Global News Podcast

For 40 years, an elephant named Julie performed as part of the Victor Hugo Cardinali circus in Portugal.

But after a law change banning wild animals for entertainment, Julie has now been given a new life in a dedicated sanctuary.

She is the first elephant to begin her retirement at the 400-hectare site in Alentejo in southern Portugal, run by the UK-based charity Pangea Trust.

Staff say Julie has adjusted very well to her new home, and is enjoying splashing around in the mud.

Also: A mysterious monkey with orange lips discovered deep in the forests of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is confirmed as a new species.

A look back at the heartwarming moments of the FIFA World Cup that resonated with both fans and those not so keen on football.

We meet Kenya's ''Eco Mammas'', a group of women leading vital marine conservation efforts.

Plus the teenage pianist Freya Terris who made history by passing a highly technical piano exam using only her left hand.

Presenter: Chantal Hartle
Music: Iona Hampson

(Photo:Julie the African elephant arrives at Pangea elephant sanctuary in Portugal. Credit: Pangea Elephant Sanctuary)

Iranian state media have reported explosions in different parts of the country, after the United States military carried out a fresh wave of attacks. The cities of Ahvaz, Yazd, and Bandar Abbas, and islands in the Strait of Hormuz were reportedly targeted. Iran's military says it targeted US bases in Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia in response.

Also: The US Department of Homeland Security has instructed election officials to check voter rolls for foreign nationals in four states. It comes a day after President Trump repeated unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud. Crowds of desperate migrant workers gather outside embassies in South Africa, calling for help to return home, after threats intensify against them. Barbados declares a day of national mourning for one of the greatest cricketers of all time - Garfield Sobers - who has died at the age of 89. And the Bayeux Tapestry is unveiled after arriving back in Britain for the first time in almost 1000 years.

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
Photo: Video screenshot shows smoke rising after what the US claims is a strike in Iran on July 16. Location and date not verified.
Credit: US Central Command via Reuters

Britain's governing Labour Party has officially declared Andy Burnham its new leader paving the way for him to replace Keir Starmer as prime minister. In his first speech as leader, he pledged to 'bring back hope'. China's President Xi Jinping has called for global cooperation on the development of artificial intelligence to mitigate the risks it poses. India has begun operating its first ever hydrogen-powered train; it's hoped the green technology will help modernise one of the world's biggest rail networks. The Japanese parliament has approved a bill to relax imperial succession rules, amid concerns over the dwindling size of the imperial family. But it does not change the law barring women from ascending to the throne. An angry crowd has reportedly attacked a hospital housing an Ebola treatment centre, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, forcing patients and health workers to flee. A UK study of a minimally-invasive treatment for prostate cancer has found it is as effective as surgery or radiotherapy - but with far fewer side-effects. For the first time, astronomers have detected an atmosphere around an Earth-like rocky planet that could have water on its surface. And the great niece of the acclaimed Mexican artist Frida Kahlo expresses concern that the growing hype and merchandise connected with her image, might detract from her art.

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
Photo: Henry Nicholls/ Reuters
Credit: Andy Burnham reacts as he speaks after being confirmed as the Labour Party's new leader and the country's next Prime Minister

In an address to the nation, President Trump accuses China of extensive interference in the 2020 elections and alleges that US intelligence covered up attempts by Beijing to damage him electorally. More than 800 wildfires are burning across Canada, with air quality alerts now extending south into multiple US states. We profile Andy Burnham who's about to become the new leader of the Labour Party and Britain's next Prime Minister. China has brought in new laws designed to stop people forming relationships with AI chatbots. The Scottish city of Glasgow is getting ready to host the Commonwealth Games. Christopher Nolan's latest blockbuster, The Odyssey, goes on release.

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
Photo: US President Donald Trump delivers an address to the nation
Credit: EPA/Shutterstock

The former head of Italy's motorway operator has been given a 12-year prison sentence over the collapse of Genoa's Morandi bridge in August 2018. 43 people died when the bridge running through the city came down in a rain storm during the summer season, sending cars and lorries plummeting to the ground. The ex-chief executive of Autostrade per l'Italia Giovanni Castellucci was accused of delaying planned maintenance of the structure. More than 30 others were found guilty in connection with the disaster.

Also, as Washington continues to strike sites across Iran; we hear from voices inside Iran. Reports emerge of two boats carrying more than 500 Rohingya migrants have capsized off the coast of Myanmar. How 'Bluey', the beloved children's cartoon series featuring a Blue Heeler puppy will now be available in an Australian Indigenous language. And how singing and learning to play instruments is helping to give orphans and young people displaced by war in Gaza hope.

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