Category: 2-DailyNews

As we look back at our international reporters' most memorable stories of the last year, we revisit the story of an NPR journalist in Gaza seeking food from a distribution site run by private American contractors in June of 2025. In a harrowing experience he found himself facing Israeli military fire, crowds fighting for rations, and masked thieves.

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Edition for Jan. 2. Chinese automaker BYD takes the EV crown after Tesla’s sales slide. Plus, President Trump threatens to intervene as protests in Iran turn violent. And the WSJ’s James Fanelli surveys the challenges facing New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani as his promises of change meet reality. Luke Vargas hosts.

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The US President warns his forces will come to the rescue of peaceful Iranian anti-government demonstrators if they are targeted by Tehran. A senior adviser to Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei has responded by saying Donald Trump should know that US interference would lead to chaos across the region. Also: two French managers of the bar in the Swiss ski resort that suffered a deadly fire on New Year's Eve have been interviewed; new mayor Zohran Mamdani is formally sworn in in New York; the difficulty of not having a birth certificate in South Africa; Donald Trump gives an update about his health after concerns were raised; and what to look out for in space travel in 2026.

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

Photo by ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH/EPA/Shutterstock

How many hours a day do you spend on your smartphone?

Smartphones have become essential to daily life - but concerns about overuse are growing. Research has linked smartphone addiction to depression, anxiety, and loneliness.

Focus on Africa host, Nkechi Ogbonna, spoke to 27-year-old Dion Rapakgadi from Johannesburg about his past struggles with phone addiction, and to Kenyan musician Nviiri the Storyteller, who recently swapped his smartphone for a basic “dumb phone.”

We also hear from Dr Ethel Obeng-Treve, a Clinical Psychologist from Ghana, who shares insights on how to have a healthier relationship with your smartphone.

Presenter : Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Carolyne Kiambo and Fana Weldye Senior Producer: Priya Sippy Editors: Samuel Murunga and Maryam Abdalla

As new images emerge of the fire at "Le Constellation" bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana, the families of those still missing face an agonising wait for news: we have the latest from the investigation.

Also in the programme: President Trump says he's ready to step in to defend the anti-government protesters in Iran; we hear from a protester. Plus life at a hundred – we speak to one woman, still laughing - and still performing – at 100 years old.

(IMAGE: People pay their respects to the victims with flowers near the area where fire broke out at the 'Le Constellation' bar leaving people dead and injured, during New Year's celebration, in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, 02 January 2026 / CREDIT: Jean-Christophe Botte/EPA/Shutterstock)

President Trump and an Iranian security official traded threats over Iranian protesters...with President Trump saying if Iran kills peaceful protesters, the U-S will come to their rescue. Venezuelan president Maduro has signaled he's willing to talk to the U-S about drug trafficking. Swiss investigators are working to identify victims of a New Year's Day ski resort fire. CBS's Peter King has these stories and much more in today's World News Roundup.

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Somali-run day care centers in Minnesota report threats and vandalism after a viral right-wing video accusing them of fraud prompts federal action with nationwide consequences.
The Justice Department misses its deadline to release the Epstein files, fueling confusion and conspiracy theories as heavily redacted and unreliable documents trickle out.
And Switzerland begins days of mourning after a deadly New Year’s Eve fire rips through a crowded nightclub at a ski resort, killing dozens and injuring many more.

Want more analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.

Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Luis Clemens, Dana Farrington, Miguel Macias, Mohamad ElBardicy, and Alice Woelfle.

It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Kaity Kline and Christopher Thomas.

We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is David Greenburg..

Our Executive Producer is Jay Shaylor.

(0:00) Introduction
(01:54) Daycare Fraud Claims Fallout
(05:31) Epstein Files Mess 
(09:27) Swiss Nightclub Fire

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Alabama

• Governor Ivey orders flags at half staff in Marshall County for Ronny Shumate
• New hemp law requires edibles sold at licensed stores for those over 21
• Audit clears the former ADVA commissioner Kent Davis on financial conduct
• Emergency services to expand in Butler County by non profit organization
• Immigration and the Bible discussed on 1819 The Podcast by Pastor Rich Lusk

National

• US military strikes 3 more narco terrorist vessels, killing 8 drug smugglers
• 5 states start new restrictions on SNAP funds used for soda, candy&junk food
• House Oversight seeks a hearing with MN governor over fraud in that state
• Somalian daycare manager in MN claims all docs on kids were stolen
• Muslim Socialist Zohran Mamdani sworn in as mayor of NYC
• Recent poll shows more Americans prayed on NYE rather than imbibed

Hundreds take part in a vigil in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana after around 40 people died in a fire at a bar while out celebrating New Year. Also: Colombia's armed forces say they have "neutralised" the main leader of one of Venezuela's most powerful and far-reaching criminal gangs; fresh research indicates that psychedelic drugs could be beneficial in treating a range of mental disorders; the UN children's agency Unicef estimates that more than a million Palestinian children trapped in Gaza desperately need mental health support and we talk to the great grandson of the Czech artist, Alphonse Mucha, best known for his paintings of graceful powerful female figures that helped define the Art Nouveau era.

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

The President of Switzerland says the fire at a ski resort early on New Year's Day which killed around 40 people is one of his country's worst tragedies. Witnesses at the bar in the ski resort of Crans Montana say the entire ceiling was ablaze within seconds.

Also in the programme: There have clashes in a number of small towns across Iran, on the fifth day of anti-government protests; China has introduced a series of tax incentives - including levies on contraceptives and exemptions for childcare - to try to boost its falling birth rate; and new tax regulations are taking effect today in forty-eight countries over the personal ownership of cryptocurrency.

Plus punk rock is 50 years old this year. Why does this rather simple music keep influencing musicians even now?

(Photo: Officials say around 40 people were killed and 115 injured in the fire. Credit: Getty Images)