Newshour
Interviews, news and analysis of the day’s global events.
Episodes
Iran’s currency hits an all-time low against the US dollar
Iran’s currency, the rial, has hit a record low, trading at over 2 million rials to the dollar on unofficial markets. The devaluation comes a day before the United States is due to impose what US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant described as “the toughest sanctions in history” on Tehran. Iran was struggling financially even before the start of its ongoing conflict with the US and Israel, nearly si
Ukraine's former defence minister repeats call for elections
Ukraine's popular former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov tells the BBC he still wants nationwide elections, despite his country being at war. We hear a response from a supporter of President Zelensky. Also in the programme: how the Trump White House has turned one of the US's big sporting occasions into a political event; and diplomatic conflict between the UK and Russia, as Moscow apparently wi
Canada to impose retaliatory tariffs on US
Canada's prime minister, Mark Carney, has confirmed he'll impose retaliatory tariffs on the United States next month, saying trade talks collapsed because Washington made unacceptable demands.Also on the programme, the editor-in-chief and a reporter from the US military newspaper Stars and Stripes have been fired for 'insubordination', South Korea's first container ship to trial the much shorter a
EU condemns Russian attack on Ukrainian shopping centre
Rescuers in the central city of Kryvyi Rih are continuing to search for survivors of Friday's daytime drone attack on a shopping centre. We hear from the EU ambassador to Ukraine, Katarina Mathernova, about what the EU can do following a week of Russian attacks. Also on the programme: we hear about how sharks are inhaling caffeine; and the music video maker Tim Pope on his life putting rock stars
How could El Niño affect us?
Weather experts are warning that a developing El Niño weather system could become the strongest since modern records began. The effects of El Niño on weather patterns are already being felt.Also in the programme: Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan has been returned to prison after being in hospital; and a new book on the violent career of Carlos the Jackal.(Picture: Firefighters work to e
Largest El Niño in living memory?
Weather experts describe the developing climate system as an unprecedented event. Temperatures in the Pacific Ocean could climb more than three degrees above normal.Also in the programme: the Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen speaks to Newshour about the legal case against Facebook's parent company for improperly collecting and using children's personal data; and dramatising the colourful life
Fears Ukraine will run out of missile defences
15 people were killed in a Russian strike on Kyiv today, and the Ukrainian government has made an urgent request for more interceptor missiles. We hear from the BBC’s correspondent on the ground in the capital. Also on the programme: a new batch of 70,000 vaccines is being sent to the Democratic Republic of Congo to try to contain the fastest-spreading outbreak of Ebola on record. And the 26-year-
Mayor of Kyiv says Ukraine needs more help
The mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, has told the BBC that Ukraine needs more help from its partners to protect civilians, after another intense Russian bombardment overnight.Also in the programme: a court in China has sentenced the founder of the collapsed property firm Evergrande to life in jail; and we ask why Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are coming back to live in the UK. (Photo: Kyiv Mayor
Israel opens criminal investigation into Hind Rajab killing
In a rare move the Israeli military has opened a criminal investigation into how its soldiers opened fire on a car carrying a five-year-old Palestinian girl, Hind Rajab, and a separate incident in which fifteen aid and emergency workers were killed in Rafah in 2025. Also on the programme: a second man is arrested on suspicion of bombing the Nord Stream pipeline, and why thousands of jellyfish are
Ukraine's former defence minister calls for election
Ukraine's former defence minister, Mykhailo Fedorov has called for elections - which are barred in wartime under Ukrainian law. A representative of the Presidential Office has told the BBC that it would be bizarre to plan elections amidst missiles and drones. Earlier, around two hundred protestors gathered outside Ukraine's parliament, in protest against the swearing in of the new defence minister
Opening of Meta trial on social media addiction claims
A landmark trial has begun in California with the tech giant Meta accused of deliberately making Facebook and Instagram addictive to children. We'll hear the case for the prosecution and the defence. Also on the programme: a court in Damascus sentences to death a cousin of the deposed dictator Bashar al-Assad; and how short-sighted tree-shrews could be a big help to humans. (Photo: A woman holds
Intense overnight attacks in both Russia and Ukraine
Nine people have been killed and 23 injured, including a child, in Ukrainian strikes on Russia, local officials have said. Russian attacks on Ukraine also killed at least seven people and injured more than 39 on Saturday night. We hear from Kyiv and Moscow. Also on the programme: Pakistan's Supreme Court orders authorities to move former prime minister Imran Khan to hospital from jail for health c
No breakthrough on stalled Gaza deal
Lengthy talks between President Trump's envoy, Jared Kushner, and the Israeli Prime Minister have failed to achieve a breakthrough on the Gaza peace proposals. We'll hear from Israel and from a former Hamas official in Gaza. Also on the programme: a prominent Russian anti-war politician, Lev Shlosberg, has been sentenced to 11 years in a penal colony; and the best-selling author Annie Jacobsen te
Kushner meets Netanyahu after Hamas talks on peace plan
President Trump's Middle East envoy, Jared Kushner, has met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as he seeks Israeli backing for the US-backed Gaza peace plan. Mr Netanyahu has rejected the proposals. Israeli officials said today's meeting focused on elements that could be agreed.Also on the programme: Mr Trump says he's scaling back joint military exercises with South Korea, describing them as "inap
Brazil's campaign for president begins
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has promised Brazilians he will not stop fighting to secure them a better future as he launched his campaign for re-election. In a speech in a Sao Paulo stadium, the 80 year-old said he understood his fellow countrymen much better than more privileged people - a dig at his main rival, Flavio Bolsonaro, the son of the former president. The right-wing candidate ki
Rescue efforts continue in Indonesia
About 5000 people have been displaced on Indonesia's Flores island, after an earthquake hit the region, followed by hundreds of aftershocks. Many families spent the night in makeshift shelters outside their collapsed homes. They say they are not receiving enough help from Jakarta.Also in the programme: New South Wales is launching a gun buyback scheme; and President Lula da Silva launches his re-e
Was the US right to leave Afghanistan?
The Taliban authorities in Afghanistan have been celebrating the fifth anniversary of their return to power in Kabul. But they continue to face allegations of severe repression of women and girls, who are now virtually excluded from all public life. The BBC's Lyse Doucet has an assessment of life under the Taliban and she talks to two former BBC Afghan journalists who managed to escape rule under
Taliban celebrates five years since they took control of Afghanistan
The Taliban is celebrating 5 years since they seized-back control of Afghanistan - with parades and events that women are banned from joining. The BBC's Lyse Doucet joins us live from Kabul with an assessment of life under the Taliban, and why so many women fear for their safety with the extremists back in charge.Also in the programme: We'll have the latest on the Indonesian earthquake; we'll dis
Afghanistan: Five years after the Taliban takeover
The BBC's Chief International Correspondent, Lyse Doucet, returns to Afghanistan to report on the state of the country after five years of Taliban rule. She also brings us an interview with Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid. Later, we hear from the American four-star general David Petraeus, who led US forces in Afghanistan for a year. Also in the programme: Colombian Vice-President Jose Manuel
Life in Afghanistan under Taliban rule
This week marks five years since the Taliban swept into Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul, seizing back power. In those five years, girls’ and women’s rights have drastically worsened, as has the country’s humanitarian situation. We hear from the BBC’s chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet, who has been travelling to Afghanistan for many years and has returned again now to report on life under
13/08/2026 20:06 GMT
Interviews, news and analysis of the day’s global events.
US ambassador to Israel denounces settler siege on Palestinians
The US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has said that Washington has been very involved in efforts to end the siege in the occupied West Bank by Israeli settlers and remove what he called “Israeli terrorists”.
Also on the programme: Taiwan's Foreign Minister tells us Pacific nations need to act together to counter Chinese aggression while hoping the US will remain involved; and why did Joshua
Solar eclipse visible across large parts of Europe
Millions of people on the western fringes of Europe have witnessed their first total solar eclipse of this century.Also in the programme: Israeli settlers are continuing to trap two Palestinian families in their homes in the occupied West Bank, after clashing earlier with the Israeli security forces; what was behind the mass poisoning of 14 elephants in Kenya -- a terrible accident or deliberate h
IDF clashes with settlers surrounding Palestinian homes
The security forces moved in to try to force the settlers away from the homes in the village of Qusra, south of Nablus. But reports from the scene say more settlers then arrived, and the security forces withdrew.Also on the programme: Germany is planning to loosen restrictions on its spy agencies to counter domestic and foreign threats; and we hear from an Italian scientist preparing a new solar
Former Syrian President Assad sentenced to death in absentia
A court in Syria has sentenced the ousted president, Bashar al-Assad, to death for crimes against humanity committed during the country's civil war. His cousin who was in charge of political security in Daraa province where the uprising began was also sentenced to death. We find out how the ruling has been received in Syria and whether justice has been served.Also in the programme: Does the earth
Search for survivors after Colombia earthquake
Rescuers worked through the night looking for survivors trapped under dozens of collapsed buildings. The cities of Cali and Pereira were among the places worst hit. Also on the programme: A Palestinian family in the West Bank says their house has been surrounded by Israeli settlers who they say have cut off their water and electricity; and Chinese authorities are warning of a rise in fake matchmak
Earthquake in Colombia kills over 100 people
An earthquake in western Colombia has killed more than 100 people and caused significant damage. The seven point four magnitude quake's epicentre was in the Choco region between Medellin and Cali - where dozens of buildings have collapsed. We talk to the mayor of Cali, Alejandro Eder.Also in the programme: Police in eastern India have used tear gas and water cannon to disperse thousands of young p
Oceans hit record-high July temperatures
The world's oceans hit their hottest ever recorded temperatures for July, partly fuelled by developing El Niño conditions in the Pacific, according to the EU's climate monitoring service Copernicus. The average sea surface temperature outside the world's polar regions was 20.96C last month, beating the previous high of 20.89C, set in 2023. Also in the programme: Ukraine strikes a Russian oil refin
Israeli PM dismisses Trump peace plan for Gaza
Prime Minister Netanyahu rules out any Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza before Hamas is totally disarmed. We ask Israeli official Fleur Hassan-Nahoum what her government's objections are to the peace plan and get an American perspective from former US special envoy for the Middle East Frank Lowenstein.Also in the programme: we hear from a Canadian mayor, Doug Homes, about the wildfires that a
Houthis attack Saudi refinery on the Red Sea coast
The Houthis in Yemen say they've carried out a drone attack on a Saudi refinery on the Red Sea coast. The Iranian-backed group's military spokesman said the strike on the Aramco refinery in Jazan was in response to Saudi incursions into north-west Yemen.Also in the programme: Israel accused of weaponising archaeology at ancient West Bank sites; Iran lays out a list of demands for the US to fulfill
Daniel Kinahan facing extradition
An Irish government jet has travelled to the United Arab Emirates as part of an operation to extradite suspected crime boss Daniel Kinahan. Kinahan has fought attempts to extradite him from the UAE.Also in the programme: more controversy around Gianni Infantino; and Todd Blanche is confirmed as US attorney general.(Photo: Daniel Kinahan pictured in 2016. CREDIT: Collins Photo Agency)
Thousands of children remain stranded in Ceuta
Thousands of migrant children are thought to still be in the Spanish territory of Ceuta, following the arrival of some 70,000 people there last week. Many of the migrants left of their own accord shortly after arriving in Ceuta, but at least 1,400 minors, some of them very young, are believed to still remain there.Also in the programme: President Volodymyr Zelensky’s first official visit to Russia
Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan sign a defence pact
Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have signed a joint defence agreement - which commits all three countries to defending each other if attacked. The deal brings together three of the world's most powerful Muslim-majority countries. But although it pledges mutual support, it provides no specifics on the obligations of each party. The move to boost security cooperation follows the turmoil in the reg
Teen carries out mass shooting at Thai school
At least seven people have died in Thailand after a teenage boy shot his grandparents and some schoolteachers on the outskirts of the capital city, Bangkok.Authorities say the suspected shooter, 14, is also dead. The Thai prime minister has said the attack was "well prepared" with "clear steps and clear goals".Also in the programme: A US court fines the social media giant Meta more than a half a b
Ukraine strikes Russian oil refineries
Ukraine hits Russian oil refineries as Russa retaliates with ballistic missiles. Also in the programme: Is the US running dangerously low on hi-tech munitions? And the 97-year-old American woman daredevil flying on wings.(Photo: A man looking at a mobile charging point in Crimea on the Black Sea as power outages continue as a result of strikes. Credit: Reuters)
Fifa chief remains in post
Gianni Infantino remains Fifa president after receiving the backing of senior executives in a meeting in Morocco, where he apologised for "errors" he made.Has the boss of world football done enough to save himself? HIs critics - especially in Europe - say they're not done yet.Also in the programme: Ukraine carries out more strikes on Russian oil refineries; has Myanmar's military ruler broken out
Fifa President faces his critics
The embattled Fifa President Gianni Infantino tries to shore up support at a crisis meeting in Morocco. We hear from his critics and his fans, including the head of Malawi's football association. Also on the programme: We speak to the Indian activist Sonam Wangchuk who went on hunger strike in solidarity with thousands of students in India as they demanded change; and what does the victory of a pr
Indian hunger striker: We had no fear
Newshour speaks to Sonam Wangchuk, who went on a hunger strike in solidarity with thousands of students in India as they demanded change.Also on the programme: Kyiv suffers another wave of overnight strikes; and what a crash into the moon might teach us about its surface.(Photo: Sonam Wangchuk, an education reformer who was on a hunger strike for 26 days to support the demand for resignation of In
Iran-Oman talks to reopen Strait of Hormuz
Iran's foreign ministry spokesman says that talks with Oman on a new mechanism for vessels going through the strait have been positive. President Trump has so far rejected any deal that would allow Iran to maintain control over the waterway.Also in the programme: Oil prices have again fallen, after the latest suggestions from US officials that a deal with Iran about reopening the Strait of Hormuz
Ukraine steps up its attacks on Russia
Ukraine steps up its attacks on Russia - with strikes on logistics warehouses and other infrastructure overnight. Officials say at least five people have been killed and 10 more injured.Also on the programme: European Union interior ministers hold an emergency meeting to discuss last week's influx from Morocco of up to 70,000 migrants into the tiny Spanish territory of Ceuta; and the musical that
Trump: Last chance for Iran to sign a deal
President Trump has said talks with Iran are going on right now. Speaking to reporters, he said Iran faced decapitation unless it agreed a deal. Mr Trump also said oil companies were making too much money, as a result of the shortages caused by the war. Also in the programme: Russian officials say seven people have been killed in a Ukrainian drone strike on a Black Sea beach resort; drought in
Fifa president comes under more pressure
The English Football Association is set to become the latest governing body to withdraw support for Gianni Infantino's bid for re-election as head of Fifa. Wales and Finland have already dropped their support for him. Infantino is under sustained pressure because of his abandoned plan to sell a stake in the World Cup and other tournaments to private investors.Also in the programme: extreme heat, w
Was Morocco complicit in exodus to Ceuta?
Questions are being asked about whether Morocco allowed mass migration to the Spanish exclave of Ceuta, in response to the Spanish prime minister visiting Algeria which opposes Moroccan annexation of the Western Sahara.Also in the programme: Two helicopters responding to wildfires in Greece have collided mid-air, killing both people on board one of the aircraft; and police in Germany are investiga
Emergency EU talks after mass migrant influx
The European Union will hold emergency talks this week to discuss the migration crisis in Ceuta - a tiny city which belongs to Spain, located on the northern coast of North Africa. We'll hear from a nurse who tried to save people who crossed the border and entered.
Also in the programme: Three people dead in Moscow after an attack on one of the city's more exclusive restaurants; and scientists f
Italy calls for Spain to be suspended from Schengen
After thousands of Moroccans enter the Spanish exclave of Ceuta, Italy calls for Spain to be suspended from the EU open borders agreement. Also in the programme: It's six months since 84-year old Nancy Guthrie was abducted from her home in Tucson, Arizona, in the middle of the night; and a bomb has exploded in a Moscow restaurant frequented by the Russian elite.(Photo: A migrant from Morocco walks
Fifa abandons investment plans after backlash
The head of world football has scrapped his plan to allow private investment in the World Cup, after a backlash from football associations worldwide. Gianni Infantino said he was acting because the proposal was dividing the sport, but he's now facing calls to resign. Also in the programme: Our reporter in the West Bank speaks to an Israeli settler about the killings of Palestinians; the search con
Tens of thousands of migrants enter Ceuta
Spain says most of the around 55,000 migrants who flooded into its North African territory of Ceuta have returned to Morocco. We speak to a Spanish politician who asks for support from Spain's European partners.Also on the programme: Hamas has said it's agreed to completely disarm if Israel fully withdraws from Gaza and ends all its attacks; and can Fifa's Gianni Infantino survive after a severe b
Trump says Hamas has agreed to disarm
Hamas says it has agreed to completely disarm if Israel withdraws forces and ends its attacks. But the Israeli government has yet to confirm whether it will comply. Also in the programme: Spain's prime minister condemns an influx of tens of thousands of people from Morocco into Ceuta as an attack on Spain's territorial integrity; a top advisor to the head of FIFA resigns over plans to sell private
US launches 'heavy' strikes on Iran
The US military says it has completed a "heavy wave" of strikes against Iran in retaliation for Tuesday's attempted ballistic missile attacks on American forces. Also on the programme, a teenager who travelled from Norway to the UK to carry out a "hit" for a Swedish organised crime group has been found guilty of conspiracy to murder; and, why K-Pop sensation BTS are boycotting the next year's Gra
FIFA offers incentives over "stakeholder" plan
FIFA promises national football associations $40m each if they back contentious new plans to sell stakes in major competitions. We hear from a former vice-president of FIFA, who is not impressed.Also in the programme: the former White House medical advisor Anthony Fauci is warned by Republican senators that he could face charges of contempt of Congress for refusing to answer questions about the Co
Saudi Arabia joins US strikes on Iran-backed militias
Along with the US, the Saudis have carried out missile strikes against Iran-backed militias in Iraq, in a potential escalation of the Middle East conflict. One of the Iran-aligned groups, the Popular Mobilisation Forces, said at least 20 of its members were killed in the overnight attacks.Also in the programme: the number of settler attacks on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank was the highest
Has Zelensky won Trump's trust?
It remains one of the defining meetings of President Trump's second term - that now infamous Oval Office exchange - when President Trump and his Vice President JD Vance met Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky in February 2025. They clashed over the Ukraine conflict with President Trump accusing President Zelensky of 'gambling with World War Three.' The pair met today and President Zelensky said it was a
What does Netanyahu want from meeting with Trump?
The Israeli prime minister is preparing to meet Donald Trump for the first time since the start of the war with Iran - will the discussions harden US strategy on Iran.Also in the programme: a strong earthquake rocks southern Japan; and we're on the front line of Ecuador's battle with the cocaine cartels.(Photo: Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaking at the president's tesidence in Jer
Wildfires continue to burn in France and Spain
Firefighters in France say they are still not in control of an unprecedented wildfire that's spreading towards the southwestern city of Bordeaux. The city's mayor says he's preparing for all eventualities.Also, India's youth protesters threaten to restart their demonstrations a day after they ended, we explain why. And a few months away from the US mid term elections - how will President Trump's w
Latest US blanket tariffs 'unjustified'
The US has imposed new tariffs on 60 trading partners.These tariffs, which replace an identical levy which expires on Friday, are based on claims key economic partners have failed to properly tackle forced labour.Those affected - including Brazil, Norway, China, and Australia have criticised the move by the Trump administration. Will these import taxes last and what effect will they have?Also in t
Fear in Bordeaux with wildfire 15km from city outskirts
Firefighters in France say they are still not in control of an unprecedented wildfire that's spreading towards the southwest city of Bordeaux. The city's mayor says he's preparing for all eventualities. The massive blaze, in the Gironde region, is one of several wildfires burning across France.Also in the programme: the Normandy beaches used for the D-Day landings are to be given UNESCO World Heri
Berlin Pride attack suspect killed during police operation
The suspect in the Berlin Pride ramming attack, which killed at least one person on Saturday night, has been shot and killed by German officials. Police say 21-year-old Abdul Ballout was killed after he reportedly ran towards officers with a knife in a western borough of the country’s capital. We get all the details from a Berlin-based journalist.Also in the programme: The US ambassador to the UN
Police hunt suspect after car attack at Berlin Pride event
The German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, says an attack on one of Europe's largest Pride events in Berlin late on Saturday was an attack on German society. Police are still searching for the driver of a vehicle that rammed into a crowd, killing a woman and injuring sixteen people. They say the twenty- one year old man suspect has links to Islamists. Also in the programme: a third of a million peop
Mass evacuations as French wildfires continue
Military transport planes have been sent into the worst affected regions as ash clouds loom over Bordeaux. We hear from two families who have been caught in the fires on holiday, and get a response from the French foreign minister for International Partnerships, Éléonore Caroit.India's education minister has resigned after weeks of protests. Surbhi Kesar, a Senior Lecturer in Economics at SOAS Uni
Firefighters battle to contain France and Spain wildfires
Over 270,000 people have been evacuated in France and Spain following a spate of wildfires, with areas surrounding Bordeaux and Madrid particularly affected. Spain has declared the incident a national emergency. We hear from a woman in the impacted French commune of Biscarrosse who has not yet left the region.Also in the programme: India’s education minister resigns following protests from the you
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