Focus on Africa - Kidnapped Nigerian schoolchildren are free

Nigeria is facing renewed concern over mass kidnappings, after reports of another abduction involving dozens of people. This happened hours after 130 schoolchildren who were earlier abducted were returned to state authorities.

Also Kenya’s marathon great Eliud Kipchoge speaks to the BBC about discipline, motivation and what continues to drive him after years at the top of his sport. Often described as one of the greatest distance runners of all time, he reflects on pressure, purpose and life beyond records and medals.

Presenter : Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Bella Twine, Keikantse Shumba, Chiamaka Dike, Blessing Aderogba Technical Producer: Mbarak Abdallah Senior Producer: Daniel Dadzie Editors: Samuel Murunga and Maryam Abdalla

Focus on Africa - Kidnapped Nigerian schoolchildren are free

Nigeria is facing renewed concern over mass kidnappings, after reports of another abduction involving dozens of people. This happened hours after 130 schoolchildren who were earlier abducted were returned to state authorities.

Also Kenya’s marathon great Eliud Kipchoge speaks to the BBC about discipline and what continues to drive him after years at the top of his sport. Often described as one of the greatest distance runners of all time, he reflects on life beyond records and medals.

Presenter : Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Bella Twine, Keikantse Shumba, Chiamaka Dike, Blessing Aderogba Technical Producer: Mbarak Abdallah Senior Producer: Daniel Dadzie Editors: Samuel Murunga and Maryam Abdalla

Newshour - “Massive” Russian airstrikes cause more power cuts in Ukraine

Ukraine suffers widespread power cuts after a night of Russian air attacks described by President Zelensky as “massive”. We hear from a resident of the city of Odesa on the Black Sea coast.

Also in the programme: a Venezuelan former diplomat tells us what he makes of the current US pressure campaign, and a retired US admiral tells us what he makes of the president's plan for big new "Trump-class" warships; and we hear the story of Mary Ann Macham, an enslaved woman who escaped across the Atlantic from America in the 1830s and was welcomed in by a local community of Quakers in North East England.

(IMAGE: Firefighters extinguish a burning cargo vessel damaged during Russian overnight drone and missile strikes, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, at a port in Odesa region, Ukraine, in this handout picture released December 23, 2025 / CREDIT: Press service of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Odesa region/Handout via REUTERS).

Native America Calling - Tuesday, December 23, 2025 – Lumbee Nation secures its sovereign status

With the stroke of a pen, the U.S. welcomes more than 50,000 new federally recognized tribal citizens. After numerous failed attempts, the Lumbee Nation is the 575th federally recognized tribe — the fourth-largest overall in terms of population and the largest tribe east of the Mississippi River. The recognition brings a host of potential changes, including new political power, economic development opportunities, and a sense of pride for Lumbee citizens who have worked for nearly 140 years to be counted among the country’s established sovereign nations.

GUESTS

David E. Wilkins (Lumbee), professor at the University of Richmond

Malinda Maynor Lowery (Lumbee), professor at Emory University, historian, and filmmaker

Carrie Lowry Schuettpelz (Lumbee), professor at the University of Iowa and director of the Native Policy Lab

 

Break 1 Music: Maple Leaf Rag (song) Lakota John (artist) Winds of Time (album)

Break 2 Music: Coventry Carol (song) PIQSIQ (artist) Coventry Carol (album)

Marketplace All-in-One - A new era for weight-loss drugs

GLP-1 weight-loss drug injections have slimmed many waistlines and wallets. U.S. regulators have now approved a much less expensive alternative; Novo Nordisk has gotten the green light for an oral version of Wegovy. Pills are cheaper to manufacture than injectables, and that could be a game-changer. Then, consumers still feel pessimistic heading into the new year, and more Americans are staying unemployed for longer.

CBS News Roundup - 12/23/2025 | World News Roundup

Just dropped overnight: A new trove of Epstein Files. The U.S. sinks another boat off South America. And Trump spreads his name further with a new class of battleships. CBS News Correspondent Peter King has those stories and more on the World News Roundup podcast.

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Federalist Radio Hour - Remembering The Reason For The Christmas Season

On this episode of The Federalist Radio Hour, Kenneth Calvert, professor of history and director of the Oxford Program at Hillsdale College, joins Federalist Senior Elections Correspondent Matt Kittle to discuss the historical reasons for celebrating Christmas on Dec. 25 and explain the importance of Jesus' birth, death, and resurrection.

The Federalist Foundation is a nonprofit, and we depend entirely on our listeners and readers — not corporations. If you value fearless, independent journalism, please consider a tax-deductible gift today at TheFederalist.com/donate. Your support keeps us going.

Marketplace All-in-One - Amazon blocks North Korean IT applicants

From the BBC World Service: Tech giant Amazon says it's blocked more than 1,800 North Koreans from trying to join the company in the past two years. Amazon's chief security officer said North Koreans often try to get hired, then send wages back to fund their government's weapons programs. Plus, "oshikatsu" is a Japanese term referring to fervent fan subcultures surrounding things like sports teams, pop stars, or anime — and it's helped pull Japanese retail sales out of a slump.

You're Wrong About - Where I Live: The Listener Holiday Special

“We’ve always been inventing and reinventing new worlds for taking care of each other. We just have to notice.”

We asked our subscribers to send us audio postcards to encapsulate where they live, what makes it special, and what people get wrong about the place that they call home. For this holiday season, we've woven together an aural tapestry from their answers to remind one another that no matter how far apart we are, no matter what people say about the places we come from, we still share small moments of beauty, connection, and hope.

Join us on Patreon or Apple+

Produced + edited by Miranda Zickler

With music by Magpie Cinema Club

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