Author: BBC World Service

France is to join other countries in recognising a Palestinian state at the United Nations, drawing further strong criticism from Israel. Also: South Sudan's former vice president appears in court accused of murder, treason and crimes against humanity. New research shows most of the world's largest fossil fuel producing nations are planning to increase those operations. One of the two favourites to become Japan's next prime minister promises to improve her cabinet's gender balance to "Nordic" levels. And, for the next five years, the Pompidou centre in Paris will be closed to the public as it undergoes renovations. 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

Togolese Prime Minister Faure Gnassingbe’s sister-in-law, who’s also the ex Defence Minister, has been arrested after calling for end to family rule.

How aid cuts and crocodile attacks are contributing to malnutrition in northern Kenya.

And why do Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso apparently want to leave the International Criminal Court?

Presenter: Charles Gitonga Producers : Mark Wilberforce, Bella Hassan, Nyasha Michelle and Sunita Nahar in London. Jewel Kiriungi in Nairobi. Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga Technical producer: Jack Graysmark. Editors: Andre Lombard, Samuel Murunga, Maryam Abdalla and Alice Muthengi

France is due to be the latest country to recognise the state of Palestine. But could it spark a backlash from Israel? Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has said recognition gives "a huge reward to terrorism".

We hear from a member of France's national assembly, and from both Israelis and Palestinians. Also on the programme: the Egyptian president pardons the dual British-Egyptian activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah, after years in prison; and the literature professor who stumbled across lost stories from one of the most important writers of the twentieth century - Virginia Woolf.

(Photo:The Grabels mayor's house flies the Palestinian flag next to the French and European Union flags, in Grabels, Southern France on 22 September 2025. Credit: Photo by GUILLAUME HORCAJUELO/EPA/Shutterstock)

President Trump has hailed Charlie Kirk as an American martyr. More than sixty thousand people attended a memorial service for the right-wing activist which was also described as a political rally. He was called a MAGA warrior and his widow, Erika, delivered a tearful speech in which she spoke of forgiveness. Also: Israel says there will never be a Palestinian state despite its recognition by western countries, South Korea's president says that the North could temporarily keep its existing nuclear weapons as part of a deal, the BBC gains rare access to war-torn Sudan, and Europe's busiest shopping street goes traffic-free for a day but can this change the fortunes of London's Oxford Street?

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.

Portugal has joined Britain, Canada and Australia in formally recognising Palestinian statehood. It comes after their growing criticism of Israel's military offensive in Gaza -- and is meant to revive hopes of a two-state solution to the conflict. Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said a Palestinian state would not happen and denounced recognition as a huge reward to terrorism. Palestinian leaders welcomed recognition. We will hear from Palestinians and an Israeli official.

Also in the programme: We will hear from the Hollywood star Leonardo Di Caprio about his new film; Martin Luther King the Third on political violence in America and trying to bridge the divide; and talking statues of the gardens of Versailles.

(Photo credit: PA)

The British deputy prime minister, David Lammy, has insisted that now is the right time to recognise a Palestinian state ahead of an expected announcement by London later Sunday. We hear from a Palestinian representative and Adam Ma'anit, whose cousin was murdered by Hamas on October 7th.

Also in the programme: Moldova battles online Russian propaganda; we preview the Charlie Kirk memorial service.

(Picture: People participate in a "Free Palestine" protest in support of Palestinians, in Nairobi, Kenya, September 21, 2025. Credit: Reuters)

President Trump is in the UK on a State visit, where he’s been hosted by the royal family and is set to meet with Prime Minister Starmer.

The two leaders appear to have a strong relationship. But there's one big issue that’s become a sticking point between them.

Increasingly, free speech in the United Kingdom is a hot button rallying cry among the conservatives in the United States. Why have Republicans in America become so obsessed with free speech across the Atlantic? Especially when a crackdown on speech is kicking off at home.

This programme includes language which some listeners find offensive.

Every weekday, this is The Global Story. The world is changing. Decisions made in the US and by the second Trump administration are accelerating that change. But they are also a symptom of it. With Asma Khalid in DC, Tristan Redman in London, and the backing of the BBC’s international newsroom, 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.

Producers: Cat Farnsworth, Viv Jones and Xandra Ellin Executive producer: Annie Brown and James Shield Mix: Travis Evans Senior news editor: China Collins

Image: US President Donald Trump on second state visit to the UK (Credit: Kirsty Wigglesworth/PA)

Archive audio from Father Ted (Credit: Father Ted/Hat Trick Productions/Channel 4)

Britain is expected to take the unprecedented step of recognising a Palestinian state today. The move will be a major shift in foreign policy for the UK which has, for decades, insisted that recognition should only happen as part of a peace deal with Israel. Also: the US Pentagon fuels fears about press freedom with new restrictions on journalists, Russia reboots the Soviet-era Intervision song contest, Prince Andrew's former wife explains her apologetic email to Jeffrey Epstein, and accusations of sportswashing in Rwanda.

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

Several major US companies are said to have advised staff on highly skilled visas not to leave the United States after the Trump administration suddenly increased the annual visa fee to a hundred-thousand-dollars. Reports say the firms - including Microsoft and Amazon - told those outside the country to return before midnight on Saturday when the rules come into effect, fearing they will be barred entry. More than 70 percent of H-1B visa-holders are Indian nationals.

Also in the programme: Russian military jets enter Estonian airspace; and President Trump steps up his pressure on Venezuela.

(Photo: U.S. President Donald Trump displays a signed executive order. CREDIT: REUTERS/Ken Cedeno)

Estonia has requested a consultation with other NATO members after Russian warplanes violated its airspace on Friday morning. Russia issued a denial. But tensions have been escalating after Poland and Romania said Russian drones had breached their airspace. We'll hear from Estonia's ambassador to Britain.

Also in the programme: Several European airports have reported delays and cancellations after a cyberattack; and Newshour's Lyse Doucet on her book that details the rise and fall of Afghanistan through the lens of a luxury hotel in Kabul.

(Picture: A still photo published by Swedish armed forces that it says shows a Russian fighter jet that violated Estonian airspace. Credit: Swedish Armed forces/Handout via REUTERS)