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“This is a legitimate concern of South Africans, where there's illegal foreigners, people with no paperwork. No country in the world allows that to happen. Why should we? Our message is very simple. We say, South Africa is open for our brothers on the continent, but come here legitimately. Come here like a civilised human being that wants to come and contribute towards our country.”Waihiga Mwaura speaks to Gayton McKenzie, South Africa's Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture and leader of the Patriotic Alliance, a party that has built much of its support on a hardline stance on illegal migration.As South Africa is gripped by protests, violence and political division over immigration, McKenzie responds to criticism that his views betray Nelson Mandela's legacy of humanity, social justice and freedom. He rejects accusations that he's blaming migrants for South Africa's wider problems and argues his approach reflects the concerns of many South Africans.The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC, including episodes with Google CEO Sundar Pichai and author Maggie O'Farrell.You can listen on the BBC World Service on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 0800 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out three times a week on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts. Presenter: Waihiga Mwaura Producer: Osman Iqbal Editor: Justine Lang(Image: Gayton McKenzie. Credit: Reuters)
Member states of the International Criminal Court have overwhelmingly voted to remove its chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, over allegations of sexual misconduct. The British lawyer denies accusations of engaging in an improper sexual relationship with a junior staff member. Also, firefighters struggle to contain Madrid wildfires as more than 130,000 evacuated in France and Spain. And a month after the twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela, a leading member of the opposition tells us why he thinks the destruction was so bad and the response so slow. Plus that remarkable tale about two best friends who later discovered they were brother and sister!(Photo: Karim Khan. Credit: Reuters)
“Due to geopolitical divides, countries are having second thoughts about non-proliferation or their non-proliferation obligations, in the sense that many countries were relying or are still relying on nuclear umbrellas which they might feel are not so protective as they used to be in the past… Without wishing to exaggerate things, there is a perception that the nuclear factor is back on the table and it is growing in its relevance in terms of decision making, in terms of what nations do.”Rob Young speaks to Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency.The IAEA was founded in 1957, and is an autonomous international organisation within the UN system. Its job is to promote the safe, secure and peaceful use of nuclear technology, and to check that nuclear material is not used for military purposes, including nuclear weapons. Grossi, a former Argentinian diplomat, was appointed in 2019 and has steered the IAEA through multiple challenges. When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, concerns were raised about the prospect of nuclear weapons being used, but also about Ukraine's nuclear power plants coming under attack.The organisation's resources were stretched further still when the recent Middle East conflict began. The US, along with Israel, have had concerns over Iran's nuclear ambitions for many years, and reject the country's claim that their nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes.Rafael Grossi is considered a front-runner to become the new Secretary General of the UN which he believes should be accepted more as a keeper of the peace.Thank you to the Newsday team for their help in making this programme. The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC, including episodes with Russia's nuclear envoy Mikhail Ulyanov, UNICEF chief Catherine Russell, and Artemis 2 astronaut Victor Glover. You can listen on the BBC World Service on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 0800 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out three times a week on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts. Presenter: Rob Young Producers: Sharon Hemans, Farhana Haider, and Ben Cooper Editor: Damon RoseGet in touch with us on email TheInterview@bbc.co.uk and use the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.(Image: Rafael Grossi. Credit: Reuters)
Iran has fired missiles and drones towards Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain after the US attacked Iranian targets. The two countries have been exchanging blows for seven consecutive nights, despite the temporary ceasefire. We speak to experts about Iran's strategy and what is happening in the Strait of Hormuz.Also in the programme: Ukrainian drones strike deep inside of Russia and India's private sector makes strides in space.(Photo: U.S. warship launches a munition at an unknown location during what the U.S. military says are latest strikes on Iran. Credit: Reuters)
Protests have been taking place in several Ukrainian cities against President Volodymyr Zelensky's surprise dismissal of popular Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. We get reaction from an opposition Ukrainian MP. Also on the programme: a court in Italy has given a 12-year sentence to the former motorway boss blamed for the fatal collapse of a bridge in Genoa in 2018; and we hear from Nasa's head of science about its new super-powerful telescope. (Photo: Ukraine's Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov attends a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, after a meeting of Nato Defence Ministers at the Alliance headquarters in Brussels, 12 February, 2026. Credit: Reuters)
“The biggest risk in motion pictures is to not take a risk. You have to be putting it out there and offering people something new, and that's what will get them out of their houses.”Katie Razzall speaks to Oscar-winning filmmaker Christopher Nolan. The 55-year-old, whose directing credits include Inception, Interstellar and Oppenheimer, is widely considered one of the 21st century's most influential filmmakers.Born in London in 1970, his career began in the mid-1990s, when he would proofread scripts, operate cameras and direct for corporate information films. Barely a decade later, he was chosen to direct Christian Bale as Batman in The Dark Knight trilogy, setting a new standard for how superheroes were portrayed on screen.A string of blockbusters followed, making him one of the highest-grossing directors of all time, and was later knighted in 2024 for his services to film.He's now releasing his latest project, The Odyssey - an ambitious adaptation of Homer's ancient Greek story, starring a Hollywood A-List cast, including Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway and Zendaya.Thank you to the Culture team for their help in making this programme. The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC, including episodes with fellow Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro, tennis champion Martina Navratilova, and legendary musician Sir Paul McCartney. You can listen on the BBC World Service on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 0800 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out three times a week on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts. Presenter: Katie Razzall Producers: Ben Cooper, Roxanne Panthaki, Alex Stanger and Steven Wright Editor: Damon RoseGet in touch with us on email TheInterview@bbc.co.uk and use the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.(Image: Christopher Nolan. Credit: Reuters)
Locals in Maine have gathered to protest against the Trump administration's immigration crackdown after a 26-year-old Colombian man was shot dead during an ICE operation in the state. It was the second fatal shooting by US immigration officers in less than a week. State lawmakers say Joan Sebastian Guerrero, identified by a neighbour, was not the intended target of a warrant. Also: nearly a month after the US and Iran signed their interim peace deal, the two sides appear back where they started - with rival blockages on the Strait of Hormuz. Solar becomes EU's largest energy source for the first time. The eight week kidnap ordeal of schoolchildren and teachers now rescued in Nigeria. The pianist who passed her Grade 8 piano exam with one hand. And we speak to Andy Serkis about his new, modern version of Animal Farm - which has a happy ending.The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk Photo: A woman places flowers at a makeshift street side memorial in Biddeford, Maine, U.S. Credit: Reuters
Twelve US states sue Paramount Skydance over its planned takeover of Warner Brothers. We hear from California's attorney general Rob Bonta who's leading the charge against that proposed 81 billion dollar Hollywood merger. Plus, South Africa's biggest diamond mine pauses production for two years. Find out why?And what would you pay for a bit of trash from Taylor Swift's wedding?(Picture: California Attorney General Rob Bonta holds a press conference next to the iconic Hollywood sign, in Los Angeles. Credit: Reuters)
Several New York Times journalists were summoned to testify under oath after they reported alleged security concerns involving President Donald Trump's new Air Force One plane, the US newspaper said. Also on the programme: firefighters have for the first time started to contain wildfires in southern Spain which have killed at least 12 people; and Czech tennis player Linda Noskova beat her friend Karolina Muchova in an extraordinary and dramatic Wimbledon final.(Photo: US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters mid-flight in the press cabin of the new, Qatari-gifted Air Force One after changing planes to return to Washington from RAF Mildenhall, Britain on July 8, 2026. Credit: Reuters)
Fire crews in Almeria battle one of Spain's deadliest blazes where several tourists, unable to flee from the rapidly spreading fire, have been among the victims. Hot conditions in Southern Europe are making the situation worse. Also, Japan is running out of male heirs to the Imperial throne, a woman clings to her husband to stop him being sucked out of the window of a Ryanair plane, and the 900-year-old Bayeux Tapestry, depicting one of the most defining moments in English history, returns to the UK from France.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.ukPhoto: Wildfire near Los Gallardos, Almeria, Spain. Credit: Reuters
French hard-right leader Marine Le Pen could now run for president next year after a court in Paris upheld her embezzlement conviction, but reduced the length of her ban on running for public office. Also: Ukraine's president has used a speech at the Nato summit in Turkey to urge allies to deliver the air defence systems Kyiv urgently needs. In Syria, explosions have been heard in central Damascus, reportedly near the hotel where French President Emmanuel Macron had been staying. The woman suspected of carrying out a parcel bombing in Monaco which injured a sanctioned Ukrainian multi-millionaire and his family has been found dead. In Britain, the leader of right-wing party Reform UK, Nigel Farage, says he will resign as an MP, triggering a by-election which he says he will stand in. New research from Italy suggests women hit a fertility tipping point at 49, even if using younger donor eggs during the process of IVF. The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk Photo: French hard-right leader Marine Le Pen leaves a Paris court after her appeals trial. Credit: Reuters
“I'm a proud American. I became a citizen in 2021. I feel at home here both in America and actually, in a way I actually have never felt before. I feel like this is where I'm meant to be, and I couldn't be more honoured that people now are putting their faith in me to turn the state around.”Nick Robinson speaks to Steve Hilton, the British-born Republican candidate for governor of California in November's US midterm elections.Once a senior adviser to former UK prime minister David Cameron, Hilton left British politics to build a new life in America. Now endorsed by President Donald Trump, he explains why he believes the Republican Party best represents what he calls “positive populism”.Hilton reflects on his upbringing as the son of Hungarian refugees, the opportunities he says transformed his life, and why he feels a stronger sense of belonging in America than he ever did in Britain.The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC, including episodes with former US Secretary of State John Kerry and LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman.You can listen on the BBC World Service on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 0800 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out three times a week on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts.Presenter: Nick Robinson Producer: Osman Iqbal Editor: Damon Rose(Image: Steve Hilton. Credit: Reuters)
The Ukrainian Air Force says a shortage of interceptor missiles meant none of the 23 ballistic missiles fired by Russia at Kyiv on Sunday night were shot down. It was the second large-scale deadly Russian attack on the Ukrainian capital in a week. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on allies to take "strong decisions" at this week's Nato summit to provide Kyiv with air defences. Also, huge crowds fill the streets of Tehran for the funeral procession of Iran's late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Three of his sons prayed beside his coffin at the Grand Mosalla mosque but Motjaba, the son who succeeded him as supreme leader, did not make an appearance; President Trump has been justifying his intervention in FIFA's decision to lift a one-match ban on Folarin Balogun, America's top scorer at the World Cup. Speaking to reporters in the White House, Mr Trump said it was unfair to take out one of the US's best players, and all that he had done was ask FIFA for a review. As fighting intensifies in Sudan's civil war, the UN Human Rights council has ordered an urgent investigation into allegations of abuses in and around the city of El-Obeid. 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.ukPhoto: Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky visits the site of an apartment building damaged during overnight Russian missile and drone strikes in Kyiv on the 2nd of July.Credit: Reuters
Ukrainian drones strike Russian energy grids amid growing fuel crisis as Kyiv tries to pressure Moscow into peace talks. We also hear how life in Russian-occupied Crimea is becoming unbearable for some residents.Also in the news: mysterious space debris found on Queensland beaches; and why women are less likely than men to hit the wall in marathons. (Photo: Smoke rises from an oil refinery following a Ukrainian drone attack in Moscow. Credit: Reuters)
Foreign dignitaries arrive in Iran for a week of events ahead of the burial of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, more than four months after he was killed in strikes launched by the US and Israel. He will be laid to rest in his hometown of Mashhad on Thursday after lying in state. Iranian authorities say millions are expected to attend. It comes as Iran and the United States observe a fragile ceasefire after signing a preliminary deal to halt their conflict in June. As control over shipping through the Hormuz Strait has proven to be Iran's key bargaining chip to end US and Israeli strikes in Iran, we have an exclusive report from the Strait itself, from the southern Iranian port of Bandar Abbas. Also: The UN accuses the paramilitary Rapid Support Force of executions, torture and sexual violence in Sudan; an elected mayor in Japan is the first to take maternity leave; a police hunt is underway for the suspect behind a parcel bomb attack in Monaco -- now believed to be a woman disguising herself as a man; and a volunteer has stumbled across a rare copy of the US Declaration of Independence in the UK. The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.ukPhoto: The coffin of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei displayed during a farewell ceremony for him at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla in Tehran, Iran. Credit: REUTERS. Foreign media in Iran operate under guidelines set by the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, which regulates press activity and permissions.
Hopes of finding more survivors are fading, three days after the earthquakes. We'll hear from the affected areas.Also on the programme: Uganda's military shuts down the country's largest independent news organisation. And the World Cup reaches its knockout stage.(Picture: Ruined buildings in La Guaira, Venezuela.CREDIT: Reuters)
Iran warns against any challenge to its control of the Strait of Hormuz as Tehran and Washington accuse each other of violating their ceasefire again - just how fragile is it? Also on the programme: as hopes fade of finding survivors of Venezuela's earthquakes, we'll be reporting from the city worst-hit by the disaster; and press freedom in Uganda is under threat as the army chief vows to shut down one of its leading independent media groups. (Photo: An Iranian woman walks past an anti-Israeli mural in Tehran on June 28, 2026. Credit: Reuters)
Waihiga Mwaura speaks to former US Secretary of State John Kerry about why he thinks governments are retreating from efforts to deal with climate change. He spoke to the BBC during this year's Our Ocean Conference, an international forum which Kerry launched in 2014 to help protect the world's oceans.He was the first US special presidential envoy for climate from 2021 to 2024, and since then has continued his work in climate solutions.With other world events in mind, Kerry helped negotiate a nuclear deal with Iran as President Barack Obama's secretary of state and we get his take on the current US-Iran conflict and subsequent peace plan. Thank you to the Focus on Africa team for its help in making this programme. The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC, including episodes with one of Africa's youngest billionaires Mohammed Dewji, former Sudanese leader Aisha Musa and Sierra Leone's First Lady Fatima Bio. You can listen on the BBC World Service on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 0800 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out three times a week on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts. Presenter: Waihiga Mwaura Producer: Cordelia Hemming Editor: Damon Rose(Image: John Kerry smiles and wears a black jacket, white shirt and bow tie. Credit: Reuters)
As Venezuela's acting President Delcy Rodríguez says she has faith and hope that survivors of Wednesday's earthquakes will be rescued - we hear about the reality from Carcas. Also on the programme: after the US Supreme Court removes the protected status from hundreds of thousands of Haitians living in America, we hear from one woman who could be affected; and an appreciation of Mel Brooks - as the comedy legend turns 100 years old. (Photo: Family members react as firefighters and volunteers work to get their loved ones out from the rubble of a collapsed building after earthquakes hit the country in La Guaira on June 26, 2026. Credit: Reuters)
A state of emergency is declared in Venezuela after two strong earthquakes close to the capital, Caracas. The authorities fear many casualties as rescue operations take place amid the rubble of collapsed buildings. Also: President Trump launches the 250th birthday celebrations of the United States with a campaign-style rally in Washington. The World Health Organization prepares to launch clinical trials next week of two Ebola treatments in the Democratic Republic of Congo. A member of the cult-like group The Zizians has been arrested in the US over the deaths of her parents. Dettol faces a boycott in China after "toxic men" advert backfires. And Euclid space telescope captures largest and most detailed image of our Milky Way with over 60 million stars and 50 exoplanet systems.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.ukPhoto: Emergency services work at the site of a collapsed building after an earthquake in Caracas, Venezuela, on June 24, 2026. Credit: Reuters
Israel and Hezbollah exchange fire again, despite the US-Iran peace deal. It's not clear if the agreement includes an end to the fighting in southern Lebanon. Also: there are protests at Iran's opening match in the football World Cup; how AI can help save plants from extinction; an interview with sculptor Anish Kapoor; and could Sherbro Island be the next Singapore? The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk Photo: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu holds a news conference, following a US-Iran deal, in Jerusalem, June 15, 2026. Credit: Reuters
US President Donald Trump said on Monday a preliminary agreement to end the war in the Gulf has already been signed by the United States and Iran. White House officials have been giving some details about the Iran deal. They say the Strait of Hormuz will re-open on Friday - the same day the deal is formally signed in Geneva - with shipping traffic increasing gradually.Also on the programme: A wave of Russian strikes on Ukraine has killed ten people and badly damaged one of Kyiv's most sacred and historic cathedrals, we hear from historian and archaeologist Maksym Ostapenko; and scientists have found a new way to detect microplastics in the living tissue of our bodies with a laser, we speak to medical imaging lecturer Stephen Patrick, who led the research. (Vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, June 15. Credit: Reuters)
“There is more spending in defence and less spending in global health or in public health or health security, which makes us vulnerable...Because the invisible enemy could be more impactful. Imagine, have you ever seen a war in recent memory that killed 20 million people? Why can't we come to our senses?”Justin Webb speaks to Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organisation, about the invisible threat of viruses and the rapid spread of a new strain of Ebola.Tedros recently visited the Democratic Republic of Congo where this latest outbreak started. It is particularly challenging because it involves a rare species of Ebola for which there is no vaccine, and the epicentre is in an area affected by conflict. There are also cases in neighbouring Uganda.The WHO General-Director claims governments are focusing too much on defence spending, and he makes an impassioned plea for countries to allocate more money to global health, and to prevent future pandemics.Thank you to the Today team for its help in making this programme. The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC, including episodes with with President of the International Rescue Committee David Miliband, Former Sudanese leader Aisha Musa and writer Maggie O'Farrell. You can listen on the BBC World Service on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 0800 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out three times a week on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts. Presenter: Justin Webb Producer: Cordelia Hemming Editor: Damon RoseGet in touch with us on email TheInterview@bbc.co.uk and use the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.(Image: Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Credit: Reuters)
President Trump has said that a deal with Iran is scheduled to be signed on Sunday, hours after Tehran cast doubt on whether this would happen so soon. We look into Iran's proposal on its frozen assets. Also on the programme: a new blood test that can detect thousands of serious genetic conditions in the developing foetus, limiting the need for invasive screening during pregnancy; and why Anthropic has suspended its powerful new AI model just days following its public release. (Photo: A woman holds an Iranian flag on a street in Tehran on June 10, 2026. Credit: Reuters)
The US has said that it's completed a series of strikes against Iran which targeted air defence systems, ground control stations and radar sites following the downing of an American helicopter. The Iranian Revolutionary Guards said they hit back with strikes on US bases in Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait. Also, France has said that it will ban Israel's finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, from entering the country because the far right politician has been actively promoting the annexation of Palestinian territories. Anti-immigration violence breaks out in Northern Ireland after a man from Sudan has been charged with attempted murder. Barcelona celebrates the life of the Sagrada Família architect, Antoni Gaudi, with events which include a mass and ceremonial blessing by Pope Leo. And scientists in Finland have discovered that bumblebees have impressive problem solving skills.The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk Photo: Iranian missiles displayed at the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps(IRGC) Aerospace Force Museum in Tehran, Iran. Credit: Reuters
Donald Trump has told the BBC that Benjamin Netanyahu did not defy his orders to stop attacking Iran; the Israeli missiles were already on their way to Iran when he spoke to the Israeli Prime Minister. Israel and Iran have agreed to halt strikes on each other, but Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon continued on Monday. Open AI, which makes ChatGPT, plans to sell shares through a stock listing in the US. Sudanese children return to school, despite four years of civil war. The Somalian football referee, Omar Artan is denied entry to the US for the World Cup, despite having valid paperwork. We hear from a Rwandan woman who's dedicated her life to giving a voice to women survivors of abuse. And we find out why record numbers of octopuses are appearing in the UK.The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk Photo: U.S. President Trump meets Israeli PM Netanyahu at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club, in Palm Beach. Credit: Reuters
Iran's military has said it's halting military operations against Israel, after the first direct hostilities between the two sides in two months. It said it had delivered what it called a 'painful response' to Israel, warning it against further attacks, including in southern Lebanon. Also: On a visit to Spain, the Pope has been speaking about child abuse carried out by members of the Catholic Church. The British prime minister Keir Starmer gives tech companies a three-month deadline to stop children from seeing or sending explicit images. Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in North Korea for a two-day visit, his first to the country in seven years. And can a AI humanoid robot perform as well as a human magician?The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk Photo: Israeli settlers stand next to part of a missile protruding from the ground, following strikes from Iran in the central Israeli-occupied West Bank. Credit: REUTERS
Iran's military has said it's halting military operations against Israel and media reports in Israel say that it is stopping attacks on Iran “at Trump's request”Also on the programme: is overheating going to be an issue in the World Cup which starts this week? And the octopus "super bloom" around the shores of England.(Picture: Iranians examine an unexploded missile. Credit: Reuters)
Iran's military has said it's halting military operations against Israel, after the first direct hostilities between the two sides in two months. We examine the links between Iran and Hezbollah.Also in the programme: Armenia's pro-EU incumbent wins election; a new online archive of the complete writings and drawings of Leonardo da Vinci.(Picture: A screenshot taken from a handout video released by the Israeli Military says to show a strike on an aerial defence system in Iran at an unknown location. Credit: Reuters)
The strikes on the city were timed to coincide with the final day of a prestigious international economic forum. Russian authorities called the attack ‘unprecedented', and St Petersburg residents were advised to remain indoors for the first time since the start of the war. We hear from a Ukrainian drone commander and the UK's former Ambassador to Moscow, Sir Tony Brenton. Also on the programme: migrants in South Africa under pressure to leave the country after a surge in xenophobic attacks; and why mass banquets are causing controversy in France. (Photo: Smoke after a Ukrainian drone strike on St Petersburg, Russia, 3 June, 2026 Credit: Reuters)
Iran targets Bahrain and Kuwait after renewed US strikes. We speak to a former Kuwaiti minister as the American-Iranian stalemate continues. Also in the programme, India's Cockroach Janta Party takes to the streets to demand the resignation of the education minister; and the African-American musician Brian Jackson on his work and collaboration with Gil Scott-Heron.(Photo: CCTV image of Iranian drone above Kuwait airport on 3rd of June. Credit: Reuters)
Astronauts onboard the International Space Station were ordered to prepare for evacuation after an air leak suddenly got worse. The situation returned to normal after two Russian cosmonauts completed repairs. We talk to retired Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield, who served as commander of the ISS in 2013.We'll also hear from the Sherpa who went missing on the upper slopes of Mount Everest for six days and survived; and we remember Kanya King, the founder of the MOBO awards recognising Black music and its impact.(A view of Earth from the Cupola on the earth-facing side of the International Space Station is seen in this NASA handout photo taken June 12, 2013 and provided June 17, 2013. Credit: Reuters)
There's tight security in parts of Colombia as polls open for today's presidential election with a human rights activist and a far-right populist nicknamed “the Tiger” among the frontrunners. We'll have the latest from Bogota.Also on the programme: Israel says it's moving further into southern Lebanon as its war against Hezbollah intensifies; and a Georgian wine cellar once owned by Soviet leader Joseph Stalin has officially been unsealed. (Photo: Workers stick campaign posters of the Historic Pact (Pacto Historico) on the day of the presidential election in Corinto, Colombia on May 31. Credit: Reuters)
Israel's issued an evacuation order for all of southern Lebanon and carried out air strikes, saying the whole region's now a combat zone. We'll have the details from our correspondent who's been there recently.Also on the programme: the authorities in New York and New Jersey have launched an investigation into the way Fifa's been selling tickets for the men's World Cup; and a former member of the German militant group the Red Army Faction has been jailed after 30 years on the run. (Photo: Smoke billows following an Israeli strike in Kfar Joz, Lebanon May 26, 2026. Credit: Reuters)
Why is the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo spreading so fast? We speak to a reporter who is there who says the aid response is only just beginning. Also on the programme: Pope Leo has warned of potential risks to humanity posed by artificial intelligence; and is there any chance of the Iran-US conflict leading to the expansion of the Abraham accords? (Photo: A Congolese woman reacts outside the house of a man who died of Ebola as she waits for medical workers to retrieve his body. Credit: Reuters)
The attack comes just days after protesters set fire to a hospital in the same region, after health workers refused to release the body of a patient over fears of contamination. We hear how the regional security situation is affecting the response to the outbreak - and about the impact of the disease on women.Also on the programme - the death toll rises after a mining disaster in China; the Pentagon releases more UFO files - is the truth in there? - and Goodnight and good luck to CBS Radio(Photo: A healthcare worker walks at the Bunia General Referral Hospital following a resurgence of Ebola involving the Bundibugyo strain in Bunia, Ituri province of the Democratic Republic of Congo May 21, 2026. Credit: REUTERS )
Max Pearson presents a collection of the week's Witness History interviews from the BBC World Service. First, the story of the Belgian teenager who exposed a scandal within the country's Royal Family in 1999. Our guest, Professor Kate Williams takes us through some other royal scandals from history. We hear how a group of women set up an underground newspaper in communist Poland and how an E-Coli outbreak caused one of Canada's worst public health emergencies. Plus, how Montenegro achieved independence from Serbia through a 2006 referendum. Our sporting story this week takes us to Eastern Ukraine and the rise of Shakhtar Donetsk. Finally, we delve into the archives to hear about when an Indian diplomat secured a rare meeting with Soviet leader Joseph Stalin. Contributors: Mario Danneels – teenager who exposed King Albert II of Belgium's secret child Professor Kate Williams – royal historian Helena Luczywo – former editor of Polish underground newspaper Mazovia Weekly Bruce Davidson – resident who experienced Canada's E-Coli outbreak Ivan Vujovic – independence campaigner in Montenegro Darijo Srna – former captain of Shakhtar Donetsk Archive recordings of Krishna Menon – former Indian diplomat (Photo: Queen Paola and King Albert II of Belgium in 1999. Credit: Reuters)
The WHO has upgraded the risk from the current Ebola outbreak to "very high" in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and says regionally the risk is high -- though it remains low in the rest of the world. Newshour hears from Professor Sir Andrew Pollard, director of the Oxford Vaccine Group which helped develop the Astra Zeneca Covid vaccine. Also in the programme: Will Grant reports from Havana on Cuba under pressure; and how barnacles affect stationary ships in the Strait of Hormuz.(Picture: Red Cross workers walk in a formation as they disinfect Rwampara general hospital before handling the body of a person who died of Ebola, as aid agencies intensify efforts to contain a new Ebola outbreak. Credit: Reuters)
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. Also on the programme: the first case of Ebola has been announced in the rebel-held territory in eastern Congo; and an online political group in India called The Cockroach Janta Party has amassed nearly 15 million followers on Instagram in less than a week.(Photo: Activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla, aiming to reach Gaza and break Israel's naval blockade, gather at a port before their departure in the southern Turkish resort of Marmaris, Turkey on May 14, 2026. Credit: Reuters)
US President Donald Trump left Beijing after a two-day summit saying he had struck "fantastic trade deals, great for both countries", but few details have emerged on what the two superpowers agreed. President Trump, who's flying back from a summit in Beijing, says he doesn't think there's a risk of conflict between the US and China over Taiwan. Also on the programme: US media reports say Washington is preparing criminal charges against the ninety-four-year-old former Cuban leader, Raul Castro; and archaeologists and preservation groups have appealed to a court in the US to prevent the company - RMS Titanic Inc - from selling 100 of the ship's artefacts to private collectors. We hear from Professor Mike Williams, a member of the group asking the court to stop the auction.(Photo: Trump said the meeting was "very successful, world-renowned, and unforgettable", while Xi called it a "historic and landmark" visit, according to Chinese state media. Credit: Reuters)
President Xi Jinping described US-Chinese relations as "the most important" in the world and stressed to President Trump that the US and China should be partners and not rivals. Also, in the programme; the dental tools used by Neanderthals and we hear from an exiled Venezuelan politician on how his country is five months after Maduro's capture.(Photo: President Trump and Xi walking in the Great Hall of the People. Credit: Reuters)
“Our best reply to the regime is that they didn't make us bad people. That we remain focused on our dream of seeing a free Venezuela. I have seen other people become very bitter and angry and resentful. And I think they lose. Because when you become angry you become, in a way, a prisoner of a sentiment that doesn't allow you to go forward.” James Menendez speaks to Leopoldo Lopez, once the most prominent face of Venezuela's opposition, he is now living in exile in Spain. He spent more than a decade attempting to unseat Nicolás Maduro's authoritarian government and was imprisoned for over three years, accused of inciting the 2014 anti-government protests. Following the capture and arrest of Maduro by US forces in January, the country has entered a new and uncertain phase, with Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez now acting as interim leader. Leopoldo Lopez talks to us about the prospect of elections in Venezuela and the personal cost of standing up for political change. The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC, including episodes with Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel prize winner Maria Corina Machado, director Chloe Zhao and musical icon Ringo Starr. You can listen on the BBC World Service on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 0800 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out three times a week on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts. Presenter: James Menendez Producer: Farhana HaiderGet in touch with us on email TheInterview@bbc.co.uk and use the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.(Image: Leopoldo Lopez. Credit: Reuters)
France's Prime Minister says that one of the passengers repatriated from the hantavirus-hit cruise ship in the Atlantic has shown symptoms. The individual was among five French nationals flown back on Sunday from the MV Hondius, currently moored off Tenerife in Spain.Also in the programme: Iran says it has sent a response via Pakistan to the latest US plan to end the war with counter-proposals reported to include a separation of talks on the immediate conflict and Tehran's nuclear programme; the story of a criminal underworld in Brazil; and the choir, here in the UK, singing music based on whale song!(Photo: They were pictured boarding buses to Tenerife's airport after reaching land. Credit: Reuters)
The passengers of a cruise ship at the centre of a deadly hantavirus outbreak have started leaving the vessel off the Spanish island of Tenerife. Five people were seen boarding a small boat, socially distanced from each other and wearing protective clothing and face masks. They were met by officials in white hazmat suits, then boarded a coach to take them to the airport. They'll be flown out on charter flights. Three people died and several others become infected in the outbreak. Also in the programme: Police in Pakistan say militants have detonated a car bomb at a police checkpoint and opened fire, killing 15 officers; and 35 years after the film was released, we look at the legacy of The Silence of the Lambs. (Photo: Passengers were evacuated from the ship dressed in hazmat suits. They were hosed down before boarding a plane in Tenerife. Credit: Reuters)
“It's outrageous because these nuclear plant facilities were certified by the International Atomic Energy Agency as purely peaceful facilities. The inspectors, they spent, there, a lot of time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Iran is the most verifiable country, thousands of inspections. The agency knows everything about what is going on.” BBC journalist Farnaz Ghazizadeh speaks to Mikhail Ivanovich Ulyanov, Russia's ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, about the collapse of diplomacy over Iran's nuclear programme and whether negotiations can still be rescued. With decades of experience in disarmament and nuclear negotiations, Ulyanov insists Iran's nuclear programme is already among the most heavily monitored in the world, and argues concerns over the programme have been exaggerated. Now, as conflict in the region intensifies, Russia is offering to act as a mediator. The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC, including episodes with Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky, and Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of the UN. You can listen on the BBC World Service on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 0800 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out three times a week on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts. Presenter: Farnaz Ghazizadeh Producers: Osman Iqbal Editor: Damon Rose and Justine Lang Get in touch with us on email TheInterview@bbc.co.uk and use the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.(Image: Mikhail Ulyanov. Credit: Reuters)
The World Health Organisation has confirmed that the strain of hantavirus that's killed three people on board a cruise ship from Argentina can be passed between humans.The ship, currently off Cape Verde, is sailing to the Canary Islands after Spain gave it permission to dock. We'll speak to someone who was on board when the outbreak began.Also in the programme: We'll have a special report into what happened when Israeli unleashed a barrage of airstrikes on Lebanon last month; and hard rock and existential angst from the lead singer of Iron Maiden.(Photo shows the cruise ship MV Hondius docked off Cape Verde port on 4 May 2026. Credit: Reuters)
“There's this idea that you [can] sail your way to success or have some overnight success or kind of come upon success relatively easily. And that has just never, ever been.”Amol Rajan speaks to entrepreneur and businesswoman Emma Grede about the trade-offs we have to make to get to where we want to be in life.Emma Grede is co-founder of the clothing brand Skims, which she created with her husband Jens and Kim Kardashian. From ordinary beginnings in East London to the forefront of global consumer brands and social influence in LA, Emma Grede argues that focus, trade-offs and relentless effort matter more than comfort if you are to succeed. She says that opportunity still exists, if you're willing to chase it.Thank you to the Radical with Amol Rajan team for its help in making this programme. The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC, including episodes with Arlo Parks, Parmy Olson and Chloé Zhao. You can listen on the BBC World Service on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 0800 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out three times a week on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts. Presenter: Amol Rajan Producer: Cordelia Hemming Editor: Damon Rose and Farhana HaiderGet in touch with us on email TheInterview@bbc.co.uk and use the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.(Image: Emma Grede. Credit: Reuters)
The acting US attorney general says the gunman at the White House Correspondents' Dinner was believed to be targeting Trump administration officials, having travelled to Washington from Los Angeles by train.Also in the programme: A man described as having chronicled the soul of India, the photographer Raghu Rai, has died aged eighty-three; Sabastian Sawe made history at the London Marathon by becoming the first athlete to run a sub-two-hour marathon in a competitive race; BBC visits Chernobyl ghost city 40 years after world's worst nuclear accident; and an update on the violence in Mali.(Photo: U.S. President Donald Trump is escorted out of the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) dinner in Washington. Credit: Reuters)
A leaked Pentagon email reportedly outlines options to punish allies over a perceived lack of support for the Iran war. The email also suggested reviewing the US position on the UK's claim to the Falklands islands in the south Atlantic, which are also claimed by Argentina. We get reaction from Spain. Also on the programme: representatives from dozens of countries are gathering in Colombia to discuss moving away from fossil fuels; and as the ceasefire in Lebanon is extended for another three weeks, we talk to one family who've just returned to their flat in Beirut.(Credit: Reuters)
Lebanon's Prime Minister Joseph Aoun has accused Israel of war crimes after Israeli air strikes killed one journalist and wounded another in southern Lebanon on Wednesday. The strike killed Amal Khalil, who worked for a Lebanese newspaper, and injured freelance photographer Zeinab Faraj - we speak to a colleague who knew Amal well. Also on the programme: a South African court blocks the repatriation of the remains of Zambia's former president, Edgar Lungu, halting fresh plans for a state funeral; and we speak to the mother of a little girl who's had her vision almost entirely restored after pioneering gene therapy treatment.(Photo: Journalists gathered in silence at Martyrs' Square to remember Khalil. Credit: Reuters)