Feminist pioneer Gloria Steinem dies at 92 and other top news stories | Global News Podcast

This global news podcast from the BBC World Service begins by marking the passing of Gloria Steinem, a pioneering figure in the women's liberation movement, at the age of 92. Her team announced her peaceful death, stating her near-century on Earth was "well-lived" and she remained dedicated to equality until the end. Steinem, interviewed by the BBC in 2023, spoke about the pervasiveness of patriarchy, beginning in the family, and how it fosters a lack of democracy and the seeds of future conflict. She emphasized that personal agency over one's physical self, including decisions about reproduction, is fundamental, as the desire to control women's bodies is central to authoritarian systems. The podcast then shifts to a stark warning from the UN about a "super-sized" El Niño phenomenon, expected to persist into next year. Scientists predict this will exacerbate existing climate change impacts, leading to more extreme weather events. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) states this El Niño could be the strongest in over 70 years and will significantly disrupt communities, economies, and supply chains globally, affecting sectors like agriculture, trade, fisheries, and energy. Tropical regions are particularly vulnerable, with intense rainfall anticipated in parts of Peru, Ecuador, Brazil, East Africa, and Kenya. Conversely, Southeast Asia may experience drier weather, and the Pacific region could see more typhoons, impacting China, which has already endured severe weather. The WMO urges immediate preparation and sharing of information to support vulnerable populations. The consequences of El Niño are already evident in the Panama Canal, a vital global trade route. Due to severe drought and low rainfall, the canal authority has reduced the number of ships passing through, impacting global shipping. Richard Meade, editor-in-chief at Lloyd's List, describes the current maritime trade environment as the most disrupted in living memory, compounded by issues in the Black Sea and Red Sea. Freight rates are at all-time highs, with little sign of immediate relief. The program also touches upon migrant crossings. France has loaned a nearly thousand-year-old tapestry to Britain as a gesture of post-Brexit reconciliation, with the new UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham joking about its depiction of a northern leader seeking the crown. President Macron's visit to Britain highlights ongoing discussions on Ukraine, the Middle East, and the issue of small boats carrying migrants from France to the UK. While the UK government reports improved cooperation with France and a significant decrease in crossings this year, it remains a sensitive issue. A BBC investigation reveals that people smugglers are facing a shortage of small boats, forcing them to use fewer, larger vessels and charge more. Despite increased policing and cooperation, thousands continue to make the perilous journey. Further south, a boat drifting for weeks near Spain's Canary Islands was found with five dead bodies and 44 survivors, with fears that dozens more, including a baby, may have perished. The 128 people on board had departed from Gambia, and the survivors, predominantly sub-Saharan African men, are receiving medical treatment. The route from West Africa to the Canary Islands is one of the deadliest crossings, with over 5,000 migrants successfully making the journey so far this year, though this is less than half the number from the previous year. Finally, the podcast explores the introduction of driverless taxis in London. Uber has added robo-taxis to its UK app, with a human safety driver present. While this technology has been in development for nearly a decade, regulatory hurdles and the complexities of busy city driving, such as navigating emergency services, are still being addressed. Companies like Wave, Waymo, and Baidu are competing in this nascent market. During a test ride, a safety driver had to intervene when a van suddenly opened its doors, highlighting the ongoing challenges in ensuring the complete safety and reliability of autonomous vehicles.