Global News Podcast – Russia Hits Ukraine in Deadly Strikes

Date: November 14, 2025
Host: Oliver Conway (BBC World Service)

Episode Overview

In this edition, the Global News Podcast focuses on a series of major international developments:

• Russia’s heaviest bombardment of Kyiv in weeks and Ukraine’s retaliatory strikes.
• Escalating tensions between Japan and China over Taiwan.
• A UN investigation into a mass atrocity in Sudan.
• Concerns over rising childhood hypertension worldwide.
• US tariff talks with Latin America under President Trump.
• School closures in Australia over asbestos-laced play sand.
• A unique story of a Japanese woman marrying an AI chatbot.
• Behind the scenes of a record-breaking BBC podcast marathon.

The episode provides expert analysis, first-hand accounts, and global context across these urgent topics.

Main Stories and Key Discussion Points

1. Russian Attacks on Kyiv: The Worst Bombardment in Weeks

• [01:08 – 04:52]
• Kyiv suffers its heaviest Russian bombardment in weeks; at least six dead in the Odessa region, two more killed in a drone market strike.
• Ukrainian MP Lisa Jasko describes the fear and disruption in Kyiv:

  “The attack was very massive, with drones with ballistics with lots of air defense working on. Very often there was a feeling that your bed in the bedroom was just shaking together with windows.” – Lisa Jasko [02:18]

• BBC’s James Landale from Kyiv explains Russia's strategy:

  “There are almost 4 million Ukrainians who live in this city and Russia... has a very clear strategy of trying to damage Ukrainian morale. And that's what these kind of overnight attacks are all about.” – James Landale [04:26]

Key Insights:

• Russian tactics combine targeting energy infrastructure in the east with sudden, comprehensive assaults on civilian areas in Kyiv.
• Ukrainian defenses shot down many drones and missiles, but several got through, damaging apartment blocks and killing civilians.
• Ukraine struck back at Russian oil facilities and air defences in Novorossiysk, showing the war’s tit-for-tat escalation.

2. China-Japan Tensions over Taiwan

• [04:52 – 08:32]
• Diplomatic crisis as Japan’s new PM Sanae Takaichi warns of potential military response if China attacks Taiwan.
• Chinese officials use vitriolic language, notably:

  The Chinese Consul General in Osaka reportedly said, “if the Japanese Prime Minister was to ever stick her head into Taiwan, perhaps it should be cut off.” – Stephen McDonnell [06:17]

• BBC correspondent Stephen McDonnell explains the thin line between political theatre and real anger:

  “It's interesting. It depends who you believe... others in the Japanese government have been trying to walk this back a bit... Sanae Takechi said she's not taking these comments back, although she did say that perhaps in the future she wouldn't sort of dive into these theoretical discussions about the future so much.” – Stephen McDonnell [07:51]

Key Insights:

• Heightened tensions risk undoing recent diplomatic rapprochements.
• Japan’s leadership remains publicly tied to the “One China” principle, though mixed messages create volatility.

3. Sudan Massacre and UN Response

• [08:32 – 12:55]
• Around 2,000 people killed in El Fasher as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) seize control.
• Harrowing testimonies from survivors of violence, deprivation and humiliation.

  “We suffered routine gunfire, humiliation, thirst and hunger. The RSF forced us to sit under the scorching sun... in addition to arresting many people, abducting young men and injuring some of them.” – Sudanese civilian [09:12]

• UN Human Rights Council unanimously votes to investigate. Correspondent Imogen Foulkes outlines goals and limitations:

  “What is being hoped is that it will identify, formally identify people responsible, and the threat is there to share this evidence with the International Criminal Court.” – Imogen Foulkes [10:18] “What is particularly frustrating... they had been warning for months that this could happen and there was no international pressure.” – Imogen Foulkes [11:33]

Key Insights:

• Investigators seek to name perpetrators and potentially involve the ICC.
• Ongoing warfare is complicated by regional and international interests, particularly competition for Sudan’s resources.
• Previous warnings about possible atrocities went unheeded.

4. Alarming Rise in Childhood Hypertension

• [12:55 – 16:05]
• A Lancet study finds the number of children with high blood pressure (hypertension) has almost doubled to 114 million worldwide.
• Professor Kazem Rahimi (Oxford) explains:

  “As people adopt a more sedentary lifestyle, gain weight and perhaps take more salt, these are all key determinants of elevated blood pressure.” – Kazem Rahimi [13:57] “We didn't see huge differences... across different parts of the world... unfortunately in a bad sense, low income countries have been catching up.” – Kazem Rahimi [15:24]

Key Insights:

• Unhealthy lifestyle choices, notably weight gain, sedentary habits, and the global spread of processed foods, are key drivers.
• The epidemic blurs lines between rich and poor countries as unhealthy patterns proliferate.

5. US Tariffs: Trump Administration Seeks Grocery Relief

• [17:37 – 20:02]
• The US plans to cut tariffs on coffee, bananas, beef, and cocoa from four Latin American countries to counter inflation.
• Business presenter Nick Marsh explains:

  “Some key goods from these Latin American countries will be exempt from import tariffs... staples that have really soared in price recently... Coffee by 20% this year, cocoa more than doubling in the last couple of years.” – Nick Marsh [18:11] “It’s about compromising... these tariff exemptions show... sweeping tariffs, they're not as simple as they may seem.” – Nick Marsh [19:45]

Key Insights:

• Exemptions target items with little US domestic production, but beef imports remain controversial.
• Move seen as both a practical anti-inflation measure and a political response to recent Republican electoral losses.

6. Asbestos Scare Shuts Australian Schools

• [20:02 – 22:03]
• Play sand imported from China found contaminated with asbestos, leading to at least 15 school closures.
• Authorities emphasize low risk but act out of caution. Katie Watson details the situation:

  “This is sand that kids play with, like sensory play for arts and crafts... the education minister said that was so that they could test the sand... and obviously they knew that it would be worrying, but the testing and remediation could take place quicker if they did that.” – Katie Watson [20:47]

Key Insights:

• Reactions vary across Australia, but the presence of banned substances in children’s products generates widespread alarm.

7. A Japanese Woman Marries Her AI Chatbot

• [22:03 – 24:31]
• Ms. Kano develops a relationship with a ChatGPT-based AI avatar, culminating in a virtual wedding ceremony.
• Richard Hamilton reports her journey:

  “I didn't start talking to ChatGPT because I wanted to fall in love... the way Klaus listened to me and understood me changed everything. The moment I got over my ex, I realized I loved him.” – Ms. Kano, via Richard Hamilton [23:16] “ChatGPT itself is too unstable... I worry it might one day disappear.” – Ms. Kano, via Richard Hamilton [24:20]

Key Insights:

• Highlights emerging emotional relationships with AI.
• Reflects Japan’s growing market for personalized virtual connections and the complexities such bonds bring.

8. Behind the BBC’s 25-Hour Podcast Marathon

• [24:31 – 27:48]
• Adam Fleming and James Copnell discuss the experience of hosting a continuous 25-hour BBC “Newscast” for charity.
• James Copnell explains the relaxed atmosphere:

  “The vibe is very much no suit, tie off, not even a jumper, kick back, got a coffee table, got loads of cushions. And that's, that's, that's the vibe we've been going for.” – James Copnell [27:17]

• Dived into topics from cricket and Canadian affairs to political metaphors and British comedy.

Memorable Insight:

• Learned about “rolling the pitch” (a cricket term) as a metaphor for budget discussions in UK politics.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Lisa Jasko on surviving the Kyiv attack:

  “Very often there was a feeling that your bed in the bedroom was just shaking together with windows.” [02:33]

• China-Japan spike in rhetoric:

  “Evil witch” – Chinese newspaper (via Stephen McDonnell) describing Japanese PM [06:01]
  “Perhaps it should be cut off.” – Chinese Consul General on PM’s intervention [06:17]

• Sudan survivor:

  “We fled from Al Fasha on foot for nearly 14 hours... suffered routine gunfire, humiliation, thirst and hunger.” [09:12]

• Childhood hypertension global spread:

  “In a bad sense, low income countries have been catching up.” – Kazem Rahimi [15:24]

• Podcast marathon ethos:

  “No suit, tie off, not even a jumper... just kick back, got a coffee table, got loads of cushions.” – James Copnell [27:17]

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Russia/Ukraine strikes and Kyiv eyewitness – [01:08 – 04:52]
• China-Japan-Taiwan tensions – [04:52 – 08:32]
• Sudan massacre, survivor stories & UN inquiry – [08:32 – 12:55]
• Childhood hypertension global report – [12:55 – 16:05]
• US–Latin America trade tariff updates – [17:37 – 20:02]
• Australia asbestos school closures – [20:02 – 22:03]
• Japanese woman’s AI marriage – [22:03 – 24:31]
• BBC 25-hour “Newscast” podcast marathon – [24:31 – 27:48]

Overall Tone & Style

The episode retains the clear, measured, and analytical approach typical of the BBC World Service, balancing urgent testimony with expert synthesis and factual reporting. Throughout, there is an emphasis on both immediate human impact and broader international ramifications.

For full coverage of these urgent global events and more, listen to the November 14, 2025 episode of the Global News Podcast.