SATURDAY 01 MARCH 2025

SAT 00:00 BBC News (w172zgfm0cwfj0w)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 00:06 Unexpected Elements (w3ct5q37)
Topsy turvy

Unexpected Elements has a shake up looking into the topsy turvy world of science, all thanks to an upturned campervan in Western France.

Explore why scientists are suspending rhinos from cranes, brace yourself for a quirky elementary particle that is hard to get your head around and if you love getting yourself in a tizz then fasten your seatbelts to meet one of the scientists responsible for curating the perfect theme park thrills. Professor Brendan Walker is sure to inject a scientific rush that will make you question who you take on your next roller coaster ride.

Crack open the World Service archives to delve into the curious world of cryonics, exploring the science behind preserving bodies in suspended animation.

And, have you wondered what your favourite music genre says about you? We uncover the surprising psychology behind your musical tastes.

Presenters: Caroline Steele, with Andrada Fiscutean and Phillys Mwatee.
Producers: Harrison Lewis, with William Hornbrook, Debbie Kilbride and Noa Dowling


SAT 01:00 BBC News (w172zgfm0cwfms0)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 01:06 Business Matters (w172zbfz6z6rwxw)
Is this the end for any US-Ukraine deal?

Unprecedented scenes in the White House as President Trump and President Zelensky get into a furious row in front of the cameras, which have likely ended any immediate prospect of a deal on peace, or Ukraine's minerals.

What will it mean for Kyiv's security, America's role in Europe, and Russia's territorial ambitions?

Also the consequences of Donald Trump's plans to make English the official US language, we hear if it could affect some businesses.

Meanwhile, why Africa is taking steps to protect its offshore internet cables, and 'fat finger' failures - how one mistakenly turned $280 into $81trillion.

Global business news, with live guests and contributions from Asia and the USA.


SAT 02:00 BBC News (w172zgfm0cwfrj4)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqsxfv6yxg)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SAT 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggfg3h43sj)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 02:32 Stumped (w3ct5wj2)
Stumped: 500 not out!

This week is our 500th episode of Stumped. The show has been going for ten years, so Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma reflect on how the game has changed and developed over the last decade.

India and New Zealand are through to the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy at the expense of Bangladesh and Pakistan. We look at where it went wrong for the hosts and celebrate India’s Virat Kohli who became the fastest player to score 14,000 One Day International runs. And after England's defeat against Afghanistan to knock them out of the tournament, we ask if Jos Buttler should remain as captain?

Plus, after 16-year-old G Kamalani hit the winning runs for the Mumbai Indians in the Women's Premier League, we look at the pressure on young cricketers. Vice President of the Western Region Junior Cricket Association, Vanessa Pereira joins us and tells us she is worried about the risk of burnout in aspiring players.

Photo: Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma reunited (Credit: Alison Mitchell)


SAT 03:00 BBC News (w172zgfm0cwfw88)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 03:06 Outlook (w3ct69b5)
Outlook Mixtape: Bollywood, Nollywood, Hollywood

Hakeem Onilogbo – aka Hakeem Effect – used his passion for drawing and inspiration from a mysterious figure in his dreams to find fame and fortune in Nollywood.

Karan Soni and Roshan Sethi's real-life love story inspired their film A Nice Indian Boy. The success of this Hollywood rom-com has healed many family rifts on the way.

Diver Chris Lemons became tangled in a cord when he was at the bottom of the North Sea in Scotland. He managed to survive for around 35 minutes without any air. Now his experiences have inspired a feature film. This interview was first broadcast in 2021.

Presenter: Saskia Collette
Producer: Harry Graham

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

(Photo: Cassette tape. Credit: Getty Images)


SAT 03:50 Witness History (w3ct5yfy)
Africa’s stolen Metis children

In 1953, in what was then the Belgian Congo, four-year-old Marie-José Loshi was forcibly removed from her family’s village and taken more than 600km away to live in a Catholic institute.

The cause of her kidnapping was the colour of her skin. Under Belgium’s colonial rule, thousands of mixed-race children were taken from their homes and separated from their families. The state hoped the actions would quash any sense of revolt against the colony.

More than 70 years later, Marie-José and four other women took on the former colonial power, seeking justice for themselves and the many other mixed-race children that suffered the same fate. She speaks to Kaine Pieri.

Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more.

Recent episodes explore everything from football in Brazil, the history of the ‘Indian Titanic’ and the invention of air fryers, to Public Enemy’s Fight The Power, subway art and the political crisis in Georgia. We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: visionary architect Antoni Gaudi and the design of the Sagrada Familia; Michael Jordan and his bespoke Nike trainers; Princess Diana at the Taj Mahal; and Görel Hanser, manager of legendary Swedish pop band Abba on the influence they’ve had on the music industry. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the time an Iraqi journalist hurled his shoes at the President of the United States in protest of America’s occupation of Iraq; the creation of the Hollywood commercial that changed advertising forever; and the ascent of the first Aboriginal MP.

(Photo: Marie-José Loshi. Credit: Marie-José Loshi)


SAT 04:00 BBC News (w172zgfm0cwg00d)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 04:06 Unexpected Elements (w3ct5q37)
[Repeat of broadcast at 00:06 today]


SAT 05:00 BBC News (w172zgfm0cwg3rj)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 05:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqsxfv7b4v)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SAT 05:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggfg3h4h0x)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 05:32 Diddy On Trial (w3ct7m4w)
Diddy lawyer quits plus outlandish necromancy claims

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’s legal team say he’s been ‘singled out because of his race’ and ask for a charge to be dropped. Meanwhile one of his attorneys, Anthony Ricco, leaves the case.

Plus how unsubstantiated necromancy conspiracy theories about Diddy have gone wild on social media.

Diddy remains in jail, awaiting trial on three federal charges of transportation for prostitution, sex trafficking and racketeering with conspiracy. He denies all charges.

Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty is joined by Cheyenne Roundtree who’s Senior Investigative Reporter at Rolling Stone Magazine and Criminal Defence Attorney Shaun Kent.

The Diddy on Trial podcast is here to investigate the rumours, confront the theories, and give you the answers that you need.

We also want YOU to be part of the conversation. Have you any burning questions about the cases or the upcoming trial? Heard a theory that doesn’t sit right with you? Get in touch now via WhatsApp: +44330 123 555 1.

Presenter: Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty
Series Producer: Laura Jones
Sound Design: Richard Hannaford
Production Coordinator: Hattie Valentine
Editor: Clare Fordham

Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts


SAT 05:50 More or Less (w3ct5trk)
Has the US really given Ukraine more aid than Europe?

As negotiations to end the Ukraine war rumble on, Donald Trump seems equally interested in talking about the past, repeatedly claiming that the US has given much more aid to Ukraine than Europe has, and that Europe’s aid took the form of a loan that they’ll be getting back.

Emmanuel Macron has publicly contradicted the US President - so who’s correct?

Nathan Gower speaks to Taro Nishikawa, project lead at the Kiel Institute’s Ukraine Support Tracker to get the true picture.

Presenter / Producer: Nathan Gower
Editor: Richard Vadon
Sound Engineer: James Beard


SAT 06:00 BBC News (w172zgfm0cwg7hn)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 06:06 Weekend (w172zcxgvchfhdh)
Trump-Zelensky clash at White House

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has clashed with US President Donald Trump and Vice-President JD Vance in extraordinary exchanges in the Oval Office. President Trump bluntly accused Zelensky of "gambling with World War Three", while Zelensky said there should be "no compromises" with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Also on the programme: This week hundreds of Syrians gathered in Damascus for a long-delayed national dialogue, and we hear from Hind Kabawat, one of seven members of the preparatory committee.

Joining presenter Paul Henley to discuss these and other stories of the day are Sabra Ayres, an American journalist and media trainer, and Camille Grand, former Assistant Secretary General for Defence Investment at NATO.

(Photo: U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House in Washington, D.C on February 28, 2025. Credit: REUTERS/Brian Snyder)


SAT 07:00 BBC News (w172zgfm0cwgc7s)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 07:06 Weekend (w172zcxgvchfm4m)
Fred Fleitz: Trump has 'left the door open to resuming talks with Zelensky'

Fred Fleitz, who served as a National Security Council Chief of Staff during Trump’s first term in office has told the BBC that he believes there are already negotiations underway to start a second meeting between Zelensky and Trump after the explosive exchanges between the two leaders in the Oval Office.

Also on the programme: Steve Rosenberg, the BBC's Russia Editor, gives us the view from Moscow as Russians adjust to the dramatic change in America's attitude to their nation and leader; and we hear from Oleksandr Merezhko, deputy chair of the Ukrainian parliament's foreign affairs committee and a member of Zelensky's party, about the tense exchange between Trump and the Ukrainian president, and the upcoming meeting between Zelensky and European leaders.

Joining presenter Paul Henley to discuss these and other stories of the day are Sabra Ayres, an American journalist and media trainer, and Camille Grand, former Assistant Secretary General for Defence Investment at NATO.

(Photo: US President Donald Trump (R) meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC on 28 February 2025. Credit: JIM LO SCALZO/POOL/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)


SAT 08:00 BBC News (w172zgfm0cwggzx)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 08:06 Weekend (w172zcxgvchfqwr)
European leaders rally around Ukraine after Zelensky-Trump clash

The French President Emmanuel Macron, the German chancellor Olaf Scholz, President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen are among those who've expressed support for Ukraine. It comes as Zelensky is due to meet European allies at a summit in London on Sunday.

Also on the programme: The first phase of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is due to expire today, with no agreement on any extension despite talks with mediators in Cairo; and as Hollywood prepares for the Oscars ceremony, we hear from the Russian-speaking community of Brighton Beach in New York, the location where Anora, a film tipped to take home some top trophies, is set.

Joining presenter Paul Henley to discuss these and other stories of the day are Sabra Ayres, an American journalist and media trainer, and Camille Grand, former Assistant Secretary General for Defence Investment at NATO.

(Photo: French President Emmanuel Macron (R) shakes hand with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (L), upon his arrival at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France on 10 October 2024. Credit: CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)


SAT 09:00 BBC News (w172zgfm0cwglr1)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 09:06 BBC OS Conversations (w3ct5rd0)
Polyamorous relationships

A video of American R&B singer Ne-Yo kissing three of his girlfriends backstage has had loads of attention and highlighted the practice of polyamory. This is when people have several partners at once and are completely open about it.

To find out more, we bring together four polyamorous men and women in the US and the UK to tell us what their lives are like.

“I’m in a relationship with someone I’ve been with for nearly three years,” says Leanne. “I have another partnership that’s been going on for half a year and I also have various lovers, friends with benefits, close friends etc, who have been around for various lengths of time. My longest connection right now is a casual one that’s been going on for about nine years.”

For Stewart, who is married to Molly, the decision to be polyamorous is clear.

“Life is too short,” he says. “When it really comes down to the philosophy of it, you’re here to meet and understand and encounter as many people and experiences as you can. I found that the more people I met, the more I understood myself and the more I understood my marriage.”

Apart from the positives, we also hear about the stigma and the jealousy that can arise from having more than one partner.

Hosted by Luke Jones. Conversation by Andrew Peach
Producer: Sue Nelson and Iqra Farooq
A Boffin Media production in partnership with the BBC OS team

(Photo: Singer Ne-Yo and three of his partners. Credit: Prince Williams/Getty Images)


SAT 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggfg3h4z0f)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 09:32 Pick of the World (w3ct5v1x)
What are the 'dark Indonesia' protests?

Our top social media post looks at anti-government demonstrations in cities like Jakarta. Plus, CrowdScience asks if anything is truly random? And lots of you want to know more about the "planetary parade".


SAT 09:50 Over to You (w3ct5tv4)
Exploring tales of data and discovery in Uncharted

Professor Hannah Fry recently explored tales of data and discovery in her series Uncharted - running as part of the Discovery programme. We hear listeners’s feedback to this numerical investigation and we are joined by the series producer.

Plus, a listener asks why imperial measurements are used in BBC reports when most of the world do not use this system?

Presenter: Rajan Datar
Producer: Howard Shannon
A Whistledown production for the BBC World Service


SAT 10:00 BBC News (w172zgfm0cwgqh5)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 10:06 Sportshour (w3ct5qc2)
The Snowbok arrives!

Step aside the Springboks, because South Africa's new sporting hero is... the Snowbok! On Wednesday Matt Smith became only the 16th South African in Winter Olympic history to qualify for the Games. He was competing at the World Nordic Championships, finishing high enough in the cross country skiing discipline to seal his place in Milan for next year's Olympics... Shortly after he got off the slope, and just before heading to the airport, Matt told Sportshour all about a crazy few years, and achieving his dream.

You might think what with the Super Bowl fresh in the memory that the sport of American Football is taking it easy, feet up after a hard season... but actually that couldn't be further from the truth... This week those hoping to be the next generation of stars have been showing off their athletic ability at the "NFL Combine" One of the best placed people to explain all about it is Sports Agent Leigh Steinberg. Not least because Leigh is no regular agent. His track record of representing the top players is unrivalled and Tom Cruise played him in the Oscar winning movie 'Jerry Maguire'. Before he showed us behind the scenes of that famous phrase Leigh explained about what's been happening this week in Indianapolis.

Paul Hodgson fell ill as a baby and his life changed forever, but it was his local football team that offered him an escape from the harsh unforgiving world, and it helped him not just get by, but thrive against all the odds. A story about one man's love for his football club, and the love that club gave back, and the crucial difference it made to his life. Paul's detailed this inspiring story in an autobiography called For the Love of Darlo: My Life and Fifty Years Supporting Darlington FC

It’s the 5th round of the FA Cup this weekend and we’ll drop into the early kick-off very shortly where two of South London’s finest will face each other. But neither Crystal Palace nor Millwall have ever lifted the Cup... Unlike fellow South Londoners “Wanderers FC” who became the first side to win the competition way back in 1872. And after a golden era of success including winning the competition five times, the club folded in 1887. But over a century later, Wanderers FC has risen from the ashes. Mark Wilson is the club secretary and has been telling us about their FA Cup story.

Photo: Matt Smith trains ahead of the World Nordic Championships. (Credit: Torbjørn Husevåg/Torbs Media)


SAT 11:00 BBC News (w172zgfm0cwgv79)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqsxfv81mm)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SAT 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggfg3h56hp)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 11:32 Unspun World with John Simpson (w3ct5ycf)
Is Russia’s war in Ukraine nearing an endgame?

John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses whether Russia’s war in Ukraine is nearing an endgame, examines the implications of the surge in support for the right in the German elections and looks at the huge increase in government surveillance under the Taliban in Afghanistan.


SAT 12:00 BBC News (w172zgfm0cwgyzf)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 12:06 World Book Club (w3ct5r40)
Ottessa Moshfegh: My Year of Rest and Relaxation

Harriett Gilbert is joined by one of the boldest writers of her generation, Ottessa Moshfegh, to delve into her second novel My Year of Rest and Relaxation. This twisted Sleeping Beauty story is told from the perspective of an unnamed protagonist, a twentysomething art school graduate who, after the death of her parents, quits her gallery job to heal her pain by drugging herself into a year-long hibernation. Her only ties to the waking world are the bodega which she routinely slouches to for coffee, the most unscrupulous psychiatrist in New York, and her best friend, and object of contempt, Reva. We love this book because it’s a hypnotic, wickedly humorous character study of a woman who is broken, toxic, yet utterly fascinating. Even if you don’t take her to your heart, this character will linger in your mind every time you have a long lie in bed.

Image: Ottessa Moshfegh (Credit: Jake Belcher)


SAT 13:00 BBC News (w172zgfm0cwh2qk)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 13:06 Newshour (w172zb9dgmfdy6j)
Zelensky pleads with the US to 'stand more firmly' with Ukraine

President Zelensky has restated Ukraine's gratitude to the United States for its support since the Russian invasion, after President Trump accused him of being ungrateful in an angry clash at the White House. Mr Zelensky said Kyiv was still willing to sign a minerals deal with Washington but that his country needed US security guarantees. He said Russians were still killing Ukrainians and peace could only come when Ukraine had a strong position for negotiations. Mr Zelensky has landed in Britain and is due to meet the Prime Minister Keir Starmer ahead of a summit of European leaders in London.

Also in the programme: the Kurdish militant group, the PKK, has declared an immediate ceasefire with Turkey; and we look at some of the reasons behind why South Korean births increased last year for the first time in nearly a decade.

(Photo: Empty Ukraine-US press conference after Oval Office meeting. Credits: JIm Lo Scalzo/EPA)


SAT 14:00 BBC News (w172zgfm0cwh6gp)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 14:06 Sportsworld (w172zbnbl816hl4)
Live Sporting Action

It’s FA Cup fifth round weekend and Sportsworld will have live commentary of an all-Premier League tie at the Vitality Stadium as Bournemouth host Wolves. We’ll hear from the Bournemouth and Ghana winger Antoine Semenyo in the build-up. Lee James will be joined by former USA and Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Brad Friedel and the former England, Wolves and West Ham winger Matt Jarvis. Plus, we’ll also talk the big game in Serie A as leaders Inter take on second place Napoli.

England face South Africa and India face New Zealand in the final round of the Champions Trophy group stages. We’ll talk about those pivotal matches and look ahead to the semi-finals.

Super League and the NRL are in Las Vegas for a bumper day of Rugby League action, and we’ll discuss why and chat to those involved. Plus, it’s the start of the Moto GP season.

Photo: A view of the match ball prior to the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Norwich City and Brighton & Hove Albion at Carrow Road on January 11, 2025 in Norwich, England. (Credit: Getty Images)


SAT 18:00 BBC News (w172zgfm0cwhpg6)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 18:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqsxfv8wvj)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SAT 18:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggfg3h61ql)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 18:32 Diddy On Trial (w3ct7m4w)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:32 today]


SAT 18:50 Sporting Witness (w3ct5wft)
When Chelsea took on Tromsø in an Arctic blizzard

In the 1997 European Cup Winners’ Cup, FA Cup champions Chelsea played part-timers Tromsø at home – high in the Arctic north of Norway.

The match was at times reduced to a farce as the two sides struggled to cope with heavy snow. Chelsea's manager Ruud Gullit argued the game should have been stopped.

Tromsø defender Steinar Nilsen speaks to Lars Bevanger about the match - and the tricky conditions.

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: European Cup Winners Cup first leg match between Tromso and Chelsea at Tromso in Norway in 1997. Credit: Gary M Prior/Allsport via Getty Images)


SAT 19:00 BBC News (w172zgfm0cwht6b)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 19:06 The Inquiry (w3ct5xjp)
Do we need the International Criminal Court?

The International Criminal Court was founded to prosecute the world’s worst crimes—genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. It has secured historic convictions, but its effectiveness is under scrutiny.

US opposition has been a long-standing challenge. Donald Trump previously rejected the ICC’s legitimacy, and now, early in his second presidential term, he has imposed sanctions on its top prosecutor. The move echoes past tensions but raises new concerns about the court’s ability to function under external pressure.

The ICC also relies on member states to arrest and transfer suspects. A recent case in Italy has highlighted the court’s enforcement difficulties, as Italian authorities deported a Libyan suspect instead of extraditing him to The Hague. Such incidents fuel questions about the ICC’s global authority.

Despite its high-profile cases, the court has only secured 11 convictions in 23 years. Its slow trials and high costs have drawn criticism, leading some to question whether reform—or even an alternative—is needed. But with 125 member states still backing its mission, is the ICC an institution the world can afford to lose?

Contributors:
Dr Viviane Dittrich, Deputy Director of the International Nuremberg Principles Academy in Germany
Gerry Simpson, Professor of International Law at the London School of Economics in the UK
 Rachel Kerr, Professor of War and Society at King's College London in the UK
 Mark Kirsten, Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice and Criminology at the University of the Fraser Valley in British Columbia, Canada

Presented by Charmaine Cozier
Produced by Louise Clarke and Bara’atu Ibrahim
Editor Tara McDermott
Technical Producer Toby James
Production co-ordinator Liam Morrey

Image credit: Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images


SAT 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggfg3h65gq)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 19:32 Happy News (w3ct5sqy)
The Happy Pod: Learning to play the guitar one handed

Tony Romaine has taught himself how to play the guitar with one arm, after a stroke left him unable to walk or speak. Plus, Ilona Maher on using social media to spread positivity and the 105-year-old raver.

Presenter: Alex Ritson
Music: Iona Hampson


SAT 20:00 BBC News (w172zgfm0cwhxyg)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 20:06 The Arts Hour (w3ct5qkv)
Nikki Bedi presents an Arts Hour packed with Oscar Nominees

Nikki Bedi presents a stunning selection of guests in an Arts Hour packed with Oscar Nominees. Actors, writers, directors and songwriters...
Actor Adrien Brody and director Brady Corbet on their film The Brutalist nominated for ten Oscars!

Nikki in conversation with Director Sean Baker and actor Mikey Madison talking about Anora.
Ariana Grande Butera talking to her about Wicked....

Also the writer, director and star of A Real Pain, Jesse Eisenberg along with Kieran Culkin

Cynthia Erivo talks about prepping for role as Elphaba in Wicked

Walter Salles the director of I’m Still Here nominated in the best International Feature category

James Mangold, who directed Timothee Chalamet as Bob Dylan for A Complete Unknown

Coralie Fargeat, director of The Substance starring Demi Moore

And Elton John and Brandi Carlile talk about their songwriting collaboration behind the biopic Never Too late

(Photo: Oscar statuettes at the 95th Annual Academy Awards. Credit: Al Seib/AMPAS/Getty Images)


SAT 21:00 BBC News (w172zgfm0cwj1pl)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 21:06 Newshour (w172zb9dgmffx5k)
Zelensky visits UK after Trump row

The Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky received a warm reception and words of support from Prime Minister Keir Starmer a day after his televised spat at the White House. So how far Europe is prepared to go in its support for Ukraine? We speak to a former British diplomat and a European politician with opposing views.

Also in the programme: North Korea reopens its borders to Western tourists; and how an Oscar-nominated film has shone a light on the Russian-speaking community in New York state.

(Image: Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky shake hands during a bilateral meeting at 10 Downing Street. Credit: Reuters)


SAT 22:00 BBC News (w172zgfm0cwj5fq)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 22:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqsxfv9cv1)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SAT 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggfg3h6jq3)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 22:32 This Is Africa (w3ct5y6b)
Trace Awards Zanzibar

Join DJ Edu and a dazzling range of musicians and key players in the African music industry at this year’s Trace Music Awards. Yemi Alade, Rema and Dbanj from Nigeria, Fally Ipupa from DRC, Bien from Kenya, Joshua Baraka from Uganda and Philbill from Cameroon were just a few of the artists performing, alongside a strong showing from the host country Tanzania. Harmonize, Zuchu, Marioo, Alikiba and the king himself, Diamond Platnumz, were all in attendance.

The Trace Awards was launched last year with a lavish event in Kigali, Rwanda, and this time around the location is a beachfront resort in Zanzibar, Tanzania.

As you’ll discover, this event is about far more than handing out prizes. It took place over three days, and it was a rare opportunity for artists from all over the continent to meet each other face to face, make music together, share experiences and collaborate with producers, sponsors, representatives of record labels, and the media to maximize the potential of their creativity.

There were panel discussions including one in which upcoming artists Chelsea Dinorath from Angola and Abigail Chams from Tanzania spoke eloquently about the challenges female musicians face and what needs to change. Both women are featured in this edition.

Photo: DJ Edu with Ghana’s Black Sherif in Zanzibar


SAT 23:00 BBC News (w172zgfm0cwj95v)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SAT 23:06 The Documentary (w3ct7mvy)
The flight of the vulture

With their fearsome talons, acid poo and a penchant for rotting carcasses, the vulture has long been shouldered with associations of death, and dishonour. This taboo often puts them bottom of the list for conservation projects. Nevertheless, they are a keystone animal in every environment they live in. And in nearly every one, they're in trouble.

Conservationist Sacha Dench travels visits three different vulture species, each with an extraordinary story of persecution and survival.

In India, vulture populations collapsed by 99.9%, the sharpest decline of any animal ever recorded, in the 'Indian Vulture Crisis'. Debbie Pain and Chris Bowden describe the urgent international collaborative effort that brought them back from the very brink of extinction.

In South Africa, the White Backed Vulture has become collateral damage in the ongoing war between poachers and game-keepers. Sacha meets Kerri Wolter and Alistair Sinclair of Vulpro, the organisation that’s rescuing and rehabilitating these innocent bystanders.

Finally, in Guinea-Bissau, vultures are the victim of cultural practices which see their bodies as having magical properties. Sacha talks to Jose Tavares from the Vulture Conservation Foundation, and Andre Botha from the IUCN Vulture Group, who reveals the cultural practices which put the birds at risk.


SAT 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggfg3h6ng7)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SAT 23:32 Assignment (w3ct5mv4)
Road wars: Cycling in Paris

On 15 Oct 2024, a 27-year-old cyclist was killed in a bike lane in Paris. His name was Paul Varry. He was run over by a car after an argument with a driver. What happened to Paul was extreme, but it resonated with many Parisians. For Paris is undergoing a cycling revolution. The city has created a vast network of bike lanes, introduced new restrictions for cars. The number of cyclists has soared. But there have also been conflicts, as cars, bikes and pedestrians try to navigate the new balance of power. So is Paris’s plan working? Is this transformation the future for other major cities? Anna Holligan goes to Paris for Assignment, to find out.

Presenter: Anna Holligan
Producer: Alex Last
Paris producer/translator: Léontine Gallois
Sound mix: Neil Churchill
Production Coordinator: Gemma Ashman
Editor: Penny Murphy

(Image: A man rides a bicycle near the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Credit: Reuters/Gonzalo Fuentes)

SUNDAY 02 MARCH 2025

SUN 00:00 BBC News (w172zgfm0cwjdxz)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 00:06 BBC OS Conversations (w3ct5rd0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:06 on Saturday]


SUN 00:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggfg3h6s6c)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 00:32 Diddy On Trial (w3ct7m4w)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:32 on Saturday]


SUN 00:50 Sporting Witness (w3ct5wft)
[Repeat of broadcast at 18:50 on Saturday]


SUN 01:00 BBC News (w172zgfm0cwjjp3)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 01:06 The Inquiry (w3ct5xjp)
[Repeat of broadcast at 19:06 on Saturday]


SUN 01:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggfg3h6wyh)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 01:32 The Fifth Floor (w3ct69jy)
Are Korean beauty products too light?

The Korean skincare industry is booming around the world, but some brands faced backlash because of the lack of products for people with darker skin tones. Korean journalist Soo Min Kim looked into how companies responded and spoke to the influencers driving this change. Plus, can radio help save a farmer's livelihood? Boyd Chibale from BBC Media Action in Zambia talks about the work they've done to help local communities cope with droughts and power cuts; and the art of balancing rocks, as filmed by video journalist Shardul Kadam who worked on this story for BBC Marathi.

Presented by Faranak Amidi. Produced by Alice Gioia, Caroline Ferguson and Hannah Dean.

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


SUN 02:00 BBC News (w172zgfm0cwjnf7)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqsxfv9vtk)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SUN 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggfg3h70pm)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 02:32 Health Check (w3ct5tb0)
Improving global encephalitis care

Encephalitis can be a debilitating condition, but many people have never even heard of it. A new global report looks at how we can improve diagnosis and treatment.

Also on the program, new research seems to indicate that antidepressents might speed cognitive decline in dementia patients, but do they really? We take a closer look at some of the caveats. And a gene therapy for toddlers who have gone blind is showing some promise, we’ll look into what this could mean for future treatments.

Presenter: Claudia Hammond
Producer: Katie Tomsett and Margaret Sessa-Hawkins


SUN 03:00 BBC News (w172zgfm0cwjs5c)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 03:06 World Book Club (w3ct5r40)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Saturday]


SUN 04:00 BBC News (w172zgfm0cwjwxh)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 04:06 From Our Own Correspondent (w3ct5sk4)
Trump, Putin and the new global order

Pascale Harter presents stories from Russia, the occupied West Bank, the United States and India.

US relations with its Western allies have been upended recently amid a rapprochement between Washington and Moscow. The BBC’s Russia Editor Steve Rosenberg reveals how the warming of relations has been feted in the pro-Putin press, while ordinary Russians are seemingly more cautious.

As the first stage of the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel comes to an end, Israel's defence forces are in the midst of another major operation against armed Palestinian groups in the occupied West Bank. Paul Adams visited one of the region's refugee camps to see what impact Israel’s military action is having on the thousands of people forced to leave their homes.

US President Donald Trump has pledged to curb government waste by cutting spending. Under review are the billions of dollars set aside for research grants, intended for universities and scientific institutions. At the annual gathering of one of the country’s oldest scientific societies Sandra Kanthal found a decidedly dampened mood.

Each year, in the south Indian state of Kerala, ancient folk rituals, known as theyyams, are held in family estates and around temples. Sara Wheeler went to watch the dramatic spectacles, where performers become living embodiments of Hindu deities.

Image: Russian President Vladimir Putin walks during a wreath laying ceremony at the Unknown Soldier's Tomb, marking the Defender of the Fatherland Day. (Photo by Contributor/Getty Images)


SUN 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggfg3h785w)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 04:32 Amazing Sport Stories (w3ct6xm5)
The Legend of Takhti: Ep 1

Gholamreza Takhti is a hero. In Iran, a nation full of wrestlers and wrestling fans, he’s the most beloved wrestler of them all. But unexpectedly, tragically, the great champion is found dead in a hotel room in Tehran, in the early days of 1968.

Presenter Rana Rahimpour grew up with Takhti’s legend all around her; his image plasters her childhood memories. But now she wants to understand how Takhti, and wrestling, became so intertwined with Iranian history and why this man, amongst all others, became such a figurehead.

#AmazingSportStories


SUN 04:50 Sporting Witness (w3ct5wft)
[Repeat of broadcast at 18:50 on Saturday]


SUN 05:00 BBC News (w172zgfm0cwk0nm)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 05:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqsxfvb71y)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SUN 05:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggfg3h7cy0)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 05:32 The Documentary (w3ct7mvy)
[Repeat of broadcast at 23:06 on Saturday]


SUN 06:00 BBC News (w172zgfm0cwk4dr)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 06:06 Weekend (w172zcxgvchjd9l)
Starmer says he's spoken with Trump after his Oval Office exchange with Zelensky

The British prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer, said he'd spoken again with President Trump soon after giving the Ukrainian leader, Volodymyr Zelensky, a warm welcome to London for a summit with European leaders on Sunday. His latest call to Washington - the second in two days - follows the unprecedented public clash between Mr Zelensky and the US president at the White House.

Also on the programme: We reflect on this week's COP16 biodiversity conference in Rome with the meeting's president and Colombia's outgoing environment minister Susana Muhamad; and after the huge floods in Valencia last year, students and volunteers are attempting to save precious memories, belonging to those affected by the disaster.

Joining presenter Paul Henley to discuss these and other stories of the day are Doménica Ávila-Luna, an Ecuadorean-born analyst and researcher at King's College London, and Travis Elborough, a British author and cultural commentator.

(Photo: US President Donald Trump meeting UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer in the White House on Thursday February 27 2025. Credit: Carl Court/PA Wire)


SUN 07:00 BBC News (w172zgfm0cwk84w)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 07:06 Weekend (w172zcxgvchjj1q)
Zelensky to be joined by European and Canadian leaders in London summit

A summit is taking place in London on Sunday attended by European leaders, Ukrainian President Zelensky and Canadian prime minister, Justin Trudeau. They'll be discussing a peace plan for Ukraine, after Mr Zelensky left Washington on Friday with no deal.

Also on the programme: we ask why there was a dramatic swing in the Latino vote in favour of President Donald Trump in the US' November election; and is so-called "gentle parenting" the wrong approach?

Joining presenter Paul Henley to discuss these and other stories of the day are Doménica Ávila-Luna, an Ecuadorean-born analyst and researcher at King's College London, and Travis Elborough, a British author and cultural commentator.

(Photo: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky attends a bilateral meeting with British prime minister Sir Keir Starmer [not pictured] at 10 Downing Street in London ahead of a summit of European leaders on March 1, 2025. Credit: Peter Nicholls/Pool via REUTERS)


SUN 08:00 BBC News (w172zgfm0cwkcx0)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 08:06 Weekend (w172zcxgvchjmsv)
Peace plan for Ukraine and European security issues to be discussed at leaders' summit

European leaders, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau meet in London today to consider efforts to end the war in Ukraine as well as wider European security issues. The meeting has taken on added significance after the extraordinary public row at the White House between the Ukrainian leader, and President Trump and vice-president Vance.

Also on the programme: More than 50,000 people are thought to have fled from the current fighting in eastern DRC into Burundi; and ahead of the 97th Academy Awards ceremony in Hollywood we consider whether acting award categories should still be separated by gender.

Joining presenter Paul Henley to discuss these and other stories of the day are Doménica Ávila-Luna, an Ecuadorean-born analyst and researcher at King's College London, and Travis Elborough, a British author and cultural commentator.

(Photo: European Union flags and a Ukrainian flag flutter outside the EU Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium on February 24, 2025. Credit: REUTERS/Yves Herman)


SUN 09:00 BBC News (w172zgfm0cwkhn4)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 09:06 From Our Own Correspondent (w3ct5sk4)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:06 today]


SUN 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggfg3h7vxj)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 09:32 The Food Chain (w3ct5xp6)
Bouillon: The story of stock

John Laurenson explores the enduring appeal of stock. A century and a half ago, a butcher at the big Parisian food market Les Halles started selling beef broth – ‘bouillon’ in French - to the people who worked there. In a few years this had developed into what was perhaps the world’s first restaurant chain. By the end of the Nineteenth Century there were hundreds of ‘bouillons’ in Paris.

Today, with inflation making traditional French restaurants too expensive for many people, these big, affordable eateries are making a comeback.

The French aren’t, of course, the only people to discover the delights of this simple, warming, nourishing food. John learns how bouillon influenced Vietnam’s iconic dish, pho, as a result of the French colonial presence in the region in the 1800 and 1900s.

Producer/presenter: John Laurenson

(Image: A dish of stock with chicken and herbs with a ladle sticking out of it. Credit: Getty Images/BBC)


SUN 10:00 BBC News (w172zgfm0cwkmd8)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 10:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct5txd)
The artificial limbs bringing hope in Gaza

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that one in every 100 people in Gaza have a life-changing injury because of the conflict. It’s currently impossible for most to leave the strip and get medical treatment but a team of Jordanian medics has been able to enter Gaza and fit war victims with cutting-edge prosthetics which clip on quickly and easily. The BBC’s Yolande Knell in Jerusalem has been hearing from innovators, medics and those who are being helped about how the new technology works and how it could help in other parts of the world, either in conflict or in healthcare provision more generally.

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

Presenter: Myra Anubi
Reporter: Yolande Knell
Jerusalem producer: Anastassia Zlatopolskai
London producer: Craig Langran
Editor: Jon Bithrey
Sound mix: Annie Gardiner

(Image: A man in Gaza being assisted as he walks with a new prosthetic leg, BBC)


SUN 10:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggfg3h7znn)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 10:32 The Fifth Floor (w3ct69jy)
[Repeat of broadcast at 01:32 today]


SUN 11:00 BBC News (w172zgfm0cwkr4d)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqsxfvbyjq)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SUN 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggfg3h83ds)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 11:32 Amazing Sport Stories (w3ct6xm5)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


SUN 11:50 More or Less (w3ct5trk)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:50 on Saturday]


SUN 12:00 BBC News (w172zgfm0cwkvwj)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 12:06 BBC OS Conversations (w3ct5rd0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:06 on Saturday]


SUN 12:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggfg3h874x)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 12:32 Assignment (w3ct5mv4)
[Repeat of broadcast at 23:32 on Saturday]


SUN 13:00 BBC News (w172zgfm0cwkzmn)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 13:06 Newshour (w172zb9dgmfhv3m)
European leaders meet for Ukraine summit in London

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is hosting a meeting of European leaders to find a path towards ending the conflict in Ukraine while ensuring the continued support of the United States. We ask what prospects there are for real progress.

Also on the programme: Israel cuts off humanitarian aid to Gaza in a stand-off with Hamas over a proposal to extend the first phase of the ceasefire; and a private spacecraft known as Blue Ghost lands on the moon.

Photo: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer greets French President Emmanuel Macron as he arrives for a summit on Ukraine in London Credit: Christophe Ena/POOL/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock


SUN 14:00 BBC News (w172zgfm0cwl3cs)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 14:06 Sportsworld (w172zbnbl819dh7)
Live Sporting Action

The FA Cup fifth round continues with Sportsworld’s live commentary match an all Premier League tie as Newcastle host Brighton. We’ll also have updates as holders Manchester United face Fulham.

There’s an extended EuroStars as we focus on the big stories in European football, including reaction from Italy where the top two in Serie A go head to head while we also look ahead to the last-16 ties in the Champions League.

Plus, Champions Trophy cricket as the semi-final line up takes shape and we’ll have the latest from one of the biggest tennis tournaments outside of the Grand Slams as Indian Wells begins in the United States.

Photo: A general view prior to the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Newcastle United and Bromley at St James' Park on January 12, 2025 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Credit: Newcastle United via Getty Images)


SUN 18:00 BBC News (w172zgfm0cwllc9)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 18:06 The Climate Question (w3ct5wt3)
Why are some countries fighting extreme cold?

Climate change is usually associated with hotter weather, but experts say that in Mongolia it's making the country's cold snaps even harsher. Can Mongolian nomads survive much longer in extreme winter conditions known as "dzuds"? Or will the loss of their livestock and livelihoods force herders to abandon a way of life that dates back millennia?

Graihagh Jackson finds out more about the situation on the ground from Mongolian reporter Khaliun Bayartsogt, and explores possible solutions with Khulan Dashpuntsag from the UN-funded ADAPT project.

Presenter: Graihagh Jackson
Reporter in Mongolia: Khaliun Bayartsogt
Producers: Tsogzolmaa Shofyor, Octavia Woodward, Caroline Bayley, Ellie House
Sound Mix: Tom Brignell
Editor: Simon Watts

If you have a question, email us at the climatequestion@bbc.com or leave a WhatsApp message at +44 8000 321 721


SUN 18:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggfg3h8ymp)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 18:32 The Food Chain (w3ct5xp6)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:32 today]


SUN 19:00 BBC News (w172zgfm0cwlq3f)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqsxfvcxhr)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SUN 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggfg3h92ct)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 19:32 The Global Jigsaw (w3ct7mw1)
Life in occupied Ukraine: Donbas

Russia’s land grab playbook aimed at erasing local identity and russifying “liberated” territories. Three years into the full scale invasion of Ukraine, we ask what life is like in areas under Russian control. Part two focuses on Moscow’s efforts to assert itself in the separatist east.

Producer: Kriszta Satori
Presenter: Krassi Twigg


SUN 20:00 BBC News (w172zgfm0cwltvk)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 20:06 Unexpected Elements (w3ct5q37)
[Repeat of broadcast at 00:06 on Saturday]


SUN 21:00 BBC News (w172zgfm0cwlylp)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 21:06 Newshour (w172zb9dgmfjt2n)
'A crossroads in history'

Britain's prime minister says a number of countries have committed to a new plan to assist Ukraine - at a summit of European states that follows President Zelensky's row with Donald Trump.

Also today: the UN humanitarian chief says Israel's suspension of aid into Gaza violates international law; and Blue Ghost lands on the moon.

(Photo: Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer, President Volodymyr Zelensky, and allies attend the European leaders' summit to discuss European security and Ukraine in London, March 2, 2025 Credit: NTB/Javad Parsa/via REUTERS)


SUN 22:00 BBC News (w172zgfm0cwm2bt)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 22:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqsxfvd8r4)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


SUN 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggfg3h9fm6)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 22:32 The Fifth Floor (w3ct69jy)
[Repeat of broadcast at 01:32 today]


SUN 23:00 BBC News (w172zgfm0cwm62y)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


SUN 23:06 The Climate Question (w3ct5wt3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 18:06 today]


SUN 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggfg3h9kcb)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


SUN 23:32 Pick of the World (w3ct5v1x)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:32 on Saturday]


SUN 23:50 Over to You (w3ct5tv4)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:50 on Saturday]

MONDAY 03 MARCH 2025

MON 00:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn5r537)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 00:06 From Our Own Correspondent (w3ct5sk4)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:06 on Sunday]


MON 00:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggftcsfjcm)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 00:32 Weekend Insights (w3ct6qdl)
.


MON 00:50 More or Less (w3ct5trk)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:50 on Saturday]


MON 01:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn5r8vc)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 01:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqt8q4jh7p)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 01:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggftcsfn3r)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 01:32 Discovery (w3ct5rp1)
The Life Scientific - Darren Croft

Darren Croft studies one of the ocean’s most charismatic and spectacular animals – the killer whale. Orca are probably best known for their predatory behaviour: ganging up to catch hapless seals or attack other whales. But for the last fifteen years, Darren Croft’s focus has been on a gentler aspect of killer whale existence: their family and reproductive lives .
Killer whales live in multi-generational family groups. Each family is led by an old matriarch, often well into her 80s. The rest of the group are her daughters and sons, and grand-children. Especially intriguing to Darren is that female orca go through something like the menopause - an extremely rare phenomenon in the animal kingdom, only documented in just five species of toothed whales and of course in humans. Halting female reproduction in midlife is an evolutionary mystery, but it is one which Darren Croft argues can be explained by studying killer whales.
Darren is Professor of Animal Behaviour at the University of Exeter. He talks to Jim Al-Kalili about his research on killer whales, his previous work revealing sophisticated social behaviour in fish, his life on the farm, and the downsides and upsides of being dyslexic.


MON 02:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn5rdlh)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqt8q4jlzt)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggftcsfrvw)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 02:32 CrowdScience (w3ct5rjj)
Whatever happened to tangerines?

It’s citrus season in the northern hemisphere, and fruit trees are bursting with oranges and lemons. But CrowdScience listener Jonathan wants to know what happened to the tangerines he ate as a child in the 1960s? He remembers a fruit that was juicy, sweet and full of pips, found each Christmas at the bottom of his stocking. Tangerines today, he thinks, just don't compare.

Crowdscience tries to track down this elusive fruit. Presenter Anand Jagatia traces the tangerine's origins back to Ancient China, as botanist David Mabberley explains that the name ‘tangerine’ comes from a fruit that made its way from Asia, to Africa and the Moroccan port of Tangier, before arriving in the US in the early 1800s. Professor Tracy Kahn from UC Riverside tells us about the hybridisation process that goes into breeding modern tangerines, but says that while the season for these fruits has been dramatically extended, there’s a cost in terms of diversity and flavour.

Who better to help us track down this missing mandarin than a fruit detective? Well, that’s one of pomologist David Karp’s other job titles, and he reveals exactly which cultivar we might be looking for: the Dancy. So where can we find one? Over on Friend’s Ranches in Ojai, California, Emily Ayala shows us two trees planted by her late grandfather, and explains that nothing grown since really matches its unique flavour.

So what will listener Jonathan think when we send him a box?

Presenter: Anand Jagatia
Producer: Marijke Peters
Editor: Cathy Edwards
Production Co-ordinator: Ishmael Soriano
Studio Manager: Jackie Margerum

(Image: Citrus oranges grow on tree, Hong Kong Credit: CHUNYIP WONG via Getty Images)


MON 03:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn5rjbm)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 03:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct5txd)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:06 on Sunday]


MON 03:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggftcsfwm0)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 03:32 Pick of the World (w3ct5v1x)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:32 on Saturday]


MON 03:50 Over to You (w3ct5tv4)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:50 on Saturday]


MON 04:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn5rn2r)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 04:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqt8q4jvh2)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggftcsg0c4)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 04:32 The Conversation (w3ct5x0x)
Fostering: Being a ‘bonus parent’

Millions of children globally are separated from their birth families. For many, foster care is the best option. Foster carers from Moldova and the US speak to Ella Al-Shamahi about the realities of caring for vulnerable children and why they’re pushing for change in the system.

Alina Druță is the president of Moldova Without Orphans, the Christian Alliance for Orphans Moldova and the national coordinator for child welfare at Open Gate International Moldova. She has been instrumental in introducing trust-based relational intervention to Moldova, an evidence-based approach that helps caregivers create safe and nurturing environments for children who have experienced trauma. Alina has worked with more than 70 young people over the past 12 years and is currently caring for six girls alongside her two biological children.

Whitney Jackson from the US decided to document her family's journey into fostering on YouTube with her channel Be The Village. It has grown into a community of over 100,000 subscribers. Whitney is passionate about changing the way the world sees the foster system as well as the children who are in care.

Produced by Emily Naylor and Hannah Dean

(Image: (L) Whitney Jackson courtesy Whitney Jackson. (R) Alina Druță courtesy Alina Druță.)


MON 05:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn5rrtw)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 05:06 Newsday (w172zbkjc1dkwhg)
Keir Starmer unveils plan to help Ukraine

The UK prime minister has outlined a plan for European leaders to try to end the war in Ukraine, with European troops deployed to secure a ceasefire.

The French president Emmanuel Macron has said the plan would involve a one-month ceasefire that would apply to air and sea attacks. We'll get reaction from Kyiv.

Arab mediators who helped to broker the Gaza ceasefire have condemned Israel's decision to block further aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip. We'll speak to a member of the Israeli parliament.

A BBC investigation has found that teenagers in Kenya have been involved in selling sexual content on live videos on TikTok.

The Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo tells the BBC her government will only hold direct talks with Rwanda, and not rebels who have captured a swathe of the east of the country.

And 'Anora', a comedy set in a murky world of New York strippers and Russian oligarchs, has won the coveted Oscar for best picture. We'll speak to our correspondent at one of the post-awards show parties.

(Photo: Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Lancaster House, London, March 2, 2025; Credit: PA)


MON 06:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn5rwl0)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 06:06 Newsday (w172zbkjc1dl07l)
Britain and France working on Ukraine solution

Can Europe's 'Coalition of the Willing' offer a real chance to end Russia's war on Ukraine without US support? We get reactions to the London summit that pledged more financial and military support to Ukraine.

As Muslims begin to mark the holy month of Ramadan, we speak to a Palestinian politician to get reaction to Israel's decision to halt humanitarian aid entering Gaza.

'Anora' makes history at this year's Oscars. The romantic comedy took five Oscars including 'Best Picture'. Mikey Madison, who stars as a stripper won 'Best Actress'.

And Tiktok is accused of selling sexual content in Kenya.

(Photo: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron, London, March 2, 2025; Credit: Reuters)


MON 07:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn5s0b4)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 07:06 Newsday (w172zbkjc1dl3zq)
Starmer unveils four-step plan for Ukraine

The UK prime minister has outlined a plan for European leaders to try to end the war in Ukraine, with European troops deployed to secure a ceasefire. We'll get reaction from Germany and Russia.

Donald Trump reveals the names of five cryptocurrencies that he says he'd like to be included in a new strategic reserve to make the US 'the Crypto Capital of the World'.

As Israel blocks further aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip, we speak to the father of one of the hostages released by Hamas under the first part of the ceasefire agreement.

The prime minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo tells the BBC her government will only hold direct talks with Rwanda, and not rebels who have captured a swathe of the east of her country.

(Photo: PM Keir Starmer and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, London, March 2, 2025; Credit: PA)


MON 08:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn5s428)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 08:06 HARDtalk (w3ct5t10)
Badiucao: Art, power and China

Stephen Sackur speaks to the dissident artist Badiucao, whose cartoons and drawings challenge President Xi Jinping and the Chinese state. He lives in exile in Australia, but does that mean he’s beyond Beijing’s reach?


MON 08:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggftcsghbn)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct5z7v)
Insuring the uninsurable

We hear from businesses in California, Fiji and the UK that have been hit hard by natural disasters like floods, wildfires and extreme storms - followed by rising insurance premiums - or companies refusing to insure them at all.

An alternative type of cover, parametric insurance, is being offered as a way of giving people some cover. But does it work for everyone?

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

Presented and produced by Lexy O'Connor

(Image: A view of flash flood in Daddu district southern Sindh province, Pakistan, on September 07, 2022. Credit: Farhan Khan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)


MON 08:50 Witness History (w3ct5yj7)
The Calais 'Jungle' migrant camp

In 2015, Europe was in the grip of a migrant crisis, as more than one million people fled regions including the Middle East. Many set their sights on a new life in the UK. But, in order to get there, they had to cross the English Channel.

One of the most common methods was to hide aboard vehicles destined for Britain at the French port city of Calais. This led to the creation of a squalid migrant camp outside Calais, known as the "Jungle". It was populated by seven to ten thousand people at its largest.

Jean-Marc Puissesseau was head of the Port of Calais during the crisis. He speaks to Ben Henderson.

Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more.

Recent episodes explore everything from football in Brazil, the history of the ‘Indian Titanic’ and the invention of air fryers, to Public Enemy’s Fight The Power, subway art and the political crisis in Georgia. We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: visionary architect Antoni Gaudi and the design of the Sagrada Familia; Michael Jordan and his bespoke Nike trainers; Princess Diana at the Taj Mahal; and Görel Hanser, manager of legendary Swedish pop band Abba on the influence they’ve had on the music industry. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the time an Iraqi journalist hurled his shoes at the President of the United States in protest of America’s occupation of Iraq; the creation of the Hollywood commercial that changed advertising forever; and the ascent of the first Aboriginal MP.

(Photo: Chris Patten hands over flag during Honk Kong handover ceremony. Credit: Guillaume Pinon/NurPhoto via Getty Images)


MON 09:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn5s7td)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 09:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqt8q4kg6q)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggftcsgm2s)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 09:32 CrowdScience (w3ct5rjj)
[Repeat of broadcast at 02:32 today]


MON 10:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn5sckj)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 10:06 The History Hour (w3ct5n34)
Discovering the haemoglobin structure and the Nellie massacre

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

We hear about the moment Dr Max Perutz discovered the haemoglobin structure.

Our expert is Professor Sir Alan Fersht, who is a chemist at the Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology and knew Dr Perutz personally.

We also hear about 22 Inuit children from Greenland's indigenous population who were sent to Denmark as part of a social experiment in 1951.

Also, when mixed-raced children from the then Belgian Congo known as ‘métis’, were forcibly taken from their homes in 1953.

When an eruption of violence in Assam led to an estimated 3,000 being killed in the Nellie massacre of 1983.

Finally, the devastating impact of the 2010 tsunami in Chile and a woman who survived it.

This programme contains outdated language which some people might find offensive.

Contributors:
Lectures and programmes from the BBC archive
Professor Sir Alan Fersht - chemist at the Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology.
Helen Thiesen - a child in Denmark's Inuit children social experiment.
Marie-José Loshi - one of the mixed-race ‘métis’ who was forcibly removed from her home in the then Belgian Congo.
Bedabrata Lahkar - a journalist for the Assam Tribune newspaper at the time of the Nellie massacre.
Alison Campbell - a survivor of Chile’s 2010 tsunami.

(Photo: Dr Max Perutz and Dr Paul Kedrew. Credit: Hulton Deutsch/Contributor via Getty Images)


MON 11:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn5sh9n)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqt8q4kppz)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggftcsgvl1)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct6dmn)
Zelensky's diplomatic rollercoaster

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been on a diplomatic rollercoaster in the last few days. His meeting with Donald Trump descended into argument and accusation on Friday. Then, he was greeted with open arms by European leaders at a summit in London. Following that meeting, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced a new plan for Europe’s defence of Ukraine – but said it needs US support to succeed. So, where do this hectic series of events leave Zelensky? Is his relationship with Trump permanently damaged? And does he have any cards left to play?

On this episode, presenter Sumi Somaskanda speaks to the BBC’s diplomatic correspondent James Landale and the BBC's Daniel Wittenberg, who was in the Oval Office for the meeting between Trump and Zelensky.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at theglobalstory@bbc.com You can also message us or leave a voice note via Whatsapp on +44 330 123 9480.

(Picture: Volodomyr Zelensky at a summit with European leaders in London. Credit: Javad Parsa/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

Producers: Richard Moran and Peter Goffin

Sound engineer: Stephen Bailey

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: China Collins


MON 12:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn5sm1s)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 12:06 Outlook (w3ct5nrh)
Swimming blind: My journey to self-acceptance

Melanie Barratt was born with congenital toxoplasmosis which left her severely visually-impaired. As a teenager she excelled academically but found it hard to keep friends. She found solace in the swimming pool where again she shone, earning a chance to represent Team GB at the 1996 and 2000 Paralympic Games. Despite winning gold medals at both, her confidence in the pool did not extend to her social life, where she struggled with self-loathing. One constant source of support, however, was Melanie’s mother who continued to inspire her even after her death. It would take decades and a gruelling swim across the English Channel – earning a place in history – for Melanie finally to find peace.

Melanie's achievements are featured in the documentary Untethered, directed by Danielle Sellwood for Sky Sports New Focus.

Presenter: Jo Fidgen
Producer: Hetal Bapodra and June Christie

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

(Photo: Mel Barrett with her golden eye sits on a boat having refreshments after her Channel swim. Credit: Melanie Barratt/blind_girl_swims)


MON 12:50 Witness History (w3ct5yj7)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


MON 13:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn5sqsx)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 13:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqt8q4ky67)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 13:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggftcsh329)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 13:32 The Conversation (w3ct5x0x)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


MON 14:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn5svk1)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 14:06 Newshour (w172zb9dtwqqq10)
Zelensky tells Russia to stop attacking Ukraine

Russia says Western governments are fragmenting over the war in Ukraine. President Putin's spokesman said no coordinated peace plan was on the agenda yet. His remarks reflect recent divisions between President Trump and Ukraine and its supporters in Europe.

Also in the programme: Arab states and UN condemn Gaza aid blockade by Israel; Anora sweeps the board at the Oscars; and we speak to Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

(Photo: France, the UK and other European leaders met on Sunday to discuss Ukraine's security. Credit: EPA)


MON 15:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn5sz95)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 15:06 HARDtalk (w3ct5t10)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


MON 15:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggftcshbkk)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 15:32 World Business Report (w3ct5zzf)
European defence manufacturers' share prices jump

uropean defence manufacturers share prices jump, as investors expect many European countries to ramp up military spending.

Prices of several cryptocurrencies have risen after the US President announced he will launch a US crypto fund. US president says Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Solana, and Cardano will be included in ‘Crypto Strategic Reserve’.

And Will Bain hears about the call from the director of Oscar winning movie Onura. Sean Baker has called on people to support independent cinema by going back to the cinema.


MON 16:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn5t319)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 16:06 BBC OS (w172zbjkk38fr3n)
What next for the war in Ukraine?

We bring you the latest on the war in Ukraine as the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer updates parliament. It comes after a European leaders' summit with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky this weekend. What is the four-point plan they have in mind? We answer audience questions with our experts in the US, Europe and Ukraine.

We will hear the latest from the western German city of Mannheim where two people have been killed and several others injured after a car drove into a crowd.

And as we approach three months since the fall of President Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria, we speak to three people who have returned to the country, who tell us if they believe they can rebuild their lives in Syria.

Presenter: Mark Lowen.

(Photo: Screen grab of UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer speaking during a statement on Ukraine, in the House of Commons, London, Monday March 3, 2025. Credit: House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA Wire)


MON 17:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn5t6sf)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 17:06 BBC OS (w172zbjkk38fvvs)
Anora sweeps the board at the Oscars

At the Academy Awards in Hollywood, Anora -- a romantic comedy that cost just six million dollars to make -- has won the Oscar for Best Picture. There were also big wins for Iranian and Latvian cinema. We speak to film critics and producers from Brazil, the Dominican Republic and Iran.

We bring you the latest on the war in Ukraine as the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer updates parliament, following a European leaders' summit with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky this weekend. We speak to the BBC's UK political correspondent Rob Watson.

We are joined by BBC Verify colleagues who are looking into what military support for Ukraine could look like without US support.

Arab governments who helped to mediate the Gaza ceasefire have fiercely condemned Israel's decision to withhold aid supplies from the Gaza Strip. We speak to our Chief International correspondent Lyse Doucet.

Presenter: Mark Lowen

(Photo: Mikey Madison, winner of the Best Actress in a Leading Role for "Anora", poses in the press room at the 97th annual Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles, California, USA, 02 March 2025. Credit: CAROLINE BREHMAN/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)


MON 18:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn5tbjk)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 18:06 Outlook (w3ct5nrh)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 today]


MON 18:50 Witness History (w3ct5yj7)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


MON 19:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn5tg8p)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqt8q4lnp0)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggftcshtk2)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct5w4t)
2025/03/03 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 (w172zgfmcn5tl0t)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 20:06 From Our Own Correspondent (w3ct5sk4)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:06 on Sunday]


MON 20:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggftcshy96)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 20:32 Discovery (w3ct5rp2)
The Life Scientific - Ijeoma Uchegbu

Imagine a nanoparticle, less that a thousandth of the width of a human hair, that is so precise that it can carry a medicine to just where it’s needed in the body, improving the drug’s impact and reducing side effects.

Ijeoma Uchegbu, Professor of Pharmaceutical Nanoscience at University College London, has spent her career with this goal in mind. She creates nanoparticles to carry medicines to regions of the body that are notoriously hard to reach, such as the back of the eye and the brain. With clinical trials in the pipeline, she hopes to treat blindness with eyedrops, transform pain relief and tackle the opioid crisis.

Ijeoma took an unconventional route into science. Growing up in the UK and in Nigeria, she tells Professor Jim Al-Khalili her remarkable life story, from being fostered by a white family in rural Kent, while her Nigerian parents finished their studies, to struggling to pay the bills through her PhD as a single mum with young children.

So passionate is Ijeoma to spread her love of science, she’s even turned to stand-up comedy to help get her message across!


MON 21:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn5tpry)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 21:06 Newshour (w172zb9dtwqrk7x)
UK PM tries to bring the US and Europe together over Ukraine

But President Trump has implied that reliance on the US is naive and needy. Meanwhile Canada faces swingeing new tariffs from tomorrow. We hear from a senior politician.

Also on the programme: there's been another fatal car ramming attack in Germany, this time in the city of Mannheim; and why it took Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie, one of the world's most influential writers, ten years to produce her latest novel.

(Picture: UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in the House of Commons. Credit: Reuters)


MON 22:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn5ttj2)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 22:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqt8q4m0xd)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


MON 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggftcsj5sg)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 22:32 World Business Report (w3ct601p)
Trump confirms 25% tariffs on canada and Mexico

On the programme, we explore how businesses in the US are preparing as President Trump confirms he will impose 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada. We hear from the BBC's Erin Delmore, reporting from the North America Toy Fair—where many products originate from China. How will these tariffs impact the prices consumers pay?

Plus, chip-making giant TSMC is set to invest at least $100 billion in the United States to develop cutting-edge semiconductor manufacturing facilities.

And we look into former President Donald Trump’s plans to establish a U.S. cryptocurrency reserve—what’s driving this move?


MON 23:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn5ty86)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


MON 23:06 HARDtalk (w3ct5t10)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


MON 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggftcsj9jl)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


MON 23:32 The Conversation (w3ct5x0x)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]

TUESDAY 04 MARCH 2025

TUE 00:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn5v20b)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 00:06 The History Hour (w3ct5n34)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:06 on Monday]


TUE 01:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn5v5rg)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 01:06 Business Matters (w172zbfzl7j5fxb)
Trump halts military aid deliveries to Ukraine

US President Donald Trump has ordered a halt to all military aid deliveries to Ukraine. This decision follows closely on the heels of his intense meeting with President Zelensky at the White House.

Also on the programme, we examine reactions to Trump’s confirmation of a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico, as well as an additional 10% tariff on Chinese goods.

We discuss the broader implications of these measures, including their potential impact on U.S. consumer prices and the strategies Canadian manufacturers are adopting to cope with the increased costs.


TUE 02:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn5v9hl)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqt8q4mhwx)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggftcsjnrz)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 02:32 Assignment (w3ct5mv5)
Russia’s new war elite

Russians who sign up to fight in Ukraine earn big money in salaries and bonuses – and the Kremlin is even more generous to families of those killed in battle. Average compensation packages for a dead son or husband are worth about US$130,000. In less-wealthy Russian provinces, where most recruits are from, that’s enough to turn your life around. Reporter Arsenii Sokolov finds out how the relatives of the tens of thousands of men Russia has lost in the war are spending the money – and asks whether the pay-outs will help create a new “patriotic” middle class that supports Vladimir Putin.

He talks to a woman who’s used her “coffin money” to open a restaurant in memory of her dead son – and hears about a craze for ultra-expensive hair-dryers among wives and girlfriends of soldiers from Siberia.

Marrying soldiers has become so attractive that women on dating apps often search specifically for men in uniform.

But the compensation payouts are also fuelling furious court battles, when divorced or separated fathers who’ve played little role in child rearing suddenly reappear after their sons’ deaths and demand their share of the coffin money.

Besides the cash, there are many privileges offered to soldiers and their families, and to bereaved relatives of the fallen. Their children can go to university whatever their grades. And the Kremlin has started a programme called “Time of Heroes” that claims it will fast-track selected returning servicemen into elite positions in local politics and business. But can Putin’s attempt at social engineering really work? And will “deathonomics” – as one economist calls it – really boost the economy of the provinces that have suffered most from the huge death toll?

Presenter: Arsenii Sokolov
Producer: Tim Whewell
Sound engineer: Neil Churchill
Production Co-ordinator: Gemma Ashman
Editor: Penny Murphy

(Image: Russians pass a poster recruiting for tank-drivers to fight in Ukraine. Credit: EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)


TUE 03:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn5vf7q)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 03:06 Outlook (w3ct5nrh)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Monday]


TUE 03:50 Witness History (w3ct5yj7)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 on Monday]


TUE 04:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn5vjzv)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 04:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqt8q4mrd5)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggftcsjx87)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 04:32 In the Studio (w3ct5tm2)
Marcin Dudek: The Ground Harbours the Soul

Mark Burman follows artist Marcin Dudek as he works on his sound sculpture The Ground Harbours The Soul, which is made from the sounds of the crowd at Tottenham Hotspur stadium. Visitors get to experience all the highs and lows of fans watching a football game in real time.

The Ground Harbours the Soul is part of ReSilence, a S+T+ARTS project made possible with funding from HORIZON Europe.
Special thanks to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.


TUE 05:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn5vnqz)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 05:06 Newsday (w172zbkjc1dnsdk)
Trump pauses military aid to Ukraine

President Trump has ordered a pause to all military aid to Ukraine. Since Russia's full scale invasion, the US has supplied more money and weaponry to Kyiv than any other nation. The decision comes just days after a public row between Presidents Trump and Zelenskyy. We'll speak to a former US colonel.

The US is to impose trade tariffs on neighbours Canada and Mexico from today. The border taxes of twenty-five per cent are expected to disrupt trade across North America and push up prices for US consumers. Canada has already retaliated, announcing its own tariffs on US products.

The White House is also increasing border taxes on goods from China. Our business presenter will brief us on the global implications.

A leader of the M23 rebels who have swept through the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has told the BBC they will go all the way to the capital, if they come under attack from government forces.

We'll speak to researchers studying the microbiome, the bacteria in our stomachs that are increasingly seen by scientists as playing an important role in our overall health.


And the next mission by the private space venture, Blue Origin, will have an all female crew. We'll speak to one of them.


(Photo: Ukrainian marines attend military exercises in Dnipropetrovsk region, Ukraine February 24, 2025; Credit: Reuters)


TUE 06:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn5vsh3)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 06:06 Newsday (w172zbkjc1dnx4p)
Trump halts arms deliveries to Ukraine

President Donald trump has ordered a pause in arms deliveries to Ukraine. Washington has stressed this is not a termination. But how damaging could this be to the Ukrainian forces? We'll be speaking to an MP from President Zelenskyy's party.

Meanwhile, Mr Trump's long threatened tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada have came into force an hour ago, triggering an instant tit for tat response from Ottawa. We'll discuss the impact of this escalating trade war, as markets take a plunge.

Egypt hosts an Arab summit to discuss the reconstruction of Gaza, as Arab leaders come together to find alternative solutions to President Trump's plans to relocate the territory's residents in neighbouring countries.

The leader of the M23 rebels in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has threatened to march on the capital Kinshasa if the army attacked his forces.

What does the reconstruction of Gaza look like? Our chief international correspondent will unpack this for us as Arab leaders meet in Cairo.

And we'll speak to Kenya's newest men's football manager - Benni McCarthy on his plans for the Harambe Star.

(Photo: Ukrainian marines attend military exercises in the Dnipropetrovsk region, February 24, 2025; Credit: Reuters)


TUE 07:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn5vx77)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 07:06 Newsday (w172zbkjc1dp0wt)
US suspends all military aid to Ukraine

President Donald trump has ordered the suspension of all military aid to Ukraine. The United States has stressed this is not a termination. So, where does this leave Ukraine and its European allies. We’ll head to Estonia for reaction.

We'll find out how Israel's blockade of aid into the Gaza strip is impacting people on the ground....all that and more after the latest world news

China and Canada have announced retaliatory action as President Donald Trump's tariffs against Canada, Mexico and China come into effect.

The UN Children’s Agency says One-year-olds are among those raped during Sudan civil war.

A leader of the M23 rebels who have swept through the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has told the BBC they will go all the way to the capital, if they come under attack from government forces.

(Photo: Ukrainian marines attend military exercises in the Dnipropetrovsk region, February 24, 2025; Credit: Reuters)


TUE 08:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn5w0zc)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 08:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct5txf)
Renewable kids on the block

Globally, energy production and use is responsible for around 75% of the world’s carbon emissions, with around a third of that on electricity and heat alone. To tackle climate change, we need to get more energy from renewable sources, so this week we’re taking a look at some of the more surprising ways people have come up with to harness clean energy from the world around us.

In the United States, we see what happened when a group of concerned mothers forged a surprising alliance with a gas company, and worked together to get clean energy from the ground beneath their feet.

In Madagascar, we meet the grandmothers bringing solar light to their remote villages, plus we visit Wales, where an innovative new technology is harnessing power from the tides – by flying “kites” underwater.

People Fixing The World from the BBC is about brilliant solutions to the world's problems. 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: Zoe Gelber
Madagascar reporter: Sira Thierij
Senior Producer: Richard Kenny
Editor: Jon Bithrey
Sound mix: Hal Haines

(Image: Solar Mamas at work, BBC/Sira Thierij)


TUE 08:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggftcskd7r)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct5zjw)
The battle of the VIP lounges

For most people travelling abroad by plane, the airport experience can feel fairly nondescript - something to be endured rather than enjoyed. But for those with certain credit cards, a luxury experience awaits.

Around the world, card issuers are spending large amounts of money building high-end lounges in airports and prime city centre locations, in a bid to attract and keep customers. And their attempts are getting more and more extravagant.

But who’s paying for all of this?

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

Presented and produced by Rowan Bridge

(Picture: Dining area at the American Express Centurion New York restaurant in New York, US, occupying the 55th floor of the One Vanderbilt skyscraper. Credit: Getty Images/Bloomberg)


TUE 08:50 Witness History (w3ct5ynr)
The invention of the shopping trolley

In 1937, American supermarket owner, Sylvan Goldman, came up with a way to get his customers to spend more.

He introduced his 'folding basket carriers' in his Humpty Dumpty chain in Oklahoma, hiring models to push them round his stores.

They caught on, becoming known as shopping carts in the USA.

Rachel Naylor uses clips from a 1977 CBS interview of Sylvan with Charles Kuralt to tell the story.

Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more.

Recent episodes explore everything from football in Brazil, the history of the ‘Indian Titanic’ and the invention of air fryers, to Public Enemy’s Fight The Power, subway art and the political crisis in Georgia. We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: visionary architect Antoni Gaudi and the design of the Sagrada Familia; Michael Jordan and his bespoke Nike trainers; Princess Diana at the Taj Mahal; and Görel Hanser, manager of legendary Swedish pop band Abba on the influence they’ve had on the music industry. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the time an Iraqi journalist hurled his shoes at the President of the United States in protest of America’s occupation of Iraq; the creation of the Hollywood commercial that changed advertising forever; and the ascent of the first Aboriginal MP.

(Photo: Sylvan Goldman, with models of his shopping trolley. Credit: Don Tullous, Oklahoma Publishing Company Photography Collection, Courtesy of the Oklahoma Historical Society)


TUE 09:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn5w4qh)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 09:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqt8q4nc3t)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggftcskhzw)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 09:32 Assignment (w3ct5mv5)
[Repeat of broadcast at 02:32 today]


TUE 10:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn5w8gm)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 10:06 The Arts Hour (w3ct5qkv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 20:06 on Saturday]


TUE 11:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn5wd6r)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqt8q4nlm2)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggftcskrh4)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct6fc7)
Is Trump taking Putin's side?

After a tense meeting between Presidents Trump and Zelensky in the Oval Office on Friday, relations between the US, Ukraine, and European allies seem to have reached a new low. Meanwhile, ties between the White House and the Kremlin appear to be warmer than they have been in decades. President Trump has publicly praised his close relationship with Vladimir Putin, fuelling speculation about whether this move signals a new direction in diplomacy or if there is a strategic calculation behind Washington’s pivot to Moscow.

Sumi Somaskanda discusses the Trump-Putin dynamic with the BBC's State Department correspondent Tom Bateman, and Vitaly Shevchenko from BBC Monitoring.

(Photo: Composite image of Donald Trump, Credit: Nathan Howard/Reuters, and Vladimir Putin, Credit: Sergey Bobylev/Reuters)

Producers: Richard Moran and Tom Kavanagh

Sound engineer: Dafydd Evans

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: China Collins


TUE 12:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn5whyw)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 12:06 Outlook (w3ct5p61)
My secret father and surviving the pressures of fame

Sarah Joyce spent the first few years of her life in Pakistan with her British parents and siblings while Sarah's father worked as an engineer. When Sarah was 11 her mother told her that her biological father wasn't the man she had always called "Dad", instead he was the family's Pakistani cook. Sarah grappled with the news and the pair didn't speak of it for years, until her mother expressed her dying wish – that Sarah track down and meet her biological father. Sarah wrote music to make sense of her past and turned her experiences into a surprise hit record under the name Rumer. Soon Rumer was performing at the White House in the US and was an exciting new artist on the scene. But behind closed doors she was suffering with the pressures of fame. It took leaving the music industry completely to spend time in nature for Rumer to venture into music again, releasing her latest album In Session.
Presenter: Jo Fidgen
Producer: Jo Impey and May Cameron

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

(Photo: Sarah Joyce singing as Rumer. Credit: Chiaki Nozu/Getty Images)


TUE 12:50 Witness History (w3ct5ynr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


TUE 13:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn5wmq0)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 13:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqt8q4nv3b)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 13:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggftcskzzd)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 13:32 In the Studio (w3ct5tm2)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


TUE 14:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn5wrg4)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 14:06 Newshour (w172zb9dtwqtly3)
Trump pauses aid to Ukraine

Ukraine and its allies have condemned President Trump's decision to suspend all military aid to Kyiv, but Russia has praised the move. Ukrainian politicians said Washington was pushing Kyiv towards capitulation. The Kremlin described the move as the best contribution to what it called the cause of peace.

Also in the programme: New US tariffs on goods from Canada, Mexico and China have come into effect, prompting immediate retaliation from Ottawa and Beijing; and Arab leaders are meeting in Cairo today - to discuss alternative plans for Gaza's future, after Donald Trump suggested the US could take over and redevelop the territory.


(Photo credit: Getty Images)


TUE 15:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn5ww68)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 15:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct5txf)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


TUE 15:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggftcsl7gn)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 15:32 World Business Report (w3ct608g)
The world trade war ramps up

The governments of China, Mexico and Canada have begun their responses to President Trump’s tariffs on goods entering the US.

Trump’s measures include tariffs of 25% on all goods arriving from Mexico and Canada, and well as a further 10% on Chinese products.

We get reaction from those countries and hear how it affects companies around the world.


TUE 16:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn5wzyd)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 16:06 BBC OS (w172zbjkk38jn0r)
US suspends military aid to Ukraine

President Donald Trump's administration has suspended all military aid to Ukraine with immediate effect. The US is by far the biggest individual donor of military aid to Ukraine, providing weapons, equipment and financial support. We speak to people across Ukraine and around the world to hear their reaction.

Arab leaders are holding an emergency summit in Cairo to present their plan to rebuild Gaza. They've been under pressure to come up with an alternative to President Trump's proposal to take over the territory and relocate the Palestinian population. We connect with our correspondent there for the latest developments.

We speak to sex workers to hear their thoughts on the film Anora, the big winner at the Oscars, which won five awards including best actress for breakout star Mikey Madison, and a record-breaking four prizes for its director Sean Baker. The drama stars Madison as a New York stripper who falls in love with the son of a wealthy Russian.

Presenter: Mark Lowen

Photo: A Ukrainian servicemen of the 88th Separate Marine Battalion of the 35th Separate Marine Brigade use an RPG-7 grenade launcher during military exercises at a training ground, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Dnipropetrovsk region, Ukraine February 24, 2025.

Credit: Reuters/Valentyn Ogirenko


TUE 17:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn5x3pj)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 17:06 BBC OS (w172zbjkk38jrrw)
US imposes tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China

Stock markets around the world fell following the introduction of tariffs by President Donald Trump on goods entering the US from China, Canada and Mexico. Canada and China announced their own import taxes on US goods, while Mexico said it had "contingency plans", sparking fears of full-blown trade war. We speak to business owners to hear how they will be affected.

Arab leaders are holding an emergency summit in Cairo to present their plan to rebuild Gaza. They've been under pressure to come up with an alternative to President Trump's proposal to take over the territory and relocate the Palestinian population. We connect with our correspondent there for the latest developments.

President Donald Trump's administration has suspended all military aid to Ukraine with immediate effect. The US is by far the biggest individual donor of military aid to Ukraine, providing weapons, equipment and financial support. We speak to people across Ukraine and around the world to hear their reaction.

Presenter: Mark Lowen

Photo: People shop for stuffed animals at a toy store at Yiwu International Trade Market in Yiwu, Zhejiang province, China, February 9, 2025.

Credit: Reuters/Go Nakamura


TUE 18:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn5x7fn)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 18:06 Outlook (w3ct5p61)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 today]


TUE 18:50 Witness History (w3ct5ynr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


TUE 19:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn5xc5s)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqt8q4pkl3)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggftcslqg5)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct5w9b)
2025/03/04 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 (w172zgfmcn5xgxx)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 20:06 Assignment (w3ct5mv5)
[Repeat of broadcast at 02:32 today]


TUE 20:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggftcslv69)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 20:32 Tech Life (w3ct5wnm)
The doctor will see you now

Live trials are under way in Ghana of holoportation 3D telemedicine tech. It allows a patient in a remote location to connect to a doctor many miles away, and be examined. We speak to the lead engineer involved in the project, as well as a patient and a doctor benefiting from the portable kit.

Also on Tech Life, what happens when a country's leader decides the names of some places (or stretches of water) are about to change ? Do online maps update ? How is it decided ? Our reporter has been searching for the answers.

And what is it like working as a technology correspondent, reporting on the busy and ever-changing North America tech scene ? We chat to Lily Jamali who does exactly that for the BBC.

We are always keen to hear from you. You can email us: techlife@bbc.co.uk, or send us a text message or voice note on Whatsapp: +44 330 1230 320.

Presenter: Graham Fraser
Producer: Tom Quinn
Editor: Monica Soriano

(Image: Image of a female doctor communicating with a patient on a portable video link. Credit: Hiraman/Getty Images)


TUE 21:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn5xlp1)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 21:06 Newshour (w172zb9dtwqvg50)
Zelensky: 'We want to work for peace'

President Zelensky of Ukraine says he wants to work for peace under what he calls President Trump's 'strong leadership', after the US paused military aid to Ukraine. A Democratic congressman insists there's still support for Ukraine in Washington.

Also in the programme: Canada’s prime minister hits back at the US imposition of tariffs; and Arab leaders adopt a new plan for rebuilding Gaza.


TUE 22:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn5xqf5)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 22:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqt8q4pxth)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


TUE 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggftcsm2pk)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 22:32 World Business Report (w3ct60bq)
Trump's tariffs escalate global trade tensions

In response to President Trump's recent tariffs, key trading nations are formulating their countermeasures. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has criticised the US move, calling it ‘’unjust and counterproductive’’.

China has halted imports of U.S. logs and soybeans, signalling a firm stance against the tariffs.

Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum announced plans to impose retaliatory tariffs on American goods, with specific details to be unveiled at an upcoming event in Mexico City's central plaza.

And we'll also look at how the tariffs could lead to higher car prices for U.S. motorists.


TUE 23:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn5xv59)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


TUE 23:06 People Fixing The World (w3ct5txf)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


TUE 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggftcsm6fp)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


TUE 23:32 In the Studio (w3ct5tm2)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]

WEDNESDAY 05 MARCH 2025

WED 00:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn5xyxf)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 00:06 The Arts Hour (w3ct5qkv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 20:06 on Saturday]


WED 01:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn5y2nk)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 01:06 Business Matters (w172zbfzl7j8btf)
Trump's tariffs ignite global trade tensions

On the programme, we'll explore the ripple effects of U.S. tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China.

President Trump is scheduled to address Congress, during which he is expected to discuss new U.S. trade tariffs and the situation in Ukraine. This address marks his first major speech since returning to the White House.

Plus, we'll examine how these tariffs could lead to higher car prices for U.S. motorists.

And the Chinese government presents a review of its achievements last year and economic goals for 2025 before the annual meeting of China’s rubber stamp parliament, the National People’s Congress.


WED 02:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn5y6dp)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zwlm0wvc9ms)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 03:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn5yb4t)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 03:06 Outlook (w3ct5p61)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Tuesday]


WED 03:50 Witness History (w3ct5ynr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 on Tuesday]


WED 04:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn5yfwy)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 04:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqt8q4qn98)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggftcsmt5b)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 04:32 Good Bad Billionaire (w3ct6xl2)
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw: Beer, brewing and biotech

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw built a pharmaceutical empire after failing to get a job brewing beer. She also overcame gender bias to become India’s first self-made female billionaire. Her company Biocon is now Asia's biggest insulin producer. BBC business editor Simon Jack and journalist Zing Tsjeng follow her story, from a childhood living on a brewery compound in Bangalore to adventures in Australia and Ireland. How did Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw go from extracting enzymes from papaya fruit to mass-manufacturing medicines and being named among Time magazine's most influential people in the world? She calls herself an accidental entrepreneur; Simon and Zing decide whether they think she’s good, bad or just another billionaire.

We’d love to hear your feedback. Email goodbadbillionaire@bbc.com or drop us a text or WhatsApp to +1 (917) 686-1176.

To find out more about the show and read our privacy notice, visit www.bbcworldservice.com/goodbadbillionaire


WED 05:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn5ykn2)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 05:06 Newsday (w172zbkjc1drp9n)
Trump addresses a joint session of Congress

Speaking to the Congress, Mr Trump listed many of the actions he'd taken to reshape domestic policy -- including immigration enforcement and a ban on diversity programmes. On Ukraine, Trump says he received a letter from Volodymyr Zelensky saying the Ukrainian leader was ready to come to the negotiation table.

An emergency summit of Arab leaders has approved Egyptian proposals that counter President Trump's idea of taking over Gaza and evicting the Palestinian population.

(Pic: US President Donald Trump (C) addresses a joint session of the United States Congress at the US Capitol in Washington; Credit: EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)


WED 06:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn5ypd6)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 06:06 Newsday (w172zbkjc1drt1s)
Trump tells Congress he is 'just getting started'

The speech to Congress touched on several of Trump's favourite topics, including blasting US immigration policies and calling for strengthened law and order.

He also said he had received a letter from Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier on Tuesday, which signalled he is ready to sign a mineral deal with the US to continue suspended US military shipments after last week's Oval Office row between the two leaders.

China's government has set out its economic goals for the year, eyeing a five per cent growth as it looks to boost domestic consumption. This comes as the country continues to reel from President Trump tariff hikes

Parents accompany some of their children who've been transported to Jordan from Gaza for medical assistance.

(Pic: US President Donald Trump (C) addresses a joint session of the United States Congress at the US Capitol in Washington; Credit: EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)


WED 07:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn5yt4b)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 07:06 Newsday (w172zbkjc1drxsx)
Trump's marathon address to laud 'bold actions'

Speaking about his desire for Greenland to become a part of the US, Trump says "one way or another, we're gonna get it"

On the domestic front, Trump says there will be "tax cuts for everybody" and promises to balance the federal budget.

We'll hear from a Republican Congressman who was in the Chamber to hear that speech. And from the former prime minister of Moldova -- one of the countries worried that if the US stops giving military aid to Ukraine, it may be next on Russia's list.


And we'll hear from the 9 year old Palestinian boy learning to walk again after being hit Israeli shrapnel in Gaza.

(Pic: U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hand with Speaker of the House Mike Johnson; Credit: Reuters)


WED 08:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn5yxwg)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 08:06 HARDtalk (w3ct5t5j)
Volker Türk: Are we sleepwalking into a dystopian future?

Stephen Sackur speaks to the UN Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk. As conflicts destroy millions of lives around the world, are we sleepwalking into a dystopian future?

(Photo: Volker Türk, UN Commissioner for Human Rights appears via video on Hardtalk)


WED 08:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggftcsn94v)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct5zpd)
Adding value to Ugandan bananas

The fruit is a beloved staple of the African country's cuisine, and a key export.

But is there a missed opportunity when it comes to Ugandan matoke, or bananas?

We speak to entrepreneurs who are making banana wine, fertilizers and hair extensions - adding value for local and international markets.

Produced and presented by Zawadi Mudibo

(Image: A man drives a motorcycle carrying matoke in Kampala, Uganda in June 2024. Credit: Getty Images)


WED 08:50 Witness History (w3ct5yr0)
The US invasion of Panama

In December 1989, more than 20,000 US soldiers descended on the tiny Central American country of Panama.

The Americans sought to remove the country’s leader, General Manuel Noriega, who sought refuge from the invading forces with the Papal Ambassador.

Noriega was a dictator and had been indicted in Florida over drug trafficking.

In 2010, Neal Razzell spoke to Enrique Jelenszky, who assisted communications between the US troops and Noriega.

Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more.

Recent episodes explore everything from football in Brazil, the history of the ‘Indian Titanic’ and the invention of air fryers, to Public Enemy’s Fight The Power, subway art and the political crisis in Georgia. We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: visionary architect Antoni Gaudi and the design of the Sagrada Familia; Michael Jordan and his bespoke Nike trainers; Princess Diana at the Taj Mahal; and Görel Hanser, manager of legendary Swedish pop band Abba on the influence they’ve had on the music industry. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the time an Iraqi journalist hurled his shoes at the President of the United States in protest of America’s occupation of Iraq; the creation of the Hollywood commercial that changed advertising forever; and the ascent of the first Aboriginal MP.

(Photo: A US soldier raises the barbed wire barricade to stop demonstrators from marching towards the Vatican Embassy, where Noriega is seeking asylum/ Credit:REUTERS/Corinne Dufka)


WED 09:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn5z1ml)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 09:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqt8q4r80x)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggftcsndwz)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 09:32 The Climate Question (w3ct5wt3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 18:06 on Sunday]


WED 10:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn5z5cq)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 10:06 World Book Club (w3ct5r40)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Saturday]


WED 11:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn5z93v)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqt8q4rhj5)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggftcsnnd7)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct6ds5)
Have RFK Jr.'s vaccine views gone mainstream?

Vaccine mistrust is on the rise. And when US President Donald Trump's new cabinet met for the first time last week, all eyes were on the new Health and Human Services Secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr who has long been known as a vaccine sceptic. With doubts about vaccines increasing in many parts of the world, will his appointment have an effect on the way vaccinations are viewed globally?

Presenter Jonny Dymond speaks to Jim Reed, a BBC health reporter and Dorcas Wangira, the BBC’s Africa Health Correspondent, in Nairobi.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at theglobalstory@bbc.com You can also message us or leave a voice note via Whatsapp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Alice Aylett Roberts, Eleanor Sly and Tom Kavanagh

Sound engineer: James Piper

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: China Collins


WED 12:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn5zdvz)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 12:06 Outlook (w3ct5pdt)
Me and my pen pal, Tupac Shakur

In the depths of despair, Nina Bhadreshwar began an unlikely correspondence with a rap legend.

During her teens, the British-Asian writer Nina Bhadreshwar felt alone and disconnected from the world around her. Then, as a young adult in the early 1990s, she discovered a world of graffiti art and rave music. This new passion inspired her to create a self-funded magazine highlighting the work of the underground artists that made her feel most alive. She called it The Real State, and it soon became her passport to the world – taking her from Yorkshire to the bright lights of New York City.

In America, Nina discovered the music of rap superstar Tupac Shakur. Tupac was revered by his fans but was also a complex and contradictory figure. He was known for his ‘thug life’ persona — tough, rebellious, outspoken and at times even violent. But to his fans, Tupac’s music became much more than that. He wrote about racism, inequality and the harsh realities of life in marginalised communities. It was raw and emotional and his music resonated with millions, including Nina.

She was so moved by Tupac’s powerful lyrics, that she decided to send a few copies of her magazine to him. This sparked an unexpected pen pal relationship which Nina credits as a turning point in her life from despair to joy and hope.

Nina recently published her first novel, The Day of the Roaring.

If you've been affected by any of the issues in this programme, help is available at Befrienders.org or at bbc.co.uk/actionline.

Presenter: Asya Fouks
Producer: Thomas Harding Assinder

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

(Photo: Nina Bhadreshwar and her letter from Tupac Shakur. Credit: Nina Bhadreshwar)


WED 12:50 Witness History (w3ct5yr0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


WED 13:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn5zjm3)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 13:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqt8q4rr0f)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 13:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggftcsnwwh)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 13:32 Good Bad Billionaire (w3ct6xl2)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


WED 14:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn5znc7)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 14:06 Newshour (w172zb9dtwqxhv6)
Trump to Congress: America is back

US President Donald Trump addressed a joint session of Congress six weeks after beginning his second term in office. In addition to listing his achievements while in office, he made a teenager a US Secret Service agent and reaffirmed his desire for Greenland to become part of the US.

Also on the programme, Arab leaders have agreed on a post-war reconstruction plan for Gaza that would allow around two million Palestinians to remain in the territory during a rebuild; and a chance to look at religious paintings from early 14 Century Siena.

(Photo: US President Donald Trump shakes hand with Speaker of the House Mike Johnson during a joint session of Congress, in the House Chamber of the US Capitol in Washington, DC, US, 4 March, 2025. Credit: Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters)


WED 15:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn5zs3c)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 15:06 HARDtalk (w3ct5t5j)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


WED 15:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggftcsp4cr)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 15:32 World Business Report (w3ct60dz)
Tariff confusion

Hopes are growing that talks involving the governments of the USA, Mexico and Canada could lead to a reduction in tariffs that were introduced this week.

Meanwhile, no one in Washington is talking about relaxing the 10% tariff increase that was imposed on Chinese goods on Tuesday.

And Friedrich Merz, the man who is likely to be the next German chancellor has announced a political deal to raise hundreds of billions of euros in extra spending on defence and infrastructure.


WED 16:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn5zwvh)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 16:06 BBC OS (w172zbjkk38mjxv)
Trump's first speech to Congress

President Donald Trump declared "the American Dream is unstoppable" as he addressed a raucous joint session of the US Congress for the first time since he returned to power. In the longest presidential speech to lawmakers on record, he outlined his vision for his second term, as Republicans applauded a high-octane six weeks that has reshaped domestic and foreign policy. So what do his voters think of his speech? We speak to some to hear their thoughts.

Donald Trump also spoke about the cut in funding to US overseas aid. One of the sectors affected by that is treatment of people with HIV and AIDS in Africa. We speak to three people living with HIV or working in the sector to hear their thoughts.

A video showing a woman of Pakistani heritage dancing alone at a friend's wedding has gone viral for challenging stigmas around divorce and promoting female empowerment. The woman is a divorced mother of three and has sparked discussions about women’s resilience following separation, particularly in more conservative communities. We speak to her and another woman with similar experiences.

Presenter: Mark Lowen

Photo: US President Donald Trump Addresses Joint Session of US Congress, Washington, USA - 04 Mar 2025

Credit: EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock


WED 17:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn600lm)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 17:06 BBC OS (w172zbjkk38mnnz)
US suspends intelligence sharing with Ukraine

US officials have confirmed that President Trump has suspended intelligence sharing with Ukraine on top of the pause in military assistance. The move follows Friday's fiery Oval Office meeting between the US president and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky. We speak to our correspondents around the world to hear what this might mean.

Donald Trump also spoke about the cut in funding to US overseas aid. One of the sectors affected by that is treatment of people with HIV and AIDS in Africa. We speak to three people living with HIV or working in the sector to hear their thoughts.

We speak to two female live-streamers about harassment, after a group of streamers were followed and threatened by a man in California.

Presenter: Mark Lowen

Photo: Ukrainian service members fire a shell from a M777 Howitzer at a front line, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in Kharkiv Region, Ukraine July 21, 2022.

Credit: Reuters/Gleb Garanich


WED 18:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn604br)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 18:06 Outlook (w3ct5pdt)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 today]


WED 18:50 Witness History (w3ct5yr0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


WED 19:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn6082w)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqt8q4sgh6)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggftcspmc8)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct5wcl)
2025/03/05 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 (w172zgfmcn60cv0)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 20:06 The Climate Question (w3ct5wt3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 18:06 on Sunday]


WED 20:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggftcspr3d)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 20:32 Health Check (w3ct5tb1)
Ninety percent of USAID programs cut

As the Trump administration cuts 90% of programs funded by the US Agency for International Development, we look at the effect on global health.

Also on the program, violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo is hindering the country’s ongoing MPox response – just as a new, more transmissible strain is discovered. And, a look at an initiative trying to improve women’s mental health in Guatemala.

Presenter: Claudia Hammond
Producer: Margaret Sessa-Hawkins
Assistant Producer: Katie Tomsett


WED 21:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn60hl4)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 21:06 Newshour (w172zb9dtwqyc23)
US stops sharing intelligence with Ukraine

Mr Trump questioned President Zelensky's commitment to peace following the spat at the White House on Friday.

Also on the programme: scientists in Britain say they have discovered how the drug aspirin may help stop some cancers from spreading; and Lebron James becomes the first ever basketball player to score more the 50,000 points in his career.

(Picture: President Trump addresses the US Congress Credit: Reuters)


WED 22:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn60mb8)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 22:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqt8q4stql)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


WED 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggftcspzln)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 22:32 World Business Report (w3ct60h7)
Donald Trump announces a one-month postponement for auto tariffs

President Trump pulls back on imposing tariffs on North American-made cars—at least for now. The BBC’s North America business correspondent, Michelle Fleury, explains the rationale behind the decision.

U.S. investment giant BlackRock secures a $23 billion deal to acquire ports along the Panama Canal, coinciding with Trump’s promise to "reclaim" the canal if he returns to office. What does this mean for Panama’s economy and global trade?

And we find out why World Cup organisers are planning a Super Bowl-style half-time show for the 2026 final for the first time.


WED 23:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn60r2d)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


WED 23:06 HARDtalk (w3ct5t5j)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


WED 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggftcsq3bs)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


WED 23:32 Good Bad Billionaire (w3ct6xl2)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]

THURSDAY 06 MARCH 2025

THU 00:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn60vtj)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 00:06 World Book Club (w3ct5r40)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Saturday]


THU 01:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn60zkn)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 01:06 Business Matters (w172zbfzl7jc7qj)
Donald Trump grants one-month tariff exemptions on North American cars

Presenter Rahul Tandon hears from guests in the US and Bangladesh following the suspension of tariffs on auto imports from Mexico and Canada.

We also examine how Donald Trump’s 90-day funding freeze for aid projects will impact Bangladeshi society.

And uncover what makes the new computer game, Two Point Museum, so appealing after rave reviews.


THU 02:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn6139s)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqt8q4t9q3)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggftcsqgl5)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 02:32 The Documentary (w3ct7mvz)
Boxing Sisters: Yazidi women boxing their way back to health

In northern Iraq, Yazidi women and girls who have been the victims of brutal sexual enslavement and lost swathes of their family and community to genocide at the hands of IS, are finding an unusual way to heal - boxing.

Since 2014, when ISIS began targeting Yazidis because of their religious identity, those who survived the genocide have been confined to internally displaced persons camps in the Kurdish region of Iraq. Here conditions are difficult and the women and girls still struggle to process all that has happened to them. So, in 2018, in the face of limited mental health support, Taban Shoresh and her team took a radical approach by offering boxing training to help the women and girls channel their emotions and anger.

For women who have lived through unspeakable trauma and loss, can the sport of boxing offer physical and mental restoration? And in a deeply traditional and conservative community, how are they navigating the stigma of women boxing?

Presenter: Taban Shoresh
Producer: Jodie Taylor
A Reduced Listening production for BBC World Service

(Photo: Yazidi women face each other in a row holding focus pads during training. Credit: Ali Amer)


THU 03:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn6171x)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 03:06 Outlook (w3ct5pdt)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Wednesday]


THU 03:50 Witness History (w3ct5yr0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 on Wednesday]


THU 04:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn61bt1)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 04:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqt8q4tk6c)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggftcsqq2f)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 04:32 The Food Chain (w3ct5xp7)
Why we love noodles

What makes a noodle? Is it the shape? The ingredients?

In this programme Devina Gupta explores the history of noodles, tracing their origin back to Third-Century China. She finds out how they came to be eaten in so many different ways in so many different places.

Devina enjoys a Tibetan-influenced noodle dish in Delhi’s Monastery Market, a long-time home of Tibetan restaurants and businesses in India. She hears how noodles were one of many foods to travel the silk trading routes in the region.

Jen Lin-Liu, author of ‘On the Noodle Road: From Beijing to Rome with Love and Pasta’, tells Devina about the earliest mention of noodles in historical documents. Frank Striegl in Tokyo, who runs the blog ‘5AM Ramen’ picks up the story, explaining how noodles travelled from China to Japan and became ramen – one of Japan’s iconic dishes today.

In 1958 dried instant noodles were invented in Japan. Devina speaks to Varun Oberoi of Nissin India, to hear about the opportunities and challenges facing the instant noodle company today.

Presented by Devina Gupta.

Produced by Beatrice Pickup.

(Image: noodles dangling from chopsticks above a bowl. Credit: Getty Images/ BBC)


THU 05:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn61gk5)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 05:06 Newsday (w172zbkjc1dvl6r)
Macron: Europe is 'at a turning point in history'

"We have to be united and determined to protect ourselves," Macron said. He added that the future of Europe could not be tied to Washington or Moscow.

Three years on since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Trump administration's overtures to Russian President Vladimir Putin have left many in Europe concerned the continent would not be able to rely on US support for its security.

US Vice President JD Vance has said a "military response" is needed to combat the Mexican drug cartels who are penetrating the southern border of the US.

(Pic: France's President Emmanuel Macron prepares for a plenary meeting; Credit: Reuters)


THU 06:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn61l99)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 06:06 Newsday (w172zbkjc1dvpyw)
EU leaders hold an emergency summit

EU leaders are gathering in Brussels on Thursday for a special council on defence, as France's President Emmanuel Macron warned that the continent was at a "turning point of history".

In a sign of the depth of concern, President Macron said France was open to discussing extending the protection offered by its nuclear arsenal to its European partners, during an address to the nation on Wednesday.

'Performance of my life' - Liverpool is saved by 'best in world' Alisson

(Pic: Ukrainian activists deploy a massive banner, urging European leaders to seize frozen Russian assets; Credit: Reuters)


THU 07:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn61q1f)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 07:06 Newsday (w172zbkjc1dvtq0)
Ukraine and security top of agenda in Brussels

In a sign of the depth of concern, President Macron said France was open to discussing extending the protection offered by its nuclear arsenal to its European partners, during an address to the nation on Wednesday.

Many European leaders have signalled their support for swift, decisive action in regards to the continent's security.

And we go to Bangladesh and hear form people affected by the cuts in the international aid.

(Pic: Placards are placed on a bench on the day Ukrainian activists urge European leaders to seize frozen Russian assets; Credit: Reuters)


THU 08:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn61tsk)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 08:06 The Inquiry (w3ct5xjq)
Can the world rely on its undersea cable network?

Undersea cables form the backbone of global communication, with over 95% of global internet traffic relying on hundreds of fibre-optic cables criss-crossing the globe. But recent incidents such as disruption to cables in the Baltic Sea have highlighted concerns over their security and raised the possibility of ‘grey zone warfare’.

We examine who owns and runs this vast global network, what happens when things go wrong, and what the future holds for underseas cables. Are they powerful enough to sustain future communications, and what role could quantum technology play in their future?

To discuss all this are Lane Burdette, research analyst, TeleGeography, Jovan Kurbali, director of the Diplo Foundation and head of Geneva Internet Platform, Erin L Murphy,  senior Fellow, Center for Strategic and International Studies, Washington DC and Kristine Berzina, managing director at the German Marshall Fund, Washington DC.

Presenter: Gary O'Donoghue
Producer: Dan Hardoon and Vicky Carter
Researcher: Katie Morgan
Production co-ordinator: Liam Morrey
Technical producer: James Bradshaw
Editor: Tara McDermott

(Photo: Employees of Orange Marine work on the installation of the very high speed submarine cable SEA-ME-WE 5, linking Singapore to France, 1 March, 2016. Credit: Boris Horvat/AFP)


THU 08:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggftcsr61y)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct5zdc)
The rise of the 'micro-influencer'

Unlike 'mega-influencers' with huge audiences on social media, 'micro' and 'nano-influencers' have far fewer followers. But small can be mighty in this business.

These lower-profile influencers have anywhere between 250 and 10,000 followers, but businesses are increasingly turning to more niche, content creators in a bid to get more authentic engagement. We hear how they're redefining the way brands are connecting with consumers.

Micro-influencers Kadide Francy, in Kenya, and Jerlyn De Silva, in India, reveal what kind of money they make from these collaborations.

And East African Brewery marketing manager, Kanye Kiuru, tells us how using these kinds of influencers led to a hugely successful marketing campaign for the company.

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

Presented and produced by Izzy Greenfield

(Picture: Kadide Francy, a lifestyle micro-influencer in Kenya. Credit: Kadide Francy)


THU 08:50 Witness History (w3ct5ylh)
The Great Toyota War

In 1987, a decades-long war in Chad reached a dramatic turning point in what would come to be known as the Great Toyota War.

Named after the rugged pick-up trucks that transformed modern desert warfare, this campaign saw the lightly armed Chadian forces out manoeuvre Libya’s heavily fortified military.

They achieved a string of astonishing victories, including the capture of the Libyan airbase at Ouadi Dum. Former Chadian officer Mahamat Saleh Bani recalls the speed, ingenuity, and bravery that defined this extraordinary chapter of African history. He speaks to Pearse Lynch. An Africa Digital Audio production.

Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more.

Recent episodes explore everything from football in Brazil, the history of the ‘Indian Titanic’ and the invention of air fryers, to Public Enemy’s Fight The Power, subway art and the political crisis in Georgia. We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: visionary architect Antoni Gaudi and the design of the Sagrada Familia; Michael Jordan and his bespoke Nike trainers; Princess Diana at the Taj Mahal; and Görel Hanser, manager of legendary Swedish pop band Abba on the influence they’ve had on the music industry. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the time an Iraqi journalist hurled his shoes at the President of the United States in protest of America’s occupation of Iraq; the creation of the Hollywood commercial that changed advertising forever; and the ascent of the first Aboriginal MP.

(Photo: Great Toyota War. Credit: AFP)


THU 09:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn61yjp)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 09:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqt8q4v4y0)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggftcsr9t2)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 09:32 The Documentary (w3ct7mvz)
[Repeat of broadcast at 02:32 today]


THU 10:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn6228t)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 10:06 The Explanation (w3ct6pn0)
The Media Show: Jeff Bezos' Washington Post shift

Jeff Bezos’ growing influence on the Washington Post has reached a turning point, with changes to its opinion section prompting resignations from senior figures. Cameron Barr, a former managing editor, explains his decision to leave, expressing concerns about the paper’s independence. Max Tani, media editor at Semafor, offers insight into how editorial and opinion functions differ between US and UK media. Greg Williams, deputy global editorial director at WIRED, examines Bezos’ wider significance.

Also in the programme, what is it like to win an Oscar? Director Molly O’Brien, whose documentary The Only Girl in the Orchestra won Best Documentary Short, shares her experiences of Hollywood’s biggest night.

Presenters: Katie Razzall and Ros Atkins
Producer: Simon Richardson
Assistant producer: Lucy Wai


THU 10:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggftcsrfk6)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 10:32 The Global Jigsaw (w3ct7nf1)
Life in occupied Ukraine: Kherson and Zaporizhzhia

Russia’s land grab playbook aimed at erasing local identity and Russifying “liberated” territories. Three years into the full scale invasion of Ukraine, we ask what life is like in areas under Russian control. Part 1 looks at “ripe for Russification” Crimea, which was annexed 11 years ago. Part 2 focuses on Moscow’s subsequent efforts to assert itself in the separatist East. And in Part 3 we explore the Kremlin’s challenges in subjugating occupied parts of the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. As time passes, the uncertainty over the future of what Ukraine calls “temporarily occupied territories” grows bigger.

Producer: Kriszta Satori
Presenter: Krassi Twigg


THU 11:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn6260y)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqt8q4vdf8)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggftcsrk9b)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct6dvf)
Xi Jinping takes the trade war to Iowa

China's retaliatory tariffs on US agricultural exports could hit President Trump's rural heartlands. This week, 3,000 of China’s most influential politicians have gathered for the annual National People’s Congress. Premier Li Qiang referred to the economy as a “giant ship” moving “steadily towards the future.” But behind the optimistic rhetoric, China faces significant challenges. Among them, a renewed trade war with the United States.

In recent days, China has imposed retaliatory tariffs on US goods, specifically targeting agricultural exports from key states like Iowa, Illinois or Kansas. So, is Xi Jinping taking the trade war straight to Iowa? And how will these new tariffs impact Trump’s heartland?

On this episode, Lucy Hockings speaks to the BBC's North America business correspondent, Michelle Fleury, and Shawn Yuan, from the BBC's Global China Unit.

(Picture: Headshot of China's President Xi Jinping. Credit: Agustin Marcarian/Reuters)

Producers: Richard Moran and Tom Kavanagh

Sound engineer: Mike Regaard

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: China Collins


THU 12:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn629s2)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 12:06 Outlook (w3ct5nz8)
How I solved a Scottish dinosaur mystery

In 1973, a bone was spotted in a rock on a beach in north-west Scotland. A palaeontologist drew a quick sketch in his notebook and did nothing more about it - thinking it was too difficult to remove. Fast-forward 45 years and that same bone was rediscovered. But this time, Scottish PhD student Elsa Panciroli couldn't get the possibility of what this bone might be out of her mind. She overcame the scepticism of her colleagues and seemingly impossible logistics to extract it from a treacherous shoreline, and discovered one of the oldest dinosaur fossils of its kind.

Gaia Caramazza reports from a New York restaurant, Enoteca Maria, where the kitchen is run by a rotating schedule of grandmothers - or nonnas - from all over the world.

Presenter: Asya Fouks

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

(Photo: Dr Elsa Panciroli by a loch on the Isle of Skye. Credit: Anna Lacey)


THU 12:50 Witness History (w3ct5ylh)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


THU 13:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn62fj6)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 13:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqt8q4vmxj)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 13:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggftcsrssl)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 13:32 The Food Chain (w3ct5xp7)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


THU 14:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn62k8b)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 14:06 Newshour (w172zb9dtwr0dr9)
Zelensky thanks Europe as he arrives at Brussels summit

European leaders are meeting in Brussels at what's being described as a turning point in history. They're discussing a large increase in defence spending following Washington's decision to suspend assistance to Ukraine. But can they agree?

Also in the programme: Turning the garbage can of our immune system into a powerful source of antibiotics; and the man with all the vibes - jazz-funk pioneer Roy Ayers - has died.

(Photo: Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speak to the media as they attend a European Union leaders special summit to discuss Ukraine and European defence, in Brussels, Belgium March 6, 2025. Reuters/Stephanie Lecocq)


THU 15:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn62p0g)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 15:06 The Inquiry (w3ct5xjq)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


THU 15:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggftcss18v)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 15:32 World Business Report (w3ct603y)
How does Europe continue to fund Ukraine's war effort?

As European leaders meet to discuss defence spending, we get the view of the former head of the European Central Bank on how nations will afford future support for Ukraine.

We'll hear about the challenges for the trans-Pacific supply chains, as tariffs begin to bite.

And if you fly through Afghan airspace, who do you pay and how?


THU 16:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn62srl)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 16:06 BBC OS (w172zbjkk38qfty)
European leaders promise to stand by Ukraine

Leaders of European Union countries promise to stand by Ukraine as they meet for an emergency defence summit today. But they've been warned by Russia that Moscow would see any deployment of European peacekeepers to Ukraine as unacceptable. We bring you the latest from Brussels and hear how people are reacting across Europe.

A rare tropical cyclone is expected to bring severe flooding to Australia's east coast when it makes landfall this week. We find out how residents are preparing.

Plus - newly released-footage shows the moment Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost became the first commercial spacecraft to successfully land on the Moon without crashing or falling over. A significant moment for space exploration?

Presenter: Mark Lowen

(Photo: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy shakes hands with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban at a European Union leaders' special summit.
Credit: Reuters/Christian Hartmann)


THU 17:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn62xhq)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 17:06 BBC OS (w172zbjkk38qkl2)
European leaders promise to spend more on defence

Leaders of European Union countries promise to stand by Ukraine following President Trump's withdrawal of military support. During a show of unity in Brussels, they also pledge to spend more on defence. Meanwhile fighting continues in Ukraine with a missile striking President Zelensky's hometown, as we'll hear.

While President Trump dominates headlines around the world, what of the Democrats? Two party supporters tell us how they hope the Democrats can bounce back and influence the political narrative.

And three months after the fall of president Bashar al-Assad in Syria, what's life like there? Two Syrian women tell us how things have changed.

Presenter: Mark Lowen

(Photo: EU Council President Antonio Costa, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrive for an European Special Council meeting in Brussels. Credit: Christophe Petit Tesson/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)


THU 18:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn6317v)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 18:06 Outlook (w3ct5nz8)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 today]


THU 18:50 Witness History (w3ct5ylh)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


THU 19:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn634zz)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqt8q4wcd9)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggftcssj8c)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct5w72)
2025/03/06 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 (w172zgfmcn638r3)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 20:06 The Documentary (w3ct7mvz)
[Repeat of broadcast at 02:32 today]


THU 20:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggftcssn0h)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 20:32 Science In Action (w3ct5vf7)
An uncertain forecast for meteorology

As the new administration in the US continues to make cuts to government agencies and scientific funding, NOAA – the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has been particularly trimmed. This week the professional organisation for weather forecasters – the American Meteorological Society has published a statement pleading for clemency, arguing that the whole US Weather Enterprise is at risk. It’s current president elect, veteran weather broadcaster Alan Sealls describes how it’s not just US weather forecasts that appear bleak.

As the journal Science Advances publishes a special edition highlighting areas of women’s health research, we speak with two researchers who may have found a link between menopause – or perhaps hormonal changes – and the age it occurs, with Altzeimer’s Disease. Madeline Wood or the University of Toronto and Kaitlin Casaletto of UCSF describe how synaptic health – the fitness of the brain - at death seems even to be less attenuated in women who used hormonal therapy during their menopause. It is not however, yet suggested they are causally connected.

But we do connect research vessel Polarstern to have an update from Autun Purser and Nottingham University’s molecular biologist Liz Chakrabarti on their nearly completed voyage to the Weddel Sea, in the challengingly chilly Antarctic. They are gathering data and surveying the fauna on the sea floor below what is mostly covered in 3-4 meters of ice. The Icefish they see there are some of the only vertebrates not to have haemoglobin – nor even red blood cells – in their blood. So how, we wonder, do they actually move oxygen around their bodies? Maybe when the team publish their findings – which they are racing to do - we’ll find out.

Presenter: Roland Pease
Producer: Alex Mansfield
Production Coordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth

(Image: National Hurricane Center Monitors Hurricane Beryl's Activity In The Caribbean. Credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)


THU 21:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn63dh7)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 21:06 Newshour (w172zb9dtwr17z6)
EU leaders agree to bolster defence amid Russia’s war with Ukraine

European leaders met today in Brussels as part of an emergency defence summit, as Ukraine continues its war against Russia. The Polish President had previously announced plans to spend more than 4.7% of its GDP on defence. Spain, however, recently defended its target of spending only 2% of its GDP on defence. We speak to a former Spanish foreign minister about why it spends so little on protection compared to other European states.

Also in the programme: US President Donald Trump pauses most of his administration’s tariffs on Mexico and Canada; and Denmark’s postal service says it will stop delivering letters by the end of the year.

(Photo: EU Council President Antonio Costa, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrive for an European Special Council meeting in Brussels, Belgium, 6th March 2025. Credit: Christophe Petit-Tesson/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)


THU 22:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn63j7c)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 22:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqt8q4wqmp)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


THU 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggftcsswhr)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 22:32 World Business Report (w3ct6066)
Donald Trump backtracks on some tariffs

President Donald Trump signs a deal to suspend some of the Canada tariffs until 2 April, hours after signing a similar exemption for Mexico. Presenter Rahul Tandon examines what the change in policy means. Syria gets a lifeline after the UK unfreeze assets and lifts sanctions on multiple oil groups. The Danish
Postal service will deliver its last letter at the end of the year. It ends 400 years of mail service in the country.


THU 23:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn63mzh)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


THU 23:06 The Inquiry (w3ct5xjq)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


THU 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggftcst07w)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


THU 23:32 The Food Chain (w3ct5xp7)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]

FRIDAY 07 MARCH 2025

FRI 00:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn63rqm)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 00:06 The Explanation (w3ct6pn0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:06 on Thursday]


FRI 00:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggftcst400)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 00:32 Unspun World with John Simpson (w3ct5ycg)
Can Ukraine continue to rely on US support?

This week John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, examines what Ukraine can do to win back American military support in its war with Russia, explores whether a European army could provide a bulwark against Russia and looks at how Donald Trump and Elon Musk have waded into the controversy over South Africa’s land inequality.


FRI 01:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn63wgr)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 01:06 Business Matters (w172zbfzl7jg4mm)
Donald Trump backs down over imposing tariffs

Donald Trump’s administration has backtracked further from its threat to impose sweeping 25 per cent tariffs on Mexico and Canada, in a major climbdown.
We examine China's plans to boost employment just months before more than twelve million university graduates are set to enter the job market. Plus, the
Danish postal service will deliver its last letter at the end of the year. It ends 400 years of a letter-sending service in the country. Presenter Rahul Tandon discusses these stories with James Mayger Bloomberg Senior Reporter who is based in Beijing and Diane Brady, the Executive Director of Fortune Live Media and Editorial Director of the Fortune CEO Initiative based in New York.


FRI 02:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn6406w)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 02:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqt8q4x6m6)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 02:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggftcstch8)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 02:32 Tech Life (w3ct5wnm)
[Repeat of broadcast at 20:32 on Tuesday]


FRI 03:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn643z0)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 03:06 Outlook (w3ct5nz8)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 on Thursday]


FRI 03:50 Witness History (w3ct5ylh)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 on Thursday]


FRI 04:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn647q4)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 04:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqt8q4xg3g)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 04:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggftcstlzj)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 04:32 Heart and Soul (w3ct5tdz)
Jewish dating: The race to break the glass

Dating in the Jewish world can be a struggle - different denominations, beliefs, being Kosher or not Kosher, ideologies and geography makes navigating this world difficult to decode. Apps aren't nuanced enough, and algorithms don’t account for what the tiny population has to offer.

When the Netflix programme Jewish Matchmaking came about, there was a buzz within the community. Jewish people around the world have been using a Shadchan (matchmaker) to create shidduch (matchmaking) for centuries in the hope of finding their bashert (soulmate or other half). At Jewish weddings, the breaking of the glass under the chupah (canopy) does not just represent the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem but also two soulmates finding each other.

Amie Liebowitz interviews matchmaker and dating coach Aleeza Ben Shalom from the Netflix show Jewish Matchmaker. She then goes on her own quest to learn about the traditional and religious values of matchmaking. From a mass dating event to going through her own matchmaking experience, Amie asks herself the question: Is she being open enough to exploring new connections and can tradition save her love life in this modern world?


Producer/presenter: Amie Liebowitz
Series producer: Rajeev Gupta
Editor: Jonathan Hallewell


FRI 05:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn64cg8)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 05:06 Newsday (w172zbkjc1dyh3v)
Ukraine and the US to hold talks

The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that he will go to Saudi Arabia next week, where talks are set to take place between US and Ukrainian officials aimed at finding a peace deal. We'll hear from a US military expert and find out how the war is affecting ordinary Ukranians in the city of Odesa.

China's foreign minister has warned the US against imposing tariffs 'without reason. Mariko Oi on our business desk will bring us the latest on that.

As Cyclone Alfred nears the Australian coast, residents brace for impact. We'll get the latest from our correspondent on the ground.

And we'll bring you an exclusive interview with pop legend Lady Gaga.

(Photo: Donald Trump meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Washington, February 28, 2025; Credit: Reuters)


FRI 06:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn64h6d)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 06:06 Newsday (w172zbkjc1dylvz)
Ukraine and US officials to meet next week

Ukraine says Russia is targeting its energy and gas infrastructure in a massive drone attack. We'll find out what it's like to live in the teeth of Russsia's invasion, heading to the central city of Zaporizhzhia. And could we be moving towards a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine? And what are European leaders doing to support Kiev? We'll hear from an Italian politician.

There are fears more people in Sudan could be at risk of cholera as fighting is destroying clean water sources.

And with the world's biggest iceberg appearing to have run aground, we'll speak to a marine biogeographer on what's caused it.

(Photo: Relatives of Ukrainian prisoners of war outside the US embassy in Kyiv, March 6, 2025: Credit: Reuters)


FRI 07:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn64lyj)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 07:06 Newsday (w172zbkjc1dyqm3)
Dozens killed in Syria fighting

Dozens of people have been killed in clashes between Syrian forces and fighters loyal to the deposed president Bashar al-Assad in a coastal area of the country.

The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that he will go to Saudi Arabia next week, where talks are set to take place between US and Ukrainian officials aimed at finding a peace deal. We'll hear from a former Ukrainian foreign minister. Meanwhile, European Union leaders meeting in Brussels have rallied around Ukraine and agreed to bolster the bloc's defences. We’ll speak to a Hungarian member of the European parliament.

US president Donald Trump has signed an executive order to establish a strategic bitcoin reserve. We'll get the details from our business desk.

With the world's biggest iceberg appearing to have run aground, we'll speak to a marine biogeographer on what's caused it.

And we'll bring you an exclusive interview with pop legend Lady Gaga.

(Photo: Syrian forces heading to Latakia, March 6, 2025; Credit: Reuters)


FRI 08:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn64qpn)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 08:06 HARDtalk (w3ct5swh)
Roger Carstens: Do hostage deals risk making problems worse?

Stephen Sackur speaks to Roger Carstens, former US Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs. Did the deals he strike from Russia to Iran risk making the problem worse?

(Photo: Roger Carstens, former US Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs appears via video on Hardtalk)


FRI 08:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggftcsv2z1)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 08:32 Business Daily (w3ct5z3b)
Business Daily meets: The women of heavy industry

We speak to three businesswomen working in traditionally male-dominated sectors.

Anna Mareschi Danieli from the Italian-based global steel company Danieli group. Caroll Masevhe, founder of a women-only construction business - Kapcor construction, in Johannesburg; and Patty Eid from Petrofac, a leader in the Middle East’s oil and gas industry.

Producer/presenter: Sam Fenwick

(Image: L-R, Caroll Masevhe Patty Eid, Anna Mareschi Danieli)


FRI 08:50 Witness History (w3ct5yfz)
How bloodshed in Selma led to the US Voting Rights Act 1965

In March 1965, hundreds of peaceful civil rights protesters in Selma were brutally beaten by Alabama state troops.

They had been marching to demonstrate against the denial of voting rights to Black Americans.

The bloodshed in Selma prompted President Lyndon B Johnson to push for the Voting Rights Act of 1965, one of the most significant pieces of legislation ever passed by Congress.

The landmark Act was brought in to tackle racial discrimination during elections and to guarantee the rights of African Americans to vote.

Farhana Haider has been listening to the archive.

A version of this programme was first broadcast in 2020.

Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more.

Recent episodes explore everything from football in Brazil, the history of the ‘Indian Titanic’ and the invention of air fryers, to Public Enemy’s Fight The Power, subway art and the political crisis in Georgia. We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: visionary architect Antoni Gaudi and the design of the Sagrada Familia; Michael Jordan and his bespoke Nike trainers; Princess Diana at the Taj Mahal; and Görel Hanser, manager of legendary Swedish pop band Abba on the influence they’ve had on the music industry. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the time an Iraqi journalist hurled his shoes at the President of the United States in protest of America’s occupation of Iraq; the creation of the Hollywood commercial that changed advertising forever; and the ascent of the first Aboriginal MP.

(Photo: Civil rights leader Dr Martin Luther King at the Selma to Montgomery march. Credit: Getty Images)


FRI 09:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn64vfs)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 09:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqt8q4y1v3)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 09:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggftcsv6q5)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 09:32 Science In Action (w3ct5vf7)
[Repeat of broadcast at 20:32 on Thursday]


FRI 10:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn64z5x)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 10:06 Unexpected Elements (w3ct5q38)
Silent science

Sparked by a silent album released by 1,000 musicians in protest of the UK government’s planned changes to copyright law, Unexpected Elements hits the pause button... Is there any science to silence?

Fear not, this week’s show is packed full of chatter! You might think there’s only one type of silence, but supposedly exists in political science too. In fact, there are seven distinct types.

If you're a techy you probably have a pair of noise cancelling headphones. But have you ever wondered how they work? We’ll take them apart to figure out how they work. Plus, dive into the fascinating world of gene silencing, definitely one of the coolest areas of genetics. Learn how this cutting-edge technology could help protect our crops from pests in the future.

Later, Caroline is joined by her two wonderful panellists to contemplate and reflect on silence, when might it be harmful? And does true silence even exist?

All that and many more Unexpected Elements.

Presenters: Caroline Steel, Candice Bailey and Kai Kupferschmidt

Producers: Harrison Lewis, with William Hornbrook, Debbie Kilbride and Noa Dowling


FRI 11:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn652y1)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 11:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqt8q4y9bc)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 11:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggftcsvg6f)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 11:32 The Global Story (w3ct6dxp)
How North Korean hackers launched history's biggest heist

In February, hackers launched what is being considered the biggest heist of all time, when they stole almost $1.5bn from the cryptocurrency trading platform, Bybit. The record theft reportedly went down in just two minutes, and it set in motion a race against time to freeze some of the funds before the culprits could cash out. Soon, evidence began to point to Lazarus, an elite hacking group widely linked to the North Korean intelligence agency. So with analysis suggesting the country's malicious activity is on the rise, how are international governments fighting back, and are we more vulnerable to sophisticated cyber threats than ever before?

Lucy Hockings is joined by the BBC's cyber correspondent, Joe Tidy. They examine how the hack was carried out, and consider what it means for the wider crypto landscape, as Donald Trump announces his plans for a US cryptocurrency reserve.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at theglobalstory@bbc.com You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Laurie Kalus and Eleanor Sly

Sound engineers: Dafydd Evans and Jonny Baker

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: China Collins


FRI 12:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn656p5)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 12:06 Outlook (w3ct69b6)
Outlook Mixtape: A chorus of female strength

For International Women's Day we hear from India, Afghanistan and Morocco: three women who each flipped the script of their lives and triumphed.

Prema Dhanraj wanted to be a singer but as an eight-year-old she suffered terrible burns and almost died. Her mother, praying for Prema’s survival, bargained with God promising that if Prema lived she would become a doctor. Prema fulfilled her mother’s wishes and much more. She became a pioneering plastic surgeon, studying in the US, training other surgeons around the world and winning numerous awards. On returning to India she set up an organisation, Agni Raksha, in her home town Bengaluru, to offer free medical treatment and social care to burns survivors.

Afghan Sahra Mani found triumph in the most unexpected of ways, despite beginning life on the margins. Sahra grew up scrapping for an education and watching her young friends married off. Novels like Jane Eyre and her camera, a treasured gift from her mother, gave her a creative lifeline. She came to London to chase her dreams and study at university, eventually becoming an award-winning, internationally-recognised documentary filmmaker. Sahra went on to work as a university professor in Kabul. In August 2021 Sahra was abroad, visiting her dying mother. On the same night Sahra said her final goodbye, the Taliban captured her beloved city. Unable to return, Sahra channelled her sorrow by helping women stuck under their harsh new reality. She began collecting footage of Afghan women resisting Taliban rule. Things felt bleak and that’s when Hollywood star Jennifer Lawrence reached out to ask if she could support her to make a film. Soon Malala Yousafzai joined them and an alliance was formed. Their film Bread and Roses can be watched on Apple TV and the clip played was courtesy of Apple TV.

Aziza Chaouni was the first Moroccan to study architecture at Harvard. She dreamed of creating the kind of dramatic glass and metal structures that were winning awards for architectural superstars. But her university professor and mentor sent her on a different mission – to create buildings and designs to help her home city of Fez. So Aziza decided on a project to restore the heavily-polluted and stinking river that runs through the ancient medina. It seemed a far cry from her original ambitions. But an epic journey across the Sahara Desert convinced her that the innovative engineering of water, sand and mud – rather than steel, glass and concrete – were her true calling.

Presenter: Saskia Collette
Producer: Sarah Kendal

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

(Photo: Cassette tape. Credit: Getty Images)


FRI 12:50 Witness History (w3ct5yfz)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


FRI 13:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn65bf9)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 13:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqt8q4yjtm)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 13:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggftcsvppp)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 13:32 Heart and Soul (w3ct5tdz)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]


FRI 14:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn65g5f)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 14:06 Newshour (w172zb9dtwr39nd)
Dozens killed after violent clashes in Syria

Syrian security forces are reported to have carried out a mass execution of fifty-two people of the Alawite minority in the coastal province of Latakia. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says activists have released footage showing dozens of bodies in civilian clothing piled in the yard of a house. The incident follows clashes in the province between government forces and supporters of the former president Bashar al-Assad, which left more than seventy people dead. We speak to a local resident in Latakia.

Also in the programme: Russia targets Ukraine's energy infrastructure in a missile and drone attack overnight; and Lady Gaga on her new album and the long, hard road to get there.

(Picture: Syrians demonstrate in support of the Syrian government, after attacks carried out by groups loyal to ousted leader Bashar al-Assad in the Latakia region on March 7, 2025. Credit: Mahmoud Hassano/REUTERS)


FRI 15:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn65kxk)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 15:06 HARDtalk (w3ct5swh)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


FRI 15:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggftcsvy5y)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 15:32 World Business Report (w3ct5ztx)
Political drama in Canada

What's driving the political drama in Canada? A new Prime Minister will be chosen on Sunday. We delve into the economic forces shaping this crucial leadership race.

In Ghana, cocoa farmers are swapping bean farming for illegal gold mining, a practice which is helping drive global chocolate prices.

And Will Bain speaks to the company that landed a private spacecraft on the moon with the intention to explore the lunar Sea of Crises.


FRI 16:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn65pnp)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 16:06 BBC OS (w172zbjkk38tbr1)
Zelensky repeats call for truce after Russian attack

Ukraine says its energy and gas infrastructure has again been attacked by Russian missiles and drones. Elsewhere, the US and Ukraine have said they will hold talks in Saudi Arabia next Tuesday to discuss a potential ceasefire with Russia - delegations for both Washington and Kyiv will be in attendance. We speak to our correspondent who's been travelling with Zelensky's team, and hear from Ukrainians on how they're feeling about what's been happening.

Eurostar services to and from Paris have been cancelled for the rest of the day after an unexploded World War Two bomb was found near Gare du Nord station. We speak to people around the world who defuse old bombs about the realities and challenges of the job.

And we hear from women in Afghanistan about how their lives have changed in the years since the Taliban took power.

Presenter: Mark Lowen

Photo: Rescuers work at the site of a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kharkiv, Ukraine March 7, 2025.

Credit: Reuters/Vitalii Hnidyi


FRI 17:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn65tdt)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 17:06 BBC OS (w172zbjkk38tgh5)
Worst violence in Syria since Assad

Security forces of Syria's new rulers have engaged in heavy fighting with fighters loyal to deposed President Bashar al-Assad in a coastal area of the country. It is the worst violence in Syria since rebels toppled Assad in December and installed an Islamist transitional government. We speak to people in the affected areas.

We hear from women in Afghanistan about how their lives have changed in the years since the Taliban took power.

And Lady Gaga has released her first new album in years. We hear from fans and speak to the BBC's music correspondent who's spoken to Gaga.

Presenter: Mark Lowen

Photo: Syrian security forces with heavy weapons take part in an operation following attacks carried out against Syrian security forces, in Latakia, Syria, 07 March 2025

Photo credit: EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock


FRI 18:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn65y4y)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 18:06 Outlook (w3ct69b6)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:06 today]


FRI 18:50 Witness History (w3ct5yfz)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]


FRI 19:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn661x2)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 19:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqt8q4z89d)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 19:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggftcswf5g)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 19:32 Sport Today (w3ct5w2k)
2025/03/07 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 (w172zgfmcn665n6)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 20:06 BBC OS Conversations (w3ct5rd1)
Three months after the fall of Assad

After 13 years of civil war, a transitional government is now in charge in Syria, led by interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa, the leader of the Islamist rebel group – Hayat Tahrir al-Sham or HTS.

Syria is home to many different religious and ethnic groups and some fear that more conservative members of HTS could influence government policy.

Nor is the fighting over. Forces linked to the new government have been battling Assad loyalists in in the port cities of Latakia and Tartous, where dozens of people are reported to have been killed.

In our conversations, two women discuss new freedoms but also share fears about safety and women’s rights.

“We are free now,” says Souad. “We can speak and share, we are not afraid of each other, that one of us is a spy or a snitch...if one of us wanted to express an opinion, we could be arrested.”

Before the civil war, Syria was a globally popular tourist destination and, over the past few weeks, international airlines have resumed flights into the country. We bring together three tour guides to share what the country has to offer visitors.

We also hear from two refugees, who have returned to the country to reunite with their families.

Presenter: Mark Lowen
BBC producers: Virginia Kelly, Iqra Farooq and Laura Cress
Boffin Media producer: Richard Hollingham

(Photo: Rita in Syria. Credit: Rita)

An EcoAudio certified Boffin Media production in partnership with the OS team.


FRI 20:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggftcswjxl)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 20:32 CrowdScience (w3ct5rjk)
Is water wet?

The wetness of water seems blindingly obvious - but dive into the science and things aren’t so clear.

CrowdScience listeners Rachel and Callum were washing their hands one day and it got them thinking about wetness. Why does water feel the way it does? And what makes a liquid wet?

To find out, presenter Anand Jagatia takes a closer look at the behaviour of liquids with materials scientist Mark Miodownik, and finds out why they might not be as wet as we think.

We learn what’s really behind the sensation of feeling something wet on your skin, with the help of physiologist Davide Filingeri and PhD student Jade Ward.

And we turn to a philosopher, Vanessa Seifert, and a chemist, Tim Neudecker, to puzzle out exactly how many water molecules you need before the property of wetness emerges.

Presenter: Anand Jagatia
Producer: Anand Jagatia
Editor: Cathy Edwards
Production Co-ordinator: Ishmael Soriano
Studio Manager: Bob Nettles and Andrew Garratt

(Image: A photo of a droplet falling into a body of water Credit: Flaviu Cernea / 500pxvia Getty Images)


FRI 21:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn669db)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 21:06 Newshour (w172zb9dtwr44w9)
Interviews, news and analysis of the day’s global events.


FRI 22:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn66f4g)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 22:06 The Newsroom (w172zbqt8q4zmjs)
The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen


FRI 22:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggftcswsdv)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 22:32 World Business Report (w3ct5zx5)
First broadcast 07/03/2025 22:32 GMT

The latest business and finance news from around the world, on the BBC.


FRI 23:00 BBC News (w172zgfmcn66jwl)
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.


FRI 23:06 HARDtalk (w3ct5swh)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:06 today]


FRI 23:30 BBC News Summary (w172zggftcswx4z)
The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.


FRI 23:32 Heart and Soul (w3ct5tdz)
[Repeat of broadcast at 04:32 today]