Author: BBC World Service

*Ukraine says Russia has carried out another massive overnight attack, involving 50 missiles and nearly 300 drones.

Speaking two days before the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion, Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky said the latest attacks targeted his country's energy sector as well as residential buildings.

We'll hear from a Ukrainian professional sportsman-turned-soldier on what the nearly four years of war have done to his country.

Also in the programme: The students protesting in Iran for the first time since last month's deadly crackdown; Canada and the US face off in the men's ice hockey final. And the Norwegian crowned the Winter Olympics' greatest ever athlete.

(Photo shows houses heavily damaged by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine on 22 February 2026. Credit: Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters)

Next week marks four years since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In that time, there’s been an intense crackdown on freedom of speech and dissent in Russia, which has led to many western media organisations leaving the country. Today, we speak to Steve Rosenberg, the BBC’s Russia editor, on the tightrope of reporting from Moscow under Vladimir Putin. The Global Story brings clarity to politics, business and foreign policy in a time of connection and disruption. For more episodes, just search 'The Global Story' wherever you get your BBC Podcasts.

Producer: Sam Chantarasak Executive producer: Bridget Harney Mix: Travis Evans Senior news editor: China Collins

Photo: Russian President Vladimir Putin attends his annual end-of-year press conference in Moscow. Credit: Sputnik/Alexander Kazakov/Pool/Reuters.

Students at several universities in Iran have staged anti-government protests - the first on this scale since January's deadly crackdown. It's not immediately clear whether any demonstrators were arrested on Saturday. Also: President Trump says he's increasing his worldwide trade tariff to fifteen per cent. As the fourth anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine war approaches, our reporter in Moscow looks at how the country has changed. A deadly virus has wiped out more than seventy captive tigers in Thailand, prompting anger from animal rights campaigners. There's controversy at the Berlin film festival after comments from the organisers about politics. And how boring are draws in a football match - Japan experiments with getting rid of them in favour of penalty shoot-outs.

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: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

US President Donald Trump has said he will increase his worldwide tariff from 10% to 15%, as he continued to rail against a Supreme Court ruling that struck down his previous import taxes.

Also on the programme: far right French activists have marched through the city of Lyon after a nationalist student was beaten to death; and OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, has said it considered alerting the Canadian authorities to the activities of a person who later carried out one of the worst mass shootings in the country's history. (Photo: President Trump addresses a press conference about the Supreme Court's striking down of most of his tariffs in the briefing room at the White House in Washington, DC on 20 February 2026. Credit: EPA/Shutterstock)

US President Donald Trump has imposed a new 10% global tariff to replace ones struck down by the Supreme Court, calling the ruling "terrible" and lambasting the justices who rejected his trade policy as "fools".

Also on the programme, French President Emmanuel Macron has appealed for calm ahead of a march in Lyon remembering a right-wing student activist who was killed by suspected left-wing extremists earlier this month; and, conservationists are celebrating the reintroduction of giant tortoises to one of the Galapagos Islands -- nearly two centuries after the sub-species was wiped out.

(Photo: U.S. President Donald Trump, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and Solicitor General D. John Sauer attend a press briefing at the White House, following the Supreme Court's ruling that Trump had exceeded his authority when he imposed tariffs, in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 20, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque)

After identifying a new species of ancient crocodile for his PhD, Ewan Bodenham honoured his favourite physics teacher who inspired him many years before. Galahadosuchus jonesi has been named after Rhys Jones - who says it is a privilege. Plus, the school in Brazil that many gave up on a decade ago wins a prestigious international award. A woman has been reunited with her prosthetic leg ten months after she lost it in the sea. We hear about the dog that led police in Louisville to a missing three year old and the Mosque that went viral for sharing videos of a pilates class for men over the age of 50. Our weekly collection of inspiring, uplifting and happy news from around the world.

Presenter: Oliver Conway. Music composed by Iona Hampson.

Donald Trump has lashed out at the US Supreme Court, after judges struck down his sweeping trade tariffs. The president has outlined a new plan to retain some of the levies, but the details are not clear. Also: the British government reviews the royal line of succession, as the police investigate Andrew's links to Jeffrey Epstein -- the former prince denies wrongdoing; Ukraine-Russia peace talks gather pace; what's the future of the Palestinian Authority in the occupied West Bank; North Korea holds its biggest political event in five years; and NASA sets a date to send astronauts back around the Moon.

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: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

President Trump has damned a Supreme Court ruling striking down much of his tariffs policy. A clearly furious president vowed to reimpose his import taxes through alternative methods. The court said that the president could not impose tariffs without consulting Congress.

Also in our programme: how rural communities and poorer areas in Russia are being disproportionately affected by the war; and we speak to one of the stars of the first Iranian documentary to earn an Oscar nomination.

(Photo: US President Donald J. Trump, alongside Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, speaking at a press conference about the Supreme Court's striking down of most of his tariffs. Credit: Yuri Gripas, EPA/Shutterstock)

Police are expected to continue searching Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's former home until Monday, the BBC understands.

The former prince was released from custody after 11 hours on Thursday night, following his arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office; he has previously denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein. As the UK police continue their investigation, prominent figures in the US ask whether they'll also see criminal investigations out of the Epstein files.

Also in the programme: As the US says it won't accept global governance of AI, we'll hear why Google is being sued over an AI-generated voice, the climber guilty of manslaughter for leaving his girlfriend on a mountain; and the astonishing promise of a multi-purpose vaccine delivered by nasal spray.

(Photo shows a police van patrolling the area on 20 February 2026 where Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on 19 February in Sandringham, Norfolk)