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The leaders of Europe's largest military and economic powers have issued a statement, saying that Ukraine must play a role in peace talks, ahead of a summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Sergie Marvov, former member of parliament for Vladimir Putin's United Russia party tells our programme that Russia will demand that European troops cannot be stationed in Ukraine following any ceasefire deal.

Also in the programme: Mo Salah criticizes UEFA after the killing of Palestinian footballer Suleiman Obeid during an Israeli strike in Gaza. We get the reaction of the Palestinian national football team manager Ehab Abu Jazar; and amid a deadlock over global negotiations to end single use plastics, we hear from John Chweya, President of the Kenya National Waste Pickers Welfare Association.

Picture: Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz, France's President Emmanuel Macron, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk walk to attend a joint press conference following a meeting of the 'Coalition of the willing' at the Mariinskyi Palace, the official residence of the president of Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine, 10 May 2025, amid the ongoing Russian invasion. Credit: SERGEY DOLZHENKO/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)

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: [email protected]

Back in 2019, Ghana’s then president sent out an invitation to people with African heritage to come to Ghana. It was called the Year of Return - a campaign by Ghana's tourism board to mark 400 years since the first documented African slaves were taken to America. The campaign built on ideas of Pan-Africanism, a movement to promote unity and liberation on the continent. So five years on, how is it going? We hear from Lakeshia Ford, Roweena Habadah, and Mama Kexornyi, three women who made the decision to relocate and live in Ghana. They tell us about the challenges they faced and how life in Ghana altered their perspective on life. Plus, Kobby Mensah, chief executive of Ghana Tourism Development Company, discusses whether the Year of Return has benefited Ghana's tourism industry and led to increased investment in the country. We also question him about some of the tensions resulting from rising costs.

Hundreds of people have been arrested in London for protesting against the UK government’s decision to ban the group Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation. We hear from one of the protest organisers, who says the right to free speech is being undermined, and from the Board of Deputies of British Jews, which supports the move.

Also in the programme: after President Trump talked about Ukraine giving up territory to Russia, President Zelensky says that's not happening; and the protests in Mexico City against foreign expat gentrification.

(IMAGE: Supporters of Palestine Action attend a mass protest organized by the Defend Our Juries group as part of their campaign to end the proscription of Palestine Action, in Parliament Square, London, Britain, 09 August 2025 / CREDIT: TOLGA AKMEN/EPA/Shutterstock)

Volodymyr Zelensky has ruled out surrendering Ukrainian land to Russia, as Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin prepare to meet next week. In a video address, President Zelensky said any decisions taken without Ukraine would be -- as he put it -- dead decisions. Mr Trump has talked of Russia and Ukraine swapping territory. Several Ukrainian civilians have been killed during another night of aerial attacks by Russia.

Also in the programme: Protecting Sudan's archaeological sites; Seoul 'convenience stores' fighting isolation; and we will hear from a survivor of the nuclear bomb attack on Nagasaki that ended World War Two.

(Photo: President Zelensky. Credit: Getty Images)

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)

Secret billionaire husbands, blood-thirsty vampire lovers and being reborn as your great-grandmother: these are some of the outrageous plotlines that can be found in Chinese micro-dramas like My Royal Secret Lover, by producer Lin Yicheng. Micro-dramas are a Chinese short form video trend that has expanded globally, racking up hundreds of millions of downloads in the US, Asia, Latin America and Africa. It’s big business: in China last year, the micro-drama industry grossed the equivalent of seven billion US dollars, which exceeds the entire Chinese box office for 2024. A number of these series are now also being filmed overseas for English-speaking and global audiences, most of which are adapted from Chinese scripts. Mengchen Zhang from the BBC's Global China Unit explains what's behind the success of this format.

Also on the show: two BBC Language Services coming together to tackle disinformation. The relationship between neighbours India and Pakistan is well known around the world for going through periods of extreme hostility and even aggression. A deadly attack in Indian-administered Kashmir in April led to the two countries exchanging missile and drone attacks in one of the biggest escalations for about 50 years. And in times of tension, disinformation is rife. Sana Gulzar of BBC Urdu and Jugal Purohit who reports for BBC Hindi join Faranak Amidi to talk about it.

This episode of The Documentary comes to you from The Fifth Floor, the show at the heart of global storytelling, with BBC journalists from all around the world. This is an EcoAudio certified production.

Clips are from Spoiled by My Vampire Uncle and My Royal Secret Lover.

(Photo: Faranak Amidi. Credit: Tricia Yourkevich.)

The UN Security Council is to meet on Sunday to discuss the Israeli government's decision to expand its war against Hamas by taking control of Gaza City. The announcement follows widespread condemnation of the Israeli plan. The UN Secretary General's chief spokesman described it as a "dangerous escalation". Saudi Arabia has said it "categorically condemns" Israel's announcement while Turkey has called for global pressure to prevent the plan from going ahead. Also: President Trump and the Russian leader Vladimir Putin to meet in Alaska next Friday for Ukraine war talks; and the Nasa astronaut Jim Lovell, who guided Apollo 13 safely back to Earth, dies aged 97.

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]

Israel faces growing international pressure to end the war in Gaza. But on Thursday night Israel's security cabinet approved plans to expand military operations, with the aim of defeating Hamas and returning the hostages. The decision has been criticised by world leaders, the United Nations and even the country’s own military leadership. In conversations recorded over the past week, we hear from people in Israel including 18-year-old David, who is shortly to join the Israel Defense Forces. He tells us why he believes the war is necessary. We also bring together the families of two hostages who were killed by Hamas. They want an immediate ceasefire so their loved ones’ bodies can be returned. And we hear from three rabbis grappling with a solution to the conflict.

This episode of The Documentary, comes to you from BBC OS Conversations, bringing together people from around the world to discuss how major news stories are affecting their lives.

Germany's halted its arms sales to Israel in the wake of prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to takeover Gaza City. But despite supplying $565 million worth of military hardware since the 7 October 2023 attacks, how important are Germany's weapons to Israel?

We hear what the economic benefits are of a new peace deal brokered by US president Donald Trump between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Roger Hearing finds out why US wine exports to Canada declined drastically.

And the big controversy bubbling up over mineral water in France.

The latest business and finance news from around the world, on the BBC.