Global News Podcast

Keir Starmer has given a special address to set out Britain's stance over Donald Trump's threat to impose tariffs on European countries opposing his move to annex Greenland. The British prime minister said tariffs were no way to resolve differences within an alliance, and that calm discussion was needed instead. Also: Mr Trump criticises Norway, mistakenly accusing its government of not awarding him the Nobel Peace Prize; Investigations begin after Spain's worst train crash in a decade; the Pentagon prepares to deploy 1500 soldiers to Minnesota where protests continue over immigrant deportations; Snap elections are announced in Japan next month; Russia's President Putin is invited onto the Gaza peace board; trials are underway for a blood test for Alzheimers; and why short attention spans may be changing the ways films are made.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, cl

At least twenty-one people are killed in Spain after two high-speed trains collide. The accident occurred when a train travelling from Malaga to Madrid derailed near Adamuz in Andalusia, crossing on to another track. Also: the dispute between European countries and the United States - over Donald Trump's determination to annex Greenland - continues to escalate; Senegal wins the Africa Cup of Nations in men's football for the second time after an enthralling - and sometimes chaotic - final; China meets its economic growth target - but there are problems ahead; and a bumper fruit crop in New Zealand means they're preparing for a stellar breeding season for the world's fattest parrot - the Kakapo.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 o

For most of the years since World War 2, many global powers said they adhered to a rules-based international order. Since Donald Trump returned to the White House that idea is falling away. But did it ever exist in reality? And what’s the alternative now? The BBC’s International Editor Jeremy Bowen wraps up our week of special coverage.Producers: Cat Farnsworth and Xandra Ellin Mix: Travis Evans Senior news editor: China Collins 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.Photo: Presidents Putin, Trump and Xi as Russian dolls. Credit: Yuri Kochetkov. EFE/REX/Shutterstock

President Trump warns he'll impose fresh trade tariffs on countries that oppose his plan to annex Greenland. European leaders have condemned the move, describing it as blackmail. Also: Iran's supreme leader acknowledges that "a few thousand people" were murdered during recent anti-government protests; a US federal judge calls for ICE agents in Minneapolis to face restrictions; Yoweri Museveni becomes Uganda's president for the seventh time in a row; NASA's Artemis II Moon rocket arrives at the launch pad; scientists debunk claims linking paracetamol to autism; the Scottish football team's change of clothes sparks a row over identity; and 'Sentimental Value' wins big at the European Film 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 matters, delivered twice a day

We hear from a woman whose determination to avoid going blind has inspired her doctors to develop a new treatment for a rare eye condition. Nicki Guy says the injection of a low cost, water-based gel has been life changing and given her the chance to see her son grow up. The treatment has already helped restore the eyesight of dozens of other people with hypotony - which can cause the eye to collapse, leading to blindness.Also: the new Barbie doll that's designed to help improve understanding and acceptance of autism. A neurodiverse writer says she hopes it will help young girls understand it's not something to hide or be ashamed of. A revolutionary way of treating some cancers is being offered to people in the UK with an aggressive form of leukaemia for the first time. Research has shown genetically modifying the patient's own cells to recognise the blood cancer, can extend their lives or, in some cases, offer a cure. Plus, how one man's regular habit of having gumbo at the same restaurant twice a day may h

President Trump has named the members of his 'Board of Peace' that will oversee the second phase of the Gaza peace plan. Among them are the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, and the former British prime minister, Sir Tony Blair. But no Palestinian or Arab has been appointed. Also, two tiny fragments of one of mediaeval Europe's greatest artworks, the Bayeux Tapestry, have been returned to France from Germany years after they were stolen. Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of the late Shah of Iran, has called on the international community to protect the Iranian people by degrading the Islamic regime's capacity for repression. A group of British parents take TikTok to court, saying their children died after taking part in dangerous viral trends. And the story of rare drawings by a prisoner at the Dachau concentration camp which are being sold in New York.

Against the backdrop of Donald Trump's tariffs, America's closest ally, Canada, has struck a trade agreement with its rival, China. Speaking in Beijing, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said the relationship with China had been "more predictable" than the one with the US. Is President Trump pushing his allies into Beijing's orbit? Also: Taiwan's tech firms will invest $250 billion in the US in exchange for lower tariffs. The government of Myanmar has begun its defence at the International Court of Justice against charges that it committed a genocide of the Rohingya people. South Korea's former president Yoon Suk Yeol is sentenced to prison for his 2024 attempt to impose martial law. And we take a look at the Africa Cup of Nations football tournament, as host nation Morocco prepares to face Senegal in the final. 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, busines

Venezuela’s opposition leader Maria Corina Machado gave her Nobel Peace Prize medal to President Trump at a private White House meeting, calling it a recognition of his “unique commitment” to Venezuelan freedom. Mr Trump posted on social media that it was a gesture of mutual respect, and thanked her. The talks come weeks after US forces seized Nicolas Maduro in Caracas and charged him with drug trafficking. Also: President Trump threatens to deploy military personnel to Minnesota as tensions grow over the deployment of ICE officers in the city of Minneapolis. Families of protestors killed in Iran say they are being charged large sums of money to retrieve the bodies of their loved ones. Scientists unveil a detailed new map of the landscape beneath Antarctica’s ice. Canada’s prime minister Mark Carney meets China’s President Xi Jinping in Beijing as both countries seek to forge closer ties. We hear why more people are cutting out alcohol all year round, and how naturally mummified cheetahs found in a Saudi cave

A year-long investigation by the BBC Afghan Service has found that two groups are competing for power within the Taliban leadership. One is aligned to the supreme leader and his hardline policies. The other is said to favour more international engagement and giving women wider access to education. Also: Elon Musk's social media platform X has announced new measures to stop its AI chatbot, Grok, creating sexualised images of real people. This function will now be blocked, including for paying subscribers, if local laws demand it. Election officials in Uganda say logistical problems have delayed voting in presidential and parliamentary polls. Delays were blamed on failures in biometric identification kits and lack of equipment. And astronauts splash down to Earth after medical evacuation from the International Space Station. 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, clim

The United States has not changed its ambition of taking over Greenland after hosting high level talks at the White House. Denmark's foreign minister described the discussions as constructive, but warned there was still a fundamental disagreement over the Arctic island's future. Also: President Trump says the killing of protesters in Iran has stopped amid threat of US strikes; the Gaza peace plan moves to phase two; a leaked recording of the Taliban in Afghanistan hints at political division; the International Space Station carries out its first medical evacuation; and a renowned Michelin star restaurant gets a one star hygiene rating. 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 episo

Erfan Soltani, arrested during Iran's crackdown on protesters, faces imminent execution, his family says. The human rights group, Hrana, reports that more than 2,500 people have been killed in the protests. Also: As Russian strikes damage Ukraine's power grid, many in Kyiv have started sleeping on specially outfitted trains to keep warm. At least 32 people are dead in Thailand after a construction crane falls onto a moving train. The leaders of Japan and South Korea begin their summit with a jam session. And amateur tennis players compete against the pros at the "Million Dollar One Point Slam".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. Fo

The United States is urging its citizens in Iran to leave immediately, warning that protests continue to escalate. A notice released by the US virtual embassy in Tehran advises American nationals to travel by land to Turkey or Armenia, if they can make the journey safely. It says those unable to leave should take refuge at home or in another safe building and keep a supply of food, water and medication. Also: Scientists say 2025 was one of the three hottest years on record. US Vice President JD Vance and US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio are meeting the Danish and Greenlandic foreign ministers in the White House on Wednesday. Bill Clinton has refused to testify in the Congressional investigation into the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The committee chairman says there will be a vote to hold the former President in contempt of Congress. K-pop megastars BTS announce a 79-date world tour after all members of the boyband completed their mandatory military training in South Korea. The American civil rights a

An Iranian official has told the Reuters news agency that about 2,000 people have been killed in the protests, including security personnel. Some in Iran have now been able to make phone calls abroad to relatives, and have described bloodshed. One protestor, Erfan Soltani, will reportedly be "executed tomorrow". Also: the French far-right politician Marine Le Pen has begun her appeal against a two-year prison sentence and a ban on standing for public office. South Korean prosecutors have asked for the death penalty for the former president, Yoon Suk Yeol, over his attempt to impose martial law in December 2024. And is good gut health the secret to a long life? Our reporter is assessed by doctors. 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

President Trump says countries trading with Iran will face an immediate 25% percent tariff on business with the United States, in response to Tehran's deadly suppression of protests. China alone is estimated to buy around 90% of the oil that Iran exports to the global market. As Washington considers additional action, we hear from Iranians who have lost loved ones in the lethal response to the nationwide demonstrations.Also: we hear from a Syrian man who was duped into fighting in Ukraine by a former Russian teacher, who promised hundreds of foreign recruits they could avoid combat. The US states of Minnesota and Illinois sue the Trump administration to try to halt mass deployments of ICE agents. A mobile app has gone viral in China as young people living alone seek reassurance that someone will be alerted if they go missing. More than 100 environmental officers in India are searching for an elephant that's believed to have killed at least 22 people in the state of Jharkhand in the past week. Archaeologists c

In this special edition of the Global News Podcast, BBC correspondents answer your questions about the anti-government protests that spread across Iran. Can the Iranian regime survive? Will Donald Trump intervene? How would regime change affect the world? Matthew Amroliwala speaks to two of the BBC's diplomatic correspondents - Caroline Hawley in London and Paul Adams in Washington - as well as Siavash Ardalan, from BBC Persian. 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

As protests in Iran continue into their third week, the country's foreign minister claims the situation is "under total control". President Donald Trump has warned that the US could intervene and has "very strong options". In response, Iran says it's "prepared" for war, but "does not seek" it. Also: Myanmar is accused of genocide over attacks on the Muslim Rohingya minority in 2017. The chairman of the US Federal Reserve is facing legal action. He claims it's a political attack. Hamas says it's prepared to hand over power in Gaza -- but is it? We hear how the campaign to end child marriage in the US has some powerful opponents. And, the chimpanzee who beat humans at a memory test has died.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 we

Videos verified by the BBC and eyewitness accounts appear to show security forces in Iran ramping up their response to protests that have spread across the country. Activists say dozens of bodies seen piled up in black bags outside a morgue near Tehran are dead protesters. US President Donald Trump says Iran's leadership is seeking to negotiate following his threat of military intervention, but warns that he "may have to act before a meeting".Also: President Trump tells Cuba to "make a deal" with Washington or face consequences, warning the flow of Venezuelan oil and money to the country will stop. The UK government has paid "substantial" compensation to a man who was tortured by the CIA before being shipped to Guantanamo Bay where he is still imprisoned. Greenland residents tell the BBC they want to be left alone, as their island becomes embroiled in a geopolitical storm. Six skiers have been killed in a series of avalanches across the Alps. Doctors say they have achieved the previously impossible - restorin

When the US government captured Venezuela’s president, Nicolas Maduro, on Saturday, most of the world was shocked. But US officials had for years been gaming out different scenarios, including predicting what would happen if Maduro was ousted. According to one man who took part, each ended in disaster. On today’s episode, we speak to the former Washington Post journalist Douglas Farah, who participated in war games on Venezuela during Donald Trump’s first term, as well as during the Obama and Biden administrations. 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.

A medic at one Tehran hospital reported "direct shots to the heads of the young people, to their hearts as well", while a doctor said an eye hospital in the capital had gone into crisis mode. Despite this, large crowds have returned to the streets of Iran's capital, including entire families with children, defying increasingly severe warnings from the authorities. Also: the US military has ​carried out 'Operation Hawkeye' strikes in Syria against the Islamic State, as revenge for the killing of two American soldiers. We hear from Venezuelans who have fled to Colombia, after the capture of President Nicolás Maduro. Why a deadly train crash in 2023 in Greece could lead frustrated voters to turn to new political options in the 2027 election. The case of a Google employee made redundant after reporting sexual harassment. Why a rare Superman comic that was once stolen from Nicolas Cage has sold for $15m. And how much are dogs eavesdropping on us?The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear

The Australian 'kindness influencer' who raised nearly two million dollars to help an elderly US veteran. Samuel Weidenhofer flew thousands of miles to find Ed Bambas after being told he needed help. Ed, who's 88, was still working in a shop because he couldn't afford to retire, having lost his pension and healthcare. Also: one of the few people ever to walk around the world says he was inspired to keep going by the rescue dog he adopted along the way. Tom Turcich spent seven years making the journey with Savannah, who he describes as the best possible companion. The family of a US Air Force serviceman have been reunited with his dog tag, seventy years after it was lost. We hear how a young woman in the UK is trying to dispel the stigma surrounding a medical device known as a stoma bag, by turning them into fashion accessories. Plus some very big baby news as a US zoo prepares to welcome a very rare elephant calf. Our weekly collection of inspiring, uplifting and happy news from around the world. Presenter: