Global News Podcast

After Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, many Russians who opposed the war – or feared being sent to fight in it – fled the country. In much of the West, they were welcomed as courageous dissidents. But four years on, the number of Russians being forcibly returned from the US to Russia is rising. Is the tougher stance on Russian asylum seekers evidence of the Trump administration seeking closer ties with Moscow? Or is it part of a wider immigration crackdown, driven by domestic politics? In this episode, Tristan Redman speaks to the BBC’s Will Vernon about the Russian refugees he has met who face persecution if they are forced to return home. The Global Story brings clarity to politics, business and foreign policy in a time of connection and disruption. For more episodes, just search 'The Global Story' wherever you get your BBC Podcasts.

Poland has begun two days of mourning after a gunman opened fire on the main square in the city of Krakow, killing six and injuring 15 others; three more bodies were found at the suspect's home. The authorities say he used military weapons and is thought to have been inspired by far-right ideologies. Also: Israel's president invites Gadi Eisenkot, the main rival of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to try to form a government after last week’s inconclusive election. Heavy rains in Gaza cause flooding for tens of thousands of misplaced residents living in desperate conditions in tents. The former president of Paraguay is charged in connection with the banking scandal that led to his impeachment. The Ultimate Fighting Championship boss, Dana White, tells us he is meeting President Trump on Monday after he was apparently offered the job of White House Press Secretary. The super sock that's supposed to improve running but has proved divisive. And why thousands entered a competition to find the most "distinctly Boston" accent.
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
Photo: Emergency personal near the site of the shooting in the main market square in Krakow
Credit: Reuters / Agencja Wyborcza.pl

When Bridget's relationship fell apart, she turned to the internet with a proposal: come to Northern Ireland and celebrate the wedding that never happened. What followed was a story that has resonated worldwide as 11 strangers answered the call and helped transform loss and heartbreak into an unforgettable week of connection, companionship and adventure.
Also on this podcast; meet the 25-year-old who is on a mission to give one million people access to safe water by 2030. Diana Virgovicova was diagnosed with ovarian cancer as a teenager -- a disease which she believes was linked to the use of agricultural pesticides in her town. After she realised contaminated water was a global problem, she taught herself quantum chemistry to find a way to clean up water.
Also, the family living on the UK's most remote inhabited island and we go to Washington DC's annual High Heel Race.
Picture: Eleven strangers from across the world travelled to Northern Ireland to celebrate Bridget's 'non-wedding'. Credit: Rob Dight / Epic Love Photography
Our weekly collection of inspiring, uplifting and happy news from around the world.
Presenter: Holly Gibbs. Music composed by Iona Hampson

Donald Trump names the immigration hardliner, Stephen Miller, as the new White House chief of staff after the Republican Party's historic losses in the US midterm elections. Mr Miller's appointment to one of the most powerful positions in Washington has been criticised by Democrats and some Republicans. Also: Paraguay's president, Santiago Peña, is impeached and placed under house arrest. Thomas Markle - the estranged father of Prince Harry's wife, Meghan - appears in court over child sex abuse material; he denies wrongdoing. More than 200 Palestinian couples are married at a mass ceremony in war-torn Gaza. The American-Israeli filmmaker Guy Nattiv speaks to the BBC about his new movie, The Liberation. And were ancient Siberian nomads smoking cannabis?
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
Photo: Stephen Miller, the newly-appointed White House chief of staff, speaking on 20th October in the Oval Office.
Credit: Reuters

Investors dump tech shares over fears of slowdown in AI development following the sweeping Democrat victory in the US midterm elections. Markets in Asia suffer sharp losses. Japan’s Nikkei index and South Korea’s Kospi closed 6% down on Friday.
Also: the leader of a doomsday cult in Kenya is sentenced to 200 years in prison after being found guilty of murdering more than 190 people; Paraguay's president faces impeachment after a banking scandal puts the country in crisis; another wave of bomb threats disrupts passenger flights in Europe; Gavin Newsom spares 500 prisoners from the death sentence in California; and the Pope heads to Latin America three weeks after lung cancer surgery.
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
Photo: Currency dealers talk in front of an electronic board displaying the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) in Seoul, South Korea.
Credit: REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji