Simple English News Daily

Negotiations between Iran and the US appear to be back on the table. Meanwhile, Indonesia and Malaysia have banned Grok due to concerns about deepfakes. In Gambia, there's a challenge to the ongoing fight against FGM, while Egypt secures a significant renewable energy deal. Uganda faces election repression warnings, and Hungary grants asylum to a former Polish minister. Tensions rise between Jerome Powell and President Trump over interest rates, and Italy sees a rare prisoner release, all while Mattel introduces an Autistic Barbie.

Deadly protests erupt in Iran, overwhelming hospitals and prompting a severe internet blackout. Yemen sees its government reclaim territory amidst ongoing conflict. The EU approves a controversial free-trade deal with Mercosur, sparking protests among farmers. In Greenland, locals firmly reject any idea of selling their land. Amidst cold weather, Kyiv suffers heating outages after recent attacks. Venezuela releases political prisoners, while protests in the US call for accountability after a shooting involving ICE. Sudan marks 1,000 days of civil war, and Ethiopia plans an expansive new airport.

A dramatic ICE shooting in Minneapolis sparks protests and debate over threats. Colombia's President meets Donald Trump amid rising tensions. In Syria, around 10,000 people evacuate Aleppo due to intense fighting. BYD surges past Tesla in electric car sales, selling 2.25 million vehicles. A tragic migrant boat capsizes off Gambia, leaving dozens dead. Also, floods hit Bosnia, and Ukraine faces a winter without heat. In a lighter story, a flock of sheep amusingly invades a German supermarket.

A Russian-flagged tanker is seized by the US, tied to efforts to block Venezuelan oil exports. Brazil has surpassed the US as the leading beef producer, exporting nearly $17 billion last year. Berlin restores power after a significant arson attack. Meanwhile, Russia's ongoing assaults threaten vital Ukrainian ports, raising food security alarms. South Korea seeks China's help to mediate tensions with North Korea. And in a heartwarming news, twin mountain gorillas make their debut in Virunga National Park.

A coalition is forming to bring peacekeepers to Ukraine, backed by France and the UK. Meanwhile, U.S. military action in Venezuela faces criticism at home and abroad. In Bolivia, protests erupt after a fuel subsidy rollback, while tensions simmer in Yemen due to drone conflicts. Plus, Israel's diplomatic recognition of Somaliland raises eyebrows, and a study reveals what traits are most desired in travel partners. Stay tuned for this rapid-fire roundup of global happenings!

In recent world news, Nicolas Maduro pleads not guilty to drug and weapons charges in a New York court. Meanwhile, Venezuela's new acting president, Delce Rodriguez, offers cooperation with the U.S., facing a warning from Trump. Botswana is strengthening ties with Russia, while Uganda enforces a ban on live protest broadcasts ahead of elections. Elsewhere, France sees convictions for online bullying against Brigitte Macron. Highlights also include a record-priced tuna auction in Tokyo and talks on security between South Korea and China.

US forces captured Nicolás Maduro, sparking global reactions and airstrikes in Venezuela. Meanwhile, UK and France targeted ISIS in Syria. Protests erupted in Iran as the government faced criticism over increasing unrest. In Nigeria, armed attacks left village communities devastated, while Somalia successfully eliminated al-Shabaab fighters. Switzerland investigates a New Year's fire linked to sparklers. Japan calls for more women's toilets, showcasing a surprising political issue!

A tragic nightclub fire in Switzerland claims about 40 lives, prompting national mourning. Finland seizes a cargo ship linked to undersea cable damage. Bulgaria joins the euro zone, impacting its currency exchange policies. Major protests erupt in Iran over economic issues, while China and Taiwan leaders deliver rival speeches on reunification and defense. In the U.S., Zohran Mamdani is sworn in as NYC's mayor, making history. Additionally, a train crash in Peru and protest tensions in Bolivia highlight ongoing regional challenges.

€10 discount on joining as yearly supporter : DECEMBER2025World news in 7 minutes. Wednesday 31st December 2025Today : UK-France disruption. Germany heist. Russia claims. Netherlands fireworks. US Venezuela hit. Powell lawsuit. Honduras protests. Brazil hiccups. Somalia protests. Spain Africa migrants. China Taiwan exercises. Turkiye arrests. Bangladesh Zia. Japan podcasts good.SEND7 is supported by our amazing listeners like you.Our supporters get access to the transcripts and vocabulary list written by us every day.Our supporters get access to an English worksheet made by us once per week.Our supporters get access to our weekly news quiz made by us once per week.We give 10% of our profit to Effective Altruism charities. You can become a supporter at send7.org/supportWith Stephen DevincenziContact us at podcast@send7.org or send an audio message at speakpipe.com/send7Please leave a rating on Apple podcasts or Spotify.We don't use AI! Every word is written and recorded by us!Since 2020, SEND7 (Simple English News Daily in 7 minutes) has been telling the most important world news stories in intermediate English. Every day, listen to the most important stories from every part of the world in slow, clear English. Whether you are an intermediate learner trying to improve your advanced, technical and business English, or if you are a native speaker who just wants to hear a summary of world news as fast as possible, join Stephen Devincenzi, Juliet Martin and Niall Moore every morning. Transcripts, vocabulary lists, worksheets and our weekly world news quiz are available for our amazing supporters at send7.org. Simple English News Daily is the perfect way to start your day, by practising your listening skills and understanding complicated daily news in a simple way. It is also highly valuable for IELTS and TOEFL students. Students, teachers, TEFL teachers, and people with English as a second language, tell us that they use SEND7 because they can learn English through hard topics, but simple grammar. We believe that the best way to improve your spoken English is to immerse yourself in real-life content, such as what our podcast provides. SEND7 covers all news including politics, business, natural events and human rights. Whether it is happening in Europe, Africa, Asia, the Americas or Oceania, you will hear it on SEND7, and you will understand it.Get your daily news and improve your English listening in the time it takes to make a coffee.For more information visit send7.org/contact or send an email to podcast@send7.org

Stephen Devincenzi, the host of Simple English News Daily, joins Luke for a fun and engaging World News Quiz covering key events from 2025. They tackle intriguing questions about the rise of DeepSeek AI and a catastrophic wildfire in Los Angeles. Stephen reveals surprising facts about the return of Canada's Mark Carney and Japan's first female leader. With a touch of humor, they address serious news before reflecting on Luke's performance, emphasizing the importance of staying informed in today's world.