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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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.
In this special episode we're marking Diabetes Awareness Month with a range of stories about innovation, advocacy and education -- including a book helping children newly diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. It began as a university project for Lea Leleta Sümer, who's from Bosnia-Herzegovina and has lived with the condition since she was two years old. She wanted to help children like her come to terms with their condition, as well as educate others. Also: The Barbie Doll with Type 1 diabetes - a col...
The American lawyer, oil lobbyist and master strategist Don Pearlman is said to have chain-smoked his way through almost every UN climate gathering from the early 1990s until his death in 2005. Some of those who saw Pearlman operate in Kyoto, where the first legally binding international agreement on climate change was agreed in 1997, say he created the playbook for stalling climate talks. The Kyoto protocol was never ratified by the United States, and Pearlman is now the subject of a major play...
We hear about a rare meeting between a living organ donor and the child whose life was transformed by receiving her kidney. Aly Coyle says she was delighted to see 5-year-old Xavier happy and healthy after the transplant. His parents tracked her down through social media to say thank you, and describe her as an angel who's now part of their family. Also: how a new machine could dramatically increase the number of liver transplants, by improving the way the organs are stored outside the body. A m...
Donald Trump has spent this year trying to negotiate a deal to end the war in Ukraine. So far, Vladimir Putin doesn’t seem interested in the US’s proposals. One man who has successfully negotiated with Russia – and with many of America’s adversaries – is Roger Carstens, former Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs. From 2020 to 2025 he worked to free dozens of US citizens taken hostage and wrongfully detained around the world, including in Russia. Securing their release often required c...
We speak to a woman who saved the life of a kayaker, after spotting him floating face down in Idaho's Snake River. Rachelle Ruffing says knowing CPR allowed her to 'make a miracle' which has changed her, and everyone should learn how to do it. She says she still finds it hard to believe that the man made a full recovery and that attending his recent wedding was a privilege. Also: the Afghan women's football team returns to the international stage, four years after the players fled the Taliban. F...
After getting the red-carpet treatment at the UN in New York last week, the former al-Qaeda fighter who now leads Syria is about to hold an election. But is Syria’s new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, really about to transition the country into democracy? Or does he have other plans? The BBC's senior international correspondent Orla Guerin joins us from Damascus, where she’s been speaking to Syrians about the country’s future. With Asma Khalid in DC, Tristan Redman in London, and the backing of the ...
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...
