Explore every episode of the podcast Global News Podcast

Nicaraguan authorities are alleged to have carried out enforced disappearances, torture and arbitrary detention of political opponents as part of widespread and systematic attacks on civilians. Also: weather experts warn that the El Niño developing in the Pacific Ocean is already the strongest ever recorded. The Star Wars museum, housing George Lucas' vast art collection, finally opens in Los Angeles. The purchase of a 17th-century painting in the Netherlands reignites debate about the origins of golf. A study by the University of Cambridge reveals baby girls tend to be more people-focused than boys from the first hours of their lives. How to make driverless cabs less enticing venues for backseat romance. And wildcats, long considered functionally extinct, are being successfully reintroduced to the Cairngorm Mountains in Scotland.

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 Photo: Nicaragua's President Daniel Ortega with a Nicaraguan flag. Credit: Leonardo Fernández Viloria - Reuters

Several US news organisations have temporarily stopped their pooled coverage of White House events, after Donald Trump revoked access for CNN, Politico and MS NOW. The president accused them of writing "lies" about him. Donald Trump has launched his own TV channel in response. Also, the UK's prime minister Andy Burnham has said Britain will provide "defensive air-to-air refuelling" support for Saudi Arabia. World leaders are gathering in New York City for the UN General Assembly. Fifa president Gianni Infantino has proposed an external review of how world football's governing body operates, and says he is open to reform. A Rwandan man has become the first person charged in the UK with offences relating to the 1994 Rwanda genocide. Lithuania's prime minister has told the BBC his country has made evacuation plans in the face of threats from Russia. The media giant Paramount Skydance has reached a settlement with a California-led group of US states. Darts world champion Luke Littler has threatened to stop playing in the Netherlands after being booed and whistled at in Amsterdam.

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 Photo: MS NOW journalist Vaughn Hillyard outside the White House after US President Trump barred reporters from MS NOW, CNN and Politico from entering the White House press room Credit: EPA/Shuttershock

A powerful typhoon passing Japan's east coast is bringing heavy rainfall and major disruption. More than 1.9 million people in and around Tokyo have been told to evacuate. Winds from Typhoon Dujuan have caused power cuts for thousands of people, and hundreds of flights have been cancelled. Large events - including the Asian Games and Tokyo Game Show - have been postponed or called off.

Also in this podcast: Nearly 500 people have been arrested in a major transatlantic operation targeting criminal gangs; officials in Gaza have announced plans to demolish more than 250 buildings; Vladimir Putin's political party is on course to retain its majority in Russia's parliamentary elections; a new trial aims to help dementia patients remain in their own homes and out of care facilities; and how arguments over sunbeds on European beaches have turned deadly.

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 Photo: Pedestrians wait at Shibuya crossing under heavy rainfall triggered by Typhoon Dujuan in Tokyo. Credit: Franck Robichon - EPA/Shutterstock

Chancellor Friedrich Merz calls a state election result in Germany a "disaster" for his ruling CDU party but vows to remain in office. Preliminary results indicate the CDU has suffered heavy losses to the far-right AfD party in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, while in Berlin it was defeated by the far-left party Die Linke. Also: US officials say 18 suspects in the assassination of the Haitian president Juvenal Moise five years ago are being extradicted to Florida to face trial. The sister of Pakistan's imprisoned former prime minister, Imran Khan, has been arrested ahead of planned opposition protests. President Trump speaks about plans to turn his triumphal arch in Washington DC into a military complex. In Indonesia, BBC Eye investigates allegations of sexual abuse at a  prominent  Islamic boarding school. And Earl Spencer says the treatment by the press of Prince Harry and his wife Meghan echoes that of his sister Princess Diana before she died in a car crash.

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 Photo: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz addresses the media following the state elections in Berlin, Germany, 20th September 2026. Credit: EPA/Shuttershock

As the midterm elections in America approach, the economy is one of the deciding factors for how people will vote.

Before his second term started, President Trump promised to tackle the so-called affordabilty crisis. But since then, the war in Iran has led to soaring gas prices and a range of tariffs have made some goods more expensive.

How do global events impact people’s finances and in turn how they vote in elections? The talk show host and financial expert Dave Ramsey joins us to discuss.

For more episodes, just search 'The Global Story' wherever you get your BBC Podcasts.

Ed Sheeran has spoken out at the start of his first show since the rapper Macklemore was dropped from his US tour over pro-Palestinian comments. The British singer said the Hamas attacks on Israel in October 2023 were horrific, but Israel's subsequent response had been disproportionate. He said his heart had been broken by the scale of devastation. Also: for the first time since those Hamas attacks on Israel sparked the war on Gaza, half a million children inside the territory are returning to formal education. Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen say they have carried out drone and ballistic missile attacks on the Saudi capital Riyadh, as well as energy sites on the country's Red Sea coast. Germany is holding two state elections this weekend in the wake of the recent successes of the far-right Alternative fur Deutschland - or AfD - party which recorded its best ever result. And Google has confirmed that its AI system, Gemini, hacked into three companies during a test in May.

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

Photo: Ed Sheeran performs at BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend 2025 - Liverpool. Credit: BBC/Jamie Simonds

Meena and Minal were born in India, but adopted by different families and raised near each other in the Netherlands. When they first met in their early teens at an event hosted by the adoption agency their parents had used, they were struck by the uncanny similarities in their appearance and mannerisms. This year, Minal took a DNA test, which revealed the Meena she already knew was her biological sister.

Also, we hear from the Cateura Orchestra of Recycled Instruments -- a group in Paraguay which play music on instruments made from landfill waste. Plus, Brad Ryan and Grandma Joy's adventures to visit every national park in the United States, before going on Safari trips around the world. For them, it wasn't about the sights, but healing their relationship, after they had not spoken in ten years. Why probiotics could help corals, and the table tennis club helping people with Parkinson's disease.

Our weekly collection of inspiring, uplifting and happy news from around the world.

Image: Meena Geltink and Minal Tijssen holding a picture of their younger selves. Credit: Reuters

Presenter: Holly Gibbs. Music composed by Iona Hampson

The US and Denmark announce a deal on Greenland's security, resolving a diplomatic dispute sparked by President Donald Trump's threats to seize the territory by force. In a post on social media, Mr Trump said the deal would mean "no US adversary can ever have a base in Greenland". Greenland and Denmark have said the deal strengthens security in the Arctic and is good for the Nato military alliance.

Also: President Trump has signed a bill authorising sweeping new sanctions on Russia, designed to increase economic pressure on Moscow because of its war in Ukraine. California Governor Gavin Newsom orders research into AI ‘kill switch’ in response to safety fears. Warren Buffett steps down from the investment company he's led for more than six decades. Organisers apologise for playing the North Korean national anthem for the South Korean men's hockey team at the Asian Games in Japan. And can two friends complete a board game that's so complex, no one has ever finished it?

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 Photo: The Greenlandic flag flies on the Tivoli Castle in Tivoli in Copenhagen, Denmark, 08 January 2026. Credit: EPA Shutterstock

Police in Spain's North African territory of Ceuta fired rubber bullets into the air to control crowds as hundreds of migrants were moved from beaches to the port where a tent city has sprung up. South Korea's president says he will not be sending troops to help the US in its war in Iran - defying growing pressure from the Trump administration. People in Russia are voting in the first parliamentary election since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa has formed a taskforce to investigate a spate of brutal killings that has sparked a nationwide debate over women's safety. Amid stark warnings from AI scientists about the growing risks of artificial intelligence going rogue, we assess some of the potential scenarios. At least 17 people have been killed in a car bomb attack in northwestern Pakistan. Protests in Nigeria after 33 people accused of illegal mining died in custody. And how drones are being used by police in England to help manage football crowds.

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 Photo: Police escort migrants from Benitez Beach to be relocated to the camp set up at the port of Ceuta, September 18, 2026 Credit: REUTERS/ Anna Surinyach

A UN fact-finding mission on Iran says there are reasonable grounds to believe the United States was behind two military strikes on a school and sports facility in Iran in February, and that these constituted war crimes. A State Department official said the US did not give credibility to the findings in the report. The UN experts also accused Tehran of violent repression of anti-government protesters.

Also: Nato secretary general, Mark Rutte, tells the BBC the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, is becoming increasingly desperate. Our health reporter finds out what caffeine does to the body. The melting of ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica is raising sea levels - and endangering coastal communities. A new species of cat is discovered in Bolivia. And Dolly Parton, who died last month, gets a posthumous music award.

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

Photo: The Minab school, which was damaged by a strike on February 28, in Minab, Iran, August 27, 2026. Credit: Reuters

The UN says climate change is having a serious effect on the global supply of fresh water. Rivers and lakes are drying up while glaciers are retreating according to a new report. Also: South African police have found the body of a ninth murdered woman since July, as concern grows over a string of unexplained deaths near Johannesburg; Canada's prime minister has told the European Parliament he welcomes ambitions for associate EU membership in a speech containing thinly veiled criticism of Donald Trump's America; The chief executive of Microsoft AI says that unless adequate restrictions are implemented in the development of artificial intelligence, it could lead to the emergence of a new silicone species which would compete with humans; President Putin attempts to use parliamentary elections to claim support for the war in Ukraine; Buckingham Palace hits back at accusations made by Princess Diana's brother, Earl Spencer that within days of her death - the King, then Prince Charles, told him she would be "forgotten soon enough". The Palace said the King was “mindful that the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason." And the controversy in Australia over the presence of crocodiles at the location chosen for the rowing and canoe sprints at the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.

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 Photo: Drought forces Indonesian villagers to collect water from dried-up creeks, Indonesia on 17th Sep 2026 Credit: EPA/Shutterstock

The US central bank has raised interest rates for the first time in more than three years, to try to curb inflation. The Federal Reserve lifted its benchmark rate by a quarter of a percentage point and suggested it could do so again before the end of the year. In a social media post, President Trump demanded "lower interest rates... and fast."

Also: Nepal has sharply revised upwards the number of people missing after last month's flash flood to 6,150. Hundreds more are missing across the border in Tibet. What American scientists are trying to achieve by putting human brain cells in mice. The racing driver, Ollie Millroy, who says he “owes his life” to a rival who pulled him from his burning car during a race in Shanghai. And we look back at the life of one of Nigeria's best-known actors, Olu Jacobs, who has died at the age of 84.

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 Photo: Federal Reserve Chairman Warsh speaks after interest rate hike, Washington, USA - 16 Sep 2026 Credit: EPA/Shutterstock

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has backed a proposal for Canada to become the EU's first "associate member". Canada's Prime Minister, Mark Carney, has been seeking closer ties with Europe as relations with the United States deteriorate over trade.

Also: Rescuers in Gaza are searching for survivors after a war-damaged building collapsed overnight, killing more than twenty people; The former leader of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for war crimes committed during the fight for independence from Serbia; Yemen's Houthis say they've shot down a Saudi F-15 jet while also denying Saudi claims they targeted Mecca; The German Chancellor will miss the United Nations General Assembly to attend a crunch party meeting on his future; The state of women's rights in Iran four years after the death of a young woman, Mahsa Amini, after she was arrested by morality police for allegedly wearing her hijab improperly. And, the controversy surrounding singer Ed Sheeran after his support acts pull out of his US tour because of the decision to drop the rapper Macklemore for making pro-Palestinian comments on stage.

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 Photo: Canadian PM Mark Carney arrives ahead of State of the European Union address in Strasbourg Credit: REUTERS

A conference in San Francisco hears from Open AI's boss, Sam Altman, who says the world should trust his industry's ability to do the right thing, amid concerns that it's developing too quickly. But speakers at a rival conference held in Washington, DC, call for greater regulation. Also: the Pentagon issues a report which says the Iran war has left the US military with a shortfall of munitions. All support acts for the British singer, Ed Sheeran, withdraw from his US tour in solidarity with Macklemore, who was dropped from the line-up for making pro-Palestinian remarks. Villagers in England voice their anger about immigration by holding a symbolic referendum to leave the UK. And the mother in the US who's been put on the child abuse and neglect register for allowing her five-year-old son to go on a walk by himself.

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 Photo: A control unit at a semiconductor factory, used to power AI data centers. Credit: FILIP SINGER/EPA/Shutterstock

There's been no pause in fighting between Russia and Ukraine, despite President Trump's claim that both sides would temporarily stop targeting critical infrastructure. Russia says a gas pipeline was hit in the south of the country in an attack overnight, while officials in Zaporizhzhia region in Ukraine said Russian attacks had disrupted power supplies to some areas.

Also: a NATO fighter jet shoots down a drone which entered Lithuanian airspace. Train travel is brought to a halt in parts of the Netherlands because of what officials suspect are coordinated acts of sabotage. We hear from a UN representative in Djibouti, where thousands of Yemini civilians have fled to escape fighting. Nairobi in Kenya will be the first African city to host the World Athletics Championship, beating rival bids from London and Rome. The number of people in Japan who are aged 100 or older has passed 100,000 for the first time. “Widow’s Bay” breaks records at the Emmy television awards. And researchers at Cambridge University say reading for pleasure is linked to better mental health, lower stress levels and a reduced risk of dementia.

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

Photo: Workers clear up debris at the site of a Russian strike on a petrol station in Kyiv, Ukraine, 15 September 2026 Credit: EPA/Shutterstock

US Air Force Secretary, Troy Meink, has revealed that America has weapons in space to protect its assets in orbit, but he didn't divulge which weapons were there. His comments will be seen as a warning to Russia and China, raising the prospect of warfare in space. A treaty from 1967 banned weapons of mass destruction in space but the US has, like its rivals, been developing technology that can target and defend satellites. Also: Anthropic's co-founder tells the BBC artificial intelligence may need a mandatory "kill switch" but President Trump says the idea of AI destroying humanity is a "hoax". Turkish police fire tear gas at protesters following a crackdown on gay bars and LGBTQ activists. The US scraps limits on emissions from coal and gas power plants. How scientists and doctors have improved the fight against breast cancer over the last 50 years. Harry and Meghan change their children's school only days after they first started, as their security in the UK comes under review. And the Sydney Sweeney advert that has caused an uproar in women's sport.

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 Photo: A Falcon 9 rocket carrying the USSF-36 mission launches at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, U.S., August 21, 2025. Credit: US Space Force/Gwendolyn Kurzen/Handout via REUTERS

A US think tank says NATO should consider intercepting Russian drones in Ukrainian airspace, after a drone struck a train near the Polish border. The strike happened soon after a train carrying senior European officials had passed through the same station. The NATO chief, Mark Rutte, says the attack shows how "desperate" President Vladimir Putin has become. Also: Africa’s biggest ever share sale is launched in Nigeria by the billionaire Aliko Dangote. His oil refinery is offering more than 4bn shares. Extensive restoration work at Buckingham Palace uncovers a cluster of curious historical items. And Andrew Davies, the screenwriter behind House of Cards, Pride and Prejudice and Bridget Jones’s Diary brings out an autobiography as he turns 90 this week.

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

Photo: Wreckage of passenger train following a Russian drone strike near Ukraine's border with Poland. Credit: Telegram/Reuters

Centre left coalition in Sweden likely to form new national government despite a slim majority. The far-right Sweden Democrats saw their support fall.

Also: The state railway company in Ukraine says it's "quite likely" that a Russian drone attack was targeting a diplomatic train which had some of Europe’s most senior security officials on board.

Alexander Zverev wins the men's US Open - his second Grand Slam tennis title of the year. The German beat America's Ben Shelton in four sets.

People are living, on average, longer that ever before, but how can we make the most of those extra years? Professor Linda Gratton suggests aging is not like climbing a ladder, but rather like weaving something that evolves with us.

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

Photo: Social Democrats party leader Magdalena Andersson in Stockholm, Sweden Credit: EPA/Shutterstock

As the summer holiday season draws to a close, foreigners travelling to and from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates are facing delays, cancellations and severe travel warnings. The disruption comes as a result of the UAE’s position in the ongoing US-Israel war with Iran. Throughout the conflict, Iran has attacked the UAE more times than any other country, including Israel.

Until the war with Iran began, Dubai was a major tourist destination, famous for its modern skyscrapers, luxurious beaches and low crime rate. For decades, the Gulf city has promised residents and tourists alike safety, security and stability – so has that promise fallen apart? And what could that mean for the city’s future?

The Global Story’s Asma Khalid speaks to Sameer Hashmi, an independent journalist based in Dubai, about how Brand Dubai is weathering a major regional war.

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 CEO of Anthropic has warned that the increasing rate of development could lead to rogue artificial intelligence agents taking over the internet, potentially causing hundreds of billions of dollars in damage. Elon Musk and the OpenAI boss Sam Altman both said they agreed with Dario Amodei whilst a former Anthropic researcher, Jacob Coxon, has told the BBC there was a strong chance that all humans could die in the immediate future without a slowdown. Also, the Reform UK right-wing populist party receives two donations worth nearly 100 million dollars. The Indian-British novelist, Salman Rushdie, speaks to the BBC about a new film which documents his attempted murder with never-before-seen footage of the attack. Yemen says it has struck back against Houthi fighters in the strategic coastal city of Mocha. Chile is in mourning after at least sixteen elderly people were killed in a fire at a nursing home. And Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina proves why she's the women's world number one in tennis after winning the US Open in New York.

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 Photo: CEO and Co-Founder of Anthropic Dario Amodei speaks during the 56th annual World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland Credit: REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

The Off-Key Choir in Southport on Merseyside has a simple motto: just because you can't sing doesn't mean you shouldn't. Around 80 members come together every week to sing their hearts out, without the pressure to hit all the right notes. Since it was formed in 2018, the choir has also acted as a support group. It has become so popular there is now a waiting list to join.

Also: the successful canopy bridge project giving animals a safe way to cross roads in the vast Amazon rainforest. How a pirate ship themed video game is helping stroke survivors in Mexico to regain mobility. A pilot scheme from Guide Dogs is turning ultrasound scans into 3D printed models for expectant parents with sight loss to feel their unborn baby's features. Campaigners across Africa are celebrating after a UN vote to adopt a new world map reflecting the true size of the continent. Plus, as a new Gruffalo book is released, we hear why the original story resonates with so many children.

(Image: Sheila Byrne, member of the Off-Key Choir. Credit: BBC)

Presenter: Chantal Hartle. Music: Iona Hampson

Houthi fighters seize control of Yemen's entire Red Sea coast, following a lightning military offensive that's cemented their grip on a vital maritime corridor.

Also: Despite efforts to control the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, officials have confirmed that the virus has now spread to another region in the North West of the country.

The British parliament votes against changing the law on assisted dying. The proposed legislation would have allowed adults, with fewer than six months to live, to apply to end their own life -- subject to certain safeguards.

Leaders of the BRICS group of nations are attending a summit in the Indian capital Delhi this weekend. It looks set to be dominated by the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, as well as economic challenges.

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 Photo: Houthi military spokesman, Yahya Sarea, delivers a televised statement in Sana'a, Yemen Credit: Al Masirah TV

Reports from Yemen say fighters from the Iranian-backed Houthi group have taken over the island of Perim, in the Bab el-Mandab Strait - a crucial shipping route. Hundreds of people have reportedly been killed and thousands displaced since the Houthis launched an offensive in the south-west of the country a week ago.

Also: the artificial intelligence company, Anthropic, says it's uncovered attempts to use its AI models to develop biological and conventional weapons. We report from New York as the city marks the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Six Nigerian nationals accused of defrauding more than 100 women through online romance scams are extradited from South Africa to the US. And a new frontier opens up for the NFL in Australia.

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

Photo: Houthi fighters march during a campaign to mobilize more fighters amid an escalation of fighting in Yemen Credit: EPA/Shutterstock

The Israeli army claims to have destroyed a series of underground tunnels used by Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. They reportedly found Iranian-made rockets, anti-tank missiles, drones and other munitions. Also: the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, initiates defamation proceedings against an Israeli newspaper that alleged he was warned in advance that Hamas was planning the October the 7th attacks; both President Trump and his deputy JD Vance have spoken at the end of a two day Republican mid-term convention in Dallas; we hear from a New York firefighter trapped inside one of the Twin Towers on September 11th twenty five years ago; a new proposal to change the rules of tennis to remove terms like love and deuce is being debated in Australia; and, one of London's grandest hotels is locked in a legal battle over allegations a guest failed to settle a bill of hundreds of thousands of dollars.

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 Photo: Footage released by Israel which it claims shows an explosion at a Hezbollah underground complex in southern Lebanon's Ali al-Taher ridge. Date and location of the footage has not been independently verified. Credit: Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation

An urgent search for survivors is underway after a ferry in the Philippines catches fire. Dozens are still missing and at least five people are dead. The Philippine coastguard says it's still too dangerous to board the ferry, but they fear people are trapped inside.

Also: a port city in Yemen is captured by the Houthi rebel group. Donald Trump promises $5,000 to every adult American if Republicans win the midterm elections. The commander and pilot of the Artemis II space mission retire from spaceflight. Anti-immigration protesters in the UK mistake the Pakistan under-19 cricket team for migrants. Officials say August this year was the world's joint hottest month on record. And the Bayeux Tapestry goes on public display in London - the first time it has left France since the eleventh century.

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

Photo: a drone view shows burned MV June Aster, after a fire broke out on the ferry, off the coast of the Philippines. Credit: Reuters

US Republicans have kicked off their first-ever midterm convention to rally voters ahead of November's elections, despite Donald Trump's low approval ratings. In a lengthy speech, the president defended his policies and promised voters a $5000 payout if the Republican party wins and holds on to Congress, although it's not clear if his pledge is legal. We speak to our correspondent at the convention in Dallas, Texas. Also: dozens of people are missing after a ferry catches fire in the Philippines; the family of a black woman found hanged on a tree demands answers; Apple unveils its foldable iPhone Duo; an Indian food inspector's crackdown in Mumbai goes viral; and time is running out for the leap second.

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 Picture: US President Donald Trump gestures after his speech during the Republican National Midterm Convention in Dallas. Credit: REUTERS/Jessica Koscielniak

A top safety researcher at Anthropic has warned that AI might be able to improve itself to the point where it poses an existential threat to humanity. Another former employee says that no other human activity poses this level of danger after quiting the company. There has been a growing number of voices within the industry calling for international coordination to slow AI development. Also: The British Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, defends his government's decision to impose sanctions on goods from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. The killing of eight women in Cameroon over the course of a week renews calls for legislation targeting gender-based violence. Funeral ceremonies for King Harald V take place in Norway. We hear from the first Afghan woman who has climbed Mount Everest. The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, begins his three nation trip across Latin America. A new study by Oxford University says people who regularly have hot cups of tea or coffee are at a greater risk of developing cancer in their oesophagus. And the American television show, South Park, gets a new name.

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

Photo: Anthropic logo, a keyboard and a robotic hand Credit: REUTERS/Dado Ruvic

The Israeli government takes retaliatory action after Britain, France and Canada impose sanctions on illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank. Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has announced countermeasures including shutting the UK's consulate in East Jerusalem.

Also: fighting between US and Iranian forces flares again with the Americans striking Iranian oil tankers and Tehran targeting a US military base. Newly released files show that toxic air quality was being recorded in Manhattan soon after the 9/11 attacks even as officials played down health risks to the public. A global survey finds a dramatic decline in teenagers' performance at school in the digital era. British scientists are developing a screening test that can show whether a patient has a brain tumour by analysing their tears. And fans celebrate as the legendary TV show, Star Trek, turns sixty.

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 Photo: Israeli minister of foreign affairs Gideon Saar speaks at a news conference in Jerusalem, after the UK and other countries announce sanctions on settlements in the occupied West Bank. Credit: EPA/Shutterstock

Twelve countries ban goods from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank; Britain's Foreign Secretary, Ed Miliband, says plans to build thousands of new homes there are unacceptable. Also: Canada's imposes retaliatory tariffs on various American goods; fighting escalates between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-backed Houthi group; the medical charity, Medecins sans Frontieres, warns that international funding cuts have closed healthcare facilities across Sudan; the boss of one of the world's leading computer chip makers, ARM Holdings, predicts artificial intelligence will cure cancer; masterpieces by the Impressionist painter, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, are stolen in France; and we speak to the writer of a new documentary on the English rock band, Oasis.

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

Photo: Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband making a statement on Israel-Palestine in the House of Commons. Credit: House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA Wire

Palestinians in the occupied West Bank are terrified for their children's lives at school after an increase in attacks by Jewish extremist settlers. Three pupils at a school south of Nablus have been killed since April. Ambulance crews have been stationed on the road outside the school, while several parents have volunteered to stand outside the gates. Meanwhile, the UK is to ban Israeli goods from West Bank settlements as part of a new policy towards Israel.

Also: in Ukraine's third-largest city, Odesa, councillors are voting to crack down on the Russian language - even though it's spoken by most residents. Staff at the Eiffel Tower in Paris go on strike after bosses agree to make the site a women-free zone for a visit by a conservative Hindu group. King Charles makes it clear that Harry and Meghan's return to Britain doesn't make them working royals. We ask if loud influencers are ruining tennis tournaments. And in the UK, blind parents are being given 3D prints of ultrasound scans to improve their pregnancy experiences.

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

Photo: School children in al-Mughayyir 6th of September Credit: EPA/Shutterstock

Friedrich Merz says the decisive win in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt by the far-right Alternative for Germany, AfD, signals the need for a major reckoning. The AfD's national co-leader, Alice Weidel, says it's aiming to win at least forty per cent in the next general election. Also: the funeral of the Bosnian Serb war criminal, General Ratko Mladić, has gone ahead in the Serbian capital, Belgrade, where some people consider him a national hero. The Lebanese president, Joseph Aoun, has warned of a "dangerous escalation" by Israel after women and children were killed in an air strike on a residential building in southern Lebanon. A new film about the most important weather forecast in British history, which gave the go-ahead for D-Day on the sixth June 1944, is released in the UK. And the BBC speaks to the 13-year-old who has written a symphony warning about the challenges posed 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, 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

Photo: Description: German Chancellor and Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party leader Friedrich Merz attends a press conference the day after the Saxony-Anhalt state elections in Berlin, Germany, September 7, 2026.

Credit: REUTERS/Axel Schmidt

Germany's Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is heading for a dramatic victory in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt, far ahead of its mainstream rivals. Although it is projected to fall short of a majority, the AfD says it has won a mandate to govern. Commentators and political opponents speak of the outcome as a watershed and break with the past. No far-right party has won control of a German state since World War Two.

Also: Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky says he expects the war with Russia to continue into the winter, following talks with Donald Trump's top envoys in Kyiv. The BBC investigates the claim that individuals working for the Saudi government may have been involved in the 9/11 attacks. Iran warns of "a faster, heavier, and more painful response" to US attacks, as hostilities between the two sides escalate. At least five people have been killed and five others injured after a cargo plane sped off a runway at Miami International Airport. Portugal gives festival-goers wristbands that can instantly detect the date-rape drug GHB. We look at how Nigeria's problems with mass abductions from schools are affecting children's access to education. A volcanic eruption in Indonesia disrupts thousands of flights, and how sleep tracking can actually make your sleep worse.

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 Photo: Ulrich Siegmund during a far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) election party following Saxony-Anhalt state election, in Magdeburg, Germany, 06 September 2026. Credit: EPA/Shutterstock

The US is bringing a "proposal to end the war" to Russia and Ukraine - but hopes for progress towards peace are not high. President Trump's top envoys are visiting Kyiv after a "constructive" meeting with Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Also: evidence grows of Sudanese army using chemical weapons in civil war against RSF; the US ambassador to Israel visits Palestinian-Americans in the occupied West Bank; the White House releases retro arcade games with MAGA agenda; how habitat loss forces animals into our homes instead; Oman's bagpipers showcase their musical heritage; and gravediggers dig deep for world championship.

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 Photo: Russian President Vladimir Putin meets US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Donald Trump's son-in-law, at the Kremlin in Moscow. Credit: Mikhail Metzel/Reuters

After a week of deliberation, jurors have failed to reach a unanimous verdict in the trial of Lindsay Clancy, the Massachusetts mother accused of murdering her three young children. The 12-person jury was made up of nine women and three men and was reportedly split 11 to one. Ms Clancy doesn’t deny killing her children but says she was suffering from postpartum psychosis at the time. The court will reconvene at the end of the month to decide what happens next. Also: a Russian drone has struck the headquarters of Ukraine’s security service, the SBU, in central Kyiv; OpenAI hijacks a German website, raising questions around AI safety; the UN General Assembly passes a resolution to replace the traditional world map with one that more accurately reflects the size of Africa; Houthi fighters and pro-government forces in Yemen battle each other in some of the worst clashes in years; Naomi Osaka has urged social media influencers attending the US Open to respect tennis "etiquette"; and as Giorgia Meloni celebrates her government becoming the longest-serving in Italy's postwar history, we hear why she has outlasted her predecessors.

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 Photo: Lindsay Clancy listening to testimony at her trial, in Plymouth, Massachusetts, US, August 26, 2026. Credit: Greg Derr/Pool via REUTERS

A man in the US has survived for a record nine months with a kidney from a genetically modified pig, bringing hope to transplant patients across the world. 66-year-old Tim Andrews went on to receive a human donor kidney and is doing well. We hear from Dr Leonardo Riella who led the team. Plus, the rare flightless parrot that's been brought back from the brink of extinction. The kakapo are the world's heaviest parrot. Also in this edition, meet Ari Miller, the DJ making music with strangers on the streets of New York. The new display showing the world famous Bayeux Tapestry as it's never been seen before and the composer turning the world's underground trains into melodies. Our weekly collection of inspiring, uplifting and happy news from around the world.

Picture: Patient Tim Andrews (centre) with Dr Tatsuo Kawai (left) and Dr Leonardo Riella (right). Credit: Kate Flock/Massachusetts General Hospital.

Presenter: Holly Gibbs. Music composed by Iona Hampson

Rescue crews in Nepal have freed two workers from a blocked hydropower tunnel, nine days after they were trapped by debris from flash floods that devastated an area on the border with Tibet. Shortly after the two survivors were lifted out of the tunnel, the body of a third person was found. About forty people are still thought to be inside the tunnel. Across Nepal thousands remain missing and in Tibet, tightly controlled by China, the official death toll remains low at 20 with around 500 missing. Also, New Zealand becomes the second country, after Australia, to treat trauma patients with the active ingredient used in ecstasy. Britain's anti-immigration party faces another funding scandal. VW cuts a further 50,000 jobs, and the Scottish eagle called Kinky, because of a crooked wing, flies high against the odds.

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 Photo: A man is carried by members of a search and rescue team after they rescued alive two people who had been trapped inside a tunnel in Nepal. Credit: Nepal Army/Handout via REUTERS.

Funerals have been held for two Palestinian teenagers killed by Israeli settlers and soldiers in the village of Al-Mughayyir in the occupied West Bank. Israel's military said its forces had fired at instigators of a "violent riot". The deaths come amid a recent surge in settler violence and mounting criticism of the IDF's role in attacks. Also: Argentina's President Milei threatens sanctions against oil companies working off the Falkland Islands or Las Malvinas. The UN warns of immense challenges reaching isolated Himalayan communties devastated by the Nepal-Tibet flash floods. A US jury is deadlocked in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial. The success of a genetically modified pig kidney transplant offers new hope to those on dialysis. And Amelia Dimoldenberg ends "Chicken Shop Date".

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 Photo: Mourners attend the funeral of Khalil Abu Aliya and Omar Mohammed Naasan in the West Bank village of Al-Mughayyir Credit: Atef Safadi - EPA/Shutterstock.

Gloria Steinem, a leader of the women's liberation movement in the US, has died at the age of 92. During the 1960s and 1970s, she campaigned for women’s reproductive rights and equal pay laws. She also co-founded the Ms. magazine - one of the first feminist publications in the US - and advocated for the legalisation of same-sex marriage. Steinem died peacefully at her home in New York.

Also: the United Nations warns of a "supersized" El Niño as countries prepare for the impact of the severe weather event. Britain's Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, meets President Emmanuel Macron in London, with irregular migration high on the agenda. France is deploying a new team of police officers to its western beaches to try to stop migrants on large, overcrowded vessels from crossing the English Channel. Are we one step closer to discovering dark matter - the substance that binds galaxies together? And women's tennis world number one, Aryna Sabalenka, hits back at suggestions she had been attending 'lots of parties' in the build-up to the US Open.

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

Photo: Gloria Steinem speaks at a women's march in Washington, US., January 21, 2017. Credit: Reuters

The United States and Venezuela have welcomed a big energy deal which they have formally signed in Caracas, along with a series of agreements involving international oil firms. The US Energy Secretary, Chris Wright, said the deal would unlock tens of billions of dollars in investment and thousands of jobs. He said oil production would double in a decade. Critics say the deal hands Washington control of a fifth of Venezuela’s oil reserves and entrenches the current authoritarian government.

Also, New York's mayor, Zohran Mamdani, has announced an unprecedented one-year ban on students using artificial intelligence in public elementary and middle schools; Tens of thousands of people have demonstrated against the Spanish government's handling of the migrant crisis in the north African territory of Ceuta. They have been calling for the socialist Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, to resign; More than six decades on from the Sharpeville Massacre in South Africa, survivors and relatives of those killed are challenging an apartheid-era law they say has prevented them from seeking justice; And more than 900 years after it was made, King Charles and Queen Camilla have had a preview of the historic Bayeux Tapestry which has been loaned to the British Museum in London by France for a year. The tapestry tells the story of the Norman conquest of Saxon England in 1066, when the English king was defeated by the invaders from France.

(Photo: Venezuela's acting president Delcy Rodriguez. Credit: Getty Images)

Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

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.

The heads of Nato and the European Commission have warned that Russia is growing increasingly reckless and vowed to respond to a "new normal". Moscow has accused Germany of planting evidence, after German authorities said Russia was behind an attempted drone attack at Leipzig airport. The Nato and EU chiefs said their support for Ukraine was unwavering amid rising hybrid threats, calling the Leipzig incident "part of a broader pattern of increasingly dangerous incidents".

Also, Iran and the US exchange air strikes as Tehran calls deaths at wedding celebration a war crime. Washington denies targeting civilians. The man accused of murdering conservative activist Charlie Kirk pleads not guilty, as judge clears way for death penalty trial. A simple at-home urine test can detect more than nine in 10 cases of bladder cancer, potentially sparing thousands of patients from invasive exams. American service members on the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln arrive in Thailand after a record 250 days without a port stop. The prominent Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong pleads guilty to foreign collusion. Ariana Grande bids fans a tearful farewell at her final world tour show before stepping back from public life.

(Photo: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaks during a press conference with Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte in Brussels Credit: Geert Vanden Wijngaert/Reuters)

Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

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.

The Iranian Red Crescent says four people including a child were killed by US strikes on a wedding in southern Iran as fighting escalates. It said over 50 people were wounded when shrapnel hit a residence in Sirik county, which lies on the Strait of Hormuz. The US military said it was aware of the reports but that it never targeted civilians. Iran launched retaliatory attacks at US bases in the region, with strikes reported in Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan. Also, President Putin accuses Germany's leader of trying to shore up his position by blaming Russia for a series of hybrid attacks on infrastructure. A new law in Austria that bans girls under the age of 14 from wearing an Islamic headscarf in schools comes into force. Why Chinese electric vehicles are so cheap. And the drone technology being used to save people from shark attacks.

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

Image description: A military aircraft ready to take off as US forces carry out strikes on Iranian military target. Credit: US Central Command via Reuters

Afghans in Pakistan and Iran face an uncertain future under the Taliban amid a huge deportation drive. We have a report from the Torkham crossing, known as "zero point". Millions of Afghans have fled across the borders to Pakistan for decades. Also, we hear from the Taliban foreign minister who has called on western countries to develop closer diplomatic and economic ties with Afghanistan. Israel says it's captured a senior member of Hamas in Gaza - as Palestinian medics say two children and a woman were killed. Norway's King Haakon pledges an oath of allegiance to the constitution as his father lies in state. A Russian drone and missile barrage kills at least 12 in the capital of Ukraine. Researchers say cancer treatment in mornings could double survival time.

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

Photo: Afghan returnees deported from Pakistan arriving at the Torkham crossing Credit: AFP via Getty

A former gang boss is facing potentially life in prison after being found guilty of murdering Tupac Shakur in 1996. Duane 'Keffe D' Davis masterminded the plan and supplied the gun that killed the rapper. Also, the families of more than 600 workers believed to be trapped in a vast network of mud-filled tunnels along Nepal's Trishuli River are clinging to hope their loved ones can be found alive. In the US, there is pushback about how quickly car licence plate readers made by one company, Flock, are spreading across the country. Argentina great Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football. The Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, has accused Israel and Russia of spreading disinformation related to the mass influx of migrants. John Galliano has cancelled an upcoming major exhibition celebrating his work as a fashion designer after it prompted criticism due to his previous conviction for making antisemitic and anti-Asian remarks. A team of conservationists in Chile has designed a healing "suit" to help penguins recover from surgery.

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 Photo: Duane Davis looks on during his murder trial, related to the 1996 killing of rapper Tupac Shakur Credit: Reuters

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 fundamental questions about the evolution of pregnancy in other mammals.

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 Photo: Vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, August 31, 2026. Credit: Reuters

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: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

Photo: 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 get your BBC Podcasts.

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 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 Photo: Settlers throwing stones at a house in the Palestinian village of Qusra in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Credit: Reuters

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. Music composed by Iona Hampson

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 to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk Photo: An oil tanker near Puerto la Cruz, Venezuela Credit:REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria

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 VIII has acceded to the throne in Norway after the death of his father, Harald V, 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, 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 Photo: Firefighters conduct search and rescue operations after a mudslide in Gyirong county in Tibet. Credit: Reuters