Will the recent deadly fire at a housing complex in Hong Kong - and the angry response to it - have an impact on today's elections to the Legislative Council?
Also on the programme: a failed coup attempt in the west African country of Benin; we'll be in Syria - a year on from the ousting of the Assad regime - and the prison diaries of Nicolas Sarkozy - written after a mere three weeks behind bars.
(Image: A voter checks on the candidates at a polling station in Tai Po during the Legislative Council general election in Hong Kong on December 7, 2025. Credit: Reuters/Lam Yik)
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 for football and global diplomacy.
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.
Producer: Sam Chantarasak and Aron Keller
Sound engineer: Travis Evans
Senior news editor: China Collins
Photo: Fifa President Gianni Infantino shows US President Donald Trump the World Cup Trophy in the Oval Office. Chip Somodevilla
Australia is on the cusp of banning social media for children, with countries around the world expected to follow suit. Teenagers and tech companies alike have argued that the ban hurts free speech, but politicians and parents are concerned about the mental-health impacts on young people as more studies show that social media can worsen feelings of anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation. WSJ tech reporters Sam Schechner and Georgia Wells discuss the pros and cons of a social-media ban and what it could mean for companies’ bottom line. Caitlin McCabe hosts.
With increased immigration enforcement under President Trump, many
families with undocumented members are living in fear of US Immigration
and Customs Enforcement, or ICE. Many are afraid to leave their homes
and families are having to face the reality that they may be separated,
detained and even deported. This week on The Sunday Story, NPR
immigration correspondent Jasmine Garsd, reporting for the Code Switch
podcast, takes us into the lives of the immigrant families who are
facing immense pressure in the United States.
More than 20 people have been killed in a fire at a nightclub in the Indian state of Goa. Also: Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth says the US will "keep killing" alleged drug smugglers in the waters off Latin America. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he had "very substantive" talks with Washington about a possible ceasefire. We look at the logistical worries facing the 2026 men's football World Cup. And some early Oscar favourites are already racking up film awards in New York and London.
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
Last year, 1 in 10 U.S. babies was born before 37 weeks of pregnancy, which is considered preterm. That’s one of the highest premature birth rates among developed nations, according to the March of Dimes. We hear from parents of preterm babies about their experiences, and Ali Rogin speaks with an entrepreneur who’s using AI to help doctors predict when preterm births are likely. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
It's the most widely viewed sporting event in the world. The 2026 World Cup will be played across Canada, Mexico and the United States. Today fans and teams discovered where matches will be played and at what sorts of temperatures.
Also today: A survivor of Sri Lanka's devastating floods tells us how he ran up a hill, carrying his grandmother, as water rose around him; and Bethlehem celebrates Christmas lighting for the first time since the start of the war in Gaza.
(Photo: The World Cup trophy displayed at the Fifa World Cup 2026 draw at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington DC, December 5, 2025. Credit: Pool via Reuters/Mandel Ngan)
The "ABC's of Crypto" with Binance CMO Rachel Conlan.
Binance Chief Marketing Officer Rachel Conlan joins CoinDesk Live, presented by Celo, from Binance Blockchain Week to detail the launch of Binance Junior and Binance’s “ABC’s of Crypto,” book. Highlighting Binance’s key strategy to improve financial literacy with children, she aims to involve multiple generations in conversations about responsible saving and the future of digital assets.
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This episode was hosted by Jennifer Sanasie and Sam Ewen.
The first traditional exchange-listed bitcoin and ether perpetual futures in Asia with Laurent Poirot, SGX Group's Head of Strategy for Derivatives.
In today's Markets Outlook, SGX Group's Head of Strategy for Derivatives, Laurent Poirot, joins CoinDesk's Andy Baehr to discuss the launch of the first traditional exchange-listed bitcoin and ether perpetual futures in Asia. He breaks down how this groundbreaking product merges crypto-native innovation with trusted TradFi infrastructure to meet surging institutional demand.
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A CDC advisory panel has voted to roll back Hepatitis B vaccines for newborns. If approved, it could reverse 30 years of gains in fighting the liver disease. We also look how Hollywood is responding Netflix purchasing Warner Bros. And we look at a series of economic indicators and how the Federal Reserve might respond to in their meeting next week.
