Global News Podcast – BBC World Service
Episode: First funerals take place for Australia shooting victims
Date: December 17, 2025
Host: Alex Ritson

Overview of Episode

This episode delivers in-depth coverage on major global events, focusing on the aftermath of the Bondi Beach mass shooting in Australia, unrest in Sudan, worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza, the UK's decision to rejoin the Erasmus scheme, climate-driven agricultural changes in England, escalating corporate battles in Hollywood, severe pollution in India, Bhutan's ambitious tech city plans, and ethical debates around wildlife photography.

The main theme is the human and political consequences of current crises—from the intensely personal grief in Sydney to global strategic shifts, with reports from correspondents and firsthand accounts from those on the ground.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Aftermath of the Bondi Beach Mass Shooting in Australia

[02:00 - 08:15]

• Funerals and Community Grief:

  • The first funerals are held for victims, including rabbis Ellie Schlanger and another unnamed rabbi.

  • Katie Watson reports from Bondi, describing the somber atmosphere, extensive police presence, and emotional eulogies.

  • Rabbi Aaron Moss reflects:

    "We have all been hoping over the last three days that we would wake up and somehow realize that this was all a terrible dream. We can't wish that anymore. We are here, raw and devastated, crying in unbearable pain, along with the entire Jewish people and all good people across Australia and the world over." — Rabbi Aaron Moss [04:25].

  • Rabbi Ullman, Schlanger’s father-in-law, gives a heartfelt speech:

    "Ellie was the best husband, the best father, the best son. We all lost a son." — Rabbi Ullman [05:10].

• Legal and Political Response:

  • The surviving suspect, Naveed Akram, is charged with 15 murders and terrorism offenses. His father was killed by police during the attack.
  • Phil Mercer, from Sydney, explains Akram is facing 59 charges and appeared in court via video link.
  • The process is expected to extend into at least April next year.

• Tighter Gun Control Laws:

  • State Premier Chris Minns recalls parliament to push for stronger gun laws.
  • Reforms may include restrictions on firearm ownership, types of weapons, and licensing.
  • Phil Mercer notes political fallout and criticism, including allegations that the federal government is trying to deflect from accusations of rising antisemitism.

2. Detention of Health Workers in Darfur, Sudan

[08:16 - 13:00]

• Mass Detention:

  • Over 70 health workers are detained by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Darfur, among 5,000 civilians held in appalling prison conditions.
  • Shingai Nyoka (Harare) cites a grim report from the Sudan Doctors Network detailing severe overcrowding, cholera outbreaks, food and water shortages, and deteriorating sanitary conditions.
  • The WHO is trying to verify information and calls the situation "deeply concerning."

• Wider Humanitarian Crisis:

  • Nyoka:

    "This has been described as the worst humanitarian disaster in the world...tens of thousands of people have been killed and millions displaced." [12:50].

3. Gaza’s Struggle Against Rain and Conflict

[13:01 - 17:32]

• Displaced Families in Crisis:

  • Heavy rain devastates makeshift tent shelters. Aid workers describe children shivering in drenched clothes, parents struggling to dry blankets, and widespread risk of hypothermia.
  • Jonathan Cricks (UNICEF Palestine):

    "Most of the people...have been displaced multiple times. When you're displaced during those two years of war, you're just moving with what you have on your back." [14:35]. "Temperature about 7 to 8 degrees Celsius at night—we are extremely concerned about children getting sick or even worse, dying from hypothermia." [15:00].

• Aid Realities:

  • While quarter of a million warm kits and 600,000 blankets have arrived, the needs far outstrip resources:

    "The scale of the needs is so immense... thousands of children are really suffering every night." [16:55].

4. UK to Rejoin Erasmus Scheme

[17:33 - 20:10]

• Policy Reversal:

  • Six years after Brexit, the UK plans to return to Erasmus in 2027, allowing UK and EU students to study abroad without extra fees.
  • Students react positively, highlighting expanded opportunities for jobs and language learning.

• Broader Impacts:

  • Vanessa Clark (education correspondent):

    "This is all about, actually, expanding relationships with the EU. Many would like to see the Youth Mobility Scheme...restart. So this looks, for some people, like a step towards that." [19:50].

5. Climate Change Enables Olive Farming in England

[20:11 - 23:20]

• Innovative Farming in Lincolnshire:

  • Rising temperatures let English farmer David Hoyles successfully grow and produce olive oil.

  • Hoyles:

    "We're farmers, we're growers at heart, so we really like that challenge... Grapes didn't suit our soil type, so olives was a bit of an extreme choice, but one we've gone for." [21:10].

  • Hoyles shares advice from Italian experts, noting:

    "The Italians call me the crazy Englishman. They think the project is a bit daft, but they've all been willing to share their knowledge, share their passion." [22:45].

6. Business: Paramount Bids for Warner Bros.

[23:21 - 27:25]

• Corporate Drama:

  • Warner Bros. rejects Paramount's $108 billion takeover. Paramount's key financial backer, Affinity Partners (linked to Jared Kushner), has withdrawn.
  • Nick Marsh (business correspondent) expects Paramount to improve its offer, while regulatory issues loom.

• Entertainment Landscape Shifts:

  • Marsh:

    "If Netflix bought [Warner Bros.], all of these massive shows would be under one umbrella... That’s going to pose big regulatory problems because the market share...would be too big." [25:50].

• Industry Fears:

  • Potential for job cuts, less consumer choice, and price hikes for streaming subscribers.

7. Indian Air Pollution Emergency in Delhi

[27:26 - 29:40]

• Health Crisis:

  • Annual winter smog in Delhi triggers severe respiratory distress, especially in children.

  • Anbarasan Etirajan (reporter):

    "If you want to go for a walk, you breathe in this smog filled air and that irritation goes down your throat…After five minutes, some people might start coughing." [28:10].

  • Government imposes emergency measures including banning older diesel vehicles, work-from-home mandates, and shifting schools online.

• Root Problems:

  • Pollution is compounded by stagnant winter air and changes in wind direction.

8. Bhutan’s Plan for a New “Mindfulness” Tech City

[29:41 - 32:30]

• Ambitious Urban Project:

  • Bhutan plans to build Gelefu, a "city of mindfulness," investing $1 billion—reportedly much of it from cryptocurrency gains.
  • Aims to attract tech and finance sectors while embracing Buddhist values.

• Strategic Context:

  • Paul Moss (global affairs):

    "Bhutan sits at a very strategically interesting spot between India and China. India is very keen to keep...China out. I do think there's a chance that you'll see India prepared to invest a lot of money in Gelefu, but that would be for reasons less to do with...mindfulness and more about hard-nosed geopolitics." [31:45].

9. Are Wildlife Photographers Harming Biodiversity?

[32:31 - 38:02]

• Frog Species Disappearance:

  • The search for the perfect shot led to photographers moving the endangered galaxy frog in India, causing local extinction.

• Ethical Dilemma:

  • Wildlife photographer Stefano Unterthiner criticizes unethical practices:

    "I'm not so surprised unfortunately because I heard some bad story about nature photography all around the world... It's difficult but to me it's just about the lack of ethic, the lack of knowledge." [34:02]. "We should try to don't touch and to don't interact with any animal at all. That's the general rule we should always follow." [36:13].

  • Raises issues with social media and competition driving photographers to prioritize images over conservation.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "We have all been hoping...we would wake up and realize this was all a terrible dream. We can't wish that anymore." — Rabbi Aaron Moss, Bondi funeral [04:25].
• "Climate change makes commercial olive growing possible thousands of kilometers from its traditional Mediterranean home." — Alex Ritson (show intro) [01:40].
• "This has been described as the worst humanitarian disaster in the world." — Shingai Nyoka, Sudan segment [12:50].
• "We are extremely concerned about children getting sick or even worse, dying from hypothermia." — Jonathan Cricks, UNICEF Palestine [15:00].
• "The Italians call me the crazy Englishman...but they've all been willing to share their knowledge, share their passion." — David Hoyles, Lincolnshire olive farmer [22:45].
• "We should try to don't touch and to don't interact with any animal at all." — Stefano Unterthiner, wildlife photographer [36:13].

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Bondi Beach shooting funerals and legal fallout: 02:00 - 08:15
• Detained health workers in Sudan: 08:16 - 13:00
• Humanitarian situation in Gaza: 13:01 - 17:32
• UK rejoins Erasmus scheme: 17:33 - 20:10
• Climate change and olive farming in England: 20:11 - 23:20
• Paramount and Warner Bros. merger battle: 23:21 - 27:25
• Severe Delhi air pollution: 27:26 - 29:40
• Bhutan's mindfulness tech city: 29:41 - 32:30
• Ethics of wildlife photography: 32:31 - 38:02

Conclusion

This episode moves from personal tragedy in Australia to sweeping global challenges and policy shifts, delivering news with sensitivity and direct insights from people on the ground. The tone balances empathetic reportage with urgent analysis and offers a window into how local events ripple out to shape national and international actions.