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
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President Trump says the US is in serious discussions with what he described as a new and more reasonable regime to end military operations in Iran. Also: Russia comes to the aid of Cuba by sending more than 700,000 barrels of oil to the communist island. Thieves in Italy make off with paintings by Renoir, Cezanne and Matisse - worth millions of dollars - after breaking into a museum near the city of Parma in a matter of minutes. As General Min Aung Hlaing is set to become Myanmar's next preside...
President Trump has said he could "take the oil in Iran" and possibly seize Kharg Island through which most Iranian oil is exported. He spoke to the Financial Times, as thousands of US ground troops arrived in the Middle East. But Mr Trump later told reporters a deal could be reached with Iran "very soon". The Israeli military says it has struck targets across the Iranian capital, where there are reports of heavy explosions and large scale power cuts. Also: a giant NASA rocket has arrived back o...
It’s been almost a month since Israel and the US launched their war against Iran, and already there have been strikes in more than a dozen countries, with reports of over 2,000 people killed across the region. As the war drags on and more countries get involved, there are concerns this conflict could escalate into something truly global. We speak to Emeritus Professor of International History at the University of Oxford, Margaret MacMillan, and explore how world wars start, how they end and what...
A patient who stopped a bomb attack at a hospital has revealed he hugged the would-be-attacker to calm him down. Nathan Newby spent two hours talking to the armed man and persuaded him to abandon his plan. He received the George Medal for bravery from King Charles this week. Also: how a viral video of pack of dogs has captured the attention of animal lovers across China and beyond. England's Football Association has apologised to a women's team who defied its fifty year ban on female players. Th...
For nearly forty years, Fergal Keane has reported for the BBC from some of the world’s most brutal conflicts – in Gaza, Iraq, Rwanda, Sudan, Ukraine and beyond – and in that time interviewed scores of children who are the innocent victims of adult wars. As he came to understand the impacts of trauma on young minds, Keane began too to experience his own mental breakdowns – the result of a troubled childhood and a career spent running towards danger – and was eventually diagnosed with PTSD. In tod...
We meet the men on a mission to help fellow Dads connect with their daughters, through a movement called 'pints and ponytails'. It's a chance to learn how to do a range of girls' hairstyles, over a couple of beers. But organisers say they leave with more than just salon skills - as the shared experience encourages men to open up about other parenting challenges. Also: an unexpected solution that could help in the fight againt both plastic pollution and Parkinson's disease. Rhinos return to a nat...
Stephen Spencer has set his daughter's stories to music. What started as something he posted for his few followers has turned into a social media sensation, with fans around the world left smiling, laughing or even crying by the catchy tunes and often bizarre lyrics. Also: how a chance conversation between two women on a train led to one donating her eggs so the other could have a baby. When Anita revealed her fertility issues, Ginny instantly offered to help. A surgeon who successfully operated...
Lois, 14, and her classmates used a 3D printer to create her new hand as part of a school project. Now they want to make prosthetic limbs for other people who need them, using the same method. Also: We find out how a new drug is transforming the lives of children with a severe form of epilepsy. A trial found it significantly reduced their seizures and also helped with overall development and movement. We meet two Turkish students using AI to help locate people trapped under rubble after earthqua...
Steve Rosenberg, the BBC's Russia editor, reflects on over 25 years of reporting from Moscow, detailing the drastic changes from the hopeful post-Soviet 1990s to the intensified crackdown on freedom of speech under Vladimir Putin. He shares personal experiences of navigating accusations, new repressive laws after the Ukraine invasion, and the unique challenges of questioning Putin directly. Rosenberg also explores the complex, often contradictory, nature of Russia and why he remains committed to charting its dramatic story.
After identifying a new species of ancient crocodile for his PhD, Ewan Bodenham honoured his favourite physics teacher who inspired him many years before. Galahadosuchus jonesi has been named after Rhys Jones - who says it is a privilege. Plus, the school in Brazil that many gave up on a decade ago wins a prestigious international award. A woman has been reunited with her prosthetic leg ten months after she lost it in the sea. We hear about the dog that led police in Louisville to a missing thre...
Two weeks after the latest release of the Epstein files, the headlines keep pouring in. In just the past few days, revelations in the documents have nearly brought down a British prime minister, and implicated politicians and royals from around the world. The files are even fuelling speculation about whether the late sex offender could have been a spy. We speak to Nomia Iqbal, BBC World Affairs Correspondent, about what we’ve learned this week about the international fallout of the Epstein scand...
We meet a Ghanaian woman who is challenging stereotypes of beauty and disability by modelling with her prosthetic leg wrapped in colourful kente fabric. Abena Christine Jon'el had her leg amputated when she was just two years old because of an aggressive form of cancer. She says she's fought through so much to survive that she's determined to fight for anyone who's ever felt defeated by life. Also: A mobile gaming app that's helping teenagers in Brazil learn how to support their friends with men...
Investigative journalist Josh Baker discusses ISIS's enduring presence in Syria, challenging claims of its defeat. The episode delves into the crisis of over 70,000 ISIS-affiliated detainees held in insecure camps and prisons, highlighting the challenges of de-radicalization and repatriation for dozens of nations. It also examines the implications of shifting power in Syria, including the role of the Syrian Democratic Forces and the US, for camp security and the group's potential to restrengthen its insurgency both regionally and globally.
Weeks into Vladimir Putin's first premiership, a series of apartment bombings killed hundreds, plunging Russia into fear. While the government blamed Chechen militants, whispers of FSB involvement, including Putin's hand, persisted. This episode delves into the mystery of these unresolved attacks and how they helped solidify Putin's power, revealing a pattern of narrative control that defines his rule today.
We meet a woman whose near death experience as a teenager inspired her to study why some people are willing to risk their lives for others. Dr Abigail Marsh was rescued by a stranger after a car accident and wanted to understand what drove him to help her. She says altruists, those who instinctively help without expecting anything in return, are more sensitive to the needs of other people -- but we can all learn to be kinder. Also: we hear from a man whose willingness to help others led him to d...
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney seemed to challenge Donald Trump in a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos this week, declaring that “the old world order is not coming back” and urging fellow “middle powers” to come together. In response, Trump said Canada gets “a lot of freebies” from the United States and “they should be grateful”. After striking a major trade and tariff deal with China – the US’s rival superpower – is Carney emerging as the leader of a global resistance to Trump? A...
Mesfin Dollar, who grew up in rural Ethiopia, had to travel to the US for two heart surgeries as a teenager. Twenty-five years later, by chance, he was reunited with the surgeon who saved his life -- when they both volunteered for a charity mission to his home country. Mesfin and Dr Jim Kauten went on to work together, performing hundreds of life-saving operations. Also: a Paralympic athlete and musician who's blind talks of his joy at being sent a specially designed amplifier. It's thought to b...
This episode delves into the legacy and future of the post-World War II rules-based international order, featuring insights from BBC International Editor Jeremy Bowen. It traces the system's origins from Churchill's vision and the Truman Doctrine to its implementation through institutions like the UN and NATO. The discussion highlights instances where this order seemingly worked, such as the First Gulf War, and failed, like the 2003 Iraq War, alongside current conflicts in Gaza. Ultimately, the episode considers critiques of the system, including its selective application, Donald Trump's disregard for it, and the potential for a more chaotic, less ordered future.
We hear from a woman whose determination to avoid going blind has inspired her doctors to develop a new treatment for a rare eye condition. Nicki Guy says the injection of a low cost, water-based gel has been life changing and given her the chance to see her son grow up. The treatment has already helped restore the eyesight of dozens of other people with hypotony - which can cause the eye to collapse, leading to blindness. Also: the new Barbie doll that's designed to help improve understanding a...
When the US government captured Venezuela’s president, Nicolas Maduro, on Saturday, most of the world was shocked. But US officials had for years been gaming out different scenarios, including predicting what would happen if Maduro was ousted. According to one man who took part, each ended in disaster. On today’s episode, we speak to the former Washington Post journalist Douglas Farah, who participated in war games on Venezuela during Donald Trump’s first term, as well as during the Obama and Bi...
The Australian 'kindness influencer' who raised nearly two million dollars to help an elderly US veteran. Samuel Weidenhofer flew thousands of miles to find Ed Bambas after being told he needed help. Ed, who's 88, was still working in a shop because he couldn't afford to retire, having lost his pension and healthcare. Also: one of the few people ever to walk around the world says he was inspired to keep going by the rescue dog he adopted along the way. Tom Turcich spent seven years making the jo...
This episode features heartwarming global stories, from a bone marrow donor's emotional Christmas reunion with the man she saved to a Montreal restaurant owner's community work being reciprocated. It also covers a chance encounter on a train leading to a marriage proposal, a unique Swedish initiative tackling loneliness, the discovery of a rare pink platypus, and the fascinating history behind the New Year's anthem, Auld Lang Syne, celebrating connection and remembrance.
This episode explores Australia's gun laws after the Bondi Beach attack, comparing its strict post-Port Arthur massacre reforms to the US's more permissive approach. It delves into why gun ownership is considered a privilege, not a right, and the unexpected rise in registered firearms across Australia, even in suburban areas. The discussion also covers the government's proposed new reforms and the differing societal reactions compared to the US.
The Happy Pod shares uplifting stories, from the emotional festive family reunions captured at Dublin Airport to a Texas judge's viral, bubble-filled wedding ceremonies. It also features a community's effort to protect a memorial grapefruit tree, a record-breaking gathering of golden retrievers, and how handheld ultrasound scanners are transforming maternal health in Kenya. The episode concludes with the charming tale of Scottish teenagers whose impromptu Christmas caroling went viral.
**This episode contains descriptions of abuse and violence** In November, the Italian parliament voted unanimously to introduce the term “femicide” into the country’s legal code. The murder of a woman – on account of her gender – is now a distinct crime, punishable with a life sentence. The United Nations reported that last year nearly 50,000 women and girls were killed by intimate partners or family members. Italy is the latest country to adopt a specific law in an effort to curb violence again...
A pop-up cafe in Tokyo is giving people with dementia a place to volunteer as well as a sense of community. A volunteer there, Toshio Morita, has become something of a local celebrity. At the Orange Day Café, muddled orders, long pauses and gentle confusion aren’t mistakes — they’re the point. Also: A Northern Irish man who suffered a cardiac arrest had his life saved after his golden retriever, named Polly, alerted his wife after he stopped breathing. Polly the dog has been hailed a hero by the...
Fifa’s president, Gianni Infantino, is widely expected to award Donald Trump the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize on Friday, at the draw for the 2026 World Cup in Washington DC. The prize has led to scrutiny over Infantino’s close relationship with Trump, along with concerns that Trump might move matches from host cities and fears over visa delays or refusals for travelling fans and officials. We speak to Dan Roan, the BBC’s sports editor, about why Infantino is cozying up to Trump, and what it means ...
We hear about an extraordinary story of love, friendship and a teenage promise fulfilled over a decade later. When Georgia Barrington was told, at the age of 15, that she'd been born without a womb, she thought her dreams of having a baby were over. So her best friend, Daisy Hope, promised she would one day act as her surrogate. Years later, after having her daughter, she reminded her friend of that offer -- and a few weeks ago gave birth to Georgia's baby girl. The women say it's given them a b...
This episode dives into the recent chaos surrounding the 2025 Miss Universe pageant, detailing stage falls, mass contestant walkouts, judges quitting, and allegations of vote rigging. It explores the clash between two prominent male figures with opposing visions for the pageant's future: one traditional, the other social-media driven. Amidst the drama, the episode also examines the pageant's enduring global appeal, its role as a platform for women's empowerment beyond Western perceptions, and the challenges it faces in staying relevant in the digital age.
This special episode delves into Haiti's ongoing crisis, marked by widespread gang violence, profound humanitarian challenges including sexual violence, and pervasive economic hardship. Despite these daunting issues, the podcast highlights the extraordinary resilience and determination of Haitians, featuring local activists, aid workers, and community leaders who are actively working towards solutions. The discussion also critically examines the limitations of international interventions and calls for internally driven change, emphasizing the power of grassroots organizations and the importance of visionary Haitian leadership for a stable and prosperous future.
