UAE quits oil cartel Opec after six decades

Summary

Global News Podcast – “UAE Quits Oil Cartel OPEC After Six Decades”

BBC World Service • Host: Ankur Desai • April 28, 2026

---

Episode Overview

This episode covers a seismic shift in the global energy market as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) announces its departure from OPEC after sixty years. The episode explores the implications of this move for geopolitics, international oil prices, and the ongoing war involving Iran, as well as a series of significant world events – from attacks on Russian oil refineries and a deadly train crash in Indonesia, to a hippo rescue mission in Colombia, a Taylor Swift concert terror plot, King Charles III’s visit to the US, a new ESA isolation study, and a Kenyan marathoner’s historic world record.

---

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. UAE Leaves OPEC: Analysis and Reaction

[01:08–06:50]

• Headline News

  • The UAE’s exit from OPEC, described as a “heavy blow” to the Saudi-led cartel, marks the end of a six-decade partnership. Their official statement frames the move as aligned with a strategic, long-term economic vision amid the turmoil caused by the ongoing Iran war.

• Implications for OPEC and the Global Oil Market

  • Jonathan Joseph (Business Reporter) [02:53]:
    • “It’s going to lessen the grip of OPEC on the global oil market.”
    • OPEC will shrink to 11 members and lose some control over around a third of the globe’s oil supply.
    • The UAE, with its significant spare capacity, was one of the few OPEC members able to rapidly ramp production up or down in response to world events.
    • Their exit takes effect May 1, with plans to increase output and better meet global demand.

• Expert Reaction

  • John Svakianakis (Gulf Research Center) [04:21]:

    • “This is huge and clearly it highlights the tension that has existed for quite some time between the UAE and OPEC and specifically Saudi Arabia.”
    • The move reflects longstanding disputes over production quotas and pricing power with Saudi Arabia.
    • “They already invested huge amounts of money, upwards of $150 billion to take production now to 5 million barrels by 2027.”
    • The UAE aims for a capacity of 6 million barrels, making it a major contender.

  • Price Impact [06:24]:

    • “This potentially could lead to lower prices. Once we get out of this unbelievable crisis… the UAE will push for more production. But for now we’re going to stay at these elevated… high oil prices as the issue of Iran… comes.”

---

2. Ukraine’s Drone Strikes on Russian Oil Infrastructure

[06:50–10:08]

• Attack on Tuapse Refinery
  • Ukrainian drones have repeatedly targeted Russia’s major oil refinery at the Black Sea port of Tuapse, igniting fires and causing severe environmental and economic damage.
  • Fahmyl Ismailov (BBC Russian Service News Editor):
    • “This is the third time the port of Tuapse itself and this major refinery have been hit… about 240,000 barrels of oil go through it every day.” [07:36]
    • Thick black smoke, soot, and oil particles have marred the port and the local environment, disrupting both industrial activity and its status as a holiday destination.
    • “The concentration of harmful particles in the air exceeds the acceptable levels 2, 3 times.” [08:30]
    • Financial impact estimated at 800 billion rubles (~$10bn) just for Tuapse; cumulative losses across all Russian refineries hit are much higher.
    • Strikes affect local morale and the wider war effort.

---

3. Indonesian Train Collision: Causes and Consequences

[10:08–13:34]

• Accident Overview
  • 15 killed, dozens injured after a long-distance train struck a stationary commuter train east of Jakarta—most victims were women in a dedicated carriage.
  • The incident was triggered by an electric taxi stuck on the tracks, leading to a chain reaction.
  • Astudestra Ajingrastri (BBC Jakarta Correspondent):
    • “Everything happened extremely fast, even within seconds… it suddenly went dark and the air became suffocating, making it very difficult to breathe.” [11:31]
    • Highlights the vulnerability of Indonesia’s outdated and poorly maintained railway infrastructure, some of which dates back more than a century.
  • President Prabowo Subianto pledges to renew infrastructure and prevent such tragedies.

---

4. Colombian Hippos and India’s Billionaire Rescue

[13:34–16:22]

• The Hippo Saga
  • Paul Moss (Global Affairs Reporter):
    • Originates from Pablo Escobar’s private menagerie—after his death, his four imported hippos escaped, establishing a feral population now exceeding 200.
    • Due to ecological and safety issues (hippos attack humans, invade villages), Colombian authorities decided to cull 80.
    • Anant Ambani, heir to India’s richest family, offers to save these hippos by relocating them to his private zoo in Gujarat.
    • “He’s offered to fly them to India and do it all himself, privately.” [15:05]
    • This offer is controversial due to climate suitability concerns and allegations of animal mistreatment at Ambani’s zoo.
    • Ambani states, “These animals didn’t choose where they’re born… We have a responsibility to try to save them.” [15:34]

---

5. Taylor Swift Vienna Concert Bomb Plot

[20:31–22:56]

• Foiled Terror Attack
  • Trial of “Baron A”, a 21-year-old, who admits planning a terrorist attack at Taylor Swift’s 2024 Vienna concerts. Plot was uncovered after a CIA tip.
  • Bethany Bell (Vienna Correspondent):
    • “A nearly completed bomb was found at his house after he was arrested just before the first Taylor Swift concert in August 2024.” [20:57]
  • Attack was linked to Islamic State methodology; three concerts were cancelled, causing global disappointment for fans.
    • “Fans in tears, handing out friendship bracelets and singing in Vienna.” [22:33]

---

6. UK Royal Visit to the US amid Tensions

[22:56–26:11]

• King Charles III’s State Visit
  • King Charles III and Queen Camilla visit the US during heightened diplomatic tension over NATO, Iran, and British-US relations.
  • Sharma Khalil (Washington Correspondent):
    • “He’s going to address a joint meeting of Congress… this is really the centerpiece of his visit.” [23:46]
  • President Trump’s criticism of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Iran policy provides the diplomatic backdrop.
    • “It’s a careful balancing act… he can’t get too political… he has a little bit of leverage because of that soft power.” [24:59]
    • Close personal chemistry between King Charles and President Trump noted, with meetings exceeding scheduled duration.

---

7. Mars Mission Simulation: ESA’s SOLIS 100 Isolation Study

[26:11–29:04]

• Details of the Experiment
  • Six volunteers (aged 26–36 from six European nations), locked for 100 days in a confined pod to simulate long-duration Mars mission.
  • No sex, alcohol, or daylight; rations of tinned food; only two showers per week; weekly video calls; and isolation protocols.
  • Reference to the 2010 Russian “fake space station” 520-day experiment.
  • Romain Charles (Previous Participant):
    • “When we think about going further in space exploration, the human factor is still a big question.” [28:30]
    • Focus is on human psychology and team cohesion in isolation.

---

8. Kenyan Marathon World Record: Local Impact

[29:04–32:22]

• Celebration in Kenya for Sebastian Sawyer
  • Sebastian Sawyer becomes the first person to run a marathon under two hours in a competitive setting (London).
  • His village in Rift Valley erupts in celebration.
  • Sawyer’s Father: “When I saw Sebastian pull ahead, I was so excited, I started celebrating and did not even watch the end of the race.” [30:00]
  • Sawyer’s Mother: Leads the family and community in song and thanksgiving [30:28].
  • Community expects Sawyer’s achievement to change lives locally, with promises of building new family and community projects.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On UAE’s OPEC Exit:
  • “This is huge and clearly it highlights the tension… between the UAE and OPEC and specifically Saudi Arabia.”
    — John Svakianakis, [04:21]
• On Tuapse Refinery Attacks:
  • “Everything, houses, pets, even when they went out, animals, trees, cars had been covered in soot and in some places even little drops of oil… really not healthy.”
    — Fahmyl Ismailov, [08:30]
• On Indonesian Train Crash:
  • "One survivor… said that they felt like they had already died."
    — Astudestra Ajingrastri, [11:31]
• On the Hippo Rescue:
  • “These animals didn’t choose where they’re born… We have a responsibility to try to save them.”
    — Statement from Anant Ambani, [15:34]
• On Taylor Swift Vienna Plot:
  • “Fans in tears, handing out friendship bracelets and singing in Vienna.”
    — Bethany Bell, [22:33]
• On Team Dynamics in Space:
  • “How to create a team that can work together for such a long period of time, trying to get finer and finer markers of how to counter any issues a team could have in isolation, in confinement.”
    — Romaine Charles, [28:30]
• On the Marathon World Record:
  • “He promised us that he’s going to build us a house and he said he would buy us a car so we won’t be walking on foot anymore. He also promised he will finish building the church here.”
    — Sawyer family, [30:55]

---

Timestamps of Major Segments

• UAE leaves OPEC: [01:08]–[06:50]
• Ukraine drone strikes on Tuapse (Russia): [06:50]–[10:08]
• Indonesian train crash: [10:08]–[13:34]
• Colombian hippo rescue by Ambani: [13:34]–[16:22]
• Taylor Swift Vienna bomb plot: [20:31]–[22:56]
• King Charles’ state visit to the US: [22:56]–[26:11]
• ESA’s SOLIS 100 isolation study: [26:11]–[29:04]
• Kenyan marathon world record: [29:04]–[32:22]

---

This episode traverses dramatic geopolitical realignments, everyday tragedies, eccentric animal rescues, thwarted terror plots, historic sporting triumphs, and the relentless push towards interplanetary exploration—capturing a world in flux with the BBC’s signature blend of urgency and clarity.

Transcript

[Host/Reporter]

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK.

[Ankur Desai]

Spring into deals with stay green premium 2 cubic foot mulch 5 bags for

[Host/Reporter]

$10 plus stay fresh with up to 35% off. Select major appliances and save an additional $100 on select laundry pairs. Our best lineup is here at Lowe's. Lowe's we help you save valid 356

[Ankur Desai]

mulch offer excludes Alaska and Hawaii.

[Ad Voice]

Seelows.com for more details, visit your nearby Lowe's.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway. Take care of yourself this spring with great savings on all your favorite wellness brands. Now through April 28th. Save $5 when you buy three or more participating wellness items. Shop in store or online for products like centrum silver nexium, 24 hour, Tums ultra strength or Smoothies tablets and Flonase spray. And save $5 when you buy three or more. Get these deals before they're gone. Offer ends April 28th. Restrictions apply. Offers may vary. Visit albertsons or safeway.com for more details.

[Ankur Desai]

This is the global News podcast from the BBC World Service. Hello, I'm Ankur Desai and in the Afternoon of Tuesday 28th April, these are our main stories. The United Arab Emirates says it's quitting OPEC and OPEC dealing a heavy blow to the Saudi led oil cartels. Ukrainian drone strikes have caused a huge fire at a Russian oil refinery in the black seaport of Tuapse and details of a crash in Indonesia where at least 15 people were killed when a long distance train smashed into a stationary commuter train east of the capital Jakarta. Also in this podcast, an Austrian man has pleaded guilty to planning a terror attack with a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna nearly two years ago. A member of India's wealthiest family, the Ambanis, is offering to save the lives of 80 hippos threatened with being culled. The animals are currently in Colombia, having been introduced to the country by the late drugs baron Pablo Escobar and the family of Kenya's new marathon world record holder prepare to welcome him home.

[Interviewee/Guest]

When I saw Sebastian Pool ahead I was so excited I started celebrating and did not even watch the end of the race.

[Ankur Desai]

Foreign. The United Arab Emirates says it's leaving the group of oil producing countries OPEC and OPEC after six decades. In a statement, the UAE described the decision as being part of its long term strategic and economic vision. The decision is being seen as a heavy blow to the groups and their de facto leader, Saudi Arabia, as the war on Iran continues to cause major disruptions to energy supplies. Our business reporter Jonathan Joseph explains what it means for global oil supplies.

[Jonathan Joseph]

It's going to lessen the grip of OPEC on the global oil market. So Pick is a group of 12, soon to be 11 oil producing countries that control around a third, perhaps a little bit more of the global oil market. They decide how much oil they're going to put onto the market and therefore that has a major influence in terms of supplies. But of course, America and Russia are also up there. America is the world's biggest oil producer still, so it also has a lot of clout. But OPEC without the UAE will have less influence. UAE is a significant exit for OPEC because it's one of the few countries in OPEC that has a significant amount of spare capacity, which means that it can respond to global events, that it can change how much oil it's pumping out. It has obviously plans to do more. We've had a statement from the Energy Ministry which is talking about this exit is going to happen on the 1st of May, and it will help meet the changing demand in the global economy. Obviously prices have been elevated because of the Iran war, trading at more than $110 a barrel for most of the last week, which is significantly above where they were before this conflict began. This statement also saying that the country is the UAE is going to gradually ramp up its production.

[Ankur Desai]

John Svakianakis is the chief economist at the Gulf Research Center. He gave his reaction to the development to Lucy Hawkins.

[John Sakianakis]

This is huge and clearly it highlights the tension that has existed for quite some time between the UAE and OPEC and specifically Saudi Arabia. This is a moment of tension for also the relations between the two countries. A lot of people expected, at least those in the energy markets, that the UAE would decide at some point. There was a lot of rumor over the last year, two years, that the UAE is going to exit. They finally did it. I think the justification is the war and now it's the time for them to go at it alone. Which means that OPEC of course, is going to be effectively Saudi Arabia and some of the other countries very important move, however, a big move.

[Bethany Bell]

But in terms of the uae, what are its plans now? What's it going to do, presumably increase production?

[Ankur Desai]

John?

[John Sakianakis]

Absolutely, Lucy. They already invested huge amounts of money, upwards of $150 billion to take production now to 5 million barrels by 2027. But they have a plan to extract more oil off the ground to take capacity to 6 million barrels, which means that Saudi Arabia, which has a capacity of 11 and a half million. It's going to be a contender and they will pump more oil, which means that more supply. And that is going to be an issue. But, but the UAE wants to clearly extract oil, benefit from that and to get out of the difficulties of being an, an OPEC member to contest and has been contesting for a long time with Saudi Arabia. As to the price, the quota. The quota which allows the UAE to produce 3 to 3 million barrels capacity, as I said, 4 and a half right now, close to 5 is always an issue. Was always an issue. And they wanted to pump more, produce more money. And now they said we're going at it alone. That's it. Thank you.

[Ankur Desai]

So this means lower prices.

[John Sakianakis]

This potentially could lead to lower prices. Once we get out of this unbelievable crisis which is creating huge demand destruction over the years, the UAE will push for more production. Absolutely. But for now we're going to stay at these elevated and even more so high oil prices as the issue of Iran and the Iran crisis comes.

[Ankur Desai]

John Sakianakis, the chief economist at the Gulf Research center, speaking to Lucy Hawkins, staying with oil and in Russia, the Kremlin has accused Ukraine of destabilizing global energy markets after renewed drone strikes caused a huge fire at a Russian oil refinery. Ukraine has targeted the facility in the Black Sea port of Tuapse several times this month. The attacks have badly damaged the environment with thick black smoke billowing from the site. Ukraine says it strikes energy facilities because they fund Russia's continuing invasion. Russian state media say President Putin has ordered the emergencies Minister to visit Tuapse to oversee firefighting efforts. I had more from the news editor from the BBC Russian service, Fahmyl Ismailov.

[Fahmyl Ismailov]

This is the third time the port of Tuapse itself and this major refinery had been hit by the Ukrainian drones. And the refinery itself is quite a big facility. It has a high volume production. About 240,000 barrels of oil go through it every day. It is owned by Rosneft, Russia's major oil company. And it had completed production because the storage facilities had been hit. And you could see that from the satellite pictures that it completely burned out. The refinery itself produces heavy oils and they go to China, Malaysia, Turkey. But there's also the port. The port itself is a, is a federal level cargo port facility at number three in terms of cargo, exports, imports on the Black Sea for Russia. So it's quite a big deal.

[Ankur Desai]

Yeah. And, and it's also having a big impact, I imagine the local people in the environment as well because of the repeated Drone attacks.

[Fahmyl Ismailov]

Absolutely. That's the, the worst because the locals are just trying to survive. And this is not just the industrial town, it's also a seaside resort town and lots of people, you know, they, they, they, they were waiting to go to the beaches. The season is just starting. You know, it's coming to May holidays and all that is now ruined. And more than that, the last week we saw in the local chats that there's been a so called black Ra. So everything, houses, pets, even when they went out, animals, trees, cars had been covered in soot and in some places even little drops of oil. And that takes time to clean and that's really not healthy because as the local authorities reported, the concentration of harmful particles in the air exceeds the acceptable levels 2, 3 times.

[Ankur Desai]

How much of a financial impact is this going to have on Russia's war effort?

[Fahmyl Ismailov]

It's going to be sizable in terms of losses. We're talking about 800 billion rubles at the moment. This is just about a bit more than $10 billion. Just on to upset Cumulative losses from Ukrainian strikes are much bigger because Ukrainians managed to get to the far flung facilities. Some of those like Ustluga on the Baltic Sea so thousands miles from the frontline had been hit and Ustluga is a major oil export facility. But we're talk and also it will take now time to restore the production, to restore the storage, to fill up the. But the major thing is morale because the morale among Russian population is going to hit hard as well.

[Ankur Desai]

F. Ishmaelov and we have more on this on our YouTube channel. Search for BBC News on YouTube and you'll find Global news podcast in the podcast section. There's a new story available every weekday now we go to Indonesia where at least 15 people have been killed and dozens of passengers injured after a long distance train smashed into a stationary commuter train. Most of the dead are women. A women only carriage bore the brunt of the impact. You can hear the sound. There are rescue teams that had to race to free some survivors following the deadly train crash near the capital Jakarta. The tragedy happened after an electric taxi broke down on an intersection of train track. A train hit the taxi. That accident in itself didn't lead to any fatalities. But a commuter train waiting further down the line, unable to move past the crash site, was struck from behind by a long distance train traveling from the island of Java. Ajakarta correspondent Astudestra Ajingrastri spoke to me earlier.

[Astudestra Ajingrastri]

Basically there were three different trains and one car involved in that accident. But all of the victims and the casualties were coming from the train that got hit by the long distance train.

[Ankur Desai]

And you've also been hearing from survivors?

[Astudestra Ajingrastri]

Yeah. So BBC Indonesia spoke with survivors. Many of them say that everything happened extremely fast, even within seconds. So when the crash occurred, they say it suddenly went dark and the air become suffocating, making it very difficult to breathe. One survivor who we spoke to said that they felt like they had already died. So mind you that the train is a very efficient transportation for Indonesians. It's cheap and it's fast. So every time on a rush hour like after office, it is very full until about 10pm it's always packed and full. And of course the woman carriage, it's all female passengers in there, but also most of them are bringing like their babies and then elderly. So lots of vulnerable people that is

[Ankur Desai]

on that carriage and asidestra. When it comes to the public transport system in Indonesia, just tell us a bit about that. Because it's got an aging infrastructure and poor maintenance. So are accidents like this quite common?

[Barbara Platasha]

Actually?

[Astudestra Ajingrastri]

Yes, it's quite common, especially for the railway. So our railway system, a lot of it are still coming from when the Dutch colonized Indonesia, which is more than 80 to 100 years ago. So it's very old, but maintenance is also not quite good. So accidents like this rarely happened. But it happened. And when it happened, it involved a lot of casualties. The president Prabo Subianto today while visiting the survivors in hospitals, he said that he acknowledged that these infrastructures need to be renewed. And he pledged to find a solution to actually prevent things like this to happen again in the future.

[Ankur Desai]

Ajakarta correspondent Astidestra ajingrastri Now to an animal rescue story on a big scale in more ways than one. A member of India's richest family, Anant Ambani, is offering to save 80 hippos in Colombia that are at risk of being culled. Our global affairs reporter Paul Moss told me more about how they came to be there.

[Paul Moss]

This was because of a man I think many in our audience will have heard of, Pablo Escobar, the famous Colombian drugs lord, regarded as called the king of cocaine. Possibly the richest criminal literally in history. A man, yeah, mainly involved in the cocaine trade, but with a sideline in murdering his opponents. And like many people with great wealth and power, he was accused of becoming something of a megalomaniac. And at one point he decided he fancied having some hippos on his estate. So, you know, as casually as you or me might get ourselves A cat or dog. He had four hippos flown in. Now, Pablo Escobar was eventually killed in a shootout, at which point the hippos escaped. And since then, they've been living wild and crucially, breeding. There are now more than 200 of these enormous animals eating local vegetation. And they're accused of also attacking fishermen and at one point, invading a school. So Colombia decided that they were going to cull 80 of these animals. This caused a huge outcry, and as you say, Anant Ambani has now offered to fly these 80 hippos to India and house them in his own private zoo.

[Interviewee/Guest]

Right.

[Ankur Desai]

So tell us a bit more about him and why he exactly wants to do this.

[Paul Moss]

Well, he's from one of the, as you said, the wealthiest family in India. They're valued at nearly $100 billion. And just as Pablo Escobar has huge wealth and also influence the Ambanis, too, though I obviously should stress their wealth was acquired legally. Yes. The son and heir, who famously had a wedding last year which cost more than $500 million, wants to put these animals in his private zoo. He's offered to fly them to India and do it all himself, privately.

[Ankur Desai]

So how has this idea gone down and the practicalities around it?

[Paul Moss]

Well, you know, Ambani Zoo is already controversial. It's a private place. The public aren't admitted. Last year, India's Supreme Court ordered an investigation into whether animals there were being mistreated. More seriously, though, there has been a criticism that animals have been kept in the zoo that aren't really suited to Gujarat's climate. Now, ironically, that was said exactly the same thing was said when Pablo Escobar brought the hippos to Colombia. And conservationists are worried anyway about this zoo. They're worried that animals are kept there that aren't suitable for the climate. Anantan Barney has issued a statement saying these animals didn't choose where they're born. They're living, sentient beings. We have a responsibility to try to save them. So he thinks he's doing a good deed. Whether that will impress the conservationists who are worried we're going to have to wait and see.

[Ankur Desai]

Our global affairs reporter, Paul Moss. Still to come in this podcast, how

[Interviewee/Guest]

to create a team that can work together for such a long period of time. How to counter any issues a team could have in isolation, in confinement, we

[Ankur Desai]

explain how six volunteers are going to isolate themselves in a sealed pod for months and simulate a potential mission to Mars.

[Ad Voice]

This is Danielle Robay from bookmarked by Reese's book club. Nothing compares to the anticipation of something new, a new start, a new year, a new home, or a new car. When it's time to get a new car, where do you start? Car shopping can honestly be a little overwhelming, but it should be fun. Buying your next car should be exciting. And it can be if you remember one thing. Cars.com cars.com has the tools and expert advice to help you figure out what vehicle is right for you. Their advanced search filters allow you to explore 2 million new and used cars so that you can find the perfect car. The site is so easy to use. Looking for an electric vehicle with a third row and leather seats for easy cleanup, Cars.com has you covered. A variety of tools and badges are used to help shoppers understand the price of a vehicle and find the best deal. And every review is written by a real person reflecting a real life experience. So don't take any chances. Do car shopping the easy way. Start your search with cars.com where to next?

[Martha (Kohler Ambassador)]

When Kohler, the global design leader in luxurious kitchen and bath products, came to me and said, martha, we need an ambassador for our timeless, elegant, durable cast iron products. I said, I'm in. Now let me see the factory. Weeks later, I was suited up in coveralls and work boots, walking through their Kohler, Wisconsin cast iron foundry. I stood next to the molten iron furnace, saw the hand applying enamel and touched the gorgeous finished products waiting to be sent out into the world. Since 1883, Kohler cast iron products have been forged and finished by the incredible craftspeople right in Kohler, Wisconsin. I'll tell you, I gained a newfound respect and appreciation for Kohler's cast iron craftsmanship. So now I'm lending my discerning stamp of approval to my most beloved Kohler cast iron products for their durability, beauty and timelessness. Shop my Kohler Cast Iron favorites curated on Kohler.com bring the warmth, character and enduring style of these timeless products into your kitchens and bathrooms. As the Kohler Cast Iron Ambassador, I say, long live Cast Iron.

[Barbara Platasha]

This is Ashley Akonetti from the Ben and Ashley Eye Almost Famous podcast. You know that moment when you're in your stylist chair and you're describing your dream hair like it's a Pinterest board come to life, but you have zero idea how to make it happen at home? That is my Roman Empire. But Amiga totally gets it. They're clean, vegan, cruelty free, clinically proven formulas are why stylists swear by them. I'm obsessed with the wizard detangling primer. It's like a magic spell for my hair. For a limited time, save 15 off your order with code FAMOUS15 on loveamica.com restrictions may apply.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway. You don't want to miss the annual beauty event. For big savings on all your favorite beauty products now through April 28, spend 25 on participating products and save $5. Shop in store or online for items like Billie Women's Razors, Billy Body Buffer or Body Wash, Native Hand Soap, Neutrogena Makeup Remover tablets and Q Tips. And save $5 when you spend $25. Offer ends April 28. Restrictions apply. Offers may vary. Visit albertsons or safeway.com for more details.

[Ankur Desai]

This is the global news podcast. Taylor Swift's Eras tour, which spanned 149 shows across five continents, was the highest grossing of all time. But her opening concert in the Austrian capital Vienna in 2024 narrowly avoided ending in tragedy after a bomb plot was foiled. A 21 year old man is on trial in Vienna charged with terrorism and other offenses. Our Vienna correspondent Bethany Bell has been in Court.

[Bethany Bell]

This 21 year old man, who's been named only as Baron A, in line with Austrian privacy laws, has admitted guilty to to the charges concerning the Taylor Swift concerts. He also pleaded guilty to being a member of a terrorist organization. But he pleaded not guilty to some of the other charges he's facing, including planning an attack in Mecca in Saudi Arabia. He appeared in court this morning escorted by security officials, wearing masks. He was handcuffed. The handcuffs were taken off him when he was brought into court. And we heard from the prosecution saying how a nearly completed bomb was found at his house after he was arrested because of a tip off from the CIA just before the first Taylor Swift concert in August 2024.

[Ankur Desai]

Do we know any further on what he was planning to do at all?

[Bethany Bell]

The prosecution said that that he had been trying to buy weapons illegally and bringing them into Austria. They say that he'd got instructions from the Internet about how to construct a shrapnel bomb. And a shrapnel bomb, they say, is something that is very characteristic of Islamic State. They also say that he had sworn allegiance to Islamic State. This trial is expected to go on until the end of May.

[Ankur Desai]

And just very, very briefly, Bethany, it had a big impact, didn't it, locally within Vienna and in Austria, across the city,

[Bethany Bell]

not just in Austria. People had come from across the world to go to those Taylor Swift concerts, all three of which had to be cancelled. I met fans at the time who'd flown in all the way from California in Asia, and there was a real sense of great disappointment. Appointment fans in tears, handing out friendship bracelets and singing in Vienna.

[Ankur Desai]

Bethany Bell reporting from Vienna to the US now as King Charles III and Queen Camilla are on day two of a four day state visit. So far, it's all been very manicured with cups of Earl Grey tea and a garden party on the lawn of the British Embassy. There's much anticipation of the king's visit to Congress later. It comes at a time of heightened diplomatic tension between both countries over NATO, Greenland, Ukraine and the Chagos Islands. And President Trump has openly criticized British Prime Minister Keir Starmer many times, most recently over his refusal to support him in the offensive against Iran. As we record this podcast, President Trump is giving the king and queen a ceremonial welcome to the United States at the White House. For what we can expect later, here's our correspondent in Washington, Shamikhalil.

[Sharma Khalil]

We're expecting King Charles to be in the building that I'm looking at right now, the Capitol, where he's going to address a joint meeting of Congress. And this is really the centerpiece of his visit. This is where he gets to send a message from the UK to the United States. And it comes, as you were mentioning there, tense times between those two countries, that special relationship being tested because time and time again we've heard President Trump lambast and criticized the British Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, for what he sees as the lack of support from the United Kingdom in the war with Iran. The prime minister has always said that he's acting in the country's interest. Now, we are expecting him to say that the countries have always found a way to come together, even though they've, you know, sometimes they don't see eye to eye. He is going to also express sympathy about what happened Saturday because remember, this royal visit comes just a couple of days after that shocking night on Saturday, the third attempt on the life of President Trump when an alleged gunman tried to storm the ballroom during a media gala. So, yes, of course, security is tight because of this royal visit, but I think it's been notched up with a sense of tension because of what happened on Saturday.

[Ankur Desai]

Okay, Shaima. It's a careful balancing act, isn't it, for King Charles III because he can't get too political. And Donald Trump has always said that he loves the royal family, he loves the king. So is there a lot of pressure? Because I guess the UK Government will be thinking, okay, he has some soft power. What can he deliver?

[Sharma Khalil]

I think what he can deliver is what you can read between the lines. Yes, he cannot get too political, too directly, if you will. And yes, he has a little bit of leverage because of that soft power. And I would say, and I would also say because of that personal chemistry between the two men, because unlike the turbulent relationship that Donald Trump has with Keir Starmer, you'll find that he has a lot of affinity for the Monarch, that he's described him as a great man, a brave man. He said that absolutely this visit could repair the relationship between the two countries. So when they were sitting down yesterday, for example, there was a sit down that was meant to last for 20 minutes. It lasted for double that amount. So you could see that there is that chemistry between them. But of course, there are bigger issues, the relationship between the two countries. But also remember that Donald Trump has also lambasted NATO and he'll speak about that as well.

[Ankur Desai]

Sharma Khalil reporting. Next. If the Artemis 2 mission earlier this month made you all excited about space, gave you a glamorized view of maybe one day experiencing it for yourself, then it's time to provide some balance. Over to our reporter Wool Chalk to bring us all back down to Earth.

[Host/Reporter]

I think while the idea of going to space might seem attractive to a lot of us, the reality is if you're going to Mars, say, that's six months of traveling in extremely close quarters with your fellow astronauts. And if by the time you get to Mars, you will hate each other. Well, that's not ideal, to say the least. So that is why six brave volunteers have just started the European Space agency's Solis 100 isolation study. So they're spending a hundred days locked in a small building together. No sex, no alcohol, no daylight, only tinned food. They have to exercise for an hour a day, but they can only shower twice a week. The only contact they'll have with the outside world is a weekly video call and also shoving their arm through a hatch for a regular blood test. But they're not allowed to make eye contact with the people doing it. And just to be perfectly clear, they will never actually be leaving Earth. The space station in question is rooted to the ground in Germany.

[Ankur Desai]

Okay, so who on Earth would actually want to do this?

[Host/Reporter]

Well, we don't know their names, but we know they're aged between 26 and 36 from six different European countries. They do get paid. It's around $27,000. And they are currently doing this experiment, they're currently spending their days doing exactly what they do in space and following a strict daily schedule. Now, this is actually a repeat of an experiment that was ran in 2010 and that one went on for 520 days. Six male volunteers in a fake space station in a car park in Russia. This is a taster of the video diary of one of the participants, Diego Urbina.

[Ankur Desai]

Simple things such as the blue sky,

[John Sakianakis]

such as, I don't know, going dancing in the evening, I love that. And here I am not able to do it. My family, I miss them a lot. And my friends.

[Host/Reporter]

Now, another man who took part 15 years ago is Romaine Charles. He has been speaking today in honour of this new experiment starting.

[Interviewee/Guest]

When we think about going further in space exploration, the human factor is still a big question. How to create a team that can work together for such a long period of time, trying to get finer and finer markers of how to counter any issues a team could have in isolation, in confinement.

[Host/Reporter]

So quite good, I think, Ankur, this experiment in putting life into perspective. Because I think we all get annoyed with our colleagues, with our family, with our friends sometimes. But we can all be thankful that we are not locked in a small room of them for 100 days.

[Ankur Desai]

Somewhere in Germany will chalk reporting. Let's go to Kenya's Rift Valley province now and the village of the record breaking marathon runner, Sebastian Sawyer. They've been celebrating there since the 31 year old became the first person to run the distance in under two hours in London at the weekend. His parents say his achievement will change not only their lives, but those of the whole community. Our Africa correspondent Barbara Platasha reports.

[Barbara Platasha]

At the Sawh family home, Sebastian's parents, relatives and neighbors welcomed us from with song praising the man who's made marathon history. The first athlete to run a competitive race in less than two hours. Remarkably, a moment that Sebastian's father Simeon missed. So vibrant were the celebrations here.

[Interviewee/Guest]

I did not expect he was going to break the record. That really surprised us all. I was afraid the runner from Ethiopia would beat him. When I saw Sebastian pull ahead, I was so excited. I started celebrating and did not even watch the end of the race.

[Astudestra Ajingrastri]

I was very happy. I thank God I jumped around the house. I just didn't know what to do. I was so happy.

[Barbara Platasha]

Emily, Sebastian's mother, takes the lead. Thank you so much, my son, for the marvelous things you have done. SHE SINGS her son is a man from modest beginnings in rural Kenya. But his parents tell us their lives are now set to change along with his. We are so grateful and thank God. They say he has really lifted us up and will give back to the community.

[Interviewee/Guest]

The truth is he promised us that he's going to build us a house and he said he would buy us a car so we won't be walking on foot anymore. He also promised he will finish building the church here.

[Barbara Platasha]

Big changes for you. Sebastian is special, but he's not alone. Many elite marathon runners have come from this part of the world. It's raining here right now, but the western highlands of Kenya are the global capital of high altitude training for distance running. It helps athletes build their endurance and their lung capacity. At the moment, Sebastian is still enjoying the limelight in London and that will certainly continue when he returns to Kenya, say his parents.

[Astudestra Ajingrastri]

We are planning to welcome him to have a celebration and a Thanksgiving because he has done wonders.

[Interviewee/Guest]

We wanted to have the celebrations for him before, but he said no, wait until I break the world record. So now we will ask him if we are free to go ahead with the celebration.

[Barbara Platasha]

This time they won't take no for an answer. It's an incredible achievement for Kenya that's reverberating around the world and will be a hero's welcome for the local boy who delivered it,

[Ankur Desai]

Barbara Platasher reporting from Kenya. And that's all from us for now. If you want to get in touch, you can email [e-mail] you can also find us on X@ BBC World Service. You can use the hashtag Global Newspod. And don't forget our sister podcast, the Global Story, which goes in depth and beyond the headlines on one big story. This edition of the Global News Podcast was mixed by Tom Waterworth and the producer was Alice Adley. The editor is Karen Martin and I'm Ankar Desai. Until next time, goodbye.

[Ad Voice]

Big surprises could be waiting in Cash Avalanche Casino slot. Every spin brings the chance for exciting rewards. Collect sweepstakes coins, join spin challenges and explore colorful themes. With frequent updates and smooth gameplay, the fun keeps going. Download Cash Avalanche Casino slot on the App Store and claim your bonus.