The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk
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We now know the 48 nations that will be competing in the summer's FIFA World Cup. The final two sides to qualify - Iraq and the DRC - have each waited decades to return to the competition. We hear from jubilant fans of both teams. Also, a small rural village in South Korea, which is at risk of extinction, is celebrating the birth of a baby for the first time 17 years. A community in Washington DC has come together to rebuild a bookshop that was destroyed in a fire. An ancient abbey in the north ...
Iran says it has shot down a US fighter jet over the west of the country. Iranian state media has published pictures and videos purporting to show parts of the downed plane and one of the ejector seats. American aircraft and reconnaissance drones are said to be involved in the search, but there has been no official confirmation from the Pentagon or the White House. Also: Despite President Trump's claims that Iran's military capacity has been decimated by almost five weeks of US-Israeli strikes, ...
Representatives from more than 40 countries took part in a virtual summit on Thursday to discuss the Strait of Hormuz crisis. French President Emmanuel Macron says using force to open the vital shipping lane is "unrealistic", and criticises the US for its mixed messages on the war. Also: a 200-year old discovery off the coast of Denmark, the latest on the Artemis II Moon mission. Plus: the blind man running a marathon with the help of strangers talking through his glasses.
The podcast delves into the successful launch of NASA's Artemis II mission, aiming for future sustainable space exploration beyond the Moon. It also provides an update on President Trump's confusing statements regarding the war with Iran and discusses the safety and transparency concerns surrounding self-driving cars in China. Further segments cover the contentious US Supreme Court debate on birthright citizenship, a landmark ruling against social media companies for mental health harm, the historical significance of Mao's secretary's diaries, and a firsthand account of walking on the Moon from an Apollo astronaut.
The Global News Podcast explores President Trump's claim of ending the Iran war in weeks, despite ongoing conflict and mixed public opinion, alongside the diplomatic debate over King Charles's controversial state visit to the US. It also examines Australia's economic measures against rising fuel costs, the legal halt to Trump's White House ballroom expansion, and an ambitious carbon capture project in the North Sea. Further reports reveal distressing fertility treatment errors in Northern Cyprus and the final preparations for NASA's historic Artemis II Moon mission.
US Defence Secretary says President Trump is willing to make a deal to end the fighting, but if Iran doesn't accept the terms, the war will continue. Also: Israel's defence minister says his country's forces will destroy all homes in Lebanese villages adjacent to the Israeli border. The medical charity MSF says rape and sexual violence remain part of everyday life in parts of Sudan. Eurovision - the world's longest-running international music competition - is heading to Asia. And the organisers ...
The White House has downplayed concerns that Donald Trump's threat to hit Iran's civilian infrastructure could lead to the US potentially carrying out war crimes. President Trump said the US military would destroy Iran's electricity plants, Kharg island and desalination plants if Iran did not make a deal. Also: The United Nations Security Council is holding an emergency meeting after two more UN peackeepers were killed in southern Lebanon. Australia's internet regulator is investigating tech gia...
President Trump says the US is in serious discussions with what he described as a new and more reasonable regime to end military operations in Iran. Also: Russia comes to the aid of Cuba by sending more than 700,000 barrels of oil to the communist island. Thieves in Italy make off with paintings by Renoir, Cezanne and Matisse - worth millions of dollars - after breaking into a museum near the city of Parma in a matter of minutes. As General Min Aung Hlaing is set to become Myanmar's next preside...
President Trump has said he could "take the oil in Iran" and possibly seize Kharg Island through which most Iranian oil is exported. He spoke to the Financial Times, as thousands of US ground troops arrived in the Middle East. But Mr Trump later told reporters a deal could be reached with Iran "very soon". The Israeli military says it has struck targets across the Iranian capital, where there are reports of heavy explosions and large scale power cuts. Also: a giant NASA rocket has arrived back o...
It’s been almost a month since Israel and the US launched their war against Iran, and already there have been strikes in more than a dozen countries, with reports of over 2,000 people killed across the region. As the war drags on and more countries get involved, there are concerns this conflict could escalate into something truly global. We speak to Emeritus Professor of International History at the University of Oxford, Margaret MacMillan, and explore how world wars start, how they end and what...
The Houthis in Yemen have carried out a second missile and drone attack on Israel, and have warned they'll keep conducting strikes in the coming days. Earlier on Saturday the Iranian-backed group launched its first attack since the US and Israel began their war on Iran a month ago. Also, thousands of protests against the Trump administration have been taking place in every major city in the US, including New York, Washington DC, and Los Angeles. The organisers said the marches were a call to act...
A patient who stopped a bomb attack at a hospital has revealed he hugged the would-be-attacker to calm him down. Nathan Newby spent two hours talking to the armed man and persuaded him to abandon his plan. He received the George Medal for bravery from King Charles this week. Also: how a viral video of pack of dogs has captured the attention of animal lovers across China and beyond. England's Football Association has apologised to a women's team who defied its fifty year ban on female players. Th...
The US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told G7 foreign ministers meeting in France that the war on Iran could continue for another few weeks, and that Washington was ahead of schedule in many of its war objectives. Also: the UN warns there are now no safe spaces left for civilians in Lebanon as Israel continues its attacks; Ukraine fears the conflict in the Middle East is making the world forget Kyiv's conflict with Russia; Germany warns that the threat from Russia has never been more urgent; the...
Data examined by the BBC shows the devastating impact of the attacks on Iran's capital, Tehran, since the start of the US-Israel war. According to the findings, Israel has dropped 3,600 munitions on the city in the last four weeks. Almost 40 police stations and bases for the paramilitary Basij force have been hit, many in residential areas. BBC Eye has gathered eyewitness testimony, filmed the aftermath of strikes and analysed footage from social media and satellite imagery. In other news, scien...
This episode covers the International Olympic Committee's decision to ban transgender women from female Olympic events starting in 2028, sparking debate on fairness versus inclusion. President Trump has again delayed his deadline for Iran, amid domestic political pressure and concerns over the economic impact of the ongoing conflict. The podcast also covers the legal challenges faced by former Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, Paul McCartney's unexpected new album, and footballer Erling Haaland's significant cultural donation to his Norwegian hometown.
A California jury found Meta and Google negligent in a social media addiction trial, awarding $6M to a woman who suffered mental health issues, with implications for thousands of similar cases. The episode also delves into escalating US-Iran tensions and their impact on civilians, Venezuela's ongoing political and economic challenges, and the controversy surrounding Air Canada's CEO. Additionally, new discoveries redefine when dogs became human companions and potentially locate D'Artagnan's grave.
Iran has rejected a US peace plan to end the ongoing conflict, with officials mocking US efforts while the global oil crisis intensifies, forcing countries like the Philippines to seek new energy sources. This episode also features powerful testimonies from Jeffrey Epstein's survivors, a UN debate on recognizing the transatlantic slave trade as a crime against humanity, and an update on the Netherlands' successful smartphone ban in schools. The podcast concludes with a heartwarming story about Bear, the koala rescue dog, retiring after a decade of service.
US and Israeli media outlets are reporting that the Trump administration - with the help of Pakistan- has handed Iran a 15-point ceasefire plan. President Trump insists his administration is talking to the "right people" in Iran, and that they "badly" want a deal to end the four week conflict. On Tuesday he hinted at a "very significant prize" gifted to the US by Iranian negotiators relating to oil and gas, and the Strait of Hormuz. Just hours later, Iran told the United Nations that "non-hostil...
Israel and Iran continue to strike each other after the US says plans for talks with Tehran remain "fluid". We also hear how President Trump's vague peace plan gives only temporary relief to unstable markets, and about life in Iran under constant bombardment. In other news, the United States pays a French energy company $1 billion not to build a wind farm. Danes go to the polls: will they re-elect their prime minister for a third term? The plight of some of Cuba's most vulnerable people under a ...
The speaker of Iran's parliament has said no negotiations have taken place with the United States, contradicting President Trump's announcement that talks were ongoing. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said ''fake news'' was being used to manipulate the financial and oil markets. Also: a special report on the increase in Israeli settler attacks in the occupied West Bank. At least 60 people have been killed after a Colombian Air Force plane crashed shortly after takeoff. Leonid Radvinsky, the billionaire...
The podcast opens with President Trump's controversial claims of productive talks with Iran leading to a pause in military strikes, a narrative disputed by Iranian officials, alongside analysis of the economic and geopolitical implications. It also reports on a tragic plane collision at New York's LaGuardia Airport, an anti-Semitic arson attack in London, and the UN's alarming climate report. Further highlights include innovative AI smart glasses offering support for dementia patients, Cuba's persistent nationwide blackouts, and the discovery of several new species in Cambodia's unique cave ecosystems.
Israel’s defence minister has announced that his country is expanding its ground campaign in Lebanon. Israel Katz warned of a prolonged operation against the Iran-backed group, Hezbollah, after the Israeli government ordered the destruction of all crossings over the Litani River. The Israeli military also says it expects several more weeks of fighting against Iran. Meanwhile, Tehran has warned it will fully close the Strait of Hormuz if Washington follows through with President Trump's threat to...
For nearly forty years, Fergal Keane has reported for the BBC from some of the world’s most brutal conflicts – in Gaza, Iraq, Rwanda, Sudan, Ukraine and beyond – and in that time interviewed scores of children who are the innocent victims of adult wars. As he came to understand the impacts of trauma on young minds, Keane began too to experience his own mental breakdowns – the result of a troubled childhood and a career spent running towards danger – and was eventually diagnosed with PTSD. In tod...
President Trump has threatened to attack Iran's power plants, if Tehran doesn't reopen the Strait of Hormuz within two days. Iran has said it will target energy infrastructure in the region belonging to the US if that happens. Iranian missiles have hit the southern Israeli towns of Arad and Dimona, injuring at least 100 people. Dimona is near a key nuclear facility. Also: Robert Mueller, the man who led the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 US election, has died; how Islamophob...
We meet the men on a mission to help fellow Dads connect with their daughters, through a movement called 'pints and ponytails'. It's a chance to learn how to do a range of girls' hairstyles, over a couple of beers. But organisers say they leave with more than just salon skills - as the shared experience encourages men to open up about other parenting challenges. Also: an unexpected solution that could help in the fight againt both plastic pollution and Parkinson's disease. Rhinos return to a nat...
President Trump posted on social media that the US was getting very close to meeting its objectives in Iran. Earlier he told reporters he didn't want a ceasefire. The BBC's US partner, CBS, has reported that US military officials are making detailed preparations for the possibility of deploying ground troops in Iran. Also: we hear from the journalist in Israel who's been pressured by online gamblers to change a story; why social media is awash with chat about how thin everyone was at the Oscars ...
Tehran has fired missiles and drones at its Gulf neighbours causing blazes at a Kuwait refinery and a Bahrain warehouse. Israel has launched more air attacks against Iran. Powerful explosions were reported in the capital. Iranian media said sixteen of its cargo ships anchored in the Gulf had been burnt out after being targeted there. There's been a warning that the world faces its greatest ever energy threat from the Iran war. Also, weight loss drugs are set to become much cheaper as patents exp...
Israel has agreed to halt future attacks on Iranian gas infrastructure at President Trump's request, following retaliatory strikes that caused global oil and gas price surges. This episode explores the strain on the US-Israel alliance, US public opinion, and the economic impacts of the conflict. It also covers the deserted holy sites in Jerusalem, a new documentary on microplastics' effect on fertility, and the enigma of shortwave 'numbers stations' with suspected espionage ties.
Energy prices have surged after strikes on key gas facilities in Qatar and Iran, as the Middle East war continues to escalate. Iran has targeted Qatar's Ras Laffan complex in response to the bombing of Iranian facilities on South Pars gas field by Israel. The US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth says the war is on track as the White House asks Congress for an extra $200 billion dollars. There are indications the US and Israel are diverging on their war aims. Meanwhile Iran continues to carry out th...
Qatar's state-owned petroleum company says an Iranian ballistic missile attack on its main gas complex at Ras Laffan has caused widespread destruction. Several Gulf states were attacked by Iran after its largest gas field South Pars was hit in an Israeli strike. President Trump has warned Iran not to launch further attacks on Qatar, or face a "massive" response from the US. He said Iran's gas field had been attacked by Israel - not the United States. But he said the US would "blow" it up if Tehr...
