Global News Podcast

Xi greets Putin in Beijing - days after Trump's China visit

Wed, 20 May 2026

China's leader Xi Jinping hosts a colourful welcome for visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing. The two leaders have met dozens of times. Mr Putin arrived in China shortly after President Trump ended his trip to the Chinese capital. Also in this podcast: Donald Trump tightens his grip on the Republican Party after orchestrating the defeat of a congressman who defied him. Pro-Palestinian activists go on trial in Germany - raising questions about the country's traditional support for Israel. Arsenal win the English Premier League for the first time in more than two decades. And we investigate a peculiar noise made by humpback whales.

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Desperation in Afghanistan leads to sale of children

Tue, 19 May 2026

Afghanistan is facing a dire lack of food exacerbating a severe humanitarian crisis caused by dramatic aid cuts, the Taliban government’s policies and severe drought. Such is the desperation, Afghan fathers have spoken of their impossible choices: selling children to survive.

Also: President Putin arrives in China for his 25th visit, hot on the heels of Donald Trump. As he left Russia, he said there was an “unprecedented level” of trust between his country and China. International concern mounts over the scale of the Ebola epidemic in Africa, with the World Health Organisation holding an emergency meeting. Police in Spain have arrested the son of the retail magnate, Isak Andic, as they investigate his death eighteen months ago. The founder of the Mango fashion group died after falling more than a-hundred metres during a hike in mountains near Barcelona. And worms living with a sponge called a glass castle and ghost sharks are just two of more than eleven hundred marine species scientists have discovered in the past year.

Elon Musk loses court battle against OpenAI

Tue, 19 May 2026

The court battle that has gripped Silicon Valley for three weeks is over - for now - after the jury found Elon Musk had left it too late to sue the artificial intelligence company OpenAI and its boss Sam Altman. The billionaire slammed the court verdict as a "technicality" and vowed to appeal. Musk had accused Altman of breaching a non-profit contract by shifting the ChatGPT-maker to a for-profit company after Musk donated $38m early in OpenAI's history. Also: Russian President Vladimir Putin heads to Beijing for a visit with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. The authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo have linked 118 deaths to the current Ebola outbreak in the east of the country. A BBC investigation reveals allegations of rape and sexual misconduct behind the scenes of Married At First Sight UK. An exclusive interview with Juan Orlando Hernández, the ex-president of Honduras who was handed a 45-year sentence for drug trafficking and weapons offences before he was pardoned by Donald Trump. How an Interpol campaign to identify cold cases led to the arrest of a suspect in the murder of a teenage girl in Germany 25 years ago. And is Pep Guardiola about to leave Manchester City?

What we know about latest Ebola outbreak

Mon, 18 May 2026

There have been more than 390 suspected cases and more than 80 reported deaths from the new species of Ebola, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. The infection has already spread from the Democratic Republic of Congo to neighbouring Uganda, while Rwanda and South Sudan are now on "high alert". Health officials are warning that the variant is deadlier than previous outbreaks.

Also: International efforts to contain the Hantavirus are ongoing, as the cruise ship at the centre of the outbreak arrives in the Netherlands for disinfection. The Ukrainian military claim Russian forces are preparing for a major offensive in the summer. Spain's High Court has acquitted the Colombian singer Shakira of tax fraud and ordered her to get almost $65,000,000 in fines she had paid, plus interest. We get the latest on the Italian tourists who went missing whilst scuba diving in the Maldives. Why Swatch's Royal Pop collaboration with the Swiss luxury watch brand Audemars Piguet is causing chaos at shops around the world... and the drink that's putting an end to France's long-term love affair with wine.

Trump warns 'clock is ticking' for Iran

Mon, 18 May 2026

President Trump has again issued a warning to Iran amid stalled peace negotiations - saying unless they act quickly to agree a deal, there won't be anything left of them. Tehran says the US has failed to make any concrete concessions to bring about an end to the war. Also: Rwanda tightens its border security as neighbouring DRC struggles to contain a deadly Ebola outbreak; Amnesty International highlights Iran's increasing use of the death penalty; Russian civilians are shocked by Ukrainian drone attacks; Britain's royal guards allegedly fall asleep on the job; and are street preachers a blessing or a curse?