BBC

Over the past five decades, it is estimated that around 13 million babies have been conceived thanks to IVF. The fertility treatment has helped families around the world have children. But new research suggests that older women face a significantly lower chance of conceiving, even when donor eggs are used from a younger woman. This challenges the idea that donor eggs can “reset” an individual’s reproductive clock. We bring together three women to share their experiences of the physical challenges and heartbreak of unsuccessful IVF treatment. Dee remembers a sense of isolation and Lana experienced not just sadness, but guilt for other people in her life. We also hear from doctors on evolving attitudes to IVF treatment and the options available to fertility patients in their countries.

Adidas sponsor finalists Spain and Argentina while Nike sponsor defeated semi-finalists England and France. How big a deal is this in the battle for sports branding dominance? We also hear what football fever in North America did for a local business that sells football shirts. And, Andy Burnham will become the new British prime minister next week but hasn't said much about his economic policies. The BBC's economics editor Faisal Islam goes to Manchester, Burnham's former mayoral constituency to look at his track record there. Plus, the Bayeux Tapestry returns to England after nearly a thousand years and will be displayed in the British Museum. This has been controversial because its priceless and fragile with thousands signing a petition asking for it not to be moved. Culture Editor Katie Razzall tells us how it's being looked after.

Prime Minister-in-waiting, Andy Burnham, takes the helm of the Labour Party and prepares to enter No.10 on Monday. We discuss his plans for social care with former health spokesmen, Liberal Democrat Sir Norman Lamb and Conservative Andrew, Lord Lansley, and ask whether Burnham is right to say Britain went wrong in the 1980s. Also on the programme: we drop in on tonight's American-themed First Night of the Proms. And remembering the remarkable career of West Indian cricket legend, Sir Garfield Sobers.

Iranian drones have struck a growing list of targets in Kuwait. Also on the programme, Britain's ruling Labour Party elects Andy Burnham as its leader. What do we know about the man who become Prime Minister on Monday? We mark the death of the legendary cricketer Sir Garfield Sobers and we also meet Krazy George, the man credited with inventing the Mexican wave. (Picture: Smoke rises following a strike at an unknown location in Iran. Credit: US Military / Reuters)

Writer: Sarah McDonald Hughes Director: Marina Caldarone Editor: Jeremy Howe Jolene Archer … Buffy Davis Helen Archer … Louiza Patikas Pat Archer … Patricia Gallimore Tony Archer … David Troughton Tom Archer … William Troughton Harrison Burns … James Cartwright Alice Carter … Hollie Chapman Susan Carter … Charlotte Martin Ian Craig … Stephen Kennedy Rex Fairbrother … Nick Barber Amber Gordon … Olivia Bernstone Adam Macy … Andrew Wincott Kate Madikane … Perdita Avery Kirsty Miller … Annabelle Dowler Fallon Rogers ... Joanna Van Kampen Lynda Snell … Carole Boyd Anne-Marie Gordon … Kate Ashfield

The Dead Ringers team train their vocal firepower on the week’s news. This week: Trump turns tricks, Tuchel talks tactics, and Count Binface is unmasked. Starring Jon Culshaw, Jan Ravens, Duncan Wisbey and Kieran Hodgson. Produced by: Jon Holmes Executive Producer:James Robinson Production Co-ordinator: Giulia Lopes Mazzu A BBC Studios Production for Radio 4.

Britain's governing Labour Party has officially declared Andy Burnham its new leader paving the way for him to replace Keir Starmer as prime minister. In his first speech as leader, he pledged to 'bring back hope'. China's President Xi Jinping has called for global cooperation on the development of artificial intelligence to mitigate the risks it poses. India has begun operating its first ever hydrogen-powered train; it's hoped the green technology will help modernise one of the world's biggest rail networks. The Japanese parliament has approved a bill to relax imperial succession rules, amid concerns over the dwindling size of the imperial family. But it does not change the law barring women from ascending to the throne. An angry crowd has reportedly attacked a hospital housing an Ebola treatment centre, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, forcing patients and health workers to flee. A UK study of a minimally-invasive treatment for prostate cancer has found it is as effective as surgery or radiotherapy - but with far fewer side-effects. For the first time, astronomers have detected an atmosphere around an Earth-like rocky planet that could have water on its surface. And the great niece of the acclaimed Mexican artist Frida Kahlo expresses concern that the growing hype and merchandise connected with her image, might detract from her art. 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: [email protected] Photo: Henry Nicholls/ Reuters Credit: Andy Burnham reacts as he speaks after being confirmed as the Labour Party's new leader and the country's next Prime Minister

A sharp sell-off in AI stocks sweeps across Asia. India joins a select group of countries running hydrogen-powered trains. And Netflix shares fall after its latest outlook disappoints investors. Presenter: Leanna Byrne Producer: Victoriya Holland Editor: Josh Martin

You may have heard about South Africa’s viral Netflix show, The Polygamist. The series has been trending across the continent, sparking conversations about relationships, marriage and fidelity. Now, according to the Pew Research Center, a US-based think tank, only around 2% of the world's population lives in polygamous households. However, the practice is most common in sub-Saharan Africa, where an estimated 11% of people are part of polygamous families. So, what is it really like to be in a polygamous marriage, and why do some people choose this way of life? We hear from Takid Master, his first wife, Cecilia, and his second wife, Mariam, about how their relationship works. Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Fana Negash, Carolyne Kiambo and Bella Twine Senior Producers: Priya Sippy and Charles Gitonga Technical Producer: David Nzau Editors: Rhoda Odhiambo and Maryam Abdalla

Former Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has officially become the new leader of the British Labour Party. He is expected to take over as the UK’s prime minister on Monday, when Sir Keir Starmer will step down after spending two years in the role. We hear from a Labour MP, who’s supportive of Burnham, about what the new leader’s foreign policies might be. Also in the programme: China hits back at US President Donald Trump as he accuses the country of interfering in the 2020 presidential election; and a new Japanese law upholds the country’s ban on female monarchs. (Photo: Andy Burnham speaks after being confirmed as the Labour Party's new leader and the UK's next Prime Minister, 17th July 2026. Credit: REUTERS/Henry Nicholls)

Also, medical experts make plea to parents over e-scooters and rising number of injuries

In an address to the nation, President Trump accuses China of extensive interference in the 2020 elections and alleges that US intelligence covered up attempts by Beijing to damage him electorally. More than 800 wildfires are burning across Canada, with air quality alerts now extending south into multiple US states. We profile Andy Burnham who's about to become the new leader of the Labour Party and Britain's next Prime Minister. China has brought in new laws designed to stop people forming relationships with AI chatbots. The Scottish city of Glasgow is getting ready to host the Commonwealth Games. Christopher Nolan's latest blockbuster, The Odyssey, goes on release. 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: [email protected] Photo: US President Donald Trump delivers an address to the nation Credit: EPA/Shutterstock

Harry Haft was forced to fight in more than 70 death matches inside Nazi concentration camps - not against soldiers but against other prisoners. After the war, Harry carried that violence into America’s boxing rings, facing some of the era’s top fighters. Through the eyes of his son Alan, this documentary reveals the deeper cost of survival - a legacy shaped by trauma, rage, and the loss of faith that followed him long after the fighting ended.

Smoke from wild-fires covers much of North America. Toronto, Chicago and Boston are all under the smoke haze. Indian Government bans its seafarers from going through the Strait of Hormuz. And in Italy, thirty-two people were found guilty in connection with a bridge collapse in Genoa in 2018.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's surprise move to replace popular Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has caused an outburst of anger from civil society and criticism from MPs. We hear reaction from Oleksandr Merezhko, a lawmaker with Mr Zelensky's Servant of the People Party. Also in the programme: US President Donald Trump is set to address the nation overnight, but not all of the country’s major networks will air it live. And with only 41 cinemas in the world showing Sir Christopher Nolan’s new adaptation of The Odyssey on IMAX 70mm film, what’s the appeal of celluloid over digital projection?

Mykhailo Fedorov stands down after only 6 months. Critics of President Zelensky say that he looks weak after accepting the loss of his innovative Defence Minister. Also in the programme: wildfires in Scotland's Cairngorm Mountains and Christina Kahlo on her famous great aunt, Frida.

Helen provides a shoulder to cry on, and Susan waves an olive branch.

The former head of Italy's motorway operator has been given a 12-year prison sentence over the collapse of Genoa's Morandi bridge in August 2018. 43 people died when the bridge running through the city came down in a rain storm during the summer season, sending cars and lorries plummeting to the ground. The ex-chief executive of Autostrade per l'Italia Giovanni Castellucci was accused of delaying planned maintenance of the structure. More than 30 others were found guilty in connection with the disaster. Also, as Washington continues to strike sites across Iran; we hear from voices inside Iran. Reports emerge of two boats carrying more than 500 Rohingya migrants have capsized off the coast of Myanmar. How 'Bluey', the beloved children's cartoon series featuring a Blue Heeler puppy will now be available in an Australian Indigenous language. And how singing and learning to play instruments is helping to give orphans and young people displaced by war in Gaza hope. 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: [email protected]

Sierra Leone's government has dropped its charges, including treason, against ex-President Ernest Bai Koroma, who was arrested in connection with an attempted coup nearly three years ago. The charges had been dropped on health grounds, Information Minister Chernor Bah told the BBC. The 72-year-old former president has always denied involvement in the November 2023 attempted coup when gunmen broke into a military armoury and several prisons, freeing almost 2,000 inmates. We hear what this move means for the country's politics. And how female sports commentators are excelling in a male dominated field while using local languages to bring the World Cup closer to African audiences. Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Keikantse Shumba and Blessing Aderogba Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga Technical Producer: David Nzau Editors: Rhoda Odhiambo and Maryam Abdalla

Protests have been taking place in several Ukrainian cities against President Volodymyr Zelensky's surprise dismissal of popular Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. We get reaction from an opposition Ukrainian MP. Also on the programme: a court in Italy has given a 12-year sentence to the former motorway boss blamed for the fatal collapse of a bridge in Genoa in 2018; and we hear from Nasa's head of science about its new super-powerful telescope. (Photo: Ukraine's Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov attends a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, after a meeting of Nato Defence Ministers at the Alliance headquarters in Brussels, 12 February, 2026. Credit: Reuters)

Also, England's World Cup dreams are shattered after losing to Argentina in semi-final

Misha Glenny and guests discuss the origins and evolution of an alliance which transformed the geopolitics of the classical world: the Delian League. Since the start of the 5th Century BCE, city states across Greece had been fighting a series of armed conflicts in the Greco-Persian Wars. After the defeat of a second Persian invasion in 478 BCE, a league of cities across Greece came together and formed a new alliance led by Athens. That alliance is now known as the Delian League, after the island of Delos where it was established. In the following decades, Athens used the Delian League to grow its own wealth and formidable naval power. Cities which tried to leave the alliance found themselves violently put down and their lands confiscated by the Athenians. What had begun as a cooperative alliance sworn to resist the Persian Empire gradually started to seem like it may have created another imperial power: the Athenian Empire. With Leah Lazar Lecturer in Hellenistic Culture at the University of Manchester Polly Low Professor in the Department of Classics and Ancient History at the University of Durham And Paul Cartledge AG Leventis Senior Research Fellow of Clare College, University of Cambridge Producer: Martha Owen Aristophanes (trans. David Barrett and Alan H. Sommerstein), The Birds and Other Plays (Penguin Classics, 2003) Mary Beard, The Parthenon (Profile Books, 2010) M. Canevaro and D. M. Lewis, 'Between ‘The Character of the Athenian Empire’ and The Origins of the Peloponnesian War (and beyond): The Popularity of the Athenian Empire Revisited' (Polis 41:1, 2024) Paul Cartledge, Ancient Greece: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford University Press, 2011) Lisa Kallet and John H. Kroll, The Athenian Empire: Using Coins as Sources (Cambridge University Press, 2020) Leah Lazar, Athenian Power in the Fifth Century BC (Oxford University Press, 2024) Polly Low (ed.), The Athenian Empire (Edinburgh University Press, 2008) Malcolm F. McGregor, The Athenians and their Empire (UBC Press, 1987) Robin Osborne (ed. and trans.), The Athenian Empire (Cambridge University Press, 2023) P. J. Rhodes, The Athenian Empire (Clarendon Press, 1985) Thucydides (trans. Robin Waterfield, introduced by Polly Low), The History of the Peloponnesian War (Basic Books, 2025) Thucydides (ed. Robert B Strassler), The Landmark Thucydides: A Comprehensive Guide to the Peloponnesian War (Free Press, 1998) Thucydides (trans. Rex Warner), History of the Peloponnesian War (Penguin Books, 2000) Thucydides (trans. Martin Hammond), The Peloponnesian War (Oxford University Press, 2009) In Our Time is a BBC Studios production Spanning history, religion, culture, science and philosophy, In Our Time from BBC Radio 4 is essential listening for the intellectually curious. In each episode, host Misha Glenny and expert guests explore the characters, events and discoveries that have shaped our world.

President Zelensky of Ukraine has sacked his popular defence minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, who'd been in the job just six months and was seen as a key figure in the expansion of drone warfare against Russia. Also: As the US launches more strikes on Iranian coastal facilities, Tehran says it's in an existential struggle with the US and its security is dependent on controlling the Strait of Hormuz. The acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche is grilled at the start of his Senate confirmation hearing. France votes to legalise assisted dying for some adults with serious or fatal illnesses. A new international survey suggests that global perceptions of China are becoming more positive, while those of the US are deteriorating. Argentina to face Spain in the football World Cup final after a 2-1 victory over England. Researchers working in the forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo say they’ve discovered a new species of monkey. 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: [email protected] Photo: Ukraine's sacked defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov Credit: Reuters/Tom Nicholson

Ukraine's military has intensified its attacks near Russian-annexed Crimea, following up strikes on Russia's land corridor to the peninsula by targeting maritime supply routes as well, as it tries to heap pressure on the Kremlin to end the war. Also in the programme: The United States says it's carried out another wave of strikes against Iran, aimed at degrading its ability to attack shipping in the Strait of Hormuz; Turkey marks 10th anniversary of July 15 failed coup; and the actor Andy Serkis on why he's giving Animal Farm a makeover! (Photo: A cyclist uses a flashlight in a dark street during a temporary power outage, after local authorities limited electricity supplies to households to avoid overloading the strained network, amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict in the Black Sea resort city of Yevpatoriya, Crimea, July 5, 2026. Credit: REUTERS/Alexey Pavlishak)

Why have US beef prices risen around 13% over the past year? Who is making money from the burgers and steaks Americans eat? Presenter Sam Fenwick speaks to a cattle rancher in South Dakota, an agricultural economist in Wisconsin, a meat packer in North Carolina and a restaurant owner in Nebraska to find out what is happening in this quintessentially American corner of the food market. We unpack the US beef supply chain to discover why prices are rising, who is making money from it and who is getting squeezed.

England have suffered FIFA World Cup heartbreak with a late semi-final defeat by Argentina in Atlanta. We hear reaction from the stadium, a fan in the Falkland Islands, and a sports bar in Kent. Also in the programme: French MPs approve an assisted dying law with strict rules. President Trump's acting attorney general Todd Blanche faces a confirmation hearing to take on the role permanently – but survivors of Jeffrey Epstein have concerns. And why do so many modern novels centre around the story of murdered women?

New York becomes the first US state to impose a moratorium on building large-scale data centres. The measure, announced by New York's Governor Kathy Horchul, applies to all centres using 50MW or more of power and will remain in force for a year. We hear what the moratorium might mean for business. The announcement comes hours after Australia's prime minister Anthony Albanese announces tougher rules for companies wanting to build data centres there. Elsewhere, the removal of a border fence separating southern Spain from the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar puts an end to border controls that have been in place for 118 years. And our correspondent Anna Holligan looks at Europe's largest freight port in Rotterdam, which is under pressure to be greener.

Harrison struggles to take in what he’s missed, and Lynda offers her support.

US Central Command says its latest barrage of strikes against Iran is designed to degrade Tehran's military capacity to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump warns military strikes will intensify if Iran does not cooperate in peace talks, and both sides threaten further escalation to gain control over the key shipping lane. Also: prosecutors in Bolivia investigate reports that Bolivian citizens are being tricked into fighting for Russia in Ukraine. The Australian government announces plans to regulate the growing AI sector. Tensions escalate in Pakistani-administered Kashmir as security forces try to stop protesters marching on the main city of Muzaffarabad to demand more political representation. Border checks between Spain and Gibraltar are permanently lifted, after London and Brussels sign a free movement treaty affecting the British territory. And a pen, that helped save the Apollo 11 mission in July 1969 after Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first men on the moon, has been sold at auction in New York for more than $850,000. 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: [email protected] Photo: a screengrab from a video obtained from social media on July 15 shows a view shortly before what U.S. Central Command say was a U.S. strike on Iran. Location and date not verified. Credit: U.S. Central Command/via REUTERS

Chinese GDP growth slowed to 4.3% but success in electric vehicles and EV batteries boosted export earnings. We also head to Gibraltar where citizens and businesses of "The Rock" and Spain cheer the end of passport checks on the frontier border following the post-Brexit agreement between Spain and the UK. World Business Express - Finance, economy and business news from BBC journalists around the world. The stories that matter: World Business Express brings you the essentials on the fast-changing global economy. What forces are driving the markets and industry? Hear unique insight from top CEOs, investors, economic thinkers and small business bosses.

Days after the rescue of 48 school children and their teachers from kidnappers in Nigeria's Southwest Oyo State, authorities call for investigations into the abductions and the release. We hear from the families of the victims. And Somalia cites insecurity and money laundering in a bid to oppose the roll out a new WhatsApp feature that will allow users to utilise usernames instead of registered phone numbers. Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Keikantse Shumba, Bella Twine and Priya Sippy Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga Technical Producer: David Nzau Editors: Rhoda Odhiambo and Maryam Abdalla

The US State Department has said it's supporting efforts by Iraq and Syria to restore a crude oil pipeline between them, in an attempt to bypass the Strait of Hormuz. Also in the programme: Australia has announced wide-ranging plans to regulate AI, including enhanced copyright and restrictions on data centres; and as England and Argentina prepare for their World Cup semi-final, we'll explore a fraught relationship between the two countries that goes back many decades. (Photo: US President Donald Trump meets with Iraqi PM Ali al-Zaidi at the White House - 14 Jul 2026 Credit: Photo by GRAEME SLOAN/POOL/EPA/Shutterstock)

Also, older teenagers in the UK facing an overnight social media curfew

Big banks, big profits...We're looking at the handsome results posted by five big US banks today. We'll also look at threats to wheat exports in both Russia and the United States And why is American beef so pricey at the moment? (Picture: Close-up of benjamin franklin on scattered one hundred dollar bills. Credit: Getty Images)

US banks see supersized profits as dealmaking streak continues, but will US households feel any richer after inflation data showed gasoline prices at the forecourt eased for drivers. Video conferencing app Zoom has predicted a three-day working week as AI boosts worker productivity...but do bosses agree? And what will the fallout be for Paramount and Warner Brothers after their media mega-deal hit a regulatory roadblock?

Donald Trump says he's no longer planning to charge ships for using the Strait of Hormuz, as the US battles to break Iran's hold on the waterway. Trump said the toll would be replaced by "massive" trade and investment deals with Gulf states. Also: US banks are making huge profits despite rising inflation. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have been told to halt most vehicle stops nationwide immediately, following a pair of fatal shootings in Texas and Maine involving ICE agents. Another record-breaking heatwave has hit parts of Canada and the US, bringing extreme temperatures and poor air quality. At the FIFA World Cup, Spain have beaten France to secure a place in the final. A 67-million-year-old Tyrannosaurus Rex has become the most expensive dinosaur fossil ever. 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: [email protected] Photo: A ship using the Strait of Hormuz Credit: Reuters

“Perfidious Albion” - how Britain replaced the US as Russia’s top nemesis and the villain at the heart of its war narrative. Since the re-election of Donald Trump, Russian propagandists have softened their tone on the US, while intensifying their rhetoric against the UK. They have unleashed a wave of elaborate insults, accusations and threats against Britain, amounting at times to a full-blown character assassination. The insults may sound theatrical, and London denies the accusations, but beneath them lies a more troubling signal - one UK military chiefs take seriously. We ask, what does this shift reveal about Russia’s strategic intentions in a time of conflict.

President Trump has repeated his intention to re-impose a naval blockade on Iran, as the battle for control of the Strait of Hormuz continues.  Also on the programme, Spain’s Supreme Court has ruled that those with a particularly close connection to the person wanting to die may have the right to contest that death wish; and one of the world's most important political cartoonists, Pat Oliphant, has died. (Photo: US President Donald Trump meets with Iraqi PM Ali al-Zaidi at the White House, Washington, USA - 14 Jul 2026. GRAEME SLOAN/POOL/EPA/Shutterstock)

Tempers flare for Kirsty, and Susan makes a friend.

Locals in Maine have gathered to protest against the Trump administration's immigration crackdown after a 26-year-old Colombian man was shot dead during an ICE operation in the state. It was the second fatal shooting by US immigration officers in less than a week. State lawmakers say Joan Sebastian Guerrero, identified by a neighbour, was not the intended target of a warrant. Also: nearly a month after the US and Iran signed their interim peace deal, the two sides appear back where they started - with rival blockages on the Strait of Hormuz. Solar becomes EU's largest energy source for the first time. The eight week kidnap ordeal of schoolchildren and teachers now rescued in Nigeria. The pianist who passed her Grade 8 piano exam with one hand. And we speak to Andy Serkis about his new, modern version of Animal Farm - which has a happy ending. 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: [email protected] Photo: A woman places flowers at a makeshift street side memorial in Biddeford, Maine, U.S. Credit: Reuters

A Sudanese court has sentenced the leader of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo - known as Hemedti - to death for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide over atrocities committed in the West Darfur region. Hemedti, along with 15 other senior RSF leaders were sentenced in absentia. We look at what this means for the RSF and its three-year civil war with the Sudan Armed Forces. And in Kenya, whistleblowers are tipping off police, helping authorities intervene before girls undergo female genital mutilation. Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Keikantse Shumba, Chiamaka Dike and Blessing Aderogba Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga Technical Producer: David Nzau Editors: Rhoda Odhiambo and Maryam Abdalla

Iranian state media is reporting new US attacks, as the battle for control of the Strait of Hormuz continues. Donald Trump says the US naval blockade of Iranian ports will be reinstated later, and the US will start charging a levy for shipping. Also in the programme: President Macron of France says Europe has had a 'strategic awakening' as French military power is paraded on Bastille Day; and 'Gus' the T-Rex fossil goes up for auction. (Photo: A vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, July 14, 2026. Credit: REUTERS/Stringer)

This phrase comes from a longer idiom, ‘like ships that pass at night’. It’s used when two people have busy schedules, and struggle to find time to meet for more than just a brief encounter. Learn how to use it here, with Georgie and Feifei. Find a free transcript here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/the-english-we-speak_2026/ep-260713 We send a newsletter with our weekly highlights - subscribe here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/newsletters

John Campbell is presenting. Also, fears for MPs' security after Ann Widdecombe murder

Washington and Tehran continue to exchange strikes, President Trump restores the US blockade of Iranian ports and unveils a new levy on cargo shipped through the Strait of Hormuz. Also: the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, is again hit by Russian ballistic missiles after Ukraine launches a european defence system in Paris; Hungary's new government pushes through an amended constitution; US states sue to block the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger; British counter-terrorism police take control of the investigation into the killing of the former government minister, Ann Widdecombe; the legal and ethical rows over euthanasia in Spain; the travails of the diamond industry; and Dua Lipa teams up with a Portuguese bookstore to promote banned literature. 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: [email protected] Photo: United States President Donald J Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 13 July 2026. Credit: EPA/Shutterstock

In March this year, 25-year-old Noelia Castillo died by lethal injection. Her father had fought in the courts for nearly two years to stop her euthanasia. Noelia applied for assisted dying because she had been left paraplegic, debilitated and in pain after a suicide attempt. Her case dominated Spain’s headlines for months. And the debate about who has the right to challenge an adult’s decision to have euthanasia has not gone away. In May, the Supreme Court ruled that those with, ‘a particularly close connection’ to the person wanting to die may have the right to contest an application for euthanasia. But there are families unsettled by the Supreme Court’s ruling. When Puri and Salvador’s daughter, Ana, chose assisted dying at the age of 28 they didn’t think about intervening in her decision,…because she was an adult, because she was independent,” says Puri. Ana had been born with Spina Bifida and became increasingly unwell with neuropathic pain that is difficult to treat. Something that gave Puri and Salvador immense comfort after they lost their daughter was the knowledge that Ana’s organs were donated (with Ana’s permission) to keep others alive. And it’s the issue of organ donation that is helping to keep the euthanasia story in the news in Spain. Noelia’s mother, Yolanda Ramos, claims her daughter was under pressure to commit to donating her organs. And the anti-euthanasia Foundation of Christian Lawyers in Spain (Fundacion Espanola de Abogados Cristianos) that has represented both of Noelia’s parents is advocating a ban on organ donation in euthanasia cases. Why does this matter?

The Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood says she’ll explore what security guidance can be offered to former MPs after the killing of Ann Widdecombe. We speak to former Conservative minister Steve Baker. Also in the programme: President Trump reinstates the US blockade on Iranian ports and vows to put in place a 20% charge on cargo passing through the Strait of Hormuz. And we hear from the 17-year-old who’s passed her Grade 8 piano exam one-handed.

Twelve US states sue Paramount Skydance over its planned takeover of Warner Brothers. We hear from California's attorney general Rob Bonta who's leading the charge against that proposed 81 billion dollar Hollywood merger. Plus, South Africa's biggest diamond mine pauses production for two years. Find out why? And what would you pay for a bit of trash from Taylor Swift's wedding? (Picture: California Attorney General Rob Bonta holds a press conference next to the iconic Hollywood sign, in Los Angeles. Credit: Reuters)

Regulators in Britain have approved human trials of a new vaccine to tackle the latest Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It comes as health authorities in the DRC say Ebola has spread to two new provinces, including the populous northeastern city of Kisangani. We speak to a scientist who developed the vaccine and an aid worker in the epicentre of the Ebola outbreak. Also in the programme: President Trump announces the US will reinstate its naval blockade of Iran; and we hear tributes to the Jurassic Park actor Sam Neill, who has died aged 78. (Photo: Red Cross workers wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) gather after handling the coffin of a man who died of Ebola virus, as aid agencies intensify efforts to contain the Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus, in Bunia, Ituri province, Democratic Republic of Congo, June 10, 2026. Credit: REUTERS/Gradel Muyisa Mumbere)

There’s a reunion for Fallon, and Rex realises he may have put his foot in it.