Global News Podcast

There has been international condemnation of Israel's treatment of pro-Palestinian activists who were on board a Gaza-bound aid flotilla intercepted by Israeli naval forces. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir posted a video showing himself taunting activists kneeling with their hands tied behind their backs. Also, Iranian state media is reporting that Pakistan's military chief is visiting Tehran later today in a bid to mediate peace efforts between Iran and the United States. The Justice Department in the Philippines has ordered the arrest of a senator, Ronald Dela Rosa, wanted by the International Criminal Court in connection with the country's war on drugs. Air France and Airbus have been found guilty of manslaughter over a 2009 plane crash which killed 228 people. In India, a satirical political collective themed around cockroaches - the Cockroach Janta Party - has attracted millions of online followers. NASA is set to launch a new space telescope, Roman, that it says will be able to capture images

The US justice department has unveiled criminal charges against the former Cuban president, Raúl Castro. The accusations against the 94-year-old include conspiracy and four counts of murder. They stem from a 1996 incident in which Cuban military jets shot down two planes flown by Miami-based Cuban exiles. President Trump has described the indictment as a "very big moment". Also: SpaceX is poised to make the first $1tn debut on an American stock exchange, in a move that could make Elon Musk a trillionaire. The fight against foreign developers buying Caribbean beaches. And an award winning novel that tells the story of forbidden love between a Japanese novelist and her Taiwanese interpreter. 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

America's top diplomat, Marco Rubio, has offered the Cuban people a "new relationship" in a video message marking the anniversary of Cuba's independence. He blamed the island's hardships on its communist leadership and not the US fuel blockade, which has exacerbated the economic crisis. Mr Rubio made the comments as US media reported that the Justice Department would unveil charges against Cuba's veteran leader Raul Castro.Also: The World Health Organization is exploring vaccine and treatment options to help contain the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Israel’s far-right National Security Minister, Itamar Ben Gvir, has released a video showing him taunting detained activists from a Gaza aid flotilla. As investigations into how a group of experienced divers died in the Maldives continue, officials say all five bodies have now been retrieved from a deep cave. Russia's President Putin has met China's President Xi in Beijing and signed around 20 agreements just days after Donald Trump's visit.

China's leader Xi Jinping hosts a colourful welcome for visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing. The two leaders have met dozens of times. Mr Putin arrived in China shortly after President Trump ended his trip to the Chinese capital. Also in this podcast: Donald Trump tightens his grip on the Republican Party after orchestrating the defeat of a congressman who defied him. Pro-Palestinian activists go on trial in Germany - raising questions about the country's traditional support for Israel. Arsenal win the English Premier League for the first time in more than two decades. And we investigate a peculiar noise made by humpback whales.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 bo

Afghanistan is facing a dire lack of food exacerbating a severe humanitarian crisis caused by dramatic aid cuts, the Taliban government’s policies and severe drought. Such is the desperation, Afghan fathers have spoken of their impossible choices: selling children to survive. Also: President Putin arrives in China for his 25th visit, hot on the heels of Donald Trump. As he left Russia, he said there was an “unprecedented level” of trust between his country and China. International concern mounts over the scale of the Ebola epidemic in Africa, with the World Health Organisation holding an emergency meeting. Police in Spain have arrested the son of the retail magnate, Isak Andic, as they investigate his death eighteen months ago. The founder of the Mango fashion group died after falling more than a-hundred metres during a hike in mountains near Barcelona. And worms living with a sponge called a glass castle and ghost sharks are just two of more than eleven hundred marine species scientists have discovered in th

The court battle that has gripped Silicon Valley for three weeks is over - for now - after the jury found Elon Musk had left it too late to sue the artificial intelligence company OpenAI and its boss Sam Altman. The billionaire slammed the court verdict as a "technicality" and vowed to appeal. Musk had accused Altman of breaching a non-profit contract by shifting the ChatGPT-maker to a for-profit company after Musk donated $38m early in OpenAI's history. Also: Russian President Vladimir Putin heads to Beijing for a visit with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. The authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo have linked 118 deaths to the current Ebola outbreak in the east of the country. A BBC investigation reveals allegations of rape and sexual misconduct behind the scenes of Married At First Sight UK. An exclusive interview with Juan Orlando Hernández, the ex-president of Honduras who was handed a 45-year sentence for drug trafficking and weapons offences before he was pardoned by Donald Trump. How an I

There have been more than 390 suspected cases and more than 80 reported deaths from the new species of Ebola, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. The infection has already spread from the Democratic Republic of Congo to neighbouring Uganda, while Rwanda and South Sudan are now on "high alert". Health officials are warning that the variant is deadlier than previous outbreaks. Also: International efforts to contain the Hantavirus are ongoing, as the cruise ship at the centre of the outbreak arrives in the Netherlands for disinfection. The Ukrainian military claim Russian forces are preparing for a major offensive in the summer. Spain's High Court has acquitted the Colombian singer Shakira of tax fraud and ordered her to get almost $65,000,000 in fines she had paid, plus interest. We get the latest on the Italian tourists who went missing whilst scuba diving in the Maldives. Why Swatch's Royal Pop collaboration with the Swiss luxury watch brand Audemars Piguet is causing chaos at

President Trump has again issued a warning to Iran amid stalled peace negotiations - saying unless they act quickly to agree a deal, there won't be anything left of them. Tehran says the US has failed to make any concrete concessions to bring about an end to the war. Also: Rwanda tightens its border security as neighbouring DRC struggles to contain a deadly Ebola outbreak; Amnesty International highlights Iran's increasing use of the death penalty; Russian civilians are shocked by Ukrainian drone attacks; Britain's royal guards allegedly fall asleep on the job; and are street preachers a blessing or a curse?

At the outset of the war in Iran, US President Donald Trump suggested that regime change was one of its goals. He later said it had been had achieved, a claim that is disputed by critics who point out that the same repressive forces in Iran still hold power. American attempts at regime change in Iran have a long history. In 1953 the CIA, assisted by British intelligence, led a deadly coup that toppled Iran’s last democratically elected leader. It’s a moment in history that poisoned US-Iranian relations, and helped launch the theocratic revolution to come. But the immediate success of ‘Operation Ajax’ would convince the CIA to carry out a wave of similar plots around the world. We get the full story from Scott Anderson, author of King of Kings: The Fall of the Shah and the Revolution That Forged Modern Iran.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.Producer

Nearly ninety deaths have been recorded so far in the Democratic Republic of Congo with medical experts warning that the current strain of the Ebola virus has a very high mortality rate. The DRC's health minister said that no vaccine or specific treatment was available. Also, more than fifty children between the ages of two and five are abducted in northeast Nigeria during attacks on three schools in the same town. Several people are seriously injured after a car is driven into pedestrians in the Italian city of Modena. Two rival marches are held on the same day in London with pro-Palestinian demonstrators and British far-right activists kept apart by the police. And Bulgaria stuns Eurovision to become the surprise winner at the song contest in Austria.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 an

We meet a teacher whose college fashion designs have gone on display at the famous Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Nadia Pinkney says she was shocked when the curator said they wanted to display her collection, which was inspired by a family history of Alzheimer's disease. She describes seeing the exhibition as an out-of-body experience and hopes it will encourage more people to talk about difficult topics like dementia.Also: the passengers catching a bus to nowhere in Switzerland. The project is designed to encourage people to slow down and talk to new people face to face.The mother who's found comfort from being able to hold her late daughter's hand again, after it was donated for a rare transplant.The Polish influencer who's raised millions of dollars for a cancer charity by hosting a livestream for nine days, non-stop.The grandmother fighting to preserve Chile's wetlands for the next generation.Plus the Canadian truck driver who rescued a moose called Rebel; and why musicians in southern England a

Israel says it's targeted the head of Hamas's military wing - describing him as an architect of the October 7th attacks. It's not clear if Izz al-Din al-Haddad was killed in the airstrike in Gaza City but there were civilian casualties. Also: the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire is to be extended; the alleged murder of an Aboriginal girl highlights Australia's deep inequalities; Bolivia's government strikes a deal with protesting miners; the WHO calls to restrict sales of nicotine pouches to young people; a French art gallery exhibits still-unclaimed works stolen by Nazis; and the hunt is on for the next James Bond. 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 break

Donald Trump has left China after talks with Xi Jinping that the US president says have settled "a lot of different problems". President Xi called it a "landmark" visit, but gave no details of any new agreements. On Iran, President Trump said the Chinese president would pressure Tehran to re-open the Strait of Hormuz. Mr Trump also said he didn't think there was a risk of conflict between China and the US over Taiwan. Also: American media reports say the US is preparing to indict the former Cuban president, 94-year-old Raul Castro. There's been a large prisoner swap between Ukraine and Russia as the two sides ramp up their aerial attacks. The BBC has traced dozens of social media accounts - which post AI-generated anti-immigration content about the UK - to countries such as Sri Lanka and Vietnam. And the singer-songwriter with Parkinson's disease using AI to help him make music again. The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and cu

The head of the CIA has visited Cuba as the island struggles with a severe energy crisis - made worse by a US fuel blockade. John Ratcliffe reportedly said Washington was prepared to engage on economic and security issues, but only if Cuba made fundamental changes. Also: tens of thousands of Israelis have taken part in an annual religious nationalist march through Jerusalem's Old City. Before it began, a far-right Israeli minister broke long-standing rules by unfurling an Israeli flag at a site holy to both Jews and Muslims; a BBC investigation reveals a new nationalist vigilante group is spreading across Russia; a new dinosaur has been discovered in Thailand that was twice the size of a T-Rex and weighed as much as nine adult Asian elephants; and how a horde of peacocks is ruffling feathers in an Italian seaside resort. 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,

China's leader Xi Jinping tells visiting US President Donald Trump that there could be conflict if their relationship is not managed properly. In a busy day of diplomacy in Beijing, Mr Trump said the two countries could enjoy greater prosperity and co-operation. Also in this podcast: Ukraine says Russia continues to launch drones on its territory. A senior minister resigns in Britain - throwing the prime minister's future into further doubt. There have been protests in Cuba over the economic crisis. And Israel's entrant in this year Eurovision Song Contest talks about the controversy surrounding his participation.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

The US and Chinese presidents meet face to face in Beijing for a much anticipated summit. Ahead of the talks, Xi Jinping told Donald Trump that the two countries should be "partners, not rivals". In response, President Trump described Mr Xi as a "great leader" and said the relationship between the superpowers will be "better than ever before". However, thorny subjects will be addressed during the talks, including tariffs, competition over tech, the Iran war and Taiwan. Also: The United Arab Emirates has denied a claim by Israel's prime minister that he secretly visited the country during the war with Iran. The man tasked with implementing President Trump's peace plan for Gaza says Hamas can survive as a political movement - but only if it gives up its weapons. And the disgraced lawyer, Alex Murdaugh, who was convicted of killing his wife and son in a high profile US murder trial that was the subject of a TV series, has his verdict overturned.The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hea

To the sound of a cheering crowd, US President Donald Trump touches down in China for important talks with the Chinese leader, Xi Jinping. The two leaders are expected to discuss tariffs, the Iran war and US weapon sales to Taiwan. It's the first visit to China by a US president since President Trump's last visit in 2017. Ahead of the trip, Donald Trump said he would raise the case of the imprisoned Hong Kong media mogul, Jimmy Lai. Also in this podcast: King Charles officially opens the British parliament, as the country's leader, Keir Starmer, fights to stay in office. Plans to build Australia's first Trump tower have been scrapped because the brand is "toxic". South Africa's top police chief has appeared in court, charged with violating public finance law. And a man in the US has been sentenced to two years in prison for breaking into a car and stealing hard drives containing unreleased music by Beyoncé.The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the lat

President Trump is travelling to Beijing, on the first trip to China by a US leader since he last went there in 2017. The main focus of his highly significant talks with Xi Jinping will be the tense trade relationship between the two superpowers. President Trump said he would also have a "long chat" with President Xi about Iran. Also: we have the latest from the court battle between two of the biggest names in tech - Elon Musk and Sam Altman. How just one infusion of immune cells could suppress HIV for years. The viral video of a mafia-linked illegal horse race in Sicily - escorted by armed scooter riders - that's led police to seize the animals and launch an investigation. And Israel makes it through to the final of the Eurovision Song Contest, as five countries boycott the event over the war in Gaza. 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, technolo

Parliament in Israel passes a law to set up special military trials for Palestinians accused of taking part in the deadly Hamas-led attack in October 2023. The tribunal will be able to sentence those convicted to death. Also in this podcast: the European Union approves new sanctions against Israeli settlers accused of “supporting the extremist and violent colonisation of the West Bank". Ministers start to resign from Keir Starmer's government, as the embattled British prime minister fights to stay in office. The UN says more than 400 civilians have been killed in Afghanistan since a cross-border conflict with Pakistan broke out in October last year. A senator in the Philippines takes refuge inside parliament to avoid arrest over his alleged role in former President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs. President Emmanuel Macron co-hosts the "Africa Forward Summit" in Kenya, to try to reset France's relationship with the continent. And new research suggests participating in the arts slows the ageing process. The Glo

More than 70 MPs from Britain's governing Labour party have publicly called on the prime minister Keir Starmer to stand down, following disastrous local elections results. Several senior ministers have urged him to set a timetable for his departure. Earlier Keir Starmer insisted he would not quit, and would fight any leadership challenge. Also: Iran says it is ready to respond to any aggression, after President Trump dismissed its latest peace proposals and said the ceasefire was on "life support". Researchers are warning that increased ship traffic off South Africa, due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, is causing dangers for whales. Our correspondent returns home to Khartoum, which was battered during Sudan's civil war. The last remaining passengers are evacuated from the hantavirus-hit cruise ship, as the crew sets course for the Netherlands where it will dock for disinfection. We look at how AI centres are causing a shortage of memory chips, pushing up prices of tech products. The hugely popular onl