UN Security Council demands Iran halt attacks

Summary

Global News Podcast – March 12, 2026

Episode Title: UN Security Council demands Iran halt attacks
Host: Celia Hatton
Produced by: BBC World Service

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Episode Overview

This episode covers the latest developments in the Middle East, particularly the UN Security Council’s resolution calling for Iran to stop its attacks in the Gulf—without mentioning US-Israeli strikes against Iran that started the current conflict. The podcast also touches on repercussions within the US, Iran's uncertain participation in the upcoming World Cup, Chile’s swing to the far right, mounting drought across East Africa, scientific discoveries about bumblebees, and Oscar picks among BBC correspondents.

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Key Topics & Takeaways

1. UN Security Council Resolution on Iran-Gulf Conflict

• Timestamps: [00:42] – [05:27]
• The UN Security Council adopted a resolution, sponsored by Gulf states and Jordan, demanding Iran stop attacks on regional targets and condemning the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
  • “For the last 12 days, Iranian drones and missiles have been striking innocent civilians and civilian target in GCC countries and Jordan and elsewhere. This unprovoked aggression is a heinous crime.”
    — Jamal Falres Al Ruwaya, Bahrain’s Ambassador to the UN [02:55]
• Russia and China abstained, arguing the text failed to mention the US and Israeli strikes that precipitated the war and didn’t address the conflict’s root causes.
  • “This resolution is a manifest injustice against my country, the main victim of a clear act of aggression. It distorts the realities on the ground and deliberately ignores the root causes of the current crisis.”
    — Amir Syed Iravani, Iran’s Ambassador to the UN [03:29]
• Russia attempted a rival resolution calling for all parties to halt fighting and return to negotiations, which failed due to lack of votes.

Analysis:

• UN correspondent Neda Tofik remarks that despite widespread diplomatic support—135 countries co-sponsored—the resolution’s real-world impact on the ground is likely minimal.
  • “Passing a Security Council resolution and enforcing it are two very different things.” [04:27]
• The episode highlights the Security Council’s limitations in today’s geopolitical climate and the bypassing of multilateral diplomacy by major actors, such as the US.
  • “We are seeing a weakening of the kind of international system. But people here, especially UN Officials, argue it still has value.” — Neda Tofik [05:27]

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2. US Strikes in Iran and the Attack on Minap School

• Timestamps: [05:45] – [12:26]
• US Democrats are urging for public hearings on American military action in Iran, particularly after an attack on a girls’ school in Minap killed 168, mostly young girls, at the war's onset.
• President Trump attributed the strike to Iran, but provided no evidence. Former CIA director Gen. David Petraeus suggests US responsibility is likely.
  • “I do think, sadly, tragically, that we probably were the ones. We were the only ones that have Tomahawk missiles in this particular war…”
    — Gen. David Petraeus [08:11]
• Ongoing Pentagon investigation; officials are not providing details.
  • “Every time US Officials have been pressed on this, they are saying nothing officially about it other than it is being investigated.” — Tom Bateman [08:55]
• Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s dismissiveness towards “stupid rules of engagement” and emphasis on lethality has become a Democratic focus, raising questions on adherence to the rules of war.
  • “He has appeared to sound quite disparaging about the idea of legality. He’s talked in the past about kind of woke policies in the Pentagon that constrain war fighters… there wouldn’t be stupid rules of engagement.” — Tom Bateman [10:08]
• The main US domestic concern appears to be economic, namely rising gas prices.
  • “When it becomes an economic issue, then Americans feel it. The rise in gas prices… is something I think the administration is desperately trying to mitigate.” — Tom Bateman [11:06]

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3. US Strategic Miscalculations and Iranian Response

• Timestamps: [12:26] – [14:32]
• Reporting by Mark Mazzetti (NYT): The US underestimated the existential threat Iran perceived from joint US-Israeli attacks, expecting a swift operation similar to Venezuela or previous smaller strikes.
  • “One of the significant [miscalculations] was assessing what Iran’s response… would be and underappreciating how much Iran saw this attack as potentially an existential threat.” — Mark Mazzetti [12:26]
  • “This is a miscalculation by those who thought Iran might just try to end the war and de-escalate like they did the last time.” [13:54]
• Comparisons were made to the US experience in Venezuela, where regime change was quick and relatively simple from the US perspective.

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4. Iran’s World Cup Participation in Jeopardy

• Timestamps: [14:32] – [18:24]
• Iran’s men’s football team may not participate in the 2026 World Cup due to the ongoing conflict with the US and Israel.
  • “For 90 plus million Iranians, football is probably as close to religion as it can get. …And having the World Cup come to United States and Mexico and Canada … would have been a great opportunity… for the Iranian players and Iran as a country.” — Afshin Ghotbi, former coach [15:12]
• Ghotbi proposes FIFA should find a neutral way to let Iranian players participate as a statement that “sports are always above politics.”
• He also reflects on enduring prejudice faced by Iranians in global sport.
  • “You try to use your position with love and with understanding and patience to teach people that we’re all the same and it doesn’t matter where we come from, we deserve respect and dignity and we should be allowed to have hope and purpose in our lives.” — Afshin Ghotbi [16:23]

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5. Drought Crisis in East Africa

• Timestamps: [21:03] – [25:13]
• Severe drought persists across Somalia, Ethiopia, northern Tanzania, and Kenya, with over 3 million Kenyans facing acute hunger.
  • “We eat these fruits because of hunger… There is no food from either the county government or aid organizations. That’s why we have decided to just eat these fruits.” — Regina Ewutolokopu, Kenyan villager [22:17]
• Livestock deaths mounting; many men have left homes searching for grazing elsewhere.
• Aid agencies (Kenya Red Cross, World Vision, WFP) struggle to meet rising needs; migration and food shortages continue even as rains start to return.
  • “We have small [food supplies] which cannot reach the whole population… We are saying if we can get more partners, more fundraising well wishers to come and support.” — Rukia Abubakari, Turkana county Red Cross [24:05]
• Authorities warn recovery will be slow; resilience and desperation coexist as communities depend on wild fruits for sustenance.

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6. Chile’s Political Shift to the Far Right

• Timestamps: [25:13] – [27:09]
• Jose Antonio Kast sworn in as Chile’s president, marking the nation’s sharpest move right since the 1990s.
  • “Chile needs an emergency government. It’s not a slogan.” — President Jose Antonio Kast [25:38]
• He campaigned on security, tough anti-immigration measures, and promises to criminalize illegal entry, drawing inspiration from El Salvador and Trump-era US policies.
• Social conservatism and ambiguous attitudes towards past dictatorship noted.
  • “Among his promises: he has vowed to criminalize illegal immigration, intensify mass deportations and install fences or walls along Chile’s border.” — Nayara Basht, AP Chile correspondent [26:23]
• Public concern focused more on crime and security than on social agendas or history.

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7. Scientific Discovery: Bumblebees Can Breathe Underwater

• Timestamps: [28:18] – [29:52]
• Research in Canada reveals queen bumblebees’ ability to survive underwater for up to a week during hibernation (diapause), even after apparent submersion.
  • “They look very dead when we removed them from the water, but then it took a few days for them to fully recover and regain activity.” — Dr. Sabrina Rondeau [29:04]
• The finding may help explain how bees survive harsh, wet winters.

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8. Oscars Preview and Personal Picks

• Timestamps: [30:21] – [34:01]
• Correspondents discuss their Oscar favorite films, showing personal tastes and cultural trends:
  • Nomia Iqbal loves “Sinners,” a horror-historical hybrid:
    • “I love the way that horror is being used to talk almost about social issues… I've seen it more than once.” — Nomia Iqbal [31:10]
  • Peter Bowes, unnerved by horror, prefers “Marty Supreme,” a sports drama about table tennis:
    • “It is pure escapism. It took me into a world – championship table tennis – that I knew very little about.” — Peter Bowes [32:00]
  • Lis Doucet admires “It Was Just an Accident” by Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahy:
    • “I've come to believe that good things can come out of bad. And Iranian cinema is a testament to that ... an extraordinarily distinctive and achingly beautiful tradition of cinema.” — Lis Doucet [32:39]
  • Neda Torfik connects with “One Battle After Another,” an action satire on American social divisions:
    • “It just touched on so many flashpoints.” — Neda Torfik [33:23]
• “One Battle After Another” tipped for major Academy Awards.

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Notable Quotes

• “The main victim of a clear act of aggression. It distorts the realities on the ground and deliberately ignores the root causes of the current crisis.” — Amir Syed Iravani, Iran’s UN Ambassador [03:29]
• “We probably were the ones… We were the only ones that have Tomahawk missiles in this particular war.” — Gen. David Petraeus [08:11]
• “Football is probably as close to religion as it can get [for Iranians]… It’s their passion that they are born with, they live with.” — Afshin Ghotbi [15:12]
• “We have small [food supplies], which cannot reach the whole population… That’s why we are saying if we can get more partners, more fundraising well wishers to come and support.” — Rukia Abubakari [24:05]
• “I love the way that horror is being used to talk almost about social issues and I just loved it. I’ve seen it more than once.” — Nomia Iqbal, on “Sinners” [31:10]
• “I've come to believe that good things can come out of bad. And Iranian cinema is a testament to that.” — Lis Doucet [32:39]

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Segment Timestamps (For Quick Reference)

• [00:42] – UN Security Council on Iran
• [05:45] – US military actions & school strike in Minap
• [12:26] – US miscalculation of Iranian response
• [14:32] – Iran’s World Cup and football culture
• [21:03] – Drought in East Africa
• [25:13] – Chile’s political shift
• [28:18] – Bumblebee underwater survival
• [30:21] – Oscars discussion and BBC correspondent favorites

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Conclusion

This episode, delivered with the BBC’s characteristic balance and clarity, provides a sweeping update on global crises—from the escalating Middle East conflict and its international ramifications, through local hardships caused by drought in Africa, to lighter yet culturally resonant stories like the Oscars and scientific discoveries. It features candid expert analysis, moving eyewitness testimony, and memorable insights into both world affairs and daily life.

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Contact:
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Follow: @BBCWorldService #GlobalNewsPod

Transcript

[Celia Hatton]

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the uk.

[Tom Brooke]

When you manage procurement for multiple facilities, every order matters, but when it's for a hospital system, they matter even more. Grainger gets it and knows there's no time for managing multiple suppliers and no room for shipping delays. That's why Grainger offers millions of products in fast, dependable delivery so you can keep your facility stocked, safe and running smoothly. Call 1-800-granger. Click granger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done. Spring is packed. Patios, parties, wedding weekends and RK0 proof keeps you in the mix without the morning after regret as the original Zero Proof Spirits brand, RK's warm molecule gives you that real deal burn of whiskey or tequila with none of the alcohol, zero calories, zero sugar and a whole lot of freedom to enjoy the moment. Sip smarter this [e-mail] that's rk0proof.com this is the global news podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Celia Hatton and in the early hours of Thursday 12th March, we bring you the latest on the conflict in the Middle East. The UN Security Council has backed a resolution condemning Iran for its retaliatory strikes in the Gulf, without mentioning the US Israeli bombing of the country. Democrats in the United States are calling for public hearings on US Strikes in Iran and Tehran says the men's national football team are not in a position to participate in this year's World Cup. Also in this podcast, Chile's politics pivot to the right, the far right as the country's new president takes office.

[Celia Hatton]

And after years of experiencing the impact of watching a horror movie, it doesn't even have to be late at night. It can be during the day. I will go to bed and I will wake up screaming.

[Tom Brooke]

What to watch or possibly avoid from this year's Oscar picks At a meeting in New York, the UN Security Council has passed a resolution demanding that Iran halt its attacks on Gulf nations, but without mentioning the airstrikes by the US And Israel that triggered the war. The resolution was put forward by the six Gulf countries and Jordan. They said over the last 12 days they'd collectively faced nearly a thousand Iranian missile strikes and 2,500 drone attacks. The resolution also condemned Iran's blockade of the crucial Strait of Hormuz. Bahrain's ambassador to the UN Jamal Falres Al Ruwaya, said support for the resolution sent a clear message of unity.

[Celia Hatton]

For the last 12 days, Iranian drones and missiles have been striking innocent civilians and civilian target in GCC countries and Jordan and elsewhere. This unprovoked aggression is a heinous crime.

[Tom Brooke]

But not all Security Council members supported the resolution. Russia and China, both allies of Iran, abstained. Iran's Ambassador to the un, Amir Syed Iravani, said the resolution was biased and politically motivated and reversed the role of aggressor and victim.

[Celia Hatton]

This resolution is a manifest injustice against my country, the main victim of a clear act of aggression. It distorts the realities on the ground and deliberately ignores the root causes of the current crisis. It rewards the regimes of the United States and Israel which have violated the UN Charter and committed act of aggression.

[Tom Brooke]

Our UN Correspondent Neda Tofik in New York has been telling me what the Gulf states and Jordan wanted to achieve with that vote. They said that this Security Council resolution was important to send a message that if you attack your neighbors that there will be consequences. And that's why we saw this resolution actually get a record number of co sponsors. 135 countries backed it. Now, in terms of what impact this will have, well, of course passing a Security Council resolution and enforcing it are two very different things. And of course the Iranian government security forces are really already in a battle for their survival. So I think for many this was very much a needed resolution for the Council to speak. But for those looking to understand how this might change things on the ground, I don't think anyone's under any illusions that it will change Iran's behavior. It is interesting though to bring up the fate of another resolution that failed to pass today, one put forward by Russia. Can you talk us through what happened there and what Russia was trying to achieve on the Gulf countries resolution, both Russia and China abstained. And they both gave the same reason. They said that while they understood the concerns of the Gulf countries, that the resolution didn't fully reflect the root cause and overall picture of the conflict in a balanced manner because the text didn't mention the U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran, which, remember the UN Secretary General has also deemed a violation of the UN Charter. And then we also had Russia suggesting that the Gulf countries had allowed their territories to be used to strike Iran. But Bahrain really hit back against that, saying he was sad to hear the Russian ambassador make that claim that their territories were never used to launch attacks. But what we saw from Russia was then an effort to put forward a competing draft resolution and it essentially just urged all parties to stop fighting and to return to negotiations. Russia called it a non confrontational resolution, but that didn't get enough votes. In the council. So that failed. When you see these kind of goings on at the UN Security Council, does it give you any indication of the strength of the UN Right now, the power of diplomacy to try to make any changes in this conflict? You have to remember that this is a place where the convening power of the UN still has some value. You have diplomats getting across the same table debating these issues, figuring out how to respond. And there's no other place where we can see that happen in real time and get a sense of the dynamics going on. But nevertheless, we have seen just the Security Council lose so much power. Even before President Donald Trump, who has shown a willingness to completely work outside of the council. You know, for example, before he decided to strike Iran along with Israel, he didn't even try to make a case in front of the council. He didn't feel that was at all necessary. So in that sense, we are seeing a weakening of the kind of international system. But people here, especially UN Officials, argue it still has value. Neda Taufik in New York. Well, Democrats in the United States are calling for public hearings on military action in Iran and specifically on the attack on a girl girls school in Minap in southern Iran, which happened right at the start of the war. Iranian officials say that assault killed 168 people, most of them girls, between the ages of 7 and 12. President Trump has blamed Iran for the school attack but hasn't revealed any evidence to back up that claim. General David Petraeus, former director of the Central Intelligence Agency, the CIA and commander of U. S. Central Command, told the BBC that U. S. Military personnel were probably responsible for that school attack.

[Celia Hatton]

I do think, sadly, tragically, that we probably were the ones. We were the only ones that have Tomahawk missiles in this particular war. And it appears that there may have been some old data when this particular building was part of a larger Iranian naval compound from which it was fenced off some years ago. But tragically, it does happen in war.

[Tom Brooke]

Almost every Democrat in the Senate signed the letter asking if the US Military carried out that attack. They also want to know if the correct protocols were in place to ensure civilians wouldn't be killed. I spoke with our State Department correspondent Tom Bateman, and he started by telling me about the Pentagon's investigation into that school strike in Minamp.

[Celia Hatton]

My sense is it will be being carried out by officials both from its US Central Command in the region alongside some, but probably not many officials within the Pentagon itself. But beyond that, we just don't have the detail because every time US Officials have been put pushed on this. They are saying nothing officially about it other than it is being investigated. And I pushed both Secretary of State Rubio last week about what the administration knows. The Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth as well. I asked what the administration knows, and the only answers coming back basically were we're investigating it and we don't target civilians. It was after that then that President Trump said that he believed that the Iranians carried out the strike on the school, although he cited no evidence for that, said he believed that they may have had Tomahawk missiles. He's not thought the Iranians have any Tomahawks. And it seems military investigators believe it likely the US Carried out this strike, albeit they have not yet come to a conclusion.

[Tom Brooke]

The US Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, has been asked about whether the US Is engaging with the rules of war, whether they're carrying out appropriate checks before engaging in attacks. What's he been saying when asked those questions?

[Celia Hatton]

Yeah, and this is one of the questions in the letter from these 46 Democrats in the Senate. Mr. Hegseth talked about the need for lethality. He has appeared to sound quite disparaging about the idea of legality. He's talked in the past about kind of woke policies in the Pentagon that constrain war fighters, as he puts it. And he said in one of the news briefings there wouldn't be stupid rules of engagement. So that rhetoric has become a focus now for the Democrats who've written this letter basically demanding an answer to the question, what provisions were in place to ensure that rules were abided by that are there to prevent the commission of war crimes? Focusing very much on regard for international law that they are implying here has been sort of set aside when it has come to the way that the war has been carried out and these bombing raids on Iranian targets. We haven't had an answer from Mr. Hegseth about that.

[Tom Brooke]

So how serious is this for the Trump administration?

[Celia Hatton]

That's a really good question, because there is a sense among Americans of detachment, I think, often to wars in the Middle east because they don't feel the sense of insecurity on their own shores at home. But when it becomes an economic issue, then Americans feel it. So the rise in gas prices, as we're seeing at the moment, is something I think the administration is desperately trying to mitigate. And that is why we're hearing them say repeatedly, you know, this is a short war. We're going to dictate the terms of the way it ends. And not the Iranians. Mr. Trump repeatedly saying, well, oil prices will come down and fuel prices will be lower in the longer term and there won't be the threat of a nuclear armed Iran. And that is what he says is the objective here. But at the moment, it's about the potential economic inflationary pressures that they see as being the big issue when it comes to the American public at large.

[Tom Brooke]

Tom Bateman in Washington. President Trump has expressed frustration with the war repeatedly. He even at one point suggested ships were being cowardly by not sailing through the Strait of Hormuz. Now, the New York Times newspaper has reported, based on numerous sources, that the US Administration has been taken aback by Iran's response to the attacks on its country. Evan Davis spoke to Mark Mazzetti, the New York Times investigations correspondent, and asked him what he discovered.

[Celia Hatton]

Well, I think there's been many miscalculations, but one of the significant ones has been assessing what Iran's response to an American and Israeli JO attack would be and underappreciating how much Iran saw this attack as potentially an existential threat to the government in Iran, the regime in Iran. And I think that there were planners, at least in the White House, who thought that, you know, what happened last June, which was the Israelis began strikes and then the US Came in for one night of strikes and then it all ended, was the model for what would happen again. And clearly we haven't seen that this time where Iran has, after the initial attack on the supreme leader and the senior leadership has responded by attacking American bases around the Middle east, by attacking cities in the Middle east, by sort of waging economic warfare, including by shutting down the Straits of Hormuz. So this is a miscalculation by those who thought Iran might just sort of try to end the war and de escalate like they did the last time. I wonder whether President Trump or those around him have been overly influenced by, I'll use this word carefully, but how easily everything happened in Venezuela. It all went very smoothly. From an American point of view, it was almost like a dream. They got rid of Maduro, put in someone quite friendly, controlled Venezuela and released Venezuelan oil. And they might. Were they thinking maybe we'd have that kind of outcome this time? So we've reported that the Venezuela operation was in President Trump's mind throughout a lot of the planning for this and that, coupled with Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel, who was also pushing for a joint strike and together thinking that this might be, you know, decapitate the leadership. Iranian people rise up and this could be a relatively quick and easy operation.

[Tom Brooke]

Mark Mazzetti, a correspondent from the New York Times. Now, Iran's men's team has qualified for four consecutive Football World Cups, including this year's tournament. But with the US And Israel at war with Tehran, the country's Minister of sports said on Wednesday that it's doubtful that Iran will be able to play in the US In June. Afshin Gottbi is Tehran born but currently lives in the Netherlands. He's coached both the US and the Iranian national football teams. He told my colleague Tim Franks that Iranians will be devastated if they miss out on the 2026 Men's Football World Cup.

[Celia Hatton]

It deeply saddens me, and it's a very personal matter for me because football has been my Life. And for 90 plus million Iranians, football is probably as close to religion as it can get. It's their passion that they are born with, they live with. And the Iranian national team historically has been basically one of the greatest joys of Iranian people. And having the World cup come to United States and Mexico and Canada, and with so many Iranians that live in America, especially in Los Angeles, it would have been a great opportunity for the Iranian players and Iran as a country be celebrated the World cup in front of so many people that have been so far from their country. I can't think of a World cup which has been staged where one of the host countries is at war with one of the other countries which has qualified for the World Cup. So it would be difficult to see the Iranian team play in the States, wouldn't it? Well, maybe there's another way to look at it. Imagine if FIFA finds a very creative way to allow a selection of Iranian players, which many play abroad and have a neutral organization manage it, and allow those players who earn their right to be in the World Cup. It's basically their life dream to be in the World Cup. And how many World cup does any player ever get a chance to play in in their lifetime? So maybe it's a great moment for FIFA to highlight what they stand for, that sports are always above politics. And I hope that FIFA explores that. You're in a unique position in that you have coached at the highest levels, both the US national team and the Iranian national team. Can you just give me a sense of what it was like for you to cut across such different sporting cultures and national cultures as well? Well, I've been very fortunate in my life to commit myself to my passion and to be able to take it literally to the highest level and I've worked across eight countries and wherever I've been, I've faced enormous amount of, for lack of, better wor towards racism, prejudice, such as I'm playing a derby in Japan and an Iwata fan puts a massive banner saying gopi, stop making bombs. When you see that across the world, you try to use your position with love and with understanding and patience to teach people that we're all the same and it doesn't matter where we come from, we deserve respect and dignity and we should be allowed to have hope and purpose in our lives. And I've tried to live by that. Most Iranians in the last 47 years that have lived abroad, or even Iranians within Iran trying to achieve their dreams and go for their goals have had massive speed bumps and mountains of obstacles in front of them. And I'm proud to say many Iranians around the world have been very successful because of just their grit and they're never given up spirit. So that makes me proud. At the same time, it makes me sad. And with this World Cup, I thought it was a great opportunity for all the Iranians around the world to come as one and celebrate the sport of football at the greatest event in the world.

[Tom Brooke]

Afshin Godby still to come in this podcast, solving an insect mystery. They look very dead when we remove

[Celia Hatton]

them from the water, but then it

[Tom Brooke]

took a few days for them to fully recover and regain activity. Scientists in Canada say they've discovered queen bumblebees have the ability to breathe underwater. When you manage procurement for multiple facilities, every order matters. But when it's for a hospital system, they matter even more. Grainger gets it and knows there's no time for managing multiple suppliers and no room for shipping delays. That's why Grainger offers millions of products in fast, dependable delivery so you can keep your facility stocked, safe and running smoothly. Call 1-800-GRAINGER Click grainger.com or just stop by Granger for the ones who get it done. Spring is packed. Patios, parties, wedding weekends, and RK0 proof keeps you in the mix without the morning after regret. As the original Zero Proof Spirits brand, RK's warm molecule gives you that real deal burn of whiskey or tequila with none of the alcohol. Zero calories zero, sugar zero. And a whole lot of freedom to enjoy the moment. Sip smarter this [e-mail] that's rk0proof.com when you manage procurement for multiple facilities, every order matters. But when it's for a hospital system, they matter even more. Grainger gets it and knows there's no time for managing multiple suppliers and no room for shipping delays. That's why Grainger offers millions of products in fast, dependable delivery so you can keep your facility stocked, safe and running smoothly. Call 1-800-GRAINGER Click grainger.com or just stop by grainger for the ones who get it done.

[Celia Hatton]

If you work in university maintenance, Grainger considers you an MVP because your playbook ensures your arena is always ready for tip off. And Grainger is your trusted partner, offering the products you need all in one place, from H Vac and plumbing supplies to lighting and more, and all delivered with plenty of time left on the clock. So your team always gets the win. Call 1-800-GRAINGER visit grainger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done.

[Tom Brooke]

This is the global news podcast to Africa's eastern coast now, where aid agencies are warning of worsening drought in several countries, including Somalia, Ethiopia, northern Tanzania and Kenya. The Kenyan government says more than 3 million people are facing acute hunger because of the drought that stretched on in some areas for several years. Children and elderly people are suffering and thousands of livestock are dying from starvation. The BBC's Sami Awami reports from northern Kenya.

[Celia Hatton]

I visited a family to learn about their experience and I found three women sitting under a tree pounding these wild fruits. The fruits are brown in color and have a rough, lumpy exterior, and each one is about the size of a small feast or a large avocado peat. I was told that these fruits are usually eaten as snacks by grazers when they are out in the wild tending their animals, but because of hunger, the women told me, the fruits have now become their main food, and not just for these family, but for many others in the village.

[Tom Brooke]

We eat these fruits because of hunger.

[Celia Hatton]

That is Regina Ewutolokopu, one of the women I phoned pounding the fruits. She tells me they have no any other food.

[Tom Brooke]

There is no food from either the county government or aid organizations. That's why we have decided to just eat these fruits.

[Celia Hatton]

We are walking to a house where we've been told there is a woman who hasn't eaten for more than three days. Hunger has made her so frail that she can neither sit nor speak. Grandma is asleep because she hasn't eaten for three days and today is the fourth day. The food itself was just little. For this pasteurist community, livestock isn't just wealth, it is essentially life. But many have lost tens of their animals goats, sheep and camels now in search of pasture. Many Abled men have left home for neighboring countries such as Uganda and Ethiopia. I have come to a food storage managed by Kenya Red Cross and here there are officers loading up bags of food onto a truck and soon they will take it to communities who are desperately in need of it. So far we have around 200,000 people who are in need of food in the entire five hotspot sub counties. Rukia Abubakari is the Turkana county coordinator of Kenya Red Cross. She says Red Cross has been distributing food to the most vulnerable families, but needs are growing faster than the food arriving. We have small which cannot reach the whole population. So that's why we are saying if we can get more partners, more fundraising well wishers to come and support other actors such as World Vision Kenya and World Food Program have also been providing food assistance to vulnerable families. The government is also set to start distributing food for people and animals in counties which have been affected the most. While rains have finally started in most parts of the country, including areas that have endured prolonged drought, officials warn that relief will not come immediately. Families will still need food assistance and pastures need time to grow. Jacob Letosiro is an assistant director for National Drought Management Authority. I believe what we are receiving now could be off season rains and may not have instant impact to livestock or water availability. So it's not something worth celebrating at this point. Back in the village, both people and animals continue to rely on these wild fruits. One can say it's a sign of resilience, but it's also a sign of desperation for these communities. Until the land recovers, the fruits will likely remain the main meal that many here will depend on.

[Tom Brooke]

Sami Awami in Kenya let's go to Chile now, a country that moved from dictatorship to democracy in the 1990s. On Wednesday, Chile marked its biggest shift to the right since that time. Jose Antonio Cast has just been sworn in as president, and in his first speech to the nation, he promised sweeping changes in many areas

[Celia Hatton]

to confront these emergencies in security, health, education, employment and so many others. Chile needs an emergency government. It's not a slogan.

[Tom Brooke]

The new president defeated his leftist opponent in a resounding victory last December by promising to take a tough approach to crime and illegal immigration. So who is Jose Antonio Cast and what can we expect from him? Nayara Basht is Chile correspondent for the Associated Press. Chile nowadays is very different from four years ago, when Cast also ran for president and was defeated by outgoing President Gabriel Boric. Cast got almost 60% of voters in a country that has been hit by a rise in organized crime and also disappointed by the great expectation of Boritz administration. So during the campaign Cass has prized the crime fighting tactics of the president of El Salvador, Najib Bukele, and also some policies adopted by the Trump administration. Among his promises he has voted to criminalize illegal immigration, intensify mass deportations and install fences or walls along Chile's border. He is socially conservative and his discourse and his opposition against the same sex marriage or the legal abortion and also some sort of sympathy towards the dictatorship

[Celia Hatton]

that took place in Chile between 19701990 day.

[Tom Brooke]

I would say Chile's society is more worried about the current problems such as the security crisis and illegal immigration that has largely shaped the country in the last four or five years rather than the social agenda or discussions about the past. I've talked to some experts who had pointed out that the first hundred days are going to be key to determine if his main projects can true or not. Nayar Bach, Chile Correspondent for the Associated Press In Europe, North America and parts of Asia, this is the time of year when the first bumblebees appear after spending the cold months hunkering down in shallow burrows hibernating. But many experts have wondered how these insects can survive a wet winter, especially one that involves flooding. Well, scientists in Canada have accidentally discovered that bumblebee queens can breathe underwater. Here's Michael Daventry.

[Celia Hatton]

Any apiarist will tell you that the humble bumblebee is far from a household pest. We now know that they don't just pollinate our plants and crops, but can solve puzzles and teach each other complex tasks. This study, published in the Royal Society's main research journal, tells us that they

[Tom Brooke]

are also incredibly resilient.

[Celia Hatton]

It found bumblebee queens can survive a winter deluge caused by heavy rain or melting snow through diapause, which is a form of hibernation that drastically reduces their bodily functions and breathing traces of air trapped in their bodies. Dr. Sabrina Rondeau from the University of Ottawa said the discovery was an accident coming after she discovered condensation in a fridge where her hibernating specimens were kept. Their test tubes were full of water and she thought they'd drowned.

[Tom Brooke]

They look very dead when we removed

[Celia Hatton]

them from the water, but then it

[Tom Brooke]

took a few days for them to fully recover and regain activity.

[Celia Hatton]

That led to a more controlled study, which led the team to discover the bumblebee queens were quite literally breathing underwater. They consumed oxygen and in its place produced carbon dioxide if the ground suddenly fills with water. We know that they are able to

[Tom Brooke]

survive and they do this while breathing. So while exchanging gas underwater for up to at least seven days.

[Celia Hatton]

We still don't know what effect breathing underwater has on the bees lifespan and whether they can reproduce after for example, but it nonetheless sheds light on something of an ecological mystery.

[Tom Brooke]

Michael Daventry and last, don't forget that this Sunday, it's the Oscars. The great and the good from the world of entertainment will be sashaying down the red carpet in Los Angeles and beyond Hollywood, the Academy Awards have become a global guessing game, with movie fans trying to predict who will win each category. Talking movies Tom Brooke has been asking some of the BBC's top news correspondents about their Oscar favorites.

[Celia Hatton]

BBC colleagues often want to talk to me about the films they like. Sometimes I'm startled by their preferences. Some breaking news in the last few minutes. Take Nomir Iqbal, a steady, measured presence on the air, currently a presenter on the news channel who knew she was a huge fan of horror.

[Tom Brooke]

It sounds really weird when you say to people you're really into horror movies because they think there's something strange about you. Like when I'm watching a horror movie, I can't think of anything else. It's like it almost relieves all the

[Celia Hatton]

stress that's going on in my actual life. So no surprises then. That Nomir Iqbar likes Sinners, the Oscars frontrunner in that it has accrued a record number of nominations. It's a horror film that's a hybrid. It's also an historical drama with supernatural elements.

[Tom Brooke]

I love Sinners. I love the way that horror is being used to talk almost about social issues and I just loved it. I've seen it more than once.

[Celia Hatton]

Now let me bring in Tom Brooke. A continent away in Los Angeles, Peter Bowes will be presenting the BBC's news coverage during the Oscar ceremony as he has for several years. Unlike Nomir Iqbal, he can't stomach horror. After years of experiencing the impact of watching a scary movie, a horror movie, it doesn't even have to be late at night. It can be during the day. I will go to bed and I will wake up screaming. So he'll be rooting for the Oscar nominated Marty supreme, in which Timothee Chalamet plays a driven table tennis player in 1950s New York. I'm telling you, this game, it fills stadiums overseas and it's only a matter

[Tom Brooke]

of time before I'm staring at you from the COVID of a Wheaties box.

[Celia Hatton]

It is pure escapism. It took me into a world that is championship table tennis that I knew very little about. And it is a film full of suspense, A political thriller shot in secret in Tehran. It Was Just an Accident is also in the running for an Oscar put together by dissident Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahy. His cinema has many admirers, among them the BBC's chief international correspondent, Lis Doucet.

[Tom Brooke]

It's not subtle, it's very blunt.

[Celia Hatton]

Something about that film.

[Tom Brooke]

I still think about it to this day. I've come to believe that good things can come out of bad. And Iranian cinema is a testament to that. An extraordinarily distinctive and achingly beautiful tradition of cinema which comes out of the harshest of rules that they've had to dance around.

[Celia Hatton]

Ice vehicles. New York based BBC North America correspondent Neda Torfik routinely reports from the frontlines on news developments that provoke intense debate. When she and her husband watched the Oscar nominated One Battle After Another, an action thriller laden with social and political satire, a mirror of sorts to contemporary America, it really engaged her.

[Tom Brooke]

It just touched on so many flashpoints.

[Celia Hatton]

Steve Lockjaw just attacked my home.

[Tom Brooke]

People deciding to kind of fight back against what they see as this militarized force hurting people that they believe are neighbors.

[Celia Hatton]

Maybe you should have studied the rebellion text a little harder.

[Tom Brooke]

You see a lot of those themes in one battle after another.

[Celia Hatton]

And one battle after another appears to be resonating with Oscar voters, too. It's being widely predicted that it will take home some top Academy Awards, including best director and quite possibly Best Picture, Tom Brook.

[Tom Brooke]

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. Use the hashtag Global News Pod. 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 Derek Clark and the producer was Rebecca Wood. The editor is Karen Martin. I'm Celia Hatton. Until next time. Goodbye. Spring is calling. Weddings, patio sessions, barbecues, and you want that drink vibe without sacrificing tomorrow. That's RK zero proof as the world's first zero proof spirits brand. RK created the warm molecule, giving you the smooth kick of whiskey or tequila with zero alcohol, zero calories, zero sugar and all the peace of mind you need to enjoy and every moment. Step into the Zero Proof season at rk0proof.com.