Today we’re looking at how Iran has retaliated to Israel’s strikes which targeted Iran's nuclear programme on Friday.

The two countries have been exchanging fire.

And, state media reports say Iran has warned the UK, US and France it will target their bases and ships in the region if they help stop the strikes on Israel. We look at how the world is reacting to the conflict.

Shashank Joshi, The Economist’s defence editor joins Laura and Paddy to go through it all.

You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers

You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhere

Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. It was presented by Laura Kuenssberg and Paddy O’Connell. It was made by Chris Flynn with Adam Chowdhury. The technical producer was Dafydd Evans. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The editor is Sam Bonham.

Today, Israel has carried out strikes in Iran targeting nuclear sites and military commanders in a major escalation of tensions.

Israel say they targeted the “heart” of Iran’s nuclear programme, whilst also killing Hossein Salami, chief of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards. Civilians, including children, were also among those killed, state media reported.

In response the Israeli military said Iran launched about 100 drones towards Israel on Friday morning, with Israeli media reporting all the drones were intercepted.

Adam is joined by Americast host Justin Webb and the Economist's defence editor Shashank Joshi.

You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers.

New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bit.ly/3ENLcS1

Today, at least 200 people have been killed when a London-bound Air India plane carrying 242 people crashed shortly after take-off in Ahmedabad, western India.

Adam speaks to BBC Correspondent Archana Shukla in Mumbai about the scenes in Ahmedabad, the news of one British passenger surviving the crash, and the official response to the crash. He is also joined by Ben Katz, Aviation Reporter for the Wall Street Journal, about the Boeing 787-8 Dreamline plane and how the crash will be investigated.

And, Ireland Correspondent Sara Girvin reports on the violent disorder that has taken place in Ballymena in County Antrim, Northern Ireland.

You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers.

New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bit.ly/3ENLcS1

Today, Chancellor Rachel Reeves set out the government spending plans until the end of the decade.

She says spending on the NHS will rise by 3% a year after inflation. And also confirmed £39bn for social and affordable housing, an end to "costly" asylum hotels by 2029, and an extension of the £3 bus fare cap in England to 2027.

You an read the Spending Review here! https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6849171796e63bce58e4e705/E03349913_HMT_Spending_Review_June_2025_Elay.pdf

You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers.

New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bit.ly/3ENLcS1

Today, the clash between Governor Newsom and President Trump escalates as LA protests enter day four.

A defence official has told the BBC's US partner CBS that approximately 2,100 members of the California National Guard are now on location in the greater Los Angeles area, with 700 Marines also in and around the city. Newsom called it “the deranged fantasy of a dictatorial president,” while Trump claimed LA “would be burning to the ground” without his intervention.

And, the prime minister has said he is "not writing a blank cheque" to pay for a new UK nuclear power plant, after the government announced it would commit £14.2bn to the project. Sir Keir Starmer told the BBC the development of Sizewell C on the Suffolk coastline would create 10,000 jobs over the next decade, and provide energy security and independence for the country. Adam is joined by Adam Bell, the former head of energy strategy at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers.

New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bit.ly/3ENLcS1

Today, Labour confirms 75% of pensioners will keep their winter fuel payments, reversing a widely criticised policy.

Nine million pensioners in England and Wales with an annual income of £35,000 or less will now be eligible. The payment, worth up to £300 to help with energy bills during the coldest months, was paid only to those on pension credit last year. Alex and Chris discuss the chain of events that have led to this moment, and what it says about the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves.

Also, a yacht carrying 12 pro-Palestinian activists, including Greta Thunberg, was intercepted by the Israeli navy while sailing toward Gaza with aid. Alex speaks to the BBC’s Jeremy Bowen about what happened and the state of humanitarian aid in Gaza.

You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers.

New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bit.ly/3ENLcS1

Today, we’re looking at what’s going on in the Treasury as the final decisions are being made ahead of the government’s Spending Review on Wednesday.

The home secretary and deputy prime minister are both still in dispute with the department over the amount of cash they'll have to spend.

Business editor Simon Jack and Paul Johnson, director of the Institute For Fiscal Studies join Laura to look at the numbers and the politics.

And we look at Zia Yusuf’s return to Reform just two days after quitting.

You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers.

New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bit.ly/3ENLcS1

Today we hear from the woman who was the UK’s only transgender judge.

Laura speaks to Victoria McCloud, who stepped down from the job last year, about her challenge to overturn the Supreme Court unanimous ruling that a woman is defined by biological sex under equalities law.

In an extended interview, Victoria talks about why she thinks she could succeed, and about the ruling’s consequences.

You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers.

You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhere

Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. It was presented by Laura Kuenssberg. It was made by Chris Flynn and Rufus Gray. The technical producer was Daffyd Evans. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The editor is Sam Bonham.

How did one of the most powerful alliances in American politics blow up? The falling out between Donald Trump and Elon Musk has been playing out very publicly on social media, with back and forth insults and threats.

HOSTS:

GET IN TOUCH:

This episode was made by Purvee Pattni, Alix Picikles, Rufus Gray, Grace Reeve and Tom Gillett. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app.

You can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers.

US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155

Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Americast also makes lots of other podcasts, including Newscast and Ukrainecast. If you enjoy Americast (and if you're reading this then you hopefully do), then we think that you will enjoy some of our other pods too. See links below.

Newscast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/p05299nl

The Spending Review looms large - with Chancellor Rachel Reeves facing some difficult choices in the upcoming Spending Review, which sets the budgets for all government departments over the next few years.

Adam, Chris, Alex and Faisal discuss that and what next for Reform UK after Zia Yusuf quit as party Chairman.

This episode was recorded on Thursday evening.

You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers.

You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhere

New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bit.ly/3ENLcS1

Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. It was presented by Adam Fleming. It was made by Chris Gray with Joe Wilkinson and Miranda Slade. The technical producer was Hannah Montgomery. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The editor is Sam Bonham.