Global News Podcast

Imogen Foulkes, BBC Geneva correspondent covering UN affairs and funding challenges. Sarah Rainsford, BBC Kyiv reporter on the Ukraine conflict. They discuss two days of talks in Abu Dhabi, a 314-person prisoner swap and stalled peace progress. Also covered: the UN rights office funding crisis and Xi Jinping's high-profile calls with world leaders.

Harry Farley, a UK political correspondent, outlines controversy around Peter Mandelson and questions for Keir Starmer. Ambarasan Ethirajan, Middle East reporter, explains Saudi Arabia's camel passport plan and cultural context. Sarah Rainsford, reporting from Kyiv, shares frontline civilian stories from the Russia-Ukraine war. Helena Humphrey, North America correspondent, covers the US withdrawal of immigration agents and political fallout.

Pumza Filani, reporting on South Africa's worsening water shortages. Makhwachi Okafor, covering a deadly attack and regional violence in Nigeria. Vitaly Shevchenko, analyzing Russia–Ukraine peace talks and frontline strikes. They discuss stalled negotiations, continued Russian strikes, civilian impacts near the frontlines, mass violence in central Nigeria, and looming water crises in South African towns.

Ionee Wells, BBC South America analyst, breaks down the White House meeting between Donald Trump and Gustavo Petro and possible cooperation. Major Christian Sedano, leader of the Jungle Commandos, gives operational context on destroying cocaine labs. Orla Guerin reports on-the-ground in the Amazon and Andes, following anti-narcotics raids and rural coca cultivation.

Joe Tidy, BBC cyber security correspondent, explains legal and algorithmic concerns around raids on X. Sarah Rainsford, reporting from Kyiv, describes Russian strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and their civilian impact. They discuss mass missile and drone attacks, power blackouts in extreme cold, and questions over claimed pauses in strikes.

Divya Arya, a reporter from Rajasthan who covers girls using football to resist child marriage. Peter Bowes, a Washington correspondent who reports on the Jeffrey Epstein inquiries and related testimony. They discuss India-US trade claims and tariff changes. They also cover the Clintons’ required testimony and ongoing impacts of the Epstein investigations.

Nick Marsh, a Singapore-based business reporter, explains why gold and silver fell sharply after record highs. Ans Saadia, a Palestinian from Gaza, shares hopes about crossing Rafah and reuniting with family. Yoland Nell, a Jerusalem correspondent, reports on Rafah reopening, tight limits and the wider implications for movement and aid in Gaza.

Peter Bowes, BBC correspondent reporting on the Minneapolis immigration detention case, gives on-the-ground updates and legal context. KJ Matthews, entertainment reporter, reviews Grammy winners, performances and red carpet political statements. They discuss the detained five-year-old and his father’s release, community reaction, legal fallout, and artists speaking out about immigration and ICE.

Helena Merriman, journalist and documentary maker who investigates historical mysteries, revisits the 1999 apartment bombings that reshaped Russia. She explores the timeline of blasts, the controversial Ryzan incident, links to the Second Chechen War, and how the events accelerated Putin's rise. Short, tense storytelling that probes conflicting accounts and sealed files.

A second woman has alleged she was sent to Britain by the late sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein, to have sex with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor who has always denied wrongdoing. Also: there are explosions in Iran amid heightened tensions; a US federal judge allows ICE to continue the immigration crackdown in Minnesota; Pakistan's army kills rebels in Balochistan province; European and non-English movies gain momentum ahead of the Oscars; the ethics of AI creating life; and do dogs need clothing? 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