Global News Podcast

A six week jury trial is about to get underway in California, which could pose the biggest threat yet to Meta's operations. A coalition of US states have accused the parent company of Facebook and Instagram of putting profits ahead of children's safety, by deliberately designing platforms to be addictive to young users. A Meta spokesperson said the claims were "unsubstantiated", and the company stood by its record of creating strong protection for teenagers. The states are seeking upwards of $1 trillion from Meta. Also: President Trump's envoy and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, has failed to overturn Israel's objections to a US backed Gaza peace plan after two days of talks in the Middle East. The US President has also threatened to bomb Oman - a US ally - if it "gets in the way" of his administration's own talks with Iran. Fifa has sacked its chief operating officer Kevin Lamour, weeks after he criticised the organisation’s president, Gianni Infantino. As Russia and Ukraine trade more deadly strikes, the deputy

President Trump's Middle East envoy, Jared Kushner, meets Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, for Gaza peace talks. It comes a day after he held negotiations with Hamas officials in Cairo. Also, China's leader, Xi Jinping, makes a rare reference to the killing of protesters in Tiananmen Square, Beijing, in 1989. We look back at the life of the US actress Hayden Panettiere, who has died aged 36. We hear about the British prime minister, Andy Burnham, who thought he was messaging a senior White House official, but wasn't, and about a Ferrari car which no longer has the traditional engine roar. 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 stor

Donald Trump has ordered a substantial reduction in joint US-South Korea military exercises, saying they are "too expensive" and risk damaging his “very good relationship” with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. In a post on Truth Social, he also noted that South Korea had recently declined to join the US in the "denuclearisation" of Iran.Also: Russia and Ukraine trade deadly attacks, with a well-known book market in Kyiv among the targets; Brazil’s presidential campaign gets under way; a 60-day US-Iran agreement expires without resolving key disputes; four paintings by Renaissance master Antonello da Messina are stolen from his hometown of Messina in Sicily; Cameroon makes history by winning the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations for the first time; and the alarming lengths that some social media influencers are going to for a photo close up with a shark.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. Po

Last month, President Trump secretly swapped planes via a catering truck as he left a Nato summit in Turkey. The elaborate ruse, first reported by the Washington Post, was in response to a possible threat from Iran.But how serious were the US administration’s fears of an assassination attempt? And does the Iranian regime have the capability to carry out such an operation beyond its borders?We speak to Parham Ghobadi, a senior reporter at the BBC’s Persian Service, and Dan Lamothe of the Washington Post, to understand more about what transpired on Air Force One, the history of Iran’s alleged assassination plots, and why the Iranian regime’s prime target might be its own citizens.For more episodes, just search 'The Global Story' wherever you get your BBC Podcasts.Producers: Mhairi MacKenzie, Hannah Moore and Xandra EllinExecutive producers: Martine Powers and James ShieldMix: Travis EvansDigital producer: Sam GruetStudio manager: Mike RegaardSenior news editor: China CollinsPhoto: A catering truck is parked on

Rescue workers have been attempting to reach suvivors of a powerful earthquake that hit the Indonesian island of Flores in the early hours of Saturday morning. Around fifty people have died and some five thousand have been evacuated from their homes.Also: Israel has carried out its deadliest strikes in Lebanon for months killing eleven people. Moroccan police stopped hundreds of people from illegally crossing into Spain's North African territory of Ceuta, two weeks after tens of thousands entered the exclave. International observers of Zambia's election have told political parties to tone down inflammatory statements, saying the poll was marred by intimidation, abductions and an hours-long pause in the vote count. The Spanish government has ordered an investigation into the likely shooting of an endangered killer whale that was captured on video with wounds to its dorsal fin. The nineteen year old British cyclist Fin Tarling has died in a crash during the Tour of Portugal race. The Miss Universe Canada pagean

Neil the Seal has captured the hearts - and laughs - of people across the world with his mischievous antics. The elephant seal keeps returning to the Australian island of Tasmania to chew traffic cones, attack street signs, and block traffic with his 1,000 kg body. His hijinks have made him a local icon and an internet celebrity. We find out why Neil keeps venturing to Tasmania's suburban streets to cause a ruckus.Also: How a group of Afghan women defied the odds to return to international football. Despite opposition from the Taliban, the players -- now scattered across the globe -- reunited to form Afghanistan's new national team.The woman who accidentally threw away a million dollar lottery ticket - and the incredible way she found it again.Scientists say they've created the first ever truly biodegradeable party balloons. They say existing options kill tens of thousands of marine animals a year.Plus: how an ordinary man in Italy made one of the most important archaeological discoveries in decades; and a wo

The man accused of killing an American health insurance executive has confessed to the crime in court. Luigi Mangione pleaded guilty to two federal counts of stalking resulting in death. He shot the UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on a New York street in 2024. Mangione will be sentenced in December; prosecutors say they will seek life in prison.Also: Jason Arday - the Cambridge University professor who resigned over accusations of plagiarism - has been found dead at his home in London. President Trump says he will soon declare the Strait of Hormuz a US territory. The founder of Amazon, Jeff Bezos, has become the latest American billionaire to invest in English football, after buying a share of the Premier League club, Liverpool. As Russia continues to bombard Ukraine, Kyiv is responding with its own campaign of long-range strikes. Following the surge of migrants to the Spanish North African territory of Ceuta, the BBC has identified dozens of Instagram profiles promoting positive content about crossing th

The spokesman for the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has defended his reference to the UK as an 'Islamic Republic'. In a podcast with Israeli Army Radio, Mr Netanyahu recalled meeting the grandson of Winston Churchill, describing him as a 'lover of Israel' and then adding that you won't find that kind of attitude in the UK now, which he said was known as 'The Islamic Republic of Britain'. The UK and Israel are long-standing allies, but relations have become notably more tense since the war in Gaza. Also: At least eight people have died and several more have been injured in eastern Japan after record rainfall caused widespread flooding; the United Nations adds its voice to flag concerns about the pressure extreme weather events like droughts are putting on food security; builders in Belgium working on a renovation project have found a chest filled with gold bars and gold coins, bricked in the wall of a cellar; in Australia, tech executives give evidence about the ban on social media for under-16s

Our chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet meets Afghan women and girls who face severe restrictions. Girls can only attend school until grade six - around the age of 12 - and women are barred from university and many jobs. There are even rules over visiting public parks and gyms. But many women and girls are still determined to keep learning and working, despite what some call "gender apartheid". Also: Democratic lawmakers in the US are calling for an investigation into allegations of suicide attempts, food shortages and deteriorating conditions on board the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has been at sea for what's believed to be a record 200 days. For the first time in the US in 16 years, three people have been executed in one day. Gay people flee Ghana after parliament votes to jail them and anyone who "promotes homosexuality". As rescue workers in Colombia try to reach survivors of Monday's earthquake, we talk to the cousin of a 10-year-old boy who's trapped in the rubble with his mother and grandmoth

The army said it was acting to protect residents in Qusra and that it had demolished two illegal settler outposts. The mayor of Qusra says the village in the occupied West Bank has been declared a closed military zone. Also: Russia's president Vladimir Putin visits an island claimed by Japan - causing sharp criticism from Tokyo; Romania shuts down its only nuclear power plant because of low water levels in the Danube; why vultures are becoming endangered in West Africa; and Cameroon and Malawi make the final of the Women's Africa Cup of Nations, as the hosts Morocco crash out.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 subscrib

Russian journalist, television presenter and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021 talks exclusively to the BBC. The former editor-in-chief of the now banned independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta tells our Russia editor Steve Rosenberg about life under Vladimir Putin. Also: US Vice-President JD Vance reportedly intervenes to halt Ukrainian strikes on oil tankers using Russian port of Novorossiysk. Karoline Leavitt to step down as White House Press Secretary but will retain role as adviser to President Trump. Millions of people across Europe wowed by once-in-a-generation solar eclipse. Immigration agents in the US could soon be issued with gloves that deliver electric shocks. Eurovision Song Contest changes rules for countries at war. Brits could face dynamic prices to use public toilets. And the magnetic espadrilles helping pétanque players pick up their balls. 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

Two Palestinian families remain trapped in their homes by settlers who moved into their village in the occupied West Bank on Sunday. The first Israeli soldiers who arrived at the scene were filmed praying with the extremist settlers. But after clashes they left and the settlers have returned. The Palestinian families say their water and power have been cut and they have dwindling food supplies. Also, has the war in Iran eroded Donald Trump's support in one of his key strongholds? Zhu Rongji, the former Chinese premier who championed free market reforms, has died at the age of 97. And we hear from the British driver Andy Green, who's set a new world speed record, in a hydrogen- powered vehicle. 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 da

People across the world are eagerly awaiting a solar eclipse, with the Moon set to block out our view of the Sun. The BBC's science correspondent reports from northern Spain - one of the areas expecting a rare total eclipse. Also: rescue efforts continue after the earthquake in Colombia; a Syrian court sentences the ousted president, Bashar al-Assad, to death for crimes against humanity; Donald Trump defends swapping planes due to a reported security threat, despite anger from journalists left on Air Force One; the Winter Olympics sport of curling finds new fans in sunny Italy; and the American TV channel Hallmark celebrates its 25th anniversary.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 b

The number of people known to have been killed by an earthquake in Colombia has risen to more than 200. The quake with a magnitude of 7.4 hit the west of the country on Monday. Rescuers worked through the night looking for survivors trapped under dozens of collapsed buildings. The cities of Cali and Pereira were among the places worst hit. Colombia's new president, Abelardo de la Espriella, has declared a state of emergency. Also: Medecins Sans Frontieres warns that children in southwest Somalia are facing alarming food shortages. President Trump was smuggled out of Air Force One in an airport catering truck after a possible Iran threat. And: What is behind Australia's first autonomous AI hack?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

More than 130 people have been killed after a powerful earthquake struck western Colombia. Rescuers are searching for those trapped under the rubble of destroyed buildings. Also: Turkey approves a law aimed at ending conflict with the Kurdish militant PKK group; we investigate China's "flash marriage" scams targeting lonely men; how tourism is impacting wildlife, especially elephants, in Zambia; Harry Potter fans get an undersea power cable rerouted to protect Dobby's fictional grave; and why we should smile at our dogs. 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

Scientists at EU's climate change monitoring programme warn the world's oceans were hotter last month than in any other July on record. Sea temperatures outside the polar regions reached nearly 21 degrees Celsius. Ukrainian armed forces launch a long range drone attack on a Russian oil refinery about 1,000 kilometres east of Moscow. A BBC investigation uncovers evidence suggesting South African special forces could have been involved in the death of a police detective. Police in India use water cannon to disperse thousands of people protesting about civil service examinations. Football confederations representing more than half of FIFA members issue statement criticising the president, Gianni Infantino. The trial of a former gang leader accused of involvement in the death of the rapper, Tupac Shakur, gets underway in Las Vegas. The actor, Michael Sheen, speaks about his documentary on the historic burying of toxic chemicals. And a zoo in Florida hires a full time acupuncture therapist to treat animals. The G

In a rare public spat, Israel firmly rejects the US president's Gaza peace plan saying troops will only withdraw from the territory once Hamas has handed over all its weapons. The high representative for Gaza for Donald Trump's Board of Peace insists that the US-backed peace plan for the territory is the only way forward. Nickolay Mladenov said further talks were under way that he hoped would lead to a positive outcome. Also: In Canada, the vast western province of British Columbia is under a state of emergency, with more than 100 wildfires burning. Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated, including the 12000 residents of Summerland. The suspected Irish crime boss, Daniel Kinahan, is in custody in Ireland after appearing in court, following his extradition from the United Arab Emirates. He denies any wrongdoing. The Nigerian army says its soldiers have rescued 33 people who were kidnapped in the northwest of the country following an upsurge in abductions. Why the authorities in the UK are spending hun

On February 28th, in the opening hours of the first day of the US-Israel war against Iran, an attack on a school vin the southern city of Minab killed over 120 children. To date, its the deadliest civilian attack during the Iran war. Experts say the school was hit by a precision guided Tomahawk missile - a weapon that neither Israel nor Iran are known to possess. Yet five months on, the US government has not formally accepted responsibility. We speak to the to the BBC’s Senior International Investigations Correspondent Nawal Al Maghafi, who recently returned from Iran where she visited Minab and met with survivors of the strike and the families of those who killed. We also hear from the BBC’s State Department Correspondent Tom Bateman about his attempts to get answers from US officials about the school strike. For more episodes, just search 'The Global Story' wherever you get your BBC Podcasts.

Iran's security chief Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr has warned the Strait of Hormuz will not open until the United States agrees to six conditions. These include easing economic sanctions, paying war reparations and ending the US blockade of Iranian ports. The foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said earlier that Iran and Oman were "very close" to an agreement on a new shipping route through the Strait. Also: Ukraine's President Zelensky pleads for more European support on a visit to Serbia, a traditional Russian ally. The US Senate confirms Todd Blanche as the new attorney general, putting Donald Trump's former lawyer in charge of the justice department. Thousands of people flee their homes in the Canadian province of British Colombia as a raging wildfire doubles in size. Figures show for the first time more than half of Japanese men are taking paternity leave. And the growing concern over old literature being bought, scanned and destroyed to improve AI. The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need t

We hear about the pioneering operation that fixed a baby's life-threatening condition while he was still in the womb. Theo and his mum Maisie underwent the surgery in Texas when she was 26 weeks pregnant. It was only the third operation of its kind in the world but doctors hope the technique could go on to help many more families.Also: we join those jumping into a lake in Germany to help tackle the high number of children who can't swim. The ongoing heatwave in Europe has highlighted the importance of water safety skills for young people.We meet a young blind man who's found self-confidence and friendship by taking up boxing. Adam Solan's now fighting for the sport to be added to the Paralympics.Plus - the museum that's turned a bad review into a marketing campaign; the city showing how tourism can have a positive impact on the local environment; and the play celebrating the little-known story of Zambia's part in the space race.Our weekly collection of inspiring, uplifting and happy news from around the wor