The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk
Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more
In this Happy Pod special we're in Munich, Germany for One Young World. We speak to survivors of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki and their families as they turn their painful memories into a call for peace and the end of nuclear weapons. They're part of a group that won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2024. Also: The young Argentine harnessing Artifical Intelligence to spot wildfires; Zaynab Mohamed - the first Muslim woman elected to Minnesota's Senate at just 25; the 'TikTok Mayor' using social media ...
Messages in a bottle from two Australian World War One soldiers have been found on a beach and are now back with their relatives. Debra Brown's family were cleaning up on Wharton Beach when they found a thick glass bottle with the notes inside. Herbie Neville, the great nephew of one of the soldiers, says it's unbelievable to receive the letters. Plus, the memorial unveiled in the UK for veterans who were expelled from the armed forces because of their sexuality. The oldest woman to finish the I...
Doctors at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London have used microchips to help blind patients regain the ability to read. Also: the woman who played the clarinet during brain surgery, helping the doctors fine tune their treatment for Parkinson's; Thailand's water buffalo beauty contest; and how polystyrene boxes that keep fish fresh are being replaced... using mushrooms. Happy stories and positive news from around the world - our weekly collection. Presenter: Jannat Jalil. Music composed by Iona Hamp...
The Happy Pod explores diverse uplifting stories, starting with a UK study proving singing groups effectively help new mothers with postnatal depression, reducing anxiety and stress. Globally, it celebrates Cape Verde's historic qualification for the men's football World Cup and highlights Mexican women reviving ancient Aztec chinampa farms for sustainable agriculture and ecosystem preservation. The episode also features an 81-year-old Swedish DJ creating vibrant dance floors for the over-50s and details a charity's ingenious use of 3D printing to fix life-saving hospital equipment in remote parts of Syria. Finally, it showcases an impressive dinosaur sculpture blending engineering and art, alongside the increasingly popular and quirky wellness trend of goat yoga.
We hear how a man's search for his birth mother ended in an unexpected but familiar place - his favourite local bakery. Vamarr Hunter was shocked to discover that the bakery's owner, whose company and motherly advice he'd enjoyed for years, was the woman who'd given him up for adoption when she was 17. Lenore Lindsey says being reunited has made her a warmer person and it feels like they were never separated. Also: The international football star who cycles to work, uses public transport and wea...
An 18-year-old entrepreneur who has helped more than twenty thousand teenagers get skills, training and mentoring has been recognised with a global student prize. Adarsh Kumar grew up in poverty in rural Bihar and says he was inspired by wanting to solve the problems he saw around him - and the example set by his hardworking single mother. He plans to use the ten thousand dollar prize to help improve the lives of even more people - and believes the first step in changing the world is to change h...
Marking two years since the war in Gaza began, BBC correspondents recount their immediate reactions to the October 7th attacks and reflect on the profound, ongoing human cost in the Gaza Strip. The discussion delves into the conflict's deep historical roots, contrasting Israeli and Palestinian perspectives on its origins, and explores its wide-reaching regional and international implications, including diplomatic pressures and the humanitarian crisis. Panellists also address listener questions on media language, internal Palestinian views on Hamas, and the slim prospects for either a one-state or two-state solution, offering a sobering outlook on the conflict's future.
For the first time ever, a successful treatment has been found for the devastating brain disease, Huntington's. The inherited condition, which resembles a combination of dementia, Parkinson's and motor neurone disease, affects hundreds of thousands of people in the US and Europe. The scientists who developed the new gene therapy, and people who have the disease, say its a huge breakthrough that could give people a better quality of life for decades. Also: we meet the teacher who's launched a Hap...
A nurse in the US state of Kentucky has gone viral after she saved a baby raccoon who became 'drunk' on fermented fruit. The cub had passed out after eating peaches, thrown away by a distillery. Also: we hear from Bárbara Hernández, a cold water swimmer from Chile, known as the Ice Mermaid. She's front crawled her way to a Guinness World Record, completing the farthest ice swim ever by a woman. Plus, the man recreating a childhood photo, the 81-year-old woman who planted 4,000 trees; and Carlos ...
A man who survived alone on a glacier for six days after a near death fall says it's made him appreciate what really matters. Alec Luhn slipped during a solo hike after deciding to mend his broken shoe with tape, rather than turn back. He says his only regret would have been not spending more time with his family, and urges others to understand how fragile life is. Also: a rare discovery of a huge store of fresh drinking water, deep under the Atlantic Ocean, that could help tackle the mounting g...
A new blood test could dramatically improve survival rates for women with ovarian cancer by detecting it much sooner. The researchers tell us it's a game changer that could go on to save tens of thousands of lives around the world every year. Also: we meet the female Muslim jockey breaking new ground and inspiring the next generation. Khadijah Mellah has just made her amateur debut. Plus the woman who underwent a rare triple organ transplant talks about the joy of getting back to normal life; ho...
After China's President Xi welcomed North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un and Russia's Vladimir Putin to Beijing: we ask what do Western nations make of this show of strength? In this special edition, Celia Hatton is joined by our correspondents across the globe to discuss the reaction to the military parade. China marked the anniversary of the end of World War Two by showing off its next generation of cutting edge weaponry. We ask if the alliance between the three nuclear armed leaders poses a real ...
We meet the woman sending hugs from Texas in the form of a quilt. Connie Kortz set up a network of volunteer quilters, who make them for people who are in need. Called 'Hugs from Texas' -- the group donated quilted blankets to the families affected by the devastating floods earlier this year. Also, find out about the traditional ceremony that takes place for the first time a baby laughs. We go to the football match between Dulwich Hamlet FC and Altonaer which is celebrating 100 years of friendsh...
We hear about the Dad Letter Project which was set up by a father and daughter in the US to send handwritten notes of love and support to people all over the world. Rosie wants to share her treasured experience of receiving letters from her dad Buz when she was growing up. They've already had thousand of requests, often from young women who've lost their own fathers and need advice -- or just for somoene to say they're proud of them. Also we meet Logie the litter picking dog, who's helping clean...
In the Swiss mountains, handwritten notes left on mountain peaks have been turning scenic climbs into unexpected matchmaking journeys, bringing nature lovers together one hike at a time. Dubbed “Mountain Tinder”, couples are meeting through notebooks tucked into mountaintop letterboxes. The movement is spreading beyond Switzerland, inspiring similar efforts as far away as Argentina. With no swipes or algorithms, it’s a love story written in the clouds. Also: the couple in Tasmania who have taken...
We hear how a woman helped save one of India's rarest birds by holding baby showers to celebrate the arrival of their chicks. Thousands have now joined Purnima Devi Barman's Hargila Army, which campaigns to protect adjutant storks and guards their nests. Also: a chef stranded on the cargo ship, Avontuur, for months during the pandemic says inner strength can turn a challenge into an opportunity; the volunteers helping older people feel the wind in their hair on cycle rides; the baby found at a t...
Meet the charity which is providing free breakfasts for three million children across sixteen countries. We visit a school to see how Mary's Meals is helping children to focus on learning. Their biggest programme is in Malawi in south-east Africa, and for many students there, it's a reason to stay in school. Also on the podcast, we hear from the micro-farm in Montreal growing fruit and veg for local people on low incomes. Plus a social club trying to combat loneliness in Venezuela by bringing el...
The street musician whose dream of seeing Oasis came true, thanks to a stranger. He says people should never give up. Also: an amazing survival story; hope for better cancer treatment; and a very slow world championship.
We meet some of the swimmers participating in this year's swim across the Arctic Circle. Also, the groundbreaking science behind three parent babies, and the grandchildren available for hire in Bulgaria.
The trio hoping to soothe global tensions through musical collaboration. They mix Chinese and American songs to focus on similarities not differences. Also: helping disadvantaged teens go to the prom; and a K-pop first. Presenter: Valerie Sanderson. Music composed by Iona Hampson
A surgeon who left his wedding to save a life says it's inspired him to help more people. Also: one man's adventures with a pet goose; a police officer reunited with a baby he rescued; and why we should eat more custard.
We meet Jack Pepper, the composer who's written a song for King Charles. The piece celebrates the harmony between people and the natural world. Also: hope for Alzheimer's patients; and how tourism could help stray dogs.
A special episode answering your questions about the Iran crisis. BBC experts discuss Iran's nuclear ambitions, possibilities of regime change and the impact on the wider Middle East.
The woman fulfilling her mother's dreams of travel by launching her ashes out to sea in a bottle. It's brought her happiness amid her grief. Also: Thailand's tigers bounce back; and making hospitals happier for children. Presenter: Nick Miles. Music composed by Iona Hampson
We hear how a man travelling the world with a cuddly duck has encouraged thousands to open up about mental health problems. Also: a roaring success for India's lions; and Kermit the Frog urges graduates to leap together. Presenter: Valerie Sanderson Music: Iona Hampson
This episode of the Global News Podcast covers a range of international stories, starting with Marine Le Pen's political ban and her supporters' reaction. It also discusses Israel's misleading information regarding an attack in Rafah, and Netanyahu's visit to Washington to address trade tariffs. The podcast also touches on a security breach in the White House, Pope Francis's public appearance, Europe's war preparedness, US visa revocations for South Sudan, the impact of US tariffs on global trade, the humanitarian crisis in Myanmar, the debate over bodega cats in New York, and the Soccer Grannies World Cup in Africa.
What future for Ukraine? Your questions answered. Global News Podcast teams up with Ukrainecast for a special Q&A, in a week that has seen US military aid halted. Can Trump and Zelensky get back to talks on a peace deal? Jackie Leonard will be joined by Ukrainecast's Vitaly Shevchenko, the BBC's Ukraine Correspondent James Waterhouse and Chief International Correspondent Lyse Doucet.
UK PM says US security guarantee only way to deter Russia from attacking Ukraine again. Also: Using AI to detect prostate cancer and tributes paid to Paquita la del Barrio whose songs empowered women around the world.
Meet the man behind the YouTube channel 'Dad, How Do I?'. He teaches his millions of subscribers how to do everyday tasks. Also: the man in Uganda who is changing lives through chess; and the flower causing a stink.
We assess President Trump's promises on his first day back in office and what it means for the rest of the world. Also: who will govern Gaza after ceasefire and first study into how weight loss drugs affect the body.
