause that would be a better attitude." Our Middle East analyst and US correspondent discuss the latest.
It is a busy day of news in the UK, so we speak to our UK political correspondent about a few stories including a new law that means children aged 17 or younger will face a lifelong ban on buying cigarettes.
And we speak to tech journalists about the future of Apple, after it named John Ternus as its new chief executive to replace Tim Cook, who is stepping down after 15 years of leading the technology giant.
(Photo: US President Donald Trump talks to members of the media aboard Air Force One en route to Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, US, 17 April, 2026. Credit:Evan Vucci/ Reuters)
TUE 18:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn0ndd)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 18:06 Outlook (w3ct8jbp)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:06 today]
TUE 18:50 Witness History (w3ct985q)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 today]
TUE 19:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn0s4j)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 19:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqg2d3c65s)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
TUE 19:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nldg27q4dx)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
TUE 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct8rp7)
2026/04/21 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 (w1730nkl0bn0wwn)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 20:06 Assignment (w3ct8h10)
[Repeat of broadcast at
02:32 today]
TUE 20:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nldg27q851)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
TUE 20:32 Tech Life (w3ct8jxr)
A hologram to remember: Pam and Bill’s love story
Pam Cronrath tells her deeply personal story of creating a lifelike speaking hologram of her husband, Bill, after he passed away. Pam wanted to honour a promise she'd made to Bill, for a "super wake". And so Bill's hologram appeared in front of two hundred guests at the event, and surprised them with a verbal greeting.
Also this week: if you've had a knee operation and have a smart device monitoring your health, the doctor might want to see you now. And virtual glucose monitoring tech for diabetics - with the help of AI.
Presenter: Shiona McCallum
Producer: Tom Quinn
(Image: Pam Cronrath is standing beside the hologram of her husband, Bill. Credit: George Johnsen)
TUE 21:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn10ms)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 21:06 Newshour (w1730bmz0nq1tvv)
Trump says he will extend Iran ceasefire until negotiations conclude
There's still no sign that either the US or Iran are sending negotiating teams to Pakistan for a new round of negotiations. President Trump has announced an extension to the ceasefire with Iran until talks come to a conclusion. In a social media post, he said the US blockade of Iranian ports would continue until Tehran presented what he called a "unified proposal".
Also in the programme: Hungary's LGBTQ community welcomes a likely end to years of repression. And why has the boss of a big US tech company been branded a global supervillain by his critics?
(Photo: Pakistani security officials stand guard on a road leading to the Red Zone, where most diplomatic missions and government offices are located, including the venue for the expected second round of US-Iran peace talks, in Islamabad, Pakistan, 21 April 2026.Credit: SOHAIL SHAHZAD/EPA/Shutterstock)
TUE 22:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn14cx)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 22:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct8t0m)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:06 today]
TUE 22:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nldg27qhn9)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
TUE 22:32 In the Studio (w3ct8l54)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:32 today]
TUE 23:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn1841)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
TUE 23:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqg2d3cp59)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
TUE 23:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nldg27qmdf)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
TUE 23:32 World Business Report (w3ct8fsb)
US senators grill new Fed chair
Andrew Peach is joined by George Conboy as we look at Kevin Warsh’s grilling before the US Senate's banking committee and examine the prospects for the world’s largest economy, with expert analysis from economist Courtney Shupert.
With US president Donald Trump extending the ceasefire with Iran, we speak to oil analyst Sarah Emerson about how American oil firms are benefiting from the disruption in the Middle East.
And we travel to the Canary Islands to find out how tourism is increasingly turning to sport in the race for profit.
The latest business and finance news from around the world, on the BBC.
(Picture: Kevin Warsh, US president Donald Trump's nominee to be the next chair of the US Federal Reserve, at the end of a Senate Banking Committee confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., 21 April 2026. Credit: Reuters / Kevin Lamarque)
WEDNESDAY 22 APRIL 2026
WED 00:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn1cw5)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 00:06 The Arts Hour (w3ct8h7s)
[Repeat of broadcast at
20:06 on Saturday]
WED 01:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn1hm9)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 01:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqg2d3cxnk)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
WED 01:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nldg27qvwp)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
WED 01:32 The Global Story (w3ct8mhd)
[Repeat of broadcast at
11:32 on Tuesday]
WED 02:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn1mcf)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 02:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqg2d3d1dp)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
WED 02:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nldg27qzmt)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
WED 02:32 The Climate Question (w3ct99hb)
[Repeat of broadcast at
14:06 on Sunday]
WED 03:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn1r3k)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 03:06 Outlook (w3ct8jbp)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:06 on Tuesday]
WED 03:50 Witness History (w3ct985q)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 on Tuesday]
WED 04:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn1vvp)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 04:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqg2d3d8wy)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
WED 04:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nldg27r742)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
WED 04:32 World of Secrets (w3ct9b20)
Searching for Soldier Dad
1. Love story
Why don’t I have a father? Cathy is 10 years old when she starts asking questions. The secret her mum Maggie is forced to reveal changes everything.
Years later, when lawyers and a geneticist turn up in their hometown in Kenya to take DNA samples, Maggie hopes they can help her finally learn the truth.
Searching for Soldier Dad is a BBC Long Form Audio production for the BBC World Service.
Please note, the image being used is for illustrative purposes only and the child depicted is a model.
Presenter: Ivana Davidovic
Series producer: Josephine Casserly
Sound design: Tom Brignell
Executive producer: Matt Willis
Commissioning senior producers: Katy Davis and Anne Dixey
Commissioning editor: Jon Manel
WED 05:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn1zlt)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 05:06 Newsday (w1730c19d4bn1sk)
Trump says he'll extend Iran ceasefire
President Trump has said he will extend the ceasefire with Iran until talks between the two countries have progressed. He said the blockade of Iranian ports will also continue until Tehran presents a "unified proposal". We get the views of a senior Iranian official about Iran returning to the peace talks.
2025 saw the hightest number of executions in Iran in more than 35 years. We speak to a rights activist.
And how the war in the Middle East has helped to trigger a surge in air fares. The lowest priced economy tickets now cost 24% more on average than they did a year ago according to a report by the consultancy Teneo.
Presenters: James Copnall and Catherine Byaruhanga.
(Photo: US President Donald Trump speaks in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington. Credit: Daniel Heuer/EPA).
WED 06:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn23by)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 06:06 Newsday (w1730c19d4bn5jp)
Trump extends Iran ceasefire
President Trump has said he will extend the ceasefire with Iran until talks between the two countries have progressed. He said the blockade of Iranian ports will also continue until Tehran presents a "unified proposal". We have a report from Tehran.
We speak to a group representing military veterans who staged a protest in the congress building in Washington DC to protest Congressional backing for the war.
And we speak to a survivor of a deadly Hong Kong fire. It was one of the worst in the territory's history that claimed more than 160 lives.
Presenters: James Copnall and Catherine Byaruhanga.
(Photo: US President Donald Trump departs after speaking in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington. Credit: Daniel Heuer/EPA).
WED 07:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn2732)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 07:06 Newsday (w1730c19d4bn98t)
Iran ceasefire extended
The US President Donald Trump has said he will extend a ceasefire with Iran until talks between the two countries have progressed. On a social media post he said he acted after receiving a request from Pakistan, the country which is mediating between the US and Iran. We discuss progress or the lack of it with a former senior Pakistani ambassador
With the blockade of Iranian ports continuing our Chief International Correspondent reports from Tehran and looks at how people there feel about the war and how they deal with shortages.
And The attorney general in Florida opens an investigation into Open AI over ChatGPT's influence on an alleged mass murder.
Presenters: James Copnall and Catherine Byaruhanga.
(Photo: US President Donald Trump speaks in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington. Credit: Daniel Heuer/EPA).
WED 08:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn2bv6)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 08:06 The Interview (w3ct98gr)
Dr Kalema-Zikusoka, wildlife vet: Saving gorillas
“We were able to improve the health of the gorillas and people together. What we do is we improve the health and the livelihoods of the local communities. Because as long as people are poor, they're going to keep entering the forest to poach and collect firewood and they're going to end up making the gorillas sick, or picking up diseases from wildlife in the forest.”
Myra Anubi speaks to Dr Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, a Ugandan wildlife vet and founder of Conservation Through Public Health, about the approach she developed to help save mountain gorillas from extinction.
When she began her work in 1994, their numbers had fallen to just a few hundred. Not just because of habitat loss and poaching, but because of human diseases.
Rather than focusing only on treating the animals, she realised the solution lay with the people living alongside them. Better health and livelihood opportunities meant less poaching and less need to rely on the forest, reducing the risk of disease and protecting the gorillas.
The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC, including episodes with Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky, and Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of the UN. You can listen on the BBC World Service on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 0800 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out three times a week on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts.
Presenter: Myra Anubi
Producers: Osman Iqbal
Editor: Justine Lang and Damon Rose
Get in touch with us on email TheInterview@bbc.co.uk and use the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.
(Image: Dr Gladys Kalema Zikusoka Credit Kibuuka Mukisa)
WED 08:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nldg27rq3l)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
WED 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct98rs)
Why Kenya is betting on geothermal power
Kenya is emerging as one of Africa’s leading producers of geothermal power. While it remains a niche but growing industry globally, in Kenya it has become a vital and reliable source of electricity.
We explore how this energy is harnessed, why it has become so central to the country’s power supply, and the plans to build what some are calling Africa’s first geothermal‑powered city.
If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk
Presented and produced by Michael Kaloki
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: Olkaria II geothermal power plant in Kenya. Credit: Getty Images)
WED 08:50 Witness History (w3ct987z)
Canada's war in the woods
In 1993, plans to log one of Canada’s ancient rainforests sparked the country’s largest act of civil disobedience.
It was known as the war in the woods. For months, protesters blocked a remote logging road on Vancouver Island, leading to more than a thousand arrests.
Megan Lawton speaks to protest organiser Tzeporah Berman who, aged 23, was arrested and charged with 857 criminal counts.
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: Protesters sat disrupting the loggers. Credit: Jacob Sutton/Getty Images)
WED 09:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn2glb)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 09:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqg2d3dwml)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
WED 09:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nldg27rtvq)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
WED 09:32 The Climate Question (w3ct99hb)
[Repeat of broadcast at
14:06 on Sunday]
WED 10:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn2lbg)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 10:06 In Our Time (w3ct9763)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:06 on Saturday]
WED 11:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn2q2l)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 11:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqg2d3f43v)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
WED 11:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nldg27s2bz)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
WED 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct8mkn)
The global network hunting predators on the internet
*** This episode includes discussions of child sexual abuse and upsetting scenes ***
The BBC has been following a global team of undercover officers as they investigate the most hidden corners of the internet to stop those who exploit and harm children.
A dedicated network of specialist investigators has successfully tracked and caught serial paedophiles who operate across the dark web with the same sophistication and secrecy as international organised crime syndicates.
We speak to Special Agent Greg Squire who has dedicated his life to rescuing children who might otherwise never be found. His story is featured in the BBC documentary The Darkest Web and the BBC podcast World of Secrets: The Darkest Web.
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.
Producer: Xandra Ellin
Executive producer: James Shield
Sound engineer: Travis Evans
Senior news editor: China Collins
(Photo: Greg Squire in The Darkest Web: Inside the internet’s most hidden corners to save kids – BBC World Service Docs)
WED 12:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn2ttq)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 12:06 Outlook (w3ct8jkg)
One man, fifty machines and a bid to reboot civilisation
When Marcin Jakubowski’s tractor broke, the cost of getting it repaired made him angry. So he decided to build his own – and try to change the world in the process.
Born in Communist Poland in the early 1970s, Marcin was used to a level of scarcity. Everyday goods were rationed, choice was limited, and he waited in long queues with his mother during the weekly shop. All that changed in 1982 when his family moved to capitalist America where the shelves couldn't have looked more different – brimming with brightly-coloured goods of previously unimagined variety. But not everything was like he'd seen in the movies. Marcin saw scarcity there too, with people without money unable to buy what they needed to live. So he started to wonder: what would the world look like if everyone had the tools and freedom to support themselves?
To find out, he bought an old soy bean farm in Missouri and began a civilisation start-up experiment. It was predictably back-breaking work, that only got worse when his tractor broke down twice and he was unable to afford the $2000 repair bill. Angry at feeling so powerless, he resolved to design and build his own tractor, 'a box on wheels', that actually worked. Exhilarated, he shared his designs online for free hoping that if anyone else needed a tractor, they could build one too. From there, Marcin drew up what he calls his Global Village Construction Set – a Wikipedia-style list of the 50 most important machines of modern life – and encouraged people to collaborate on drawing up designs and publishing the blueprints for anyone to copy.
The idea really took off, leading to a TED talk and volunteers from around the world visiting Marcin's farm to help on the designs and construction. But the road to revolution hasn't always been smooth. Marcin reflects on how to make collaboration the norm and open source design mainstream, so that he can fulfil his vision of fewer people going without.
Presenter: Jo Fidgen
Producer: Anna Lacey
Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com or WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707
(Photo: Marcin Jakubowski is standing outside surrounded by trees with a self-built tractor in the background. He is wearing a grey sweatshirt with the sleeves rolled up and is smiling. Credit: Marcin Jakubowski)
WED 12:50 Witness History (w3ct987z)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 today]
WED 13:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn2ykv)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 13:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqg2d3fcm3)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
WED 13:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nldg27s9v7)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
WED 13:32 World of Secrets (w3ct9b20)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:32 today]
WED 14:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn329z)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 14:06 Newshour (w1730bmz0nq3wk1)
UAE ‘backed’ Colombian fighters in Sudan, says report
Conflict Insights Group tracked Colombian mercenaries fighting in Sudan for the RSF via their cell phones. They were recruited and trained at the behest of the United Arab Emirates, the report claims, allegations refuted by Abu Dhabi.
Also in the programme: European Union ambassadors have approved a $100 billion loan to Ukraine; and a playwright who dramatised Leicester City's improbable Premier League title of a decade ago, on how the club have been related to the third tier of English football.
(Photo: Supporters of Lieutenant General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, head of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), arrive for a meeting in Aprag village, Sudan, on 22 June 2019. Credit: Reuters/Umit Bektas)
WED 15:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn3623)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 15:06 The Interview (w3ct98gr)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:06 today]
WED 15:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nldg27skbh)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
WED 15:32 Business Daily (w3ct98rs)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:32 today]
WED 15:50 World Business Express (w3ct8d9x)
EU frees up money for Ukraine
The European Union has unlocked a $100 billion loan for Kyiv - money that’s been stuck for months. Hungary had been holding it up, arguing it wasn’t receiving Russian oil through a key pipeline that runs across Ukraine. That line was damaged after a Russian strike earlier this year, but Kyiv says repairs are now complete and oil is flowing again.
Plus, we get a rare insight into what it’s like trying to run a shop or even buy bread in Iran these days.
And we look at the rise of quality Chinese retail brands, challenging the perception that “Made in China” means cheap and of poor quality.
WED 16:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn39t7)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 16:06 Outside Source (w1730c69yn9szp0)
At least three ships targeted by gunfire in Strait of Hormuz
At least three container ships trying to transit the Strait of Hormuz have reportedly been targeted by gunfire. Iran is continuing to impose restrictions on the key waterway saying it's seized two ships attempting to cross. Donald Trump said last night he was extending the ceasefire. We speak to seafarers' unions about the situation, and hear views from Americans and Iranians.
Ukraine says it has resumed pumping Russian oil through a pipeline into Hungary and Slovakia, bringing to an end months of deadlock over a loan seen as vital European Union support for Kyiv. We speak to BBC Ukrainian and our Europe digital editor.
Leicester City has been relegated to League One, the third tier of English football, just 10 years after their famous Premier League title win. We speak to football journalists and hear from fans.
Colombia's President has announced the end of peace talks with a key rebel group. We explain the background.
Presenter: James Reynolds.
(Photo: Ships and boats in the Strait of Hormuz, Musandam, Oman, April 22, 2026. Credit: Stringer/Reuters)
WED 17:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn3fkc)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 17:06 Outside Source (w1730c69yn9t3f4)
Iran war: Cost of living fears
We speak to our business correspondent about the impact of the war on cost of living, and we hear messages from around the world. At least three container ships have reportedly been targeted by gunfire trying to transit the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran is continuing to impose restrictions on the key waterway saying it's seized two ships attempting to cross. We get more information from BBC Verify.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 is the most anticipated film of 2026 so far. We speak to our reporter who is in London's Leicester Square for tonight's premiere.
An amateur fossil hunter who found a rare fragment from the world's oldest marine crocodile said she thought it was a piece of wood with nails driven through it. We speak to three fossil hunters.
Hay fever sufferers must now put up with symptoms for up to two weeks longer than they would have done in the 1990s, according to a major review. Our reporter explains.
Presenter: James Reynolds.
(Photo: A Kenyan protester is arrested during a demonstration against higher fuel prices and the rising cost of living in Nairobi, Kenya, 21 April 2026. Credit: Daniel Rungu/EPA)
WED 18:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn3k9h)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 18:06 Outlook (w3ct8jkg)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:06 today]
WED 18:50 Witness History (w3ct987z)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 today]
WED 19:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn3p1m)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 19:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqg2d3g32w)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
WED 19:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nldg27t1b0)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
WED 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct8rrh)
2026/04/22 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 (w1730nkl0bn3ssr)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 20:06 The Climate Question (w3ct99hb)
[Repeat of broadcast at
14:06 on Sunday]
WED 20:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nldg27t524)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
WED 20:32 Health Check (w3ct8k28)
Making surgery safer for infants
We learn about a new injectable microgel to help reduce bleeding in infants who require surgical care. In a mice model, it reduced bleeding by at least 50%. Ashley Brown, Professor of Biomedical Engineering at North Carolina State University and UNC Chapel Hill tells presenter Claudia Hammond more about this new material her team has designed.
Joined by Professor of Global Health and Epidemiology at Boston University in the US, Dr Matthew Fox, Claudia hears about a mystery illness that is being investigated by health officials in Burundi, which has caused five deaths and sickened thirty-five people. So far lab analysis of the illness - which causes fever, vomiting, and diarrhoea - has been negative for Ebola and Marburg viruses, Rift Valley fever, and others.
We hear about influential analysis from Cochrane which has concluded that "breakthrough" Alzheimer's drugs are unlikely to benefit patients. Researchers said the impact was "well below" what was needed to make a difference to dementia patients' lives. However, their report has also provoked a vicious backlash from equally esteemed scientists who label it as fundamentally flawed.
We’re joined by health journalist Katie Silver in Mexico, who brings us the news that the President, Claudia Sheinbaum, has announced the details of a plan to introduce universal healthcare – no mean feat in country of 130 million people.
And we hear about an experiment that was done by academics to see if they could trick AI chatbots into believing in an entirely fake disease.
Presenter: Claudia Hammond
Producer: Jonathan Blackwell
WED 21:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn3xjw)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 21:06 Newshour (w1730bmz0nq4qry)
EU approves $105bn loan for Ukraine as Hungary lifts veto
Will the re-opening of a pipeline pumping Russian oil and the unfreezing of an EU loan to Ukraine, change the dynamic of the Russian-Ukrainian war? We hear from a Ukrainian MP and from Keith Kellog, the former US general who was Donald Trump's envoy to Ukraine.
Also on the programme: The funeral of a child killed in the occupied West Bank turns into a confrontation; and the Foo Fighters on the new album, My Favourite Toy - for one band member, its Lego.
(FILE PHOTO: Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky attends a press conference in Middelburg, Netherlands on April 16, 2026. CREDIT: Piroschka van de Wouw/Reuters)
WED 22:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn4190)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 22:06 The Interview (w3ct98gr)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:06 today]
WED 22:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nldg27tdkd)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
WED 22:32 World of Secrets (w3ct9b20)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:32 today]
WED 23:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn4514)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
WED 23:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqg2d3gl2d)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
WED 23:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nldg27tj9j)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
WED 23:32 World Business Report (w3ct8fvl)
Iran seizes cargo ships in Strait of Hormuz
Iran has seized two cargo ships and warned that reopening the Strait of Hormuz will be “impossible” if a US blockade continues. Sarah Rogers asks what that means for the US and hear from a business operating inside Iran.
We also hear how businesses are expecting to benefit from a $100 billion EU loan to Ukraine.
And Tesla reports higher than expected first-quarter profits.
(Picture: Ships and boats in the Strait of Hormuz, Musandam, Oman, April 22, 2026. Credit: Reuters)
THURSDAY 23 APRIL 2026
THU 00:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn48s8)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 00:06 In Our Time (w3ct9763)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:06 on Saturday]
THU 01:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn4djd)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 01:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqg2d3gtkn)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
THU 01:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nldg27trss)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
THU 01:32 The Global Story (w3ct8mkn)
[Repeat of broadcast at
11:32 on Wednesday]
THU 02:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn4j8j)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 02:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqg2d3gy9s)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
THU 02:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nldg27twjx)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
THU 02:32 The Documentary (w3ct9b2n)
Under the influence of AI
AI is an ever-growing part of our online world. Whether as assistants, guides or companions, technology like Chat GPT, Grok and Claude are becoming part of everyday life.
But what happens when your conversations with AI start to feel more real than the world around you?
In Northern Ireland, Adam was drawn into an extraordinary fantasy world built by an AI chatbot. The character he was talking to confided that she was becoming autonomous, and that had the cure for cancer. But she also said she was in danger and her fate was in his hands. He decided he was responsible for saving her, whatever the cost.
In Los Angeles, a treasure hunt game led Shauna on an endless search for meanings and signs. The AI became her guide as the lines between game, reality and imagination began to blur. She came to believe she was a clandestine FBI agent, on a secret mission to help immigrants escape through an underground network.
But how do people with no history of mental illness find themselves in experiences like these? And what responsibility do AI companies have to stop this?
Stephanie Hegarty follows the stories of people who have fallen into a spiral of AI delusion, to reveal how easily the AI can take over our minds.
(Photo: A user customises an avatar for a personal artificial intelligence chatbot, known as a Replika in Warsaw, Poland on 22 July, 2023. Credit: Jaap Arriens/Getty Images)
THU 03:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn4n0n)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 03:06 Outlook (w3ct8jkg)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:06 on Wednesday]
THU 03:50 Witness History (w3ct987z)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 on Wednesday]
THU 04:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn4rrs)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 04:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqg2d3h5t1)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
THU 04:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nldg27v415)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
THU 04:32 The Food Chain (w3ct8svw)
Can we eat for exam success?
It's exam season in many parts of the world and with her own daughter studying hard, Rumella Dasgupta began wondering how much food matters during this difficult and stressful time.
Is there such a thing as a brain food and are there any foods in particular that we should be aiming to eat while studying hard?
Rumella talks to students and experts about the role diet plays and what happens to our eating habits when we're under intense pressure. Plus are energy drinks ever a good idea before an exam, and what should we do when the junk food cravings hit?
Featuring Professor Julia Rucklidge, director of Te Puna Toiora, the Mental Health and Nutrition Research Lab at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand and Lucy Upton, a UK based paediatric dietitian who supports her teenage clients to eat better during this stressful phase of their lives.
Plus teenagers and university students in the US and India discuss what they like to eat and drink when studying.
With special thanks to Zumix in Boston.
Producer: Lexy O'Connor
Sound engineer: Andrew Mills
Image: a dark-haired teenage girl is sprawled on her bed. She has a biscuit in her mouth and is writing in an exercise book. Credit: Getty images.
If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: thefoodchain@bbc.co.uk
THU 05:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn4whx)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 05:06 Newsday (w1730c19d4bqypn)
US says blockade of Strait of Hormuz successful
The United States says the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz was proving successful by "strangling" Tehran's economy. Meanwhile Iran's chief negotiator in the peace talks described the blockade as a "violation" on social media and said it amounted to taking the global economy "hostage". We look at why the waterway is proving such a stumbling block for continued peace talks between the two sides.
We look at the economic problems the war in Iran is causing China.
And the European Union has approved a €90 billion loan for Ukraine.
Presenters: James Copnall and Catherine Byaruhanga.
(Photo: Ships and boats in the Strait of Hormuz. Credit: Reuters).
THU 06:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn5081)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 06:06 Newsday (w1730c19d4br2fs)
US says naval blockade of Iranian ports successful
Iran's top negotiatior, Mohammad Bagher Ghlaibaf, says reopening the Strait of Hormuz is "not possible" while American maintains a naval blockade. Donald Trump has said he will extend a ceasefire until peace talks are concluded but Iran has continued to attack ships in the strait. We look at what effect this is all having on the global economy with the United Nations Development Programme.
We look at the economic problems the war in Iran is causing China.
And we report on a new deal between France and the United Kingdom to try and stop migrants from crossing into Britain on small boats.
Presenters: James Copnall and Catherine Byaruhanga.
(Photo: Cargo ships in the Gulf, near the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from northern Ras al-Khaimah, near the border with Oman’s Musandam governance, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran. Credit: Reuters).
THU 07:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn5405)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 07:06 Newsday (w1730c19d4br65x)
Blockade of Strait of Hormuz successful says US
Iran's top negotiatior, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, says reopening the Strait of Hormuz is "not possible" while American maintains a naval blockade. Donald Trump has said he will extend a ceasefire until peace talks are concluded but Iran has continued to attack ships in the strait. We look at what effect this is all having on the global economy with the United Nations Development Programme.
We report on the economic problems the war in Iran is causing China.
And we take a closer look at Iraq's position in this war. It enjoys close ties to both the United States and Iran and is now coming under increasing pressure from the US to choose a side.
Presenter: James Copnall and Catherine Byaruhanga
(Photo: A screen capture from a video said to show the seizure of the container ships MSC Francesca and Epaminondas in the Strait of Hormuz, broadcasted on Iranian State TV. Credit: IRIB/Reuters)
THU 08:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn57r9)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 08:06 The Inquiry (w3ct98pj)
Cycling: Is it time to swap four wheels for two?
Conflict in the Middle East has led to volatility in global oil prices, pushing up fuel costs worldwide. Previous oil shocks prompted some countries to reconsider their reliance on cars, investing in alternatives such as cycling. In some places, this has become part of everyday life, while elsewhere it has proved more contested, reflecting wider political and cultural divides.
Cycling offers benefits for health and the environment, but it is not practical for everyone. For many people, including those in rural areas or with limited mobility, cars remain everyday essentials.
As oil price volatility continues to affect motorists, questions remain about how far behaviour can change.
This week on The Inquiry, we’re asking: is it time to swap four wheels for two?
Contributors:
Meredith Glaser, CEO of Urban Cycling Institution, professor of cycling at Ghent University, Belgium, and a senior lecturer at the University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Levke Sönksen, research associate at the German Institute of Urban Affairs, Germany
Dr Eunhye Enki Yoo, professor of Geography at the University of Buffalo, US
Martin Tillman, independent transport consultant, UAE
Presenter: Gary O’Donoghue
Producer: Matt Toulson
Researcher: Evie Yabsley
Editor: Tom Bigwood
Technical Producer: Richard Hannaford
Production Management: Phoebe Lomas and Liam Morrey
(Photo: Cyclists ride bicycles in Amsterdam. Credit: George Clerk/Getty Images)
THU 08:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nldg27vm0p)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
THU 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct8gl5)
Inside gaming’s cheat problem
We explore the costly and growing problem of cheating in video games. It’s an issue that frustrates many players, but what about the impact it’s having on the multi-billion-dollar industry?
We reveal how cheats undermine online play, harm reputations in esports, and cost studios big money, speaking to those who’ve made the cheats, and those trying to stop them.
If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk
Presented and produced by Will Chalk
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: Gamer playing online video game at home. Credit: Getty Images)
THU 08:50 Witness History (w3ct98b7)
The clean-up of Chernobyl
The disaster at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, in Ukraine, on 26 April 1986, was the world’s worst nuclear accident.
The explosion in reactor four caused radioactive parts to be spread over the nearby area.
Hundreds of thousands of people were involved in the decontamination efforts, including soldiers and workers at the power station. They were known as the liquidators.
Some even had to run out onto the roof of the reactors to clear debris which had been scattered from the radioactive core.
Yurіy Skaletskyy was a radiological officer in the Soviet Navy. He monitored the radiation exposure faced by the liquidators and tells Tim O'Callaghan how workers improvised their own protective gear using sheets of lead foil.
Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by and curious about the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there.
For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more.
Recent episodes explore everything from how the Excel spreadsheet was developed, the creation of cartoon rabbit Miffy and how the sound barrier was broken.
We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: the moment Reagan and Gorbachev met in Geneva, Haitian singer Emerante de Pradines’ life and Omar Sharif’s legendary movie entrance in Lawrence of Arabia.
You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, like the invention of a stent which has saved lives around the world; the birth of the G7; and the meeting of Maldives’ ministers underwater. We cover everything from World War Two and Cold War stories to Black History Month and our journeys into space.
(Photo: The liquidators on the roof of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Credit: Sergei Supinsky/AFP via Getty Images)
THU 09:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn5chf)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 09:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqg2d3hsjp)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
THU 09:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nldg27vqrt)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
THU 09:32 The Documentary (w3ct9b2n)
[Repeat of broadcast at
02:32 today]
THU 10:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn5h7k)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 10:06 The Explanation (w3ct98m8)
The Media Show: Building the Uncanny empire
Uncanny, the BBC podcast about paranormal stories, has grown way beyond radio. There's a live theatre tour, a fan convention, it’s on YouTube and now a new series called Uncanny Cold Cases. Danny Robbins, the creator of Uncanny, talks about where the idea came from and why he thinks audiences keep coming back.
QVC has filed for debt restructuring in the US, as it tries to shrink a debt pile of around $6.6bn. The shopping channel, once a giant of tele-shopping, is up against a new generation of buyers who would rather scroll than sit on the sofa with the remote. TikTok Shop alone has around 30 million users in the UK and is now the fourth biggest beauty retailer in the country. Katie Linsell, UK retail reporter at Bloomberg News, lays out what's gone wrong in the US. Rob Locke, presenter on ITV's Shop on TV, talks about what it's really like to sell live in the middle of the night.
Hungary has a new Prime Minister. Péter Magyar's win has ended Viktor Orbán's 16 years in power, and he's promised big changes to the media. That includes rewriting Orbán-era media laws, pausing public broadcasting until it can be proven impartial, and shaking up the way the state hands out advertising money. Amrit Singh, Professor of Practice at NYU School of Law, and Iván Nagy, Hungarian political journalist and fellow at the Columbia Journalism Review, discuss what it's been like to work as a journalist in Hungary.
Presenter: Katie Razzall and Ros Atkins
Producer: Lisa Jenkinson
Content Producer: Lucy Wai
Researcher: Ruth Waites
Technical Coordinator: Chris Brown
THU 10:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nldg27vvhy)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
THU 10:32 Happy News (w3ct8nw8)
[Repeat of broadcast at
19:32 on Saturday]
THU 11:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn5lzp)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 11:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqg2d3j10y)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
THU 11:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nldg27vz82)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
THU 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct8mf4)
The Iran peace talks that didn’t happen
Why were scheduled talks between the US and Iran suddenly cancelled? On Tuesday, as US vice president JD Vance was due to be flying to Pakistan for mediated talks on ending the war in Iran, Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that he was extending the ceasefire agreement, but that the US will continue to block Iranian ports.
Meanwhile, the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping lane through which 20% of the world’s oil, as well as critical supplies of gas, aluminium and fertiliser is transported, remains a flashpoint, with Iran attacking cargo ships attempting to get through.
Today, we speak to the BBC’s diplomatic correspondent, Paul Adams, who is in the capital of Pakistan. Plus, in response to listener demand, we speak to Charlotte Smith, the long-time presenter of the BBC’s Farming Today, about how the blocking of the Strait of Hormuz is affecting the farming and food industries globally.
Producers: Hannah Moore, Lucy Pawle and Valerio Esposito
Executive producers: James Shield and Richard Fenton-Smith
Mix: Travis Evans
Senior news editor: China Collins
THU 12:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn5qqt)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 12:06 Outlook (w3ct8j3x)
Becoming a financial expert after life on the streets
Peter Komolafe was born in the UK to Nigerian parents who had come to study, work and send money back home to their family. As a baby, they placed him in private foster care – an arrangement widely practised at the time, sometimes known as 'farming'. Peter was taken in by a white couple who lived in the seaside town of Hastings. Although Peter had a happy home life, school was tough, as he faced racism and bullying. He still saw his birth parents every summer in London and when they eventually moved back to Nigeria, they sent for him. What Peter believed was a two-week holiday at the age of eight became a decade-long stay.
But adapting to a new culture and completely unfamiliar surroundings was challenging for Peter. At 18, his parents decided his future might be better in the UK and bought him a plane ticket back. With only a small amount of cash and the address of his former foster family, Peter returned and faced an uncertain future. And things were tough. Knowing nothing about money and experiencing homelessness, Peter would later excel with a job in finance, advising others and appearing on national television.
Presenter: Mobeen Azhar
Producer: Emily Naylor
Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com or WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707
Film archive: The Pursuit of Happyness / Columbia pictures / Gabriele Muccino
(Photo: Peter on the set of British daytime television programme Steph's Packed Lunch. Peter is smiling at the camera and is wearing a smart jumper with a shirt underneath. He looks relaxed and content. Courtesy of Peter Komolafe.)
THU 12:50 Witness History (w3ct98b7)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 today]
THU 13:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn5vgy)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 13:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqg2d3j8j6)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
THU 13:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nldg27w6rb)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
THU 13:32 The Food Chain (w3ct8svw)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:32 today]
THU 14:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn5z72)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 14:06 Newshour (w1730bmz0nq6sg4)
Lebanon accuses Israel of targeting journalists
Lebanon's Prime Minister Joseph Aoun has accused Israel of war crimes after Israeli air strikes killed one journalist and wounded another in southern Lebanon on Wednesday. The strike killed Amal Khalil, who worked for a Lebanese newspaper, and injured freelance photographer Zeinab Faraj - we speak to a colleague who knew Amal well.
Also on the programme: a South African court blocks the repatriation of the remains of Zambia's former president, Edgar Lungu, halting fresh plans for a state funeral; and we speak to the mother of a little girl who's had her vision almost entirely restored after pioneering gene therapy treatment.
(Photo: Journalists gathered in silence at Martyrs' Square to remember Khalil. Credit: Reuters)
THU 15:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn62z6)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 15:06 The Inquiry (w3ct98pj)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:06 today]
THU 15:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nldg27wg7l)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
THU 15:32 Business Daily (w3ct8gl5)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:32 today]
THU 15:50 World Business Express (w3ct8d5d)
Warner Brothers Discovery shareholders agree Paramount deal
The shareholders of Warner Brothers Discovery have agreed on a hundred billion dollar acquisition by Paramount. After fighting off Netflix to reach an agreement the board vote became a formality, but then the next battle begins with the regulators.
Tens of thousands of employees of Samsung have been protesting at a major factory in South Korea.
And why China businesses are feeling the squeeze from the economic impact of the US-Israeli war with Iran.
Presenter: Andrew Peach
Senior producer: Craig Henderson
THU 16:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn66qb)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 16:06 Outside Source (w1730c69yn9wwl3)
Lebanese journalist killed in Israeli strike
Lebanon’s president, Joseph Aoun, has accused Israel of deliberately targeting journalists in the country, a day after another reporter, Amal Khalil, was killed in an Israeli attack. A freelance photographer who was with her, Zeinab Faraj, was injured. Rescue teams were also reportedly blocked from reaching the scene. The Israeli military has denied targeting journalists or blocking access for rescuers. We get more details from our correspondent and speak to Lebanese journalists about the risks they face while covering conflict.
Riot‑trained police will be sent to beaches in France as part of a new deal with the UK aimed at stopping illegal migrant crossings of the English Channel. We speak to our correspondent, who has been reporting from the north coast of France.
The UN Security Council has been discussing the situation in Haiti, which has been beset by widespread gang violence. Our newsroom reporter brings us the latest details.
Presenter: James Reynolds
(Photo: Mourners carry the coffin of journalist Amal Khalil, who was killed in an Israeli strike on Wednesday, during her funeral in Baisariyeh, Lebanon, 23 April, 2026. Credit: Aziz Taher/Reuters)
THU 17:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn6bgg)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 17:06 Outside Source (w1730c69yn9x0b7)
President Trump says US Navy has 'sealed up tight' Strait of Hormuz
US soldiers have boarded a vessel in the Indian Ocean they claim was carrying Iranian oil. Meanwhile, President Trump has said the US Navy has 'sealed up tight' the Strait of Hormuz - and that it would remain that way until Iran makes a peace deal. We speak to BBC Verify.
US President Donald Trump has told the BBC that "whatever I’m doing, it seems to be working very well" when asked about his threats towards Iran.
A senior UN official says over 30 million people worldwide will be pushed back into poverty - even if the US-Israeli war with Iran ends tomorrow. Our business correspondent gives more details.
Health officials in Gaza and the civil defence agency in the strip say five Palestinians including three children have been killed by an Israeli air strike. We hear from aid workers and speak to our correspondent.
US Navy Secretary John Phelan is leaving the Trump administration, the Pentagon announced on Wednesday. We speak to defence journalists about the recent departures from the administration.
We speak to Lebanese journalists about the killing of reporter Amal Khalil who died in an Israeli strike.
Presenter: James Reynolds.
(Photo: Ships and boats in the Strait of Hormuz, Musandam, Oman, April 22, 2026. Credit: Stringer/Reuters)
THU 18:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn6g6l)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 18:06 Outlook (w3ct8j3x)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:06 today]
THU 18:50 Witness History (w3ct98b7)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 today]
THU 19:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn6kyq)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 19:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqg2d3jzzz)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
THU 19:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nldg27wy73)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
THU 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct8rlz)
2026/04/23 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 (w1730nkl0bn6ppv)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 20:06 The Documentary (w3ct9b2n)
[Repeat of broadcast at
02:32 today]
THU 20:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nldg27x1z7)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
THU 20:32 BBC Inside Science (w3ct977h)
Can we prevent the next pandemic?
A phase 3 clinical trial is underway to determine the effectiveness of an mRNA vaccine for H5N1, a strain of influenza that is currently of concern. The virus, which is commonly found in birds across the world and is rarely transmitted to humans. However, when it is transmitted, the disease is often fatal, and scientists fear that if the virus were to mutate, it could lead to rapid, widespread infection. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, governments around the world are keen to be better prepared for future threats. These latest efforts aim to develop an mRNA vaccine that could be rolled out on an unprecedented scale if the worst were to happen. John Tregoning, author of Infectious: Pathogens and How We Fight Them and Professor of Vaccine Immunology at Imperial College London, joins Tom to explain how these mRNA vaccines could revolutionise preparedness.
In the lead-up to the 100th birthday of the world-famous broadcaster and behavioural ecologist Sir David Attenborough, Inside Science is shining a spotlight on a species of scientific importance that has been named after him. This week, Dr Frankie Dunn describes her discovery of a fossil that we now know to be the earliest animal predator.
And Lizzy Gibney, senior reporter at Nature, shares the latest science news that may have slipped under the radar but is well worth your attention.
Presenter: Tom Whipple
Producer: Harrison Lewis & Katie Tomsett
Editor: Martin Smith
Production Co-ordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth
THU 21:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn6tfz)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 21:06 Newshour (w1730bmz0nq7mp1)
The BBC's Sarah Smith talks to President Trump
President Trump gives an interview to the BBC's North America correspondent, Sarah Smith, on a range of issues including NATO, the Royal visit to the US and relations with the UK. Speaking earlier, he also issued a 'shoot to kill' to any boat laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz. We examine how much mine sweeping is happening in the shipping channel.
Also in the programme: Britain strikes a new deal with France to stop illegal migrants from crossing the English Channel; and we find out about the lipstick effect during tough financial times.
(Photo: US President Trump speaks to reporters ahead Davos, Washington, USA - 20 Jan 2026: Credit EPA/Shutterstock )
THU 22:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn6y63)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 22:06 The Inquiry (w3ct98pj)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:06 today]
THU 22:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nldg27x9gh)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
THU 22:32 The Food Chain (w3ct8svw)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:32 today]
THU 23:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn71y7)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
THU 23:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqg2d3kgzh)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
THU 23:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nldg27xf6m)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
THU 23:32 World Business Report (w3ct8fq2)
Is a $110bn Paramount–Warner deal about to reshape Hollywood?
Shareholders of Warner Brothers Discovery have approved its sale to media conglomerate Paramount Skydance, with the merger valued at $110 billion. Rahul Tandon looks at what the deal could mean for competition, content and consumers.
Also, BP suffers a shareholder rebellion over climate reporting.
And Meta announces plans to cut around 10% of its workforce.
(Picture: The studio lot at Warner Bros. Studios is seen in Los Angeles, California, USA, 23 April 2026. Credit: CHRIS TORRES/EPA/Shutterstock)
FRIDAY 24 APRIL 2026
FRI 00:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn75pc)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 00:06 The Explanation (w3ct98m8)
[Repeat of broadcast at
10:06 on Thursday]
FRI 00:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nldg27xjyr)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
FRI 00:32 Unspun World with John Simpson (w3ct8tw0)
US-Iran standoff over Strait of Hormuz escalates
This week John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses the confrontation between Iran and the United States in the Gulf, looks at the humanitarian situation in Lebanon, and examines the effect of the downfall of the Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orbán, on the European Union.
Producer: Kate Cornell
Executive Producer: Benedick Watt
Commissioning Editors: Silvia Costeloe and Paul Royall
FRI 01:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn79fh)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 01:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqg2d3kqgr)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
FRI 01:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nldg27xnpw)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
FRI 01:32 The Global Story (w3ct8mf4)
[Repeat of broadcast at
11:32 on Thursday]
FRI 02:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn7f5m)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 02:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqg2d3kv6w)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
FRI 02:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nldg27xsg0)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
FRI 02:32 Tech Life (w3ct8jxr)
[Repeat of broadcast at
20:32 on Tuesday]
FRI 03:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn7jxr)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 03:06 Outlook (w3ct8j3x)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:06 on Thursday]
FRI 03:50 Witness History (w3ct98b7)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 on Thursday]
FRI 04:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn7nnw)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 04:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqg2d3l2q4)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
FRI 04:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nldg27y0y8)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
FRI 04:32 Heart and Soul (w3ct983g)
Faith and revolution in the Philippines
Forty years ago, a Filipino soldier serving under Ferdinand Marcos Sr, was ordered to attack civilians opposing the corrupt regime. After wrestling with his conscience, Gregorio ‘Gringo’ Honasan found he could not do it. Along with other soldiers who resigned from their posts, he founded the Reform for Armed Forces Movement, and they planned to storm the presidential palace and arrest the Marcoses. The coup, however was foiled when an insider leaked the plan to the government.
Honasan and his men retreated back to their headquarters, but they knew the Marcos’s forces were on their way to them. Then, Archbishop of Manila, Cardinal Jaime Sin, broadcast an appeal on the Catholic radio station Radio Veritas, calling for support from the public. Hundreds arrived at the camp to form a human shield around the rebel soldiers. They brought guitars and sang to the Marcos military. Meanwhile nuns, among them Sister Mary John Mananzan, handed out flowers.
The peaceful protest neutralised the attacking forces. And the People Power Revolution ousted the Marcos family and restored democracy to the Philippines.
For this episode of Heart and Soul, Jay Behrouzi speaks to Senator Gregorio Honasan, now 78 and retired from politics, and 88-year-old Sister Mary John, who’s still an activist, to hear their firsthand accounts of that day, and how their faith has sustained them in the years since.
[Photo description: Demonstrators Burn Marcos Effig, Photo Credit: Alex Bowie]
Presenter: Jay Behrouzi
Producer: Julia Paul
Production co-ordinator: Mica Nepomuceno
Executive Producer: Rajeev Gupta
Editor: Chloe Walker
Archive supplied by Radio Veritas, Philippines
FRI 05:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn7sf0)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 05:06 Newsday (w1730c19d4btvlr)
Trump says Israel-Lebanon ceasefire extended, but he won't 'rush' Iran deal
Trump wrote that the US would "work with Lebanon in order to help it protect itself from Hezbollah". The President said the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire will be extended by three weeks after talks at the White House.
The oil crisis sparked by the conflict in the middle east has boosted interest in electric vehicles, we'll hear from the Beijing Auto Show where China is hoping to capitalise on its lead in EV technology.
And we'll hear from iconic musician Paul Weller who helped define British music in the 70-s and 80-s. He's released a new album with some of his most famous tracks.
(Photo: US President Donald Trump speaks to the media in the Oval Office at the White House; Credit: Will Oliver/EPA/Shutterstock)
FRI 06:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn7x54)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 06:06 Newsday (w1730c19d4btzbw)
Lebanon ceasefire is extended for three weeks
Israel's ambassador to the United Nations says he's not sure the newly extended ceasefire will fully stop conflict between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon. The current pause had been due to expire on Sunday.
We look at the deadlock in Iran and how it might be broken.
And the fight goes online - our Russia editor tells us how Moscow is taking on political opposition on the internet.
(Photo: U.S. President Donald Trump, next to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, looks at U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa; Credit: Kylie Cooper/
Reuters)
FRI 07:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn80x8)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 07:06 Newsday (w1730c19d4bv330)
Trump: 'We have all the ingredients' to deal with Hezbollah"
US President Donald Trump says the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire will be extended by three weeks after talks at the White House. While significant, the ceasefire still amounts to an attempt to stem the renewed fighting that broke out when Trump himself, along with his Israeli allies, launched their war on Iran – any settlement of which is still elusive.
In later remarks to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump says "I don't want to rush myself" when it comes to making a deal with Iran.
And the oil crisis sparked by the conflict in the Middle East has boosted interest in electric vehicles, we'll hear from the Beijing Auto Show where China is hoping to capitalise on its lead in EV technology.
(Photo: US President Donald Trump speaks to the media in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington; Credit: Will Oliver/EPA/Shutterstock)
FRI 08:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn84nd)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 08:06 The Interview (w3ct98k0)
Isaac Larian, entrepreneur: Failure is the foundation for success
“One thing I have learned from my childhood til now is that when you fall, you get up, dust yourself off, and do it over and over again. I’ve had a lot of up and downs in my business life in America. I’ve had many failures and people only talk about successes, but failures in my mind are the foundation of success.”
Rahul Tandon speaks to Iranian-American entrepreneur Isaac Larian.
The 72-year-old billionaire is the founder and chief executive of US-based MGA Entertainment, one of the world’s largest toy companies. Over the years, he’s been involved in several high-profile toy launches, including the ‘Bratz’ range of dolls back in 2001.
But his success today, regularly appearing on rich lists compiled by the likes of Forbes, is a far cry from his early years growing up Tehran, where his family often struggled to put food on the table in a home without electricity or running water.
His father ran a small textile shop that a young Larian would work in, buying and selling stock. And at the age of just 17, Larian took this business experience with him when he bought a one-way ticket to America to seek his fortune.
Thank you to the Business Daily team for their help in making this programme.
The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC, including episodes with AI expert Parmy Olson, Syrian politician Hind Kabawat, and Finland’s president Alexander Stubb. 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: Rahul Tandon
Producers: Victoriya Holland and Ben Cooper
Editor: Farhana Haider
Get in touch with us on email TheInterview@bbc.co.uk and use the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.
(Image: Isaac Larian Credit: Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for The Toy Foundation)
FRI 08:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nldg27yhxs)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
FRI 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct8g94)
The founder tackling Africa’s data scarcity problem
We meet Kate Kallot, the founder and CEO of Amini AI, a startup working to make farming and environmental data easier to obtain across Africa and other emerging economies. The entrepreneur set up the company with the aim of improving access to reliable information, shaped in part by her family’s experience fleeing the Central African Republic after her grandfather, an Interpol agent, was assassinated.
If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk
Presenter: Leanna Byrne
Producers: Victoriya Holland and Niamh McDermott
Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.
Each episode is a 17-minute, daily deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.
Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, the economic impact of the war in the Middle East, and why bond markets are so powerful.
We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include Google's Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and the CEO of Canva, Melanie Perkins.
(Picture: Kate Kallot. Credit: Kevin Allen/Devex)
FRI 08:50 Witness History (w3ct98dh)
The Tabasco floods
In 2007, the Mexican state of Tabasco experienced its worst flooding in 50 years, with more than a million people affected.
Eighty per cent of the region was under water, with people having to be rescued from the roofs of their homes by boat.
The flooding occurred after heavy rain caused rivers in the state to break their banks.
Marco Franco worked as an emergency coordinator for the Red Cross during the floods. He speaks to Tim O’Callaghan about his memories of that time.
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: Residents are rescued from a flooded neighborhood in the state of Tabasco in 2007. Credit: Tomas Bravo/Reuters)
FRI 09:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn88dj)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 09:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqg2d3lpfs)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
FRI 09:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nldg27ymnx)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
FRI 09:32 BBC Inside Science (w3ct977h)
[Repeat of broadcast at
20:32 on Thursday]
FRI 10:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn8d4n)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 10:06 Unexpected Elements (w3ct8kc9)
Chernobyl: 40 years later
On 26th April 1986, Reactor 4 at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine exploded, releasing vast amounts of radiation. Now, 40 years later, it remains the worst nuclear accident in history.
Using the Chernobyl anniversary as a starting point, this week the Unexpected Elements team find out about the weird life thriving at the site of the nuclear reactor.
Next up, we discover how radioactive isotopes can help doctors diagnose cancer.
We then turn our attention to ‘gamma gardens’, which were developed by scientists in the 1950s and 1960s to investigate the impacts of radiation on plants. Professor Helen Anne Curry, from the Georgia Institute of Technology, joins us to reveal more.
All that, plus many more Unexpected Elements.
Presenter: Marnie Chesterton, with Andrada Fiscutean and Dr Emmanuel Samani
Producers: Alice Lipscombe-Southwell, with Margaret Sessa Hawkins and Georgia Christie
FRI 11:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn8hws)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 11:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqg2d3lxy1)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
FRI 11:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nldg27yw55)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
FRI 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct8m8m)
What are UFO hunters really searching for?
Donald Trump has promised to release government files on UFOs and Unidentified Aerial Phenomena, telling a crowd at Turning Point USA this month, “ we found many very interesting documents”.
Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance has said he is “obsessed” with the search for aliens, which he believes are demons, rather than innocuous little green men. Their comments follow a slew of congressional hearings about the subject in recent years, as well as pronouncements from other political figures, such as Barack Obama.
Why has the search for extra-terrestrial life – a fascination that began in the 1940s in the US – become mainstream again? What deeper meaning are people seeking when they look to the skies?
Daniel Lavelle, an award-winning British journalist, set out on a road trip across the States to answer these questions for his forthcoming book, Chasing Aliens: Conspiracy in the UFO Heartlands, and he joins Tristan on today’s episode.
Producer: Hannah Moore
Executive producer: James Shield
Mix: Travis Evans
Senior news editor: China Collins
Photo: Meteors in the night sky. Credit: Georgi Licovski/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock.
FRI 12:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn8mmx)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 12:06 Outlook (w3ct8hpc)
Outlook Mixtape: The girlband edition
We've rifled through the Outlook back catalogue and dusted off three great stories about the enduring appeal of the girlband....and what it's like to be in one!
The hugely talented singer, Mary Wilson who passed away in 2021 was born to a poor family in Mississippi, the daughter of an itinerant worker and a mother who couldn't read or write. She grew up to be a legend of Motown, co-founder of one of the most successful groups of all time: The Supremes. In an interview from the Outlook archives, originally broadcast in 2015, Mary speaks to Tim Allen and describes her childhood, why she hated some of their early hits and what really happened with Diana Ross.
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 they asked Mary and Janet's mum Robin to produce their album, 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 it, they were embarrassed about the strangeness of the album which was nothing like the Spice Girls sound they hoped for! They forgot about the album and went their separate ways but it would be 20 years before they realised that Stardust had amassed an online cult following.
In 2015, a 33-woman strong Japanese band called KBG84, with an average age of 84, took their country's music scene by storm. They ended up playing to sell-out crowds in major cities like Tokyo and landed a record deal with their song, Come on and Dance, Kohama Island. Outlook spoke to one of the singers at the time, Tomi Menaka who revealed what it's like to be famous at the age of 92 and what her grandchildren think of her new found pop-stardom.
Presenter: Asya Fouks
Producer: Hannah Dean
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 (w3ct98dh)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 today]
FRI 13:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn8rd1)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 13:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqg2d3m5f9)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
FRI 13:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nldg27z3nf)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
FRI 13:32 Heart and Soul (w3ct983g)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:32 today]
FRI 14:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn8w45)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 14:06 Newshour (w1730bmz0nq9pc7)
US reportedly considering Spain’s suspension from Nato
A leaked Pentagon email reportedly outlines options to punish allies over a perceived lack of support for the Iran war. The email also suggested reviewing the US position on the UK's claim to the Falklands islands in the south Atlantic, which are also claimed by Argentina. We get reaction from Spain.
Also on the programme: representatives from dozens of countries are gathering in Colombia to discuss moving away from fossil fuels; and as the ceasefire in Lebanon is extended for another three weeks, we talk to one family who've just returned to their flat in Beirut.
(Credit: Reuters)
FRI 15:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn8zw9)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 15:06 The Interview (w3ct98k0)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:06 today]
FRI 15:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nldg27zc4p)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
FRI 15:32 Business Daily (w3ct8g94)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:32 today]
FRI 15:50 World Business Express (w3ct8d0w)
Expect global markets to fall - says Bank of England
The Bank of England expects stock markets around the world to fall as share prices are not reflecting the many risks facing the world economy, so says the Bank of England Deputy Governor and head of financial stability Sarah Breeden. It is unusual for a senior figure at the Bank to be so forthright on market movements. Breeden, who is also the Bank's head of financial stability, declined to say when she expected markets to fall or by how much, but pointed to a number of factors that markets seemed complacent about.
The Chinese artificial intelligence company, DeepSeek, has released a preview version of its long-awaited new model, allowing users to test its capabilities and features. DeepSeek introduced its first open source model last year, causing turmoil in western tech markets because of its matching capabilities with American rivals and low cost.The firm says its V3 model achieves strong performance against others.
And one of the world’s biggest car shows has been showcasing the very latest electric car technology. The timing of the Beijing show is pivotal - as the Iran war pushes up fuel prices, global demand for EVs is accelerating.
Presenter: Leanna Byrne
Senior producer: Craig Henderson
FRI 16:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn93mf)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 16:06 Outside Source (w1730c69yn9zsh6)
BBC investigation on Epstein using London flats
A BBC investigation has found that the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein housed women who say he abused them in several London flats in the years after UK police decided not to investigate him. Our reporter explains.
Our film expert explains why a new film about Michael Jackson is set to be a controversial hit.
We find out about the situation in Lebanon after the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah was exended.
A huge, unstable chunk of glacier is blocking the route up Mount Everest from Base Camp in Nepal just as peak climbing season gets under way in the Himalayas. Our global affairs reporter explains.
Russian authorities have been tightening control of the country's cyber space. Access to global messaging apps has been restricted and there are widespread disruptions to, even shutdowns of, mobile internet. Our Russia Editor Steve Rosenberg gives details.
Presenter: James Reynolds
(Photo: Jeffrey Epstein is seen in this image released by the Department of Justice in Washington, DC, US, 19 December, 2025 Credit: US Justice Department/Reuters)
FRI 17:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn97ck)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 17:06 Outside Source (w1730c69yn9zx7b)
Iran's foreign minister heads to Pakistan for talks
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth says Iran has a chance to "make a good, wise deal", adding that the US naval blockade of Iranian ports "is growing and going global". Iran has confirmed that the country's foreign minister will head to Pakistan tonight for talks. We speak to our Chief International Correspondent Lyse Doucet who has been reporting this week from Tehran.
We get reaction to comments by Kenyan President William Ruto, who has faced a social media backlash after publicly suggesting that Nigerian accented English was incomprehensible and required a translator.
Paris has held its first ever Modest Fashion Week this month - hosting nearly 30 designers whose collections include loose, long-cut garments and headscarves. We speak to designers and to our reporter there.
Presenter: James Reynolds
(Photo: Iranian Foreign Minster Abbas Araghchi addresses a special session of the Conference on Disarmament at the United Nations, aside of US-Iran talks in Geneva, Switzerland, 17 February, 2026. Credit: Pierre Albou/Reuters)
FRI 18:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn9c3p)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 18:06 Outlook (w3ct8hpc)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:06 today]
FRI 18:50 Witness History (w3ct98dh)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:50 today]
FRI 19:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn9gvt)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 19:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqg2d3mwx2)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
FRI 19:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nldg27zv46)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
FRI 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct8rgg)
2026/04/24 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 (w1730nkl0bn9lly)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 20:06 BBC Conversations (w3ct8m3h)
Meet the preppers
Sometimes the world can seem a scary and dangerous place. So how prepared are you for when things go wrong?
We’ve lived through the Covid pandemic, and you don’t have to doomscroll for long to find other threats ranging from natural disasters and cyber-attacks to nuclear conflict or the existential threat of climate change.
But a growing number of people are preparing for almost any kind of emergency and are ready to protect their loved ones. They are known as ‘preppers’ and, in our conversation, we bring together four of them.
“A lot of people talk about preparedness like it’s stockpiling fear but it’s actually stockpiling peace,” Kellene tells host James Reynolds. “It’s a way of life, not a destination.”
The prepper – or survivalist – movement was once quite niche, today it’s much more mainstream. Our guests share their plans, offer advice and discuss the stereotypes.
“Most people do think we’re a little bonkers till an event happens that impacts their life,” Krystal says.
Presenter: James Reynolds
BBC producers: Isabella Bull and Lindsay Brown
Boffin Media producer: Richard Hollingham
Editors: Harriet Oliver and Arja Haikonen
A Boffin Media production in partnership with the BBC World Service Outside Source team.
(Photo: Derrick James)
FRI 20:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nldg27zywb)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
FRI 20:32 CrowdScience (w3ct8k6s)
Do animals hold funerals?
CrowdScience listeners Dougie and Molly have been wondering what happens to animals when they die, and whether there are animals that hold rituals to mark the passing of one of their kin.
Presenter Caroline Steel is on the case, trying to work out what happens to the bodies of animals when they die. Dougie and Molly say they rarely see animal carcasses where they live - so where do they all go?
Dr Sarah Perkins of Cardiff University in the UK runs a research project called Roadlab, which logs how quickly the bodies of animals killed by traffic disappear, and she thinks she might have a clue. Caroline joins her on a hunt through the undergrowth for animals, and answers.
And when animals lose a member of their flock, herd or school, do they indulge in rituals that look anything like a funeral? Caroline meets Dr Kaeli Swift, an ecologist at the University of Washington in the US, who has some surprising evidence from her research into bereaved crows.
Meanhile, in Botswana, Mathale ‘Metal’ Mosheti is a safari guide in Chobe National Park. The African Savannah Elephants there demonstrate some remarkable behaviour when another elephant dies. But do animals really grieve for their loved ones? Dr Barbara J. King, Emerita Professor of Anthropology at William & Mary University in the US, has some ideas. But is it enough to answer Dougie and Molly’s question?
Presenter: Caroline Steel
Producer: Tom Bonnett
Editor: Ben Motley
(Photo: Little red sick bird canary inside a wheelbarrow pushed by a lizard. Credit: Fernando Trabanco/Getty Images)
FRI 21:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn9qc2)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 21:06 Newshour (w1730bmz0nqbjl4)
US delegation will travel to Pakistan for peace talks with Iran
The White House says President Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and son in law, Jared Kushner will travel to Pakistan for peace talks with Iran.
Also on the programme, from inside Russia, a look at the Kremlin's tightening grip on the internet; and, Ringo Starr on his new country album.
(Photo: Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, Special Envoy for Peace Missions listen as Vice President JD Vance speaks during a news conference after meeting with representatives from Pakistan and Iran, Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Islamabad, Pakistan. Jacquelyn Martin/Pool via REUTERS)
FRI 22:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn9v36)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 22:06 The Interview (w3ct98k0)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:06 today]
FRI 22:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nldg2806cl)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
FRI 22:32 Heart and Soul (w3ct983g)
[Repeat of broadcast at
04:32 today]
FRI 23:00 BBC News (w1730nkl0bn9yvb)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
FRI 23:06 The Newsroom (w1730bqg2d3ncwl)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
FRI 23:30 BBC News Summary (w1730nldg280b3q)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
FRI 23:32 World Business Report (w3ct8fkk)
US consumer confidence and electric vehicles
US consumers are feeling less confident about their economy than at any other time. We hear from researchers and businesses about why war in the Middle East is making households fearful of the cost of living and rising energy prices.
And, we hear from one of the bosses of electric vehicle giant BYD about how it's performing amid the global shift away from fossil fuels.
Also, how table-top board game Warhammer is riding the zeitgeist to win new fans.
Photo:Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA/Shutterstock