News. How can I avail myself of world news in an easy way that I can digest

[Lucilledeville]

This is shameful to admit but I don't have a good grip on what's going on in the world and my ignorance is starting to show in conversations where I have to hang back and not comment e.g. the Gaza stuff where I know basics but not the whole background. Maybe I need to just watch newsround on CBBC? 😞. I feel so stupid. I know there's a million news sites and apps but I need to be an adult and get better at knowing the world around me - basic world politics , events and interesting things. Without getting deterred by celebrity gossip or the low brow stuff. I considered subscribing to the Week but don't know if I'll understand it all. I'm not a stupid woman but feel it, often. I want to take maybe 10 minutes a day to check what's happening. I'm all consumed with work, a DS with a health condition and a pre teen who I'm trying to keep on the rails, a reactive dog and a nightmare of a house ! Any advice welcome ! Thank you

I am a lover of podcasts, of all the ones I listen to I think maybe The Rest Is Politics - which tends to be about an hour a week for the standard one and an hour a week 'Question time' episodes - if you don't have time for both the standard one will be good.

I tend to listen while I am doing something else so it doesn't really take any time.

The Gaza thing I read up on. Mainly because I recently went to NI and realised I don't fully understand the history and we are Irish heritage!

I watch question time each week but I don't fully pay attention.

I don't think I need to be 100% clued on everything. I try not to get too drawn into politics etc conversations as it can be contentious

What about the Daily Focus podcast from the Guardian? Only based on one (current) topic for c30mins and easy to follow

Become a radio 4 lover!

Just download the BBC radio app to your phone (you don't need a license or subscription or anything) and put it on in the background whilst you're doing other things.

I'm in my early 30s, yet have loved it since my teens; it's got really interesting programmes and keeps me up to date!

BBC global news podcast is quite good for an overview of the main stories. It lasts about 30 minutes every day and it’s easy to listen to so you can be listening while cleaning or cooking or whatever.

I listen to 5live a lot which is good for getting an overview of what’s happening. Then as others have said podcasts are good.

but don’t discount things like news round and FYI (sky news) for a basic overview on things.

If you prefer a short read The Knowledge daily email is good.

They do a quick news round up and summarise some opinion pieces from newspapers around the world.

If you are in the kitchen between 5-6pm listen to PM on radio 4, it goes into stories, usually yesterday stories more in depth with interviews and explanations and you can wash up, cook, pack school bags at the same time.

Subscribe to a weekly news magazine that you can get delivered. Usually they round up the more important articles from across their news sites. So you get some health, money as well as current affairs.

Oooooooo now do I have time to fit this in

I have the BBC News app and browse the headlines twice a day. I click on anything new and read it in more depth. There are usually links to related news and they go back chronologically.

You could subscribe to The Week and catch up with literally everything that matters once a week? I used to, it's great.

I also get The Knowledge email. It’s brilliant and concise.

All the news media have their own slant on things but I like The rest is politics podcast because it has a left and right wing contribution from intelligent people.

Another vote for The Rest Is Politics' podcast. It's my go-to for anything that's happening in politics and in the world. Rory and Alastair are fantastic articulating things in a simple language that we can all understand.

I do

1. https://www.theknowledge.com/ - free email related to the owner of the week
2. I buy the week- it arrives on a Friday with the Week Junior - I read it cover to cover in one hour and whilst the kids are Horseriding (30 mins) I read their week junior
3. radio 4 on in background
4. the rest is politics
5. constantly learning / this year it’s classical music, art, and British history - combination of dvds, podcasts etc
6. audio books in the car - mainly children’s classics as I have a 10 and 17 years old eg hitch hikers guide or Dickins

The Newsround website is great for basic breakdowns on complicated stories. I like the BBC News app and Radio 4 as already mentioned.

Thanks all. Will start with the email I think !