Global News Podcast – US Reportedly Offers 15-Point Plan to End Conflict

BBC World Service | Host: Oliver Conway | March 25, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the latest developments in the ongoing US-Israel war with Iran, focusing on reports that the US has delivered a 15-point peace plan to Iran amid speculation about a potential US military escalation in the region. The episode also includes major international news: a landmark US jury ruling against Meta on child safety, a massive Russian drone assault on Ukraine, NASA’s upcoming Artemis 2 mission, Mohamed Salah’s departure from Liverpool, a journalism strike in Australia, Danish election results, French vineyards fighting wine fraud, and rare gorilla twin births in Congo.

Key Topics & Insights

1. US-Iran Conflict: 15-Point Peace Plan, Troop Build-up, and Diplomatic Maneuvers

• US Offers Peace Blueprint

  • US reportedly sends a 15-point plan to Iran via intermediaries in Pakistan, intended to end the war.
  • Key demands include curtailing Iran’s nuclear program and restrictions on ballistic missiles.
  • The plan also includes provisions about maritime routes, especially the critical Strait of Hormuz.
  • [Quote, President Trump, 02:34]

    "It was a very big present worth a tremendous amount of money... it was oil and gas related."

  • Iran responds by allowing “non-hostile” vessels through Hormuz, with China, India, and Pakistan securing safe passage.

• US Military Posture

  • Reports suggest US is sending thousands more troops, including elite paratroopers, possibly preparing for seizure of strategic “Hog Island”—Iran’s oil hub.
  • Speculation that negotiation talk may partly serve to calm financial markets and buy time for US troop deployments.
  • [Quote, Ali Vaez, International Crisis Group, 03:42]

    “This is an absolute catastrophe for the region and it might come to haunt the US and Israel.”

• Uncertainty on All Sides

  • Iran denies any negotiations; questions over whether Israel supports the US plan.
  • Lack of clarity on who the US is actually negotiating with inside Iran.

Timestamps:

• 01:02–03:49: Introduction, Trump’s statement, reporter/analyst discussion
• 03:56–06:34: In-depth with US correspondent David Willis

2. US Court Verdict: Meta Ordered to Pay $375 Million (Child Safety Case)

• Landmark Ruling

  • Meta found liable for misleading users about child safety, enabling predator access to minors.
  • Fined $375 million, first time a state has won such a case against Meta.
  • [Lily Jamali, North America Technology Correspondent, 07:14]

    "...the state was able to successfully argue that this case was really about design choices, the algorithms that push certain content, and potential contacts to these kids. The fact that this case made it to a jury always carried a sense of historical consequence."

• Meta’s Response

  • Company plans to appeal, insists it works hard on safety, touts “teen accounts” feature critics label as “window dressing”.

• Broader Impact

  • Sets precedent for more cases worldwide; growing scrutiny over tech platforms and child protection.

Timestamps:

• 06:34–09:45: Meta trial analysis and broader industry implications

3. Russia Launches Massive Drone Assault on Ukraine

• Details of the Attack
  • Russia launches nearly 1,000 drones over two days, including rare daylight strikes in western Ukraine.
  • Five killed overnight, more deaths and injuries follow, with a 17th-century church and maternity hospital damaged.
  • Ukrainian president Zelensky calls assault “an absolute perversion.”
  • [Vitaly Shevchenko, Kyiv, 09:45]

    "The Ukrainian Air Force says that this country was attacked with the largest ever number of drones dispatched by Russia on a single day."

Timestamps:

• 09:45–12:02: Field report from Ukraine

4. NASA’s Artemis II Mission: Deepest Human Spaceflight

• Mission Overview

  • Four astronauts (three Americans, one Canadian) will spend 10 days orbiting and circling the moon—the farthest humans have ever traveled.
  • Crew includes commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and rookie Jeremy Hansen.
  • Orion capsule discussed: compact living, custom meals, exercise in space.

• Critical Technical Details

  • Unique re-entry challenges with heat shield (damaged in previous uncrewed mission), mitigated by new re-entry angle.
  • Planned Pacific Ocean splashdown and crew recovery.

Timestamps:

• 12:02–14:03: NASA Artemis II details

5. Mohamed Salah Announces Liverpool Departure

• Salah’s Legacy

  • Salah (33) leaving Liverpool after 9 years, with 255 goals—only Roger Hunt and Ian Rush have more for the club.
  • First African player to reach 50 Champions League goals, described as “a Premier League legend and African legend.”
  • [Ian Dennis, Senior Football Commentator, 16:04]

    "We are talking of not just a Liverpool legend, a Premier League legend and an African legend..."

• Departure Context

  • Leaves on his own terms following earlier uncertainty and benching pre-AFCON.

Timestamps:

• 14:03–16:33: Mohamed Salah tribute and context

6. Australia: ABC Journalists on Strike Over Pay, AI Fears

• Strike Details

  • First strike in 20 years; flagship shows impacted.
  • Staff reject a staggered 10% pay increase over three years, with concerns for casual/fixed term workers’ exclusion from bonuses.

• AI Concerns

  • Fear of newsroom job replacement by AI, unresolved by management.
  • Dispute to move to Fair Work Commission.

Timestamps:

• 20:22–22:18: Australia ABC strike discussion

7. Denmark: Social Democrats Win Slim Victory, Lose Support

• Election Outcome
  • Social Democratic Party wins most seats (22%) but has worst result in over a century.
  • No party with a majority; the centrist Moderates hold balance of power.
  • Significant for leadership resilience after Greenland crisis and US pressures.

Timestamps:

• 22:18–24:27: Danish election analysis

8. Combating Wine Fraud in France: DNA-Embedded Wax Seals

• Innovation Against Counterfeiting
  • Bordeaux’s Chateau Angelus pioneers sealing bottles with wax containing unique DNA from grapes, preventing fraudulent refills.
  • [Benjamin Laforet, Head of R&D, Chateau Angelus, 26:04]

    "If you heat up the wax to the temperature which makes the wax melt, you immediately destroy completely the DNA inside."

  • System gives buyers confidence and protects up to $800 bottles.

Timestamps:

• 24:27–26:55: Wine fraud segment

9. Conservation Victory: Gorilla Twins Born in Congo

• Rare Event
  • Virunga National Park in DRC welcomes second set of mountain gorilla twins in months; only ~1% of gorilla births.
  • [Laura Parker, Conservation Head, 27:32]

    "Moments like this are so incredibly unique and they give everyone a big morale boost and they just remind us why this work matters."

  • Hypothesis: stress-free, stable groups may increase twin rates.
  • Gorilla mothers face significant challenges raising twins, yet current progress is promising.

Timestamps:

• 26:55–29:58: Gorilla twin birth interview

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Trump on Iran’s ‘Gift’:

  "I'm not going to tell you what that present is, but it was a very significant prize ... It was oil and gas related."
  [President Trump, 02:34]

• Ali Vaez on Military Risks:

  “This is an absolute catastrophe for the region and it might come to haunt the US and Israel.”
  [Ali Vaez, International Crisis Group, 03:42]

• Lily Jamali on Meta Case:

  "The fact that this case made it to a jury always carried a sense of historical consequence."
  [07:14]

• Ian Dennis on Salah:

  "We are talking of not just a Liverpool legend, a Premier League legend and an African legend..."
  [16:04]

• Laura Parker on Gorilla Twins:

  "Moments like this are so incredibly unique ... they give everyone a big morale boost and remind us why this work matters."
  [27:32]

Segment Timestamps

• US-Iran War Developments: 01:02–06:34
• Meta Child Safety Ruling: 06:34–09:45
• Russia-Ukraine Drone Strikes: 09:45–12:02
• NASA Artemis II Preview: 12:02–14:03
• Mohamed Salah’s Legacy: 14:03–16:33
• ABC Journalists Strike: 20:22–22:18
• Danish Election Results: 22:18–24:27
• Wine Fraud Prevention: 24:27–26:55
• Gorilla Twin Births: 26:55–29:58

Conclusion

This episode provides a comprehensive update on the US-Iran conflict’s diplomatic and military dimensions, alongside pivotal news in law, technology, science, sports, labor, European politics, fraud prevention, and conservation. Highlights include the unprecedented US-Iran negotiations, a major tech verdict, new space milestones, and rare conservation successes, all delivered in the BBC’s unflinching, global perspective.