Failed US execution sparks death penalty debate
Christa Pike's botched execution has reignited the debate surrounding the death penalty in the United States. Tennessee's head of prisons is to resign amid growing scrutiny. Also: Ethiopians fear a return to civil war after government forces take control of the Tigrayan regional capital. Tens of thousands of people protest against the housing crisis in Spain. Investigators say the co-pilot of the FlyDubai plane attacked his captain with an axe kept inside the cockpit. Nearly 200 people are under medical observation after a Russian lab worker reportedly died from pneumonic plague. Germany's Oktoberfest is handing out shorts to female riders after a surge in upskirting videos. And a new species of lizard has been discovered living high up in the Peruvian Andes. 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.
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Get in touch: [email protected] : Death chamber seen through the steel bars from the viewing room at the state penitentiary in Huntsville, Texas in September 2010.
Credit: Texas Department of Criminal Justice via Reuters
The Happy Pod: Fat Bear Week returns
Fat Bear Week is back! The annual contest sees people around the world vote for their favourite bear, ahead of hibernation season. More than two million votes were cast this year's tournament which is based at Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska. Also, meet the tattoo artist covering people's scars with artwork to make them feel more confident. Cath Bowie, aka GrumpyGran 1948, tells us how she got into streaming and the game Fortnite. She's just been recognised by Guiness World Records as the world's oldest female Fortnite streamer at the age of 78.Plus, 'Walk with a Doc', a scheme that gets people out walking with their local doctor and, have you ever heard an Elephant's rumble? We find out what it means. Our weekly collection of inspiring, uplifting and happy news from around the world.Image: Fat Bear Week winner, 'Backpack'. Credit: Katmai National Park and Preserve/Explore.org
Christa Pike: What next after failed execution?
Christa Pike's legal representatives say the convicted murderer is unconscious and on a ventilator in hospital in Tennessee, after surviving two lethal injections on Wednesday. They have requested that all evidence related to the incident be preserved. We hear the account of Nashville reporter Steven Hale, one of a small number of journalists who witnessed the botched execution. Also: G7 leaders agree to release up to 100 million barrels of diesel and crude reserves, days after President Trump's threat to ban diesel exports from the US. New York Governor Kathy Hochul says the woman at the centre of the Cornell University rape case was "failed" at "every turn". She also announces plans to change state law around consent. Argentina becomes the latest nation to offer citizenship to foreigners who invest large sums of money in the country. The swimming classes helping child amputees in Gaza. SpaceX astronaut Jessica Watkins has made history by becoming the first black female commander to lead a crew into orbit, breaking a US speed record in the process. And what is the true cost of buying a home for just one euro in Italy? 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: [email protected] : Emergency vehicles at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Tennessee, from where Christa Pike was taken to hospital following her botched execution.
Credit: Denny Simmons/The Tennessean/USA Today Network
Hero pilot tells his story from hospital bed
An Indian pilot, Smit Machchhar, says he fought to open the cockpit door of the stricken Flydubai airliner because he was determined to save the lives of his passengers and crew. Also: Washington urges European countries to start using their diesel reserves. We look at the student demonstrations against school conditions in France, where there have been more violent clashes. Kenya is at a crossroads, as its young people challenge the political elites who've governed the country for decades. The English football club, Manchester City, files an appeal against an independent commission's ruling that found it guilty of serious breaches of the Premier League's financial rules. London's Kew Gardens prepares to undergo a major refurbishment. Starbucks opens two branches in the Chinese region of Xinjiang - but the move is criticised by US congressman, John Moolenaar; and the attempt to free a large shark trapped in a canal in the South Korean city of Busan is halted.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.
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Photo: Indian pilot, Smit Machchhar, speaking to Prime Minister Narendra Modi from his hospital bed
Credit: Narendra Modi YouTube Channel
France rocked by student protests
French students set fire to bins and erected blockades outside schools, as they protest against overcrowded classrooms, teacher shortages and crumbling facilities. Hundreds of people have been arrested and dozens injured. Fires have broken out at some schools that are being blockaded. President Macron said concerns over funding and studying conditions were legitimate but do not justify violence. Also, from the US: the family of Renee Good, who was killed by an ICE agent in Minneapolis, is suing the Trump administration. The Tennessee prisoner who survived a botched execution, Christa Pike, is critically ill in hospital. New York's Attorney General Letitia James is appointed to investigate the alleged Cornell University gang rape. British scientists launch a clinical trial for a vaccine to protect against lung cancer. And Cristiano Ronaldo walks away from the Portugal football team.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.
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Get in touch: [email protected] : Clashes occur between riot police and demonstrators during a high school students' protest against education conditions in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, France, 01 October 2026.
Credit: EPA/Shutterstock
US death row inmate survives execution attempt
The US state of Tennessee fails to execute a woman on death row, who survived two lethal injection attempts. Christa Pike, who was convicted of murder thirty years ago, has been taken to hospital. The governor of Tennessee has ordered a temporary halt to executions.Also: A sell-off in global bond markets intensifies; government forces in Ethiopia appear to have captured the strategic town of Alamata, in the Northern Tigray Region; Cubans living in Florida create a new organisation to plan for investment in a post-communist Cuba; Benjamin Netanyahu reacts to the apparent attempt to crash a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv; we hear from a critical care physician on working in Gaza; examining the winning entry of a prestigious scientific photography competition - was it made using AI? And on World Sake Day, we look at how sales of the drink have fallen in Japan.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.
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Photo: Death row inmate Christa Pike entering a Knox County Criminal Court in Knoxville, Tennessee, US on December 4, 2007
Credit: Reuters
FlyDubai passengers recount terrifying ordeal
The Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu says it's too early to say who was behind the foiled attempt to crash an airliner travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv. Israeli passengers have described how they overpowered the co-pilot after he stabbed the pilot and sent the plane into a nosedive. Two other aircrew who were on board then took control and made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. Mr Netanyahu said investigators would examine whether the attacker had accomplices or ties to Iran. Also: Switzerland's glaciers lost more than five per cent of their ice this year as a result of Europe's record-breaking heatwaves, according to a new study. Six Flags Magic Mountain, an amusement park in California, has announced it will permanently close a popular rollercoaster after more than 100 riders alleged they suffered brain injuries. Latest research reveals that children are far more likely than adults to judge a person's emotions by what they hear rather than what they see. And a new AI-generated commercial by movie star Greta Garbo advertising ball bearings decades after her death has reignited debate about the ethics of re-animating dead stars.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.
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Get in touch: [email protected] : Yaniv Hayun (pictured on the left), one of the men who helped incapacitate the attacker on the FlyDubai aircraft bound for Israel from the United Arab Emirates, speaks to the media after arriving at Ben Gurion International Airport, September 30, 2026.
Credit: Reuters
Israel-bound flight diverted after fight between pilots
An Israel-bound flight with about 170 people on board has landed safely in Saudi Arabia after a fight broke out between pilots, triggering a hijacking alert. Two Israeli officials said the co-pilot is believed to have stabbed the captain and tried to crash the plane. Officials from Tabuk airport, where the Flydubai flight landed, say they are being treated in hospital. Also; Russia has carried out another massive overnight attack on Ukraine's Kyiv region, hitting energy infrastructure and residential buildings. President Zelensky says seven people have been killed and 24 injured across Ukraine in the latest drone and missile strikes. Africa's richest man has launched the construction of a giant oil refinery on Kenya's coast, describing it as a new chapter in the continent's industrial journey, and we find out the winner of the 2026 Fat Bear Week in Katmai National Park in Alaska, a contest in which 16 bears took part with two million votes cast from 100 countries around 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.
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Photo: A Flydubai aircraft sits on the tarmac at Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv, Israel, 30 September 2026.
Credit: EPA/Shutterstock
AI bosses sign self-regulation accord
After talks with AI industry executives at the White House, President Trump says they've signed a deal to police themselves which is "morally binding". Meanwhile, he has ruled out a joint venture with China on Artificial Intelligence, saying it would amount to "giving away secrets" to Ameria's main economic rival. Also: South Africa's president Cyril Ramaphosa addresses the nation amid growing alarm about violence against women. The English Premier League confirms Manchester City have been found guilty of serious breaches of its financial rules. A man who spent 41 years on death row in the US for murder is released on bail after newly analysed DNA evidence did not link him to the crime. The UK's Prime Minister Andy Burnham sets out an ambitious agenda in a major speech to his party. A rare painting of Rome by the renowned artist William Turner returns to the eternal city. And a week-long dance-a-thon in Nigeria. 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.
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Photo: Anthropic's Tom Brown, SpaceXAI's Elon Musk, Nvidia's Jensen Huang and Atreides Management's Gavin Baker at the launch event for America.gov, a new AI-powered US government website.
Credit: Reuters/Kylie Cooper
Israeli settlers attack West Bank village
More than 100 Israeli settlers have attacked a Palestinian village in the occupied West Bank, preventing the return of a family who'd been forced to flee their home. The Israeli army said settlers, defying a High Court order which allowed the return of the Palestinians, had hurled rocks, blocked roads and set fire to houses and vehicles in Jalud. Also: Spain's government has agreed plans to ban evictions until 2030, as it attempts to deal with a housing crisis. The proposal follows nationwide protests after an 87-year-old woman was forced to leave her home in Madrid because of a massive rent increase. The Malaysian government has started repatriating about 5000 asylum-seekers from Myanmar, including many Rohingyas, under a controversial deal agreed with Myanmar’s military ruler; and, a film about social media takes another critical look at Facebook. 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.
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Get in touch: [email protected] : A destroyed vehicle sits in the estate of Palestinians, Mahmoud al-Tubasi, 60, and his wife Aida, 51, which they say was attacked by Israeli settlers, in Jalud in the Israeli-occupied West Bank
Credit: Reuters
Too much screen time 'can damage children as badly as poverty'
Researchers at the University of Calgary say spending too much time on social media, gaming or streaming can affect young people's wellbeing in similar ways to being poor, born prematurely or having bad parenting.
The study also links excessive screen time to obesity, diabetes and heart problems. Critics say the findings are "not insignificant" but insist that screen time is not the only reason teenagers become emotionally distressed or fail to reach their academic goals. Also: Russian drone strikes Ukraine's National Academy of Science in Kyiv, sparking a huge fire; prosecutors in New York reopen an investigation into an alleged gang rape at Cornell University in 2024; Google Earth's updated satellite imagery shows the scale of destruction in Gaza; a special report on the brutal kidnappings plaguing Nigeria; the backlash over plans to build data centres; and an 11-year-old British girl becomes the youngest chess player in history to earn the woman grandmaster title. 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: [email protected] : Social media app icons, including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and WhatsApp, displayed on a mobile phone screenCredit: Yui Mok/PA Wire
Israel PM made secret visit to UAE, reports say
The Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu may have asked the UAE leader to deny reports by Haaretz newspaper that he had been warned about an imminent Hamas attack just days before October 7th. With elections now just a month away, Mr Netanyahu's rivals have seized on the report as just the latest example of warnings that he ignored. Also: we hear how unproven rape claims led to violent demonstrations erupting at an Indian university this weekend; we have the latest on protests in Spain sparked by the forced eviction of an 87-year-old woman from her flat; how scientists came up with a solution to help bananas stay yellow even when they're old or damaged; and the South Korean boy band, Big Bang, returns to London 20 years after they burst onto the music scene and helped turn KPop into a global phenomenon.
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.
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Photo: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at UN headquarters in New York City, US, September 24, 2026.
Credit: REUTERS/Brendan McDermid
Five arrested over suspected plot to attack UK military base
Five men have been arrested over a suspected plot to attack a UK air base also used by the US military. Donald Trump said the men had planned to cause significant damage. Since March, the US has been launching attacks against Iran from the base in southern England. Police say they received a call during the night about three suspicious vehicles driving towards the area. Counter terrorism police are reportedly investigating whether Iran is linked to the incident. Also: We take you to the front lines of Houthi attacks in Yemen as the armed group makes more strategic advances; Twelve people are missing after an avalanche in the Himalayas; Venezuelans take to the streets demanding the return of the opposition leader Maria Corina Machado; And we look at the enduring allure of Route 66 as the famous highway celebrates its 100th birthday. 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.
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Photo: An image that circulated on social media following the arrests of five men near RAF Fairford
Credit: The BBC is unable to verify the original source but has geolocated it and has confirmed it appears to be authentic.
The Global Story: Why the world wants American surrogates
The United States is one of the few wealthy countries where commercial surrogacy remains legal. Bans elsewhere in the world, combined with a largely free-market approach at home, have made the US an international destination for would-be parents from around the globe – fuelling the industry’s rapid expansion. But could it all come to an end? Today on The Global Story, we speak to fertility technology reporter Emi Nietfeld about how the US became a global hub for surrogacy – and why a series of high-profile cases is raising difficult questions about the industry.
OpenAI warns of dozens more potential bot hacks
OpenAI says it has alerted dozens of global institutions, including governments, that their websites may have been accessed improperly by rogue AI agents. The US company says the bots sometimes tried to get information using "extreme means". Also: President Trump rejects Iran's proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within a week; fighting erupts in Ethiopia's Tigray region stoking fears of a return to civil war; a court battle ends with a contentious Protestant march set to take place in Northern Ireland; Bangladesh launches a nationwide vaccination campaign amidst its worst-ever measles outbreak; Pope Leo celebrates Mass in Paris; we hear about a new film highlighting Tenzing Norgay's unique part in conquering Everest; and why zero-spend 'dopamine websites' are taking off around 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.
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Photo: A keyboard is placed in front of a displayed OpenAI logo.
Credit: Dado Ruvić – Reuters
The Happy Pod: The 'privilege' of helping brain tumour patients
A rapid new test for brain tumours is taking diagnosis time from weeks to hours. It means patients are spared weeks of uncertainty and can start treatment sooner. The Happy Pod speaks to the doctors behind this breakthrough, who say it's a "privilege" to be developing something that can help people. Also, a baby has been born on one of the most remote and northernly Scottish islands for the first time since 1992. An entrepreneur in Ghana has worked out a way to turn plastic packaging waste into school desks. Plus, a woman in Wales has received a life saving kidney transplant, after her plea on social media found a donor match and, the six year old breaking records in China with a Rubik's Cube.Our weekly collection of inspiring, uplifting and happy news from around the world.Presenter: Holly Gibbs. Music composed by Iona Hampson
Manchester City could face historic punishment
One of the world's richest football clubs, Manchester City, is found guilty of breaching dozens of financial rules and could face compensation claims from rivals. Also; Iran extends a new offer to the US to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within a week; Pope Leo warns against the dangers of AI on a state visit to France; The head of the BBC, Matt Brittin, says AI could be used to create and present programmes in the future; South Africa's new ambassador to the US rejects President Trump's claims of mass violence against white Afrikaners like himself; FBI agents tell the BBC of their shock, fear and anger after hackers access the private and personal information of the agency's entire workforce; And we profile China's first lady, Peng Liyuan, the wife of President Xi as the couple end their state visit to the 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.
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Photo: Kevin De Bruyne lifts the Premier League trophy with team-mates.
Credit: PA
Rapid new test transforms brain tumour diagnosis
A rapid new test for brain tumours can slash the time it takes for an accurate diagnosis from up to eight weeks to two hours. It means surgeons can get results even while they are operating, and patients are spared weeks of uncertainty whilst being able to start their treatment sooner.
Also: Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky says that President Trump has made a “final decision” to give Ukraine licences to produce patriot missiles. Indonesia pardons a former Filipino maid, who was sentenced to death after being found carrying heroin through an airport. We hear the latest about the Ebola outbreak from a doctor who spent six weeks in Northern Congo. Nepal’s Prime Minister, Balendra Shah, says flooding in his country “was a warning to the world” and calls for cooperation to deal with climate change. An organisation in the United Kingdom says better regulation of beauty products is needed as young children continue to use skincare and makeup. And Pope Leo visits Paris for a mass, but his first engagement gives a warning about artificial intelligence and assisted dying. 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.
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Photo: Neurosurgeon Stuart Smith in operating theatre
Credit: Nottingham University Hospitals
Trump hosts President Xi at state banquet
Tech billionaires join Donald Trump and Xi Jinping for dinner at the White House at the end of the first full day of the Chinese President's visit to the US. Mr Xi said that in their discussions earlier, he and his host had reached "common understanding on many issues" but didn't elaborate. No concrete breakthroughs have been reported on contentious matters such as Iran and AI.
Also: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fiercely defends military action in the Middle East to a half empty UN General Assembly. Earlier, the Palestinian leader told the same gathering Israel was threatening his people's existence. The Italian government approves a ban on the burqa and niqab in schools. Hundreds of people gather in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, to call for the return of the exiled opposition figure, Maria Corina Machado. The eviction of an 87-year-old in Spain triggers angry protests and put the country’s housing crisis under the spotlight. And new research on how well dogs can understand the human language. 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.
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Get in touch: [email protected] : Annabelle Gordon/POOL/EPA/Shutterstock Image description: US President Donald J. Trump and first lady Melania Trump greet President Xi Jinping and Madame Peng Liyuan at the White House in Washington
Rogue OpenAI agent hacks government site
Australia launches an urgent review after an AI agent belonging to OpenAI hacked a government healthcare portal. The government has set up a taskforce to examine what happened and whether laws were broken. The Prime Minister Anthony Albanese accused OpenAI of an "unacceptable delay" in informing the authorities about the intrusion. In response, OpenAI said "our models took actions we did not intend" and that it found no record of patient data being accessed. Also: Three US news outlets are denied access to the White House despite a ruling from a US judge overturning President Trump's ban. Tigrayan rebels say they are in a "full-blown war" with the Ethiopian government. As he begins a state visit to Washington, President Xi Jinping says China and the US should be partners, not rivals. Researchers find elephants use medicinal plants to treat themselves. The Afghan cyclist who disguised herself as a man to evade Taliban, wins a silver medal at the Asian Games. And joy in Thailand as a young Thai singer wins America's Got Talent.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.
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Photo: Illustration showing the Australian Medicare smartphone app and medicare card.
Credit: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images
China's Xi Jinping meets Trump for high-stakes summit
Xi Jinping has arrived in Washington for a three-day state visit and was met by Donald Trump in a rare planeside welcome. As President Xi touched down, the US treasury secretary announced that a bilateral trade truce has been extended. Also, the US-backed group, known as the Board of Peace, has presented a partial plan for reconstruction in Gaza, despite the lack of progress in the peace agreement between Israel and Hamas. An AI agent developed by OpenAI hacked Australia's government health website earlier this year, without the company's knowledge. Meta has announced a new model of audio-only smart glasses. Britain has expanded its defence into space, calling it the next battleground. An ancient wall discovered beneath Paris has been described as a “major breakthrough” in archaeology there. France imposes restrictions on the "wrong type" of hikers visiting Mont Blanc and is bringing an iced coffee to a job interview acceptable or unprofessional?(Photo: US President Donald Trump welcomes Chinese President Xi Jinping at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland.
Credit: EPA/Shutterstock)Get in touch: [email protected] 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.
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Gunmen attack South African house party
Gunmen kill 11 people after storming a house in KwaMakhutha township near Durban in South Africa. Police are investigating links to a feud between rival groups, as the nation grapples with sky-high murder rates and violence. Also: the IMF warns that record global debt requires urgent fiscal action, urging economies such as the US and UK to reduce borrowing. China's plans for the future of AI. The family feud over Dolly Parton's estate involving the country music star's nephew Bryan Seaver. Astronomers discover the youngest planet on record, Elias 2-24 b, about 450 light years from Earth. And could the lost hidden tomb of Egyptian queen Nefertiti finally be found?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.
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Get in touch: [email protected] : Mass shooting in KwaMakhutha, South Africa, Durban - 23 Sep 2026
Credit: EPA
US and Iran hold talks on sidelines of UN General Assembly
President Donald Trump says talks held in New York between US and Iranian officials were productive. Earlier in a speech to the UN General Assembly he threatened to annihilate Iran if a deal was not agreed. Also: the US introduces global sanctions that could ground most Iranian aircraft. A Sri Lankan court hands long prison sentences to 15 men in connection with the Easter Sunday bomb attacks in 2019 that killed 270 people. The British broadcaster Piers Morgan calls for a newly-released book by Earl Spencer about Princess Diana to be pulled from the shelves because of a factual error. Colombia's president sends the army into a city on the Caribbean coast to quell attacks by an armed group there. Scientists warn that the current El Nino weather system hasn't finished setting new records. A Ghanaian entrepreneur turns waste plastic into school desks. And a six-year-old girl sets a new women's world record for solving the Rubik's Cube.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.
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Get in touch: [email protected] : US President Donald Trump at the United Nations General Assembly in New York
Credit: Toby Melville/PA Wire
UN accuses Nicaragua of crimes against humanity
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.
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Photo: Nicaragua's President Daniel Ortega with a Nicaraguan flag.
Credit: Leonardo Fernández Viloria - Reuters
US media outlets take legal action after White House ban
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.
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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
Typhoon hits Japan causing landslides and cancelled flights
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.
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Photo: Pedestrians wait at Shibuya crossing under heavy rainfall triggered by Typhoon Dujuan in Tokyo.
Credit: Franck Robichon - EPA/Shutterstock
Elections pile pressure on German Chancellor
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.
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Photo: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz addresses the media following the state elections in Berlin, Germany, 20th September 2026.
Credit: EPA/Shuttershock
The Global Story: Dave Ramsey - Iran, tariffs and affordability
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 speaks out on Gaza
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: [email protected] : Ed Sheeran performs at BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend 2025 - Liverpool.
Credit: BBC/Jamie Simonds
The Happy Pod: The best friends who turned out to be sisters
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
US and Denmark reach deal over Greenland
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.
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Photo: The Greenlandic flag flies on the Tivoli Castle in Tivoli in Copenhagen, Denmark, 08 January 2026.
Credit: EPA Shutterstock
Chaos as migrants moved off beaches in Ceuta
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.
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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
Did the US carry out war crimes in Iran?
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: [email protected] : The Minab school, which was damaged by a strike on February 28, in Minab, Iran, August 27, 2026.
Credit: Reuters
UN warns fresh water supplies under threat
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.
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Photo: Drought forces Indonesian villagers to collect water from dried-up creeks, Indonesia on 17th Sep 2026
Credit: EPA/Shutterstock
US hikes interest rates - to Trump's annoyance
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.
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Photo: Federal Reserve Chairman Warsh speaks after interest rate hike, Washington, USA - 16 Sep 2026
Credit: EPA/Shutterstock
EU chief proposes Canada as first 'associate member'
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.
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Photo: Canadian PM Mark Carney arrives ahead of State of the European Union address in Strasbourg
Credit: REUTERS
Should we trust tech titans to control AI?
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.
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Photo: A control unit at a semiconductor factory, used to power AI data centers.
Credit: FILIP SINGER/EPA/Shutterstock
Russia and Ukraine continue strikes on energy targets
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.
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Get in touch: [email protected] : 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 reveals it has deployed space weapons
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.
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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
NATO urged to intercept Russian drones after Ukraine attack
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.
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Get in touch: [email protected] : Wreckage of passenger train following a Russian drone strike near Ukraine's border with Poland.
Credit: Telegram/Reuters
Centre Left coalition in Sweden on course for victory
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: [email protected] : Social Democrats party leader Magdalena Andersson in Stockholm, Sweden
Credit: EPA/Shutterstock
The Global Story: Can Dubai’s luxe image survive the war with Iran?
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.
Dario Amodei from AI's Anthropic issues a stark warning
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.
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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 Happy Pod: The choir proud to admit they can't sing
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
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.
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Photo: Houthi military spokesman, Yahya Sarea, delivers a televised statement in Sana'a, Yemen
Credit: Al Masirah TV
Houthis tighten squeeze on crucial shipping route
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.
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Get in touch: [email protected] : Houthi fighters march during a campaign to mobilize more fighters amid an escalation of fighting in Yemen
Credit: EPA/Shutterstock
Israeli military demolishes Hezbollah tunnels in Lebanon
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.
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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
Philippine ferry erupts in flames
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: [email protected] : 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 kick off first-ever midterm convention
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.
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Picture: US President Donald Trump gestures after his speech during the Republican National Midterm Convention in Dallas.
Credit: REUTERS/Jessica Koscielniak
AI scientist quits Anthropic over risk to humanity
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.
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Get in touch: [email protected] : Anthropic logo, a keyboard and a robotic hand
Credit: REUTERS/Dado Ruvic
