Global News Podcast

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

President Trump calls on other nations to send warships to help secure the Strait of Hormuz which Iran has largely blocked, driving up global energy prices. Mr Trump has told a US television channel that while Tehran appears ready to make a deal to end the war, its "terms aren’t good enough yet". The head of the United Nations calls for an end to the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah as Israeli strikes continue in the Lebanese capital. Also: in Cuba, peaceful anti-government protesters turned violent as a Communist Party Office in the centre of the country was attacked; and we hear about the Razzies, the awards actors and film makers would much rather they hadn't won. The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and 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

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

On Friday President Trump said the US had obliterated military targets on the Iranian oil hub island of Kharg and threatened to target the oil infrastructure there if Iran stopped ships going through the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran accused Washington of a failed mission and warned that any attacks on its energy facilities would lead to strikes on US-linked oil interests in the region. Also: People in the Gulf State of Qatar have been told to evacuate several areas that could be targeted by Iranian missiles; the Iranian-backed Palestinian militant group, Hamas, has urged Iran to stop attacking its Gulf neighbours; and the environmental cost of war on Iran as oil fires and toxic air spread.The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on 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

President Donald Trump says the United States has carried out strikes against military targets on Kharg island, Iran's main export terminal for oil in the Gulf. Writing on social media, he said he'd decided not to destroy the oil infrastructure on the island. US media report that amphibious ships carrying 2,000 Marines are being sent to the Gulf, but the Pentagon has declined to comment. There have been explosions in the capital Tehran, as thousands of Iranians took part in a rally in support of the regime. And in Lebanon the health ministry says an Israeli strike has hit a health centre in the south of the country. Also: Cuba confirms talks with Trump officials amid US blockade; how spider silk has been used to repair broken nerves; and a school videographer turned Oscar nominee who took great risks to smuggle footage out of Russia.The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, 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 the bombardment of Iran continues, the American defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, says the US is decimating Iran's military, as it plans to carry out more strikes than on any other day so far. There is growing criticism in Europe of Washington's decision to ease sanctions on Russian oil in a bid to counter rising oil prices linked to the US and Israel's war with Iran. Also: calls for tighter regulation around children's toys powered by AI; we hear from two contenders hoping to become the next mayor of Paris; and how a lack of snow is impacting this year's Winter Paralympics. The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment.Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

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

Iranian state television has broadcast a message in the name of the newly appointed Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei. The message was read by an announcer and gave no clue as to the state of the leader's health. Some reports say he was injured on the first day of US and Israeli attacks. In the message, he said Iran would avenge the blood of its martyrs, and continue to close the Strait of Hormuz, through which one fifth of the world's oil passes. We hear from people in Iran, many of whom say they are now living in constant fear. We also report from the US, where public approval for the war with Iran is the lowest at the start of any conflict since the Second World War, with around 41% agreeing with the US decision to attack Iran. In other news, a court in Russia has given life sentences to four men convicted of carrying out one of the worst terrorist attacks of recent years - the mass shooting at a concert hall outside Moscow. Also: an auction of a remarkable collection of legendary guitars - including Kurt Cobain's trademark 1969 Lake Placid blue Fender Mustang and other famous musical instruments, literary artefacts and sporting and film memorabilia - which belonged to the late billionaire American businessman, Jim Irsay.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

At a meeting in New York, the UN Security Council has backed a resolution calling for Iran to stop its strikes on Arab Gulf states and Jordan, but making no mention of the US-Israeli bombardment of Iran. It also condemns the blockade of the crucial Strait of Hormuz. Iran's allies China and Russia abstained from the vote. We also hear why US Democrats are calling for a public hearing into the strikes on Iran - one of which is suspected to have hit a girls' school, causing major loss of life. Also, aid agencies are warning of worsening drought in East Africa, scientists discover that bumblebee queens can breathe underwater and, as the Oscars approach, BBC news correspondents talk about their picks for this year's awards. The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that 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

Three commercial ships were damaged by 'unknown projectiles' in the Strait of Hormuz, as 32 members of the International Energy Agency agree release of largest ever oil reserves. The IEA said it will release 400 million barrels of oil from emergency reserves to tackle rising prices. Israel says it has launched a new waves of strikes on Iran and Lebanon. It says the attacks targeted infrastructure across Iran, as well as Hezbollah sites in the Lebanese capital, Beirut. Iran strikes targets in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait. Israeli territory has also been hit. Also, the BBC reports on Russian intelligence sabotage attacks on countries allied with Ukraine and, computer scientists warn future robots could reflect life only from a male perspective as so few women work in AI design.The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it 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

The BBC hears from Iranian residents about life under bombardment, as the US says its military campaign is a "resounding success" - and ahead of schedule. Tehran accuses its enemies of targeting civilians. We also hear from one of the world's biggest shipping companies about how it's unwilling to risk its employees and vessels by sailing through the Strait of Hormuz. In other news, passenger trains are set to resume between China and North Korea. And why some people think it's important to distinguish between books written by humans and AI.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

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

Oil price falls and stock markets rally after President Trump hints that war with Iran could be shorter than he'd previously said. But he also says America hasn't yet won enough. We also look at how the war is continuing to affect Lebanon, and how the Iranian women's football team has been dragged into the conflict fallout at a tournament in Australia. In other news, the AI firm Anthropic sues the US government. And Russia wins its first gold medal at a Winter Paralympics in more than a decade.The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

The benchmark oil price has passed $100 a barrel for the first time since 2022. But Donald Trump says the economic fallout from the US-Israel war with Iran is "a very small price to pay" for world peace. After Iran named a new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, heavy explosions have continued to rock the capital Tehran. The Turkish opposition leader Ekrem Imamoğlu has gone on trial in Istanbul for corruption, in a case he describes as politically motivated. We report from South Sudan, where the world's youngest nation is grappling with instability and fears of a return to civil war. The Ukrainian president Volodomyr Zelensky has said he is sending drone experts to the Middle East this week to help Gulf states under attack from Iran. There is concern about the safety of the Iranian women's football team after they refused to sing their national anthem at the first game of the Asian Cup in Australia. Scientists have discovered an ancient Egyptian equivalent of correction fluid.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

Supporters of the Iranian regime have taken to the streets to celebrate the selection of the country's new spiritual leader, Mojtaba Khamenei. He will replace his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in US-Israeli strikes on the first day of the war. Shortly after the announcement, Iran launched a fresh wave of missile and drone strikes at targets in Israel and across the Middle East. The price of crude oil has surged above $110 a barrel - a four-year high - as the Strait of Hormuz remains closed because of the war. In other news, the left-wing coalition of the Colombian President, Gustavo Petro, is projected to have won the most votes in Senate elections - but will not gain a majority. And scientists in the Caribbean say they've discovered previously unknown sea creatures.The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover 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

How do conflicts like the US-Israel war with Iran impact our planet?In this special bonus episode of The Climate Question podcast, we answer listeners’ questions about the environmental cost of armed conflict, from Gaza to Ukraine. We examine the carbon footprint of battle itself - the jets, the bombs, the supply lines - and the impact of maintaining armies and bases during peacetime. We also ask our experts if there are any ways for the military to reduce their emissions and whether commanders now see climate change as a strategic threat.You can hear more episodes of The Climate Question every week, wherever you get your BBC podcasts. Recently, the team have looked at the climate challenge facing the Winter Olympics and Paralympics, the green energy revolution in China and what whales tells us about the state of our planet.

Members of the Iranian clerical body tasked with choosing a new supreme leader says there's consensus on a replacement for the late Ali Khamenei. In Iran, oil depots have been hit by intense US-Israeli aerial bombardment, with locals speaking of multiple explosions. Residents in Teheran report a blackened sky from thick smoke. Iranian forces have fired more drones and rockets at Iran's neighbours. We look at China's response to the the war as the UN warns of a dangerous moment for the world.The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

The US and Israel target Iranian oil facilities for the first time since start of war - but Tehran remains defiant. It continues to retaliate, launching drones and missiles on neighbouring countries. Also, Lebanon continues to count the cost after Israel carries out huge strikes on what it says are Iranian-backed Hezbollah strongholds. More US criticism of Britain, as Donald Trump accuses the UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, of joining a war that the US has already won. In other news, we look at the 35-year-old former rapper who looks set to become the new prime minister of Nepal. And, some good news - NASA's experiment to deflect asteroids that might be on a collision course with earth was a success.The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight.Get the news that matters, delivered twice 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

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

The Iranian president, Masoud Pezeshkian, has said Iran will stop striking its neighbours as long as no attacks originate from them; he's apologised for Tehran's attacks on those countries in the past week. President Trump has referred to that apology in a post on social media, saying "this promise was only made because of the relentless U.S. and Israeli attack". He added that today Tehran "will be hit very hard." Israel is continuing to pound Lebanon, saying it's targetting strongholds of the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah; Ghanaian UN peacekeepers have been wounded in a missile attack. Also, we hear from northern Iraq, where Kurdish Iranian opposition groups have been coming under attack. And we talk to an international journalist based in the Iranian capital Tehran. 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