Newscast

Today, what role could the UK play in the conflict between Israel and Iran?

President Donald Trump will decide on whether the US gets directly involved in the Iran-Israel conflict within the next two weeks, the White House says.

Adam, Chris, Alex and Faisal discuss; what the Prime Minister's options are if the US does directly attack Iran? How the conflict could impact prices in the UK? And, whether parliament would have a vote on any UK involvement?

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Today, Trump dismissed questions about US involvement in Iran, saying: "I may do it, I may not do it. Nobody knows what I want to do.”

Adam is joined by Chief Presenter Caitriona Perry and BBC Persian Senior Reporter Siavash Ardalan to interperet Trump’s statements on the White House lawn, as well as Iran’s Supreme Leader threatening ‘irreparable harm’ if the US takes action.

Also, what’s at stake for Russia if things continue to escalate in Iran? Steven Rosenberg calls in (literally) from St Petersburg to share his view from Russia’s International Economic Forum.

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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, President Trump says he knows where Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is but "we" won't kill him - "at least not for now".

In a series of posts on social media, he went on to demand an 'unconditional surrender', as Iran and Israel fire missiles for a fifth day. Is regime change likely, or a goal of the US and Israel? Caitriona Perry -chief presenter for BBC News and Lyse Doucet chief international correspondent are both in the studio with Adam.

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, a report into sexual abuse carried out by grooming gangs says there was a “collective failure to address questions about the ethnicity of grooming gangs”.

The audit, led by Baroness Louise Casey, said the ethnicity of grooming gangs is shied away from and is still not recorded for two-thirds of perpetrators. Adam is joined by Alison Holt, social affairs editor and Judith Moritz, special correspondent.

Plus, Iran and Israel continue to exchange missile strikes as world leaders gather for the G7 in Canada. Adam and Chris discuss if a meeting of President Trump, Prime Minister Starmer, President Macron and others will make any difference to the tensions.

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 look at the announcement that there will be full national statutory inquiry into grooming gangs.

Sir Keir Starmer said he had accepted the recommendations of an audit by Baroness Louise Casey into the data and evidence on the nature and scale of group-based child sexual abuse.

And as the conflict between Israel and Iran continues, Laura, Paddy and Henry Zeffman, look at what the UK is doing in response.

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 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.

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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