Today, President Trump says he will meet President Putin in Hungary for Ukraine talks after “very productive” phone call. The conversation comes a day before Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is due to visit Trump in Washington DC on Friday. Adam and Chris are joined by Caitriona Perry, chief presenter for BBC News in Washington, and Jane Corbin, Panorama presenter. They also discuss the Gaza ceasefire deal and the collapsed China spy case. You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker....
Oct 17, 2025•30 min
Today, the Institute for Fiscal Studies has warned the Chancellor she’s risking being stuck in ‘Groundhog Day’ when it comes to her upcoming Autumn budget. Adam is joined by Faisal, who’s been speaking to Chancellor Reeves at the IMF summit in Washington DC, and Helen Miller, director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, who have published their Green Budget document today. They discuss why Rachel Reeves should fear being stuck in an economic doomloop, the taxes that could rise in November’s bud...
Oct 16, 2025•33 min
Today, the government has published witness statements related to a collapsed case against two people accused of spying for China. They deny all of the allegations against them. Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister was questioned by Kemi Badenoch, who accused the government of “a cover-up”. Starmer pointed to the fact the Conservatives were in power during the period concerning the case. Adam and Chris discuss what’s in the statement, and what this means for the Prime Minister. Plus, The Clima...
Oct 15, 2025•36 min
Today, serious cyber attacks are on the rise and the government is telling businesses to make pen and paper plans to help them prepare. Adam is joined by BBC cyber correspondent Joe Tidy and Emily Taylor, CEO of Oxford Information Labs and co-founder of the Global Signal Exchange, to discuss why more serious attacks are on the rise and what else can be done. Plus, Chris and Adam are reunited to talk about the Prime Minister's statement to the House of Commons about the ceasefire between Israel a...
Oct 14, 2025•36 min
Today, President Trump has said that “war is over” as the final twenty living Israeli hostages and almost 2000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees were released as part of the Gaza ceasefire deal. The president flew to Israel and then Egypt to discuss the next stages of his plan for peace with world leaders at a Gaza summit. What’s being discussed and are things really ‘over’? Adam is joined in the studio by the BBC’s security correspondent Frank Gardner and down the line with the BBC’s chief pr...
Oct 13, 2025•43 min
Today, we hear more detail about the hostage release, which a Hamas official says will take place on Monday morning, and we talk through what to expect from an international peace summit in Egypt led by US President Donald Trump and Egypt. Over 20 world leaders, including Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, are expected to be in attendance at Sharm El-Sheikh. A spokesperson for Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said the summit is intended to "end the war in the Gaza Strip, st...
Oct 12, 2025•34 min
Today, we look at the progress of the Trump peace plan for Israel and Gaza as Hamas recalls 7,000 fighters to reassert control over Gaza amid fears of renewed internal violence. The Hamas mobilisation had been widely anticipated amid growing uncertainty about who will govern Gaza once the war ends. The ceasefire appears to have held but Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners are yet to be released. Laura and Paddy speak with international editor Jeremy Bowen about the latest. Plus, Laura exp...
Oct 11, 2025•27 min
Today, the Israeli military says the ceasefire in Gaza is now in effect. Troops have positioned themselves along the lines agreed under the Trump plan, the IDF says - but will continue to "remove any immediate threat". It comes after the Israeli government approved a deal with Hamas which will also see the release of hostages. Hamas now has 72 hours to release all Israeli hostages, while Israel will release hundreds of Palestinian detainees. Adam is joined by Lyse Doucet, chief international cor...
Oct 10, 2025•45 min
Today, Donald Trump says Israel and Hamas have "signed off on the first phase" of the 20-point peace plan for Israel and Gaza he unveiled last week. Adam is joined by Lyse Doucet, Chief International Correspondent, who has been stood in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square where celebrations have been taking place. They discuss the substance of the ceasefire agreement, as well as what’s not yet clear. Plus Sumi Somaskanda, Chief Presenter in Washington, and Jane Corbin, Panorama presenter and Middle East ...
Oct 09, 2025•48 min
Today, Kemi Badenoch gave a speech at the Conservative party conference. Adam, Chris, and Henry Zeffman were listening and give their immediate reaction. She announced a flurry of new policies, including abolishing stamp duty and introducing a fiscal “golden rule”. Did she manage to silence her critics? And is her job as party leader, at least for now, safe? She also attacked Labour for the collapse a case of two men accused of spying for China, which they deny. But is she right to accuse the go...
Oct 08, 2025•35 min
Today, how much political danger are the Conservative party in? Adam and Chris are at Conservative party conference in Manchester where some comments from shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick have dominated the headlines. In a recording reportedly made during a dinner and published by the Guardian, Jenrick said he had not seen "another white face" in the hour-and-a-half he spent in the Handsworth area of Birmingham filming a video about litter. Jenrick has defended the comments. Adam and Chri...
Oct 07, 2025•39 min
Today, negotiators from Israel and Hamas head to Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt to start indirect talks over an end to the Israel-Gaza war. It appears this is the closest both sides have come to a deal since the war began two years ago. But Donald Trump's 20-point peace plan - which Israel has agreed to and Hamas has partly agreed to - is really just a framework, only a few pages long. So will the talks survive the detail? Adam talks to Lyse Doucet, chief international correspondent, about how the nex...
Oct 06, 2025•37 min
Today, the Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announces new police powers to restrict protests. Plus Tory leader Kemi Badenoch talks about her plan to remove 750,000 illegal migrants over five years, saying those who come to the UK without permission should "go back to where they came from". And how much closer is a resolution of the conflict in Gaza? You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers....
Oct 05, 2025•31 min
Today, Laura has visited the scene of the Manchester synagogue attack and spoken to members of the local community. Paddy and Laura discuss the political reaction to Thursday’s attack on the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue. Plus, Kemi Badenoch has arrived in Manchester for her first Conservative party conference as leader. What’s at stake for her? And are we about to see her vision of Badenochism? You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask B...
Oct 04, 2025•34 min
Today, we discuss the aftermath of the Manchester synagogue attack as Greater Manchester Police say that one of the victims killed in yesterday's attack was hit by police gunfire as they shot the attacker. It’s not yet clear whether this was the cause of death. Two Jewish men were killed when a man, who police believe to be Jihad Al-Shamie, drove a car at members of the public before stabbing people. Three people remain in hospital, with one also being treated for a non-life-threatening gunshot ...
Oct 03, 2025•42 min
Today, an attack on a synagogue in Manchester has been declared a terrorist incident by counter-terror police. Members of Manchester’s Jewish Community were worshipping at the Heaton Park synagogue on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, when the attacker rammed a car and carried out a knife attack. Adam is joined by BBC News Correspondent Danny Savage, who has been on the scene in Manchester today. Plus, Adam speaks to Zack Polanski, leader of the Green Party of England and Wales...
Oct 02, 2025•38 min
Today, a company linked to Michelle Mone and her husband Doug Barrowman has been ordered to pay £122m in damages after a judge ruled it breached a government contract for the supply of PPE during the Covid pandemic. A spokesperson for Mr Barrowman has described the ruling as "a travesty of justice". In December 2023, Baroness Mone, a former Conservative peer and lingerie tycoon, admitted to the BBC that she stood to benefit from tens of millions of pounds of profit from the contracts. Adam is jo...
Oct 01, 2025•36 min
Today, Keir Starmer has used his conference speech to attack Nigel Farage saying he “doesn’t like Britain”. The Prime Minister warned against “the politics of grievance” and said that the UK is at a “fork in the road”. In response Nigel Farage has accused Starmer of being an unfit PM. Adam, Chris and Alex discuss this, as well as two policy announcements from the speech surrounding further education and the creation of NHS Online. You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to...
Sep 30, 2025•31 min
Today, the Home Secretary has told Labour conference that migrants will have to prove they are contributing to society to earn the right to remain in the UK. Under the proposals, legal migrants will have to learn English to a high standard, have a clean criminal record and volunteer in their community to be granted permanent settlement status. Meanwhile, earlier in the day the chancellor Rachel Reeves warned of harder choices to come when it comes to economic choices. Adam, Alex and Chris explai...
Sep 29, 2025•46 min
Today, Keir Starmer has told Laura he thinks Reform’s policy of scrapping indefinite leave to remain is "racist" and "immoral". The policy, which could effectively lead to hundreds of thousands of people who are here legally being deported from the UK, was announced by party leader Nigel Farage last week. Speaking on Laura’s on her BBC One Sunday show, the prime minister was anlso questioned on asylum hotels, the government’s new digital ID proposals, tax, and questions over leadersh...
Sep 28, 2025•46 min
Today, the prime minister warned that Reform UK “will tear this country apart” ahead of the Labour party conference. Sir Keir Starmer said the conference would be an opportunity to show Labour's alternative to the "toxic divide and decline" offered by Nigel Farage’s party. But he faces mounting pressure, with polls showing Labour trailing Reform UK, alongside speculation that Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham could mount a leadership challenge. Laura and Paddy are joined by former pollster t...
Sep 27, 2025•26 min
Today, Keir Starmer is to announce plans for a digital ID scheme. Number 10 say it would help crack down on illegal working and modernise the state. The previous Labour government's attempt to introduce ID cards was ultimately blocked by the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition. Adam, Chris, Vicki and Joe discuss this and Boris Johnson coming out against Nigel Farage and Reform UK. You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newsc...
Sep 26, 2025•31 min
Today, Andy Burnham has said he’s ready to support the Prime Minister and the government in forming a “proper plan to beat Reform”. His latest comments follow several interviews over the last few days which have been taken as a sign that he might be interested in challenging Sir Keir Starmer for labour party leadership and Prime Minister. Adam is joined by Henry and Tony Diver, associate political editor at the Telegraph who spoke to Andy Burnham yesterday. Plus, the government says it has yet t...
Sep 25, 2025•40 min
Today, Russia has reacted to comments from Donald Trump claiming that Russia is a “paper tiger”, whose weak economy leaves them exposed to a Ukrainian counter offensive retaking all of their lost territory. It’s a huge shift from the president, but how seriously can we take his words? Catriona Perry and Vitaly Shevchenko join Adam to answer that question, and more. Plus, Faisal Islam is in the studio to tell us about a big news story that’s coming down the track; an OBR forecast on productivity ...
Sep 24, 2025•37 min
Today, Ed Davey has vowed to lead the fight against Nigel Farage in his speech to the Liberal Democrat Conference. Davey argued that the Lib Dems had a "moral responsibility" to challenge Reform and urged his party to embrace patriotism to speak for "Britain's decent silent majority". Adam speaks to Chris from the conference in Bournemouth, and also interviews the Liberal Democrats’ deputy leader Daisy Cooper. Plus, Adam is joined by Jeremy Bowen, the BBC’s international editor, to discuss his n...
Sep 23, 2025•41 min
Today, what does recognising a Palestinian state actually mean? More countries are preparing to join the UK, Canada and Australia in recognising Palestine as a state as world leaders meet in New York for the United Nations. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has said recognition gives "a huge reward to terrorism" - he also says a Palestinian state "will not happen". Adam is joined by the BBC’s chief presenter in Washington Caitriona Perry and diplomatic correspondent James Landale. Plus, in a press c...
Sep 22, 2025•40 min
Today, we look at what Sir Keir Starmer’s promise to recognise a Palestinian state means. Laura and Paddy are joined by political correspondent Joe Pike to discuss the arguments for and against the move. And we discuss the Liberal Democrat’s party conference, and whether Ed Davey’s stunts are playing well with voters and members. You can take part in the Newscast census here - https://bbc.in/newscastcensus You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BB...
Sep 21, 2025•33 min
Today, we look at whether Russia is deliberately testing Nato, after three Russian fighter jets flew into Estonia’s airspace. Ukraine Correspondent James Waterhouse joins Laura and Paddy from Kyiv to discuss the how Europe is responding. Laura and Paddy also discuss an early rift in the leadership of Your Party, the new political party set up by former Labour MPs Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana. You can take part in the Newscast census here - https://bbc.in/newscastcensus You can now listen to N...
Sep 20, 2025•23 min
Today, Adam sits down with former Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to discuss his time in office, how he became the leader of Ireland and his new book Speaking My Mind. You can take part in the Newscast census here - https://bbc.in/newscastcensus You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://bbc.in/newscastdiscord Get in touch with Newscast...
Sep 19, 2025•44 min
Today, Donald Trump and Sir Keir Starmer faced questions from the press on everything from Gaza to Lord Mandelson. The press conference at the PM's country residence Chequers, lasted just under an hour. After a difficult few weeks today was seen as the moment of most jeopardy for the Prime Minister, so faced with the press, did the two men avoid flash points? Adam, Chris, Alex and Faisal discuss. You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds t...
Sep 18, 2025•30 min
