Iran warns it will block Gulf and Red Sea

This episode of the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service covers a series of high-stakes international developments, beginning with Iran's escalating threat to block maritime trade through the Red Sea, Gulf, and Sea of Oman in response to a U.S. naval blockade. The podcast explores the fragile state of U.S.-Iran diplomacy, with speculation about renewed talks following a failed summit in Pakistan and conflicting signals from President Trump, who claims the war is nearing an end but refuses to extend a two-week ceasefire. Meanwhile, a school shooting in southern Turkey killed four people, highlighting a disturbing rise in youth violence, while Sudan's ongoing civil war continues to inflict horrific humanitarian suffering, with drone strikes killing hundreds of civilians and international aid efforts struggling amid geopolitical inaction. In a poignant cultural segment, Germany launches a new online tool allowing citizens to search for Nazi Party membership records, confronting painful family histories. The episode also examines the growing political and theological rift between the U.S. administration—particularly Vice President J.D. Vance—and Pope Leo, as the Pope criticizes the war in Iran and U.S. immigration policies, sparking backlash. Finally, the podcast closes with a lighter note on cultural diplomacy, celebrating a Scottish schoolgirl’s design of Brazil’s first official tartan, symbolizing cross-cultural unity ahead of the World Cup.