Global News Podcast

Iran's new leader in defiant first message

Thu, 12 Mar 2026

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

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UN Security Council demands Iran halt attacks

Thu, 12 Mar 2026

At a meeting in New York, the UN Security Council has backed a resolution calling for Iran to stop its strikes on Arab Gulf states and Jordan, but making no mention of the US-Israeli bombardment of Iran. It also condemns the blockade of the crucial Strait of Hormuz. Iran's allies China and Russia abstained from the vote. We also hear why US Democrats are calling for a public hearing into the strikes on Iran - one of which is suspected to have hit a girls' school, causing major loss of life. Also, aid agencies are warning of worsening drought in East Africa, scientists discover that bumblebee queens can breathe underwater and, as the Oscars approach, BBC news correspondents talk about their picks for this year's awards.

Three ships hit in the Strait of Hormuz

Wed, 11 Mar 2026

Three commercial ships were damaged by 'unknown projectiles' in the Strait of Hormuz, as 32 members of the International Energy Agency agree release of largest ever oil reserves. The IEA said it will release 400 million barrels of oil from emergency reserves to tackle rising prices. Israel says it has launched a new waves of strikes on Iran and Lebanon. It says the attacks targeted infrastructure across Iran, as well as Hezbollah sites in the Lebanese capital, Beirut. Iran strikes targets in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait. Israeli territory has also been hit. Also, the BBC reports on Russian intelligence sabotage attacks on countries allied with Ukraine and, computer scientists warn future robots could reflect life only from a male perspective as so few women work in AI design.

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Iranian residents tell BBC about US and Israeli bombardment

Wed, 11 Mar 2026

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

Hegseth: Today ‘most intense’ day of US strikes on Iran

Tue, 10 Mar 2026

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

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Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk