Merz: Germany faces 'tectonic shift' after AfD victory

Merz: Germany faces 'tectonic shift' after AfD victory

Author: BBC World Service September 7, 2026 Duration: 29:21

Friedrich Merz says the decisive win in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt by the far-right Alternative for Germany, AfD, signals the need for a major reckoning. The AfD's national co-leader, Alice Weidel, says it's aiming to win at least forty per cent in the next general election. Also: the funeral of the Bosnian Serb war criminal, General Ratko Mladić, has gone ahead in the Serbian capital, Belgrade, where some people consider him a national hero. The Lebanese president, Joseph Aoun, has warned of a "dangerous escalation" by Israel after women and children were killed in an air strike on a residential building in southern Lebanon. A new film about the most important weather forecast in British history, which gave the go-ahead for D-Day on the sixth June 1944, is released in the UK. And the BBC speaks to the 13-year-old who has written a symphony warning about the challenges posed by artificial intelligence.

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: Description: German Chancellor and Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party leader Friedrich Merz attends a press conference the day after the Saxony-Anhalt state elections in Berlin, Germany, September 7, 2026.

Credit: REUTERS/Axel Schmidt


Staying informed means navigating a constant stream of events, and the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service provides a grounded, thorough digest of that flow. This isn't just a headline service; it's a twice-daily briefing that situates you within the day's most pressing stories, particularly focusing on complex, unfolding situations. Right now, that means dedicated coverage from across the Middle East, including Iran, Israel, Lebanon, and the Gulf states, offering clarity on regional dynamics and their global implications. Alongside that essential regional focus, the podcast consistently pulls back for a wider lens, bringing reports and context from every corner of the world. What you'll hear is the BBC's signature blend of on-the-ground reporting and measured expert analysis, all designed to build understanding rather than just summarize events. For a reliable, in-depth audio briefing that updates each weekday morning and evening, this podcast delivers a comprehensive picture of our world as it happens.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Global News Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Feminist writer and activist Gloria Steinem dies [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:52
Gloria Steinem, a leader of the women's liberation movement in the US, has died at the age of 92. During the 1960s and 1970s, she campaigned for women’s reproductive rights and equal pay laws. She also co-founded the Ms.…
Venezuela and the US hail new oil deal [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:28
The United States and Venezuela have welcomed a big energy deal which they have formally signed in Caracas, along with a series of agreements involving international oil firms. The US Energy Secretary, Chris Wright, said…
European leaders denounce Moscow over attacks [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:52
The heads of Nato and the European Commission have warned that Russia is growing increasingly reckless and vowed to respond to a "new normal". Moscow has accused Germany of planting evidence, after German authorities sai…
US accused of hitting a wedding in Iran [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:02
The Iranian Red Crescent says four people including a child were killed by US strikes on a wedding in southern Iran as fighting escalates. It said over 50 people were wounded when shrapnel hit a residence in Sirik county…
Six million refugees being forced back to Afghanistan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:27
Afghans in Pakistan and Iran face an uncertain future under the Taliban amid a huge deportation drive. We have a report from the Torkham crossing, known as "zero point". Millions of Afghans have fled across the borders t…
Ex gang member convicted of masterminding Tupac's murder [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:19
A former gang boss is facing potentially life in prison after being found guilty of murdering Tupac Shakur in 1996. Duane 'Keffe D' Davis masterminded the plan and supplied the gun that killed the rapper. Also, the famil…
Iran says two killed after US attack on Larak Island [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:47
Iran and the US exchange fire for the first time in a month. The US said it destroyed two Iranian launchers on a small island in the Strait of Hormuz as they were preparing to deploy sea-mine rockets. Iranian state media…
US and Iran trade fire for first time in a month [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:25
The US has bombed Iranian launchers on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz - the first known attack in weeks. Tehran has launched retaliatory strikes against American bases in Jordan. Also: rescue efforts intensify afte…
Netanyahu condemns West Bank attacks by settlers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:59
The Israeli prime minister has condemned Jewish settlers who attacked two Palestinian villages in the occupied West Bank including Qusra where an earlier siege by settlers sparked an international outcry. Benjamin Netany…