Global News Podcast - Quake kills hundreds in Afghanistan

Episode Date: September 1, 2025

Rescue workers in Afghanistan are trying to reach villages in remote mountainous areas in the east of the country following a magnitude six earthquake. A Taliban official said more than eight-hundred people had died and more than two-thousand-five-hundred had been injured in the provinces of Kunar and Nangarhar. Helicopters have been deployed to collect the wounded as landslides have cut off roads. The UN says that twenty assessment teams have so far been deployed to areas worst hit by the quake. The emergency comes as Afghanistan is suffering from a severe drought and food crisis. Also: at a summit of world leaders in the Chinese city of Tianjin, the Chinese President, Xi Jinping, said the group would challenge what he called bullying behaviour - in apparent reference to the tariffs that President Trump has imposed on India and other countries, and details of how Queen Camilla fought off an attempted assault when she was a teenager are revealed in a new book about the British monarchy:The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: [e-mail]

This is the global news podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Nick Mars and at 14 hours GMT on Monday the 1st of September, these are our main stories. The Taliban in Afghanistan say hundreds of people have been killed in an earthquake in the country's mountainous eastern region. The leaders of China, India and Russia have been presenting a united front at a summit of world leaders in the northern Chinese city of Tianjin. Also in this podcast, as the... The Israeli army continues its push into Gaza City. What more do we know about the U.S. plan on the so-called next day after the war? And details of how Queen Camilla fought off an attempted assault when she was a teenager

revealed in a new book about the British monarchy. Camilla said, I did what my mother taught me. I took my show off and I whacked him in the nuts with the hill. The Taliban in Afghanistan. say hundreds of people have died in a magnitude 6 earthquake in the east of the country. As we record this podcast, the authorities say more than 800 are dead and that more than 2,500 people have been injured in the provinces of Nangahar and Kuna. A Taliban spokesman, Zaybullah Mujahid, said the epicenter was in a remote mountainous area

which is making relief operations difficult. He said the casualty figures may increase, as some villages were only accessible by helicopter, and some people and bodies were still being recovered from the rubble. Our correspondent in Afghanistan is Yama Bariz. I spoke to him as he made his way towards the area worst affected by the quake. The percent of the earthquake was in eastern Afghanistan, Kunar province, which has been affected very badly. It's a mountainous area, and the area was hit by flas.

during the weekend. So because of the landslides, now the roads are blocked to the affected areas. The latest reports which we have got, the sources in Nangraha Regional Hospital, they told us that they have received

hundreds of casualties, but it's still a developing story as there has been areas in province, which due to the landslides, the rescue team have not reached there. So till now, They were saying that tens of dead bodies which they have recovered are only from two valleys.

And there are four other valleys which the rescue teams have not reached there yet. The Taliban government, they are saying that they are military rescue teams, as well as civilian rescue teams. They are trying to make their way to the region and some of them have got there. So the evacuation has mostly happened by helicopters because the roads are blocked. and that's the only means in order to bring the people out. When we spoke to some local people, despite the difficulty which we had in the communication due to lack of phone signals, they told us that the local people themselves are trying to

evacuate their loved one from their rebels, and they were calling on the authorities here and as well as on the international humanitarian organizations to come to their help. Yama, can you tell us a little bit more about particularly the the villages that have been affected and why there's been so much damage there? It happened like around 12 o'clock midnight, last night. We felt it here even in Kabul. I was in my room when I felt that jolt of earthquake. And by there and the region and the epicenter, it's a mountainous area and the infrastructure is very weak.

They are mostly mad houses and they are not earthquake resistant. So that is why the area has been affected very badly. And also it was middle of the night. People were sleeping mostly at home. That's why most of the casualties they are saying they are women and children. Of course, they remain as well. But because they were inside and it was the middle of the night and the buildings there are.

not earthquake resistant. So that is what it has caused such a big number of casualties and also has brought about a lot of distraction. And from what you're saying, it's unlikely that there's going to be any heavy lifting equipment arriving in these places because of the landslides. That is the one issue. And even apart from that, the rescue teams here in Afghanistan. They are overstretched due to the 8cats. They are under pressure and they are equipped with very basic tools. They might get there. They might try hard. But yes, of course, they would need the help from the NGOs with the proper rescue teams, with the proper rescue equipment. So it is going to be problematic and a huge task for the NGOs as well as for the authorities

here to deal with. Yama Bari's in Afghanistan. The leaders of more than 20 countries, among them Russia, Turkey and Iran, are in China for a major economic summit. Trade will be one of the main items on the agenda for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, but will we see diplomacy at work too? The mooted talks between Russia and Ukraine to end the war haven't yet materialised, and China may use the opportunity to position itself as a global diplomatic leader, as well as a financial one. Its support is very much behind Russia in the conflict, though, and Vladimir Putin is scheduled to appear at a big military parade on Wednesday. China's president Xi Jinping criticized what he labeled bullying behavior in the world order. We must uphold fairness and justice.

We must promote a correct view of World War II history and oppose Cold War mentality, block confrontation, and bullying. We must upholds us. international system with the United Nations at its core and supports the multilateral trading system with a world trade organization at its core. We must advocate for an equal and orderly multipolar world, an inclusive economic globalization, and promote the building of a more just and equitable global governance system. The remarks appear targeted at the United States, which has imposed steep import taxes on India for buying Russia and

oil. Cindy Yu is a columnist for the Times newspaper and former host of the Chinese Whispers podcast. And Nigel Inkster is a former assistant director at the British Intelligence Agency MI6. So what do they make of these remarks? America and Trump were not name-checked, but it was clearly all about them. When these global South countries, including Russia, China and India, talk about a more fair and equitable international world order, what they're criticizing is the fact that they don't see the U.S. led world order as fail equitable for those outside of the Western Club. And so they want to create this alternative. Now, the Shanghai Corporation Organization has existed for over two decades now,

but this year, what we're seeing is probably the biggest summit it has had since its founding and the most significant as well, because India is now, you know, pretty much on board in a way that it hasn't really been in the past few years. Russia at this crucial juncture with this invasion of Ukraine as well as China in terms of the rise of itself. So they talk about this kind of mega scale market. And the member states make up something like a quarter of world GDP. So it is a mega grouping of countries to be talking about. Now, how seriously, how substantial these alliances really become, you know, in the coming years, whether they can really contest Western multilateralism. I think that's something that's still an open question.

And Nigel, we've been hearing Vladimir Putin speaking at the summit, saying that apparently they're still planning, hoping to have talks with Ukraine at some point to try and achieve peace. He talks about the coup d'état in Ukraine, which was supported and provoked by the West. Are we likely to see any movement on the Ukraine war at this particular summit? Or is it all about positioning? I think this is all about positioning and also semiotics, the message that there's, this grouping, you know, this gathering is sending to the world. And one thing that Xi Jinping said in his initial speech was that there was a need to promote a correct view of the history of World War II. This bleeds into this major military parade that's going to take place on

the 3rd of September to mark the end of World War II, at which pretty much all major leaders of Eurasian countries will be present. And the message there is very much, you know, we were the victors in World War II. And this gives us legitimacy to promote an alternative view of global governments from the Western model. And I think that is, you know, the most important thing that's going to come out of this summit and the subsequent military parade. And how much, Cindy, is that narrative, that attempt to change the world order gaining traction? Well, as I say, this year is the largest ever SEO summit. In the past, it has been racked with inconsistencies, for example, Pakistan and India, both joining 2017. Now, those are two countries you don't have together if you want your security organisation to do something consistent.

And that came to a head earlier this year when the India-Pakistan border clash happened and the SEO statement did not condemn the terror attacks that India says started that conflict. What's interesting is that now, today, the latest declaration from the summit has condemned those attacks. So I think what's happening there is that she has basically reigned Pakistan in to allow India to give India some face, as it were, in basically, putting forward this lovely united message, as Nigel says, the semiotics of this alternative to the West grouping. And they're trying to basically smooth the way to do all of that. And there's all a very lovely show. The question is just really how substantive it will be in the coming years. Well, as we heard, Russia's president, Vladimir Putin, has defended his war in Ukraine at the summit in China. Mr. Putin again blamed the West, including NATO, for the conflict in Ukraine.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Vladimir Putin that he hoped Russia and Ukraine would move forward to end the war soon. Our correspondent in Kiev is Sarah Rainsford. So what will they make of this in Ukraine? Nothing new in a sense from Vladimir Putin, stressing his key arguments that he claims that the war was not of his making, but of the West's making. Obviously, that is not true. This was a war of choice for Vladimir Putin. But he is saying that he welcomes China. and India in their efforts to bring it to an end. But underlining, again, that as far as he's concerned, that has to be on his term. So a totally maximalist position from Russia, even though, of course, a couple of weeks ago,

we saw that summit, Vladimir Putin greeted on the red carpet in Alaska by Donald Trump, and supposedly some kind of understanding there reached about how to bring this war here in Ukraine to an end. But there has been no real substantial progress on that, and Vladimir Putin quite clearly has shifted no ground at all. So I think a lot of skepticism here in Ukraine there were any closer to this war being done. And of course, you know, the air raids continue, the missile and drone attacks continue. The war on the ground, particularly in the east of Ukraine, continues and it is brutal. So as far as Ukraine is concerned, you know, pretty hollow words when they hear Vladimir Putin talking about the causes of this war and the chances of peace.

And Sarah, what's the battlefield strength of, of Moscow and Kyiv at the moment, as far as we know. Well, you know, I think looking at this meeting taking place in Shanghai, it is really interesting to see Vladimir Putin are on that stage and really looking to the symbolism of those meetings that he's holding, being hosted by China, meeting the Indian leader, and really foregrounding those relationships. Of course, this is Vladimir Putin saying,

look, I have friends, I have allies, I have strength. And those countries, whilst not directly supporting his war in Ukraine, are supporting the Russian nation. economy, and that is absolutely vital, of course, for Russia's ability to continue prosecuting its war here on the ground in Ukraine. So this is Vladimir Putin saying, look, I'm still in the game, this is my game, these are my rules. And of course, in Ukraine, that goes down extremely badly. There has been this sense that Vladimir Putin wants to tell the world and tell Donald Trump, in particular in the United States, that Russia is winning this war. He wants

them to believe that there is progress on the east, on the battlefield, along that front line. saying that they have stopped the latest advances in the Donbass around Parkrovsk, a very important fighting hub at the moment. But of course the fighting does continue. It is brutal. It is prolonged. Here, the mood generally in Kiev is that they don't see any end to it anytime soon. Sarah Rainsford in Kiev speaking to Gita Guramurthi.

All too often we hear of the dangers posed by AI, but perhaps we don't hear enough about how artificial intelligence can do things we want now, just faster and more effectively. and also in a way that can transform things for the better. A new $160 million research project, funded by Larry Ellison, the Oracle billionaire, is examining how AI could transform the development of vaccines. Nick Robinson asked Professor Andrew Pollard, director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, how it would work.

What we're going to do differently here is reimagine how to develop vaccines to make them more efficient or make the process of development more efficient. Currently, what we do is we take sub-components of germs to see if they'll work as potential vaccines, but only about one in 20 are successful. But what we're hoping to do now is to make vaccines from the perspective of the human immune system, and that's enormously complicated, which has really made it difficult to think about human immunity first to drive the best approaches to vaccines, which will work in. our bodies. Is it that the AI can do things humans simply can't do, or is it just doing it

faster on a scale that wouldn't be possible? What AI can do is it can cope with this huge scale of data that we can generate from the human immune system, that it's very difficult to do without these amazing computational methods to be able to pull all of the data together to really understand how the immune system works and what we need to protect against these serious infections that kill people all over the world. And which infections are we talking about that you're focusing your work on? Well, we're going to start with a number of bacterial infections. For example, a staff which causes wound infections after surgery and bone and joint infections.

We're also looking at another germ called E. coli, which is a major problem in older adults, causing urine retract infections and sometimes very recurrent and debilitating ones. and also a problem in hospitals causing sepsis. We'll also look at the pneumonia bug, the most common cause of death in early childhood and also a big problem in older adults. So a series of different bacteria which have a huge global burden of disease,

antimicrobial resistance and kills people. Professor Andrew Pollard. Still to come in the Global News Podcast. How does it feel to be a caregiver in Kenya where people looking after loved ones with disabilities are usually unpaid. How do you feel about the possibility of being a caregiver for the rest of their life? The thought of it is mind-blowing, but I think I'm mentally prepared. And I'm so ready to give him the best care.

As the Israeli army continues its push into Gaza City, local residents say old-armoured vehicles filled with, with explosives have been sent into parts of Sheikh Radwan district and then blown up remotely. Videos posted online show more Palestinians fleeing from the outskirts of the city in cars, carts and tractors after Israel dropped leaflets warning people to flee south immediately. Well, days after a meeting at the White House to discuss what a post-war Gaza should look like and who should run it, the Washington Post has published details of what it says is a leaked plan for the day after. The proposal which seems to be circulating within the Trump administration

involves Gaza becoming a US-run trusteeship and the relocation, at least temporarily, of all its 2 million citizens. They'd then be paid to live in a different country or offered tokens for their land, which would give them the right to redevelop their property at some point in the future. David Satterfield was the US Special Envoy for Middle East humanitarian issues between 2022 and 2023 under President Biden. He's read the document.

Anna Foster asked what he thinks about the detail contained in the report. Gaza very much needs a day after. That day after requires, of course, a day before. The day before is an end to the fighting and release of the hostages. But let's assume that that can be done. What's going to happen then? Well, first, humanitarian assistance is going to have to flow. have to come in at scale.

What's needed to make Gaza something other than a sink indefinitely of misery, desperation, and ultimately radicalization is a political vision that conflicts with that of Hamas. And that framework is going to have to be based around a commitment by the government of Israel to a process that leads to an ultimate agreed, directly negotiated resolution with the Palestinians. and there's going to have to be an acknowledgement that the Palestinian Authority, or at least personnel from the Palestinian Authority, will have a key role in the stabilization and then the reconstruction of Gaza. This political framework is critical because without it, it's very difficult to see how the major Arab states who are being sought after in the plan that was

published in the Washington Post, as well as many other concepts. The Saudis, the Emirates, Egyptians, they're most unlikely to participate, either in stabilization or reconstruction of Gaza, minus that political framework. And the difficulty in actually coming up with a day after plan that is acceptable, as you say, to all the main actors, is proving one of the reasons why Benjamin Netanyahu is able to continue extending this war beyond the point at which various of his critics want him to have stopped it. The political horizon, the political framework, the prevented, cleared personnel from the Palestinian Authority in Gaza, why hasn't that been expressed to date? Because it's the door

through which so much would come, that Arab assistance. It's because of the nature of the coalition government of Israel today. And the prime minister's unwillingness, inability to express views which could run the risk of challenging his coalition. One of the interesting details, I think, of this plan as well is there seems to be a lack of understanding about the wider and deeper conflict in the region. It talks about the large-scale movement of Palestinians without seeming to understand why that would be a controversial and problematic thing to do. Again, I'm very cautious in ascribing to that plan, a status that it may not in fact have. But you're quite correct. The plan in many,

if not most of its aspects, doesn't reflect any real-world sense of the Middle East, Gaza, the requirements of key Arab states. It's a plan that reads very much as the product of a U.S.-based consulting group. But how seriously is the Trump administration, taking this plan? And would the international community or the Gazans themselves really accept the relocation of 2 million people? Our international editor is Jeremy Bowen. We don't know if this is official Trump policy, but for the sake of argument, let's assume it might be, because it rather echoes that bizarre video he posted months ago, you may remember, of his vision of Gaza as a sort of high-tech holiday haven, which even included AI images.

of Trump sipping drinks in bathing attire next to Netanyahu on the beach. You know, all that seemed to be a bit of a joke. But if this came to pass, talking about US rule for 10 years, so-called voluntary departures to another country, confinement of any Palestinians who are still there to restricted and secured zones, if this all did come to pass, it would be massively controversial as an enormous violation of international humanitarian law. And I think those people who believe that genocide is going on in Gaza

would say that this is further evidence of a genocidal project by the Israelis. And just to remind you of the definition of that, genocide is the intent to destroy in whole or in part a national, ethnical, racial or religious groups. So the idea that you might remove the entire Palestinian population from the territory would seem to fit into that. And it would, Jeremy, if it were to come to pass, or at least if the plan were to be publicly confirmed, it would draw condemnation from other nations around the world.

But if the US wants it to go ahead, and Israel does as well, will it? Well, it might. It depends the degree to which not just European countries, but also critically, I think the Saudis would oppose it. And I think because they have their own plans on the table, the Saudis and the Arab countries, I think they absolutely would oppose all of this. And it would also raise major questions for the British government and the French and the Australians and those others who, at the UN later this month, are planning to recognise the independence of an independent Palestinian state.

Jeremy Bowen. As Donald Trump continues his immigration crackdown, a last-minute court order has blocked a government plan to deport hundreds of Guatemalan children to their home country. The decision came just hours before the first flights were due to take off. Our America's regional editor, Leonardo Rosh, told us more. It all happened in the early hours of Sunday. It was last minute, really, literally.

Some of their kids had already been bored and onto planes to be returned to Guatemala. They're all Guatemala nationals who had arrived in the US alone. And for that reason, they were being kept either with foster families or in temporary accommodation under the custody of the American. government, a pro-immigration group that defends human rights for kids there and for immigrants, asked for an injunction, last-minute injunction to stop the departure of this flight, and they managed to do that. A judge in Washington, D.C., granted the request, and also extended it to all Guatemalan children aged between 10 and 17 who were in the same

situation, according to the media that could be applied to about 600 children. And how has the Guatemalan government reacted? Well, that's very interesting because this human rights group, this pro-immigration group, had the best intentions in the world. And you would imagine that Guatemala would be happy with the decision. But no, the president of Guatemala, Bernardo Arevalu, who is a very moderate president, has been in power less than a year, former diplomat. He issued a statement criticizing in a veiled manner,

the ruling saying that ruling prevented hundreds of children from, being safely reunited with their parents in Guatemala. He said he, Mr. Arevalu, he proposed this idea, this pilot program, to the Trump administration. And he said there will be much better situation, a much better situation in Guatemala, rather than being in a vulnerable situation in the U.S. Another thing that's very interesting as well, shows how difficult it is with migration in that region. The local media reported that many parents had gone to the airport, and they were in tears because they couldn't meet their children. So you imagine something that was done with the best intentions in the U.S.

actually was affecting the families in Guatemala. The Guatemalan government said they will try to get the program done, and they said that they would be very careful with that, that the children, when they were returned, they would get all the support from the social services. And one of the mothers said, my son went four months ago. Some of them had teenagers were forced to.

to grow up very quickly because of poverty. And he said his idea was to go and send money to help the family. But there hasn't been possible. He'll be better. He'll be safer with us here. Leonard O'Rosha speaking to Anchor Desai. In many parts of Africa, the burden of care for people with disabilities and those with chronic illnesses largely falls on families, often with little formal support.

Caregivers across the continent quietly sustain families, communities, and even health systems. Yet, because their work is uncounted, their struggle remains invisible. The BBC's Brian Wahenia has been speaking to two caregivers in Kenya who talked about their experiences as well as the resilience that keeps them going. Babies. 28-year-old Jane Mushiris day starts by helping her husband Brian out of bed. 11 years ago, he was. 11 years ago, He was left paralysed after a road accident.

Since then, he's needed constant care. Because he has a spinal cord injury, he has no control of the bladder and the bowel. Like for many in Kenya, her husband's caregiving started at home, quiet, unpaid, and unseen. She left her job to be his full-time caregiver, but she admits the sacrifice has been greater than she imagined. Sometimes, I find it.

It had been a caregiver and wife because sometimes I feel like he sees me like a caregiver more than their wife. Across Africa and in many parts of the world, most care for people with disabilities or chronic illnesses is carried out informally, usually by women. I am a caregiver. I take care of my mom who has schizophrenia and my brother Joseph who is autistic. That seven-year-old Vyona Wamoyo has carried a different kind of burden for the last 14 years. Complicated family dynamics have left her alone to care for her mother and brother, both who live with mental health challenges. The demands of care giving cost Viona her relationship. She is now raising her 10-year-old daughter alone. We introduced her to Jane, complete strangers, who quickly bonded over this.

shared responsibility. How do you feel about the possibility of being a caregiver for the rest of your life? The thought of it is mind-blowing, but I think I'm mentally prepared, and I'm so ready to give him the best care. And for you? I am in it longer than you. I'm a decade-plus in, but I think I have accepted it and I'm okay with it. So which part of caregiving do you enjoy doing? I have witnessed, especially my mom, in very, very dire situation. Her being at peace, her being safe, Joseph being healthy and smiling and clean. I think that's my relief.

Studies show that three and five caregivers suffer from physical, emotional and economic strain. Psychologists feed Goko says many caregivers themselves end up suffering mental health challenges. One that stands out is guilt, which actually people don't think it's a mental health challenge, where you feel as a caregiver that you have to be there every minute.

it every second. If you're not there, maybe this person will not be able to function well, which in most cases, yes. But that now leads to where the caregiver neglects their own mental well-being and their life revolves around the person receiving the care. Unlike parts in the Western world, where governments provide disability benefits and respite services, there's little form of support in Africa. I don't really socialize that much. I don't do a lot. I don't do a lot. lot of trips, partying. People my age what they do. Jane and Viona understand this struggle.

And so do I, because I am Jane's husband. I am the one she lives into a wheelchair, the one she dresses, and turns in bed every night. I know the love and sacrifice behind every act of care, and how much the world depends on people like her and Viona. Caregivers who often go unseen. That was the personal. story of BBC reporter Brian Wahenia, ending the report from Kenya. A new book about the British Royal Family describes how Queen Camilla fought off an attempted indecent assault when she was a teenager. She is said to have hit her attacker with a shoe when he attempted to touch her while she was

travelling on a train. The book is written by a former Royal correspondent for the British Times newspaper Valentine Lowe. He's been speaking to my colleague Nick Robinson. She was a teenager. She was on a train going to Paddington, London Paddington, and some chap started groping her. And she told this to Boris Johnson when he was mayor of London. And Boris was obviously oligog as anyone would be and said, well, what did you do next? And Camilla said, I did what my mother taught me. I took my shoe off and I whacked him in the nuts with the hill. And when she got to Paddington, this is in a way a crucial bit of the story.

When she got to Paddington, she found a man in uniform and told him what had happened. and the man was arrested. As the article, which is serialised in today's time, as the article makes clear, not only was she resourceful and strong, she was a responsible citizen and making sure the man was arrested. Yeah, and took it seriously.

That's very well on Camilla. Took it seriously, followed it up with the police, and she's taken this issue seriously ever since. Yes, she's campaigned a lot on domestic violence, on sexual violence, you know. And the person who told me the story, who was Gito Harry, who was Boris Johnson's PR at the time, He thought this was the kind of the roots of Camilla's campaigning on the issue.

I don't think it is. I think she's heard a lot of stories over the years and she's got a very deep-seated, sincere interest in this issue and it doesn't all spring from one incident when she was a teenager. And worth stressing Valentine, isn't it, is the fact that she hasn't put the story out there? It's others who've heard it who've told you about it. Exactly. She's considered doing it.

She's considered talking about it. has decided not to because I think she thinks it would be wrong to try and equate what happened to her, which was an upsetting experience, but was nothing like as bad as what has happened to other women and girls. So she didn't want us to draw attention to her at the expense of their experiences. Valentine Lowe. And that's all from us for now, but there will be a new edition of the Global News podcast later. If you want to comment on this podcast or the topics covered in it, you can send us an email. The address is Global Podcast at BBC.co.com.

You can also find us on X at BBC World Service. Use the hashtag Global NewsPot. This edition was mixed by Holly Smith, and the producer was Alice Adley and Paul Day. The editor is Karen Martin. I'm Nick Miles, and until next time, goodbye.