BBC World Service
500 episodes listed below
Twice-daily BBC World Service bulletins tracking the US-Israel-Iran war and Hormuz oil crisis.
Global News Podcast offers a concise, formal survey of major world events, led by rotating BBC World Service voices. Recent episodes move from the US-Israel war with Iran and its oil-market effects to Olympic policy, social media litigation, Venezuela, Nigeria, NASA, and cultural discoveries.
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Global News Podcast is BBC World Service's flagship news bulletin, published twice on weekdays and daily on weekends, with extra bonus episodes when a story breaks. Each episode runs roughly 25-35 minutes and is structured as a lead story followed by several shorter items, rather than a single deep dive. During the sampled run, nearly every episode led with the US-Israel-Iran war, covering strikes on Tehran and other cities, casualties including a school struck in Minab, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, and the resulting spike in oil prices and shipping disruption. The format is anchor-led: a BBC presenter such as Celia Hatton introduces packages filed by named BBC correspondents (for example Nick Marsh on oil markets, Helena Humphrey and David Willis reporting from Washington and the Pentagon) rather than hosting long-form guest interviews. Occasional outside voices appear briefly, such as Maersk's CEO discussing shipping disruption or a novelist commenting on AI-generated books, but these are short soundbites within a wider bulletin, not extended conversations. Recurring throads include the economic fallout of the Hormuz closure, humanitarian conditions inside Iran and Gaza-adjacent areas, and the diplomatic manoeuvring among the US, Israel, Russia, and China. The show also regularly closes with a lighter or human-interest item unconnected to the day's main conflict coverage. It suits listeners who want a fast, twice-daily digest of major world events rather than a single-topic deep dive. Production is standard BBC World Service news style: multiple correspondent voices, archive audio, and a consistent presenter format rather than a narrative or scripted documentary approach. Its value is currency and breadth of correspondent access rather than analysis depth on any one story per episode.
Made for: Listeners who want a concise, twice-daily briefing on major world events, especially the Iran-Israel-US conflict, oil markets, and international diplomacy.
What sets it apart: Combines correspondent-driven coverage of one dominant global story with a rotating digest of unrelated world news in the same short episode, rather than a single long-form deep dive.
The latest from Iran and the Middle East, and the rest of the world’s news, from the BBC World Service. As the US-Israel war with Iran continues, The Global News Podcast brings you the news from across the region – including Iran, Israel, Lebanon, the UAE, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. We also continue to bring you stories from around the globe, including expert analysis and insight. Episodes are published 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 an episode. Get in touch: [email protected]
Based on 6 episodes we listened to · June 2026
Global News Podcast turns fast-moving international headlines into a clear daily map of conflict, diplomacy, markets, and civilian impact.
Global News Podcast is BBC World Service news in a brisk international bulletin shape, and the sampled editions put the war involving Iran, the US, and Israel at the front.
From Iranian residents to a shipping CEO, the story changes hands before you settle on a headline.
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Short reviews from the PlayNext desk, based on the episodes we processed.
A tense Iran war briefing that pairs defiance in Tehran with divided voices on a Kentucky street.
Iran's newly appointed supreme leader gives this Global News Podcast its hard-news center: a first message read by an announcer on state television, defying the US and Israel, urging continued defense, and raising the Strait of Hormuz as a lever.
Colombia's day, compressed into a hard news bulletin.
Germany and Britain reject President Trump's demand for NATO to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz amid Iran's attacks in the Gulf and Russia's daytime attack on Kiev.
This BBC Global News Podcast covers Iran denying US peace talk claims, a Colombian military plane crash, Israeli settler attacks in the West Bank, and luxury pet products.
This episode discusses Iran's missile attacks on energy facilities in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar in retaliation for Israeli actions, prompting a warning from President Trump about potential US military response.
This BBC Global News Podcast episode covers President Trump's unsuccessful call for allies to help secure the Strait of Hormuz amid Iranian attacks on oil tankers that are driving up fuel prices and economic concerns.
This BBC Global News Podcast covers US claims of nearing victory against Iran, refugee displacement in Lebanon, and the impact of Sudan's civil war on women and girls.
Israel claims to have killed Iran's top security chief Ali Larijani, who reportedly took over after Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's death during the US-Israeli offensive.
This BBC Global News Podcast covers international headlines including Donald Trump postponing strikes on Iran after talks, falling oil and gas prices, an arson attack on a Jewish charity's ambulances in London, and a fatal plane collision at a New York airport.
This BBC Global News Podcast episode covers a landmark social media addiction case against Meta and Google, along with updates on Iran-US relations and Venezuela's political situation.
This episode covers international discussions on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, missile tensions involving Israel and Iran, and updates on the Artemis II moon mission.
This episode covers a BBC investigation into the effects of airstrikes on Tehran amid the ongoing war in Iran, along with updates on Israel's military response and a Ukraine-Saudi Arabia deal on drone and missile expertise.
This episode previews the upcoming Artemis II mission where NASA will send four astronauts on a 10-day trip around the moon, with coverage provided by the BBC's Space Podcast.
This episode examines potential cracks in the US-Israel alliance following reports that Washington knew about an Israeli attack on Iran's largest gas field, with Donald Trump distancing himself from the situation.
This BBC Global News Podcast episode examines whether Israel is planning a full-scale ground invasion of Lebanon amid ongoing regional tensions.
This episode explores creative parenting by transforming a toddler's stories into musical compositions.
This BBC Global News Podcast covers US military strikes on Iran's key oil export terminal, pro-government rallies in Tehran, and additional stories including US-Cuba negotiations and medical use of spider silk.
This episode explores how war affects children's brains, featuring insights from veteran BBC reporter Fergal Keane on his experiences with children in conflict zones.
This BBC podcast episode discusses the US downplaying suggestions of potential war crimes in Iran, alongside reports of UN peacekeeper deaths in Lebanon, Israel's new death penalty law for Palestinians, and infant deaths at Al-Shifa hospital.
This BBC Global News Podcast covers Iran's rejection of US peace proposals for ending the war, the ongoing oil crisis prompting the Philippines to declare a national energy emergency and consider buying from sanctioned countries like Russia, and survivors of Jeffrey Epstein speaking out about their experiences.
This BBC Global News Podcast covers breaking stories including Iran's conditional offer to end the war with the US, Donald Trump's timeline prediction, King Charles' return to power and state visit to America, a legal setback for Trump's White House extension, and North Sea oil fields being converted into carbon storage sites.
This episode discusses President Trump's threats to target Iran's oil infrastructure while negotiating to end the war, alongside Cuba receiving Russian oil amid a US blockade.
This BBC Global News Podcast covers NASA's Artemis II mission advancing toward the Moon, Myanmar's military general becoming president after a coup, and Donald Trump firing his second cabinet member.
This BBC Global News Podcast episode reports on the Houthis in Yemen launching a missile attack on Israel and warning of continued targeting, alongside other global news including protests in the US and fuel shortages in Ethiopia.
This bonus episode from The Global Story podcast examines how shifting global alliances and American politics are interconnected in today's turbulent world order.
This BBC Global News Podcast episode covers the winners at the Oscars, including the political thriller 'One Battle After Another' which received six awards, along with other international news stories.
This BBC Global News Podcast episode covers President Donald Trump's threat to attack Iran's power plants if Tehran doesn't reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours, along with updates on Iranian missile strikes in Israel and the death of Robert Mueller.
This BBC Global News Podcast episode covers international reactions to the economic impact of the Iran war, including stock market movements, President Trump's promises, and other global stories like India's census and Russia's crackdown on Telegram.
This episode explores diverse uplifting stories including father-daughter bonding through braiding, plastic waste recycling, rhino conservation in Uganda, and positive aspects of aging.
This BBC Global News Podcast extra edition reports on the ongoing US-Israeli war against Iran, detailing continued Iranian attacks in the Gulf and Israel despite military strikes, with analysis of shifting war aims and energy market implications.
This BBC Global News Podcast episode covers the US planning its highest daily strike total on Iran, European criticism of eased sanctions, and related topics like Russian oil sanctions and AI toy regulation.
This BBC podcast covers Israel's recent assassinations of Iranian officials, including a security chief and intelligence minister, amid regional tensions and also touches on Disney's new CEO and Venezuela's World Baseball Classic victory.
This episode examines the ongoing war with Iran and the vagueness of Trump's peace plan in the Middle East.
This BBC podcast covers deadly Israeli strikes in central Beirut, the displacement of over 1 million people in Lebanon due to the Israel-Hezbollah conflict, the life of a Hiroshima survivor, and the social networks of sharks.
This BBC Global News Podcast covers Iran's renewed attacks on Gulf countries, Israel's bombing of Tehran, rising oil and gas prices, weight loss drug patents expiring, and NASA's upcoming crewed moon mission.
This BBC Global News Podcast covers breaking stories including US officials expressing hope for imminent peace talks with Iran to end the Middle East war, Tiger Woods facing drug charges after a car crash, FBI email leaks by Iran-backed hackers, and research on the harmful effects of taking life advice from overly affirming AI.
This BBC Global News Podcast covers Donald Trump urging nations to secure the Strait of Hormuz, Israel's actions in Lebanon, Iranian footballers returning home, and internet outages in Russia.
Iran's new leader speaks without appearing.
This episode reports on Israel's claim of killing an Iranian naval commander involved in operations to disrupt the Strait of Hormuz, exploring its potential impact on regional tensions, civilian life in Iran, and global oil supply effects.
This episode covers President Trump's contradictory statements about winding down US military efforts in Iran amid ongoing regional conflict, including missile attacks and airstrikes.
This BBC Global News Podcast episode reports on Iran's claim that a US attack on Kharg Island failed, Trump's contradictory statement about military targets, Hamas's criticism of Iran, and the environmental impact of the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran.
This episode covers the surge in oil and gas prices due to energy plant strikes, Iran's executions of protest participants, and Nigeria's first state visit to the UK in decades.
This episode covers NASA's Artemis 2 moon mission launch, Donald Trump's comments on Iran, and traffic issues with self-driving robo-taxis in Wuhan.
This BBC Global News Podcast covers President Trump's statement about taking Iran's oil amid rising crude prices, US military movements, Israeli airstrikes on Tehran's infrastructure, and a segment on NASA astronauts preparing for a historic mission.
This episode of The Happy Pod features stories about a man who hugged an armed man to stop a bombing and a viral video of seven dogs walking together on a road in China.
This BBC Global News Podcast episode reports on the ban of transgender athletes from women's sports at the upcoming Olympics, along with other international news stories.
This BBC Global News Podcast episode covers major international stories including a reported US 15-point plan to end the Iran conflict, Meta's £375 million fine for misleading users about child safety, Russia's drone attacks on Ukraine, NASA's deep space mission, and the birth of gorilla twins in a national park.