Currently

When Shiraz Calls

A personal account of day-to-day life in Iran told through the calls of two Iranian sisters – one in the UK, the other in the Iranian city of Shiraz. Since the outbreak of war at the end of February, a near total internet blackout and a shutdown of international phone lines by the Iranian authorities has meant limited information has got out of the country. Despite the risks involved, the sisters have made recordings of their conversations which have been shared with the BBC. They discuss when the bombs land, the destruction of places they love and the realities of an economy that’s being brought to its knees. They struggle to sleep at night. Salaries don’t come through. It’s a roller coaster of emotions. But there are also moments of calm and comfort…a spot of dark humour and the scent of hyacinths. Actors: Leila played by Lisa Zahra Gita played by Zahra Ahmadi Presenter: Caroline Hawley Producers: Adele Armstrong and Soroush Pakzad Sound design: Peregrine Andrews Editor: Clare Fordham

Under Fire in the Strait of Hormuz

Sunil was 26 when he went to work on a ship for the first time. He travelled from Rajasthan, India to a port in Dubai for a job on an oil tanker. When he boarded the ship, he met Dalip, who was from a neighbouring village. They helped support each other when they felt homesick, working on a ship so far from home for the first time. But then a few weeks into their contract, Sunil heard a loud bang and felt the ship shake. He ran to the deck and saw oil spreading across the floor and smoke rising from the engine room. Someone told him an Iranian missile had hit their ship. As the oil spread, Sunil feared for his life and jumped into the ocean. He stayed calm until he realised Dalip wasn’t there... Kayleen Devlin tells the story of three men who were working on ships as the US-Israel war with Iran unfolded. Their stories reveal a system where workers can be recruited through unlawful practices, sent onto ships with little protection, and sometimes left to fend for themselves. Most seafarers come from India and are often offered wages far below international guidelines to work on the cargo ships and oil tankers that keep our day to day lives moving and our economies afloat. Presenter: Kayleen Devlin Producer: Phoebe Keane Translation: Kinjal Pandya Sound design: Neil Churchil Editor: Richard Vadon (Image: Smoke billows from the Sky Light. Credit: Sunil Puniya)

Who’s Winning Muslim Voters?

Following last week’s local elections, it's clear there’s a huge shift happening when it comes to the voting habits of British Muslims across the country. Why are so many British Muslims moving away from the Labour Party? And are they really all going to the Greens? Presenter Rima Ahmed returned to her hometown of Harehills in Leeds, once a Labour stronghold, just before the local elections to speak to ordinary Muslim voters about what's important to them. This episode of Currently... was made by Keiligh Baker. The technical editor was James Beard and the editor was Justine Lang.

Betting on Disaster

Huge sums are being wagered on current events, from the weather to world wars, with fortunes being made - and lost. Mike Wendling investigates the rise of prediction markets. While gambling is a long-standing, if somewhat morally dubious, British pastime, there's a new crop of American companies which are supercharging the industry. They're called prediction markets. Who will win the World Cup? Will a celebrity show up on the red carpet? What words will a crypto CEO mention in their quarterly earnings call? Will the leader of Venezuela be toppled, and will famine be declared in Gaza? Platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket allow users to bet on almost any question imaginable. Prediction market entrepreneurs say their platforms are information discovery engines where users put their money where their mouth is, providing valuable information and clues to the future that they say are more accurate than experts, media or polls. But the industry has been rocked by insider trading scandals and manipulative behaviour by some traders, and critics worry that as demand for these platforms rise, so too does the risk that they could end up shaping reality, rather than merely reflecting it. For Currently, Mike Wendling speaks to industry insiders, traders, and experts to glean the future of the prediction market industry. Producer: Mhairi MacKenzie Audio engineer: James Beard Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith Credits: Kalshi advert (Kalshi) Shayne Coplan speaking at 2026 MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference (MIT Sloan). The Odds: Predictions for the 2028 White House (CNN) @Locksy/X Coinbase Q3 2025 Quarterly Earnings Call (Coinbase) Bet The House Podcast (Bet the House)

About the Girls: The Puberty Puzzle

This week, as BBC Radio 4 explores what it means to grow up as a girl in 2026, health presenter Laura Foster is examining a striking scientific reality: that girls today are hitting puberty earlier than their parents and grandparents did. Question is why is this happening — and what does it mean for the adults they will become? With the trend showing no sign of slowing down, Laura speaks to leading researchers to decode the forces behind this shift. With girls hitting puberty earlier than ever - we pay a visit to one primary school which has moved puberty lessons forward to keep pace. From genetics and childhood obesity to screens, stress and the Covid pandemic, we examine the complex mix shaping the bodies and minds of today’s girls. What does earlier puberty mean for their physical, emotional and social development? Can the downward trend be stopped? And what support do young people need from families, schools and policymakers right now? Join us for About The Girls: The Puberty Puzzle as we explore why growing up is starting earlier than we expect. Presenter: Laura Foster Producer: Kate White Editor: Martin Smith