The UN says the world is on track to miss global warming limits by a "catastrophic" margin, leading to dramatic increases in extreme weather events. Also: how did the act of kissing evolve?

Commonwealth leaders to defy UK and discuss reparations for slavery. Also: Polar bears face new threats due to rising temperatures, and Italian politician sparks row by praising WWII soldiers as heroes.

The Turkish interior minister said that the two attackers, a man and a woman, were killed. Also: two lost ancient cities have been discovered in the mountains of southeastern Uzbekistan.

The UN says Israel's bombardment of northern Gaza has delayed its polio vaccine campaign. Also: Donald Trump's team accuse Britain's ruling Labour party of election interference, and the reinvention of classical music.

Andriy Kostin said he took responsibility for a scandal in which thousands of disability certificates were issued on the basis of fake documents. Also: a hoard of British silver coins raises millions of dollars.

Lebanon says an Israeli strike near a hospital has killed at least 13, as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives to push for a ceasefire. Also: We'll hear the latest from the US campaign trail and the giant meteor that hit earth

Israel says it has identified a Hezbollah bunker 'full of cash and gold' under a Beirut hospital. Also: research into how clock changes in the UK affect mood, and why an airport is limiting farewell hugs.

People in Moldova have narrowly backed a commitment to join the EU, in a referendum which was combined with presidential elections. Also: the issues – and online fandoms – dominating the US presidential campaign.

Israel says it is carrying out targeted strikes on sites belonging to Hezbollah's financial arm in Lebanon. Also: Hurricane Oscar makes landfall in Cuba and, why are TikTok users buying abandoned homes in Japan?

The Global News Podcast, Global Story and Americast join forces to answer your questions about the US presidential election. We look at what the result could mean for the Middle East, Ukraine and climate change.

Israeli PM says Iran and allies have made a ‘grave mistake’ after his home was targeted by a drone. Also: Striking Boeing workers to vote on new pay deal, and how video games are better for your brain than exercise.

Meet the 14-year-old human calculator. Aaryan Shukla has been practising mental maths since the age of 6 — and holds a Guinness World Records title.

Israel blockades part of northern Gaza, dashing hopes of a ceasefire after the killing of the Hamas leader. Also: a nationwide power cut in Cuba, and the start-up offering Americans a chance to produce smarter children.

Hamas confirms the death of Yahya Sinwar and says it will not return the Israeli hostages until the IDF stops its assault and withdraws troops from Gaza. Also: reports that North Korea is sending soldiers to Russia.

The Hamas leader, Yahya Sinwar, was believed to have been a key figure behind the 7th of October attacks last year in Israel. Also: Australian territory to resume jailing 10-year-olds.

Police in Argentina are investigating the death of Liam Payne - a former member of boy band One Direction - who fell from a hotel balcony. Also: President Zelensky has urged EU leaders to accept his 'victory plan'.

The US envoy to the UN has said Washington is watching Israel's actions in northern Gaza to ensure there is not “a policy of starvation" there. Also: former One Direction star Liam Payne dies in Argentina.

Sudan's civil war has been raging for 18 months. Our reporter returns to his birthplace to find his home ransacked and his town in ruins. Also: Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon, and the Grand Egyptian Museum opens in Giza.

The letter amounts to the strongest known written warning from the US to its ally. Also: fake vintage wine gang busted in France and Italy.

The UN rights office says the attack raised concerns about international humanitarian law. Also: North Korea blows up roads to South Korea, and we meet the Ukrainian civilians protecting the sky from Russian drones.

The UN has condemned the 'large number' of civilian deaths in north Gaza. Also: Lilly Ledbetter, who fought for equal pay for women in the US, has died, and the joy of discovering a 237 million year-old fossil.

Israel's army chief has said that a Hezbollah drone strike on a military base that killed at least four soldiers was a major blow. But General Herzi Halevi stressed the country was at war.

Hezbollah claims responsibility for a drone attack in northern Israel which killed four soldiers, and injured more than 60. Also: the UN demands answers after Israeli tanks drove into their compound in Lebanon.

We are at the One Young World Summit in Montréal with four young delegates from across the world. In a live panel, we put BBC correspondents' questions to them and ask, what would be different if they were in charge?

The UN World Food Programme says no food aid has been able to enter the north of Gaza since the first of October. The WFP says it's unclear how long the limited food supplies that had previously been delivered can last.

Pop superstar Kylie Minogue tells us how the love and support of fans around the world helped her breast cancer recovery. Also: the penguin post office; making plastic from onion peel; and learning happiness from dogs.

President Biden asks Israel to stop firing at UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, after the IDF said its troops were responsible for an incident in which soldiers were injured. Also: Boeing to cut 10% of its workforce.

The UN Secretary General describes Israel's attacks on peacekeepers' bases in Lebanon as intolerable and a violation of international humanitarian law. Also: Japanese atomic bomb survivors win Nobel Peace Prize.

Lebanon says Israeli air strikes in two Beirut neighbourhoods have killed at least 22 people and wounded more than 100. Also: thousands rescued in Florida after Hurricane Milton swept through the US state.

Several people are reported dead after Hurricane Milton passed through Florida. Also: Health workers in Gaza say many killed in Israeli strike that hit a school, and Rafael Nadal announces retirement.

The US President Joe Biden says it is going to be one of the most destructive hurricanes to hit Florida in a century. Also: the Indian tycoon Ratan Tata dies aged 86, and how did the elephant get its wrinkles?

Officials in Florida have told more than five million people to evacuate, as one of the most powerful hurricanes in a century approaches. Also: the FBI arrests an Afghan man accused of planning a mass shooting.

Israeli Prime Minister tells Lebanese people 'reject Hezbollah or face destruction'. Also: Florida braces for ‘worst storm in 100 years', and the piece of art that was almost lost after being mistaken for rubbish.

The IDF is moving into a new area in the south-west of Lebanon, deploying a new division. Also, Interpol intensifies investigation into remains of murdered women in cold cases, and China slaps tariffs on European brandy.

Israel held ceremonies to remember the victims, amid further fighting. Also: a 'once in a lifetime' hurricane is heading for Mexico and Florida, and a basketball superstar makes NBA history alongside his son.

Memorial services are held to mark a year since Hamas attacks when about 1,200 people were killed and many others were taken hostage. Japan cabinet photo mocked on social media and why students aren't reading books.

The Israeli offensive continues against Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Huge explosions have again struck southern Beirut. Also: a woman gets a reply to her job application many, many years later.

Your weekly bonus episode of The Global Story. The brutal rape and murder of a student on a bus in Delhi shocked the world in 2012. Yet despite the Indian government introducing stricter laws on sexual violence, little progress has been made to actually make women safer.Last month there were widespread protests after the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at the hospital where she worked. What should India’s leaders do differently to protect women at home, at work and on the streets?On this episode, Katya Adler speaks to the BBC’s India correspondent Soutik Biswas and presenter Devina Gupta.The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide, one big story every weekday, making sense of the news with our experts around the world.For more, go to bbcworldservice.com/globalstory or search for The Global Story wherever you got this podcast.Producers: Alice Aylett Roberts, Laurie Kalus, Tse Yin Lee and Peter GoffinSound engineers: Dafydd Evans and Mike RegaardAssistant editor: Sergi Forcada FreixasSenior news editor: Sara Wadeson

Explosions rock south Beirut, a Hezbollah bastion, after another day of Israeli strikes. Also: Donald Trump holds a rally where he avoided an assassin's bullet and is it the end for one of France's last accordion makers?

We speak to a Canadian family and an elderly UK woman about the joy of Adopt a Grandparent -- which tackles loneliness while sharing life experiences. Also: Alaska's Fat Bear Week; and dozens of whacky cars.

Four hospitals in southern Lebanon are out of action and the United Nations says that shelters for displaced people are full. Also: gang violence in Haiti kills at least 70 people and are you ready for smart glasses?

Iran’s supreme leader tells a crowd in Tehran that the October 7th massacre was a 'legitimate act'. Also: EU hits China with EV sales tariffs, world's first ovarian cancer vaccine and Google Search's AI makeover.

A year on from the Hamas attack on Israel, Jackie Leonard and Katya Adler from The Global Story put BBC listener questions to our Middle East correspondent, Yolande Knell, and the BBC's security correspondent, Frank Gardner.

Oil prices rose after Joe Biden said he was discussing possible Israeli strikes on Iran’s oil infrastructure. Also: the sequel to the asteroid which killed off dinosaurs, and the 31-year treasure hunt for the Golden Owl.

The UK is to return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius after 50 years but will keep military base on Diego Garcia. Also: Lebanon says two soldiers have been killed by Israel, as Israel continues its Hezbollah offensive.

Joe Biden says he doesn't support Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. Also: scientists analyse 130,000 brain cells of a fruit fly, and the ban on 'honking' in the Bangladeshi capital.

Israel's military says a team commander has died in the fighting, a day after it announced its invasion. Also: we ask how Israel will respond to Iran's missile attack, and reaction from the US vice-president debate.

Israel says 180 missiles were fired from Iran, most of which were intercepted. Also: Mexico's first female president Claudia Sheinbaum has been sworn in.

Israel's ground invasion in Lebanon continues. Also: scientists warn it may be too late to save many of Switzerland's glaciers; and the play with no rehearsal or director.

Israel launches a "localised, targeted" ground operation against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, backed by air strikes and artillery fire. The US says it supports the incursion and warns against mission creep.

The Israeli military says troops are carrying out raids on villages in southern Lebanon, while further air strikes hit Beirut. Also: hundreds unaccounted for in the US in the aftermath of Hurricane Helen.

Hezbollah's deputy leader, Naim Qassem, says the group is ready if Israel invades Lebanon. Also: Marine Le Pen on trial accused of embezzling European parliamentary funds, and UK ends coal power after 142 years.

Lebanon's health ministry has said more than 50 people were killed in Israeli strikes on Sunday. Also: early results in Austria's general election indicate the far-right Freedom Party is heading for a victory.

Your weekly bonus episode of The Global Story. When OceanGate's Titan submersible went missing last June, it sparked a monumental rescue mission which captured the attention of the world. After days of searching, authorities concluded that the vessel had suffered a catastrophic implosion, and that all five passengers died almost instantly. For the past two weeks, the US Coast Guard has been hearing testimonies from former employees and industry experts, to try to identify what went wrong. On this episode, Azadeh Moshiri is joined by the BBC's science editor, Rebecca Morelle, to discuss the most revealing evidence, and consider whether the tragic event could have been avoided. The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide, one big story every weekday, making sense of the news with our experts around the world.For more, go to bbcworldservice.com/globalstory or search for The Global Story wherever you got this podcast.We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.Producers: Laurie Kalus and Eleanor Sly Sound engineers: Phil Bull and Mike Regaard Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas Senior news editor: Richard Fenton-Smith

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says they have "settled the score" with the killing of Hassan Nasrallah, as Iran vows to avenge his death. Also: many killed and missing in Nepal floods.

The Iranian-backed group Hezbollah has described its leader Hassan Nasrallah as a martyr and vowed to continue its battle against Israel. An Israeli Defence Forces spokesman said his death made the world "a safer place".

At the One Young World summit in Canada, we meet leaders and innovators from around the world including a 22-year-old MP, a woman using AI to tackle cyberbullying, and the founder of a fashion brand praised by Beyoncé.

Huge blasts in Beirut as Israel attacks Hezbollah HQ, reportedly targeting the group’s leader. Also: the ongoing violence in Haiti, and the man asked to leave a restaurant because his face was scaring customers.

Hurricane Helene heads to US state of Georgia after hitting Florida. Also: Japan has a new prime minister; actress Maggie Smith dies.

Volodymyr Zelensky has outlined his Ukrainian victory plan at the White House; Kamala Harris warned other aggressors would become emboldened if Putin won. Also: a new map of the Milky Way, and the world's oldest cheese.

Israeli PM tells military to keep fighting with 'full force'. Also: President Biden announces the release of billions of dollars of aid for Ukraine, and the world's longest-serving death row inmate acquitted in Japan.

The army chief told troops to be ready for a cross-border ground operation. The UN says more than 90,000 people have been displaced in Lebanon since Monday. Also: walking on the moon at Europe's lunar life simulator.

The latest on the exodus from southern Lebanon, as well as international reaction. Also: Women and children are dying in Sudan's Darfur region as the healthcare system collapses, the 'hidden' crime wave in Cuba, and how to tell if someone is actually addicted to their smartphone.

Officials say two days of attacks have created carnage across the country. Also: US IT firm CrowdStrike apologises for the world's worst computer glitch, and the country with a growing number of mountain gorillas.

The Lebanese government says 558 people have been killed in Israeli strikes since Monday. Meanwhile, Hezbollah rockets trigger alarms in Northern Israel. Also: Sweden accuses Iran of stirring up division through hacking.

Israel says it hit over one thousand Hezbollah targets and tells civilians in southern Lebanon to flee areas near the group's weapons. Also: Albania plans microstate within its borders.

Lebanon's health ministry says more than seven hundred people were injured in the bombardment. Also: Sri Lanka’s new president has been sworn in, and why vineyard owners need to adapt their wine with the times.

Israel and Hezbollah have threatened to increase their cross-border attacks, despite international appeals to calm the situation in the Middle East. Also: unknown Mozart music performed for first time in recent history.

A bonus episode from The Global Story.Rupert Murdoch is locked in a secret court battle with three of his eldest children, over the future of his media empire. The news mogul owns some of the most influential outlets in the world, including Fox News, The Wall Street Journal, and The Times of London. It has been reported that Mr Murdoch wants to amend a family trust to ensure his son and political disciple Lachlan inherits controlling voting rights at News Corp and Fox, but a campaign to unseal the proceedings has been unsuccessful.On this episode, Lucy Hockings is joined by the BBC's culture and media editor Katie Razzall, and Brian Stelter, chief media analyst at CNN. They unpack what we know about the succession fight, and discuss whether the public should have a right to know what's going on behind closed doors.The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide, one big story every weekday, making sense of the news with our experts around the world.Insights you can trust, from the BBC World Service. For more, go to bbcworldservice.com/globalstory or search for The Global Story wherever you got this podcast.We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.Producers: Laurie Kalus and Alix Pickles.Sound Engineer: Mike Regaard.Assistant Editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas.Senior News Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith.

Israel says the move to limit gatherings in the north of the country is needed because it expects Hezbollah to escalate rocket attacks from Lebanon. Also: hundreds of paratroopers mark daring WW2 offensive at Arnhem.

We hear about the freedom and independence a visually impaired man found by running with an AI guide. Also: South Africa's hospital train; an usual diplomatic job share; and the dog whose love of binmen has gone viral.Presenter: Jackie Leonard. Music composed by Iona Hampson

Hezbollah confirmed Ibrahim Aqil's death after Israel said he was one of several senior Hezbollah figures killed in the strike. Also: Peppa Pig, Thunderbirds and Dalek voice actor David Graham dies aged 99.

Israel and Hezbollah exchange fire across the Lebanese border, there are fears the situation could spiral out of control. Also: a warning Haiti situation is catastrophic, and fussy eaters can blame their parents.

Israeli warplanes flew low over Beirut - creating sonic booms. Also: We look at the repercussions of false claims by Donald Trump that immigrants are eating pets, the EU sends 11 billion dollars to rebuild after Storm Boris and the runaway capybara in England thats captured international attention.

The authorities in Lebanon have banned pagers and walkie-talkies from all flights out of Beirut. Also: Mohamed Al Fayed accused of multiple rapes by staff, and Ukraine energy sector faces 'sternest test yet'.

Hezbollah's walkie-talkies were targeted in another day of blasts in Lebanon killing at least 20 and injuring hundreds. Also: first US interest rate cut in four years, and scientists discover that gibbons like to dance.

Russian arms depot erupts after a Ukrainian drone attack where explosions can be seen from space. Also: Hezbollah blames Israel for exploding pagers across Lebanon, and US brand Tupperware files for bankruptcy.

Hezbollah blames Israel for blowing up hundreds of pagers in Lebanon. Israel has yet to comment. Also: rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs awaits trial over sex trafficking charges; and Instagram boosts privacy on teen accounts.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus calls the situation in Sudan very alarming and the largest displacement crisis in the world. Also: Flooding from Typhoon Yagi has killed more than 220 people in Myanmar. And how to windsurf from the Netherlands to the UK and back.

The US Secret Service says agents' swift action foiled Donald Trump's 'assassination'. Also: the submersible which imploded as it descended to the Titanic, and the UK PM talks stopping migrants with the Italians.

His known activity paints a mixed picture of his politics and he appears to have felt strongly about Ukraine's war effort. Also in this podcast: Germany introduces controls on all of its external borders, an American pastor held in a Chinese jail for 18 years is finally home, the BBC gets rare testimony from women in Iran who say they've been persecuted after posting on social media, and the big winners and losers at this year's Emmy awards.

A man has been detained after US Secret Service agents spotted a rifle in the bushes at Donald Trump's Florida golf course. Also: MI5 security service in the UK lowers entry requirement for potential spies.

A bonus episode from The Global Story. Democrats and Republicans are donating billions to back candidates in November’s election. So far, the 2024 US election has been defined by surprises and unprecedented moments. But if one thing is certain, it's that the election will cost a lot of money. Donors from both major parties are donating billions of dollars in the hopes of seeing their candidates win the White House and hundreds of local races. So, what is all that money spent on? And what impact is it having on US politics? Katya Adler speaks to the BBC’s correspondent in Washington DC, Anthony Zurcher, and Matt Foster from American University, also in the capital. The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide, one big story every weekday, making sense of the news with our experts around the world.Insights you can trust, from the BBC World Service. For more, go to bbcworldservice.com/globalstory or search for The Global Story wherever you got this podcast.We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.Producers: Richard Moran and Alix Pickles. Sound Engineer: Hannah Montgomery. Assistant Editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas. Senior News Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith.

Romania has set up displacement camps after floods killed a number of people and destroyed thousands of homes. Also: Peru buries its former President, Alberto Fujimori, with a complex tussle over his legacy.

The woman who's beaten the odds to fulfil her childhood astronaut dream. Also: a photography camp for children in Belize; and Moo Deng, the viral baby pygmy hippo.Our weekly collection of happy stories and positive news.

After the meeting, the British Prime Minister Keir Starmer gave no indication if the UK and US would allow Ukraine to use long-range weapons inside Russia. Also: stranded Nasa astronauts say being left behind was hard.

Russia expels six British diplomats on the day the UK's PM is due to hold talks on Ukraine with President Biden at the White House. Also: China raises retirement age, and after 22 years the Grand Tour runs out of road.

The Russian president didn’t specify Moscow's response if Ukraine is given permission to use long-range missiles. Also: the technology hoping to help patients who have lost sensitivity in their hands and fingers.

The SpaceX mission sees the first private spacewalk. Jared Isaacman was followed by fellow non-professional astronaut, Sarah Gillis. They were testing new space suits. Also: wine is made from bananas in Malawi, and Jon Bon Jovi helps talk woman off a bridge.

Both Harris and Trump claim victory in Tuesday’s presidential election debate. Also: Ukraine pressures US and UK over long-range missiles, and should you be allowed to eat in bed?

Kyiv is putting more pressure on allies to end limits on using long-range western missiles inside Russia. Also: Reaction to the US presidential election debate, and Brazil's former president is awarded $2000 in damages

Trump and Harris have clashed on issues including the economy, immigration, and foreign policy in a fiery presidential debate. Both sides accused each other of weakness and spreading false information. We bring you analysis from Washington. Also: We hear from Missouri where presidential election day will also see voters decide whether to legalise abortion. And western nations have imposed new sanctions on Iran for supplying Russia with ballistic missiles to use against Ukraine.

Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are facing each other in a live presidential debate. Also: the staggering impact living through the Covid pandemic had on girls' brains, and the campaign to end Afro hair discrimination.

The SpaceX mission will break the record for most people in vacuum of space at once. Also: women in Afghanistan speak out about the Taliban law silencing them in public, and Australia's plan to get children off social media.

Berlin argues that tightening border controls will combat cross-border crime. Also: Catherine, the Princess of Wales, says she's finished chemotherapy, and James Earl Jones, the voice of Darth Vader, has died.

3.2 million Afghan children under the age of five are malnourished and 700 died in one hospital. Also: huge crowds turn out in Timor-Leste to welcome Pope Francis. And we look ahead to the TV debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.

President Nicholas Maduro's rival in the disputed Venezuelan election, Edmundo Gonzalez, has fled to Spain and claimed political asylum. Also: tips for tourists to North Korea, and the actor Kate Winslet on body image.

A bonus episode from The Global Story podcast. Israel has been rocked by huge protests after six hostages being held in Gaza were shot and killed last weekend. Fury at the Netanyahu government’s handling of negotiations with Hamas has prompted a wave of public indignation which has spilled into the streets. We examine whether or not the demonstrations and rising international pressure over the number of Palestinians being killed in Gaza, will force Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to change its position.On today's episode, host Katya Adler is joined by the BBC’s International Editor Jeremy Bowen, who has been reporting from the Middle East for decades.The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.Producers: Peter Goffin, Laurie Kalus and Tom Kavanagh.Sound Engineer: Jack Graysmark.Assistant Editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas.Senior News Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith.

Left-wing parties called for protests after Michel Barnier was appointed as French prime minister on Thursday. Also: the Oscar winning lyricist Will Jennings dies aged 80.

We dive into the unusual world of dog surfing and meet some of the surfers who take part in the sport's World Championships. Also, why the British rescue team are revisiting Morocco one year on from the earthquake.

The Israel Defence Forces say it is investigating after Aysenur Ezgi Eygi was shot at a protest in Beita. Also: Starliner capsule heads home to Earth without stranded astronauts.

China says it's ending overseas adoptions, creating uncertainty for those mid process. The growing cyber crime of sextortion. The US child deaths linked to declining bat population and the perils of sneezing.

The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, has urged Haiti's interim government to set up an electoral council to organise presidential elections. Also: is there a link between noise and infertility?

Ugandan athlete, Rebecca Cheptegei, dies after being set on fire by ex-boyfriend. Also on this podcast: France names its new prime minister, and the country where the police are on the lookout for men with beards.

Two pupils and two teachers died in the incident at Apalachee High school in Georgia. Also: animal groups say Russian "spy whale" was shot.

Survivors of the 2017 disaster say the report shows they were "failed by calculated dishonesty and greed". Also: There've been widespread Russian missile and drone strikes on Ukraine, The Pope is in Indonesia calling for inter-faith unity, we look at the multi-billion dollar business of 'manifesting' and the worldwide smash hit Beetlejuice is back.

President Zelensky says Russia will be held accountable for a deadly missile attack in Poltava. Also: Prague honours the man who saved Jewish children from the Nazis, and NY governor's ex-aide charged as Chinese agent.

At least forty people are killed in a deadly Russian missile attack as President Putin visits Mongolia - where he could be arrested. Also: the boss of Volkswagen goes on trial and we hear about Sikh superheroes.

Pressure mounts on the Israeli prime minister, following the killing of six hostages. Also: the Mayor of Paris provokes protests saying she wants the Olympic rings to stay on the Eiffel Tower forever; and how to hold a fashion show in a war zone.

Hundreds of thousands strike in Israel to pressurise PM Netanyahu to secure a hostage release deal with Hamas. Also: Analysis of Germany's regional elections, and how boys are flooded with violent social media content.

Germany's AfD becomes first far-right party to win state election since Nazi era. Also: the mysterious death of the 'Russian spy whale', and the South African beauty queen crowned Miss Nigeria after a nationality row.

This is a bonus episode from The Global Story asking - Are ultra-processed foods impossible to avoid?Research into ultra-processed foods suggests they could be linked to health problems including cancers, heart disease, obesity and depression - but scientists are yet to agree on how they actually affect us. Often mass-produced, and containing multiple additives, UPFs have become the target of nutritionists and clean-living advocates alike. But, given how common they are, can we realistically avoid them? On this episode, Lucy Hockings speaks with BBC health reporter Philippa Roxby, and Ruth Alexander, presenter of The Food Chain podcast from the BBC World Service. Together, they unpack what we really know about UPFs. The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide, one big story every weekday, making sense of the news with our experts around the world.Insights you can trust, from the BBC World Service. For more, go to bbcworldservice.com/globalstory or search for The Global Story wherever you got this podcast.We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.Producers: Beth Timmins, Laurie Kalus, and Alice Aylett Roberts. Sound Engineers: Ben Andrews and Mike Regaard. Assistant Editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas. Senior News Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith.

Israel and Hamas agree to localised pauses in fighting to enable more than 600,000 Palestinian children to be vaccinated. Also: The weight loss drug that studies suggest can treat other illnesses linked to heart failure, arthritis, Alzheimer's and even cancer, and the armless Paralympic archer.

We meet Manette, the 102 year old who has become the Britain's oldest skydiver. Also: as the Paralympics get underway, we hear the stories of inspiring athletes including USA swimmer, Ali Truwit, who was attacked by a shark.Presenter: Rachel Wright. Music composed by Iona Hampson.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russian attack on Kharkiv could have been prevented if international donors allowed their weapons to be used inside Russia. Also: do marmoset monkeys call each other by name?

In her first TV interview of the US election campaign, Kamala Harris sets out her vision for president and promises to 'turn the page'. Also: tributes to New Zealand's Māori King who’s died, and carbonara in a can.

The IAEA says Tehran now has almost enough of the uranium material to make four nuclear bombs if enriched further. Also: Ukraine F-16 fighter jet crashes just weeks after it was donated by NATO allies.

The EU's top diplomat Josep Borrell wants some Israeli ministers sanctioned for anti-Palestinian 'hate messages'. Also: hopes for a cancer vaccine, and dancing round the clock in Buenos Aires at the World Tango Festival.

The FBI said the gunman who tried to kill Donald Trump last month had searched extensively online for events by the former US president and Joe Biden. Also: the 2024 Paralympics opening ceremony lights up Paris.

At least nine Palestinians have been killed as Israel raids cities in the north of the West Bank. Also: Japan issues an emergency warning as a powerful typhoon approaches, and Paris prepares to host the Paralympics.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said their incursion into Russia's Kursk region is part of a "victory plan" that he will present to the White House. Also: have Swiss scientists made a chocolate breakthrough?

The head of Ukraine's military, Oleksandr Syrsky, has warned that the Russians are building up their forces near the strategically important town of Pokrovsk. China's Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, says he's hoping for substantive discussions with the US National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan as they meet for the first time in eight years. And Britsh pop stars, Oasis, announce their reunion.

At least six people were killed and dozens wounded in Russia's biggest air attack on Ukraine of the war so far. Missiles and drones were fired into more than half of Ukraine's regions. Also, the WHO sets out plans to curb the spread of mpox and, four privately trained astronauts prepare to test a new type of space suit.

The president says Russia targeted his country with some two hundred missiles and drones. Also: dozens killed in multiple attacks in Pakistan’s Balochistan, and England's first overseas manager, Sven-Göran Eriksson dies aged 76.

Israel says it carried out a pre-emptive strike in Lebanon. Hezbollah said it retaliated for the death of a top leader. Also: Telegram has condemned the arrest of its founder, and is Mont Blanc getting dangerous?

This is a bonus episode from The Global Story. Mohammed bin Salman: The unstoppable prince?After ruthlessly outmanoeuvring hundreds of rivals, Mohammed bin Salman has become the most powerful man in Saudi Arabia. The crown prince believes his sweeping vision for the country will bring in investment, top flight sport and visitors from around the world. His only demand in return... absolute loyalty. So, is MBS unstoppable?On this episode Caitríona Perry speaks to Jonathan Rugman, journalist and producer of a new documentary “The Kingdom: The World’s Most Powerful Prince”, which shines a fresh light on how he got to power and how far he’ll go to maintain it. They are also joined by the BBC World Service Arab Affairs Editor Sebastian Usher, who has spent time in Saudi Arabia for many years.Listeners in the UK can watch “The Kingdom: The World’s Most Powerful Prince” on iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m001zprm/the-kingdom-the-worlds-most-powerful-princeThe Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide, one big story every weekday, making sense of the news with our experts around the world. Insights you can trust, from the BBC World Service. For more, go to bbcworldservice.com/globalstory or search for The Global Story wherever you got this podcast.We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.Producers: Richard Moran and Alix Pickles.Sound Engineer: Mike Regaard and Jack Graysmark.Assistant Editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas.Senior Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith.

Israel's military says it launched a wave of pre-emptive air strikes against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon. It said it hit more than two-hundred sites, after detecting Hezbollah preparations for strikes on Israeli territory. Hezbollah says it's started "phase one" of an attack on Israel - in retaliation for the killing of one of its leaders last month.We'll have analysis of what's happened so far, look at what's expected in the coming hours and examine what this could mean for war in the wider region.

Islamic State has claimed responsibility for a mass stabbing in Germany, saying it was to avenge suffering in Gaza. Also: French police arrest a man in connection with an explosion outside a synagogue.

We hear about a huge summer water fight that brings joy to young and old at a preschool with a difference. All Seasons in Minnesota is run inside a care home for older people -- where the children learn from their elders, and make them smile. Also: How breastfeeding women helped an Orangutan at Dublin Zoo learn to care for her baby. The first person to swim from Italy to Albania tells us about the gruelling event - and how a delivery of ice cream in the middle of the sea kept her going. We meet the Nigerian table tennis players making history as the first African couple to compete at the Paralympics. And we hear about a new version of London's famous tube map.Our weekly collection of happy stories and positive news from around the world.

RFK - Robert F Kennedy Junior - suspends his US presidential campaign and backs Donald Trump. Also: rescue efforts continue in flood-struck Bangladesh, and the jelly that plays computer games.

Kamala Harris has officially accepted the Democrats' nomination for the US presidency. Also: India's prime minister has embraced Ukraine's president on a visit to Kyiv, and an Australian transgender woman wins a landmark discrimination case.

Kamala Harris will formally accept the Democratic Party's nomination for US president. Also: ousted Bangladeshi leader Sheikh Hasina has her diplomatic passport revoked; and Trinidad and Tobago redraws its coat of arms.

The Indonesian parliament appears to drop controversial plans to change the election laws, as protests took place in cities across the country. The authorities used water cannon after some demonstrators tried to tear down the gates of the parliament complex. Also, Tim Walz speaks to the Democratic National Congress in Chicago after formally accepting the Democratic nomination to run for US vice president and, one of the world's largest diamonds has been unearthed in Botswana.

A day of heavy exchanges between the Israeli military and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Also: a report says Brazil has lost more than a third of its natural areas since records began, and new video releases at Gamescom.

Barack and Michelle Obama electrify Democrats at the party convention but warn of a tight race for the White House. Also: a new law in Hungary could make Ukrainians homeless, and Jennifer Lopez files for divorce from Ben Affleck.

The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, said there was no more time to waste to reach a Gaza ceasefire deal. Also: Africa's main public health agency announces plans to make 10m mpox vaccines available for use across the continent, and researchers say drone swarms could stop wildfires.

President Biden wept as he handed the baton to his Vice President, Kamala Harris, during the Democratic National Convention. Also, Israel retrieves the bodies of six hostages as Anthony Blinken is on his latest peace mission; and testimony from Muslim Rohingyas as they are bombed by both sides in Myanmar's civil war.

Kamala Harris will be officially confirmed as party's presidential candidate at the event but pro-Palestinian demonstrations threaten to disrupt the unity message. Also: UK tech tycoon Mike Lynch among missing after yacht sinks off the coast of Sicily, and the talk show host Phil Donahue dies aged 88.

At the start of a day of meetings with Israeli leaders, Mr Blinken said it was time to say yes to a deal without excuses. Also: Russian officials say Ukraine has struck a third key bridge in the Kursk region and Chicago hosts the Democratic National Convention.

President Zelensky outlines his aims for the cross-border offensive. Also: a last US diplomatic push for a Gaza ceasefire and the release of hostages, and President Macron leads tributes to the French actor, Alain Delon.

This is a Bonus episode from The Global Story - Is Twitch too big to fail?The world's largest live-streaming platform, Twitch, faces an uncertain future. Media reports suggest that parent company Amazon has become frustrated by its failure to make profit, and rumours are swirling of a third round of layoffs within a year. But does its loyal audience of 240 million active monthly users make it too big to fail? On this episode, Caitríona Perry is joined by BBC tech reporter Tom Gerken, and the BBC's former gaming correspondent Steffan Powell. They examine what makes Twitch unique, and discuss whether the platform is under threat from its rivals. This episode was made by Laurie Kalus and Tom Kavanagh. The technical producers were Ben Andrews and Jonny Baker. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Richard Fenton-Smith.The Global Story brings you one big story every weekday, making sense of the news with our experts around the world. Insights you can trust, from the BBC World Service. For more, go to bbcworldservice.com/globalstory or search for The Global Story wherever you got this podcast.

Venezuela's opposition leader has urged supporters to continue protesting against President Maduro. Also: the UN nuclear watchdog's safety warning about Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia plant, and why sunlight is good for you.

Meet the newlyweds with a twist; 87-year old Bev says it was love at first sight when 89-year-old Mark moved into the same care home as her. Also, the Olympic marathon runner who is celebrating coming last. Presenter: Oliver Conway. Music composed by Iona Hampson.

Health officials have confirmed the first polio case in Gaza for 25 years. The UN wants the vaccination of 600,000 children. Also: Kamala Harris unveils her economic plan, and fantasy football's threat to mental health.

Paetongtarn Shinawatra becomes Thailand's youngest ever prime minister. Also: Anger grows after Israeli settlers torch West Bank village, and the WHO warns wealthy countries against stockpiling Mpox vaccines.

The first case of a deadly Mpox variant has been found outside Africa. Sweden has reported a case of someone who was infected in Africa where there is a major outbreak of the Mpox Clade 1 variant. The World Health Organisation says it expects more infections will be found in Europe in the coming days. Also: five people are charged over the death of Friends star Matthew Perry, and Washington condemns Russia for sending a ballerina to jail for donating to a US-funded pro-Ukraine charity.

Hamas says more than 40,000 have been killed in Gaza since the war began ten months ago. Meanwhile new ceasefire talks have begun in Qatar - without Hamas. Also: India's Prime Minister condemns violence against women as anger sweeps the nation over the rape and murder of a doctor in Kolkata, North Korea to open to tourism after five years, Mark Zuckerberg reveals 'Roman' statue of his wife, should we go and live on Mars? And the new theatre and TV trend - age-blind casting.

Scientists are alarmed at the high fatality rate and rapid spread of a new mpox variant in parts of Africa. Also: more delays for astronauts stuck in space as Nasa ponders return, and a TV weather presenter in Australia speaks out about an on-air panic attack.

Thailand's Constitutional Court dismisses Prime Minister Sretta Thavisin for breach of ethics. Also: Thousands of corpses traded in China funeral scandal, Melbourne joins Paris in outlawing e-scooters, and neighbours turn on each other in Portofino air con crackdown.

The US President Joe Biden said such a deal would help deter Iran from launching attacks on Israel. Iran blames Israel for the killing of a Hamas leader in Tehran, and says it will retaliate. Also: Mpox is declared a public health emergency in Africa, and the rarely-seen Titanic artefacts kept in a secret warehouse.

Donald Trump says he'll hold another election rally at the site of the assassination attempt against him during a conversation with Elon Musk, which was livestreamed on X to an audience of several million people. Also, Indian doctors go on strike over the rape and murder of one of their colleagues, and how the authorities at South Korean airports try to avoid unwelcome insects creeping into the country.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia had brought war to others and now it was coming back. The local Russian governor said some 28 villages in the region had fallen to Ukrainian forces. Also: White House says an Iranian attack on Israel could come this week, and scientists find a reservoir of liquid water deep in the crust of Mars.

Speaking at a Russian security council meeting, he said the Russian army must dislodge Kyiv's troops from the border region. Also: The leader of a Kenyan cult goes on trial for manslaughter over the deaths of more than four hundred of his followers; and the Italian media is exercised about rumours that Madonna wants to hire the ancient ruins of Pompeii to stage a birthday party.

Russia's defence ministry said its forces had engaged Ukrainian troops near the villages of Tolpino and Obshchy Kolodez, as the offensive in the Kursk region entered a sixth day. Also: President Biden explains why he dropped out of White House race, and Tom Cruise abseils off stadium roof in Olympic closing ceremony in Paris.

This is a bonus episode from The Global Story - Overtourism: Can travel hotspots cope with the crowds?2024 is expected to be a record-breaking year for tourism, with more travellers going on holiday than ever before. But hotspots like Venice, Hawaii and Bali are also struggling from overtourism. Rajan Datar, host of the BBC's Travel Show, has been meeting people who live in some of the world's tourism hotspots and tells Lucy Hockings about the impact huge numbers of visitors are having on communities and the environment.This episode was made by Alice Aylett Roberts, Richard Moran and Eleanor Sly. The technical producer was Johnny Hall. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.The Global Story brings you one big story every weekday, making sense of the news with our experts around the world. Insights you can trust, from the BBC World Service. For more, go to bbcworldservice.com/globalstory or search for The Global Story wherever you got this podcast.

An Israeli air strike on a school building sheltering displaced Palestinians in Gaza City has killed dozens of people and drawn strong international condemnation. Also: Russia steps up evacuations of the Kursk region following the cross border attack by Ukraine. In Bangladesh, the chief justice of the supreme court has become the latest senior official to resign in the face of large demonstrations. The authorities in Japan are urging people to avoid hoarding despite concern about the possibility of a mega earthquake. And the secretive British graffiti artist Banksy has been creating a series of unusual images on the streets of London.

We hear about the giant personalities of the panda pair bringing joy to the crowds at San Diego Zoo. The super relaxed male and curious, playful female are the first pandas sent to the US from China in more than twenty years.Also: How Botswana celebrated its first gold medal at an Olympics with a nationwide party - and an afternoon off work. We hear from a woman who's defied tradition in southern Iraq to set up the region's first all female cafe. We visit Amsterdam's Offline Club -- where people have to ditch their smartphones and talk to people in real life. For the first time ever, there's space at the Olympics for breastfeeding and childcare. And how gold was followed by diamonds for one champion at the Olympics.Our weekly collection of happy stories and positive news from around the world.

Authorities say the aircraft landed in a residential area in the state of São Paulo, but no-one on the ground has been injured. Also: The UN nuclear agency has urged Russia and Ukraine to exercise maximum restraint, as fighting in western Russia draws closer to the Kursk nuclear power plant. Rappler, the Philippines news site critical of the former government's deadly war on drugs, is to stay open after a court overturned a closure order, and the Russian chess champion accused of smearing poison on her rival's pieces.

An unprecented assault by Ukraine into Russia's Kursk region enters its fourth day, and an airbase in Lipetsk has also been targetted. We have Russian reaction. Also: In Thailand the main opposition party reinvents itself - two days after being disbanded by the country's top court because of laws against insulting the monarchy, and how a sad meme has been turned into a musical at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland.

The first TV debate has been confirmed between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. It will be hosted by ABC on September 10th. Mr Trump has said he wants another two debates in the same month. Also: Muhammad Yunus is sworn in as head of an interim government in Bangladesh, and the drones that could save the forests of Madagascar.

Nobel Peace laureate says his first talk is to restore law and order after the violent unrest that toppled Sheikh Hasina. Also: Catalan police are searching for the separatist leader Carles Puigdemont after his surprise return from exile; and the Moroccan B-Girl taking part in the very first Olympic breaking competition.

A state of emergency has been declared in the Kursk region of Russia, as a rare cross-border attack by Ukrainian troops has continued for a second day. Also: A series of concerts in Vienna by Taylor Swift has been cancelled because of a terror threat, and a parrot is recognised by Guinness World Records for its memory skills.

A Thai court has ordered the dissolution of the country's biggest opposition party. Also: Russia’s President Putin has called a rare incursion of Ukrainian troops into Russian territory a “major provocation”.

Tim Walz told a rally in Philadelphia that Republican contenders in November's presidential election are " weird as hell". Also: Hamas names Yahya Sinwar as new overall leader, and Philippe Petit is to mark 50 years since his Twin Towers high-wire walk.

Kamala Harris has named the Governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz, to be her vice-presidential running mate. Also: Bangladesh's president dissolves parliament, clearing the way for the formation of a new government, disturbing evidence of torture of Palestinians in Israeli jails, and the Algerian winner of Africa's first Olympic gold medal in gymnastics.

Weeks of increasingly violent unrest forced the Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to step down. She's fled to India, ending a run of 15 years in power. Also: the UN says nine of its staff members in Gaza may have been involved in the October 7th attack on Israel last year, and a 15 year old teenager has become Britain's youngest ever Chess Grandmaster.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has resigned and fled the country after anti-government protests in which hundreds of people have been killed. Huge crowds of protesters have been celebrating in the streets of the capital, but there has also been widespread looting, including in the Prime Minister's official residence. The army chief, General Waker-Uz-Zaman, says he will be forming an interim government. Also: The Japanese stock exchange has had one of the worst days in its history. The biggest drop was in Japan, where the Nikkei 225 index plunged more than 12 per cent. And we find out about the frontrunners for the US Democratic Vice-President nominee - Senator Mark Kelly, and two Governors, Tim Walz and Josh Shapiro.

The British prime minister Keir Starmer says people in the UK have a right to be safe. He also condemned the violence targeting Muslim communities. Also: scores of people killed in Bangladesh anti-government protest, and kimchi - a traditional Korean side dish consisting of salted and fermented vegetables - is becoming popular around the world.

This is a bonus episode from The Global Story - CrowdStrike: Is our tech too vulnerable?What can we learn from the biggest IT outage in history? A glitch at the major cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike brought banks, hospitals, airports, and thousands of businesses to a standstill. It was a reminder that our digital world is reliant on a few big companies to keep it running. So how vulnerable are they to accidents or attacks that could shut down wide sections of society? Lucy Hockings speaks to the BBC's Cyber Correspondent Joe Tidy. This episode was made by Peter Goffin and Alix Pickles. The technical producers were Jack Graysmark and Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Richard Fenton-Smith.The Global Story brings you one big story every weekday, making sense of the news with our experts around the world. Insights you can trust, from the BBC World Service. For more, go to bbcworldservice.com/globalstory or search for The Global Story wherever you got this podcast.

Maria Corina Machado appeared at a protest rally in Caracas, defying threats of arrest from President Maduro. She urged her supporters to continue protesting against fraud in last week's presidential election. Also: beach attack in Somali capital kills dozens, and the US rock band Aerosmith retires from touring due to singer Steven Tyler's vocal cord damage.

A new blood test for Alzheimer's appears to be able to spot the disease up to ten years before symptoms develop. It's hoped it could lead to earlier treatment and slow progression of the disease, giving patients better quality of life for longer. Also: The 50-year-old X Games champion, Andy MacDonald, who's aiming to outdo the teenagers in Olympic skateboarding. How Platypus Rescue HQ is hoping to help the animals make more babies, called puggles. Why a travel blogger in Germany woke up to dozens of messages from students in China. And, in a country famous for its food, what's on the menu for Olympic and Paralympic athletes?Our weekly collection of happy stories and positive news from around the world.

The US Vice-President Kamala Harris has been formally chosen as the presidential nominee by the Democratic National Convention, after receiving enough party delegate votes. She is both the first black and South Asian woman to become the leader of a major US political party. Also: Instagram is blocked in Turkey amid accusations of censorship, and why Zanzibar could become Africa’s Hollywood.

The Kremlin confirms convicted assassin Vadim Krasikov, released in a huge east-west prisoner swap, was a Russian security agent.The historic exchange freed 24 prisoners from seven countries - three of whom have now returned to the US.Also: Hundreds of mourners gather in Doha to offer funeral prayers for assassinated Hamas leader Ismael Haniyeh, and a senior North Korean defector says his country is rooting for another Donald Trump presidency.The day’s top stories from BBC News and our correspondents across the world. Delivered twice a day on weekdays, daily at weekends.

President Biden hails biggest prisoner swap since Cold War a 'feat of diplomacy'. In total, 10 Russians -- including 2 children -- were exchanged for 16 Westerners and Russians imprisoned in Russia. It was a seven nation prisoner swap which involved complicated and long negotiations. Also: Three men accused of plotting the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States in 2001 who have been detained in Guantanamo Bay receive a plea deal. We get reaction from a family member of one of the victims, and in the Olympics a clash in the women's boxing was abandoned after just 46 secs amidst controversy over gender eligibility rules.

The US says journalist Evan Gershkovich part of prisoner exchange agreed with Russia. Germany and three other European countries included in deal. Also: funeral for Hamas leader killed in Iran.

Israel says it's delivered crushing blows to its enemies; Iran vows revenge. Also: the contested Venezuelan election as seen by international observers, and Donald Trump questions Kamala Harris's racial identity.

Hamas says it's political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, has been killed in an Israeli strike in the Iranian capital. Iran vows revenge. Also, Kamala Harris takes her campaign fight to the crucial state of Georgia, and don't underestimate the memory of a goldfish.

The Israeli military said Fuad Shukr was 'eliminated' but local security sources say he was not in the building that was hit. Also: the new head of the US Secret Service apologises for its failure to stop Donald Trump's would-be assassin, and protests across Turkey - as its parliament legislates to round up the country's four million stray dogs.

Dozens of people remain trapped as heavy rains hamper rescue efforts in the in the southern state of Kerala. Also: the men's triathlon event is postponed in the Paris Olympics after water tests on Tuesday showed the Seine wasn't clean enough for the swimming race, and what effect is the demise of the landline in favour of the mobile having on our brains and behaviour?

The demonstrators in Caracas say the Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's re-election was fraudulent. He has accused his opponents of trying to stage a coup. Also: the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is jeered by crowds on a visit to the scene of a deadly rocket strike in the Golan Heights, and a man's late graduation after a parrot sparks a rent row.

The opposition has denounced the official result of the Presidential election as fraud. Also: Germany and other countries have urged their citizens to leave Lebanon immediately, ahead of an expected response by Israel to a deadly attack it has blamed on Hezbollah, and Turkey debates a new law to curb its large stray dog population.

There are fears that a major Israeli reprisal against the Lebanese group, Hezbollah, could ignite a regional war. Hezbollah has denied carrying out the strike in Majdal Shams. Also: Venezuelans vote in election challenging Maduro's grip on power, and the Irish author Edna O'Brien dies aged 93.

This is a bonus episode from The Global Story - taking a look at a much-debated slogan, and a journey through the land that it refers to; from the River Jordan to the Mediterranean sea. Since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas last year, the cry “From the River to the Sea” has been heard more and more as a pro-Palestinian slogan. But what river? What sea? And what exactly does the phrase mean? It is the subject of intense controversy. BBC Current Affairs journalist Tim Whewell joins our presenter Lucy Hockings to discuss his journey from the River Jordan to the Mediterranean Sea, across a tiny stretch of land - that is perhaps the most argued-over in the world. The Global Story brings you one big story every weekday, making sense of the news with our experts around the world. Insights you can trust, from the BBC World Service. For more, go to bbcworldservice.com/globalstory or search for The Global Story wherever you got this podcast.

The Israel Defense Forces said a rocket fired by the Lebanese Hezbollah group fell on the Druze town of Majdal Shams - a claim denied by the movement. Also: Trump courts crypto industry votes, and why is hip-hop playing an increasingly prominent role in world music?

With the Paris Olympics underway, we hear about Beacon -- the therapy dog that's helped the USA Gymnastics team cope with the pressure and stress of competitive sport. His handler and owner, Tracey, tells us his friendly face and intuitive nature make him perfect for the job -- and that some of the gymnasts even talk to him.Also: the first horse rider from the Arab world to qualify for Olympic equestrian eventing tells us it's a huge honour to represent the region's history.How a new type of IVF is helping protect the future of threatened southern white Rhinos.A woman who travelled solo across Africa on a motorcycle says the three month journey made her feel alive.We're in Denmark to learn about a project that helps people with mental health issues - by prescribing a course of museum visits, concerts and other cultural activities.And we find out about the Olympic couples competing in the city of love.Our weekly collection of happy stories and positive news from around the world.Presenter: Jannat Jalil. Music composed by Iona Hampson.

In spectacular style, bridges and riverbanks were used as catwalks, stages and grandstands, with performances by Lady Gaga in French and the French-Malian singer, Aya Nakamura. The culmination of the show included Celine Dion standing on an illuminated Eiffel Tower. Also: Bangladesh police detain protest leaders at a hospital, and a Scottish peat bog gets UNESCO world heritage status.

Some 800,000 passengers affected after three high speed rail lines into Paris targeted by arson attacks. The French rail operator, SNCF, says disruption is expected to continue throughout the weekend. Also: In the US, former president Barack Obama backs Vice President Kamala Harris in her election campaign, Open AI launches its rival to the long dominant Google search engine, and two leaders of one of the world's most dangerous and powerful crime syndicates have been arrested in Texas.

President Nicholas Maduro has asked voters to support him to secure peace and stability, a week after saying there would be a "bloodbath" if he lost. The opposition candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez, leads most opinion polls but there are fears the vote won't be fair. Also: Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has met President Biden to discuss efforts towards a ceasefire-for-hostages deal in Gaza, and why Donald Trump's running mate, JD Vance, is no friend of the Hollywood star, Jennifer Aniston.

Authorities in the Philippines are racing to contain a major oil spill from a capsized ship in Manila Bay. Clean up operations are being hampered by strong winds and high waves brought by Typhoon Gaemi, which is now making landfall in southern China. Also in this podcast: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is to meet with US President Joe Biden as pressure builds for a hostage deal. The Israeli army has recovered another five bodies from Gaza. Accusations that Sudan's bloody civil war is being fuelled by the illegal trade in weapons, how the battlefield in Ukraine has been transformed into a war of drones, and we take a look inside the Olympic Village ahead of the games kicking off in Paris.

The Israeli prime minister's speech to a joint session of Congress received standing ovations from mostly Republicans but it was boycotted by several Democrats. Also: the British equestrian, Charlotte Dujardin, has withdrawn from the Olympics after a video emerged of her whipping her horse, and why Komodo dragons are such dangerous predators.

A public inquiry finds 200,000 people suffered abuse over the past 70 years. The prime minister, Christopher Luxon, called it "a dark and sorrowful day in the country's history". Māoris and people with disabilities were particularly affected. The publication follows a six-year investigation. Also: Typhoon Gaemi is battering Taiwan with powerful winds and torrential rain, and Janet Jackson on growing up in one of music's most famous families.

Kim Cheatle said she took 'full responsibility' for the security lapse surrounding the assassination attempt on Donald Trump. She had faced calls from Democrats and Republicans to step down. Also: scientists push for a new HIV vaccine to be made available across the globe, and sharks off the coast of Brazil test positive for cocaine.

The US vice-president's campaign has secured a record amount of donations. Also, China says Hamas, Fatah and a dozen other Palestinian factions have agreed to set up an interim administration for Gaza, and the first blind Barbie doll goes on sale.

Kamala Harris accused Donald Trump of taking the US backwards. She promised more gun control and protection for reproductive rights. In his first public comments since pulling out of the race, Joe Biden urged Democrats to embrace Ms Harris. Also: an oxygen discovery has defied knowledge of the deep ocean, and with life expectancy increasing, China will raise its official retirement age.

Major Democrat politicians and donors - including the Clintons - support Vice-President Kamala Harris as the party's new presidential nominee. Also: soldiers deployed as student protests continue to ramp up in Bangladesh, and the BBC confronts a convicted South African who killed dozens of black men during apartheid.

US President Joe Biden has ended his re-election campaign. He says it’s in the best interest of his party and the country. Mr Biden has endorsed Vice-President Kamala Harris as the new Democratic nominee. Donald Trump says Biden “was not fit to run for president”.

The US Republican presidential candidate told supporters that he had taken 'a bullet for democracy'. Thousands had waited for hours to attend the rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Also: an American woman is reunited with her family after spending 43 years in jail for a crime she didn't commit, and how France is planning to turn the Paris Olympics into a gourmet experience.

Ambassador Lim Ki-mo started singing Brazilian songs at public events to raise spirits during the covid pandemic. Videos posted online went viral and he was invited to perform at a famous Samba club in Rio. He tells us it's an expression of his joy and love for Brazil but he never expected to become so popular.Also: With the Paris Olympics and Paralympics approaching, we meet some of the athletes representing the Refugee Team after having to flee their home countries.Has Dublin experienced the biggest earthquake of Taylor Swift's Eras tour? Experts detected seismic waves from Shake It Off more than a hundred kilometers away.We hear how a new type of tourism is bringing money to local communities across Thailand. There's good news for a critically endangered crocodile in Cambodia -- with a record breaking hatching of babies. And why a man left unable to talk or move after a stroke aged just 16 is mentoring children and writing his life story.Our weekly collection of happy stories and positive news from around the world.

Affected healthcare, banking and airline systems are slowly coming back online. The crisis was caused by a faulty software update. Also: the UN's top court rules that Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories is illegal, and a trailblazer for women in Asian martial arts movies, Cheng Pei-pei, has died at the age of 78.

The problem was caused by a software update - a fix has been deployed. Also: the US journalist, Evan Gershkovich, is sentenced to 16 years in jail by a court in Russia, and the most powerful man in Vietnam -- the head of the communist party, Nguyen Phu Trong -- has died at the age of eighty.

Barack Obama has reportedly joined other senior Democrats in urging Mr Biden to consider his position. The 81-year-old president has suspended campaigning while he recovers from Covid. Also: thousands of rare bird eggs have been seized in Australia, and the American comedian Bob Newhart has died at 94.

Members of the European Parliament backed her at a vote in Strasbourg on Thursday. She will now serve another five years at the helm of the EU. Also: The team set up to represent the world's refugees at the Paris Olympics, a step in the right direction for gay rights in South Korea -- and how getting a bit fatter round the middle is slowing down the Earth's rotation.

The White House says the US president is experiencing 'mild symptoms' after testing positive during a campaign trip to Las Vegas. The news comes as top Democrat Adam Schiff called on Mr Biden to 'pass the torch'. The California congressman is the most prominent Democrat yet to publicly call for the president to step aside. Also: the Caribbean island of Carriacou struggles to cope with the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl, and the skeleton of a stegosaurus sells at auction for more than 44 million dollars - a record amount for a dinosaur.

After months of anticipation, Anne Hidalgo took a dip in the Seine to show the river is clean enough to host open-swimming competitions during the 2024 Olympics. Also: Police in Thailand say six Vietnamese tourists found dead in a luxury hotel were poisoned with cyanide, students protest in Bangladesh over a lack of job and what Afro-futurism means for Africans around the world...We'll bring you the best reports and analysis from the BBC's correspondents around the world.

He was found guilty on all 16 charges, including bribery, acting as a foreign agent, and obstructing justice. Also: Police in Thailand are investigating the mysterious deaths of six foreign nationals whose bodies were found in a Bangkok hotel suite, and the American rock duo, Tenacious D, cancel the rest of their world tour after an on-stage quip in Australia about the near fatal attempt on Donald Trump’s life. We'll bring you the best reports and analysis from the BBC's correspondents around the world.

The Ukrainian government is struggling to replace battlefield losses in its ongoing war against Russia which is well into its third year. Also: why Donald Trump picked JD Vance as his running mate, and Gareth Southgate is resigning as England manager, even though his team reached the final of the Euros football tournament.

The announcement came at the opening of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee where Trump was officially endorsed as the party's candidate for the presidential election. Also, Pakistani government intends to ban Imran Khan's political party, and scientists discover a deep cave on the Moon which they say could be an ideal location for a permanent base.

Police in Kenya suspect he is behind the gruesome murders of at least nine women. Their bodies were found in a former quarry used as a rubbish dump near Nairobi. Under interrogation the suspect has admitted killing 42 women. Also: Republicans arrive for their national convention in Milwaukee where Donald Trump will be confirmed as the Republican presidential candidate after the assassination attempt on him. We also hear from a photographer who captured the image of the bullet that hit Mr Trump's ear at the rally in Pennsylvania. And, chaos and violence at the Copa America final in Miami, and a new cheaper malaria vaccine is rolled out in Africa

Neighbours cannot believe the quiet young man they knew opened fire on Donald Trump. President Biden has promised a swift investigation into the attempted assassination. Also: how young protestors in Kenya are successfully challenging the relationship between Christian leaders and politicians, and tributes are paid to the American broadcaster and sex-therapist, Doctor Ruth, who has died aged 96.

Donald Trump urges Americans to unite in the face of wickedness after he survives an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. We consider the implications for the election campaign and ask how the gunman was able to get so close.

Donald Trump was speaking at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. US secret service agents rushed on to the stage to protect him. He appeared to have blood on his ear and was taken away by car. A spokesman for Mr Trump's campaign team said he was fine and undergoing medical checks.

When listener Sophia decided to donate a kidney to a stranger through a domino transplant scheme, her teenage daughter Katie objected. But years later, Katie decided to do the same - inspired by the chain of goodness her mother started, and the joy of meeting organ recipients at the transplant games. Also: Big Ocean - the first K-pop band whose members all have hearing impairments. As the Paris Olympics approach, we look back at the amazing story of two athletes who chose to share gold in Tokyo. Wild horses return to Kazakhstan for the first time in over two hundred years, thanks to a zoo breeding programme. The innovative system helping grow crops in arid regions with less water. And the children who got to perform at London's famous Royal Opera House.Our weekly collection of happy stories and positive news from around the world.

President Joe Biden's re-election campaign is under intense scrutiny amid questions over his age. Also: children killed in Nigeria school collapse, and the first British post box with the King Charles III cypher.

There's more concern in the US, but mirth in Moscow. Also: the head of Japan's navy resigns over a series of scandals including the mishandling of classified documents by staff, and scientists return to the wreck of the Titanic for the first time since the Titan submersible disaster - but this time it will be robots making the dive.

The US President, Joe Biden, who is under intense scrutiny amid concerns over his age, held a high-stakes news conference in Washington. Also: the Israeli defence minister has called for a state inquiry into what led to the Hamas attacks of October the seventh last year, and are you an early bird or a night owl?

Beijing denies it is prolonging Russia's war in Ukraine describing them as smears. Also; a Russian human rights activist compares the country's judicial system to Nazi Germany, and a pair of astronauts stuck in space look on the bright side.

The outgoing NATO secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, said the alliance also pledged a minimum forty billion dollars of military aid to Kyiv over the coming year. Also: the Hollywood actor George Clooney has become the latest high-profile Democrat to urge President Biden to drop his bid for re-election, and we look at the latest backlash against mass tourism in Europe.

Israel has told all residents of Gaza City to evacuate- the second time they've had to leave the biggest city in the territory. It comes as indirect ceasefire talks resume in Qatar.Also in this podcast:NATO leaders meet in Washington for a second day, with Ukraine defence at the top of the agenda.Scientists discover traces of toxic metals in tampons and another joke from American TV show 'The Simpsons' is coming true.The Global News Podcast brings you the day's top stories from BBC News, covering world events, politics, culture and more.

Ukraine is high on the agenda at the three-day summit. In his opening remarks, President Biden pledged more air defence systems for Kyiv. Meanwhile Democratic party politicians have held meetings over concerns about Mr Biden's fitness for re-election. Also in this podcast, a Russian court issues an arrest warrant for opposition figure Yulia Navalnya, the trial of actor Alex Baldwin begins in New Mexico, and how Denmark is encouraging tourists to go green.

UN to discuss Russia's bombardment of children's hospital. School students in South Korea to receive suicide prevention education. Officials investigate China tanker cooking oil scandal. We report on Australia's strict visa rules regarding disabilities. And human rights groups warn of increased attacks against gays in Ghana.

Joe Biden has faced ongoing questions surrounding his ability to carry on as president, after his recent debate performance. Now, he's written to Democratic lawmakers, calling for unity and reassuring them he has the ability to run against Donald Trump. Also on this podcast: NATO condemns a Russian airstrike on a children's hospital in Kyiv, a Kenyan doomsday cult leader goes on trial, plane-maker Boeing faces more safety concerns, and a painting in Sydney depicting Jesus as a cartoon character causes a stir.

Among the targets of Russia's latest barrage of missiles is a children's hospital in Kyiv. The city's mayor, Vitaliy Klitschko, called it genocide. Also, the tricky business of forming a government after the inconclusive election in France, and how rule changes in artistic swimming could make the sport more exciting.

Exit polls show surprise lead for left alliance, with the far right in third place. No bloc will have a majority to govern on its own. Also: the prominent US congressman Adam Schiff says Vice President Kamala Harris could overwhelmingly beat Donald Trump; and NASA volunteers emerge from year living in simulated Mars base.

President Pezeshkian beat hardline coservative rival Saeed Jalili in a second round vote. The 71 year old heart surgeon wants constructive negotiations with western powers over a renewal of the faltering 2015 nuclear deal. We assess its prospects of happening. Also: Hamas says a strike on a UN-run school in Gaza has killed at least 16 people. Israel says it was used by Hamas operatives. A fifth Democratic member of Congress has urged Joe Biden to withdraw from the US presidential race. And there's nervousness in France ahead of Sunday's second round vote that could bring in a far right government.

Imagine bumping into a stranger who has the power and kindness to make your dreams come true. Listener Uta tells us how her chance meeting with Harry led to a place at the University she'd thought was out of reach -- and changed her life forever. They talk about why you should take a chance on strangers and always be willing to help others. Also: We hear from the inspiring young woman helping farmers boost their crops in Kenya using artificial intelligence. Why K-pop stars New Jeans are guiding people around a museum in Europe. The Indonesian women playing heavy metal in hijabs to break down stereotypes. Scientists find lifelong learning isn't reserved for humans -- chimps can do it too. And the world's first school exam in skateboarding.Our weekly collection of positive stories and happy news from around the world.

The UK's first female finance minister Rachel Reeves said the central mission was to boost economic growth nationwide. Also: Hungary's Russia-friendly prime minister meets Vladimir Putin in Moscow, and Kenyan leader responds to criticism from young people in online debate.

Keir Starmer said Britain had voted for national renewal, and his government would serve all of its people whether they voted for his Labour Party or not. The former prime minister, Rishi Sunak, said he would step down as Conservative Party leader, but not immediately. Also, European leaders react with anger as the Hungarian prime minister visits Vladimir Putin, and people in Iran vote in the second round of the presidential election.

Keir Starmer's Labour party wins a huge parliamentary majority. Scores of former government ministers lose seats after 14 years of Conservative leadership. We examine the popularity of the new right-wing Reform party, and the results in Scotland. Also: The impact of social media on campaigning, and the view of newspapers around the world.

Exit polls estimate a Labour majority of a-hundred-and-seventy seats in the new British parliament. Rishi Sunak and his Conservative party appear to have suffered one of their worst ever nights. Also: US President Joe Biden welcomes Israel's announcement that it will resume talks with Hamas in Qatar, and why you can no longer cuddle a Koala in Brisbane.

The Lebanese armed movement, Hezbollah, says it has fired more than two hundred rockets and explosive drones into northern Israel, targeting several military bases. The barrage follows the killing of one of the group’s senior commanders in an Israeli strike on Wednesday. The Israeli army says it shot down a number of projectiles and has responded by destroying seven rocket launch sites in southern Lebanon. Also: strong winds and heavy rain hit the Cayman Islands as Hurricane Beryl makes its way towards the coast of Mexico, and the nine year old girl who's now England's youngest international chess star.

Questions have been swirling around whether the US president Joe Biden will continue his re-election bid after last week's disastrous TV debate. Also: Israeli strike kills senior Hezbollah commander in Lebanon, and world's oldest cave art found showing humans and pig.

The court has also ruled that Japan's twenty-year statute of limitations does not apply in such cases, paving the way for thousands to seek redress. Also: the United Nations says aid sent to the people of Sudan has been looted on an industrial scale, a mother says she killed her terminally ill seven year old son to end his suffering, and voters in the UK go to the polls on Thursday, we look at the issue of immigration.

Lloyd Doggett is the first to call publicly for the US president Joe Biden to withdraw, in response to his poor performance in a televised debate with Donald Trump last week. Also: scores killed in crush in India, and do ants amputate the legs of fellow ants to save their lives?

The latest evacuation order by the Israeli army has affected a quarter of a million people in southern Gaza, according to the UN. Medical staff say one of the main hospitals is moving its patients.Also in this podcast:- Donald Trump's former aide, Steve Bannon, says he has a 'MAGA' army to stop Democrats winning the White House again - Ten members of an environmental group in Cambodia are given lengthy jail terms - Two-time Wimbledon champion Andy Murray says he will not be playing in this year's singles, as he prepares to bow out of professional tennisThe Global News Podcast brings you the day's top stories from BBC News, covering world events, politics, culture and more.

In a landmark decision, the United States Supreme Court has granted Donald Trump — and all U.S. presidents — absolute immunity from "official" presidential acts. The ruling will further delay the former president's case which alleges he plotted to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Also in this podcast: - Hurricane Beryl forces thousands to take shelter as it moves across the Caribbean. - A young Kenyan protester tells us why she is returning to the streets, one week on from the violent clashes in Nairobi. - Eritrean cyclist Biniam Girmay makes history becoming the first black African to win a stage on the Tour De France.The Global News Podcast brings you the day's top stories from BBC News, covering world events, politics, culture and more.

Marine Le Pen's party seeks majority, as a week of deal-making begins ahead of the next vote in French assembly elections. Also: airports shut as Caribbean residents urged to shelter ahead of hurricane Beryl, and we hear from tennis fans at the gates of Wimbledon.

Exit polls suggest Marine Le Pen’s National Rally won the biggest share of the vote – far more than President Macron’s party. Also: Australia introduces some of the world's toughest new regulations on vaping, and Indonesia’s hijab-wearing heavy metal band takes Glastonbury by storm.

Next Friday's poll will be between hardliner Saeed Jalili and rival Masoud Pezeshkian, seen as a reformist, who both failed to secure a majority. Also: the acquittal of all 28 people charged with money laundering following the Panama Papers scandal, and a Yazidi choir of victims of the Islamic State group sing of their memories.

Preschool teacher Carissa got tested as soon as she heard her former pupil, 5 year old Ezra, needed a liver transplant. She tells us she didn't think twice about donating and wants him to be able to do 'five year old things'. Ezra's mum Karen says she's overwhelmed that someone would be willing to do something so selfless and giving for her son. Also: A new drug that could protect women from getting HIV with just two injections a year. The extraordinary Euro 2024 football victory that's helped a country believe in itself. How volunteers managed to save priceless works of art at the start of the war in Ukraine. We're back in Finland for an equestrian competition with no animals - where people jump and ride wooden stick toys called hobby horses. And we hear from Debbie Wileman - whose lockdown social videos have led to a new career as a Judy Garland impersonator. Our weekly collection of happy news and positive stories from around the world.

US President Joe Biden has spoken at a rally in North Carolina - his first public event since he struggled in the first televised debate of the 2024 presidential campaign. He directly addressed concerns about his age, admitting he doesn't debate like he used to, but "when you get knocked down, you get back up". His Republican opponent, Donald Trump, also held a rally. He boasted to voters in Virginia about his past presidential record and claimed victory in Thursday's debate. Also: The roof of the main airport terminal in the Indian city of Delhi collapses in heavy rain, and the Colombian schoolchildren being lured by rebels on TikTok.

After president Joe Biden's faltering performance in the TV debate with Donald Trump there are calls to replace him. Also, Iranians are voting to elect a new president to replace Ebrahim Raisi who was killed last month in a helicopter crash, and why radioactive rhino horns help conservation efforts.

Joe Biden and Donald Trump will be using the stage at the CNN debate in Atlanta to try and convince voters to back them in November. Also: Palestinians flee Gaza City's Shejaiya area amid heavy bombardment, and Elon Musk's SpaceX hired to destroy International Space Station.

He is thought to organise illegal boat crossings between France and the UK, including a trip in April which resulted in the death of a seven-year-old girl. Also in this podcast: Joe Biden and Donald Trump prepare to go head-to-head in their first election debate, Bolivia's opposition says the attempted military coup on Wednesday was staged by the president, and Denmark introduces the world's first tax on cows.

The president of Bolivia, Luis Arce, seems to have defeated a military coup attempt in the city. He later made a social media address from inside the presidential palace, a short time after a tank knocked down a main gate, allowing troops to enter the complex. Also: Sunak and Starmer clash in final UK election debate, and music festival blamed for gazelle deaths in Spain.

Julian Assange returns to Australia a free man after a court appearance on a remote Pacific island. Also: American journalist Evan Gershkovich has gone on trial in Russia on spying charges, an Islamist rebel is found guilty of war crimes in Mali and who is filling the Legend slot in this year's Glastonbury festival?

The court on the island of Saipan is expected to allow the Wikileaks founder, Julian Assange, to walk free and return to his native Australia. Also: the Kenyan president, William Ruto, has described violence during huge protests against tax rises as an unprecedented attack on the country's democracy, and scientists in Japan are working on creating human-like skin for robots.

Julian Assange has for years fought extradition to the United States, accused of leaking a huge quantity of classified defence documents. He will now return to Australia, where his wife Stella Assange is waiting for him. But first, he has to appear in court in a United States territory in the pacific. Also on this podcast, protests erupt in Kenya over new tax proposals, Israel's supreme court orders ultra-orthodox religious students can no longer avoid being drafted into the military, and why a sample of dirt and rocks from the far side of the moon has scientists excited.

The head of the UN children's agency says Sudan is one of the worst places in the world for children. Also: France's Macron warns of civil war if extremists win snap polls, and Spanish nuns are excommunicated for rebelling against Vatican over property deal.

Footage posted on social media show people shooting at police cars. Among the dead are 15 police officers. The attacks targeted churches and synagogues in Derbent and Makhachkala. Investigators say five gunmen were killed. Most of the attackers, they said, came from one small area of Dagestan. In its first comments, the Kremlin dismissed the possibility of another wave of Islamist violence in the Northern Caucasus. Also: a huge fire at a lithium battery factory in South Korea kills 22 people including 18 Chinese workers, and Princess Anne - the sister of King Charles - has been admitted to hospital in England after an incident involving a horse.

Gunmen in the southern Russian republic have killed police officers and a priest in what officials are calling acts of terror. Also: the US prepares to receive two new pandas from China, and the man whose home was turned into a cannabis farm.

The Supreme Court has ordered a retrial for Toomaj Salehi who was sentenced to death after speaking out in support of protests that had exploded across Iran. Also: the new documentary about the designer of the wrap dress, Diane von Furstenberg, and the world's ugliest dog.

When Celia's daughter asked about regrets, she posted a message about a puffin sweater she wished she'd bought. Just days later, a man she'd never met sent her the exact same one for free - saying it felt so good to be kind. Also: The earthquakes being caused by enthusiastic fans during Taylor Swift's Eras Tour. A BBC radio programme reaches 46 people celebrating mid winter in Antarctica. How artificial intelligence could help us understand what dogs are trying to say. Why a sculptor decided to create dozens of art galleries and museums around the world - underwater. And the festival celebrating the enduring traditions of Flamenco dancing - and bringing it into the twenty first century.Our weekly collection of happy news and positive stories from around the world.

Court in Switzerland sentences four members of the billionaire family to jail for exploiting domestic staff. Also: the fierce battle for a small Ukrainian town, and John F. Kennedy's watch will go under the hammer.

Lobby groups say at least 200 people were injured and more than 100 arrested across Kenya. Protesters say the controversial finance bill that includes additional taxes would choke the economy and raise the cost of living. Also: parts of southern China have once in a century flooding, while the north is hit by extreme temperatures and drought, how wild chimpanzees seek out medicinal plants, and Stonehenge marks the summer solstice - the longest period of daylight in the northern hemisphere.

The US ambassador to China tells the BBC that despite a competitive relationship, the two countries are now talking more regularly to prevent escalation in the disputed South China Sea. Also on the podcast: India's government is accused of failing the education system after cancelling an exam taken by nearly a million people, a look back on the life of Canadian film star, Donald Sutherland, and the Spanish feline that looks to be saved from extinction.

Demonstrators, many of them young, were armed only with their smart phones. Police in Nairobi came on horseback and used water cannon. The Kenyan government plans to raise more than two-and-a-half billion dollars in new taxes. Also: a day after signing a defence agreement with North Korea, Russia's President Putin visits Vietnam, the new treatment that leaves heart attack victims more active than they were, and the British musician Rapman on his Netflix show about superheroes in London.

Many of the most brutal cases took place in Aleppo between 2011 and 2013. Also: hundreds of people are reported to have died during this year's Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia as temperatures in Mecca exceeded fifty degrees, and scientists shed light on why some people do not get Covid-19.

Accord signed on Vladimir Putin's first visit to Pyongyang in more than twenty years. Kim Jong-un said he unconditionally supported Russia's military action in Ukraine. Mr Putin said he appreciated North Korea's unwavering support. Also: Cyril Ramaphosa is sworn in for a second term as President of South Africa, Nvidia becomes the world's most valuable company, and the flower that stinks of rotting meat.

Under the existing rules, foreigners who arrive illegally into the United States and marry US citizens must wait abroad for their applications to be processed. Also: Putin arrives in North Korea ahead of talks with Kim Jong Un, and McDonald's withdraws its malfunctioning AI ordering software.

North Korea is preparing to welcome Vladimir Putin on his first visit there in more than twenty years. Also: Police in Kenya have fired tear gas and used water cannon to try to disperse protestors opposed to a new finance bill. The Senate in Thailand has passed a law allowing same sex marriage - the first country in Southeast Asia to do so. And why has a parkour runner at a UNESCO protected site in Italy sparked fury?

The governor Wes Moore said his executive order marked "the most sweeping state-level pardon in American history". Also: the Kremlin has confirmed that the Russian president Vladimir Putin will travel to North Korea on Tuesday, and the British actor Ian McKellen falls off stage during a performance in London.

Israel's PM dissolves his six-member war cabinet with no plans for a replacement. The BBC hears from witnesses who say the Greek coastguard threw migrants to their deaths. Also: Denmark says it's looking at additional ways of stopping Russian oil exports passing through the Baltic Sea, and news avoidance at record levels.

The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, was speaking at the close of a summit for peace in Switzerland. Also: Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has described the introduction of daily "tactical pauses" in military activity in a part of southern Gaza as “unacceptable”, and the original multi-coloured dancefloor used in the 1977 film, Saturday Night Fever, has been sold at auction.

The two-day gathering follows President Putin outlining Russia’s ceasefire terms, which have been widely dismissed. Russia has not been invited to the peace summit and China, a key strategic partner, is not attending. Also: Israel has launched an investigation into the deaths of eight IDF soldiers in Rafah, and Sweden welcomes home two citizens who had been arrested in Iran after a prisoner swap.

This week's edition comes from Finland, the country repeatedly crowned the happiest in the world, and the Helsinki Happiness Hacks event introduced people - selected from thousands of applicants across the globe - to Finns willing to share the secrets of their contentment. These include skateboarding, dancing with friends, messy art, walking barefoot, ice cream for breakfast, and of course, a sauna. And we explore how happiness is measured and why a dose of pessimism doesn’t preclude happiness.

Bump stocks were banned after they were used in America's deadliest mass shooting in 2017. Western leaders dismiss Russian President Putin's call for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine, as they meet at the G7 summit in southern Italy. Also: A Chinese court sentences a journalist who reported on #MeToo to jail for "subversion", and why grey whales are shrinking.

Three political parties have supported the ANC’s bid for a unity government. The ANC lost its parliamentary majority in last month’s election. Parliament has already been sworn in. Also: G7 leaders focus on tensions with China on the second day of their summit in Italy; And the authorities in Thailand search for three oil tankers which went missing.

In a separate landmark security deal, the US pledges to provide Ukraine with a range of military aid and training over the next decade. Also: The US Supreme Court rejects an attempt to restrict access to a widely-used abortion drug, and endangered wild horses return to the Kazakh plains for the first time in centuries.

Leaders want to use $50bn in interest from frozen Russian assets to extend a loan to Ukraine. Also: Hungary is ordered to pay a fine for violating the European Union's rules on asylum and immigration, and residents in a suburb of Nairobi in Kenya are on high alert after a lioness eats a family dog.

Lawmakers in Congress were debating drastic measures put forward by President Javier Milei to address the country's dire economic situation. Also: US top diplomat Antony Blinken says a deal to end the war in Gaza is still possible, and EU health officials warn that an invasive mosquito is spreading dengue fever in Europe.

The report comes as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits Qatar to push for a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal. Israel - which refused to co-operate with the investigation - was quick to reject the report, accusing it of “systematic anti-Israeli discrimination". Also: North Darfur's main city is on the brink of falling to Sudan's paramilitary RSF, according to a US envoy, and Denmark recalls Korean ramen for being too spicy.

Hunter Biden was accused of lying about his drug use on a handgun application form. Also: Hamas seeks a "complete halt" to the war in Gaza in response to an American ceasefire proposal, and the Italian robbery that caused a stink.

US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, made his comments as Hamas is yet to respond to an American ceasefire plan which was backed by the UN Security Council on Monday night. Also, a plane carrying Malawi's vice president has crashed, killing everyone on board, and elephants call different members of the herd by name.

The UN proposal sets out conditions for a "complete ceasefire" in Gaza and the release of hostages held by Hamas. Also: Aircraft carrying Malawi vice-president goes missing, and two-in-one flu and Covid jab passes advanced trial.

Ursula von der Leyen says the result comes with great responsibility for the parties on the political centre. The reactions in France following a surprise parliamentary election. Plus analysis on why voters have backed far right parties in such large numbers. Also: the BBC speaks to the widow of the IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi about the persecution of Yazidis in Iraq, and the South African photographer who's won international acclaim for challenging discrimination.

The French president Emmanuel Macron has called elections on 30 June and 7 July, after exit polls show his party is set to be trounced by National Rally in the European elections. Also: Israeli war cabinet minister Benny Gantz quits the emergency government, and tributes are paid to the popular TV presenter Dr Michael Mosley who was found dead on the Greek island of Symi.

The high representative of the EU, Josep Borrell, said that reports of -- what he called -- "another massacre of civilians" were appalling. The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says more than two hundred Palestinians were killed in the Israeli raid, to rescue the four hostages. Also: President Biden says France remains America's best friend, after a wide-ranging discussion with his French counterpart in the Élysée palace, and tributes are paid to the Nasa "Earthrise" astronaut William Anders who has died in a plane crash aged 90.

Christian nearly drowned while swimming in the sea in Italy as a child. He returned to the beach with his wife and child - only to find that Yuri, the man who saved his life, was still there. The two men tell us about their emotional reunion and the profound effect the experience has had on them. Also: The New York couple who found a safe full of cash, and get to keep it, thanks to the increasingly popular hobby of magnet fishing. We speak to Yazzy Chamberlain and her grandad John, whose duets of classic songs have earned them millions of online viewers -- including Coldplay. How the powers of nature are being used to help solve water shortages in Mexico City by cleaning polluted rivers. The skull of a giant prehistoric bird known as the demon duck has been found in Australia. And don't waste a moment - the final message from Rob Burrow, rugby league star and Motor Neurone Disease campaigner.Our weekly collection of happy news and positive stories from around the world.

Israel's envoy to the UN says he's been informed of the decision, which has not been confirmed by the UN. The report on children and armed conflict will also include Hamas and Islamic Jihad. President Biden has spoken in defence of democracy, and against isolationism, on the site of a Nazi stronghold stormed by American troops on D-Day. We explore the impact of YouTube's new restrictions on gun videos in reducing youth violence. And, the stress suffered by students in China as they face end-of-high school exams.

President Biden and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, have been meeting in Paris, a day after they both attended commemorations of the Second World War D-Day landings. Mr Biden apologised for delays to the delivery of military aid, caused by some Republicans in Congress, but stressed that the US would not walk away from Ukraine. Also: the British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak apologises for skipping the main D-Day commemoration event in Normandy; and workers at the tech giant Samsung go on strike for the first time.

Hundreds brave Arizona heat to see Donald Trump in his first campaign event since his New York hush-money trial conviction. Also in this Podcast: The UN says 35 children have been killed in an attack in central Sudan, World leaders mark D-Day's 80th anniversary, and how wild fish are becoming hooked on methamphetamine and other hardcore drugs.The Global News Podcast brings you the best analysis from BBC correspondents in London and around the world.

President Biden uses speech in Northern France to liken Ukraine's struggle against Russia to the fight to defeat Nazi Germany in the Second World War. We bring you the best reportage and analysis from BBC correspondents in London and around the world. Also in this podcast: Nepal says it has removed eleven tonnes of rubbish from popular Himalayan climbing routes during this year's clean-up campaign, and a week after Donald Trump was convicted of falsifying business records, the former president has had some good news from the courts - a more serious criminal case against him in the state of Georgia has been paused.

Resistance groups say the village of Wad al-Nourah was besieged by the Rapid Support Forces on Tuesday before being attacked. Footage on social media shows dozens of bodies lined up for burial. The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the heads of oil and gas corporations the "godfathers of climate chaos"; and the AI tool that allows participants to receive advice from their future selves.

Climate scientists also warn that the crucial threshold of one-point-point-five Celsius could be breached within years. That threshold is considered vital to avoid the most catastrophic impacts of climate change. Also: four women register as candidates for Iran's presidential election, and the contribution of women to the D-Day landings 80 years ago.

An alliance led by Mr Modi has won enough seats to allow him to serve as prime minister for a third term. His BJP party has far fewer seats than it won in the last election five years ago. Also in this podcast: President Biden announces a new policy on immigration at the border with Mexico, the leaders of the UK's two main political parties, Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak, go head to head in a live TV debate, and pilots in Switzerland's Air Force to practice taking off from motorways.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to lose his majority, but hold on to power to win a third term in office as the final votes are counted. He called it "a historical feat in India’s history." Also on the podcast: Qatar says it's waiting for a clear position from Israel on the Gaza peace plan, the growing use of AI in scientific research papers, and why nostalgic music events have become so popular.

Hunter Biden, the son of Joe Biden, has become the first child of a sitting US president to be a criminal defendant. He denies all charges against him. Also: Israel confirms deaths of four more hostages in Gaza, and Mr Beast overtakes T-Series for most YouTube subscribers.

Supporters of Claudia Sheinbaum have been celebrating her landslide victory in Mexico's presidential election. Also: blackout in Nigeria as striking workers shut down the entire power grid, new blood test to predict breast cancer return and couple find safe full of cash while magnet fishing in New York.

Cyril Ramaphosa has admitted his African National Congress party has suffered a challenging election result. Also: Mexicans vote in election likely to see first woman president, and the media tycoon Rupert Murdoch marries for fifth time at the age of 93.

The Israeli National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, said any deal that resulted in a ceasefire in Gaza before Hamas was destroyed would be a victory for terrorism. Also: Boeing's first crewed Starliner launch delayed again over computer issues, and the life-saving Heimlich manoeuvre is fifty years old.

To combat over-working culture, South Koreans have taken part in the annual 'space-out' competition, where they must simply sit still and do absolutely nothing for 90 minutes. But, they must not fall asleep. Also: meet the podcasters hoping to promote friendship between Morocco and Algeria, a hungry sea lion who hitched a ride with some rowers in Los Angeles, a potentially groundbreaking new treatment which could help restore movements to paralysed people, and the power of vibrations harnessed in sound therapy.Our weekly collection of happy news and positive stories from around the world

The plan would begin with a six-week ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israel Defence Forces from populated areas of Gaza. Also: Donald Trump to appeal what he called "rigged" conviction, and a rare fern has the largest genome of any organism on earth - fifty times more DNA than humans.

US presidential election campaign moves into uncharted territory after Donald Trump was found guilty of falsifying business records. We bring you the best content, reportage and analysis of the Trump verdict and look at where the US election goes from here. Also in this podcast: the latest from South Africa on the political horse-trading expected as the ANC is tipped to lose its three-decade majority - why have some voters fallen out of love with the party? And in Canada for the first time an indigenous politician addresses a provincial parliament in his own language.

The jury at Donald Trump's hush-money trial in New York found him guilty on all 34 counts. Mr Trump said the case was "rigged" and the real verdict would come in the presidential election in November. President Biden said it shows no one is above the law. He said Mr Trump continued to pose a great threat to democracy, and accused him of running what he called an increasingly unhinged campaign of revenge and retribution. But the Republican Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, called the verdict "a shameful day for America."

The landmark case has swept up Hong Kong’s best-known pro-democracy campaigners, and effectively wiped out that whole movement. Also: Spanish MP's have approved a highly contested law granting amnesty to separatists from the region of Catalonia, we're in South Africa where counting is underway in the country's elections, and Pop star Harry Styles' home village in England puts on its own guided tours.

The 12 New Yorkers have asked to hear back some of the testimony. Also: Israel takes control of corridor between Gaza and Egypt, the iconic Ukrainian hotel being auctioned off for the war effort and why hardly any of us are using AI tools.

Officials say the country is likely to experience longer and more intense heatwaves this year. Also: A senior Israeli official says he expects the fighting to continue in Gaza for at least the rest of the year; how North Korea is menacing its southern neighbour with balloons filled with rubbish; and as voters in South Africa go to the polls - President Cyril Ramaphosa believes support for his party is solid. Plus, the Nigerian criminals using nude photos to extort money from young people around the world.

Emergency services in Gaza said four tank shells hit a cluster of tents in al-Mawasi - a supposed safe zone the Israelis had told Palestinians to move to to escape fighting in Rafah. Also: closing arguments in the fraud trial of former US president Donald Trump and the cancer survivor turned fashion designer.

Witnesses say Israeli tanks are in the southern Gaza city, despite a global outcry over the killing of dozens of Palestinian civilians after an Israeli air strike. Meanwhile, three European nations have officially recognised a Palestinian state. Also: On the eve of South Africa's election, we look at the lengths some people go to, to find a home, we have a special report from the besieged Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, and why an album has been given top billing at a museum in Australia.

The air strike targeted leaders of Hamas but killed dozens of Palestinians instead. The UN Security council has called an emergency meeting to discuss the incident, with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres describing the situation in southern Gaza as "a horror that had to stop". Also on the podcast: a series of explosions have hit the Russian-held city of Luhansk in eastern Ukraine, China bans a famous influencer from social media for boasting about his wealth, and why people flock from around the world to chase a wheel of cheese down a hill.

Hamas says dozens of civilians were killed; Israel says it was targeting Hamas compound. Also: more than 2,000 people are now feared dead after Friday's landslide in Papua New Guinea, and the FBI investigates hundreds of treasures believed to have been stolen from the British Museum.

Officials say an entire village in a mountainous area of the north of the country was obliterated in the early hours of Friday morning. Rescuers are reported to be at risk because the land is still moving. Also: Palestinian health officials say Israel has carried out a deadly airstrike on an area for displaced people in southern Gaza and rehabilitating the humble pigeon - which has apparently been unfairly maligned in recent years.

President Zelensky denounced the deadly airstrike on the crowded DIY superstore as an act of Russian madness. Also: massive fire at games arcade in India, and the Disney composer Richard Sherman dies aged 95.

How an injured greyhound found her voice, accompanying her adopted human 'big sister' while she plays the piano. Georgia, who now has a huge social media following, has a particular talent for opera. Also: The man who nearly became America's first black astronaut finally makes it into space -- the oldest person ever to do so. Meanwhile the spaceships of the future, imagined by children from around the world, have been flying over New York. We meet the man who spent twelve years fighting to save a forest from mining - and won. And, after seagull boy and lion girl, goat woman.Our weekly collection of happy news and positive stories from around the world.

In a dramatic move, the International Court of Justice supported a South African request that Israel should halt its operation in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. Also: US missionaries killed in Haiti gang violence, and Super Size Me director Morgan Spurlock dies aged 53.

The IDF said the men's bodies were recovered from the northern town of Jabalia overnight in a joint operation with Israel's domestic intelligence agency. Also: emergency teams in Papua New Guinea search for people trapped after a massive landslide, and a gymnast from Uzbekistan has missed her chance to compete at her ninth consecutive Olympics.

Live Nation - which promotes concerts, owns venues and sells tickets through its Ticketmaster platform - currently controls around eighty percent of major entertainment ticket sales in the US. Also: the French president speaks of an "unprecedented insurrection movement" in New Caledonia, and do you get frustrated when your name is auto-corrected online?

Taiwan's new president, William Lai, has promised to defend freedom and democracy after China launched military exercises around the island. Beijing is simulating a full-scale attack and has described the exercises as "strong punishment" for what it calls Taiwan's "separatist acts". Also: A purge of the Russian military is continuing with the arrest of the deputy Chief of General Staff, Vadim Shamarin, after he was accused of taking bribes. At least nine people have been killed after a stage collapsed at an election rally in Mexico. Colombia seals off the site of an 18th century warship that went down loaded with treasure. And as the UK gets into general election campaign mode, we'll get some analysis from our political correspondent, Rob Watson.

The British Prime Minister sets July 4th as voting day. Also, reaction from Palestinians and Israelis to the decision of Spain, Ireland and Norway to recognise Palestine as a state; and Colombia bids farewell to its most famous Vallenato musician.

Israel recalls envoys as Spain, Ireland and Norway commit to recognise Palestinian state. Also, Russia says it's captured another village in the Donetsk region of Ukraine. The German far-right party, the AFD, has banned its lead candidate from electioneering after a series of controversial statements. And we have a special report from Myanmar where insurgents fighting to overthrow the military junta in Myanmar have told the BBC they're confident of victory, after a series of advances.

Seven people were seriously injured during the incident on Singapore Airlines flight from London. Also: Sixteen of the world’s largest AI firms have agreed on new safety guidelines, and schools are closed in northern India as the authorities deal with an intense heatwave.

A court in Greece has abandoned the trial of nine Egyptian men accused of causing the worst migrant shipwreck in the Mediterranean for a decade. Judges ruled they did not have jurisdiction to hear the case because the vessel sank in international waters. Also: OpenAI earns the wrath of Scarlett Johansson -- and one of Japan's most popular photo spots is blocked to obscure views of Mount Fuji.

The International Criminal Court seeks an arrest warrant for the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu and his Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes in Gaza. The ICC is also seeking a warrant for three Hamas leaders in Gaza. We hear from Israel and a legal expert on whether arrest warrants will be issued. Also: Here in the UK, an inquiry has concluded that there was a chilling cover up of Britain's biggest health disaster, in which 30-thousand people were infected with contaminated blood products over decades, and, in New Caledonia, the airport is closed and blockades continue after violence spread in the French overseas territory following a law to expand voting rights, and we'll hear what could possibly be the sound of summer.

Tehran announces five days of national mourning. Also: hours after the inauguration of Taiwan's new president, China warns the self-governing island that independence is a dead end; and the UN human rights chief says he's deeply alarmed by the destruction of one of the main towns in Myanmar's Rakhine State and the expulsion of its Rohingya population.

A major search operation is continuing for Ebrahim Raisi and his foreign minister after their aircraft went missing in bad weather. Also: Argentina's President Javier Milei insults the Spanish PM's wife, and the how the battle to be the English Premier League champions went down to the wire.

Benny Gantz has set a three-week deadline for the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to agree to a plan that includes the establishment of a multinational civilian administration for Gaza. Also: Georgia's president vetoes "foreign agent" law, and a napkin linked to the footballer Lionel Messi sells at auction for nearly $1m.

We hear from Georgia Laurie on the 'superhero move' to save her twin sister from a crocodile that's earned her a bravery award from King Charles. Her sister Melissa tells us how Georgia's singing helped her fight for her life. Also: Bringing the joy of Irish dancing to a global stage -- the Gardiner Brothers, Michael and Matthew, talk about their rise to social media fame. We go to Thailand to find out what happens if you let children take control of their school. Sven the heartbroken reindeer finds new love after generous donors helped pay for a new stable mate. Why Stevie Wonder wanted to become a citizen of Ghana. And the girls football team who went from losing every game to winning their local cup -- beating a boys team five divisions above them. Our weekly collection of the happiest stories in the world.

The three had been killed in the Hamas attack on Israel on the 7th of October and their bodies taken to Gaza. Also: Putin claims Russia is not seeking the capture of Kharkiv, and Indian spices face heat over global safety concerns.

Israel tells UN's highest court, the ICJ, that accusations of genocide in Gaza are a distortion of facts as it defends its military campaign. US confirms first Gaza aid trucks arrive via pier. Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili on the controversial 'foreign agent' law. French police shoot dead man who set fire to a synagogue. The row in Australia over an unflattering portrait of the country's richest woman. And scientists say they've solved the mystery of how dozens of pyramids were built in Egypt.

The US State Department wants Israel to provide sustained humanitarian access to both southern and northern Gaza. Also, the European Union begins a formal investigation into allegations that Facebook and Instagram are failing to protect the safety of children, and India's most famous footballer announces his retirement.

Putin vows China will "always be a good friend to Russia"- at the start of a two day visit to Beijing. Since the invasion of Ukraine, Putin has relied on Xi Jinping's support in the face of Western sanctions. Also: Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico remains in a serious condition in hospital after an assassination attempt, widespread floods in southern Brazil cause Olympic hopefuls to give up on their dream, and could English Premier League football scrap VAR?The day’s top stories from BBC News. Presented by Jannat Jalil.

The attack happened in Handlova as the Slovak prime minister greeted people in front of a community centre where a government meeting had been held. Also: Biden and Trump agree to participate in two televised presidential debates in June and September, and a photography collection belonging to the British singer Elton John is going on display in London.

Announcement comes as Russian forces mount an offensive in the northern Kharkiv region. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announces an extra $2 billion in foreign military financing to Ukraine. Also: Reports from Slovakia say the Prime Minister, Robert Fico, has been shot and taken to hospital following a cabinet meeting. A new study suggests millions of middle aged people may mistakenly think they're not obese because of the way they calculate their body fat, and American music legend Stevie Wonder is granted Ghanaian citizenship.

Opponents say Georgia's 'foreign agent' legislation will stifle democracy and are calling for the government to step down. The US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, says America will remain alongside Ukraine until its security is guaranteed. President Biden introduces new tariffs on imports from China. Also on the programme: a new study has found that the summer of 2023 was the warmest in the northern hemisphere in 2000 years. Two prison officers have been killed in northern France, as an inmate was freed by a heavily armed gang while he was being transported back to jail. Voters in the EU take part in European parliament elections next month - our correspondent hears from people in the German city of Hamburg. Flooding in southern Brazil worsens after three more days of heavy rain. Canada's first ever winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature Alice Munro has died at the age of 92. Meryl Streep receives an honorary Palme D'Or at the opening ceremony of this year's Cannes Film Festival.

The US Secretary of State -- on a visit to Kyiv -- has said a new American weapons package will make a real difference to Ukraine's hard-pressed army. Also: Parliament in Georgia approves a contentious new law that will force civil society groups and media organisations to declare foreign funding. A Thai activist, who was detained for insulting the monarchy, has died in prison after a long hunger strike. And how a British woman saved her twin sister from a crocodile attack.

Mr Cohen told the court he conspired to bury stories harmful to Donald Trump's 2016 election campaign. Villagers close to Ukraine's north eastern border with Russia are moved away from their homes as Ukraine's military fights to contain recent Russian incursions. In Israel, fighting continues in parts of Gaza with clashes reported around Rafah. A big search and rescue operation is underway in Afghanistan after heavy rains cause flash flooding in the north. A former Kazakh economy minister is jailed for murdering his wife. A minute's silence is held in South Africa to mark one week since 30 people died when a building collapsed. A group of international politicians, named in the trial of the imprisoned democracy activist Jimmy Lai offer to testify as witnesses. A high court in Germany upholds a ruling that the intelligence services can investigate the far-right AfD party as a 'suspected extremist' organisation. One of Europe's most wanted people-smugglers -- nicknamed "The Scorpion" -- has been arrested in Iraq. And, Rome's Opera House stages a sleepover for 130 children. Top news and analysis from our correspondents around the world.

Tens of thousands of Georgians demonstrate all night against a Russian-style foreign agents bill. Also: Release due for Chinese woman jailed over Covid reporting in Wuhan, how powerful is Hamas after seven months of war with Israel and raise a glass for World Cocktail Day.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is replacing his long-standing ally Sergei Shoigu as defence minister. Mr Shoigu, who has played a key role in the war in Ukraine, is to be appointed the head of Russia's Security Council. Also: The government crackdown on dissent in Tunisia, and the geologist who claims to have solved the mystery of where the Mona Lisa was painted.

Israel is planning an assault on Hamas fighters in Rafah and orders tens of thousands more Palestinians to leave. Also: Switzerland wins the Eurovision Song Contest while Israel came fifth, and mass demonstrations in Georgia over a controversial proposed law.

The volunteers restoring the beautiful beaches of Bali and beyond by clearing plastic pollution from Indonesia's rivers, and upcycling it into chairs. The profits are used to fund more river clean ups. The deaf toddler who has near normal hearing after groundbreaking gene therapy. Why are hundreds of sea lions gathering at Pier 39 in San Francisco? After seagull boy, we bring you lion girl - the five year old whose amazing lion roar has been viewed millions of times. We chat to two old friends who reconnected -- and then studied why old friends find it hard to reconnect. And we meet the football fan who moved to a new country to support his team in the English Premier League.Our weekly collection of the happiest stories in the world.

The United Nations General Assembly has enhanced Palestine's rights within the organisation and called for it to be accepted as a member. Also: India court grants bail to jailed opposition leader Arvind Kejriwal, and how important is it to read the small print?

President Zelenskyy says a fierce battle is underway and people are being evacuated in the Kharkiv region. Also: tensions grow between the US and Israel over the war in Gaza and Israel's offensive on Rafah, the BBC tracks down one of Europe's biggest people smugglers, and is there a future for the African penguin?

The Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu says his country will "stand alone" and "fight with its fingernails", after the US warned it could halt arms shipments if Israel ordered a full-scale invasion of Rafah in Gaza. Also: Israel heads to Eurovision final despite protests; and the tech company Apple faces a backlash over the destruction of musical instruments and books in an iPad advert.

The Rapid Support Forces in Sudan are facing allegations of war crimes and genocide in West Darfur. The New York-based Human Rights Watch says the leaders of the RSF and its Arab allies should be sanctioned for deliberately targeting non-Arab communities. It says the international community has failed to respond to the scale of the crisis in Sudan. Also: Saudi Arabia is accused of using lethal force to clear land for a futuristic desert city, why Russia is opening an embassy in Sierra Leone - after more than three decades, Japan announces expansion of whale hunting, a supplier to the aircraft manufacturer Boeing says major parts left its factory with serious defects, and a trial to send a former Paralympian into orbit.

President Joe Biden has warned that if Israel launches a ground operation into Rafah he will not supply the offensive weapons that have been used in the past. Also: European Union to give profits from Russian assets to Ukraine, and Malaysia offers trade partners "orangutan diplomacy".

Sea temperatures broke records every day over the past year, hitting marine life hard and driving a new wave of coral bleaching. China's President Xi Jinping visits Serbia. A BBC investigation uncovers clear ties between members of Germany's AfD party, and former neo-Nazi networks. Russia's last Eurovision contestant says she won't stop protesting against the war in Ukraine. And how a peanut and milk allergy trial is transforming lives.

The porn star provided a detailed salacious account of her alleged sexual encounter with the former US president Donald Trump. Also: Israel takes Rafah crossing as truce talks continue, and the Swiss army knife maker is to produce a version without a blade.

It says the plot involved recruiting military officers who would abduct Mr Zelensky and then murder him. The assassinations, according to the statement, were to be timed for President Putin's inauguration, as a present. President Putin has now been sworn in for a fifth term. Humanitarian agencies say the closure of the two main crossings into southern Gaza is making it almost impossible to deliver aid, as Israel continues its offensive against Hamas. Rescuers in South Africa have made contact with some of the construction workers trapped under the rubble of a collapsed building. How AI is helping to identify victims of the Holocaust, and how major music artists are turning their attention to India.

Hamas said on Monday it had approved a ceasefire proposal put forward over the weekend. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he could not agree to the proposal - but is willing to negotiate. Meanwhile, the Israeli military is conducting what it called "targeted strikes" against Hamas in eastern Rafah. On Monday morning, Israel urged 100,000 Palestinians to leave eastern Rafah ahead of a "limited" military operation. Also: Russia announces drills involving tactical nuclear weapons near Ukraine, and authorities in South Africa search for survivors trapped in a collapsed building.

The evacuation comes ahead of an offensive in a region where more than 1.4 million people are sheltering. The Israeli military says the operation will be carried out with "limited scope". A senior Hamas official has described the move as a "dangerous escalation that will have consequences". Talks aimed at securing a ceasefire deal and the release of Israeli hostages have stalled. Also: China's President, Xi Jinping, is in France on the first stop of a tour of Europe. Combat veterans in Ukraine say the method of conscription should change. The people of Chad are voting for a new president after three years of military rule. Meanwhile, Argentina’s new president, Javier Milei, speaks for the first time to the BBC and defends his radical austerity plans. Mexican surfers pay tribute to three tourists from Australia and America whose bodies were found in a well, after they went missing on holiday. And correcting a music myth about Mama Cass Elliott. Top news and analysis from around the world.

The Qatar-based news network condemned the confiscation of broadcast equipment. Also: Israel closes an aid crossing into Gaza after three soldiers were killed in a Hamas rocket attack, and why there are Cubans now fighting for Russia in Ukraine.

Officials say another 70 people are missing in Rio Grande do Sul. Also, talks aimed at securing a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages continue in Cairo, and the Spanish Government tries to calm tensions with Argentina after some unguarded comments about the Argentine President.

This week, the adventures of Galena the cat who ended up hundreds of kilometres from home after climbing into a box. Also: How a stick on patch can vaccinate children against measles and rubella -- without the need for doctors or nurses. And video-calling isn't just for people, it's for parrots too. The happiest stories in the world - our weekly collection.

Police say they've been charged in connection with the death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar last June. Also, the Kenyan president issues a warning that a powerful cyclone could be about to hit coastal areas, and Spain's government announces a national prize for bullfighting is to be abolished over concerns about animal welfare.

More than a million on the brink of famine as fighting intensifies around the city of Al-Fashir. A senior UN official tells the BBC there's been a breakdown in the rule of law, a spate of arbitrary killings -- and the burning of entire villages. Also: Turkey bans all trade with Israel -- and Italians face the end of puppy yoga.

The US President Joe Biden has urged pro-Palestinian protesters on university campuses to uphold the rule of law. Police have detained more than 2,000 people nationwide in the past fortnight at college rallies and protest camps. Also: Russia blamed for GPS interference affecting flights in Europe, and a wounded orangutan in Indonesia is seen using a plant as medicine.

Hundreds of officers fire flares and stun grenades on protesters. Also: the EU announces a billion dollar package for Lebanon; and the American 'King of Twang' guitarist Duane Eddy dies at 86.

Riot police in Tbilisi fired tear gas and water cannon into crowds protesting against a law seen by the opposition as targeting media freedoms. The protestors also say that they are concerned about the future of the country - whether it will be closer to Russia or the EU. Also: US universities are gripped by protests over the war in Gaza, and can you be a cage fighter if you hate fighting?

UCLA is the latest US university campus to be hit by clashes between pro-Palestinian demonstrators and their opponents. The American Secretary of State Anthony Blinken pushes to get more aid into Gaza, while urging Hamas to accept a ceasefire deal. Why are women footballers more likely to get injured during their periods? And remembering Paul Auster, the American author who's died at the age of 77.

The judge at the hush money trial in New York fined the former US president and warned him to stop making public statements about witnesses and jurors. Also: Colombian military loses millions of bullets; in the world of gaming, Manchester City's footballer Erling Haaland morphs into the Barbarian King in the Clash of the Clans.

The Israeli PM Netanyahu says war won’t stop until the goal of defeating Hamas was achieved. Also: reports from Mali say senior figure in the Islamic State group in Africa has been killed. A leaked document obtained by the BBC says a teenager found dead during anti-government protests in Iran was sexually assaulted and killed by men working for security forces. The authorities had claimed Nika Shakarami took her own life. In The Gambia - a study has found that a stick-on measles vaccine patch could be an effective alternative to injections. And, a fascinating insight into the final hours of the philosopher Plato.

The US secretary of state Antony Blinken says he hopes Hamas will accept what he called Israel's "extraordinarily generous" offer for a Gaza truce. Also: Premier League football clubs back plan to look at spending cap, and how long should a blockbuster film be?

The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, has urged Hamas to accept what he has called Israel's "extraordinarily generous" ceasefire proposal for Gaza. Also: Following five days of speculation and corruption allegations against his wife, the Spanish prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, says he will not resign. Meanwhile in Scotland First Minister Humza Yousaf has decided to step down. Cleanup and rescue operations continue in the US state of Oklahoma after deadly tornadoes. And the daily pain and suffering of working as a journalist in Gaza. Top news and analysis from around the world.

Ukraine's commander-in-chief says his troops have fallen back to new positions west of three villages where Russia has concentrated significant forces. Also: Divisions emerge in the Israeli government with ministers at odds about a potential ceasefire and hostage release deal, and we hear who has won the International Prize for Arabic Fiction.

President Cyril Ramaphosa pays tribute to those who helped bring white minority rule to an end, but acknowledges the challenges still faced by his country. Also: Hamas releases a video showing the first proof of life of two more hostages held in Gaza, and the passenger aged 101 who was classed as being just 1 year old by an airline.

This week, we meet one of the hundreds of ballerinas who balanced on their toes in New York to set a new world record. Also: how a generous stranger gave a kidney to a five-year-old girl. And we hear from Europe's best seagull impersonator.

The $6bn package comes days after a huge military aid bill was approved in Washington. Also: UN investigators have dismissed or suspended cases against four UNRWA employees accused of involvement in the October 7th Hamas-led attacks because of a lack of evidence from Israel, and King Charles is to start returning to public duties in Britain after reacting positively to treatment for cancer.

The Chinese leader tells the visiting US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, they should work together. Mr Blinken says he raised concerns about China's support for Russia in its war against Ukraine. Also: Britain begins tests of the first personalised vaccine for melanoma skin cancer -- based on the mRNA technology used in Covid jabs. And how talking to Twain the humpback whale could help us communicate with aliens from outer space.

Donald Trump argues he can't be indicted under the constitution for actions while he was in office. The ruling will determine whether the former President should face trial on charges that he plotted to overturn his 2020 election defeat. Also: New York's top court overturns one of Harvey Weinstein's rape convictions -- but the disgraced Hollywood producer will remain in jail, and the British synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys are back with a new album.

Human Rights Watch report says children were among those killed in what it calls one of the worst army abuse incidents in Burkina Faso in nearly a decade. Also: The US Secretary of State is in Beijing as the world's largest economies try to mend their relationship - will it work? We hear mixed reactions to a new tourist tax in Venice, and how did the famous Moulin Rouge cabaret club in Paris lose the sails of its windmill?

US House speaker confronts students, calling the protests anti-Semitic and demanding they stop, while protesters fear loss of free speech. After six months of conflict in Gaza, we look at the impact on the Israeli and West Bank economies. Also: President Zelensky welcomes the long-awaited US aid package to Ukraine. We ask how likely it is to change events on the ground. Portugal's surprise mea culpa as it says it wants to take full responsibility for its involvement in the slave trade, and how easy is it to reconnect with old friends?

America's top diplomat Anthony Blinken arrives in Shanghai amid Chinese anger over Taiwan aid. Also: Relief in Ukraine after US senate approves aid package, and how AI helped discover Plato's grave.

The former US president Donald Trump denies falsifying business records to cover up a payment to a porn actress. Also: the Israeli military has rejected accusations that its forces buried the bodies of Palestinians at a medical compound in Gaza, and at what age do we become 'old'?

Migrants to be sent abroad for asylum processing. Ministers say the legislation will deter small boat crossings. Father begins legal action against BP over son's cancer death in Iraq. Voyager-1 sends readable data again from deep space. Elon Musk Sydney church stabbing video row. The US state that wants to fine homeless sleepers. UK woman races topless in the London marathon to show her mastectomy scars. Shakespeare a man of words and numbers.

Defence lawyers tell jurors in New York there was no crime and the former US president Donald Trump is "cloaked in innocence". Also: Ecuadorean police arrest fugitive gang leader, Fabricio Colón Pico, and have you see the raccoons that are on the run in the Netherlands?

The Israel Defense Forces said Major General Aharon Haliva would retire once his successor was selected. Also, the UK parliament prepares to vote on a bill to send some asylum seekers to Rwanda, and thousands of Filipino and US troops begin three weeks of military exercises.

Reports say the US is planning to cut military aid to the Netzah Yehuda battalion. Speaking on the eve of the Jewish holiday of Passover, the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, warned that attacks will be stepped up against Hamas in Gaza. Also: the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, says the new US package of military aid could help Ukraine turn the tide in the war against Russia, and tens of thousands of people took part in the London Marathon.

The vote comes as Ukrainian troops face a weapons shortage, with Russia continuing its attacks. We get reaction and analysis from Washington and Kyiv, where President Zelensky says it will help his troops on the battlefield. The aid is worth billions of dollars, and the Kremlin doesn't like it. Also in this podcast covering the world's top news events: Iran's ayatollahs launch a new crackdown on women; a river disaster in central Africa; why people in the Canary Islands want tourists to stay away; the arts and housing complex in central London which has been covered in cloth; why China's swimmers failed drugs tests -- but were still allowed to enter the Olympics; and the major international organisation supporting women in tech runs out of cash and closes down.

This week, we meet the teenager whose dancing in the rain in Nigeria brought online fame that's inspired a documentary. Also: The Mongolian Yak herders helping to make fashion sustainable. And how a four-legged tour guide is keeping visitors on the right track.

Police say he dowsed himself in an accelerant after throwing pamphlets about conspiracy theories into the air. Also: Iran's muted response to a presumed Israeli drone attack on Friday raises hopes that tensions between the foes can be kept in check, and the American football star Jason Kelce says he's 'incredibly stupid' for losing his coveted superbowl ring...in a tank of chilli.

Iranian state media says air defence systems were activated in several cities including Isfahan and Tabriz. Also: people in India begin voting in the first round of a seven phase general election, and the four fastest finishers in Beijing's half marathon have their prizes withdrawn.

President William Ruto declares 3 days of national mourning. Two survivors have been taken to hospital. Also: A Palestinian bid for full membership of the UN is vetoed by the US at the Security Council, and why so many of China's major cities are sinking.

Talks on the Italian island of Capri also include the Middle East crisis. Also: We hear from an Israeli hostage released last year whose husband is still captive in Gaza, Germany arrests two Russian dual nationals suspected of planning sabotage attacks, and what to do about fire ants in Australia.

The vote on the 95 billion dollar bill is set for Saturday and includes more military funding for Israel, as well as humanitarian aid for Gaza. Also: Israel says it will make its own decision amid calls for restraint in the wake of Iran's unprecedented attack at the weekend, and could 2 fossilised jawbones found in southern England be from the biggest marine reptile ever to have lived?

President Zelensky calls for more air defences after a missile attack kills at least 14. He described the attack in Chernihiv, which destroyed an eight-story building and damaged a hospital, as Russian terror. Also: A BBC investigation uncovers the death of more than 50,000 Russians in the war, and a controversial emoji forces Apple to update its software. All this and more in the podcast with the top news stories from around the world - from the BBC World Service.

All aid for Gaza is subject to strict Israeli security checks. The UN is also calling on Israel to do more to stop the escalating violence in the West Bank. Also: Belgian police told to shut down meeting of right-wing European politicians in Brussels, and is France's culinary reputation in decline?

As Israel's war cabinet meets to decide how to respond to Iran's drone attack, its allies urge restraint. Also: fighting continues in Gaza, and Copenhagen's iconic stock exchange is engulfed by fire.

The former US President Donald Trump denies trying to disguise a hush money payment to an adult film star in 2016. Also, donors pledge more than $2bn in aid for Sudan, and record ocean temperatures have caused the mass bleaching of coral across large parts of the world's seas.

Almost nine million people have been displaced and the UN is warning of looming famine. Also: Israel is still considering its response to Iran's attack at the weekend, and China investigates whether three African runners allowed a Chinese competitor to win a key race.

The UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, was speaking at a Security Council emergency meeting on Iran's missile and drone attacks on Israel. Also: Haiti's main political parties urge the outgoing prime minister, Ariel Henry, to speed up the installation of a new transitional council, and the teenager with a memory like an encyclopedia..

Israel says it intercepted vast majority of missiles and drones fired by Iran. Iran said the attack "achieved all its objectives". President Biden to discuss diplomatic response with other G7 leaders amid international calls for restraint. The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting later.

The Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his military was "ready for any scenario". Sirens were heard as Israel's air defences came into operation.

This week, we meet the 105 year-old man celebrating his thirteenth total solar eclipse. Also: The AI technology giving back a voice to the voiceless. And our intrepid reporter goes in search of the crookie.

A nine-member political body, tasked with filling the leadership vacuum in Haiti, has been created although their names have not been made public. Also: the US says Iran could attack Israel with drones and missiles within hours, and a Norwegian minister resigns over plagiarism claims.

The BBC gets rare access to one affected area in Sudan. Also: Belgium has opened an investigation into suspected Russian interference in the European Parliament, and how did a star manage to explode giving off more light than ever seen before?

In what was dubbed the trial of the century, in 1994 he was accused of murdering Nicole Brown, and her friend. Also: The Colombian capital Bogota begins rationing water to millions because of a prolonged drought that has left reservoirs exhausted, and a Japanese astronaut is set to become the first non-American to set foot on the Moon during one of NASA's upcoming Artemis missions.

A court says she was the mastermind behind a scheme to defraud the Saigon Commercial Bank of more than forty billion dollars over a ten-year period. Also: President Zelensky makes a plea for more air defences, and the death is announced in Japan of the first foreign-born sumo champion - Akebono.

In Rafah in southern Gaza, prayers were held beside the ruins of al-Farouk mosque, destroyed in Israeli bombardments. Also: Israel cofirms the killing in Gaza of three sons of the Hamas leader, Ismail Haniyeh, and the European Parliament approves sweeping new asylum rules aimed at transforming how refugees and migrants are processed.

More than 100,000 people have been forced to evacuate with warnings that the situation will worsen. We hear from the Russian side of the border with Kazakhstan. Also: Chinese President Xi has hosted the former leader of Taiwan in a historic meeting, and we'll tell you what to do when you're angry.

It joins more than 12 other states where abortions have been largely outlawed since the federal right to a termination was removed two years ago. Also: Gaza receives its largest airdrop of aid in six months, and the British scientist who gave his name to a subatomic particle -- the Higgs bosun -- has died at the age of 94.

Europe's human rights court ruled that their rights were violated by climate inaction. Also: trial begins of 27 people charged in connection with the Panama Papers scandal, and Scrabble gets a makeover.

A once-in-a-lifetime spectacle was witnessed by millions across the continent. Also: Trump says let US states decide abortion rights, and scientists say Long Covid blood clues could prompt future trials.

It comes despite the group not being recognised as legal residents of Myanmar. Also: We return to the Ukrainian town of Bucha two years after a massacre by Russian troops, Boeing plane forced to land as engine cover falls off and Back to Black stars defend Amy Winehouse biopic.

Israel's military says it has completed its mission in Khan Younis and its troops will rotate out. Also: IAEA urges restraint after a drone attack on Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and a British man becomes the first person to run the length of Africa.

The protests in Israel came after the IDF recovered the body in Gaza of an abducted Israeli. Also: Slovakia's presidential election has been won by a nationalist who's sceptical of sending military aid to Ukraine, and fans from around the world flock to the village where the British popstar Harry Styles grew up.

This week, the remarkable rescue of a reindeer herder from Lapland's frozen wilderness. Also: how music is helping refugees heal from war in Uganda. And how a young sumo wrestler has earned a place in the history books

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) called the killing of aid staff in the convoy a "grave accident". Also: thousands evacuated after Russian dam breach, and a missing Californian dog is found over three thousand kilometres from home.

A report says the incident was a grave mistake caused by an identification error. Also, a senior WHO official says the humanitarian situation in Sudan is catastrophic; and flood warnings are issued across south-eastern Australia after heavy rain.

Joe Biden says US support for Israel will depend on steps being taken to 'address civilian harm' and 'humanitarian suffering' in Gaza. Also: Peru's congress votes against impeaching President Dina Boluarte who's being investigated for corruption in a scandal over her Rolex watches, and we mark the 28th anniversary of the Lara Croft video game franchise.

Nato's Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, hails its success as Ukraine pleads for more missiles. Mr Stoltenberg stressed helping Ukraine is not in question. Also: Emergency workers in Taiwan say more than 600 people remain trapped after Wednesday's strong earthquake, and as veteran hard rockers Kiss sell off their back catalogue for $300 million we hear from co-founder Gene Simmons.

In a rare admission, Israel said its attack on a humanitarian convoy which killed seven aid workers was a tragic error that had occurred due to a misidentification. Also: The French parliament tries its hand at Britain's often raucous Prime Ministers Questions, and the dead politicians appearing on the campaign trail for this month's general election in India, thanks to AI.

Israel's promised an independent investigation after the air attack on an aid convoy on Monday. Also: the secrets of how a new pope is elected are revealed, and Greenwich Moon Time? US scientists are asked to come up with a universal time zone for the Moon where time moves more quickly than on Earth.

Israel has expressed deep sorrow over the incident, in which at least seven foreign aid workers were killed. Also: Joe Biden and Xi Jinping hold their first direct talks since last November, and why it's been a bumper year for billionaires who've accrued an extra $2trn.

Prime Minister Netanyahu calls the air strike in Gaza on Sunday unintentional. Also, Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal becomes Africa's youngest elected president, and a row about the German national football team's shirts.

A senior Iranian commander was among at least seven killed in the attack on a consulate building in the Syrian capital. Israel has not commented. Also: Russia denies media reports that its agents are behind a mystery illness that's affected US diplomats, and warnings of exceptionally hot days for months to come in India.

Dozens of bodies found as Israeli forces withdraw from al-Shifa hospital. The Hamas-run health service says it's now completely out of service. Also: Turkey's opposition wins big in local elections on a night of heavy defeats for the party of President Erdogan. And hundreds of people turn out to mark the closure of an independent bookstore in Hong Kong.

In its strongest-ever showing the CHP is well ahead of President Erdogan's AK party in many urban centres. Also: Israel's prime minister says negotiation and military force is still the best way of securing the release of the Gaza hostages, and how football's Homeless World Cup changed lives.

A police investigation in Peru began after a news report drew attention to luxury watches President Dina Boluarte was wearing at public events. Also: data from millions of AT&T telecom accounts leaked online, and who is stealing souvenirs from the US president's official aircraft, Air Force One.

Ten-year-old Zeke and his mum want your help to track down a Japanese football fan who gave him a much loved football shirt. Also: the woman who broke eleven running records in six days, the elephant seals tracking climate change, and some very rare baby frogs.

Donald Tusk says if Ukraine is defeated by Russia, nobody in Europe will be able to feel safe. Also: Iranian TV host stabbed outside London home, and South Africa wants to preserve its wild animals by eating them.

An eight-year-old girl is the only survivor as 45 die after the vehicle fell 50 metres into a ravine. Also: a new discovery may provide an alternative to surgery for those with the breast cancer gene, and Oppenheimer premieres in Japan to mixed reactions.

Co-founder of the failed crypto exchange FTX, Sam Bankman-Fried, defrauded customers and investors of his now-bankrupt firm. Also: France moves closer to a ban on hair discrimination, and study says climate change could affect timekeeping.

Filipino President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said his nation would not be cowed into submission after 'constant attacks' by the Chinese coastguard. Also: The new test that could detect early signs of motor neurone disease, and the author of The Gruffalo on the book's enduring popularity after 25 years.

They were abruptly cancelled by the Israeli Prime Minister after Washington did not veto a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Also: UN investigators accuse the Burmese military of being behind an online hate campaign against the Rohingya minority ahead of a brutal crackdown in 2017, and Bruce Springsteen becomes the first international songwriter to be awarded a UK Ivors Academy Fellowship.

Thai parliament approves the marriage equality bill by a big majority. It still needs approval from the senate and royal endorsement to become law. Also: Investigators in the US recover the data recorder from the ship that destroyed a bridge in Baltimore, and a European firm which built a flying car has sold the technology to China.

The US president says the federal government will pay for the entire cost of repairs after a vessel lost power in one of America's busiest shipping lanes and hit the bridge. Also: After hearing rival arguments, US Supreme Court judges appear unlikely to limit access to a widely-used abortion drug; and why the future of Germany's beloved sausage dog could be under threat.

Rescuers searching Patapsco river for survivors after ship collision. Also: China former football chief jailed for bribery, could adult nappies overtake children's ones in Japan and AI generated recipes.

It's the first time the Security Council has called for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas since the war began in October. Also: Donald Trump wins more time to post bond in his New York fraud case, but fails in his attempt to delay his criminal trial over alleged hush money payments, and the Oscar winning British actress Olivia Colman on why she would be paid much more if her name was Oliver.

President Emmanuel Macron warns Russia against trying to blame Ukraine for deadly militant attack on a Moscow concert venue. Also: Apple, Alphabet, and Google to be investigated by the EU, and scientists to hunt for mysterious 'ghost' particles.

People queued to lay flowers at a makeshift shrine to the victims of the atrocity. Two men have been charged with committing an act of terrorism. Also: In a rare audio statement, the reclusive leader of the Afghan Taliban warns that the movement will toughen how they enforce their version of Islamic law, and Senegal holds its delayed Presidential poll peacefully.

Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky says it's 'absolutely predictable' Russia would seek to divert blame for Friday's shooting attack near Moscow. Russia's president Vladimir Putin implicated Ukraine in a televised address, as the death toll rises to 133. Also: Hamas says 19 people were killed while queuing for aid in Gaza, and why onions are proving to be a key issue ahead of India's election.

The Russian president says people in Ukraine were ready to help the gunmen flee accross the border before they were arrested by Russian authorities. Ukraine has denied any involvement. Also: the role of social media in the Princess of Wales' revelation of cancer treatment, and the personal story behind the rap sensation, Lil Nas X.

This week, Finland has been voted the happiest country in the world for the seventh year running, we find out why. Also: The mountain rescue team who survived a helicopter crash and saved a man stranded in a crevasse. And ding dong, who's there, a fish!

The Princess of Wales revealed she is undergoing chemotherapy after receiving major abdominal surgery in January. It follows weeks of speculation about her wellbeing. Also: at least 40 people have been killed after a shooting at a Moscow concert hall, and there are further signs of a growing rift between Israel and its strongest ally, the United States, over the war in Gaza.

Up to a million people left without power after Russian missiles targeted energy infrastructure. Also: Russia and China block US call for immediate Gaza ceasefire at UN, and the real reason your baby smells nice, while your teenager doesn't.

The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, was speaking in Cairo after talks with senior ministers from Arab countries. Also: US government accuses Apple of monopolising smartphone market, and first-ever pig kidney transplant into a living human hailed a success.

The Americans have submitted a draft resolution to the UN calling for an end to fighting. Also: the European Union looks set to clamp down on unpaid internships, and why there's so much excitement around a newborn in an Athens zoo.

The BBC has been given graphic accounts of rape and ethnic violence in Sudan. Also: French regulators impose a fine on Google of more than $270m for violating intellectual property rules, and an age limit is being imposed on retinol skin products being sold in Sweden.

Polish farmers are blocking roads and border crossings in protest against the EU agreement to extend duty free imports of Ukrainian produce. Also: The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, is back in the Middle East for the sixth time since the war in Gaza began, and we find out how China is dealing with its ageing population.

The country has been rocked by weeks of violence after gangs raided prisons, released thousands of inmates and forced the prime minister to resign. Also: The US Supreme Court refuses to block a law in Texas that allows the state to detain and deport suspected illegal migrants, and Google develops an Artificial Intelligence football coach to help teams improve their performance.

Authorities say Article 23 is necessary for stability, but critics fear it will further erode civil liberties. Also: The US urges Israel to allow more aid into Gaza, and a world tour for 'those' ruby slippers before they are sold at auction.

The UN-backed report says famine is expected between now and May in the north of Gaza. Also: Donald Trump's lawyers say he can't raise the multi-million dollar bond he needs to appeal against a civil fraud judgement, and could robopets help reduce loneliness?

Israel has denied preventing food from getting into Gaza. Also: Israeli officials tell Palestinians to evacuate the area around al-Shifa hospital as its forces raid the facility, the latest from Haiti as an aid agency compares life in the capital to a horror film and why the pop star Ed Sheeran is singing in Punjabi.

The president says his victory will allow Russia to become stronger and more effective. Also: The Israeli prime minister promises that Palestinian civilians will be able to leave Rafah before Israeli forces launch their assault on the southern Gazan city, and what's the secret to happiness?

A bonus episode from The Global Story podcast. What keeps China’s president up at night? The Global Story brings you one big story every weekday, making sense of the news with our experts around the world. Insights you can trust, from the BBC, with Katya Adler. For more, go to bbcworldservice.com/globalstory or search for The Global Story wherever you get your BBC podcasts.

Moscow accuses Ukraine of 'terrorism' and 'sabotage' aimed at disrupting the ongoing presidential election. Also: The largest democratic exercise in the world - the Indian elections - will take place over six weeks from April, and why the lavish French banquet has become more of a frugal feast.

This week, the singer Jordan Davis tells us how the need for more positive and uplifting stories inspired his latest song, Good News Sold. Also: the school children surfing the web without internet access, and the birth of a rare, bright orange baby monkey.

The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, said synthetic drugs were now the number one killer of Americans between the ages of eighteen and forty-five. Also: Georgia prosecutor's ex-lover resigns from Trump case, and python meat could soon be on the menu!

Vladimir Putin is certain to win six more years in office. Also: The first ship carrying aid to Gaza has arrived off the coast of the territory, and a new biography reflects on artist Keith Haring's life.

The US Senate majority leader, Chuck Schumer sharply criticises the Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu accusing him of prioritising his "political survival". Also: Elon Musk's Starship goes "farther than ever", and $500k sand dune built to protect holiday homes in US washes away in days.

Survivors say the engine cut out three days into their crossing, leaving them without food or water. Also: Our Russia Editor Steve Rosenberg is on the campaign trail ahead of this weekend's Presidential election, and a new campaign hopes to give slugs an image makeover.

The proposed legislation would force a Chinese tech giant to sell its stake in the app but its fate in the US Senate is unclear. Also: Israel says it is investigating a strike on a UN food distribution centre in Gaza; and a US man who spent most of the past 70 years in an "iron lung", dies aged 78.

Alexei Navalny ally Leonid Volkov says a man working on behalf of Vladimir Putin attacked him outside his home with a meat hammer. Also, child mortality at a record low; another mass kidnapping in Nigeria; and the sounds of coral reefs.

The council in violence-ridden Haiti will be tasked with nominating a new prime minister following the resignation of Ariel Henry. Also: Biden to send new $300m weapons package to Ukraine, and the "happiness hacks" that can improve your mental health.

Ariel Henry has stepped down and a transitional presidential council will be established. Also: An aid ship towing two hundred tonnes of humanitarian assistance is on its way to Gaza, and X-rays reveal the secrets of a 280 year old violin.

The US says it's trying to help deploy a multinational police force to Haiti which is descending into anarchy. Also: the authors whose work is being used to develop AI without their permission, and the fake pieces of Russian art that have been sold for hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The blockbuster biopic won seven awards, including best picture, best director and best actor. Also: The start of Ramadan brings no relief for the people of Gaza, and Princess Kate says sorry over the confusion caused by her editing of a family photograph.

It has strongly rejected a call by Pope Francis for Kyiv to negotiate an end to its war with Russia and have 'the courage to raise the white flag'. Ukraine's foreign minister says it will never raise any flags other than its own. Also: EU diplomats leave Haiti as gang violence intensifies, and the premier of the Australian island state of Tasmania promises to build the world's largest chocolate fountain if he's re-elected.

A bonus episode from The Global Story podcast. Could just 100,000 people decide the US election? The Global Story brings you one big story every weekday, making sense of the news with our experts around the world. Insights you can trust, from the BBC, with Katya Adler. For more, go to bbcworldservice.com/globalstory or search for The Global Story wherever you get your BBC podcasts.

Fifteen students and four women were taken from a school in the state of Sokoto. The army is still searching for hundreds abducted in Kaduna state on Thursday. Also: Indonesia investigates how two pilots fell asleep at the controls for almost half an hour, and scientists report a breakthrough in the quest to resurrect the woolly mammoth.

This week, how Nasa is harnessing the power of sound to help people visualise the universe. Also: we meet the man making bees whoop. And the woman making history in college basketball.

The UN says a quarter of the population in the Palestinian territory are on the brink of famine. Also: The UN's nuclear watchdog says its specialists have heard several explosions near the Zaporizhzhia power plant in Ukraine, and the creator of one of Japan's most popular comics of all time has died.

The address was the last of its kind before the US election in November. Also: US and EU plan to bring large scale humanitarian aid into Gaza by sea, and new reports of mass bleaching at the Great Barrier Reef.

Giving his annual State of the Union address, the US President accused Donald Trump of "bowing down" before Russia and said the US would not back down from supporting Ukraine. Also: Gunmen on motorbikes have reportedly seized more than 100 schoolchildren in the second mass kidnapping this week in Nigeria, and anticipation mounts ahead of a heavyweight boxing bout in Saudi Arabia.

President Biden will announce the plan in his State of the Union address. The facility would allow the US, its allies and aid organisations to bring in food, water and medicine. Also: Gunmen on motorbikes have reportedly seized more than 100 schoolchildren in the second mass kidnapping in Nigeria this week, and anticipation mounts ahead of a heavyweight boxing bout in Saudi Arabia.

It had been hoped a 40-day ceasefire could be in place for the start of Ramadan. Hamas said talks would be ongoing until agreement is reached. Also: India's Hindu nationalist Prime Minister makes a controversial visit to Kashmir, and why criminal gangs are targeting song birds in Cyprus.

It says the top UN court must act to prevent a catastrophic famine. Also: Ukraine's southern city of Odesa is hit by a deadly missile strike; and the surprising reason a K-pop star has apologised to her fans.

But Nikki Haley drops out of the Republican presidential race. Also: Alexei Navalny's widow calls for an election day protest against Putin; and the Oscar nominated film about an LA repair shop that fixes musical instruments for free.

People across the country vote in the biggest day in the 2024 election so far. Also, the French president, Emmanuel Macron, supports a Czech initiative to secure hundreds of thousands of artillery shells for Ukraine, and Italy welcomes the first of hundreds of migrants from Libya.

The vessel was 'attacked by drones' near the Crimean peninsula. Moscow has not yet commented. Also: As China battles economic setbacks, it's announced an ambitious growth target and a boost to military spending; and more than a dozen US states pick their presidential choice in Super Tuesday elections.

The nine judges unanimously ruled Mr Trump can contest the Republican presidential primary in Colorado, overruling the state's decision to disqualify him for his part in the January 6th attack on the Capitol. Also: the US Vice President urges Israel to get more aid into Gaza during meeting with an influential member of the Israeli war cabinet, and Ghana's finance ministry warns new anti-gay laws could put the country at risk of losing billions of dollars in economic aid.

Armed gangs stormed prisons, leading to thousands of freed inmates. Also: fake AI images being used to falsely portray black voters alongside Donald Trump, and a joint US-Russian crew blasts off for the International Space Station.

The US Vice President calls for an immediate ceasefire saying that Palestinians had suffered too much for too long. Also: armed gangs in Haiti have stormed a prison, helping up to four-thousand inmates escape, and the mystery of star dunes is solved.

A bonus episode from The Global Story podcast. Trump’s trouble with abortion. The Global Story brings you one big story every weekday, making sense of the news with our experts around the world. Insights you can trust, from the BBC, with Katya Adler. For more, go to bbcworldservice.com/globalstory or search for The Global Story wherever you get your BBC podcasts.

It comes amid a growing humanitarian catastrophe in the heavily populated territory after months of Israeli military operations against Hamas. Also: Germany launches an investigation into an apparent intercept of its military officers discussing sensitive details about the conflict in Ukraine, and the American fashion icon, Iris Apfel, dies at the age of 102.

This week, a former professor donates $1 billion to the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Also: the felines and felons providing mutual support in Chile, and do apes have a sense of humour?

The White House says it's also redoubling its efforts to open a maritime corridor for humanitarian supplies as ten children are reported to have died from starvation. Also: Elon Musk sues OpenAI - the artificial intelligence firm he co-founded - for breach of contract saying it's abandoned its non- profit mission, and could skiing on Europe's mountain slopes become a thing of the past?

Thousands took to the streets chanting anti-Putin slogans, despite a heavy police presence. Also: growing calls for a full investigation into Israel's role in the deaths of dozens of Palestinians trying to get aid in Gaza; and researchers say one billion people around the world are now classed as obese

More than a hundred Palestinians were killed and many more wounded as they tried to get desperately needed food from the convoy in northern Gaza. Also: President Biden and Donald Trump visit the US- Mexico border to address the surge in immigration - a crucial issue in this year's presidential election, and the French footballer, Paul Pogba, says he'll appeal against a four-year ban for doping.

Mr Putin made his comments his in state of the nation address ahead of elections next month. Also: Hamas health officials say more than 30,000 Palestinians have now been killed in Israel's offensive. And meet the people who can only celebrate their birthday every four years.

The US Senate's longest-serving Republican leader, Mitch McConnell, has announced he's stepping down from his leadership position in November. Also: US reacts to breakaway region of Transnistria asking Russia for "protection from Moldova", and the scientist who produced an award-winning music video to illustrate his PhD on kangaroos.

Yulia Navalnaya urges MEPs to take inspiration from her late husband, calling him an innovator. Also: there has been a sharp rise in the number of people seeking asylum inside the EU, and a new documentary lifts the veil on the story of the disgraced fashion designer John Galliano.

Other aid deliveries into the territory have already been suspended because of looting. Also: France's Nato allies reject idea of sending Western troops to Ukraine, and the owners of a wonky public house in England have been ordered to rebuild it.

The leader of one of Europe's most feared drug gangs, Ridouan Taghi, is jailed for life in the biggest criminal trial in Dutch history. Also: US President Biden says progress is being made over agreeing a ceasefire in Gaza, and the married couple who spent over 100 days stranded at sea.

After repeated delays, the Hungarian parliament approved Sweden's accession as the organisation's 32nd member. Also, the US Supreme Court hears arguments about social media companies that could transform the way we use the internet, and the woman who was in a love triangle with the musicians George Harrison and Eric Clapton is selling their letters to her.

The UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, criticises the Security Council for its 'inadequate' response to the Gaza conflict. Also: Farmers block the streets in Brussels protesting against EU policies, and there's a welcome sign of life from a stricken Japanese lunar lander.

The former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro denies allegations that he plotted a coup after losing the 2022 election. Also: Nikki Haley suffers a fourth consecutive defeat to Donald Trump in the contest to become the US Republican nominee, and Japan's naked festival allows women for the first time.

A bonus episode from The Global Story podcast. Bengal famine: The WWii trajgedy the world forgot. The Global Story brings you one big story every weekday, making sense of the news with our experts around the world. Insights you can trust, from the BBC, with Katya Adler. For more, go to bbcworldservice.com/globalstory or search for The Global Story wherever you get your BBC podcasts.

Visiting Western leaders have pledged their solidarity, but Kyiv say more weapons are what's really needed. The body of the Kremlin critic, Alexei Navalny, is handed to his mother after a battle with Russian authorities, and the video of a professional female golfer being mansplained to by a stranger about how to improve her swing that's gone viral.

This week, we hear from Africa's first bobsleigh champion. Also: the Spanish football club doing its bit to make the beautiful game greener. And how foxes are providing therapy in the Florida Keys.

A spokesperson for Alexei Navalny's mother says she was given an ultimatum on whether to choose this or accept a secret funeral without mourners. Also: The EU unblocks $150 billion of funding for Poland, originally frozen over a rule-of-law dispute with the former conservative government, and the discovery in China of a 'dragon like' fossil that predates dinosaurs.

For two years, the Russian president Vladimir Putin has been waging a brutal conflict in Ukraine - the bloodiest in Europe since the Second World War. But after tens of thousands of deaths on both sides who has the upper hand? What is life like in Ukraine, and Russia, today? And when will the killing end? The Global News Podcast and Ukrainecast have come together to answer your questions.

The measures include export restrictions on firms and individuals. Also, firefighters in Spain work to gain access to a burned out apartment building to search for people still missing and, the funeral of the athlete Kelvin Kiptum takes place in Kenya.

Mrs Navalnaya finally saw his remains on Wednesday after investigators secretly took her to a morgue outside the remote prison in Russia where he collapsed and died. Also: Firefighters in the Spanish city of Valencia have been trying to rescue people from a 14-storey building that's gone up in flames, and scientists finally work out the mystery surrounding why some of the largest whales in the ocean produce their haunting and complex songs.

Albania has agreed to host two migrant processing centres that will be fully run by Italy, under a deal that worries many human rights activists. Also: Former Brazilian footballer Dani Alves is jailed in Spain for four and a half years for a sex attack, and the mystery of a village menaced by poison pen letters 100 years ago is turned into a film.

A Russian official confirmed that a strike took place but described the reports as 'grossly exaggerated'. Also: Israel's parliament overwhelmingly backs a resolution by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejecting any unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state, and why young women are key to creating new words.

The missile's booster rockets are reported to have failed and it landed in the sea close to the launch site. The failure is highly embarrassing for both the UK and the US manufacturer of the Trident missile. Also: new research links some of the world's largest meat-packing companies to illegal deforestation in Brazil, and the Premier League tackles online abuse of players and their families.

UN doctors were granted access to the hospital in southern Gaza, days after it was raided by Israeli forces. Also: Pakistan political parties reach formal coalition agreement, and does exercise have the same benefits for both men and women?

The draft resolution was proposed at the UN Security Council. Also, countries address the International Court of Justice on the legality of Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories, and the Wikileaks founder, Julian Assange, makes another attempt to halt his extradition to the US.

Brazil recalled its ambassador after a row developed following President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's controversial statements about Israel's military operation in Gaza. Also: Navalny's grieving widow vows to continue his work, and British Museum's social media flooded with calls regarding return of Easter Island statues.

Yulia Navalnya accuses Putin of killing Alexei Navalny, because Russian President couldn't break him. Also: Africa bans slaughter of donkeys for their skin, and conjoined twins given days to live are proving world wrong.

The Brazilian president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, said Israel's military campaign was between a "highly prepared army and women and children". Also: former Thai prime minister Thaksin freed on parole, and Shane Rose, an Australian Olympic showjumper, competes in a mankini.

The mother of the dead Russian opposition leader, Alexei Navalny, was told by the authorities his body would be handed over, once a post-mortem examination had been completed. Also: President Biden blames US Congress for the fall of the Ukrainian town of Avdiivka to Russian forces, and Harrison Ford's Star Wars script sells for $12k.

This week, the eight-year-old boy who sang in front of tens of thousands of people at a rugby international. Also: the campaign encouraging appreciation of the people who do the vital job of waste picking in India. And how a penguin helps out his short-sighted friend.

The US President says people worldwide are mourning Mr Navalny because he was everything the Mr Putin wasn't, and it was more evidence of the Russian leader's brutality. Also: Donald Trump is ordered to pay more than $350 million in penalties in his civil fraud case in New York, and the British rom-com that's been a big hit on Netflix.

Domestic and international critics of President Putin accuse the Kremlin of killing Mr Navalny. He was serving a lengthy prison term on numerous charges. Also: The UN warns that the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo is becoming a regional war, and Paul McCartney is reunited with a bass guitar stolen 51 years ago.

The director of the Nasser hospital said conditions were very dangerous and appealed to the UN and Red Cross for help. Also: Senegal's constitutional court annuls a presidential decree and vote in parliament delaying the election until December, and Greece becomes the first Orthodox Christian-majority country to legalise same-sex marriage.

The Israel Defence Forces says it has 'credible intelligence' that Hamas held hostages at the medical facility in Khan Younis. Also: Ukrainian soldiers say there are severe shortages of weapons and ammunition in the town of Avdiivka, which could fall at any moment; and how a stingray pregnancy is puzzling scientists.

The comments from Ukraine's new commander-in-chief come as a senior US official says some units have run out of ammunition. Also: At least one person is killed and more than twenty wounded in a shooting at a victory parade for the American football Superbowl winners in Kansas City, and how great apes - like humans - like to tease each other.

State-approved samples show Prabowo Subianto winning more than half of the votes cast. Human rights groups have voiced concerns about his past support for the former dictator Suharto. Also today: we hear what it's like to be trapped in Rafah amid the looming threat of an Israeli ground attack. And Ivory Coast's victorious manager looks forward to a well-earned rest after winning the Africa Cup of Nations.

The $95 billion bill has been approved by the Senate and includes aid to Taiwan, Israel and humanitarian relief for Palestinians. Also: scientists say polar bears in the Arctic face an increasing risk of starvation as melting ice affects their ability to hunt seals, and the oldest intact egg in the world is discovered in England.

The meeting of US, Egyptian and Qatari officials comes as aid groups warn of bloodbath if Israel attacks Rafah. Also: US Senate passes huge funding package of aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, and Greece set to become the world’s first Orthodox majority country to legalise same sex marriage.

The US president again urged Israel not to carry out a big assault on the city in southern Gaza. Also: large gatherings are banned in Delhi ahead of a threatened farmers' march, and Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" is 100 years old.

The men - held by Hamas - were rescued from a residential building in the city of Rafah. Also: Kenyans mourns the tragic loss of their world record breaking marathon runner, and how Taylor Swift's boyfriend is looking forward to a special celebration after his Super Bowl win.

The US presidential hopeful, Donald Trump, suggests Washington will not protect Nato allies if they fail to meet defence spending targets. Also: President Biden says Israel must have a safety plan for civilians in Rafah, and a friend helps Squid - the partially sighted penguin

This week, the French model-maker celebrating a world record that he nearly missed out on due to a technicality. Also: a guide to the Lunar New Year celebrations. And can you tell the mood of a chicken by its cluck?

Hind Rajab was last heard from trapped in a car under fire in Gaza. Also: Hungary's president resigns over child abuse pardon, and Qatar beats Jordan in Asian Cup final.

Why are millions of apartments in China sitting empty? How has the country managed to produce as much cement in two years as the US did in the last century? For a special edition celebrating the Lunar New Year, the BBC's Asia Pacific editor Celia Hatton looks at the significance of eight numbers representing different aspects of modern China. Celia teams up with some of the BBC's China correspondents and analysts to look at topics ranging from China's marriage rates to its zodiac calendar.

The Israeli PM's order comes after the US warned against an unplanned invasion of the Gazan city. Also: Imran Khan's candidates are said to be leading the count in Pakistan election, and where is the missing radio tower in Alabama?

An investigation by a US prosecutor found the President struggled to remember key life events, including when his son died. Also: Israel ramps up its attacks in Rafah in southern Gaza, and what did we learn from Tucker Carlson's interview with Russia's President Putin?

The rare public warning comes a day after the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said he'd instructed Israeli forces to prepare to operate in that part of Gaza. Also: President Zelensky sacks the head of the Ukrainian armed forces, General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, saying a new approach is needed, and why Tracy Chapman's classic track Fast Car is in the driving seat on iTunes.

The globe has endured 12 months of temperatures 1.5 degrees above the level before industrialisation. That figure is significant, because it featured heavily in the landmark 2015 Paris climate talks. Also: an anti-war politician hoping to run against Vladimir Putin in Russia's general election has his bid blocked, and could the drug Viagra reduce the chances of getting Alzheimer's?

The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, said while there were some clear non-starters in the Hamas response, the US did think it created a base for an agreement to be reached. Also: The United Nations again highlights the plight of Sudan, ravaged by ten months of civil war but largely forgotten by the international community, and a Guinness world record failure for a matchstick Eiffel Tower that was eight years in the making.

Two explosions kill more than twenty people ahead of an election that has been marred by violence. Also: a fentanyl crisis grips Mexico's border cities, and the sacked Fox News host who has interviewed Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.

It means the former US President can be prosecuted on charges of plotting to overturn the 2020 election. Also: The European Commission abandons proposals to cut pesticide use by half, in a concession to protesting farmers and Prince Harry returns to London, a day after the announcement that his father King Charles has cancer.

Prosecutors say Paul Mackenzie urged his followers to starve to death to enter heaven. Mackenzie and suspected accomplices pleaded not guilty in court. Also: There have been protests in Turkey on the first anniversary of a devastating earthquake, and Spanish farmers join the Europe-wide protests in anger at high costs and other challenges to agriculture.

Buckingham Palace says he remains "wholly positive" about his treatment -- which began on Monday. The prime minister, Rishi Sunak, has wished the monarch a full and speedy recovery. Also: The US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken is in Saudi Arabia for talks on a truce in Gaza, and an independent body says the social media giant, Meta, should label fake posts rather than taking them down.

Anthony Blinken's trip follows days of US airstrikes against Iranian linked targets in Syria and Yemen. Also, riot police in the Senegalese capital Dakar fire tear gas to disperse protesters after the postponement of the election and, Taylor Swift makes history at the Grammy's by winning her fourth Album of the Year award.

A state of emergency has been declared as forest fires rage in the Valparaiso region. Also: why the footballer Lionel Messi was booed by his own fans, and the Russian cosmonaut who's broken a world record.

The Sinn Féin vice-president is the first Irish nationalist to hold the position in the assembly at Stormont. Also: US and UK launch strikes on Iran-backed Houthi targets in Yemen, and raccoon mischief triggers a blackout in Toronto.

This week, the adventures and safe recapture of a runaway monkey in Scotland. Also: how scientists tracked down four previously undiscovered penguin colonies. And, the "Motorbike Grandma" riding the length and breadth of China.

The Pentagon says it struck scores of targets in response to a drone attack which killed three American soldiers. Also: western officials in protest over Israel-Gaza policy, and scientists discover that clownfish count stripes to distinguish friend from foe.

A lorry caught fire close to homes and businesses in Nairobi. A former Malaysian prime minister, jailed for involvement in a financial scandal, has his prison sentence halved and, millions of people in Germany have their travel plans disrupted by industrial action.

US officials tell CBS News that the strikes in Syria and Iraq will take place over a number of days. Also: WHO predicts that global cancer rates will rise by more than 75% by 2050, and the F1 driver Lewis Hamilton is to leave Mercedes and join Ferrari in 2025.

There had been fears Hungary's PM would block the package again. Also, people in Myanmar find a new way to protest the military coup there, Spain's anti-feminist movement grows in strength and how one DJ is changing the face of ballet...

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg apologises to families who say their children have been harmed by social media. Also: The UN says eighteen million people in Sudan are facing an acute hunger crisis, with almost eight million displaced since the war between rival military factions began, and the search for a Japanese macaque that escaped from a wildlife park in the Scottish highlands at the weekend.

The party that won last year’s election in Thailand is told to stop its plans to amend strict laws against royal insults. Also: UN organisations urge donor countries to restore funding for Palestinians in Gaza, the French farmers protest rages on, and tributes are paid to Broadway star Chita Rivera after her death aged 91.

Experts say the pace of the damage in a conflict zone is unprecedented in recent times. Also: The Israeli military confirms that it's been pumping sea water into tunnels in Gaza to flood Hamas's underground hideouts and, we mark the one-hundredth anniversary of Russia's famous motion picture studio - Mosfilm.

His party described the trial as a sham and says it will appeal the verdict. Also: Israel says it's killed three Palestinian militants in an undercover operation at a hospital in the occupied West Bank and what's next for E. Jean Carroll, after her victory over Donald Trump in court

Washington says it's not seeking war with Iran or a wider conflict in the Middle East, but the Biden administration is under political pressure to react forcefully. Also: The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court says both sides in Sudan's civil war appear to be committing war crimes in the Darfur region, and the baby great white shark that's been filmed in the wild for the first time.

President Biden said the US would choose when and how to respond to the attack. Also: The UN aid agency for Palestinians says its operations will have to stop next month if funding isn't restored, and a Japanese moon lander has unexpectedly sprung into life after initial problems with its solar panels.

President Joe Biden blamed the attack on radical Iran-backed militant groups. Also: The military rulers of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger announce their withdrawal from the West African bloc, ECOWAS, and we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the ground-breaking music label Def Jam.

The donations have been halted following Israeli allegations that some UNRWA staff were involved in the 7th of October Hamas attacks on Israel. Also: outraged Kenyans march to denounce violence against women, and the world's largest cruise ship sets sail from Miami.

This week, pioneering work using ultrasound In the treatment of both Alzheimer's and addictions. Also: a water skiing world record, and how a chatbot for a parcel delivery service went rogue

South Africa brought the case at the International Court of Justice in the Hague accusing Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. Also: Trump ordered to pay $83.3m damages in defamation trial, and Jennifer Lopez is to bring the cartoon character Bob the Builder to the big screen.

The court doesn't call for a ceasefire, but rules Israel should do everything in its power to prevent acts that could be considered genocidal and ensure humanitarian access to Gaza. Also, how hermit crabs are making their homes in plastic waste, and a missing Klimt portrait is found in Austria

US officials say the director of the CIA, William Burns, will take part in high level talks in coming days on efforts to free Israeli hostages seized by Hamas. Also: Apple to allow rival app stores on iPhones in European Union, and a woman is arrested in Thailand after pet lion is taken on car ride.

Emergency workers have found black boxes from the crashed military transport plane. Kyiv has not directly admitted shooting down the aircraft but said it hadn't been told to ensure safe airspace ahead of a prisoner swap. Also, Britain has called for an immediate pause to the fighting in Gaza, and why fungi can grow faster if sound is blasted at them.

Moscow says the Russian aircraft was carrying sixty-five Ukrainian prisoners of war on their way to be exchanged. Also: president Milei faces mass protest in Argentina against worker rights cuts, and a fertility breakthrough offers hope for saving the northern white rhino from extinction.

Video footage shows the aircraft going down in Belgorod, near the Ukrainian border. Also, Donald Trump wins the New Hampshire primary and, Thailand’s Constitutional Court has cleared the reformist opposition party leader of charges of breaking electoral law.

With half of the votes counted, US networks predict former US president Donald Trump has won the Republican presidential primary in New Hampshire. Also: The Turkish parliament finally ratifies Sweden's bid to join NATO, and the parrots at a wildlife park in England that just can't stop swearing.

The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has vowed to continue until "complete victory" in Gaza where the Hamas-run health ministry has said that more than 25,000 Palestinians have been killed since October. Also: our correspondents and experts give their view on a potential wider conflict in the Middle East and Oppenheimer leads the Oscar nominations.

The US National Security Spokesman says hospitals, where thousands of displaced have been sheltering, should not be war zones, while also reiterating American support for Israel's right to defend itself. Also: The US and Britain carry out more strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen, and we reveal some of the nominees for the worst films of the year.

A group of 20 people have stormed Israel's parliament, demanding the government does more to secure the release of relatives in Gaza. There is growing dissent as 130 people are still being held hostage by Hamas. Also: India's prime minister attends the controversial opening of a Hindu temple, and after 30 years of research a potentially life-changing malaria vaccine is launched in Cameroon.

In a surprise video announcement, the governor of Florida says he is backing Donald Trump in the Republican leadership contest. Also: After almost a week of protests against right-wing extremism in Germany, hundreds of thousands take part in the biggest rallies so far, and why the growing popularity of South Korean culture globally has led to record sales of Kimchi - the staple dish of spicy fermented cabbage.

President Ebrahim Raisi says Israel will be punished for an air strike in Damascus that killed five senior members of Iran's security forces. Also: Thousands of protesters in Israel demand immediate elections over the government's handling of the hostage crisis in Gaza, and the lead singer of the Shangri-Las, Mary Weiss, has died at the age of 75.

This week, we meet the teen rescuers who saved a couple from drowning in Barbados. Also: the pioneering heart transplant for a newborn hailed as a success. And, ending homelessness the Finnish way.

Japan becomes only the fifth country to soft-land on the lunar surface but power supply problems may hinder the operation. Also: US actor Alec Baldwin is charged again regarding fatal shooting on a movie set, and Saudi Arabia is to host a new snooker event with extra 20-point golden ball.

Concern is growing for the safety of hundreds of thousands of civilians. Meanwhile many public buildings and institutions have been destroyed in Gaza. Also: Japan's mission to the moon, and Madonna is being sued by two of her fans for starting a concert late.

The Israeli PM's rejection of Washington's efforts shows the growing disagreement between the two allies. Also: Report says chaos and "lack of urgency" led to US school shooting failures, and Winston Churchill's false teeth are to be sold at auction.

Pakistan has launched missile strikes into Iran, killing nine people, after Iran carried out strikes in Pakistan late on Tuesday. Also, Israeli forces are continuing their assault on Gaza’s southern city of Khan Younis, and the super rich who want to be taxed more. Why aren't they?

Houthis target vessel after US re-designates the group as "global terrorists". Also: British PM secures crucial parliamentary vote on plans to send some asylum seekers to Rwanda, and Irish language rappers heading stateside for Sundance.

China, which once tried to control population growth with a one-child policy, is concerned the decline could seriously harm the world’s second largest economy. Also: Crowds clash with riot police in Russia over a jailed activist, and the drug offering a less invasive treatment for children with blood cancer.

The US National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, says the course of the Mideast conflict depends on Iran. Also: Pakistan condemns Iran for carrying out a deadly missile strike on Baluchistan, and Chinese scientists clone monkey to speed up medical research.

Mr Trump scores an overwhelming victory over his rivals in this first step towards deciding the Republican party's candidate for president. Iran launches deadly missile strikes into Kurdistan, claiming to target an Israeli spy headquarters. And the TV drama Succession wins big at the Emmy awards.

The Houthis say all US and British ships taking part in what they call the aggression against Yemen would be targets. Also: Hamas releases a video purportedly confirming the deaths of two more Israeli hostages, and a new culturally sensitive version of the Prince of Persia video game is released.

Analysts say it would be a "major blow to Moscow's air power", if confirmed. Also: Bernardo Arevalo is finally sworn in as Guatemala's new president after hours of delays, and the singer Zayn Malik, formerly of One Direction, releases a song in Urdu.

In an historic moment, tens of thousands watch Frederik X blink back tears as he takes the throne from his mother who ruled for 52 years. Also: The security forces in Ecuador launch an operation to regain control of prisons taken over by violent drug gangs, and Lava from a volcanic eruption in Iceland reaches the town of Grindavik, setting some houses on fire.

William Lai, the man described as 'a troublemaker' by China, will lead the Democratic Progressive Party for a third consecutive term. Also: President Biden says he has sent a private message to Iran about the Houthis in Yemen following US airstrikes against the group and, can real translators be replaced by Artificial Intelligence?

Five people were rescued from a system of underground lakes in southern Slovenia. Also: scientists say they've decoded a baby's cry. And, the mouse that's been caught tidying up a garden shed.

Washington says the Houthi armed group in Yemen has fired a missile at a ship in the Gulf of Aden in apparent retaliation for Western airstrikes. Also: Israel says Qatar has helped broker a deal that would see medicines reach hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Israel letting more aid into Gaza, and the World Health Organisation declares Cape Verde free of malaria, calling it a significant milestone in the fight against the disease.

It comes after the US and Britain hit 16 strategic Houthi positions overnight. Also: Israel rebuffs South Africa's accusations of genocide at the UN's top court, a huge ring of galaxies challenges thinking on cosmos and can passkeys replace passwords?

President Biden says strikes targeted military facilities to protect global shipping from attacks. Also: Trump blasts New York judge as fraud trial ends, and a huge ancient city is found in the Amazon.

In preparation for strike action on the Iranian-backed Houthis, the UK government and the Pentagon held briefings on Thursday evening. Also: Trump blasts New York judge as fraud trial ends, and a huge ancient city is found in the Amazon.

International Court of Justice hears genocide claim lodged by South Africa. Israel dismisses the case as baseless. Also: China warns voters in Taiwan -- two days before they go to the polls to elect a new president. And Bitcoin goes mainstream in the US: will that help end the wild volatility of cryptocurrencies?

Between 1999 and 2015 hundreds of local post office managers in UK were convicted of theft and fraud over money that only appeared to be missing because of faults in a new IT system. Also: Ecuador's president declares war on armed gangs after days of violence, and ancient DNA sheds new light on how multiple sclerosis developed.

President Noboa gave the go-ahead to the military after drug gangs took over a TV station. Also: protests and strikes cause havoc for commuters in Germany, and bribery and match fixing in Chinese football.

Footage shows armed men wearing masks surrounding journalists in the Guayaquil-based newsroom. Also: US judges sound sceptical of Trump's immunity defence, and one of the biggest names in Indian classical music, Rashid Khan, dies aged 55.

Last year was officially the warmest ever recorded, according to the European climate monitoring organisation, Copernicus. Also: the US continues its diplomatic efforts in Israel as 57 deaths are reported in one central Gaza hospital overnight, and South Korea bans the killing and selling of dogs for food.

The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, is expected to reiterate calls to Israel to do more to reduce civilian deaths in Gaza. Also: one of the legends of international football, Franz Beckenbauer, has died aged 78, and the scientists who say they had a "conversation" with a humpback whale!

Wissam-al-Tawil was the deputy head of the militant group’s elite Radwan force. It comes on the day the US Secretary of State is due in Tel Aviv. Also: A US moon mission takes off for the first time in more than 50 years, and Oppenheimer and Succession sweep the Golden Globe Awards.

Witnesses say the IDF hit homes in a densely populated refugee camp in northern Gaza. Also: Sheikh Hasina wins a fifth term as prime minister of Bangladesh, in an election boycotted by the opposition. And, the first Afghan woman to fly a passenger jet tells us about her experience as a refugee.

The Federal Aviation Authority says Boeing 737 Max 9 jets must be inspected before flying again, after part of a plane's fuselage blew off during a US flight. The same Boeing models were grounded after deadly crashes in Ethiopia and Indonesia five years ago. Also: The Israeli army says it's broken Hamas's military structure in northern Gaza. And a palace linked to Alexander the Great re-opens to visitors after 16 years.

Grace Hart's artwork was accidentally thrown away, only to end up in the Pakistani city of Lahore. Also: the jewellery store owners in Hawaii helping to restore precious items damaged in wildfires. And, the teenage darts player, 'Luke the Nuke', taking the sport to new audiences.

The president accuses him of using language reminiscent of Adolf Hitler's Nazi Party, in his first election campaign speech of 2024. Also: Residents of the Russian border city of Belgorod are being moved to safety because of the persistent threat of Ukrainian attacks, and the Nigerian film that's winning big audiences and breaking a box office record.

The Israeli defence minister, Yoav Gallant proposes a post-war plan for Gaza as UN aid agencies say their efforts to deliver aid in the region are being hindered by security risks and checkpoint delays. Also: Opinions divide in South Africa over the release from prison of the Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius after serving eight and half years for killing his girlfriend. New images of Neptune and Uranus reveal they are not the colours we thought they were, and could Artificial Intelligence serve as your virtual therapist?

The White House says newly declassified intelligence shows Russian forces used one such missile just last week. Also: Islamic State claims responsibility for twin bomb explosions that left 84 dead in Iran, and Elvis Presley is set to be brought back to life virtually as part of a new immersive concert experience in London.

Mourners gather in Lebanon after Saleh al-Arouri's assassination. Also: documents that name people connected to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein have been released, and how a 13-year-old became the first person to defeat Tetris.

There were two explosions near the tomb of the Iranian general Qasem Soleimani, who was killed in 2020 by a US drone. Also: Ukraine and Russia in "biggest prisoner swap" so far; Francoise Bornet - the woman in the famous Paris kiss photo dies aged 93.

Hundreds of people were walking near the tomb of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani on the fourth anniversary of his assassination by the US. Also: Tensions rise in Lebanon following the killing of a deputy leader of Hamas, and why humans may be more attuned to the emotions of chickens than was ever thought.

Saleh al-Arouri is the most senior Hamas figure killed since the Israel-Gaza war began in October. Also: Claudine Gay resigns as Harvard president, and a Chinese teenager is alive after US "cyber-kidnapping".

Five people died on the other coastguard plane at Tokyo's Haneda Airport which was preparing to deliver aid to areas hit by Monday's earthquake. Also: Fury in Somalia as Ethiopia strikes a port access deal which effectively recognises breakaway Somaliland, and the sixteen year old World Championship darts sensation everyone is talking about in the UK.

The controversial plans triggered nationwide protests in Israel last year against Benjamin Netanyahu's government. Also: thousands in shelters overnight after Japan earthquake, and fancy owning a cuckoo clock museum?

The seven-point-six magnitude tremor brought down buildings and triggered a tsunami alert. Also; a celebrated Nobel Laureate is jailed in Bangladesh and, why there are new copyright rules for Mickey Mouse.

IDF says some reserve units will be withdrawn from Gaza Strip. Also: Queen of Denmark announces abdication live on TV, and celebrations around the world to mark 2024.

It's one of the biggest waves of air strikes since Russia started the war, with the main target being Belgorod in the southwest. Also: Protests in the capital of South Darfur following a deadly bombing blamed on the Sudanese Armed Forces, and could a British Army officer have become the world's fastest woman to complete a solo South Pole ski expedition?

Our weekly collection of the happiest stories in the world. This week, how a settlement in Norway is taking a unique approach to mobile phone etiquette, after getting signal for the first time. Also: the man who composes music on TikTok to tell short stories. And we look ahead at what's to come in the worlds of sport and music in 2024.

The US President Joe Biden says the stakes of the war extend far beyond Ukraine, affecting the entirety of NATO and European security. Also: The authorities in the northern Ethiopian region of Tigray are warning it's at risk of a catastrophic famine, comparable to the one in the nineteen eighties, and what's in store for space exploration in 2024 and beyond?

Kyiv says 158 drones and missiles were fired targeting cities across the country. Also: A peace initiative develops in Cairo as the Israelis continue strikes on Gaza, and why lovers of luxury in Switzerland may soon have to say farewell to foie gras.

Tensions have risen since Venezuela renewed a claim to the the oil-rich Essequibo region, which for decades has been part of Guyana. Also: Congolese church leaders say they've found numerous cases of irregularities during the recent elections, and why 2023 was a bumper year for discoveries of new species around the world.

Beijing warns of escalating risk to its citizens as the conflict between the Burmese military and rebel groups intensifies. Also: Rights groups say the Indian government is continuing to target journalists by putting spyware on their phones, and we look at an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the longest sing-a-thon.

The Danish shipping giant has scheduled several dozen container vessels following the deployment of a US-led naval alliance to safeguard international trade. Also: A high level US delegation is in Mexico to discuss the migration crisis, and we hear from the man behind the book Around The World In 80 Games.

Israel claims to have carried out strikes on at least 200 Hamas targets in 24 hours as the military expands its offensive. Also: dozens of barnacle-encrusted packages of cocaine wash up on beaches in Australia, and the impact of book bans on school children across the US.

IDF is reportedly extending ground operations to central Gaza. Also: Daihatsu pauses car production over safety scandal, and what experiences will A.I. bring us in 2024?

Russia has confirmed damage to its warship in the Black Sea. Also: thousands of migrants are en route from southern Mexico to the US border, and the first black referee in 15 years takes to the English Premier League football field.

Our annual review of the happiest stories in the world. We look back on the successful rescue mission from a dangling cable car in Pakistan. Also: the children who survived forty days lost in the Colombian jungle. And a round-up of our favourite animal stories from around the world.

Pope Francis said Jesus' message of peace is being drowned out by what he called the "futile logic of war". Also: Serbia protestors try to storm Belgrade City Hall, and scientists develop unique ways of collecting information about smells -- to preserve them for future generations.

A UN envoy Hans Grundberg says Yemenis were watching and waiting for peace. Also: Israel says it holds hundreds of Hamas members, and two babies in two days for mum with double womb.

Our weekly collection of the happiest stories in the world. This week, how cooking is bringing generations together in the Netherlands. Also: how polar bear pawprints can help conservation efforts. And an unexpected visitor found in a Christmas tree.

Former President says constitutional rules protect him from charges of attempting to overturn the last election. The UN security council passes a resolution aiming to bring more humanitarian aid to Gaza; and why France grounded an aircraft carrying 300 passengers on its way to Nicaragua.

It is the worst mass shooting in Europe since the 2015 terror attacks in Paris. Also: China announces new restrictions for online video games, and Spain's Christmas lottery 'El Gordo' dishes out millions of dollars

It found the entire population of two-point-two million people was suffering acute shortages. Also: Fourteen people are killed in a mass shooting at a university in the Czech capital, Prague. The gunman, a student, is also dead. And, the ABBA show that's giving hundreds of millions of dollars to London's economy.

A court rules that clubs are allowed to join. An attempt to set up a European Super League collapsed two years ago. Also: Mounting insecurity in Sudan's Gezira state has led two leading aid agencies to halt operations, and the Ukrainian sports star who has moved from the tennis court to the battlefield.

The Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterates his commitment to continuing the offensive until Hamas is destroyed, as the number of people reported dead by Hamas passes twenty thousand. Also: Washington releases a close associate of the Venezuelan president in exchange for prisoners held by Caracas, and we hear about the Nigerian film that's making waves and is tipped to be nominated for an Oscar.

It's after a Colorado court decision that he's ineligible to run in the state's primary contest because of his actions ahead of the January 6 riot. Also: Talks are continuing in Egypt over a possible pause in the fighting in Gaza, and the 8-year-old girl who beat a chess master 30 years her senior.

Washington has become increasingly isolated in its staunch support for Israel's military campaign. Also: Sudan's army admits losing control of the central city of Wad Madani in a battle that's caused a quarter of a million people to flee, and we hear about festive drinks to get you into the Christmas spirit.

The city of Wad Madani in al Jazira state had been home to those escaping the civil war. Also: we hear from one of the Thai hostages released by Hamas about his time in captivity, and Iceland experiences a spectacular volcanic eruption near the capital, Reykjavik.

One of the Israeli hostages is seen addressing the camera and calling for their release. Also: Ukraine cuts military operations as aid dries up, and the Warhammer game is to be made into a film and TV show.

Lloyd Austin is expected to press for a reduction in the intensity of the offensive in Gaza. Also: Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi wins a third term in office, and record rainfall causes flooding in the northern Australian state of Queensland.

Humanitarian aid has entered Gaza directly from Israel through the Kerem Shalom crossing for the first time in more than two months. Also: Serbia's Vucic claims election victory for his party, and a new rooster weathervane is fitted to Notre Dame spire in Paris.

Three hostages were mistakenly killed in Gaza on Friday by Israeli troops in an area of intense fighting. Also: Vatican court convicts former Pope adviser of financial crimes, and Brazilian bossa nova musician Carlos Lyra dies aged 90.