BBC

Writer: Sarah Hehir

Director: Dave Payne

Editor: Jeremy Howe

Jolene Archer.... Buffy Davis

Chris Carter.... Wilf Scolding

Neil Carter.... Brian Hewlett

Susan Carter.... Charlotte Martin

Ruairi Donovan.... Arthur Hughes

Mick Fadmoor.... Martin Barrass

Amber Gordon.... Charlotte Jordan

Clarrie Grundy..... Heather Bell

Ed Grundy..... Barry Farrimond

Eddie Grundy.... Trevor Harrison

Emma Grundy.... Emerald O'Hanrahan

George Grundy.... Angus Stobie

Will Grundy.... Philip Molloy

Brad Horrobin.... Taylor Uttley

Adam Macy.... Andrew Wincott

Paul Mack.... Joshua Riley

Lily Pargetter.... Katie Redford

Fallon Rogers.... Joanna Van Kampen

Prison Guard.... Janice Connolly

At this week's Labour Conference, Kier Starmer warned that Britain faces a 'fork in the road'. Helping Andy Zaltzman decide which way to turn are Ian Smith, Celya AB, Hugo Rifkind and Zoe Lyons.

Written by Andy Zaltzman.

With additional material by: Cody Dahler, Eve Delaney and John Tothill

Producer: Georgia Keating and James Robinson

Executive Producer: Pete Strauss

Production Coordinator: Jodie Charman

Sound Editor: Marc Willcox

A BBC Studios Production for Radio 4.

Tens of thousands of Gazans make the long walk back to where they once lived after a ceasefire comes into force. Meanwhile, families in Israel wait for the return of the last remaining hostages held by Hamas. The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded to Venezuela's opposition leader, María Corina Machado, who expressed shock when first told of the award. Also, Taiwan seeks to protect itself against air attack from China with a defence system similar to Israel's Iron Dome, and the football referee who thinks we shouldn't want to win at all costs.

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: [email protected]

The US has purchased Argentine pesos, taking the next step in a controversial effort to calm a currency crisis hitting the South American country and its president, Trump ally Javier Milei.

In the US though, it's a different story – farmers, especially soybean farmers, have lost ground to Argentina in global markets, especially in China, due to its trade war with the US.

And Pokémon cards are hitting record highs, as some of them have seen values rise by 4000%, according to Card Ladder, which tracks values.

Presenter: Sarah Rogers

Producer: Ahmed Adan

Editor: Justin Bones and Shea Conduct

Venezuela's opposition leader and pro-democracy activist María Corina Machado has been awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize.

For years, she has campaigned against Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro, whose 12-year rule is viewed by many nations as illegitimate. We'll speak to one of her close allies about what difference the award might make.

Also in the programme: Thousands of displaced Palestinians are heading back to what's left of their homes as a ceasefire comes into effect in Gaza; how AI-controlled weapons could become a reality on the battlefields of Ukraine; and a new species of pre-historic marine reptile that's just been identified by scientists.

(Photo shows Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado at a protest on 9 January 2025. Credit: Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/Reuters)

Nolan talks to the TUV's Timothy Gaston and political commentator Mick Fealty.

After two long years President Trump has announced a ceasefire agreement which should see the remaining hostages returned home in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners. How have the families of Israeli hostages and their loved ones, held captive in dark tunnels for hundreds of days, managed to hold onto hope? Do people deepen their faith during periods of immense suffering, or turn away from religion? For this edition of Heart and Soul, Naomi Scherbel-Ball explores how, two years on since the October 7th attacks, hostages and their families see their lives and their faith. Many of those held hostage in Gaza come from the kibbutzim, largely secular communities that border Gaza, or were taken from the Nova music festival. Some of those released have spoken about reconnecting with their Jewish faith, with one female hostage even translating her prayers into Arabic so she would be allowed to continue to pray by her captors. Others speak of the strength they found in their family, the kibbutzim movement and community. 65-year-old American-Israeli Keith Siegel, who was kidnapped with his wife Aviva, explains how his connection to Judaism deepened during nearly 500 days in captivity. On his release, his daughter asked what he would like for their first family shabbat meal together after nearly 500 days. “What I want most is a kippah and a kiddush cup”, he answered, referring to the head covering worn by observant Jewish men and the symbolic cup that is held during the Friday night blessing in Judaism. Now back with his family in Israel, he says his heart is not whole until the remaining hostages return.

This episode of The Documentary, comes to you from Heart and Soul, exploring personal approaches to spirituality from around the world

Produced and Presented by Naomi Scherbel-Ball

Executive Producer: Rajeev Gupta

Editor: Chloe Walker

Israel's government has agreed to the first phase of President Trump's plan to end the war in Gaza and secure the release of all remaining Israeli hostages. A ceasefire is expected to take effect within 24 hours, with hostage releases to follow within three days. Under the deal, Israel would free hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, begin withdrawing troops from parts of Gaza, and allow hundreds of aid trucks to enter the Strip. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has hailed the move as a 'momentous development' and thanked President Trump, as well as US aides Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Also: a man convicted of raping Gisèle Pelicot, the woman at the centre of a high-profile trial in France, has had his sentence extended; New York’s Attorney General, Letitia James, has been indicted on federal charges of bank fraud; India's southern state of Karnataka has approved a plan to grant one day of paid menstrual leave per month; how a new AI arms race is transforming the war in Ukraine; a behind-the-scenes look at the race for the Nobel Peace Prize; and why the DNA of naked mole rats could hold the key to a longer life.

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: [email protected]

The Chief Executive of JP Morgan Chase Jamie Dimon shares his views on AI, and whether he thinks the hype around it will continue. The German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz vows to do everything possible to counter EU rules banning the sale of new CO2 emitting cars after 2035. And we hear how Doanld Trumps tariffs pilicy is affecting Switzerland which is facing duties of some 39 per cent on its exports to the US. (Picture: Jamie Dimon. Credit; Shannon Stapleton Reuters)

Israeli ministers are meeting to discuss a deal brokered by US President Donald Trump which would see a ceasefire implemented in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages by Hamas. They are widely expected to approve the plan.

In this special episode of The World Tonight we speak to a former Israeli Prime Minister as well as a mother in Gaza who lost her husband at the beginning of the war, but speaks of her hope for the future.

Also on the programme: the chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee says if the Gaza plan works in bringing peace to the Middle East then US President Trump should "of course" get a Nobel Peace Prize. And an historian and veteran Middle East journalist discuss how significant this ceasefire agreement might be in the history of Israel and Palestine.