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Interviews, news and analysis of the day’s global events.

The University of Canterbury has moved away from face-to-face teaching and students have been queueing for antibiotics amidst a meningitis outbreak that has killed two people. We get the latest from the BBC’s health editor and speak to a survivor of meningitis.

Also on the programme: Donald Trump hits out at the US’s allies over their perceived inaction in the Strait of Hormuz.

And the earliest recording of whale song has been rediscovered. What does it tell us about the changing song of the sea?

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

Ruairi’s got a lot on his mind, and Esme thinks she might lose the farm.

Germany and Britain say the war against Iran has nothing to do with Nato and the alliance won't be taking part in any effort to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. But the UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, said London was working with individual allies on a plan to secure the vital waterway, which has been largely closed by Iran. President Trump has said it will be very bad for Nato if it doesn't get involved, though the alliance is only a defensive partnership. He also called on China to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz - saying it gets "90% of its oil" from there and hinting he might delay his summit with the Chinese president Xi Jinping if he doesn't get what he wants. Also: Russia launched a rare daytime attack in Kyiv on Monday morning - using drones that Ukrainian officials say appear "upgraded"; Whistleblowers have told the BBC that social media giants allowed more harmful content on people's feeds, after research showed how outrage fuelled engagement. TikTok and Meta have denied the claims; BBC Talking Movies presenter Tom Brook on this year's Oscar winners and what they say about the future of the film industry; and new research reveals babies younger than one practise deceit such as pretending not to hear parents or hiding toys.

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Global energy markets remain jittery after a drone strike at the UAE’s Port of Fujairah forced a temporary halt in oil loading, raising concerns about the vulnerability of key Gulf export routes even as the Strait of Hormuz stays mostly closed.

Meanwhile, the White House is seeking to assemble an international naval coalition to escort ships through the strait.

In Japan, the nation’s once-ubiquitous vending machines are in decline, with numbers down 23% since their 1985 peak of 2.2 million.

The BBC’s Africa Eye embeds with Puntland forces in Somalia’s northeastern Al-Miskaad mountains as they fight Islamic State (IS) militants. Nearly a decade after its defeat in the Middle East, IS has spread across Africa. Somalia’s semi-autonomous region of Puntland has become a key hub, with the UN estimating that IS in Somalia was comprised of up to 800 fighters last year. Over half of these militants were believed to be foreign recruits.

We also look at the rising number of Egyptians migrating irregularly to Europe. Victims' families said that smugglers were demanding thousands of dollars, sometimes issuing death threats, leaving loved ones living in fear. Egyptians now represent the largest African group entering the European Union (EU) and the second largest globally, after Bangladeshis. This episode explores what’s behind this surge in migration.

Presenter : Nkechi Ogbonna

Producer: Ayuba Iliya

Technical Producer: David Njenga Kinyanjui

Senior Producers: Bella Twine and Blessing Aderogba

Editors: Samuel Murunga and Maryam Abdalla

As the Iran war goes into its third week, which countries will heed President Trump's call to help unblock the flow of global oil? We hear from a former British army officer who served as Nato’s deputy supreme allied commander of Europe.

Also on the programme: whistleblowers tell the BBC social media giants have allowed harmful content on feeds to entice users; and a new study finds that babies experiment with deceptive behaviour much earlier than previously thought.

(Photo: US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters aboard Air Force One on a flight back to Washington on March 15, 2026. Credit: Reuters)

Also, how should home heating oil support be divided out?

Neil and Catherine look at time expressions with 'in', 'at' and 'on'.

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