Senior Putin aide against temporary Ukraine ceasefire

This BBC World Service podcast delivers a rapid-fire update on global events, covering the Ukraine conflict (focusing on the Kursk region and US-backed ceasefire proposals), a UN report detailing widespread sexual violence in Gaza and the West Bank, a mass cremation site in Mexico potentially linked to drug cartels, and a US influencer's controversial interaction with a wombat in Australia. The podcast also touches on the arrest of a Palestinian student activist in New York, the challenges faced by Botswana's young Minister of Youth and Gender Affairs in combating gender-based violence, and the extended stay of two astronauts stranded in space. A study suggesting marriage triples the risk of obesity in men, but not women, is also discussed. Listeners are encouraged to engage via email or social media.