Newscast

Today, we look at protests across Ukraine after President Zelensky signed a new law which critics say weakens the independence of Ukraine’s anti-corruption bodies. Demonstrations in cities across the country became the largest anti-government protests to take place in Ukraine since the Russian invasion in 2022. Adam is joined by Vitaly Shevchenko, Ukrainecast host, and Orysia Lutsevych, head of th...

Today, Sir James Cleverley has returned to the front bench after Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch reshuffled her top team. Adam and Chris discuss the changes to the shadow cabinet and whether they will help the Conservatives in the fight for dominance of the right of British politics. Today, their opponents Reform, led by Nigel Farage announced a Tory defection at the Welsh Royal Show. Plus...

Today, the long-awaited review of the water sector in England and Wales has finally been published, and it proposes the most sweeping reforms since privatisation over 30 years ago. Authored by Sir Jon Cunliffe, the report makes 88 recommendations, including scrapping the current regulator, Ofwat, and introducing stronger environmental regulation. Adam and Chris are joined by the BBC’s business edi...

Today, Laura, Paddy and Henry look back at the last parliamentary year with the summer recess on the horizon. How have the main political parties fared a year on since the general election? And which of them would be top of the class in their school report cards? You can watch every episode of Newscast on the YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLS3XGZxi7cBU_AtRadnVPJPRC6LHrexaF Yo...

Today, Laura and Paddy ask who in charge of the country as the Prime Minister’s authority is again in question. From backbenchers, to ministers to the markets - who is actually driving this government? Laura and Paddy look to find the answers. 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. You c...

Today, the Environment Agency reported a 60% rise in serious pollution incidents by water companies within a year. There were 2,801 pollution incidents in England in 2024, the highest on record, up from 2,174 in 2023. The cross-party Public Accounts Committee called the situation “woeful” and said regulators were “missing in action.” The data comes ahead of a landmark review of the water industry,...

Today, the voting age at the next general election will be lowered across the UK to 16 for the first time. Labour's election manifesto last year pledged to lower the voting age to 16 - in line with Scottish and Welsh elections. The Prime Minister has said 16 and 17-year-olds are "old enough to go out to work, they are old enough to pay taxes". The policy has been criticised by the Conservatives an...

Today, Keir Starmer told the House of Commons the previous government had ‘serious questions’ to answer about a major data breach from the Ministry of Defence. On Tuesday, a major data breach which led to thousands of Afghans being secretly relocated to the UK became public knowledge for the first time. Chris joins Adam to discuss the former government’s account of events, as well as what could ha...

Today, President Trump gives an exclusive interview to the BBC Adam speaks to BBC chief North America correspondent Gary O’Donoghue about his call with President Trump, a year on from the Trump shooting that Gary witnessed. Gary was woken up by a call from President Trump on Monday, where he spoke candidly about whether he trusts Russia’s President Putin. President Trump also spoke about Brexit, h...

Today, we discuss the findings of a BBC report which found that the documentary Gaza: How To Survive a Warzone had breached editorial guidelines. The BBC previously pulled the documentary from iPlayer after it was uncovered that the 13-year-old narrator was the son of a Hamas official. The report says the production company Hoyo Films bears most of the responsibility for the failures. Hoyo Films s...

Today, the chief executive of Ofcom, Dame Melanie Henrietta Dawes sat down with Laura to discuss the Online Safety Act. In just under two weeks time, specific child safety measures, including changes to algorithms to filter out harmful content, will be enforced for a number of different tech platforms and companies. And we find out about the latest development in the upcoming strikes from resident...

Today, the leader of the Unite union says Labour is not defending working people and they are turning away from the party "in droves". Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner was yesterday suspended by the union - and Unite’s General Secretary Sharon Graham says Labour should be ‘seriously concerned’ after the union voted to potentially rethink its relationship with the party, which could result in it...

Today, as the UK faces the third heatwave already of the summer - is this the kind of summer we should expect in future? Adam is joined by Jordan Dunbar, one of the hosts of the Climate Question podcast and Sarah Keith-Lucas lead weather presenter for the BBC. They discuss when hot weather becomes a heatwave, how prepared the UK is and whether travel habits will change as a result. You can now lis...

Today, the UK and France have unveiled a new “one in, one out” plan to reduce small boat Channel crossings. Announcing the deal at the end of Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to the UK, Keir Starmer said migrants arriving on small boats will be returned to France, in exchange for asylum seekers who have not tried to enter the UK illegally. Adam and Chris unpack what’s in the deal, and ask whether thi...

Can the government afford everything it wants to do? Adam is joined by BBC economics editor Faisal Islam and BBC health editor Hugh Pym to discuss the news that resident doctors, who used to be called junior doctors, have announced strike dates for later this summer. The government says it won’t reopen negotiations with the British Medical Association, which represents resident doctors. Plus, the...

As the government announces a new test of the emergency alert system, Newscast is invited to COBR. Adam and Chris become the first people ever to broadcast from COBR as they interview Pat McFadden the Chancellor for the Duchy of Lancaster. They discuss a new test of the emergency alert system, what it’s really like during meetings of national security and how the government is preparing for future...

Today we look at the continued fall out of flash floods in Texas where at least 91 people have died. Search efforts continue for a fourth day for dozens of people still missing, authorities say. Camp Mystic, a girls' summer camp in the county, confirmed that at least 27 girls and staff were among the dead Adam speaks to chief North America correspondent, Gary O’Donoghue who’s been reporting from T...

On recent episodes we’ve looked back at Labour’s first 12 year in government, and we’ve looked ahead at what Labour could do next. Today, Newscast finds out how voters feel things are going. Laura and Paddy chat with Luke Tryl, director of More in Common, political research group, to find out what new polling suggests about what the public really think of Keir Starmer. You can now listen to Newsca...

Today, Laura and Paddy look ahead and discuss what's next for the government after a tumultuous first year in power. Can we expect Keir Starmer to make changes to policy, politics and personnel? or will the Prime Minister dig in and defy the critics, some of whom are already predicting his resignation before the next election. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/ne...

One year after Keir Starmer became the first Labour Prime Minister for 14 years, have his first 12 months been a success? Adam, Chris and Henry are at Crossed Wires festival to discuss in front of an audience of Newscasters! 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. You can join our Newscas...

Can the government’s new ten year plan save the NHS? Today the government published it’s plan to reform the NHS. The government says it will focus on three main changes, shifting from treatment to preventative care, switching to digital health services, and moving to more community care. Adam speaks to minister of state for care Stephen Kinnock about the plans, and Chris joins to unpack the govern...

Today, Rachel Reeves was visibly upset at Prime Minister’s Questions. Her team say it was a personal matter, and there are also reports of an argument with the speaker. Adam and Chris look at what’s been going on amidst mounting criticism of the chancellor’s handling of the welfare cuts. Plus, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has been found not guilty of racketeering and sex trafficking his ex partner Cassie Ve...

Today, MPs have narrowly voted in favour of the government’s welfare bill. The controversial legislation passed after a series of last minute concessions by the government, but 49 Labour MPs still rebelled. Adam and Chris discuss what changes were made, how the government failed to manage the rebellion, and the political blow the prime minister has taken. Plus, three former senior staff at the hos...

Today, Avon and Somerset police launched a criminal investigation into sets by bands Bob Vylan and Kneecap at Glastonbury festival on Saturday. Adam is joined by BBC media and culture editor Katie Razzall, who reported from the festival over the weekend, to discuss the investigation and the BBC’s apology for not cutting the livestream of Bob Vylan’s performance. And, Faisal and Chris are back for...

Today, we look at the reaction from politicians, Glastonbury, and the BBC to comments from Bob Vylan, a duo that performed at the music festival on Saturday. Rapper Bobby Vylan led chants of "death, death to the IDF [Israel Defense Forces]". A BBC spokesperson said: “Some of the comments made during Bob Vylan’s set were deeply offensive. During this live stream on iPlayer, which reflected what was...