US launches 'heavy' strikes on Iran

Summary

Global News Podcast
BBC World Service
Episode: US launches 'heavy' strikes on Iran
Date: July 30, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode of the Global News Podcast focuses on a dramatic escalation in the US-Iran conflict, after US forces launched significant strikes on Iran in response to attacks on American bases. The episode covers the rapid regional fallout, including Iranian attacks on Jordan and Kuwait, as well as diplomatic and humanitarian ramifications. Other major global news stories include a deadly earthquake in Japan, renewed Russian missile strikes on Ukraine (including a violation of Polish airspace), the forced return of African migrants from South Africa, Singapore's harsh stance on disruptive behavior, European wildfires, Qantas’s record-breaking direct flight, and a reflection on the importance of reconnecting with the physical world.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. US-Iran Escalation and Regional Instability

• [01:08–05:50] Main Segment

  • The US Military launched a "heavy wave" of strikes on Iran, targeting Revolutionary Guards command centers, missile/drone sites, and surveillance points.
  • Iranian state media reported fatalities among Revolutionary Guards and civilians, including a family on Kesham Island.
  • Iran quickly retaliated, attacking sites in Kuwait (killing one worker at a Chinese company) and targeting Jordan (where five missiles were intercepted).
  • Tensions follow a brief lull as diplomatic talks seemed to resume, but recent military actions mark a sharp escalation.

  Notable Quotes:

  • "US forces are said to have bombed dozens of sites in Iran... Iranian state media say three Revolutionary Guards members were killed, but also a couple and their child..." — Yolan Nel (02:44)
  • "Retaliation came fairly quickly. Kuwait said that one worker was killed in an Iranian attack on a Chinese firm..." — Yolan Nel (03:10)
  • "The lull that we saw at the end of last week now seems to be over... the war has widened and has become more complicated." — Yolan Nel (03:42)

• [03:42–05:50] Broader Regional Spread

  • The conflict has expanded, with possible new fronts in Egypt (suspected drone attack at Damietta port), increased involvement from Saudi Arabia, and threats from Houthis in Yemen.
  • Egypt remains insulated due to a longstanding policy against foreign troop presence.

  Memorable Moment:

  • "Now we're looking at it as another possible new front in the U.S.-Iran war... it's causing jitters on energy markets because of its proximity to the Suez Canal..." — Yolan Nel (04:54)

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2. Ukraine: Russian Missile Barrage and Polish Airspace Violation

• [05:50–09:49]

  • Russia launched over 70 missiles and nearly 300 drones at Ukraine overnight, focusing on Kyiv and Lviv; at least 13 killed.
  • Polish airspace was violated by what is believed to be a Russian missile, leaving a crater in Poland.

  Notable Quotes:

  • "The Russians may be counting that they might break Ukraine's resistance by attacks on heating and power generation. They’ve destroyed 80% of Ukraine's electricity generating capacity..." — Radek Sikorski (07:03)
  • "It seems to have been tracked across the territory of Ukraine and into Poland... Only Russia owns and launches such missiles." — Radek Sikorski (08:07)

• NATO allies are coordinating on reinforcement, but weapon shortages persist due to multiple ongoing conflicts.

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3. Forced Repatriation of African Migrants from South Africa

• [09:49–13:51]

  • Migrants, some residing more than a decade in South Africa, are forced to return amid rising anti-immigrant tensions and violence.
  • Personal stories highlighted: loss of livelihood, family separation, and the challenge of starting over.

  Notable Quotes:

  • "It was painful for me to leave one person who is my best friend... I wasn't the cause of the situation. It's now letting me lose life of 15 years of a journey that I loved so much." — Richard, Nigerian migrant (11:22)
  • "I feel useless. I feel empty. The thing that broke me was I could not provide." — Richard, Nigerian migrant (11:45)
  • "If I'm in a country and I'm being chased like an unworthy animal, then it becomes very, very, very worrisome." — Aiden Aris, Ghanaian footballer (12:41)

• Efforts for compensation are ongoing, with South Africa ruling out payments.

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4. Singapore: Strict Law Enforcement and 'Playful' Offense

• [13:51–16:40]

  • French student Didier Gaspard Maximilian fined for filming himself licking a vending machine straw and posting it online—eliciting a strong legal response in Singapore.
  • Singapore’s culture of strict penalties for public disorder highlighted, including prison sentences for relatively minor misdemeanors.

  Notable Quotes:

  • "He quickly admitted to the stunt, and the judge said there was no real evidence of harm." — Stephanie Prentice (15:31)
  • "Even matters like shouting in public, singing loudly, smoking outside of designated areas, spitting on the ground, feeding pigeons, you can get fined. You can really get in trouble." — Stephanie Prentice (16:00)

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5. Deadly Earthquake in Japan

• [17:44–20:46]

  • 34 confirmed dead after a powerful earthquake in Kumamoto; rescues ongoing after collapses at a shopping mall and paper mill.
  • 20,000 homes without power; concerns rise about heatstroke among displaced elderly due to a lack of air conditioning.

  Notable Quotes:

  • "What we are hearing is that the aftershock has continued, renewing the fear that there could be a day two or day three major earthquake..." — Jake Kwon (18:07)
  • "About 20,000 homes are still without electricity... a lot of people die of heat strokes." — Jake Kwon (19:30)
  • "Japan is a place that really knows earthquakes... what we are seeing today is really talking to the preparedness of Japan..." — Jake Kwon (20:17)

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6. European Wildfires

• [20:46–22:50]

  • Massive wildfires burn across Greece, Spain, and France, leading to large-scale evacuations but some signs of stabilization and optimism.
  • Weather relief and firefighting progress are allowing some evacuees to return.

  Memorable Moment:

  • "They're talking for the first time... of allowing people back... There's even a bit of rain predicted for today. So for the first time there's a note of optimism." — Hugh Schofield (21:26)

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7. Aviation Milestone: Qantas and Airbus

• [22:50–24:51]

  • Qantas and Airbus complete their first scheduled commercial test flight lasting over 24 hours, paving the way for non-stop Australia-Europe routes.

  Notable Quotes:

  • "Two sunsets, two sunrises... crew was super excited to do that." — Vincent Zabel, test flight pilot (23:29)
  • "There is a social area that has been designed for passengers... It's different to a flight where you stay in your seat for 16 or 17 hours..." — Vincent Zabel (24:27)

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8. Reconnecting with the Physical World

• [24:51–29:25]

  • Discussion with author Ian Bogost ("The Small Stuff") on finding peace and meaning in small sensory experiences amid automated daily life.
  • Balancing technological ease with tactile physicality for greater life satisfaction.

  Notable Quotes:

  • "I pull espresso with a manual espresso machine every morning and I love doing that. But I also love just the feel of the warm cup in my hand..." — Ian Bogost (25:52)
  • "It's not a choice between technology or no technology... One thing that makes them pleasurable is not just getting the task done, but the experience of doing it. And we have somewhat lost track of the idea that experience is meaningful..." — Ian Bogost (28:25)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• US-Iran escalation: 01:08–05:50
• Ukraine/Russia missile strikes; Polish airspace: 05:50–09:49
• African migrants repatriated from South Africa: 09:49–13:51
• Singapore law enforcement on public nuisance: 13:51–16:40
• Japan earthquake coverage: 17:44–20:46
• Wildfires in Europe: 20:46–22:50
• Qantas/Airbus long-haul flight: 22:50–24:51
• Finding meaning in physical experiences (Ian Bogost): 24:51–29:25

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Memorable Quotes (Speaker Attribution & Timestamps)

• “US forces are said to have bombed dozens of sites in Iran... Iranian state media say three Revolutionary Guards members were killed, but also a couple and their child...”
  — Yolan Nel (02:44)
• “The Russians may be counting that they might break Ukraine's resistance by attacks on heating and power generation. They’ve destroyed 80% of Ukraine's electricity generating capacity…”
  — Radek Sikorski (07:03)
• “It was painful for me to leave one person who is my best friend... I wasn't the cause of the situation. It's now letting me lose life of 15 years of a journey that I loved so much.”
  — Richard, Nigerian migrant (11:22)
• “He quickly admitted to the stunt, and the judge said there was no real evidence of harm.”
  — Stephanie Prentice (15:31)
• “About 20,000 homes are still without electricity... a lot of people die of heat strokes.”
  — Jake Kwon (19:30)
• "Two sunsets, two sunrises... crew was super excited to do that."
  — Vincent Zabel (23:29)
• "I pull espresso with a manual espresso machine every morning and I love doing that. But I also love just the feel of the warm cup in my hand..."
  — Ian Bogost (25:52)
• “It's not a choice between technology or no technology... One thing that makes them pleasurable is not just getting the task done, but the experience of doing it.”
  — Ian Bogost (28:25)

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Tone and Language

The episode uses the BBC’s trademark calm, measured, and analytical tone, alternating between urgent reporting on breaking crises and reflective segments that provide global context. First-hand testimonies and correspondents’ dispatches bring a human element to major stories, while expert interviews offer informed analysis.

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This summary captures all major topics and the “feel” of the episode, highlighting moments of analysis, personal narrative, and global consequence.

Transcript

[Valerie Sanderson]

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[Johnny Diamond]

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[Radek Sikorski]

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[Narrator/Host]

This is the Global News podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Valerie Sanderson and at 59 GMT on Thursday 30th July, these are our main stories. Jordan and Kuwait have both come under Iranian attack after the United States carried out another wave of strikes on Iran. More than 30 people are known to have died in Japan's earthquake. An object that violated Polish airspace overnight was most likely a Russian missile, according to the Polish prime minister. So how significant is the escalation?

[Richard (Migrant)]

Also in this podcast, my business was attacked and it felt like I couldn't afford to take care of my family. It was painful for me to leave one person who is my best friend. It hurt me so much.

[Narrator/Host]

The African migrants forced out of South Africa, some leaving behind a spouse and the last straw, how a French teenager fell foul of the law in Singapore. After a short period of relative calm, the U S Israel war with Iran has reignited. The US Military says it has completed a heavy wave of strikes in retaliation for Tehran targeting American bases in Jordan on Tuesday. In the last few hours, Jordan and Kuwait have both come under Iranian attack for days. Both Iran and the US had halted strikes as talks apparently restarted in hopes of some type of diplomatic solution. James Menendez has been speaking to our Middle east correspondent YOLAN NEL so U.S.

[Yolan Nel]

forces are said to have bombed dozens of sites in Iran which they say are linked to the Revolutionary Guards military command centers, missile and drone sites, coastal surveillance sites. They say Iranian state media say three Revolutionary Guards members were killed, but also a couple and their child when a residential building on Kesham island in the Strait of Hormuz was hit. Now, retaliation came fairly quickly. Kuwait said that one worker was killed in an Iranian attack on a Chinese firm in the north of the country. And then in Jordan again, five missiles shot down. The armed forces there say no reports of casualties. But this US Attack earlier on Iran was said to be a powerful response to Iranian attacks one day ago on US Forces in Jordan, which are also said to have been unsuccessful.

[Valerie Sanderson]

Does it feel like this war certainly at the moment is spreading geographically?

[Yolan Nel]

Certainly. First of all, you know, the lull that we saw at the end of last week now seems to be over. It remains to be seen though, if the pattern of nightly U.S. strikes, Iranian retaliation against U.S. forces and U.S. allies in the region is going to resume. You've still got talks going on in the background via mediators, but you know, in recent days the war has widened and it has become more complicated. You know, Saudi Arabia launched those attacks with the US On Iran backed groups in Iraq. Although we are told from reports when the Saudi defense minister was meeting President Trump last night, he was passing on a message that says that Saudi Arabia is calling for a de escalation. But I don't think we've heard the last of Iraq. Some 20 members of this pro Iranian militia said to have been killed, as well as several Iranian advisers. And then of course, you've had in the past week a lot of attention switched as well to the Houthis in Yemen, their threats to Red Sea shipping.

[Radek Sikorski]

And the Egyptian authorities saying that a fire which broke out in a port yesterday, they're saying that was a drone attack. I mean, do we know where that drone came from?

[Yolan Nel]

That has not been confirmed yet. No party said to have claimed responsibility. There was a big fire that started off the port of Damietta on Egypt's northern Mediterranean coast. And you know, now we're looking at it as another possible new front in the U.S. iran war. And that's causing jitters on the energy markets because of course of its proximity to the Suez Canal, which is really the last safe route out of the Middle east now for Saudi oil. You know, important to mention here that Egypt is a close ally of the U.S. of course, in the region. But we've had no reports of it coming under attack in the past five months since the Iran war started, unlike other US Allies across the Middle East. And that is really because Egypt does have this long time national security Policy of not allowing foreign troops to be based on its soil. But of course Egypt does have significant U.S. commercial interest base there.

[Narrator/Host]

YOLANDNELL Russian forces launched more than 70 missiles and almost 300 drones on Ukraine overnight, killing at least 13 people and injuring dozens more. The capital Kyiv and western region of Lviv on Ukraine's border with Poland were the main focus of the assault. The deputy mayor of Lviv, Andrey Moskalenko is visiting a residential area hit by

[Vincent Zabel]

a strike 4am in our city was damaged by Russian missiles.

[Jake Kwon]

So we right now on one of the sites where emergency service tried to find people who are under the building

[Vincent Zabel]

because two big buildings residential area was destroyed partly few blocks of that building totally was destroyed.

[Jake Kwon]

We pray that all people will be alive. And so now in a hospital more

[Vincent Zabel]

than 20 people also children can also was damaged to kindergarten one school.

[Narrator/Host]

Poland scrambled fighter jets to secure its airspace during the attack. And the Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said a 10 meter wide crater and debris in a field 100 kilometers from the Ukrainian border was probably due to a Russian missile. Radek Sikorski is Poland's Foreign Minister. He gave Sarah Montagu his reaction to these latest attacks.

[Radek Sikorski]

The Russians may be counting that they might break Ukraine's resistance by attacks on heating and power generation. They've destroyed 80% of Ukraine's electricity generating capacity, which of course affects not only civilians, but also production capabilities in the defense sector and so on. So Putin seems to be desperate in throwing his oar at Ukraine.

[Valerie Sanderson]

And what we've also seen is a missile land in Poland. How significant is that? Because obviously it's a violation of Polish airspace and so NATO airspace. Do you imagine that it was done deliberately?

[Radek Sikorski]

We don't know. But we've had these incidents before. At the beginning of the war, a similar missile landed 10 km from my house, which is in western Poland. It traversed two thirds of my country.

[Valerie Sanderson]

But you have no doubt that it was a Russian missile.

[Radek Sikorski]

It seems to have been tracked across the territory of Ukraine and into Poland. And if it's the type of missile that our military thinks thinks it's likely, judging by the speed and so on. Only Russia owns and launches such missiles.

[Valerie Sanderson]

So what should the response be? Both to the idea that you're setting up that Ukraine is at a particular point where Russia is going to apply pressure, but also that there has been this violation of Polish airspace.

[Radek Sikorski]

Well, we need to stick to our plan of assistance to Ukraine. What's particularly needed is effectors to the Patriot system, the latest PAC3s. As allies, we have rallied round Ukraine with supplies. But clearly there are shortages.

[Valerie Sanderson]

Right. Shortages that make Ukraine much more vulnerable.

[Radek Sikorski]

Indeed.

[Valerie Sanderson]

And is that something that European nations should be addressing immediately?

[Radek Sikorski]

It's something that is being coordinated by NATO in Brussels with American leadership. These are weapons that are not in oversupplies. You know as well as I do that there is another war in the Middle east as well.

[Valerie Sanderson]

Right. So there just aren't enough to go around, particularly given what's going on with America's war in Iran, which is why

[Radek Sikorski]

we need to rebuild our defense industry base and why I welcome the announcement by President Trump in Ankara. I was there that licenses will be granted to make some of this equipment in Europe.

[Narrator/Host]

Poland's Foreign Minister, Radek Sikorski. African migrants have been forced to leave South Africa in the past few months after a wave of anti immigration protests and growing fears for their safety. Diplomatic tensions between South Africa and some African countries have risen in recent weeks as people returning describe being forced to leave behind their homes, jobs, businesses and sometimes the South African born spouses. Now back home, they face the difficult reality of rebuilding lives from scratch. Thomas Nardi has met some of those starting over in Ghana and Nigeria.

[Thomas Nardi]

This was the moment the first flight carrying Nigerians from South Africa landed in Lagos under a voluntary repatriation program. For years, many had built lives in South Africa. But as anti immigration protests grew, some felt they had no choice but to leave. For 15 years, Richard built a life in South Africa. He ran a vehicle refurbishment business, bought a house, got married and became the father of twin daughters. He thought he had found stability. Then everything changed.

[Richard (Migrant)]

My business was attacked.

[Thomas Nardi]

Protesters demanded undocumented migrants leave South Africa. But Richard, who claimed legal status, said he also faced harassment. He says his biggest loss is being separated from his family, especially his South African wife.

[Richard (Migrant)]

It was painful for me to leave one person who is my best friend. If I come back from work and she comes back, we are together. We tell each other things. So it hurt me so much that a situation that I wasn't the cause of the situation is now letting me lose life of 15 years of a journey that I loved so much.

[Thomas Nardi]

He says starting a business again has been difficult.

[Richard (Migrant)]

I feel useless. I feel empty. The thing that broke me was I could not provide.

[Valerie Sanderson]

We are tired of seeing African migrants

[Vincent Zabel]

moving all over the world.

[Thomas Nardi]

Refusing to fix your own country. In April, Emmanuel Asamoa, a Ghanaian hairstylist, was confronted by a group of South Africans in a viral video. I'm in Ghana now.

[Narrator/Host]

I'm fixing my country.

[Thomas Nardi]

The video sparked outrage online and prompted The Ghanaian government to start immediate evacuation of its citizens. I was scared. So what I was praying in my mind is they would leave me so

[Richard (Migrant)]

that I would get my life.

[Thomas Nardi]

I was very scared. Emmanuel was the first Ghanaian to be repatriated by the Ghanaian government. He has since started a business in Accra with the support of the Ghanaian authorities. Like Emmanuel, Ghanaian footballer Aiden Aris also joined Ghana's repatriation program, alleging authorities in South Africa are failing to stop vigilante attacks on migrants.

[Johnny Diamond]

If I'm in a country and I'm

[Thomas Nardi]

being chased like an unworthy animal, then it becomes very, very, very worrisome. If not backed by government or the government is looking away for all these things to happen. How can an individual become so powerful more than the state institutions? That is ridiculous. South African authorities have denied such claims. Richard in Nigeria and Aden in Ghana are struggling to start life all over again. I'm lodging in a friend's house and it might take a while for me to be on my feet.

[Richard (Migrant)]

If I remember, I was this okay in Nigeria before I left and now I'm on level zero.

[Thomas Nardi]

Nigeria says it will seek compensation for abandoned businesses and property, but South Africa has ruled out payments. Yet amid the loss, Richard says there's also relief.

[Richard (Migrant)]

I felt that welcome from the airport. I don't know the kind of joy that came into. And I asked myself, why did I leave in the first place?

[Thomas Nardi]

Ghana has petitioned the AU over anti immigration attacks, while South Africa has dismissed an ICC request by two Ghanaians opportunistic

[Narrator/Host]

Thomas Nadi reporting from Accra, Ghana. The International Criminal Court or ICC has not said whether it will consider that request to investigate. Singapore is known for its enforcement of rules around public order, cleanliness, vandalism and disruptive behavior. Now a French teenager studying there has found out just how seriously the nation state views the adherence to strict regulations. Stephanie Prentice told me more.

[Stephanie Prentice]

So this 18 year old boy, he's called Didier Gaspard Maximilian. He was in Singapore studying business and he filmed himself. This was back in March, approaching an orange juice vending machine, taking a straw out of it, licking the straw and putting it back for someone else to find. He then posted that on his Instagram story with the caption city is not safe. He doesn't appear to have been an influencer and Instagram stories disappear, as we know after 24 hours. But someone captured it, reshared it and it started going viral, particularly in Singapore community groups and social media accounts. People were outraged. International coverage followed and that led to his arrest. Now he's just appeared in court. He pleaded guilty to one count of public nuisance and he was fined $450, which actually could have been a lot worse. So public nuisance offenders in Singapore can get fines of up to $2,000, three months in jail, or sometimes both. But it seems the prosecutors and the defence were happy to agree to a fine. His team said he was very sorry. He thought he was being playful. He quickly admitted to the stunt, and the judge said there was no real evidence of harm.

[Narrator/Host]

Singapore does not mess around on issues like this, does it?

[Stephanie Prentice]

Absolutely not. So Singapore is very strict on everything from drug laws to even bringing a vape into the country. This April, an Australian man in his 60s who was accused of being drunk and disorderly on a flight. He was arrested when he landed. He faced five years in prison. Last November, Quite famous case. The court sentenced another Australian man to nine days in prison. That was after he jumped these security barriers at a premiere. He grabbed Ariana Grande, the actress and singer that was at the premiere for Wicked. So he did nine days in prison and then, once released, immediately deported a Thai national who urinated inside a train carriage. Got a week in jail. But even matters like shouting in public, singing loudly, smoking outside of designated areas, spitting on the ground, feeding pigeons, you can get fined. You can really get in trouble. One case I actually found involved a big fine over letting a dog urinate on a neighbor's shoe rack. And even in your own home, behavioral caution is advised. Even if you're seen walking around naked, you can also get fined.

[Narrator/Host]

Now you know. Stephanie Prentice. Still to come in this podcast,

[Grainger Advertiser]

In

[Narrator/Host]

a world dominated by devices, how small moments like these can help us reconnect with the physical world.

[Grainger Advertiser]

Grainger knows when you're a procurement manager for an office park, you're not managing one building, you're managing all of them. And to stay ahead, you need to see through walls and around corners. Lights about to fail, filters ready to clog. H Vac on its last leg. If you wait until something breaks, you're already behind. Count on Grainger for quality products, easy reordering and 24. 7 support. Call 1-800-GRAINGER click grainger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done.

[Narrator/Host]

This is the global news podcast. In Japan, rescuers are still combing through the debris of a paper mill and a shopping mall to find survivors following Tuesday's powerful earthquake in Kumamoto in the south of the country. Aftershocks in the area are happening throughout the day and thousands are without power and water. Our correspondent in the region, Jake Kwon, gave me the latest we have heard

[Jake Kwon]

from the Kumamoto Prefecture. This is where the earthquake epicenter was. And we are hearing now that the death toll has risen to 34. Now, many of these deaths are from the shopping center and the paper mill where the chimney had collapsed, trapping the workers beneath. And the rescue workers are still combing through the rubbles trying to find the few missing people still. But what we are hearing is that the aftershock has continued, renewing the fear that, you know, there could be a day two or day three major earthquake, which is what happened 10 years ago in 2016, when an earthquake there, the second one was even bigger than the first and that ended up killing 278 people. But thankfully that hasn't. We haven't really seen something of that scale yet. But the picture that is emerging now is how much worse, how more deadly this earthquake could have been. Because if you look at the shopping center where the second floor had collapsed, there was an explosion, a gas explosion likely that happened an hour after the earthquake. And what we're hearing from the operator of the shopping mall, that there were 3,000 customers inside when the initial quake happened and they were evacuated very quickly. And the people who were killed or missing inside the shopping mall are mostly the employees.

[Narrator/Host]

And what about the effect of the destruction? I mean, how many people are without power and water?

[Jake Kwon]

So we are hearing that about 20,000 homes are still without electricity. And many of these government designated shelters set up at government offices or stadiums are without air conditioning. Now, if you ever been to this region, Japan or East Asia, the summer can be quite brutal. It is very humid and without air conditioning, a lot of people die of heat strokes. And we're talking about a country where it is known for having a lot of elder population. So the government said its other priority is to get generators and air conditioning there. And we just heard from the Defense Ministry saying that they have just delivered 300 units of air conditioning and many more to the shelters at this point.

[Narrator/Host]

And Jacob, there are a lot of questions now about how prepared Japan was for just such an event.

[Jake Kwon]

So we have heard from the operator of the shopping mall, Aon, and they were saying that the building, the shopping center, was renovated recently and it was built to the latest earthquake resistance standard that Japan had. And Japan is a place that really knows earthquake. They're very prone to it. They have a small quake every few minutes. And I think what we're seeing today is really talking to the preparedness of Japan when it comes to something like this.

[Narrator/Host]

Jake Kwon France, Spain and Greece are continuing to battle wildfires spurred by soaring temperatures, parched vegetation and strong winds. Around 8,000 people were evacuated on the Greek island of Crete as wildfires threaten a tourist resort and villages in Spain. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez described the crisis as extreme, with at least 10 active wildfires causing concern. Two people were arrested in France on suspicion of arson. But the authorities say the fires near Bordeaux have not spread overnight despite flare ups and a spike in temperatures on Wednesday. A correspondent in Paris is Hugh Schofield.

[Ian Bogost]

The latest is good news, frankly. They've been stabilizing over the last three or four days, since the weekend really, and, and now for the first time, the authorities down there are talking about light at the end of the tunnel. We're no longer seeing a fire in the conventional sense, certainly not like what we saw at the weekend with, you know, vast swathes of forest burning. It's now a charred landscape with outbreaks of fire which are caused by embers. You have what they call these zombie fires where smoke suddenly starts rising from the peat which is very, very supercharged with heat and then that can burst into flames again. And these have to be stamped on straight away. But I really do think we're in the end game here now. And they're talking for the first time, the authorities of allowing people back these evacuees back already some people from very near Bordeaux are allowed to go back. The bulk though haven't and I think it'll be a few more days probably before they, they're sure enough that they can let them back. The weather is also looking good. We had a very, very hot day yesterday up at 40 degrees Celsius and I think getting through that day was key and they did get through that day and last night wasn't was no worse. Things are pretty stable. There's even a bit of rain predicted for today. So for the first time there's a note of optimism creeping in. And I noticed that the press, the national press here in Paris is for the first time now not leading with this story.

[Narrator/Host]

Hugh Schofield, Australia's national airline, Qantas, in conjunction with Airbus, has just completed its first ever test flight lasting than 24 hours. The flight from Melbourne to the Airbus headquarters in Toulouse in France is part of the airline's plan to reshape long haul travel by cutting out stopovers en route from Australia to Europe. The plan is called Project Sunrise. And from next year, Qantas is hoping to launch the world's longest Non stop regular flight from London to Sydney. The Airbus test flight pilot Vincent Zabel described the experience to the BBC's James Kumarasamy.

[Vincent Zabel]

It was just amazing. Two sunset, two sunrise. The crew was super excited to do that.

[Valerie Sanderson]

The two sunsets and two sunrises, clearly spectacular and you know, not been done before. Beyond that, what are the advantages of being able to fly for so long in one flight?

[Vincent Zabel]

You cross half of the world and honestly we have the feeling that it went fast.

[Valerie Sanderson]

And the reason you're able to fly for these extra hours is because the plane's modified. It has this additional fuel tank, doesn't it?

[Vincent Zabel]

Yes, exactly. That's the main novelty of this Ur version of the A350 1000. We have an extra tank that allows onboarding more fuel and that permits to do such flights.

[Valerie Sanderson]

Now I suppose people listening, wondering what the experience would be like if you are in an economy seat for 24 hours, can you reassure people it would still be a decent experience?

[Vincent Zabel]

Honestly it's quite comfortable and on top. What has been anticipated on this aircraft compared to other is that there is a social area that has been designed for passengers. It's different to a flight where you stay on your seat for 16 or 17 hours without any space to walk or to discuss or to stand up.

[Narrator/Host]

Pilot Vincent Sebel we live in a world of devices and modern conveniences from automatic cars to voice operated entertainment and contactless payments. But some argue that it's made us too disconnected from the physical world. Ian Bogost is a contributing writer for the Atlantic and professor at Washington University in St. Louis and author of a new book, the Small Stuff. He wants us to stop and think about the everyday actions we make. Like some of these. Now if you haven't guessed, the sounds there were of a can opening, a door closing, plastic wrapping and a coffee machine. Through these everyday moments, Ian Boggos thinks we can reconnect and enjoy our physical world and find peace within. Johnny diamond asked him what his favorite small things are.

[Johnny Diamond]

They're not quite hobbies, they're sort of regular activities. I pull espresso with a manual espresso machine every morning and I love doing that. But I also love just the feel of the warm cup in my hand and of course the taste of the coffee. I love the sound of the ice against the walls of the water bottle that I carry with me. I love pulling a satisfying door closed such that it clicks just ever so gently. I love mowing the lawn. There's really so many things and not all of them are things that I think of as a part of my life most of the time, but then when they reveal themselves, when they're available to me, I try to accept them. And that's an exercise that's been different for me, as I've kind of been working on the book and also trying to, I suppose, evangelize the idea of gratification as a immediate, simple, easy pleasure that's always available. A fair number of the things that you've mentioned or the kinds of things

[Ian Bogost]

that you might relate to are going as things become automated or things become driven by what we cannot see and

[Johnny Diamond]

what we cannot control.

[Richard (Migrant)]

Right.

[Ian Bogost]

You're not harking back to a previous, more difficult world.

[Johnny Diamond]

No, I think it's easy to look at the past and notice how certain things, or maybe like a diversity of experiences, were available to us. And many of them got squished into computers, but others became disconnected through choices that we didn't really make, that aren't exactly about progress but are more about automation and efficiency. I think my favorite example of this is all of the automated sensors in a washroom. You know, you go into an airport or an office building or something, and you don't turn on the faucet or pull a paper towel. You now wave your hands around underneath it, and it's supposed to give it to you. You know, you may think, well, I don't want to touch things in the public facilities. And that might be true, but also, that's not exactly progress, is it? You didn't really choose that life. It's one that was designed around you and you maybe didn't even notice or maybe licking a stamp. And until you think of it as something that you once did, then it's easy to forget that that was one piece of contact with the world. I mean, a fair number of people love the ease of automation, whether it is, you know, calling out to a

[Ian Bogost]

computer to turn the lights on in their house, or as you say, dipping their hands into the air dryer rather than pulling down the paper towel.

[Johnny Diamond]

Are they missing something? I think what they're missing is what I would call diversity. It's so delightful to automate parts of our life, and it's delightful to touch a smartphone screen. I have my home lights on the kind of automation system you're talking about, and I put the whole house to bed with the touch of a button. But I'm still gratified by touching the button and feeling it give under my finger. It sits on my nightstand next to my bed. So it's not a choice between technology or no technology or the future or the past. It's rather a matter of understanding that, that whatever you're doing, including some of those kind of more automated or more efficient or more technological means of living, that one of the things that makes them pleasurable is not just getting the task done, but the experience of doing it. And we have somewhat lost track of the idea that experience is meaningful and maybe as meaningful, maybe more meaningful than just outcomes.

[Narrator/Host]

The Authority, Ian Bogost. And that's it from us for now. If you want to get in touch, you can email [e-mail] you can also find us on XBCWorldService. Use the hashtag globalnewspod. And don't forget, we have more on our YouTube channel. Just search for BBC News on YouTube and you'll find Global News Podcast in the podcast section. This edition of the Global News Podcast was mixed by Martin Baker. The producer was Rebecca Wood. The editor is Karen Martin. I'm Valerie Sanderson. Until next time.

[Radek Sikorski]

Bye Bye.