The World Tonight

Spain, Ireland, Slovenia and the Netherlands have all said they won’t send acts to the Eurovision Song Contest next May in protest at Israel’s participation. There have been calls for Israel to be excluded because of the war in Gaza, but members of the European Broadcasting Union, which organises the contest, rejected a push for a vote on the issue. Also on the programme: an Inquiry finds the Russian President Vladimir Putin "morally responsible" for the death by poisoning of Dawn Sturgess in Salisbury; and we remember Steve Cropper, the legendary guitarist who's died at the age of 84.

The President of the European Commission, Ursula Von Der Leyen, has set out revised plans to use frozen Russian assets to loan money to Ukraine. Meanwhile, a German arms manufacturer invests in a drone manufacturing plant in Swindon to boost Europe’s defence. Also on the programme, Somali Americans in Minnesota react to president Trump’s attack on their community; and the chance discovery of one of the world’s largest species of octopus in Aberdeenshire.

Two of US President Donald Trump’s closest envoys, Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner, today met with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin used the meeting to warn that Russia was not planning for war with Ukraine’s European backers but was 'ready' for that eventuality. Also on the programme: we debate Justice Secretary David Lammy proposes scrapping jury trials for some cases; and we hear about the snake-handling church that's inspired a new piece of music.

UK-US agree zero tariffs deal on pharmaceutical products. The agreement means that the NHS will have to pay more for new medicines. We speak to a leading member of pharmaceutical industry. Also: The chairman of the Office for Budget Responsibility resigns after the body mistakenly released its assessment of the budget early. We hear from one MP supportive of the chairman's decision to quit. And Zootropolis, the new Disney animation that is breaking records.

As a BBC investigation reveals how many adoptions break down, we ask whether the system gives adoptive parents enough support. Also: We ask a Labour MP whether the Chancellor misled the country over the state of the public finances - and ask our live political panel where her budget has left her authority. And the composer looking beyond the solar system for inspiration.

The government has U-turned on its manifesto commitment to offer all workers the right to claim unfair dismissal from their first day in a job. Ministers now plan to introduce the right after six months instead, after business groups voiced concerns it would discourage firms from hiring. The government argued it was making the climbdown to stop its employment legislation being delayed in the House of Lords, where it has run into opposition. But Labour MP Andy McDonald, who helped to write the New Deal for Workers on which the legislation is based, told us of his "immense disappointment". Also on the programme: the US Department of Homeland Security says it's reviewing all asylum cases approved under former president Joe Biden after the suspect in the shooting of two National Guard soldiers in Washington DC yesterday was revealed to be an Afghan man who worked alongside the CIA in Afghanistan. And an Oxford University botanical scientist told us of the moment his colleague broke down at the sight of a rare flower blossoming in Indonesia, in a moment that has now gone viral online.

The Chancellor announced major tax increases amounting to £26 billion in her second Budget, as well as ending the two-child benefit cap from April next year. We broadcast from the political bellwether town of Northampton, to get local reaction from business and townspeople, as well as the local MP Lucy Rigby, who is also Economic Secretary to the Treasury. Also on the programme: two national guardsmen have been critically injured after being shot in Washington DC.

Millions of people are set to get a pay rise from April due to an increase in the minimum wage, the government has announced ahead of Wednesday's Budget. The hourly rate for over-21s will rise by 50p to £12.71, with workers aged 18-20 seeing an 85p rise to £10.85, and under-18s and apprentices getting 45p more to £8 an hour. However, businesses have warned that further increases to the minimum wages could result in hiring freezes. We hear from the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. Also on the programme: US President Donald Trump is sending his envoy Steve Witkoff to Moscow to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin, amid continuing talks to end the war in Ukraine. And a new BBC documentary recounts a little-known water contamination scandal that rocked communities in Cornwall in the 1980s.

The chairman of the BBC, Samir Shah, faced scrutiny in the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee over his handling of the recent crisis over Panorama's edit of US President Donald Trump's speech, as well as other allegations of bias. The chair of the committee told us she's not convinced the BBC is "in safe hands". Also on the programme: a French government minister says talks over a peace deal for Ukraine are getting closer to an agreement. And the trombonist who helped define funk music, Fred Wesley, joins us in studio ahead of two live performances in London.

Vladimir Putin says the White House plan can “form the basis of a final peace settlement”. President Trump believes Thursday is an appropriate deadline for Kyiv to accept the proposals. But Democratic Congressman Mike Quigley tells us “if this is what the President is really proposing, I’m honestly embarrassed for my country". Also on the programme: the family of a missing Colombian man seek answers after the US strikes a boat alleged to have been involved in drug-trafficking. And proposed regulations governing wood from an endangered tree could spell trouble for musicians who use bows made from brazilwood, also known as pernambuco.

The UK response to Covid was "too little, too late" and led to thousands more deaths in the first wave, an inquiry into government decision-making has found. The report said lockdown may have been avoided if voluntary steps such as social distancing and isolating those with symptoms along with household members had been brought in earlier than 16 March 2020. A minister during the pandemic years tells us some of the criticism is "unfair". Also on the programme: as Spain marks 50 years since the death of dictator Francisco Franco, a leading historian of the country on why some young people are growing more favourable towards him. Broadcaster Terry Christian reflects on the passing of his friend, The Stone Roses bassist Gary "Mani" Mounfield, who has died aged 63. And turning a tennis match into opera. Shaun Ley visits the set of 'Balls', an musical rendition of the famous 1973 Battle of the Sexes tennis match between Bobby Riggs and Billie Jean King.

The White House and Moscow have reportedly drawn up a 28-point peace plan that crosses many of Ukraine’s stated red lines. Could Kyiv ever accept it? Also on the programme: the Oxfordshire fly-tipping scandal is raised at Prime Minister's Questions - we ask how big the problem is nationwide; and eighty years on, a verdict on the Nuremberg trials from the son of a Nazi war criminal and the grandson of a British prosecutor.

During a visit to the White House, Donald Trump said Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ‘knew nothing’ about the 2018 murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi. We hear reaction from Khashoggi’s former editor, Marty Baron. Also on the programme: Poland’s foreign minister on suspected Russian sabotage of his country’s railways. And crouching woman, draped goose - we hear about the earliest known depiction of interaction between a human and an animal.

The Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood laid out a string of reforms to the asylum system that would see refugee status become temporary, guaranteed housing support for asylum seekers end and new capped "safe and legal routes" into the UK created. Speaking in the House of Commons, Mahmood told MPs the current system is "out of control and unfair", and said: "If we fail to deal with this crisis, we will draw more people down a path that starts with anger and ends in hatred." Also on the programme: as Syrians search for those who disappeared during the 13-year civil war, questions remain over missing American Austin Tice. And an off-duty pilot who tried to cut off the engines of an Alaska Airlines passenger flight with more than 80 people on board, after having taken psychedelic mushrooms, has been sentenced.

In an effort to curb illegal migration, the government is planning the biggest shakeup to asylum rules since World War Two - inspired by Denmark. We examine what lessons the UK can learn from the Danish system - and ask a Labour MP if these sweeping changes will work. Also on the programme: A British journalist detained by US immigration officers for more than two weeks has returned to the UK. We speak to him. And a pub quiz has banned a team for cheating. Are smartphones are spoiling all the fun?

Anonymous briefings that Keir Starmer would fight a leadership challenge have fuelled speculation about discontent with the prime minister among the parliamentary party. We hear that Labour MPs are increasingly openly contemptuous of the PM in their briefings to journalists. Also on the programme: the Democrats release emails suggesting Donald Trump was aware of sexual abuse by Jeffrey Epstein; and the knitters of the Shetland Islands tell us they’ve been stitched up by a TV portrayal of their craft.

A London NHS trust has been fined more than £500,000 and a ward manager convicted of health and safety offences over the death of 22-year-old Alice Figueiredo in Goodmayes Hospital. We ask whether the NHS could be doing more to stop preventable deaths in care. Also on the programme: Amid reports of a post-Budget coup against Sir Keir Starmer, Number 10 says the prime minister won’t go without a fight. And are the BBC's history programmes failing to present a full view of the nation's past? We hear from two historians: Professor Lawrence Goldman, Emeritus Fellow in History at St Peter's College, Oxford and Dr Tessa Dunlop, author of Lest We Forget: War and Peace in 100 British Monuments.

US President Donald Trump has threatened the BBC with a $1bn lawsuit over edits the Panorama programme made to a speech he gave before the January 6 Capitol riots. We assess the significance of the lawsuit and the resignations of the Director General and the CEO of BBC News. Also on the programme: why Democrats aren’t happy about a deal aimed at ending the longest government shutdown in US history; and on a rare trip back home, a UK-based Russian writer finds out how people are dealing with the war in Ukraine.

The longest shutdown in US history became even more severe today as hundreds of flights were cancelled by the federal government to reduce strain on air traffic controllers, who haven't been paid for five weeks. We hear from travellers, airport staff and a Republican congressman on the growing political pressure to find a deal in Congress that would end the government shutdown. Also on the programme: one of the pioneers of artificial intelligence tells us why he's profoundly concerned about the potential harm from the technology. And the geneticist who co-discovered DNA, James Watson, has died aged 97. We hear from a lifelong friend.

As world leaders gather in Brazil, Prince William tells them they must urgently work together to prevent further climate change. But how much can be achieved with the leaders of some of the world’s largest CO2 emitters - the US, China, Russia and India - absent from the meeting? Also on the programme: top Democrat Nancy Pelosi announces her retirement after nearly four decades in the US Congress; and the actress Pauline Collins, best known for her roles in 'Upstairs Downstairs' and 'Shirley Valentine', has died at the age of 85. We speak to her friend and co-star Tom Conti.