US reveals it has deployed space weapons

US reveals it has deployed space weapons

Author: BBC World Service September 15, 2026 Duration: 29:11

US Air Force Secretary, Troy Meink, has revealed that America has weapons in space to protect its assets in orbit, but he didn't divulge which weapons were there. His comments will be seen as a warning to Russia and China, raising the prospect of warfare in space. A treaty from 1967 banned weapons of mass destruction in space but the US has, like its rivals, been developing technology that can target and defend satellites. Also: Anthropic's co-founder tells the BBC artificial intelligence may need a mandatory "kill switch" but President Trump says the idea of AI destroying humanity is a "hoax". Turkish police fire tear gas at protesters following a crackdown on gay bars and LGBTQ activists. The US scraps limits on emissions from coal and gas power plants. How scientists and doctors have improved the fight against breast cancer over the last 50 years. Harry and Meghan change their children's school only days after they first started, as their security in the UK comes under review. And the Sydney Sweeney advert that has caused an uproar in women's sport.

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: A Falcon 9 rocket carrying the USSF-36 mission launches at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, U.S., August 21, 2025. Credit: US Space Force/Gwendolyn Kurzen/Handout via REUTERS


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…