White House releases alternate video of the fatal shooting of a woman by an ICE agent in Minneapolis. President Trump meets with oil execs as he justifies the raid on Venezuela that captured its dictator. Economic protests spread in Iran as supreme leader signals crackdown.
Mass protests across Iran: but how will the authorities respond? We hear from the BBC Persian Service, where journalists are trying to monitor events amid an information blackout, and discuss Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's options with Iranian-American journalist Hooman Majd.
Also in the programme: Colombian President Gustavo Petro's views on United States policy in Latin America; and Elon Musk's former partner Ashley St Clair explains her concerns about sexualised images made by the Grok AI chatbot on X, formerly known as Twitter.
(Photo: Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, taken on 3 Jan 2026; Credit: IRAN'S SUPREME LEADER OFFICE HANDOUT/EPA/Shutterstock)
President Trump raised eyebrows when he told the New York Times that there was only one thing that could stop him on the global stage: his own morality.
So what do Americans think about the moral standing of the United States? Well, a new NPR-Ipsos poll finds Americans still want the U.S. to be a moral leader in the world — but far fewer think it actually is.
Senior Political Editor and Correspondent Domenico Montanaro shares more from the poll, and Senior International Affairs Correspondent Jackie Northam helps make sense of what it means globally.
For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.
Anti-government unrest has continued to spread across Iran, despite an internet blackout and a defiant address by the Supreme Leader. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei dismissed the protesters as "a bunch of vandals" and said the authorities would not back down. Demonstrations began nearly two weeks ago because of anger at rising living costs. Also: Russia uses a powerful hypersonic missile against the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, in another wave of air attacks. Switzerland observes a national day of mourning for the victims of the New Year's eve fire. And why the giant pandas in a Japanese zoo will soon be replaced by people in panda suits.
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.
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Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, has described demonstrators as vandals aiming to please a foreign power - as he faces the biggest wave of anti government protests in over a decade.
Also in the programme: we'll hear from the Greenlanders tired of President Trump's talk of take over; and the British government accuses the social media platform X of insulting the victims of misogyny and sexual abuse.
(Photo: Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Credit: Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/West Asia News Agency)
Now, despite a start-up boom happening in Africa, a recent study showed that many of Africa’s start-up founders say their jobs have negatively impacted their mental well-being.
60% of founders reported experiencing anxiety, 58% high stress, 52% exhaustion, and 20% depression. Key stressors include fundraising, inflation and economic instability.
Focus on Africa host Nkechi Ogbonna had a discussion with Jihan Abass, founder of Lami Insurance Technology - a Kenya-based fintech - and Mawano Kambeu, founder of Zambia-based digital company, Dot Com Zambia, to discuss burnout, mental health and navigating Africa’s complex start-up scene.
Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Carolyne Kiambo and Fana Weldye
Senior Producer: Priya Sippy
Technical Producer: Terry Chege
Editors: Samuel Murunga and Maryam Abdalla
Two people shot by federal agents in Portland. Protests continue after Minnesota ICE shooting. Breakthrough on healthcare in the House. CBS News Correspondent Steve Kathan has these stories and more on the World News Roundup.
A.M. Edition for Jan. 9. Portland police call for calm after two people were shot by U.S. Border Patrol during a traffic stop, in a second incident involving federal enforcement agents this week. Plus, the House passes legislation to extend healthcare subsidies, in defiance of Republican leaders. And WSJ food reporter Jesse Newman explains how the Trump administration’s new dietary guidelines threaten the bread and butter of America’s food giants.
Protesters in Minneapolis return to the streets as federal agents take over the investigation into the killing of a Minnesota woman by an ICE agent, while Portland officials condemn another immigration-related shooting. A review of immigration related shootings under President Trump shows a rising pattern of violence as federal agents carry out increasingly aggressive and public operations in U.S. cities. And President Trump signals the U.S. could run Venezuela “much longer” than expected, as oil executives head to the White House to discuss America’s expanded oversight of the country’s future.
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Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Gigi Douban, Rebekah Metzler, Mohamad ElBardicy, and Alice Woelfle.
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