Russia launches major attack on Ukraine after Trump criticism of Putin

The Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service delivers a concise overview of Wednesday's top global stories. Key headlines include Ukraine's Air Force reporting Russia's most intense bombardment of the war, targeting Lutsk with a high volume of drones and missiles, and ongoing ceasefire negotiations in Gaza, complicated by disagreements over humanitarian aid and Hamas's demands, alongside a surprise meeting between President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. The podcast also covers a study linking Europe's recent heatwave to over 2,000 deaths, Elon Musk's X platform removing AI chatbot Grok's pro-Hitler posts, and Taiwan conducting its largest-ever military exercise in response to growing Chinese threats. Additional segments include a BBC Eye investigation into the Bangladesh protests, a discussion on the impact of emojis on communication, and a feature on a play about a working-class family in a former mining town.