Global News Podcast — Syria One Year On From Liberation
BBC World Service | Host: Oliver Conway | Date: December 8, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode marks the first anniversary of the fall of the Assad regime in Syria, exploring the country's political, humanitarian, and reconstruction challenges following five decades of authoritarian rule. The podcast also covers breaking international stories — including a major Nigerian school kidnapping, the diplomatic struggles faced by Ukraine, developments in UK-Russian naval tensions, China's surging trade surplus, and innovations in Japanese elder care technology.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Syria: One Year Since the End of the Assad Regime

• Historic Anniversary & Public Celebrations

  • The episode opens with Syria celebrating a year since the Islamist-led rebels ended the Assad family's 50-year rule. A military parade took place in central Damascus, attended by large, flag-waving crowds ([00:45]).

• Continuing Challenges Post-Regime Change

  • Dr. Omar Emadi (Center for Syrian Studies, St. Andrews University) emphasizes the depth of Syria's societal wounds:

    "What fell on December 8, 2024, was not simply an authoritarian regime. This was a 61 year old system that used weaponized sectarian differences, committed war crimes against its own population, imposed a very extreme version of a socialist nationalist ideology..." ([01:24])

    • Emadi notes it is remarkable what Syrians have achieved in a single year but warns that longstanding grievances and divides remain.

• Return of Refugees & Reconstruction Risks

  • Filippo Grandi (UNHCR head, outgoing) tells Lise Doucet that millions have returned, but many come home to devastated cities and broken infrastructure:

    "They go back to almost nothing... There are no jobs, there is no electricity. There's a lot to be done... I'm worried that unless this reconstruction is accelerated, that country can go backwards again." ([02:36])

  • Grandi urges increased international support, highlighting concerns around minority rights and women's rights, and warns families may flee again if conditions worsen.

• The Global Aid Dilemma

  • Grandi discusses donor fatigue and how increased spending on defense means less for aid:

    "To take money away from aid and put it in defense, in my opinion, is not necessary." ([05:15])

  • Calls for revitalizing voices of solidarity and international aid, recognizing that humanitarian workers’ advocacy is being overshadowed by nativist rhetoric:

    "The voice of those that say it's not important to care, let's focus on ourselves, our country first... have become a bit overwhelming." ([06:28])

2. Nigeria: School Kidnapping and Child Releases

• Latest Updates on Abduction Crisis

  • 100 kidnapped children from a Catholic school in Nigeria have been released—details of their release remain unclear, but authorities insist operations are ongoing to rescue remaining captives ([08:10]).

• Question of Ransom Payments

  • Richard Kogoi (BBC) explains ransom payments are illegal in Nigeria, but speculation persists on whether money changed hands, despite official denials ([08:38]).
  • Authorities plan to release remaining captives in batches ([09:23]).

3. South Korea: Blackmail and Son Heung-min

• Football Star Blackmailed
  • Soccer icon Son Heung-min was extorted for $200,000 by a woman claiming she was pregnant with his child. When the scheme escalated, Son involved police, resulting in prison sentences for the perpetrators ([10:28]).
  • Son’s clean image and national status in Korea are highlighted:

    "He is really a national hero here... the face of one of the biggest banks..." ([12:01])

4. Tackling Obesity: Smaller Restaurant Portions

• Government Policy Recommendation
  • Professor Navid Satar (Glasgow University) calls for more varied, realistically-sized meal portion options in restaurants and supermarkets to address obesity — especially for women and people from less affluent backgrounds:

    "If we offer single portion sizes, which are really to fulfill the requirements of average men, we're nudging more and more people to eat more than they need." ([12:58])

  • Advocates adjusting pricing, accepting slightly lower profits for public health benefit ([13:56]).

5. Ukraine: Diplomacy, Pressure, and European Support

• Zelenskyy’s European Diplomacy amidst U.S. Pressure
  • President Zelenskyy seeks support from UK, Germany, and France after U.S. proposes a controversial peace plan (seen as favoring Russia). Trump criticizes Zelenskyy for not accepting the proposal ([15:20], [15:44]).
  • Joe Inwood (World Affairs) explains Washington is pushing Kyiv to concede on territory and military limitations, while Europe rallies around Ukraine:

    "This is Europe putting a sort of metaphorical arm around Ukraine's president and its people..." ([16:15])

6. Britain: Protecting Against Russian Undersea Threats

• Royal Navy's Technological Response
  • In response to Russian ships mapping undersea UK infrastructure, the Royal Navy trials advanced undersea gliders and launches 'Atlantic Bastion'—a network linking drones, ships, and aircraft to monitor threats ([18:46]).
  • Defense Secretary and senior naval officials stress the ongoing, escalating Russian submarine activity and the need to maintain UK maritime superiority ([20:18], [21:34]).

    "They continue to put hundreds of billions of dollars worth of investment into their submarine fleet... We're still ahead in the Atlantic, but it's not by as much of an advantage as I would like." — General Sir Gwin Jenkins ([21:27])

7. China: Trade Surplus and Shifts in Export Markets

• Record-Setting Trade Surplus
  • While U.S. exports have plummeted, China’s overall annual trade surplus exceeds $1 trillion for the first time — fueled by growth in Southeast Asia and Europe ([22:18]).
  • Nick Marsh notes China’s competitive manufacturing offsets trade war losses:

    "It turns out China still has plenty of willing customers, more than ever in other parts of the world." ([23:29])

8. Japan: Robots and Tech to Combat Dementia

• Innovations in Elder Care
  • Robotics and AI are being developed to assist Japan’s aging population, where 1 in 5 people over 65 have dementia ([25:19]).
  • Devices include caregiving robots (AREX), AI analysis of motion to enable early intervention, and portable companion bots (Poketomo) to provide reminders and emotional support ([25:34], [26:10], [26:48]).

    "These innovations may not replace humans just yet, but they could help stretch limited resources from screening to caregiving support." ([27:12])

Notable Quotes

• Dr. Omar Emadi on Syria’s transformation:

  "It's not, I think, reasonable to expect that everything will suddenly be okay. It doesn't work that way. There's a lot of grievances, there's deep divides in society." ([01:24])

• Filippo Grandi on international aid:

  "If you don't take some risks, you never build peace. And you prepare the ground for a new conflict." ([04:41])

• Professor Navid Satar on restaurant portions:

  "If we offer single portion sizes, which are really to fulfill the requirements of average men, we're nudging more and more people to eat more than they need." ([12:58])

• General Sir Gwin Jenkins on Russian threat:

  "We're still ahead in the Atlantic, but it's not by as much of an advantage as I would like." ([21:34])

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Syria one year after Assad: [00:45] – [07:34]
• Nigeria school abductions: [07:34] – [10:05]
• Son Heung-min blackmail trial: [10:28] – [12:36]
• Obesity and portion sizes: [12:36] – [14:57]
• Ukraine’s diplomatic push: [15:20] – [18:23]
• UK undersea threat from Russia: [18:23] – [21:53]
• China’s trade surplus: [22:18] – [24:59]
• Japanese tech and dementia care: [25:19] – [27:21]

This episode weaves together sweeping international stories with expert contributions, direct reporting, and analysis, retaining the BBC’s measured, informed, and globally focused tone throughout.