Month: March 2026

More than 160 people have been injured - some seriously - in Iranian missile strikes on two southern Israeli towns close to a nuclear facility, according to Israeli emergency officials. We hear about the medical situation on the ground and take a look at Israel's nuclear capabilities.

Also on the programme: Italian voters give their verdict on a government plan to have more power over the judiciary; and a US comedy institution makes its UK debut as Saturday Night Live hits British screens.

(Picture: Ultra Orthodox Jewish residents look on at the scene of a direct hit of an Iranian missile in Arad, Israel. Credit: Abir Sultan/EPA/Shutterstock)

Ahead of the busy spring travel period, it's quickly become more expensive and inconvenient to fly. With war dragging on in the Middle East, rising fuel prices are increasing costs for airlines and forcing some to steer clear of the region. Meanwhile, a partial government shutdown in the U.S. is causing long lines at busy air-travel hubs as TSA employees quit or call in sick. Host Luke Vargas speaks to aviation reporter Benjamin Katz and airlines reporter Alison Sider to consider whether there’s an end to the disruption in sight.

And check out WSJ’s Take On the Week for an in-depth conversation on oil and the broader energy markets from an investor's perspective.

Further Reading:

Airfares Have Doubled on Some Flights. The Sticker Shock for Spring Travel Is Upon Us.

European Airlines Extend Middle East Flight Suspensions

Airlines Offer Glimpse Into Operations as Middle East Conflict Weighs on Fuel Prices

Airline Executives Urge Congress to End Partial Government Shutdown

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In his first term, President Trump required transgender service members to register with the diagnosis of gender dysphoria in order to continue serving openly in the military. Now, amidst Middle East deployment plans, that documentation is being used to find and separate thousands of highly trained troops. This week on The Sunday Story, how the Pentagon’s push to remove trans troops is affecting active duty service members—and how it may also affect the military’s mission readiness.

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President Trump has threatened to attack Iran's power plants, if Tehran doesn't reopen the Strait of Hormuz within two days. Iran has said it will target energy infrastructure in the region belonging to the US if that happens. Iranian missiles have hit the southern Israeli towns of Arad and Dimona, injuring at least 100 people. Dimona is near a key nuclear facility. Also: Robert Mueller, the man who led the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 US election, has died; how Islamophobia has risen in Australia in the wake of the Bondi attacks last year that killed 15 people; and the popular boy band, BTS, return to the stage after taking a four-year break to do their mandatory national military service.

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: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk