Global News Podcast

Iran and the US exchange fire for the first time in a month. The US said it destroyed two Iranian launchers on a small island in the Strait of Hormuz as they were preparing to deploy sea-mine rockets. Iranian state media later said Iran had responded with ballistic missile strikes on two US-operated airbases in Jordan. Also: As teams from Nepal, India and China work to reach people trapped by Wednesday's flash floods in the Himalayas, Chinese police say they've taken action against ten people for allegedly exaggerating the numbers of dead. In Korea the leader of the controversial Unification Church, otherwise known as The Moonies, has been sentenced to two years in prison. Han Hak-ja was found guilty of bribing South Korea's former first lady - the wife of the now ousted Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol - by giving her two Chanel bags and a diamond necklace worth nearly $60,000. And, scientists at a university in Australia are rearing an echidna hoping that the rare, egg laying mammal will help them answer fund

The US has bombed Iranian launchers on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz - the first known attack in weeks. Tehran has launched retaliatory strikes against American bases in Jordan. Also: rescue efforts intensify after Nepal-Tibet flood; Russia is accused of targeting cultural sites in Ukraine; NASA launches its space telescope; a zoo reopens in Gaza's Khan Younis; and the best movies of the summer. 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]: Ships and boats on the Strait of Hormuz, Oman, 29th April 2026 Credit: Reuters

A new personalised vaccine given in combination with a drug has stopped skin cancer returning in patients during a trial, representing a potentially watershed moment in cancer treatment. Scientists used mRNA technology, which was used for some Covid-19 vaccines.But that technology - and vaccines more generally - have become increasingly controversial in the United States since the Covid-19 pandemic. The Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, is a vaccine sceptic. In August 2025 cancelled $500m (£376m) in funding for mRNA vaccine research. The move impacted 22 projects being led by major pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer and Moderna, for vaccines against bird flu and other viruses, according to Kennedy’s department. We speak to Tom Whipple, host of the BBC’s Inside Science programme, about the science of this new vaccine. And we ask how funding cuts for vaccine research could impact health outcomes not just for Americans, but for the world.For more episodes, just search 'The Global Story' wherever you

The Israeli prime minister has condemned Jewish settlers who attacked two Palestinian villages in the occupied West Bank including Qusra where an earlier siege by settlers sparked an international outcry. Benjamin Netanyahu called the settlers rioters who violated the law and harmed Israel's standing in the world. Also: A Russian drone strike on an ammunition store in Ukraine kills 37 civilians in a residential area of Kyiv. Lake Ontario gets a new sign - the latest salvo in the ongoing trade war between Canada and the United States. The world's number one cyclist Tadej Pogačar requires surgery after crashing out of La Vuelta in Spain, and why the Japanese custom of removing and tidying shoes is causing problems for emergency services.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 th

Jessica Fletcher wanted to find a way to communicate with her autistic non-speaking son, Hunter, which could be used everywhere. So, she got a keyboard tattooed on her arm. Now they can communicate anywhere they go.Plus, meet the Plurabelle Paddlers. They are just one group of women competing in a dragon boat race where all the participants are survivors of breast cancer. Also on this podcast, would you eat a cookie which contains recycled plastic? Researchers are finding a way to make it possible. We go to the north of England, where a nursery is set inside a retirement home in the hope of bonding the two generations. In a world first, a patient has had brain surgery assisted by artificial intelligence, and meet Synergy, the mini-pig being used in a campaign to try to help the homeless in Washington DC. Our weekly collection of inspiring, uplifting and happy news from around the world.(Image: Jessica Fletcher's son, Hunter, pointing at her keyboard tattoo. Credit: Jessica Fletcher)Presenter: Holly Gibbs. Mu

Washington and Caracas have agreed a "historic" deal, which will more than double US oil reserves and provide investment for Venezuela's energy industry. Also: Emergency aid efforts are stepped up in Nepal and Tibet as nearly 2000 people are feared missing after the floods. Sudan lifts a two-year-old curfew and state of emergency in Khartoum. Experts say Denmark's forced contraception of Indigenous women in Greenland didn't meet the legal definition of genocide. British far-right commentator and MAGA supporter, Milo Yiannopoulos, is detained by ICE. And the surprise hit film about the French wartime leader Charles de Gaulle.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

Two days after massive floods and landslides in the Himalayas, authorities in Tibet have resumed search and rescue operations despite the ongoing threat that a debris-filled lake could collapse. The Chinese government has offered to send aid to Nepal to help survivors of the disaster. Also: King Haakon the Eighth has acceded to the throne in Norway after the death of his father, Harald the Fifth, at the age of 89. A group of more than 80 actors are calling on the British government to give every person in the UK a legal right to own their voice in response to the rise in the use of AI ‘voice cloning’. And Apple prepares to shake up the tech industry with its first foldable iPhone expected to be unveiled next month. 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

There are fears a lake formed by debris after the China-Nepal flash flood could burst, causing further damage and hampering rescue efforts. Nearly 500 people have already been confirmed dead. Also: Bosnian Serb commander Ratko Mladić who oversaw the worst atrocities in Europe since the Second World War dies; President Trump renames Lake Ontario as the trade war with Canada continues; a US jury deliberates whether Lindsay Clancy is responsible for the murder of her 3 children; top tech firms warn about the dangers of AI; Uefa prepares criminal legal action against Fifa president Gianni Infantino; NASA gears up to launch its flagship space observatory; and the highly-anticipated children's fantasy book "The Neverfear" is released. 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

The number of people killed by a catastrophic flash flood on the border between Nepal and China has risen to at least 350. More than 1,300 are still missing. Rescue teams are continuing to search for survivors as experts warn that more floods could be coming. It is now believed that "glacial collapse and debris flow" was the cause rather than an earthquake. Also: a trial date has been set for one of the ringleaders of the attack on the twin towers in New York, a quarter of a century later. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed is scheduled to stand trial in June 2028. A man in London has become the first person in the world to have a brain tumour removed via AI-assisted surgery. How bats could help us fight cancer and other diseases by revealing some of the biological secrets behind their longevity. And the avant-garde artist Yayoi Kusama, who became famous for her colourful polka dot-covered sculptures and installations, has died at the age of 97. The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as i

Meta has agreed to pay $18bn to a group of US states that accused Facebook and Instagram of harming children, bringing a high-profile trial in California to an early end. The company will also introduce new measures aimed at protecting young users, but has admitted no wrongdoing. Also: chip giant Nvidia beats expectations again as demand for its semiconductors continues to surge. Nearly 200 people are reported dead - and hundreds more are missing - after devastating flash floods and mudslides hit Nepal and the Chinese region of Tibet. BBC analysis shows attacks by armed bandit groups in northwest Nigeria have risen sharply. Mexican media organisations urge President Claudia Sheinbaum to strengthen protections for journalists after a string of killings. A French court recognises a flight attendant’s breast cancer as an occupational disease, and we remember Palestinian artist Sliman Mansour, whose artwork helped define the Palestinian experience for more than half a century.The Global News Podcast brings you th

Hundreds of people, including nearly 300 foreign tourists, are missing after devastating floods swept through northern Nepal and across the border in Tibet, China. In Nepal entire villages as well as roads, bridges and power stations have been swept away. At least 31 people have been confirmed dead in Nepal, while the Chinese authorities in Tibet are reporting major casualties there too. Also: a fire at a maternity ward at a hospital in Islamabad has killed at least 14 newborn babies. China's Narcotics Control Commission says a growing number of young people are turning to large doses of prescription drugs to help them manage exam related stress. Tributes from music stars, actors and beyond pour in for the country music star Dolly Parton who's died at the age of 80. And new analysis suggests smokers wanting to quit their habit have a better chance if they use nicotine vapes rather than patches or gums.The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest h

The country music singer Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80, after “bravely facing a brief battle with cancer”. She was being treated at a hospital in Nashville, Tennessee. Her team said “Dolly Parton’s legacy is one of love, compassion and resilience”. Also, the boss of Instagram, Adam Mosseri, has been giving evidence in the high-profile trial of the tech giant, Meta, in California. A Chinese court has sentenced an internationally known artist, Gao Zhen, to three years in prison. A warning from the UN that we're "dangerously close" to having fully autonomous weapons that can kill humans. And a long forgotten whisky barrel that's now worth a small fortune. 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

China, the biggest buyer of Iranian oil, says it opposes "illegal" unilateral sanctions after the US warned that countries that continued to do business with Iran would face consequences. A foreign ministry spokesman said economic warfare and maximum pressure tactics did not help resolve problems but would only fuel further conflict. Also: At least 47 people are killed in a gang raid on a hillside community in Haiti. A new report predicts extreme rainfall and flooding in east Africa caused by El Nino that could leave up to three million people displaced. Why China is spending hundreds of billions of dollars to grow its robotic workforce, and Australia bans chart music made mostly by artificial intelligence. 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, deliver

The US promises to squeeze Iran by targeting anyone who does business with Tehran - but Washington has so far announced only limited sanctions. Our correspondent says the US wants to put even more economic pressure on Iran. Also: fire crews in Nevada say they've brought under control about a quarter of the wildfire outside Reno. Health workers helping to tackle the Ebola outbreak are attacked in the Democratic Republic of Congo. There's been an explosion of gambling in Brazil. Retired international cricketers are trying to help the former Pakistan captain - and ex-prime minister - Imran Khan, who's currently in prison. And there's been an apparent leak of footage from the new edition of the game, Grand Theft Auto.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, de

Britain's Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, on a visit to Kyiv, has promised to continue support for Ukraine despite what he called "outrageous threats" from Russia. He was speaking at an event marking Ukraine's independence day. Mr Burnham said that the UK and its allies would help Ukraine develop new technologies and support efforts to destroy Russian missiles before they are launched. He confirmed that the UK will provide blueprints so Ukraine can manufacture more long-range cruise missiles. Also: Pakistan's representative is visiting Iran to push for the reopening of talks between Washington and Teheran. A special BBC report from inside Afghanistan under the Taliban hearing from politicians and the impact their hardline rules are having on women. A spike in pirate attacks in the Western Indian Ocean and we hear from Kenya where four people have been arrested following the death of at least eighteen elephants that died after suspected poisoning. The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to

Rescue operations are continuing in the Guinean capital, Conakry, where 30 people are known to have died following the collapse of a mountain of waste. Witnesses say the landfill has buried an apartment building along with informal dwellings. Also: Ukraine's sacked defence minister, Mikhailo Fedorov, has told the BBC he stands by his call for nationwide elections, even though the country is at war. More than 90,000 people have now been told to evacuate their homes in the US state of Nevada due to a fast-moving wildfire. Iran's currency, the Rial, has hit a record low. Washington DC has hosted an IndyCar race, in the final event celebrating 250 years of American independence. And a star of the recent football World Cup, Erling Haaland, cuts off his trademark long blond hair. 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 w

Benjamin Netanyahu has been a major figure in Israeli politics for a long time. You could have just turned 30 years old and never known a time when he wasn’t either prime minister or somewhere near the top of Israeli politics. But could that be about to change?With less than three months until the Israeli general election, Netanyahu is struggling in some polls. His rival is a man who is little known outside of Israel – former Israeli military chief Gadi Eisenkot. In some international media, Eisenkot is being dubbed the ‘anti-Netanyahu’. But is that accurate?We speak to David Remnick, the editor of The New Yorker, who has spent time with Eisenkot for a major profile piece.The Global Story brings clarity to politics, business and foreign policy in a time of connection and disruption. For more episodes, just search 'The Global Story' wherever you get your BBC Podcasts.

The Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney, has said the trade war with the United States isn't Canada's choice, but his country is ready to retaliate. Talks between the neighbours collapsed late on Friday, with each accusing the other of seeking last-minute changes to a proposed trade deal. Also, the editor-in-chief of the US military newspaper, Stars and Stripes, raises concerns over censorship after he was dismissed by the Department of Defense for "insubordination". South Korea is sending a commercial vessel on a trial voyage to Europe via the Arctic in an effort to find alternative shipping routes because of war in the Middle East. Scientists in the US say that fish skin beats man-made products when treating people with severe burn injuries. And a humanoid robot has broken the men's world record for the 100-metre sprint set by Usain Bolt 17 years ago.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 worl

Avtar Singh, who was born in India and is now 66 years old, grew up not knowing his Kenyan-born mother, because his father had separated from her and not told him anything about her.One day he typed the few details he had into AI, and found a blog by someone called Nicci Dhamu, who turned out to be his half-sister. Also, viral baby Milani has become the first giraffe to survive a C-section birth. The team at Tanganyika Wildlife Park in Kansas gave her round-the-clock care to make sure she stayed alive. Plus, 88-year-old Mick Wadge has gained hundreds of thousands of views on social media for sharing his weightlifting journey. He started going to the gym after his wife died.Sophie Woods has become the fastest person to complete the Via Alpina, one of the world's toughest endurance challenges, and how one farmer in Canada is trying to stop food waste through an event called "Ugly Potato Day". Our weekly collection of inspiring, uplifting and happy news from around the world.(Photo: Nicci and Avtar in their late

Search and rescue efforts continue in Ukraine after Russian drone attacks kill at least 16 in a shopping centre in the city of Kryvyi Rih. President Volodymyr Zelensky called the attack on his home town cynical and despicable. Also:Donald Trump wins the latest round in an ongoing legal battle over his plans to rebuild the entire east wing of the White House; Uber is fined a huge sum under Europe's technology privacy rules; FIFA punishes Argentina for breaches of discipline; the United Nations says the ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is now growing exponentially; handwritten notes by the Indian independence leader, Mahatma Gandhi, sell for US$1.7m at auction; a python becomes the first snake to be given a cancer treatment normally used on humans, and Wile E Coyote takes on the American corporate giant, the Acme Corporation, in a blockbuster film.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 aroun