Chris Barrow

This is the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Chris Barrow, and at 14 GMT on Tuesday 17th December, these are our main stories. A Russian general sanctioned for using banned chemical weapons in Ukraine has been killed in a bomb blast. Kiev said they carried it out. We have the latest.

This is the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Chris Barrow, and at 14 GMT on Tuesday 17th December, these are our main stories. A Russian general sanctioned for using banned chemical weapons in Ukraine has been killed in a bomb blast. Kiev said they carried it out. We have the latest.

A powerful earthquake flattens buildings and cuts communications on the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu. And the pop star Adele has been accused of copying a Brazilian composer. Also in the podcast... Christian worship continues in Syria but how are people feeling after a tumultuous week in the Middle East?

A powerful earthquake flattens buildings and cuts communications on the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu. And the pop star Adele has been accused of copying a Brazilian composer. Also in the podcast... Christian worship continues in Syria but how are people feeling after a tumultuous week in the Middle East?

We start in Moscow in an ordinary neighbourhood just a few kilometres southeast of the Kremlin where in the early hours of this morning a remote-controlled bomb hidden in a scooter went off outside the entrance to an apartment block. This local resident Yulia was nearby.

We start in Moscow in an ordinary neighbourhood just a few kilometres southeast of the Kremlin where in the early hours of this morning a remote-controlled bomb hidden in a scooter went off outside the entrance to an apartment block. This local resident Yulia was nearby.

The blast killed a senior Russian general, Igor Kirillov, who was in charge of Russia's chemical weapons as well as his assistant. The attack comes a day after Ukrainian prosecutors accused the general of using banned chemical weapons. The BBC's Russia editor Steve Rosenberg is in Moscow and gave me the latest.

The blast killed a senior Russian general, Igor Kirillov, who was in charge of Russia's chemical weapons as well as his assistant. The attack comes a day after Ukrainian prosecutors accused the general of using banned chemical weapons. The BBC's Russia editor Steve Rosenberg is in Moscow and gave me the latest.

Is the assumption by residents there that Ukraine did this? Because I know there are claims from within the security forces of Ukraine that this was carried out by the Ukrainian side.

Is the assumption by residents there that Ukraine did this? Because I know there are claims from within the security forces of Ukraine that this was carried out by the Ukrainian side.

And is this, it sounds like, a significant blow to Russia's war effort and organisation at the top?

And is this, it sounds like, a significant blow to Russia's war effort and organisation at the top?

A powerful earthquake has hit the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu, damaging and even flattening some buildings in the capital Port Vila. Communications have also been affected after the magnitude 7.3 quake, which was followed by tremors. The BBC managed to get through to Dan McGarry, a journalist based in Port Vila.

A powerful earthquake has hit the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu, damaging and even flattening some buildings in the capital Port Vila. Communications have also been affected after the magnitude 7.3 quake, which was followed by tremors. The BBC managed to get through to Dan McGarry, a journalist based in Port Vila.

Our correspondent Katie Watson is monitoring events from Sydney.

Our correspondent Katie Watson is monitoring events from Sydney.

How usual is it for Vanuatu to get extreme weather events? Because it sounds like, from what Dan McGarry was saying, that they do happen, but just not to this extent.

How usual is it for Vanuatu to get extreme weather events? Because it sounds like, from what Dan McGarry was saying, that they do happen, but just not to this extent.

Katie Watson. The leader of the rebel group that toppled the Assad regime is calling for sanctions against the country to be lifted. Ahmed al-Sharah, who's now Syria's de facto leader, told a visiting British envoy that it was important to end restrictions imposed during the rule of Bashar al-Assad so that displaced Syrians could return home.

Katie Watson. The leader of the rebel group that toppled the Assad regime is calling for sanctions against the country to be lifted. Ahmed al-Sharah, who's now Syria's de facto leader, told a visiting British envoy that it was important to end restrictions imposed during the rule of Bashar al-Assad so that displaced Syrians could return home.