Hi there, Alistair here.
As a special surprise bonus episode, today you are going to get a taste of another English podcast that you might like.
It's called Simple English News Daily, or Send7 for short.
Every weekday, so every Monday to Friday, they release a short episode, only seven minutes long, where they tell the most important news that day in simple, clear, native British English.
It's a great way to start your day with a mini English lesson and catch up on the world news at the same time.
If you enjoy it, you can search in your podcast app for Simple English News Daily or there is a link in the show notes.
But for now, let me pass you over to Stephen for the news.
Good morning. This is Send 7 World News in 7 Minutes.
I'm Stephen Devincenzi.
Today is Friday, the 21st of February, 2025.
Starting in Europe today, Germany has parliamentary elections on Sunday.
Most opinion polls show that the conservative CDU will win the most votes and seats in this election, followed by the far -right AfD party, with the governing Social Democratic Party coming third.
It is highly likely that the CDU will have to form a coalition with at least one other party.
No party has won a majority in the Bundestag since 1957.
Across Europe, leaders have been continuing to react to United States President Donald Trump's recent attacks on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the Trump administration's meeting with Russian diplomats, and the Trump administration's criticisms of European countries.
In France, many European leaders have met twice this week to discuss the situation and the apparent break in relations between the United States and European democracies.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that Trump was wrong to blame Ukraine for the war and said that Ukraine must not be hindered on its path to becoming a sovereign democratic European country.
United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer was quoted by the BBC as saying that Zelensky was democratically elected, has strong support, and it is correct for a country at war under martial law not to hold elections until the war is over, giving the example of the United Kingdom not holding elections during World
War II. French Prime Minister François Beru has said that the risk of war across Europe is at its highest since World War II.
Denmark's Prime Minister Meta Friedrichsen has said that Denmark will raise its defence spending to 3%, and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has said that Europe must stop talking and start spending on defence.
Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk yesterday said that Russian frozen assets should be seized and used to finance Ukraine.
Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said yesterday that the outcome of the war in Ukraine will shape generations.
Regarding Ukraine, Europe and the world now stand at a crossroads.
How the war against Ukraine will end, affects and shapes security across Europe for generations to come.
We take this very, very seriously.
Together, the EU and European NATO countries have shown three years of strength and unity, much better and far more than most expected when Russia first attacked Ukraine.
We will continue to support Ukraine.
In Spain, former president of the Spanish Football Federation Luis Rubiales has been found guilty of sexual assault for kissing the footballer Jenny Hermoso on the lips during the celebrations of Spain winning the Women's World Cup in 2023.
Rubiales must pay fines and compensation to Hermoso of more than 13 ,000 euros.
Italy has made a formal complaint about Estonia's choice of song for the Eurovision song contest.
Italian consumer association Kodakons has appealed for Estonia's entry called Espresso Macchiato to be removed from the competition, saying that it makes fun of Italian stereotypes like drinking coffee, eating spaghetti, and the mafia.
Americas. The United States has designated eight Latin American drug cartels as terrorist organisations.
Mexico has previously said that drug cartels should not be considered terrorist groups, as they are motivated by money, not by political or religious reasons.
Mexican President Claudia Scheinbaum said that Mexico will not accept any US intervention or intrusion into Mexico, and has said that she will propose higher penalties for people who bring guns into Mexico.
Most guns used in Mexico are trafficked from the US, where guns are legal.
Brazil's Supreme Court has ordered Twitter to pay a fine of $1 .4 million for not following a court order to take down a profile that the court said was spreading misinformation.
Asia In Palestine and Israel, yesterday Hamas returned the bodies of four hostages, including the youngest hostages that were taken on October 7th, 2023, Kfir Bibas was nine months old and Ariel Bibas was four years old when they were kidnapped from their home along with their mother and father.
Hamas said that the two children and the mother were killed in an Israeli bombing in late 2023.
The father, Yadan Bibas, was released alive two weeks ago.
Israel is forensically testing the bodies given to them by Hamas.
United Nations human rights chief Volker Turk has criticised Hamas for parading the coffins carrying the four dead Israelis in Gaza before handing them over to Israel and forcing a Red Cross staff member to go on a stage with the coffins, saying that this was cruel and degrading.
Argentina's President Javier Milay has declared a day of mourning for the Bibas family who held Argentinian citizenship.
Six living Israeli hostages are expected to be returned tomorrow.
Israel is expected to release 600 Palestinian prisoners tomorrow, including some prisoners serving life sentences for attacks against Israel and some prisoners who are detained without charges or sentencing.
In Iran, a British couple have been charged with spying after being arrested last month during a round -the -world motorbike journey.
Craig and Lindsay Foreman rode their motorcycle all the way from the UK and were planning to continue to Australia before being detained in Iran.
The UK government advises people not to travel to Iran because of the possibility of being arrested for false charges.
Africa The Democratic Republic of Congo army has told its soldiers that they must return to their units after reports of soldiers looting.
During the fast advance of the M23 rebel group, which is supported by Rwanda, many Congolese soldiers have abandoned their posts or escaped, and the army has told them not to fight the M23 in populated areas.
And in Egypt, archaeologists have made the extremely rare discovery of a pharaoh's tomb.
Thutmose II is believed to have reigned ancient Egypt 3 ,500 years ago.
Some experts have called it the biggest discovery since finding the pharaoh Tutankhamun over 100 years ago.
A big thank you to Karel in Czechia, Ines in Germany, and Tomasz in Poland for becoming our newest supporters.
Our amazing supporters have access to our daily transcripts and vocabulary lists and our weekly worksheets and world news quiz.
You can become a supporter at Send7 .org.
Have a great weekend and we will see you on Monday.
