This is the global news podcast from the BBC World Service.
I'm Nick Miles and in the early hours of Sunday, 9th March.
These are our main stories.
Israel cuts off power to put pressure on Hamas to return all the remaining hostages.
We get reaction in Syria,
the struggle to stop the growing violence against members of the Alawite community.
Canada announces Mark Carney as Justin Trudeau's replacement as Prime Minister.
And why the far right frontrunner
in Romania's presidential vote has been banned from standing in the election.
Also in this podcast, a handsome man in tails, in his arms, a beautiful lady in evening dress.
We look back at the work and life of the South African apartheid era playwright Athol Fugard.
We start this podcast in Syria,
where there are growing fears amongst the minority Alawite community about their safety.
It comes after four days in which government forces have clashed
with supporters of former President Assad.
Hundreds of civilians are reported to have been killed.
One woman, Hiba, spoke to the BBC from Banillas,
one of the town's worst affected by this week's violence.
They came and attacked our neighborhood.
Our neighbors were killed, including children.