BBC

Kelsey Pfendler has completed a record-breaking journey across the Pacific Ocean, where she became the fastest person to row solo from California to Hawaii -- as well as the youngest and the first American woman to do it alone. She hopes it will inspire more women to take risks.

Plus, the four Welsh grandmothers who met a professional wrestler by chance could have their story told on the big screen. Rose and her friends Lynne, Suzie and Christine met DeReiss on a flight to Las Vegas, where they were going to scatter her husband's ashes. Why people in some major cities are raving in sauna's. The potential breakthrough in the medical condition called 'twin to twin transfusion syndrome' and the seniors in Singapore taking up Parkour.

Our weekly collection of inspiring, uplifting and happy news from around the world.

(Image: Kelsey Pfendler on her rowing boat. Credit: Carlos Andina)

Presenter: Holly Gibbs. Music composed by Iona Hampson

Parliament was asked this week to help tens of thousands of young adults get access to their own money. It is sitting in the state-backed Child Trust Funds set up more than 15 years ago with contributions from the government, parents and other relatives. However, because these young people have learning disabilities the legal process for getting hold of their own money can cost more than the couple of thousand pounds typically in their fund. What happens next?

New figures reveal that in a single year half a million people said 'no thanks' to joining a workplace pension. Like everyone taking up a new job they were automatically enrolled into a pension, but they opted out before it even began. How might that impact their future?

Capita has missed the deadline to return services to normal for civil servants facing long delays in getting their pensions sorted.

And, a major change to the Lifetime ISA could see it replaced with a new product designed solely for First Time Buyers. How will it work?

Presenter: Paul Lewis

Reporters: Dan Whitworth and Meghan Owen

Researcher: Catherine Lund

Editor: Jess Quayle

Senior News Editor: Sara Wadeson

(First broadcast 12pm Saturday 4th July 2026)

Fifa president Gianni Infantino has scrapped the controversial plan to sell off stakes in the World Cup and other football competitions to private investors following global outrage. He said it had become clear the project had "created divisions" that are "no longer in the interest" of its original objective. Also: Hugging Face, the tech company hacked by OpenAI's rogue agent, calls for accountability. The UN warns El Niño will intensify extreme weather in the coming months. A discovery in the Amazon rainforest sheds light on ancient indigenous civilisations. And the unlikely friendships forged in the animal world.

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: Illustration showing the FIFA logo, the numbers "20%" and a rising stock graph.

Credit: REUTERS/Dado Ruvic

Wildfires continue to burn across the continent. Thousands of people have been evacuated on the Greek island of Crete, as well as in western France, Spain, Portugal and Turkey. A blaze in central Spain has burned almost 80,000 hectares over the last week and is now considered the largest recorded wildfire in Spanish history. With temperatures hitting more than 40 degrees Celsius in south-western France, firefighters, planes and helicopters have been battling fires there. Muriele in France and Julian in Spain share their experiences of escaping the flames. Robin – on holiday with his family – describes what it was like as the fire approached their French campsite. “The pool was getting filled up with ash, you could see all black pine needles, bits of bark that were burnt, it blocked out the sun,” Robin tells us. We also bring together volunteers in France, helping to provide food and shelter for people displaced from their homes.

President Trump says the Board of Peace deal will result in the "complete disarmament" of Hamas in Gaza. Hamas says the handover of its heavy weapons depends on Israel ending "all forms of aggression" and withdrawing from Gaza. Israel says of Hamas: "We have to verify what they are doing, not what they are saying." Could this agreement lead to a lasting peace?

Also in the programme: We speak to a member of the UK all-female chess team who’ve been told to add a male player to the squad to comply with diversity rules. And the ancient Greek instrument enjoying a boost in recognition after featuring on the soundtrack to Sir Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of The Odyssey.

Ukrainian drone strikes hit Wildberries warehouses across Russia, with 16 distribution centres damaged or destroyed in the past fortnight. As the country's biggest online retailer faces disruption and a Lukoil oil refinery is also hit, we examine why Ukraine is targeting Russian business infrastructure.

Also, oil prices rise after Iran stops two vessels attempting to leave the Strait of Hormuz. We ask why crude has not surged even higher, and look at how China's hidden oil reserves have helped limit the impact on global markets.

FIFA faces a growing backlash over plans to sell minority stakes in a new commercial entity controlling future tournament rights, with UEFA, other federations and senior figures inside FIFA pushing back against the proposal.

Plus, we examine the collapse of an AI-focused hedge fund once valued at $45 billion, led by 24-year-old tech entrepreneur Leopold Aschenbrenner, after its assets were bought by a rival firm for less than $10 billion.

Image Credit: STRINGER/EPA/Shutterstock

Spain says most of the around 55,000 migrants who flooded into its North African territory of Ceuta have returned to Morocco. We speak to a Spanish politician who asks for support from Spain's European partners.

Also on the programme: Hamas has said it's agreed to completely disarm if Israel fully withdraws from Gaza and ends all its attacks; and can Fifa's Gianni Infantino survive after a severe backlash from his own senior staff?

(Photo: Migrants from Morocco arrive at the Spanish border in Ceuta, Spain on July 31, 2026, as migrants cross into Ceuta by sea and land. Credit: Reuters)

Writer: Tim Stimpson

Director: Pip Swallow

Editor: Jeremy Howe

Jolene Archer … Buffy Davis

Kenton Archer … Richard Attlee

Harrison Burns … James Cartwright

Alice Carter … Hollie Chapman

Chris Carter … Wilf Scolding

Neil Carter … Brian Hewlett

Susan Carter …Charlotte Martin

Rex Fairbrother … Nick Barber

Alan Franks … John Telfer

Ed Grundy … Barry Farrimond

Bert Horrobin … David Sterne

Brad Horrobin … Taylor Uttley

Fallon Rogers … Joanna Van Kampen

Lynda Snell … Carole Boyd

Robert Snell … Michael Bertenshaw

Lottie Summers … Bonnie Baddoo

Lucy Porter is joined by John Tothill, Kyrah Gray and Amy Annette to talk all things current-ish events. Should politicians wear ties? Should children learn to read? And should we all now identify as Spanish?

Hosted by Lucy Porter

Written by Lucy Porter, Ruth Husko and Katie Sayer, with additional material by Mike Shephard

Producer - Katie Sayer

Assistant producer - Lorna Reader

Executive producer - Victoria Lloyd

A Mighty Bunny production for BBC Radio 4

Spain's interior ministry says more than half of the migrants who arrived in the Spanish North African territory of Ceuta since Thursday morning have now returned to Morocco. Visiting Ceuta, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez condemned the influx as an attack, and violation of Spanish sovereignty. He blamed smuggling gangs and promised the state would use all means to protect Ceuta's security. Also: a top advisor to the head of FIFA has resigned over plans to sell private stakes in the World Cup, hours after Asia's Football Confederation added its voice to the growing condemnation. Hamas says it's accepted a peace deal for Gaza which would see it lay down its arms, on condition that Israel withdraws from the territory and ends its attacks. Rescuers in Pakistan have recovered the bodies of several climbers near the site of an avalanche on the world's 12th highest summit, Broad Peak. We meet the man who filmed what is believed to be the first ever drone footage of a humpback whale giving birth. And the history of kissing.

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: Migrants swim across to Ceuta from Morocco, Spain

Credit: Reduan Dris - EPA/Shutterstock