The day’s top stories from BBC News, including the latest from Gaza, on US politics and about the Ukraine conflict. Delivered twice a day on weekdays, daily at weekends.
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 dozen...
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 corres...
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, a...
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 its 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 o...
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 I...
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 Anisto...
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 ...
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...
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.
