BBC

Severe weather forces thousands to evacuate the National Mall in Washington ahead of the president's July 4th speech, marking 250 years of US independence. In a delayed address, Donald Trump said no one will ever take America's freedom away. Also: Venezuela earthquakes death toll rises to nearly 3000; Iran mourns the death of former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei; Ukraine strikes targets in...

The United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, but is President Trump politicising the occasion? Also in the programme: Iran mourns late Ayatollah Khamenei ahead of his funeral; and Cape Verde, the small African island nation that made history in this World Cup. (Photograph: Fighter jets over New York. Credit: Shutterstock)

آیا در الهیات سیاسی شیعی به ارث بردن رهبری دینی و سیاسی جامعه امری جاافتاده و حتی پسندیده نیست؟ امامت شیعی شکلی دینی از سلطنت موروثی نیست؟ میهمان‌ها: آرمین لنگرودی، پژوهشگر ادیان ایرانی داریوش محمدپور، مدرس علوم سیاسی

President Trump has used a speech on the eve of the 250th anniversary of US independence to claim that American identity is under threat from domestic 'radicals' and 'extremists'. At the Mount Rushmore national monument, Mr Trump warned of a resurgence of what he called 'the communist menace' and 'newcomers' who embrace ideas opposed to the American way of life. Also in the programme: The Iranian...

When Dr. Mahrang Baloch was a teenager, she joined hundreds of families across Pakistan's southwestern province of Balochistan to search for her father, who had disappeared. Activists and rights groups say thousands of ethnic Baloch people have disappeared over the past two decades, alleging many were detained by security forces, tortured and killed as part of operations against a long-running sep...

Pete Haslam was carrying his paraplegic son Ted up a mountain, helped by friends and family, when they bumped into Catherine, Princess of Wales. She was doing the same climbing challenge, known as the Three Peaks, and stopped to chat to them three times. Pete says he almost didn't recognise Catherine in her walking gear but, when they got talking, she was very kind and motherly to Ted. Also: in a...

Scammers are using increasingly convincing AI generated videos to steal people's money. We hear from a victim who had £165,000 stolen and ask an expert how to spot the warning signs before it's too late. The government has promised new financial rights for cohabiting couples. We examine what the plans could mean for the three and a half million couples in the UK who live together without being mar...

Speaking at Mount Rushmore in the state of South Dakota, President Trump said that the United States would celebrate the American Declaration of Independence of July 4th, 1776 as "one of the most extraordinary days in the world". In a politicised speech he told the gathered audience that "communism was the greatest threat facing America". Also, the United Nations has said the world must act now to...

The people of Venezuela are still reeling from the aftermath of two powerful earthquakes which struck near the capital Caracas in June. As buildings collapsed, the impact was devastating. Over two and a half thousand are recorded dead but, with tens of thousands of people still missing, the final number will be much higher. We hear from people who were in Caracas and the nearby port of La Guaira -...

Swift wedding rumours, FIFA World Cup crowds and extreme heat hit New York on America’s birthday weekend. With electricity demand soaring, we hear what is happening on the ground. We are more than halfway through the 2026 World Cup, but ticket resale platforms have been causing problems for some fans, who say their tickets were cancelled at the last minute or never arrived. We hear from fans and e...

As the United States marks its 250th anniversary, The Global Story podcast is exploring the surprising and often hidden ways the US has shaped the modern world. One of the most powerful and enduring American ideas is that of the American Dream. In this episode, Asma Khalid hears the story of one extraordinary American Dream seeker. The BBC first spoke to Abdi Nor Iftin in 2014, when he was living...

28th June – 3rd July 2026 Writer: Oliver Turner Director: Rosemary Watts Editor: Jeremy Howe Brian Aldridge … Charles Collingwood David Archer … Timothy Bentinck Helen Archer … Louiza Patikas Natasha Archer … Mali Harries Tom Archer … William Troughton Chris Carter … Wilf Scolding Neil Carter … Brian Hewlett Susan Carter … Charlotte Martin Ian Craig … Stephen Kennedy Martyn Gibson ... Jon Glover A...

As 4th July approaches, we think you’ll like this episode of The Global Story. All week, The Global Story podcast is exploring the surprising and often hidden ways the US has shaped the modern world. Roman Mars – the host of 99% Invisible and the new BBC series A History of the United States in 100 Objects – joins as a guest to set out his theory of how the US used design to shape the world in its...

Foreign dignitaries arrive in Iran for a week of events ahead of the burial of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, more than four months after he was killed in strikes launched by the US and Israel. He will be laid to rest in his hometown of Mashhad on Thursday after lying in state. Iranian authorities say millions are expected to attend. It comes as Iran and the United States observe a fragile ceasefire afte...

A big birthday, a big wedding and big temperatures...it's a big weekend in the United States for citizens and business owners. Also, Russia takes more steps to tackle its growing fuel shortages. And why a Japanese mayor is facing criticism for taking maternity leave. Presenter: Bisi Adebayo Producer: Victoriya Holland Editor: Justin Bones

Have you heard of solo-maxxing, or "by yourself maxxing"? It's a social media trend in which young people are embracing single life by opting out of dating and choosing to spend more time on their own. Instead, they're prioritising personal wealth, career growth and emotional independence. So, what's driving this trend? Is it a new kind of freedom, or are young people giving up on dating altogethe...

Chief Constable says a loyalist paramilitary group was involved in the violence

Hernán Gil, a 43-year-old security guard, was found alive under the rubble of a collapsed building more than a week after Venezuela's devastating twin earthquakes. The country's interim President, Delcy Rodriguez, said nearly 2600 people are now known to have been killed. She stressed that rescue efforts are still ongoing. Also: The World Health Organisation says it has begun trials to find a trea...

Once a respected voice in the pulpit, a Nigerian priest was cast out when his sexuality became known, mirroring a broader pattern in which clergy have been dismissed or barred from ministry in Nigeria over allegations of homosexuality. Listening to his intimate testimony and stark reality, Emily Buchanan explores the cost of authenticity in a society where belief, culture, and law intersect - and...

With just 57,000 posts created in June, half the number expected, the US jobs market is showing signs of cooling. We talk to a restaurant owner about why it's getting harder to hire. And the latest on the computer gremlins causing chaos at European airports. We hear from the family of a businessman delayed by 12 hours and a travel expert: Are glitches in the new EU-wide border control system going...

Chris faces an unexpected interruption, and Ed is given a controversial task.

Russian missiles and drones hit Kyiv for 11 hours through the night, killing more than 20 people. Ukraine has accused Moscow of targeting civilian areas, and appealed to its Western allies to send more air defence systems. The Kremlin says it will continue to increase pressure on the Ukrainian leadership in order to achieve its goals. Also: thousands needing serious medical treatment say they are...

Is the US jobs market starting to lose momentum? Also, Europe's new border system is leading to long queues at some airports this summer. And India has told Meta to delay a new WhatsApp feature over fraud concerns. Presenter: Bisi Adebayo Producer: Victoriya Holland Editor: Justin Bones

Rights group, Amnesty International, says it documented the use of ethnic slurs during attacks on non-Arab communities, which the organisation says points to ethnic persecution. The report says the crimes were committed by paramilitary group, Rapid Support Forces - RSF - during the group's offensive on the city of El Fasher in Sudan's North Darfur region last year. The report shows children were a...

Alongside Economics & Business editor John Campbell and callers