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This is the Global News podcast from the BBC World Service.

I'm Jean-Ullat Jal and at 16 hours GMT. These are our main stories.

Energy prices have surged after strikes on key gas facilities in Qatar and Iran as the Middle East war continues to escalate.

The US Defence Secretary, Pete Hegsef, insists that the US is on track in the war as he criticises allies and parts of the media.

We hear how in the middle of the conflict, the Iranian regime is still executing

people who took part in protests earlier this year. Also in this podcast, President Tanubu

becomes the first Nigerian leader to make a state visit to the UK in nearly four decades.

It's a long time coming, but I think that the king chose the right time.

Virtually every fabric of our national life is all linked to the United Kingdom.

But what was on the menu at the state banquet?

The war in the Middle East has escalated dramatically. The price of oil and natural gas has soared and stock markets have fallen after tit-for-tat attacks on crucial energy sites in Iran and Qatar. This latest escalation began when Israel attacked Iran's South Paz gas field on Wednesday.

Iran then retaliated by hitting a crucial energy complex in Qatar at Raslafen,

an attack that could severely disrupt future gas supplies if the plant is badly damaged.

Qatar's Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Abd Abdurrahman Al-Tani,

condemned the attack at Raslafen.

Unfortunately, this sabotage act only indicates an aggression policy

and lack of responsibility

and a very dangerous escalation by the Iranians against the state of Qatar.

This attack will have huge repercussions on oil or energy supplies around the world.

President Trump took to social media to warn that the US would blow up Iran's South Pass field

if Tehran carried out any further attacks on Qatar's energy facilities.

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