BBC

Concert pianist Yirui Weng, 32, grew up in a communist, atheist family in China, where religion played no part in her life. Music, however, always did. As a gifted young pianist, she immersed herself in the great works of Western classical music. When Yirui moved to Italy to pursue her musical studies, curiosity began to replace indifference. While playing Vivaldi’s Gloria, she found herself drawn not just to the beauty of the music, but to its unfamiliar language: “Lamb of God”, “Son of the Father”. What did these words mean and why had composers been inspired by them for centuries? After meeting a Chinese priest in Milan, Yirui began attending catechism classes and encountered the teachings of Jesus for the first time. In 2023, Yirui was baptised. John Laurenson travels to Rome to meet Yirui Weng. She reflects on her journey of faith and explores a deeper question: why is music such a powerful and universal expression of belief?

With a landmark court case in California hearing from a woman who says tech giants Meta and YouTube’s owner Google harmed her mental health as a child, we catch up with our correspondent in Los Angeles, Peter Bowes, on the legal proceedings and discuss how damaging and addictive social media websites can be during a person's formative years.

Elsewhere, as Netflix squabbles with Paramount for control of Warner Brothers Discovery and its worldwide franchises including Harry Potter and Superman, we hear from former Paramount executive Guy Petty on why Netflix's CEO Ted Sarandos is heading to the White House.

Rahul Tandon speaks to Moritz Riesinger of the IG Metall union in Germany as it comes to a temporary agreement with Elon Musk over its Tesla factory near Berlin.

And economist Cary Leahey of Columbia University explains why the latest unemployment figures in the United States has risen once again.

Global business news, with live guests and contributions from Europe, Latin America and the USA.

(Picture: Supporters of plaintiff Kaley G.M. hold signs as they stand outside the courthouse in Los Angeles, California, on the day she takes the stand at a trial in a key test case accusing Meta and Google's YouTube of harming children's mental health through addictive social media platforms. Credit: Reuters / Mike Blake.)

It’s expected to be a close race between Labour, Reform UK, and the Greens. We hear from the count and speak to political scientist Paula Keaveney about the apparent fragmentation of British politics.

Also on programme: Democrats on the Republican-led House Oversight Committee have defended the former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton after her deposition about the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

And the television series Our Friends in the North is adapted for the stage. Writer Peter Flannery and actor Christopher Eccleston discuss the show’s enduring success.

In a published opening statement, Mrs Clinton said she had no recollection of ever meeting Epstein and castigated the committee for failing to question people who did have dealings with him, including President Trump.

Also on the programme: as Iran and the US resume nuclear talks in Geneva, Iranians fear it's the last chance for diplomacy. And how our two eyes evolved from a cyclopean ancestor,

(Picture: Chairman of the House Oversight Committee James Comer speaks to the press ahead of US former First Lady and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's scheduled testimony. Credit: Federova / EPA)

Brian tries his hand at matchmaking, and Helen has the time of her life.

Iran's president says Tehran isn't pursuing nuclear weapons and has no intention of doing so, as a third round of crucial talks with the US continues in Geneva. Also: former US secretary of state and first lady, Hillary Clinton, appears before a Congressional committee investigating the late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un says his country "could get along well" with the United States, if Washington recognises Pyongyang as a nuclear power. US condemns the use of drones by both sides in the conflict in Sudan. And a new study reveals why some older people's minds are as sharp as they were when they were young.

The president and chief executive of the World Economic Forum, Borge Brende is stepping down after an investigation into his links with Jeffrey Epstein. The Forum says it found no additional concerns.

The price of lithium, a key ingredient in EV batteries, has surged after one of the world’s top producers, Zimbabwe, suddenly banned exports.

We also hear from Volvo UK over the recall of electric cars over a fire risk with some of its batteries.

The president of Israel Isaac Herzog has just concluded an official state visit in Ethiopia. We look at the historic ties between the two countries, and what the visit means for the horn of Africa region.

Also, a report by the Alliance for Malaria Prevention warns that progress made in containing the disease could be stalling due to global aid funding cuts. The report predicts that a reduction of financing by 30 percent could see an additional 146 million malaria cases by 2030. We speak to the Executive Director of the Alliance.

Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna

Producers: Keikantse Shumba, Blessing Aderogba and Albert Kirui

Technical Producer: Herbert Masua

Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga

Editors: Samuel Murunga and Maryam Abdalla

The former US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, will testify in the congressional investigation into late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Her husband, the former president, Bill Clinton, will testify on Friday.

Also on the programme: a third round of talks between Iranian and American officials are being held in Geneva; and a new study that discovered the key to staying mentally sharp in old age.

(Photo: Hillary Clinton attends the Mumbai Climate Week in Mumbai, India on February 18, 2026. Credit: Reuters)

Also, Nolan talks MLA pay