BBC

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Senate adopted a constitutional revision bill in June, which has raised fierce controversy as it would effectively reset presidential term limits. The legislation paves the way for a public vote on a new constitution. Under this proposal, President Félix Tshisekedi's previous terms in office would be discounted, essentially allowing him to seek a third term as if it were his first. A planned demonstration against the constitutional changes has now been postponed until July 22nd following a mediation led by Burundian President and African Union Chairperson, Évariste Ndayishimiye.

Also, what does the growing trend of AI use mean for Africa's animation film? We speak to creative director and animator, Chief David Nyamyweya.

Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna

Producers: Ayuba Iliya and Blessing Aderogba

Senior Producer: Bella Twine

Technical Producer: Jonathan Mwangi

Editors: Charles Gitonga and Maryam Abdalla

French hard-right leader Marine Le Pen could now run for president next year after a court in Paris upheld her embezzlement conviction, but reduced the length of her ban on running for public office. Also: Ukraine's president has used a speech at the Nato summit in Turkey to urge allies to deliver the air defence systems Kyiv urgently needs. In Syria, explosions have been heard in central Damascus, reportedly near the hotel where French President Emmanuel Macron had been staying. The woman suspected of carrying out a parcel bombing in Monaco which injured a sanctioned Ukrainian multi-millionaire and his family has been found dead. In Britain, the leader of right-wing party Reform UK, Nigel Farage, says he will resign as an MP, triggering a by-election which he says he will stand in. New research from Italy suggests women hit a fertility tipping point at 49, even if using younger donor eggs during the process of IVF.

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: French hard-right leader Marine Le Pen leaves a Paris court after her appeals trial.

Credit: Reuters

Motorists are angry that petrol in India must contain 20% ethanol alchol.

Samsung's profits jump on sales of memory chips for AI, but the share price falls.

And can China become the global leader in self driving cars?

A French court of appeal has upheld the conviction of the far right leader Marine Le Pen for misusing public funds. She'll have to wear an electronic tag, which she's previously said will stop her from running for president next year.

Also on the programme: a crunch Nato meeting for Ukraine's President Zelensky as he urges world leaders to cough up cash; and the story of Kenya's “eco mamas” -- the women reviving marine conservation on the country's coast.

(Photo: Rassemblement National (RN) parliamentary party leader Marine Le Pen arrives at the Paris courthouse for a hearing on the verdict in her appeal trial in Paris on July 7, 2026. Credit: EPA/Shutterstock)

This slang phrase is about knowing what you have to do for a task, and doing it perfectly. Hear examples and learn how to use it in this programme, with Georgie and Feifei.

As always, find a free transcript here:

✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/the-english-we-speak_2026/ep-260706.

For more great language tips and programmes visit bbclearningenglish.com

We send a newsletter with our weekly highlights - subscribe here:

✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/newsletters

Nolan talks to Tricia O'Neill from Road Safe NI and ex Top Gear presenter Steve Berry

The US are out of the World Cup after defeat by Belgium - even though one of their star players was on the pitch after his automatic one-match ban for a red card was suspended. President Trump admitted he'd intervened. Also: BBC Eye finds evidence of torture and sexual violence at detention centres for Ukrainians in Russia and occupied Ukraine. The story of a 12-year-old pulled alive from the rubble following two earthquakes in Venezuela. The body of Iran's former supreme leader is paraded through the streets of Tehran. Millions turn out to pay their last respects. The weight-loss drug, Wegovy, is now available in pill form in Britain. And if you thought China was over-populated - think again.

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 fan with face painted in national colours in Portland, Oregon.

Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Denny Medley.

Worried about a ballooning population, the Chinese government introduced its infamous one-child policy in 1980. At the time it seemed urgent to find ways to reduce the number of babies being born. China today has the opposite problem - too few births. Since the one-child policy was scrapped 10 years ago, there have been increasingly desperate attempts to encourage couples to have more children. But nothing has worked. China’s population has already started to fall. That process will gather pace over the coming decades. The population is on track to halve by the end of the century. Micky Bristow, who has reported on China over more than 20 years, looks at why this is happening, and what the consequences could be.

With Microsoft announcing nearly five thousand job cuts, and XBOX bearing the brunt of the losses, we look at what's changing in the world of gaming and hear from former XBOX executive Peter Moore on how it might affect some of the globe's most popular computer games.

Meanwhile, as NATO leaders prepare to haggle in Turkey over defence spending, we get advice from Sweden's former Prime Minister Carl Bindt on how countries balance their budgets against growing security demands.

Also on the programme, Andrew Peach discusses the growing concern around political interference in football after FIFA's shock decision to overturn United States forward Folarin Balogun's suspension for a red card offence.

And as World Cup games in Mexico come to an end, Mexico City's tourism minister Alejandra Frausto Guerrero talks about the country's hope for a boost in tourism.

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

(Picture: A teenager holding a controller to play a video game on a Microsoft Xbox One console, in Corfe Mullen, Dorset, UK. Credit: Yui Mok / PA.)

Donald Trump asked Fifa president Gianni Infantino to review US striker Folarin Balogun's ban, which has since been suspended. We hear the reaction of former Fifa vice-president Jim Boyce.

Also on the programme: National Rally leader Marine Le Pen will find out on Tuesday whether or not she can run for the French presidency in next year's elections. And we speak to classicist Professor Dame Mary Beard as she heads into the premiere of Sir Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of Homer’s The Odyssey.