Global News Podcast — Anger in Australia after 'evil' Hanukkah shooting

BBC World Service | Host: Paul Moss | December 15, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of the Global News Podcast opens with a focus on the aftermath of a deadly shooting at a Hanukkah event in Sydney, Australia, described as an act of "pure evil" by political leaders. The episode explores the rise in anti-Semitic incidents, government responses, and broader concerns about public safety and gun laws. It then moves on to significant international stories, including Chile’s presidential election, the conviction of Hong Kong activist Jimmy Lai, and diplomatic developments regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The podcast concludes with lighter segments on a rare botanical event in Brazil and an interview with Dame Helen Mirren about her passion projects in Italy.

Major Segment: Sydney Hanukkah Shooting and Rising Antisemitism

The Attack and Political Condemnation

• Opening Coverage (01:08–02:49):
  Paul Moss details the shooting at Bondi Beach, Sydney during a Jewish Hanukkah festival, which left 15 dead, carried out by a father and son. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called it "pure evil," and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described it as "horrific."
  • Quote:
    "Pure evil was what the Prime Minister Antonio Albanese called it." — Paul Moss (02:17)
• Addressing Antisemitism:
  Chris Minns, New South Wales Premier, makes strong statements against antisemitism:
  • Quote:
    “There is no tolerance for racism or Jewish hatred in New South Wales or Australia and we need to be clear and unambiguous that we will fight it. Everywhere we see it, it is toxic, it is cancerous within a community. And as you can see from last night, it leads to devastating, devastating implications for the people of our country.” — Chris Minns (02:49)

Security Response and Community Impact

• Operation Shelter
  NSW Police Commissioner announces an escalation of “Operation Shelter” for safety at places with large Jewish populations.
  Quote:
  “Highly visible at places of worship, places that are known to be frequented by the Jewish community…” — NSW Police Commissioner, paraphrased by Paul Moss/Dr. Josh Roos (03:28)

• Community Fear and Preemptive Actions (04:33–05:24):
  Jewish community members reveal precautions taken due to rising threats; journalist Amy Leibovitz avoided the Bondi event out of fear.

  • Quote:
    "We shouldn't be going because there's a high risk of terrorism, that something could happen… so we actually changed our plans out of fear of what could happen." — Amy Leibovitz (05:12)

Analysis of Rising Threats (05:27–08:37)

• Expert Context:
  Dr. Josh Roos, Deakin University, outlines two main sources threatening the Jewish community:

  1. The extreme right (neo-Nazis)
  2. Radicalized jihadist elements, especially post-7 October Israel-Gaza events.
  • Critiques government's slow and insufficient response:
    • Quote:
      “There’s been a refusal to countenance the severity of the threat… it’s been framed in some quarters as Jewish Australians whinging and making a mountain out of a molehill…” — Dr. Josh Roos (06:42)

• Call for Action:
  Dr. Roos believes the government has balanced antisemitism concerns with Islamophobia too cautiously, failing to follow up on recommendations from their own anti-Semitism envoy.
  (08:09–08:37)

Eyewitness Accounts and Atmosphere in Sydney (09:09–10:02)

• Eyewitnesses reflect on their terror during the attack:
  • Quote:
    “I just saw an older lady get shot and she was on the floor, saw an older guy get shot, very badly injured…” — Anonymous resident (09:09)
• Phil Mercer, BBC correspondent, describes Bondi Beach as closed off and transformed into a makeshift memorial.
  • Quote:
    “…Flowers are arriving every single minute by people coming down to pay their respects and to have a brief moment of thought and calm in this sea of chaos that erupted here.” — Phil Mercer (10:02)

Political and Policy Implications

• Blame and International Reactions (10:50–12:24):

  • Israeli PM Netanyahu directly links the attack to Australia's recognition of the Palestinian state, a view sidestepped by PM Albanese for being premature (11:49).
  • Gun laws scrutinized; calls for tightening already strict regulations as the older attacker legally owned firearms (12:24).
    • Quote:
      “This is Australia’s worst mass shooting for almost 30 years… further scrutiny of Australia’s gun control measures will be an inevitable consequence of this.” — Phil Mercer (12:40)

• PM Albanese’s Response:

  • Declares intention to pursue tougher gun laws (13:15).

Other Major International Stories

Chile’s Presidential Election: Far-Right Shift

• Election Outcome and Platform (14:02–14:52):

  • José Antonio Kast, described as far right and son of a Nazi party member, wins a decisive victory.
    • Quote:
      “We are going to restore respect for the law in all regions without exception… it is the citizens we must serve, not those who hold positions of power.” — José Antonio Kast (14:14)

• Polarization and Policy Focus (15:57–17:49):

  • Kast’s rise attributed to dissatisfaction with outgoing leftist president Gabriel Boric, failed constitutional reform, and increased public concern over crime and immigration, despite studies showing immigrants commit fewer crimes.
  • The polarized choice left many Chileans feeling disenfranchised:
    • Quote:
      “…some voters didn’t feel like the current government was serving them well enough. They wanted to see change. And for them, Cast represented that.” — Ione Wells (16:28)
    • Quote:
      “…they felt quite disenfranchised by what they saw as quite an extreme choice…” — Ione Wells (17:49)

Hong Kong: Jimmy Lai Convicted Under National Security Law

• Guilty Verdict and Context (22:52–24:48):

  • Jimmy Lai, pro-democracy publisher, found guilty of sedition and colluding with foreigners; evidence included arranging meetings with US officials.
    • Quote:
      “Jimmy Lai has been seen as one of the most outspoken critics of the Hong Kong authorities and the Chinese authorities…” — Danny Vincent (22:52)
  • Concerns over his health and likely life sentence voiced.
    • Quote:
      “…His family members have raised many concerns. They’ve said that… his fingernails have fallen off… he has diabetes and also has had a heart condition.” — Danny Vincent (23:53)

• Impact on Pro-Democracy Movement (25:01–25:38):

  • Critics assert the movement has been “decimated” by national security law, with many leaders detained or fled.
    • Quote:
      “The democracy movement has been essentially destroyed by the National Security Law.” — Danny Vincent (25:01)

Russia-Ukraine Talks and Geopolitical Stakes

• Diplomatic Developments (25:38–27:43):
  • US delegation, including Jared Kushner, meets Zelensky in Berlin; emphasis on progress, but Zelensky no longer insists on NATO membership, seeks security guarantees, and Europeans worry about a “too soft” peace with Russia.
    • Quote:
      “Donald Trump is getting really impatient. His administration… prioritizes stabilizing U.S. relations with Moscow. So ideally, Donald Trump really wants an end to all of this. But Ukraine is refusing to roll over.” — Katya Adler (26:15)

Noteworthy & Human Interest Stories

Botanical Marvel in Brazil (27:43–29:29)

• A giant palm tree in Rio de Janeiro blooms for the first time in 60 years, producing nearly 24 million flowers.
  • Quote:
    “It’s really one of the natural wonders of the world… when it’s in full flower, we think the whole thing contains as many as 24 million flowers.” — Professor Bill Baker (28:16)

Helen Mirren: Life, Community, and Aging

• Saving Italian Olive Groves (30:33–31:35):
  • Dame Helen Mirren explains her work supporting local farmers facing a devastating olive tree virus.
    • Quote:
      “We started a little organization called Save the Olives, just really to disseminate information… we graft the ancient trees to try and save them for the future.” — Helen Mirren (30:33)
• Living in Italy and Aging with Thrill (31:53–34:17):
  • Mirren discusses her connection to the Italian community and breaking her on-screen role rules for Kate Winslet’s “Goodbye June.”
  • Expresses a distinct view on being 80:
    • Quote:
      “Yes, well, no, I mean it is thrilling to be alive. It’s great… Life is to be lived as long as you possibly can, it seems to me.” — Helen Mirren (33:43)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment Description | Timestamp | |------------------------------------------|------------| | Sydney Hanukkah shooting summary | 01:08–03:35| | Anti-Semitism response; Chris Minns | 02:49 | | Community impact and precautions | 04:33–05:24| | Dr. Josh Roos analysis | 05:54–08:37| | Eyewitness accounts, Sydney | 09:09 | | Phil Mercer’s on-the-ground report | 10:02 | | Gun law debate and PM’s stance | 12:24–13:15| | Chile election outcome and context | 14:02–17:49| | Jimmy Lai’s verdict, health, and effect | 22:52–25:38| | Ukraine peace talks | 25:38–27:43| | Rio palm tree blooms | 27:43–29:29| | Helen Mirren interview | 30:33–34:17|

Memorable Quotes

• Paul Moss (on the shooting):
  “Politicians around the world perhaps struggling to find adjectives to describe the cold blooded murder…” (02:06)

• Chris Minns (NSW Premier):
  “We will fight it. Everywhere we see it, it is toxic, it is cancerous within a community.” (02:49)

• Amy Leibovitz (Jewish journalist):
  “We shouldn’t be going because there’s a high risk of terrorism, that something could happen…” (05:12)

• Dr. Josh Roos:
  “…this has been an ongoing issue and unfortunately authorities have to balance this with what's going on with the extreme right…” (07:08)

• Ione Wells (Chile election):
  “Many of them draped in Chile flags, some wearing red caps saying make Chile great again.” (14:52)

• Helen Mirren:
  “It is thrilling to be alive… Life is to be lived as long as you possibly can, it seems to me.” (33:43)

Summary

This episode offers in-depth coverage of the aftermath and social ripples of the Sydney Hanukkah shooting, with a critical look at government and community responses to growing antisemitism in Australia. It swiftly examines how such events intersect with international affairs—highlighting political divides in Chile, pro-democracy struggles in Hong Kong, and war-ending efforts in Ukraine—before closing with uplifting stories about nature and personal meaning from Dame Helen Mirren. The tone is serious, investigative, and at moments, gently reflective.