Global News Podcast

The US President has repeated his call for other nations, particularly Nato allies, to help secure the Strait of Hormuz. Donald Trump says he has been surprised more world leaders were not "eager" to be involved in securing the key oil shipping route. Meanwhile, India has secured the safe passage of tankers carrying liquified petroleum gas, or LPG. Street vendors and biryani restaurant owners in Kolkata tell us how the current fuel shortages are threatening their livelihoods. And the Israeli military has now confirmed it has begun what it calls "limited ground operations" in Lebanon, as 800 000 people have been forced to flee their homes.Also: amidst a near total fuel blockade by the US, Cuba has experienced an electricity grid collapse. New figures from Interpol show that AI-enhanced scams are now almost five times more profitable than traditional methods. Researchers in Scotland have developed a way to turn discarded plastic bottles into a key medicine used to treat Parkinson's disease. Chelsea Football Clu

Germany and Britain say the war against Iran has nothing to do with Nato and the alliance won't be taking part in any effort to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. But the UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, said London was working with individual allies on a plan to secure the vital waterway, which has been largely closed by Iran. President Trump has said it will be very bad for Nato if it doesn't get involved, though the alliance is only a defensive partnership. He also called on China to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz - saying it gets "90% of its oil" from there and hinting he might delay his summit with the Chinese president Xi Jinping if he doesn't get what he wants. Also: Russia launched a rare daytime attack in Kyiv on Monday morning - using drones that Ukrainian officials say appear "upgraded"; Whistleblowers have told the BBC that social media giants allowed more harmful content on people's feeds, after research showed how outrage fuelled engagement. TikTok and Meta have denied the claims; BBC Talking Movies

After President Trump said Iran seemed ready to make a deal to end the war but the terms weren't good enough, Tehran has been carrying out further missile and drone strikes on US allies across the Middle East. The Iranian foreign minister has denied that Iran has targeted civilian or residential areas in the Middle East - only US military targets. And he said the war would end when Iran was "certain" it could not be repeated. We hear from our Persian service correspondent about what she makes of these claims, and what people inside Iran are worrying about. Also: Iran warns the United Arab Emirates to begin evacuating the port zones in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Fujairah. So are people heeding these warnings? We hear from our correspondent in Dubai. Tehran continues to fire missiles towards Israel, most of which were intercepted by air defences. But at least one got through, as we hear from our correspondent in Tel Aviv. And how the war is impacting the oil industry and pushing up prices - we hear how increased use

President Trump calls on other nations to send warships to help secure the Strait of Hormuz which Iran has largely blocked, driving up global energy prices. Mr Trump has told a US television channel that while Tehran appears ready to make a deal to end the war, its "terms aren’t good enough yet". The head of the United Nations calls for an end to the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah as Israeli strikes continue in the Lebanese capital. Also: in Cuba, peaceful anti-government protesters turned violent as a Communist Party Office in the centre of the country was attacked; and we hear about the Razzies, the awards actors and film makers would much rather they hadn't won. 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 dai

Stephen Spencer has set his daughter's stories to music. What started as something he posted for his few followers has turned into a social media sensation, with fans around the world left smiling, laughing or even crying by the catchy tunes and often bizarre lyrics. Also: how a chance conversation between two women on a train led to one donating her eggs so the other could have a baby. When Anita revealed her fertility issues, Ginny instantly offered to help.A surgeon who successfully operated on a patient hundreds of kilometres away says it opens up new possibilities for people around the world. He was able to remotely control a surgical robot in real time, thanks to advances in technology.In Singapore, medical students are learning to be more compassionate doctors by studying poetry. Those behind the course say it helps the students to understand nuance in how patients are feeling.Plus are dogs that howl along to music actually singing, and how a sly fox accidentally made a transatlantic voyage.Our weekly

On Friday President Trump said the US had obliterated military targets on the Iranian oil hub island of Kharg and threatened to target the oil infrastructure there if Iran stopped ships going through the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran accused Washington of a failed mission and warned that any attacks on its energy facilities would lead to strikes on US-linked oil interests in the region. Also: People in the Gulf State of Qatar have been told to evacuate several areas that could be targeted by Iranian missiles; the Iranian-backed Palestinian militant group, Hamas, has urged Iran to stop attacking its Gulf neighbours; and the environmental cost of war on Iran as oil fires and toxic air spread.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 weekda

President Donald Trump says the United States has carried out strikes against military targets on Kharg island, Iran's main export terminal for oil in the Gulf. Writing on social media, he said he'd decided not to destroy the oil infrastructure on the island. US media report that amphibious ships carrying 2,000 Marines are being sent to the Gulf, but the Pentagon has declined to comment. There have been explosions in the capital Tehran, as thousands of Iranians took part in a rally in support of the regime. And in Lebanon the health ministry says an Israeli strike has hit a health centre in the south of the country. Also: Cuba confirms talks with Trump officials amid US blockade; how spider silk has been used to repair broken nerves; and a school videographer turned Oscar nominee who took great risks to smuggle footage out of Russia.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, economic

As the bombardment of Iran continues, the American defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, says the US is decimating Iran's military, as it plans to carry out more strikes than on any other day so far. There is growing criticism in Europe of Washington's decision to ease sanctions on Russian oil in a bid to counter rising oil prices linked to the US and Israel's war with Iran. Also: calls for tighter regulation around children's toys powered by AI; we hear from two contenders hoping to become the next mayor of Paris; and how a lack of snow is impacting this year's Winter Paralympics. 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

US officials have said a KC-135 refuelling plane that went down in western Iraq was not the result of hostile or friendly fire. They said it had involved a second refuelling aircraft that landed safely. Six crew members were reported to be on the plane that crashed. We also hear from Lebanon where a BBC correspondent has been spending time in the south of the country which is under constant Israeli attack. In other news, a man who was shot dead by armed guards when he drove his truck into a synagogue in the US state of Michigan has been identified as a naturalised US citizen who was born in Lebanon; a satirical cartoonist has been freed from prison in Eritrea after fifteen years without charge; and the chef behind Copenhagen's Noma restaurant steps back after multiple accusations of abuse by staff.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, h

Iranian state television has broadcast a message in the name of the newly appointed Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei. The message was read by an announcer and gave no clue as to the state of the leader's health. Some reports say he was injured on the first day of US and Israeli attacks. In the message, he said Iran would avenge the blood of its martyrs, and continue to close the Strait of Hormuz, through which one fifth of the world's oil passes. We hear from people in Iran, many of whom say they are now living in constant fear. We also report from the US, where public approval for the war with Iran is the lowest at the start of any conflict since the Second World War, with around 41% agreeing with the US decision to attack Iran. In other news, a court in Russia has given life sentences to four men convicted of carrying out one of the worst terrorist attacks of recent years - the mass shooting at a concert hall outside Moscow. Also: an auction of a remarkable collection of legendary guitars - including Kurt C

At a meeting in New York, the UN Security Council has backed a resolution calling for Iran to stop its strikes on Arab Gulf states and Jordan, but making no mention of the US-Israeli bombardment of Iran. It also condemns the blockade of the crucial Strait of Hormuz. Iran's allies China and Russia abstained from the vote. We also hear why US Democrats are calling for a public hearing into the strikes on Iran - one of which is suspected to have hit a girls' school, causing major loss of life. Also, aid agencies are warning of worsening drought in East Africa, scientists discover that bumblebee queens can breathe underwater and, as the Oscars approach, BBC news correspondents talk about their picks for this year's awards. 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 matte

Three commercial ships were damaged by 'unknown projectiles' in the Strait of Hormuz, as 32 members of the International Energy Agency agree release of largest ever oil reserves. The IEA said it will release 400 million barrels of oil from emergency reserves to tackle rising prices. Israel says it has launched a new waves of strikes on Iran and Lebanon. It says the attacks targeted infrastructure across Iran, as well as Hezbollah sites in the Lebanese capital, Beirut. Iran strikes targets in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait. Israeli territory has also been hit. Also, the BBC reports on Russian intelligence sabotage attacks on countries allied with Ukraine and, computer scientists warn future robots could reflect life only from a male perspective as so few women work in AI design.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

The US Defence Secretary, Pete Hegseth, says Tuesday's attacks on Iran will be the most intense day since the war began. Echoing the words of President Trump, he said America would continue to fire missiles until Iranian forces were, as he put it, "totally and decisively" defeated. The world's biggest oil producer, Saudi Aramco, has warned of catastrophic consequences if the Strait of Hormuz - off Iran - is blocked for an extended period and we hear from people crossing the border into Turkey to escape the conflict continues. Also: Authorities in the US state of New Mexico have launched a search of the Zorro ranch previously owned by the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Several survivors have testified that Epstein assaulted teenage girls and women there, but the remote location has never been searched. The German carmaker Volkswagen has said it will cut 50,000 jobs in Germany by the end of the decade as its profits fell by over 40 percent last year. Plus, the rapper turned politician Balendra S

Oil price falls and stock markets rally after President Trump hints that war with Iran could be shorter than he'd previously said. But he also says America hasn't yet won enough. We also look at how the war is continuing to affect Lebanon, and how the Iranian women's football team has been dragged into the conflict fallout at a tournament in Australia. In other news, the AI firm Anthropic sues the US government. And Russia wins its first gold medal at a Winter Paralympics in more than a decade.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: [email protected]

Supporters of the Iranian regime have taken to the streets to celebrate the selection of the country's new spiritual leader, Mojtaba Khamenei. He will replace his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in US-Israeli strikes on the first day of the war. Shortly after the announcement, Iran launched a fresh wave of missile and drone strikes at targets in Israel and across the Middle East. The price of crude oil has surged above $110 a barrel - a four-year high - as the Strait of Hormuz remains closed because of the war. In other news, the left-wing coalition of the Colombian President, Gustavo Petro, is projected to have won the most votes in Senate elections - but will not gain a majority. And scientists in the Caribbean say they've discovered previously unknown sea creatures.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

Members of the Iranian clerical body tasked with choosing a new supreme leader says there's consensus on a replacement for the late Ali Khamenei. In Iran, oil depots have been hit by intense US-Israeli aerial bombardment, with locals speaking of multiple explosions. Residents in Teheran report a blackened sky from thick smoke. Iranian forces have fired more drones and rockets at Iran's neighbours. We look at China's response to the the war as the UN warns of a dangerous moment for the world.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: [email protected]

The US and Israel target Iranian oil facilities for the first time since start of war - but Tehran remains defiant. It continues to retaliate, launching drones and missiles on neighbouring countries. Also, Lebanon continues to count the cost after Israel carries out huge strikes on what it says are Iranian-backed Hezbollah strongholds. More US criticism of Britain, as Donald Trump accuses the UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, of joining a war that the US has already won. In other news, we look at the 35-year-old former rapper who looks set to become the new prime minister of Nepal. And, some good news - NASA's experiment to deflect asteroids that might be on a collision course with earth was a success.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

Lois, 14, and her classmates used a 3D printer to create her new hand as part of a school project. Now they want to make prosthetic limbs for other people who need them, using the same method. Also: We find out how a new drug is transforming the lives of children with a severe form of epilepsy. A trial found it significantly reduced their seizures and also helped with overall development and movement.We meet two Turkish students using AI to help locate people trapped under rubble after earthquakes. They hope their invention will help rescuers reach survivors more quickly.Plus the teams working to save seagrass meadows, which are vital in tackling climate change. And the Harajuku dog walking man - who's become famous for leading dozens of small dogs around Tokyo.Our weekly collection of inspiring, uplifting and happy news from around the world.Photo: Nature School Presenter: Holly Gibbs. Music composed by Iona Hampson

President Trump's press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, didn't give details of what these objectives were. But she said that when the goals of the war were realised, "Iran will essentially be in a place of unconditional surrender, whether they say it themselves or not". We hear from Iranians on life during wartime, Lebanese civilians living on the beach in Beirut as Hezbollah comes under attack from Israel and the latest on the economic impact of the conflict. Also, after US troops forcibly removed the Venezuelan leader, Nicolas Maduro, from power Mr Trump has suggested that Cuba might be next on his agenda. And thousands of people, including three former US presidents, have attended a memorial service for the American civil rights leader, Jesse Jackson.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

President Trump says there will be no deal with Iran, only unconditional surrender, as the US and Israel continue their bombardment of Tehran and other Iranian cities. The Iranian authorities say more than 1,200 people have been killed since attacks began last Saturday. In Lebanon hundreds of thousands have fled their homes, as the southern suburbs of Beirut are pounded by Israeli strikes. Also: Ukraine and a number of other European countries boycott the Paralympics opening ceremony in Italy in protest at Russian and Belarusian athletes being allowed to compete under their countries' flags; Hungary is to expel seven Ukrainians accused of money laundering after they were found with two bank vans carrying millions of dollars' worth of gold and cash; and Indonesia becomes the latest country to say it'll ban social media for children - will others do the same? 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