Newscast

Today, Sir Keir Starmer has been meeting with President Xi Jinping in Beijing, the first time a sitting British PM has visited China in eight years. Although a host of trade deals were announced, including visa free entry for UK travellers, there have been fewer agreements than expected from the trip.
Adam is joined in studio by deputy economics editor, Darshani David to chat about what we know so far and China correspondent, Laura Bicker who explains how the visit has been received in China.
Chris also phones in to share his experience of being on the road with the PM and how the visit has gone down with MPs back home.
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New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXd

Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. The presenter was Adam Fleming. It was made by Anna Harris with Chloe Scannapieco and Shiler Mahmoudi. The social producers were Sophie Millward and Beth Pritchard. The technical producers were James Piper and Jack Graysmark. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Today, Kemi Badenoch, gave a speech addressing Conservative defectors and detractors.
Adam chats to Alex, in Westminster about how Kemi Badenoch’s speech accused her opponents of ‘psychodrama’, called defectors ‘drama queens’ and presented her vision for the future of the Conservative party.
And we catch up with Chris in Beijing about what he’s seen and heard so far on his trip with the Prime Minister.
You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers.

You can join our Newscast online community here: https://bbc.in/newscastdiscord
Get in touch with Newscast by emailing [email protected] or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.
New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXd

Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. The presenter was Adam Fleming. It was made by Miranda Slade with Shiler Mahmoudi and Chloe Scannapieco. The social producer was Joe Wilkinson. The technical producer was Dafydd Evans. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

We’re only four weeks into the new year, but it feels like a year’s worth of news has happened already. So Radio 4 asked us to do a (very early) review of 2026 so far, and we thought we’d put it in your feed as a bonus episode.
Adam and Henry are in the studio. Chris joins from home as he prepares in all sorts of ways for a trip to China with the Prime Minister.
They chat through the fights of the left and right that have set the tone in the early part of year before chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet pops in to discuss Trump, Greenland, Venezuala, Iran, and how the world’s reacted to it all.
You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers.
You can join our Newscast online community here: https://bbc.in/newscastdiscord
Get in touch with Newscast by emailing [email protected] or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.
New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXd
The presenters were Adam Fleming and Chris Mason. It was made by Chris Flynn with Chloe Scannapieco. The technical producer was Phil Bull. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Today, the chancellor has announced a package of support for pubs and music venues after the government was forced to U-turn on their plans to bump up business rates.
BBC Business editor Simon Jack joins Adam to explain the measures, whilst political correspondent Joe Pike drops by to unpack the government’s other big announcement of the day - capping ground rents at £250 a year for leaseholders.
Plus, the PM is on his way to Beijing. Ahead of his visit, Starmer said the UK cannot afford to ignore the economic opportunities presented by working with China. His visit comes after one of the country’s top generals was purged by the government. Our China correspondent Laura Bicker gives Adam a rundown of what to expect.
You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers.
You can join our Newscast online community here: https://bbc.in/newscastdiscord
Get in touch with Newscast by emailing [email protected] or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.
New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXd

Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. The presenter was Adam Fleming. It was made by Anna Harris with Shiler Mahmoudi. The social producer was Joe Wilkinson. The technical producers were Dave O’Neill and. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Today, Adam and Chris discuss ex-Conservative home secretary Suella Braverman defecting to Reform. She’s the third sitting Tory MP to do so in the last eleven days.
Also happening in Westminster — the Prime Minister has been defending the decision to block Manchester mayor Andy Burnham from standing in the Gorton and Denton by-election. It’s reported that 50 Labour MPs wrote to Keir Starmer to complain about the decision.
And, a 37-year-old man — Alex Pretti — was shot dead in Minneapolis by Border Patrol agents on Saturday. This is the second shooting by federal agents in less than three weeks. Adam speaks to BBC North America editor and Americast host Sarah Smith.
You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers.

You can join our Newscast online community here: https://bbc.in/newscastdiscord
Get in touch with Newscast by emailing [email protected] or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.
New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXd

Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. The presenter was Adam Fleming. It was made by Anna Harris and Shiler Mahmoudi. The social producer was Joe Wilkinson. The technical producers were Philip Bull & Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.