Global News Podcast

US submarine sinks Iranian warship in Indian Ocean

Wed, 04 Mar 2026

The Pentagon has released footage of a US submarine firing on an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean and sinking it. Earlier, the Sri Lankan Navy picked up a distress call from the IRIS Dena. Sri Lankan police and defence officials say 87 bodies have been recovered from the water, and 67 sailors are still missing. Also: Iran carries out missile and drone attacks on several countries as Israel and the US continue to strike targets in Iran; we report from eastern Turkey where some Iranians have been crossing the border; and could Kurdish forces lead an insurgency to help topple the government in Tehran?

The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight.
Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment.
Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

US Congress receives classified briefing on war with Iran

Wed, 04 Mar 2026

As the US-Israel war with Iran continues the Trump administration is facing mounting calls from Congress to explain why it started its campaign now, and how long it could last. In an attempt to curb surging oil and gas prices, President Trump says the US navy will, if necessary, escort oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, which has been blocked by Iran.
The crisis in the Middle East is continuing to cause turmoil on the financial markets. Shares across Asia opened sharply lower. Also, scientists in Spain studying how women's brains are altered during pregnancy say they've identified changes influencing how mothers bond with their babies. And an English golf club stumbles across an unexpected find underneath part of its course - an abandoned wine cellar.

Israel hits Tehran and Beirut with 'simultaneous strikes'

Tue, 03 Mar 2026

The Israeli defence minister says he has told troops to "take control" of new positions in Lebanon. The IDF says it's targeting Hezbollah. Israel says it's bombed Iran's presidential office and the US claims to have destroyed command facilities and missile launch sites across the country. The Iranian response has included missile and drone attacks on several Gulf states. The international prices of oil and gas have risen again, as concerns grow that supplies could be hit by the conflict - we hear how South Korea has been affected. Also, we go to Nigeria to look at deep divisions within the Anglican church over the appointment of the first female Archbishop of Canterbury.
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

Iran widens retaliatory attacks in Gulf countries

Tue, 03 Mar 2026

On the fourth day of the US and Israel's war against Iran, Tehran has widened its retaliatory attacks in the Gulf region, with two of its drones hitting the US embassy in Saudi Arabia. Iran has threatened to ''set fire'' to any ship passing the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial oil and gas shipping route. The cost of hiring an oil supertanker from the Middle East to China has doubled since last week, reaching an all-time high of more than $400,000 a day. In the US, Secretary of State Marco Rubio tells journalists "the hardest hits" on Iran are "yet to come". Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance insists that the conflict will not drag on for years. As the Trump administration seeks to justify its military campaign, what do Americans make of the decision to attack Iran? We hear from voters in Texas.

Also: US lawmakers have released Bill and Hillary Clinton's video testimonies about Jeffrey Epstein, totalling around nine hours' worth of footage. A long-lost painting by the Dutch Master Rembrandt has been traced and authenticated by the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. And Ethiopia unveils Africa’s first unmanned smart police station, powered by artificial intelligence.

US says Iran war will not be 'endless'

Mon, 02 Mar 2026

The US and Israel strike targets across Iran for a third day. The American Secretary of Defence, Pete Hegseth, says Washington's objectives won't be achieved "overnight" - but promised conflict with Iran would not lead to an "endless war". The violence has now spread across the region, as Iran launches its own attacks on several Gulf states. The Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, based in Lebanon, exchanges strikes with Israel. Israel's President, Isaac Herzog, tells us that the future of the Middle East hinges on Iran losing the war. And our chief international correspondent, Lyse Doucet, reflects on what might come next.