You're listening to the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service.

Hello, I'm Oliver Conway.

This edition is published in the early hours of Thursday, the 23rd of March.

The former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson denies lying to parliament about

Covid lockdown parties.

The US raises interest rates again.

The smite fears it could add to the turmoil in the banking sector and

whoever ventures out on the streets, taking a chance of either getting kidnapped or attacked or murdered.

We hear from the increasingly dangerous capital of Haiti.

Also in the podcast could the mystery surrounding what killed Beethoven finally be solved?

Like Donald Trump in America, Boris Johnson casts a big shadow over politics in the UK.

The former British Prime Minister certainly dominated events in Parliament on Wednesday,

spending hours trying to convince MPs and the wider public watching on TV that he didn't lie about

lockdown parties in Downing Street during Covid.

The hearing of the Commons Privileges Committee was chaired by opposition Labour MP Harriet Harman.

We are examining what Mr Johnson said to the House about gatherings in number 10.

Whether what he said to the House was correct or not.

Whether and if so, how quickly and comprehensively any misleading statement was corrected.

Mr Johnson swore an oath on the Bible and then set out his defence that he didn't knowingly or

recklessly mislead parliament when he denied that rules had been broken.

I am here to say to you hand on heart that I did not lie to the House.

When those statements were made, they were made in good faith and on the basis of what I honestly

...