Global News Podcast Floods in Indonesia kill 600 people
14 snips
Dec 1, 2025 
Nikki Widadio, a BBC Indonesian correspondent, shares gripping firsthand accounts of devastating floods in Sumatra, revealing rescue efforts amid dire conditions for isolated communities. The conversation shifts to the troubling recruitment of young African men lured by promises of jobs in Russia, highlighting a mother's emotional journey as she searches for her son, caught in a web of military service. The podcast covers a range of pressing global issues, including health risks from 'forever chemicals' and innovative HIV prevention strides in South Africa.
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Rescue Scenes In Flooded Sumatra
- Nikki Widadio described rescue teams arriving by motorboat and evacuating people amid raging brown floodwaters.
- She reported houses swept away, isolated areas and relay systems delivering aid between villages.
Recruitment Promises Turned Into Combat
- Recruitment scams promised well-paid jobs in Russia but men were coerced into combat in Ukraine.
- Ukraine's foreign minister estimates over 1,400 men from 30 African countries were deployed.
A Mother's Messages Before A Mission
- Susan Kuloba received Russian documents and a voice note from her son warning he was going on a mission and naming her as next of kin.
- She later learned from an agent that he had been killed and struggled to get help from the embassy.