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Ed remembers his misspent youth, and Martyn is feeling lonely.

An Australian court has fined airline giant Qantas a record A$90m (£43m; $59m) for illegally sacking more than 1,800 ground workers during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Swiss watchmaker Swatch has withdrawn advertisements featuring an Asian model pulling the corners of his eyes after facing a backlash in China.

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.

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President Zelensky has condemned the latest deadly Russian attacks on Ukraine, ahead of his talks with President Trump and European leaders in Washington. Mr Zelensky accused Russia of carrying out what he called demonstrative killings to 'humiliate diplomatic efforts' to end the war. Ukraine says at least ten people have been killed in strikes on Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia.

Also the Egyptian foreign minister and the Palestinian prime minister are visiting the Rafah border crossing with Gaza to highlight the need for more food aid to get through. We have an interview with the Palestinian prime minister, Mohammad Mustafa.

And Croatian ultra-nationalist mega-gig exposes divided society.

(Photo: A residential area damaged by strikes in Kharkiv, north-east Ukraine, on Monday. Credit: EPA)

South Africa's President, Cyril Ramaphosa has launched a national dialogue called “uniting voices, shaping the nation". It's an ambitious plan to confront its most pressing challenges and unite a nation still wrestling with the legacy of apartheid, deep inequality, and mounting political tension. Critics say it's been rushed. So, will it work?

Also, the Ugandan ex-military men arrested for allegedly wanting to fight in the Russian-Ukraine conflict

And the African Union backs a campaign to end the use of a 16th-century map in favour of one that more accurately displays the size of the continent. We'll hear from someone campaigning for change.

Presenter: Audrey Brown

Producers: Tom Kavanagh, Mark Wilberforce and Nyasha Michelle in London. Charles Gitonga and Jewel Kiriungi in Nairobi.

Technical Producer: Pat Sissons

Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp

Editors: Maryam Abdalla and Reza Asadi

Carefree or careless? The suffixes -free and -less.

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Nolan talks to former DUP Health Minister Jim Wells and PBP MLA Gerry Carroll.

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: [email protected]

A vast herd of life-size puppet animals travel from the Congo Basin to the Arctic Circle, to flee the effects of climate change. Following their internationally successful project, The Walk with Little Amal, in which a 13-foot puppet visited 17 countries, drawing attention to the vast numbers of children fleeing war, violence, and persecution, David Lan, previously the artistic director of the Young Vic and Amir Nizar Zuabi the celebrated Palestine theatre director, have created a new global project, The Herds. Concerned with raising awareness of climate change, it is inspired by the notion that animals are the first to sense environmental disaster and respond alarmingly. The animals, designed in Cape Town by the Ukwanda Puppet Collective and replicated by partners along the route, reflect the countries through which they passed.

This episode of The Documentary, comes to you from In the Studio, exploring the processes of the world’s most creative people.

Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, says Vladimir Putin has agreed to 'robust' security guarantees for Ukraine. The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, has welcomed the US offer - we'll get more details about what was discussed at the summit in Alaska.

Also in the programme: the robots that imitate athletes; and we look back on the life of the English actor Terence Stamp, who has died aged 87.

(Photo: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a press conference in Brussels; 17 August 2025. Credit: OLIVIER HOSLET/EPA/Shutterstock)