Global News Podcast – January 2, 2026

Host: Charlotte Gallagher, BBC World Service
Episode Title: Tributes paid to dead and injured after fire at Swiss resort

Overview

This episode covers the devastating fire at a Swiss ski resort during New Year celebrations, the killing of a notorious Venezuelan gang leader in Colombia, advances and debates in psychedelic medicine for mental health, a virtual reality initiative supporting injured children in Gaza, China's struggle with a declining birthrate, and the enduring influence of Art Nouveau artist Alphonse Mucha.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Tragedy at a Swiss Ski Resort: New Year's Fire (00:38–05:58)

• Incident Overview:

  • A fire at the Constellation Bar in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, killed approximately 40 people and injured at least 115, many with severe burns, during New Year’s celebrations.
  • Hundreds attended a vigil and created a shrine at the site with candles and flowers.

• Eyewitness Account:

  • Ilana Shor, who lost a close friend in the fire:

    “It was crazy. It was like a horror movie. For real. It was a horror movie. I've never seen anything like it in my life.” (02:07)

• Emergency Response:

  • Dr. Robert Larabaugh, head of emergency care at Geneva University Hospitals, explained (via translator) that patients aged 15–25 required care so critical that Switzerland had to use the European Network of Intensive Care for Burnt People, transferring the most severely injured to Italy, Germany, and France.

• Reporting from the Scene:

  • Sarah Rainsford described a somber town transformed by tragedy:

    “All day long it has been a town very, very somber. … Tonight it's very quiet. There is no party mood here. It's really a place of tragedy and a disaster scene.” (02:58)

  • The cause remains uncertain; officials ruled out an attack and are investigating accident theories, including whether a bottle flare set the roof alight.
  • Safety concerns were raised, especially the narrow exit from the basement where most fatalities occurred.

2. Major Colombian Operation Kills Gang Leader El Viejo (05:58–08:32)

• Background:

  • Tren de Aragua, Venezuela’s major crime syndicate, lost a leading figure known as El Viejo (“the Old Man”), killed by Colombian forces.
  • El Viejo was on the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted list with a $5 million reward.

• Impact & Context:

  • Mimi Swaby (Global Affairs Reporter) explained why the group is high-profile in US policy:

    “According to President Trump, [Tren de Aragua] is accused of flooding the US with drugs and also incredibly violent crime.” (07:07)

  • Killing high-level leaders is seen as symbolic, but replacements are likely; the operation is intended as a warning to others.

3. Psychedelic Drugs in Mental Health Treatment (08:32–13:58)

• Emerging Research:

  • Psychedelics (psilocybin, DMT) are showing promise in clinical trials for conditions such as depression, PTSD, and substance abuse, but remain tightly regulated and illegal outside controlled environments.

• Personal Testimony:

  • Ian Roulier, a participant in psilocybin trials:

    “I was able to go into some very dark places and get to the very roots of my depression, and that really helped.” (09:59)
    “It's one of the hardest things I've ever done and it’s not fun, it's not enjoyable. But by doing that… I was able to survive.” (10:17)

• Expert Analysis:

  • Professor David Nutt (Imperial College), pioneer in the field:

    • Psychedelics can “reset” the brain, helping break free from ingrained negative thinking patterns (11:00).

  • Dr. Ravi Das (UCL), leading alcohol-use disorder trials:

    “The idea that these drugs… can break down these entrenched pathways in the brain should mean that they can be useful in alcohol use disorder, opiates, even gambling.” (11:49)

  • Professor Oliver Howes (King’s College London):

    “I think it’s really important not to jump ahead of the evidence.” (12:26)
    “I’ve seen people that have tried this and I’ve seen it go badly wrong. … There are risks and, you know, sometimes people have bad reactions...” (13:04)

• Patient Advocacy:

  • Ian Roulier:

    “It's being stifled really by bureaucracy… People are losing their lives because there is just no treatment available for them.” (13:33)

4. Virtual Reality Therapy for Injured Gaza Children (15:04–18:28)

• Crisis Context:

  • Over 1 million Palestinian children in Gaza need urgent mental health support, many after severe injuries in ongoing conflict.

• Field Report:

  • Chantal Hartle describes a VR therapy session in a tent in central Gaza:
    • Children, fitted with VR headsets, immerse in peaceful environments, providing a temporary escape.
    • Example: 15-year-old Salah, recovering from a drone injury, benefits from the therapy alongside physical rehabilitation.

• Innovator & Impact:

  • Musab Ali, Palestinian software engineer, pioneered the approach after early success with patients and staff.
  • Abdullah Abu Shamal, children’s therapist, highlighted the efficiency:

    “With conventional sessions we usually need about 10 to 12, whereas with virtual reality we can achieve results in just five to seven sessions.” (17:31)

• Expert Caveat:

  • VR is a helpful adjunct, not a substitute for conventional therapy.
  • Implementation faces hurdles: transporting headsets, frequent power cuts, and ongoing violence.

5. China Tackles Falling Birthrate with Contraceptive Tax (18:28–22:35)

• Demographic Dilemma:

  • China is facing a collapsing birthrate and population decline, despite ending the One Child Policy in 2016 and instituting pro-natalist measures, such as a new 13% tax on contraceptives.

• Expert Commentary:

  • Professor Kerry Brown (King’s College London):

    “There's been a decline in the birth rate for a long time, not necessarily to do with the one child policy. … A large number of women don't marry now in China. … There's 50 million more men than women and so you have a kind of skewed demography just in gender balance.” (19:18)

  • Government incentives have failed to move the needle; deep-rooted social trends and limited welfare support create persistent barriers.

  • Brown compares China’s dilemma with other East Asian nations, noting little reliance on immigration and an uncertain experiment with robotics.

    “At the moment it's looking like its population will actually halve from today's 1.4 billion, approximately down to about 700 million by the year 2100.” (14:04/21:29)

6. Art Nouveau Pioneer Alphonse Mucha – Legacy and Revival (22:35–25:33)

• Artist’s Story:

  • Alphonse Mucha, renowned Czech artist, struggled for early recognition, befriended artists like Paul Gauguin in Paris, and found success creating posters for actress Sarah Bernhardt (the famous Gismonda poster).
  • Mucha’s legacy was protected by his family during WWII due to his status as a Slav nationalist and Freemason; he died shortly after imprisonment by the Nazis.

• Modern Perspective:

  • Marcus Mucha, the artist’s great-grandson:

    “Alphonse was an artist who loved and respected strong women… they don't rely on a male gaze to give them value, which was quite revolutionary at the end of the 19th century…” (24:59)

• Upcoming Tribute:

  • Prague is creating a new public space to showcase Mucha’s Slav Epic series as he originally intended.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “It was crazy. It was like a horror movie. For real. It was a horror movie. I've never seen anything like it in my life.”
  — Ilana Shor, eyewitness, on Crans-Montana fire (02:07)

• “All day long it has been a town very, very somber. … There is no party mood here. It's really a place of tragedy and a disaster scene.”
  — Sarah Rainsford, reporting from the Swiss resort (02:58)

• “I've seen people that have tried this and I've seen it go badly wrong. So I really strongly advise people not to… use back street clinics, because there are risks and, you know, sometimes people have bad reactions to these.”
  — Professor Oliver Howes, on risks of unsupervised psychedelic drug use (13:04)

• “With conventional sessions we usually need about 10 to 12, whereas with virtual reality we can achieve results in just five to seven sessions.”
  — Abdullah Abu Shamal, Gaza therapist (17:31)

• “At the moment it's looking like its population will actually halve from today's 1.4 billion, approximately down to about 700 million by the year 2100.”
  — Dr. Kerry Brown, on China’s demographic outlook (14:04/21:29)

• “They don’t rely on a male gaze to give them value, which was quite revolutionary at the end of the 19th century…”
  — Marcus Mucha, on Alphonse Mucha’s depiction of women (24:59)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• [00:38] Swiss resort fire overview & eyewitness accounts
• [02:58] On-site reporting and investigation details
• [05:58] Colombian forces kill El Viejo, gang leader
• [08:32] Psychedelics in mental health: trials, patient stories, expert cautions
• [15:04] Virtual reality therapy for Gaza’s injured children
• [18:28] China’s declining birthrate and new contraceptive tax
• [22:35] Legacy of Alphonse Mucha

Episode Tone

The tone is somber and empathetic in coverage of the Swiss tragedy and Gaza’s children, analytical and cautious in discussions of new therapies and demographic trends, and reverent when reflecting on Mucha’s artistic legacy. The reporting balances breaking news urgency with thoughtful, human-centered storytelling.

This summary provides a comprehensive overview of the January 2, 2026 edition of the Global News Podcast, highlighting critical themes, expert insights, and compelling stories from around the world.