This is the Global News podcast from the BBC World Service.

I'm Nick Miles, and in the early hours of Sunday, the 9th of 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 Alewite 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.

Treda Stinger Rogers.

You've got it.

We look back at the work and life of the South African apartheidaeer playwright Athal Fugard.

We start this podcast in Syria, where there are growing fears amongst the minority

al-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, Heba, spoke to the BBC from Banias, one of the towns worst affected by this week's

violence.

They came and attacked our neighbourhood.

Our neighbours were killed, including children.

They came and they took everything, gold, everything.

And for the last three days, we've had no water, no power.

We had to use batteries, whatever we could, to stay connected.

I got an update from our Middle East correspondent in Damascus, Lena Sinjab.

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