Author: BBC World Service

One of Donald Trump's leading supporters -- the right-wing activist, Charlie Kirk -- has been shot dead. He was taking part in an outdoor debate at a university in Utah when he was hit by a single bullet. Video footage showed him slump in his seat on a stage in front of a large crowd at Utah Valley University in Orem. President Trump described him as legendary. He has ordered flags to be flown at half mast until Sunday. Also: Life on Mars? 'Leopard-spot' rocks could be biggest clue yet, and are you a hugger?

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

Nineteen Russian drones entered Poland’s airspace overnight, and some of them were shot down by Polish and Nato aircraft, Polish PM Donald Tusk has said. It marks the first time Russian drones have been downed over the territory of a Nato country. We'll speak to Ukraine's defence minister and a former U.S. ambassador to Nato.

Also on the programme: The UN’s children agency, UNICEF, has released a report today that says there are now more obese or overweight children globally than underweight ones; and a long-awaited inquiry into a programme carried out by Danish doctors to fit contraceptive coils for Inuit women and girls in Greenland has found the vast majority did not give their consent.

(Photo: Prime Minister Donald Tusk speaks during an extraordinary government meeting at the Chancellery of the Prime Minister in Warsaw, Poland, 10 September 2025. Credit: Szymon Pulcyn/EPA/Shutterstock)

Warsaw says Polish and NATO pilots scrambled to shoot down Russian drones that violated its airspace during an attack on Ukraine. Russia says it had 'no plans' to hit Polish targets. NATO says the alliance will defend every inch of its territory. Also: Israeli media say top defence officials are increasingly unsure whether the strike on the Qatari capital, Doha, was successful in killing Hamas leaders. We hear from a leading Palestinian politician about where this leaves the Gaza ceasefire proposals. The UN says more children around the world are now obese than underweight; a new documentary, 'Children of the Fire', looks at the issue of children deported to Russia from Ukraine; and a backlash in Australia after videos of an American influencer wrestling crocodiles go viral.

Will the second Africa climate summit produce tangible solutions to fight for climate justice?

Police abuse is widespread in Kenya a new study finds. Rights groups warn the findings expose systemic failures that have left many Kenyans vulnerable to police harassment and violence.

And how did Botswana become a leader in eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV?

Presenter: Charles Gitonga Producers: Ayuba Iliya in Lagos. Priya Sippy, Stefania Okereke, and Yvette Twagiramariya in London. Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga Technical Producer: Pat Sissons Editors: Maryam Abdalla, Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

Poland has shot down Russian drones after dozens entered its airspace; the Polish Prime Minister says this is closest his country has come to conflict since World War Two. So is Russia testing NATO defences?

Also in the programme: Israeli media says defence officials now doubt the success of Tuesday's strike targeting Hamas leaders in Qatar; and a new vaccine to help beat chlamydia in koalas (Photo: Donald Tusk addressing the Polish parliament. Credit: Shutterstock)

The Qatari prime minister has denounced Israel's attack on Hamas leaders in his country as 'treacherous', saying it was aimed at sabotaging Gaza ceasefire talks. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani added that the United States -- an ally -- had informed Qatar of the Israeli strikes ten minutes after they began. Hamas said five of its members had been killed, but it said the attempt to assassinate its negotiating team had failed. Also: ICC hears war crimes case against Ugandan rebel leader, Joseph Kony, and scientists warn polar "geoengineering" projects won't protect environment against climate change.

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

Hamas claims its leadership team survived the strike, but it says six people were killed, including one member of the Qatari security forces. We'll hear reaction from Israel, Qatar and the United States.

Also on the programme: There have been arson attacks and vandalism in several cities as protests escalate in Nepal despite the resignation of the prime minister; and we'll hear from Jung Chang, the author of the bestselling memoir 'Wild Swans', on the release of the sequel.

(Photo: Smoke rises after several blasts were heard in Doha, Qatar on September 9, 2025. Credit: REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa)

Ethiopia opens Africa's largest hydroelectric dam on the Blue Nile river deepening a rift with Egypt and Sudan.

Authorities in the US have arrested two suspected leaders of the Cameroon separatists' military wing. We find out more about the charges against the two men, and why Cameroon has been blighted by a conflict between armed separatists and government forces in the country's mainly anglophone North West and South West regions.

And following the canonisation of London-born teenager Carlo Acutis in a ceremony presided over by Pope Leo in Vatican City, what is the process of becoming a saint?

Presenter: Charles Gitonga Producers: Mark Wilberforce, Sunita Nahar and Yvette Twagiramariya in London. Makouchi Okafor in Lagos and Jewel Kiriungi in Nairobi Senior Producer: Patricia Whitehorne Technical Producer: Nick Randell Editors: Maryam Abdalla, Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

Israel has carried out a strike in the Qatari capital, Doha, targeting the senior leadership of Hamas. They are said to have been holding a meeting to discuss the latest Gaza ceasefire proposal. It's reported that Khalil al-Hayya, the lead negotiator for Hamas, was among those targeted. Also in the programme: The Nepalese Prime Minister has resigned after public outrage over the killing of 19 anti-corruption protesters on Monday. Demonstrations have continued with reports of fires in the parliament building and elsewhere.

US lawmakers release a copy of a "birthday book" given to the late convicted paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein in 2003, which includes a note allegedly signed by US President Donald Trump.

And we speak to Jung Chang- the Chinese author who wowed readers with her 1991 book Wild Swans. (Photo: A building damaged by an Israeli attack on Hamas leaders in Doha, Qatar, September 9, 2025. Credit: Reuters/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa)

The Nepalese prime minister, K P Sharma Oli, has resigned amid public outrage over the killing of nineteen anti-corruption protesters on Monday. The demonstrations were triggered by his government's decision to ban social media platforms last week. Also, Ethiopia inaugurates a huge dam on the Blue Nile, Africa's biggest hydroelectric project, and how tourism in Prague is affected by the latest book in the Da Vinci Code series. 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