Global News Podcast

Donald Trump says he's begun arrangements for a meeting between Presidents Zelensky and Putin to end the war in Ukraine. He was speaking after talks with the Ukrainian leader and other European heads of state and government in Washington. They discussed security guarantees for Ukraine, to be provided by European countries in coordination with Washington. Mr Zelensky said he was ready to meet President Putin but said there must be protections for Ukraine once the war ends. The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

US President Donald Trump has hosted Ukraine’s leader, Volodymyr Zelensky, at the White House for what Mr Zelensky called their “best” meeting so far. The two men met before being joined by key European leaders for talks on ending the war in Ukraine. President Trump said he believed a peace deal was possible, and pledged to help European countries offer security guarantees to Kyiv in the event of an agreement with Russia. NATO’s Secretary General, Mark Rutte, praised Mr Trump’s role in the talks, while Germany’s chancellor, Friedrich Merz, called for an urgent ceasefire. Also: Hamas says it's accepted the latest Gaza ceasefire proposal from regional mediators while Israel is said to be reviewing the details, and why an African group wants to replace the traditional world map. The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

Three days after President Trump's meeting in Alaska with President Putin, he's due to see President Zelensky in Washington. But this time, the Ukrainian leader will be getting back-up from his heavyweight European allies, who'll also be seeing Mr Trump. We gauge the mood in Russia and Ukraine ahead of these potentially vital talks. Also in this podcast: top Arab ministers meet at the Rafah crossing point into Gaza, as shortages continue; we report on the settlers attacking Palestinians in the West Bank; why Bolivia won't be getting a left-wing president for the first time in two decades; the watch advert that's caused outrage in China; the man who designed the famous James Bond logo dies; and are you delulu? You won't believe the latest words to make it into the dictionary... The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

Several European leaders are to join the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, in Washington on Monday, where he's due to hold talks with Donald Trump at the White House. During a virtual meeting in Brussels, the "coalition of the willing" said they would seek robust security guarantees for Ukraine in the event of any deal with Russia. Earlier the US president's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, said land concessions to Russia would be a choice for Ukraine. Also: huge crowds have gathered in Israel calling for a hostage deal and an end to the war in Gaza; and the actor Terence Stamp, who starred as Superman villain General Zod, dies aged 87. The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

Vladimir Putin is reported to have told President Trump that he wants Ukraine to hand over more of its sovereign territory in the east, in return for Moscow freezing front lines elsewhere. According to sources involved in Friday's talks in Alaska, the Russian president said it should gain all of Ukraine's Donetsk and Luhansk regions, including parts that Ukraine currently controls. Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelensky, has said he will not give up sovereignty of any territory. On Monday, he is due to meet the US President Donald Trump in Washington. Also: Orwell's "Animal Farm" at 80, and are mangoes good for diabetes? The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

In the Swiss mountains, handwritten notes left on mountain peaks have been turning scenic climbs into unexpected matchmaking journeys, bringing nature lovers together one hike at a time. Dubbed “Mountain Tinder”, couples are meeting through notebooks tucked into mountaintop letterboxes. The movement is spreading beyond Switzerland, inspiring similar efforts as far away as Argentina. With no swipes or algorithms, it’s a love story written in the clouds. Also: the couple in Tasmania who have taken tackling homelessness into their own hands; a group of actors who bring the joy of theatre to remote communities in Finland -- by touring on a boat; and how Strictly Come Dancing's first celebrity with Down's Syndrome is inspiring others.

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin have finished their meeting in Anchorage, Alaska, held to discuss a potential end to the war in Ukraine. It lasted less than three hours. And while the leaders said it was productive, they failed to reach a deal. In this special edition of the Global News Podcast, we bring you reaction and analysis from Anchorage and gauge the feeling in Ukraine and Russia. We also look at the true cost of the war in lives and money, and find out what's next for Washington, Moscow and Kyiv on the road to peace. The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

After ending their much-heralded summit in Alaska, the US and Russian leaders have said their meeting was "productive" and "positive", despite failing to come to a firm agreement on ending the war in Ukraine. Also, the United Nations says more than 1,700 Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid in Gaza since late May; African leaders want world maps to better reflect their continent's true size; and at more than 3 million years old, the fossilised remains of Lucy - a human ancestor are going on tour. The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

Hundreds of pro-Ukraine demonstrators in Alaska have been showing their unhappiness about the absence of the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the summit in their state between Presidents Trump and Putin. Mr Trump is travelling to Alaska for the meeting that could prove decisive for the future of Ukraine. Before departing Washington, he posted the words "HIGH STAKES!!! on social media. Also: Two years of negotiations to develop a global plastic pollution treaty have ended in failure, and the robot athletes going for gold in China. The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will travel to a summit in the US state of Alaska on Friday with contrasting priorities as they prepare for talks on ending Russia's war in Ukraine. Mr Trump has said the plan was to "set the table" for a more important second meeting involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Also: AI designs antibiotics for gonorrhoea and MRSA superbugs, and German states debate who invented Bratwurst sausages. The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

An outbreak of cholera in Sudan is reported to have killed hundreds of people. The epicentre is in North Darfur - home to a large number of displaced people. More on the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. President Zelensky has been in London ahead of Friday's Trump-Putin summit. Taylor Swift has a new album coming out. And when is it right to take your shoes off in the office? The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight.Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

European leaders appeared cautiously optimistic after holding a virtual meeting with Donald Trump on Wednesday, before he meets his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday. He reportedly said his goal for the summit was to obtain a ceasefire between Moscow and Kyiv. We also take a look at the strange history of Alaska. Plus: we report on the devastating hunger crisis in the Sudanese city of el-Fasher; the plusses and minuses of artificial intelligence -- enabling your glasses to help you hear better, but perhaps also leading doctors to being de-skilled; why hundreds of Peruvian military and police officers are being pardoned; Iran tries to help its ally Hezbollah in Lebanon; and why the British foreign secretary is in a spot of hot water over a fishing trip with the vice-president of the United States. The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

Europe's leaders warn the US against making concessions to Russia, saying that Ukraine's borders must not be changed by force. Donald Trump joins a virtual meeting with his European counterparts ahead of his Friday summit with Vladimir Putin. Also: there have been intense Israeli strikes in Gaza before a planned offensive to take over the territory's main city. The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

President Zelensky has vowed to reject any proposal from Russia that would mean Ukraine ceding territory or withdrawing troops from the eastern Donbas region. He was speaking ahead of a meeting between Presidents Trump and Putin in Alaska on Friday. Donald Trump has said any peace deal would involve "some swapping of territories" and it is believed one of Vladimir Putin's demands is that Kyiv surrenders the parts of the Donbas it still controls. Also: A surgeon operating in Gaza tells us he has to recycle surgical parts from dead bodies to save the living, and the owners of the video game Fortnite take on Apple and Google over access in an Australian court. Plus: the UN tells torturers in Myanmar: "We know who you are", the heatwaves blasting much of Europe, the US puts a $5 million reward on the head of a gang leader in Haiti, a former first lady of South Korea is arrested, the American woman convicted of conspiracy to murder in Britain -- disguised in an Islamic headscarf, and how AI is helping to keep elephants in India safe. The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

South Korean intelligence officials have told the BBC that 10,000 North Korean workers were sent to Russia in 2024. They were used to fill a labour shortage created by the invasion of Ukraine. Six North Korean workers who fled Russia say they were subjected to abysmal working conditions, with most of the money they earned sent straight back to the North Korean regime. Also: The US and China agree a further postponement of hefty trade tariffs on each other's goods, and could holiday postcards make a comeback? The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

President Trump has announced he's sending 800 National Guard troops to Washington DC and taking control of its police force, as he targets a crime "emergency" there. He claims that America's capital has been taken over by violent criminals. Also: how breathing into a conch shell could cure snoring, and we hear from the oldest ever contestant on the British version of the gameshow Countdown. The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

Israel is facing condemnation for the deliberate killing of a prominent Al Jazeera correspondent and five colleagues in Gaza. Israeli officials claim Anas al-Sharif was a Hamas operative, which the network denies. Al Jazeera described the killings as a blatant and premeditated attack on press freedom aimed at silencing its Gaza coverage. Also: The bones of a British man who died when he fell into an Antarctic crevasse have been formally identified, more than 60 years after the accident, and running a marathon in a shopping mall. The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

Israel’s military says it's killed the prominent Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif in a strike in Gaza City which also killed four of his colleagues. Israel said he was the leader of a Hamas cell planning rocket attacks, a claim strongly denied by Al Jazeera. Also: the dating app which lets women post anonymous reviews of men, and can AI take on the role of a priest? The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

The Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has said Ukraine must be involved in deciding the path to peace in his country -- as the US and Russian presidents prepare to meet without him on Friday. In his nightly address, Mr Zelensky said he had spent Saturday coordinating with European allies. He said he did not want a pause in the killings, but an immediate, just and lasting peace. He's ruled out surrendering land to Russia in exchange for peace, something Donald Trump has suggested ahead of the talks with Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Also: Tens of thousands of people have been protesting across Israel against the government's decision to expand its war in Gaza, and Jen Pawol makes baseball history as first woman to umpire an MLB game. The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

We hear how a woman helped save one of India's rarest birds by holding baby showers to celebrate the arrival of their chicks. Thousands have now joined Purnima Devi Barman's Hargila Army, which campaigns to protect adjutant storks and guards their nests. Also: a chef stranded on the cargo ship, Avontuur, for months during the pandemic says inner strength can turn a challenge into an opportunity; the volunteers helping older people feel the wind in their hair on cycle rides; the baby found at a train station who's inspired a song; and the huge range of unique moves that keep cockatoos dancing. Presenter: Nick Miles Music: Iona Hampson. (Picture credit: Getty Images)