Newscast

Today, a United Nations commission of inquiry has said that Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.

A new report says there are reasonable grounds to conclude that four of the five genocidal acts defined under international law have been carried out since the start of the war with Hamas in 2023. Israel's foreign ministry said it categorically rejected the report, denouncing it as "distorted and false". Adam is joined by John Simpson - BBC World Affairs Editor and Presenter of Unspun World.

And, an emergency debate has been held in the House of Commons into the appointment of Lord Mandelson as the UK Ambassador to the US. Adam, Chris and Alex discuss that and whether we are about to see a change of messaging from number 10 to ahead of the party conference.

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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://bbc.in/4guXgXd

Today, Danny Kruger the Conservative MP and shadow minister has defected to Reform.

Speaking at a press conference alongside Nigel Farage, Kruger said “the Conservatives are over” and confirmed he would not be triggering a by-election.

In response Kemi Badenoch says she is “not going to get blown off course” - Adam and Chris discuss this, and the Prime Minister’s comments today that he would “never” have appointed Mandelson had he known full Epstein links.

Plus, Adam is joined by Panorama presenter Jane Corbin ahead of President Trump’s state visit. They discuss the history of the special relationship, and whether Starmer has benefitted from his connection to Trump during his time in office.

Watch Trump and Starmer: A Special Relationship here - https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002jm8m

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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://bbc.in/4guXgXd

Today, we hear from the family of Virginia Giuffre, who became the most prominent victim of Jeffrey Epstein.

In an interview with Laura, they said that Lord Mandelson should never have been given the position of UK ambassador to the United States.

And Business Secretary Peter Kyle told her it was "highly unlikely" Lord Mandelson would have been appointed if the extent of his relationship with Epstein was known to those in government.

We unpack the interview, the government response, and what it means for Keir Starmer.

We also look ahead to the state visit of Donald Trump, which starts on Tuesday.

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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://bbc.in/4guXgXd

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 and Grace Reeve. The social producer was Darren Dutton. The technical producer was James Piper. The weekend series producer is Chris Flynn. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Today, we look at how Bloomberg broke the story of Mandelson’s emails to Jeffrey Epstein that got him sacked as US ambassador. And we hear new information about the investigation Keir Starmer carried out into the relationship before appointing him.

Laura and Paddy are joined by Alex Campbell who led the Bloomberg team.

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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://bbc.in/newscastdiscord

Get in touch with Newscast by emailing [email protected] or send us a whatsapp on +44 0330 123 9480.

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://bbc.in/4guXgXd

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 and Grace Reeve. The social producer was Darren Dutton. The technical producer was James Piper. The weekend series producer is Chris Flynn. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Today, we look back at a very difficult week for Keir Starmer and the Government.

Adam is joined in the studio by Sienna Rodgers, Deputy Editor at The House Magazine and Patrick Maguire, Chief Political Commentator at the Times.

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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://bbc.in/4guXgXd

Today, Keir Starmer sacked US Ambassador Lord Peter Mandelson following the publication of messages he exchanged with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

Adam and Chris discuss how the ambassador’s position became untenable, and what this means for questions around Starmer’s leadership plus Trump’s planned state visit next week.

And Charlie Kirk, an influential right-wing activist and a close ally of US President Donald Trump, was shot dead while speaking at an event at a university in Utah. But who was Charlie Kirk? And what do we know about the ongoing hunt for his killer? Marianna Spring and Caitriona Perry join Adam to discuss what we know so far.

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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, politicians across the House of Commons have called for Lord Mandelson to resign as UK ambassador to the US over his connection to Jeffrey Epstein.

Lord Mandelson acknowledged that there could be more "embarrassing" exchanges to come from his correspondence with Epstein who he described as his "best pal" in a letter for his 50th birthday.

He likened his association with Epstein to "an albatross around my neck", adding he felt "profoundly upset that I was taken in" by a "charismatic criminal liar".

Adam and Chris discuss what the revelations mean for the UK and US with Caitríona Perry, Chief Presenter for BBC News in Washington

And presenter of the Security Brief, Mikey Kay talks to Adam about the state of global security after Poland shot down Russian drones that had entered it's air space overnight.

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Get in touch with Newscast by emailing [email protected] or send us a whatsapp on +44 0330 123 9480.

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, Israel carried out a surprise strike on senior Hamas leaders in Doha, Qatar.

Hamas claims the leaders - who were in Doha as part of the delegation negotiating a possible ceasefire deal - survived but said that six others were killed in the strike.

The Trump administration was notified about the strikes before they happened by the US military, and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says it was a “wholly independent Israeli operation”.

What does this mean for the ongoing war in Gaza? Adam speaks to the BBC’s chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet, and chief presenter, Caitríona Perry.

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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.

Get in touch with Newscast by emailing [email protected] or send us a whatsapp on +44 0330 123 9480.

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 new Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said that the UK could suspend visas for countries with who don’t “play ball” with the government’s migrant return plans.

This comes after the Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s surprise cabinet reshuffle at the end of last week, triggered by the resignation of his Deputy Angela Rayner, who paid an incorrect amount of stamp duty on a property. The Labour NEC has announced the timeline for a deputy leader election campaign.

Adam and Chris unpack the Home Secretary’s plans, and ask — who could be the next deputy PM?

Adam also speaks to the new Scotland Secretary Douglas Alexander about his new brief. They discuss the upcoming deputy leadership election and how the reshuffle may impact the direction of the party.

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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.

Get in touch with Newscast by emailing [email protected] or send us a whatsapp on +44 0330 123 9480.

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

Old Newscast:

Nelson Mandela

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1EKNiGlqGbulwQTNnsQIrf

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/old-newscast-nelson-mandela-is-released-from-prison/id1234185718?i=1000725551537

Expenses Scandal

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0aNP4ZQWG7tGXwUvEjdXyV

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/old-newscast-the-expenses-scandal-2009-part-2/id1234185718?i=1000725551590

Putin Election

https://open.spotify.com/episode/29dGTJ7gp8FWaad7UMiHKz

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/old-newscast-vladimir-putin-elected-russian-president/id1234185718?i=1000725553589

Oslo Accords

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6Z7zsxzStgFpHK6vKvjh9Q

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/old-newscast-the-oslo-accords-1993-part-2/id1234185718?i=1000725554142

The Gulf War

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5BvkbBZROGSNEVY3Y8fg2C

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/old-newscast-the-gulf-war-the-legacy-part-3/id1234185718?i=1000725554162

Thatcher

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4S86ZL44SB3ZlBDFdtEUkm

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/old-newscast-margaret-thatcher-announces-her-resignation/id1234185718?i=1000725554324

Today, we look at whether the government’s leadership changes point to a turn to the right after a series of personnel changes after Angela Rayner’s resignation.

The new home secretary Shabana Mahmood is said to be taking up a harder stance on immigration and is looking at moving asylum seekers onto military sites as an alternative to hotels, as confirmed by defence secretary John Healey in an interview with Laura today.

Political correspondent joins Laura and Paddy to look at the latest ins and out and what we can read into them when it comes to what direction Keir Starmer’s government is going in.

And we discuss Reform’s readiness for government after Nigel Farage admitted his party is short of experience in government.

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.

Get in touch with Newscast by emailing [email protected] or send us a whatsapp on +44 0330 123 9480.

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