Bernadette Keogh

While some agencies, such as the Department of Transport, have told staff to respond, others, including the FBI and the Department of Defence, have told their staff to hold off on replying. Here's our North America correspondent, John Sudworth.

While some agencies, such as the Department of Transport, have told staff to respond, others, including the FBI and the Department of Defence, have told their staff to hold off on replying. Here's our North America correspondent, John Sudworth.

John Sudworth. It's long been accepted that if you're paralysed from a spinal cord injury, it's incurable. But the results of a medical trial using electronic stimulation therapy has produced some very interesting results. It was a very small study, just 10 participants.

John Sudworth. It's long been accepted that if you're paralysed from a spinal cord injury, it's incurable. But the results of a medical trial using electronic stimulation therapy has produced some very interesting results. It was a very small study, just 10 participants.

Over a year, they took part in regular physical rehab sessions, hooked up to pads which transmitted electrical pulses into the dormant spine. Claire Trevedi was paralysed when a group of abnormal blood vessels in her spinal cord burst. She explains the effects the trial has had on her.

Over a year, they took part in regular physical rehab sessions, hooked up to pads which transmitted electrical pulses into the dormant spine. Claire Trevedi was paralysed when a group of abnormal blood vessels in her spinal cord burst. She explains the effects the trial has had on her.

Tara Stewart is chair of Spinal Research, which funded the pilot. Tara also took part in the trial after a horse riding accident left her paralysed from the chest down.

Tara Stewart is chair of Spinal Research, which funded the pilot. Tara also took part in the trial after a horse riding accident left her paralysed from the chest down.

Tara Stewart. To China now, where the government is taking on a unique approach to encourage couples to get married. Rates of marriage are currently the lowest they've been since record-keeping began in 1986, with just over six million couples tying the knot in 2024, over a million less than the year before. Celia Hatton's been looking at this for us.

Tara Stewart. To China now, where the government is taking on a unique approach to encourage couples to get married. Rates of marriage are currently the lowest they've been since record-keeping began in 1986, with just over six million couples tying the knot in 2024, over a million less than the year before. Celia Hatton's been looking at this for us.

So they're blaming the cost and the extravagance that these things are a deterrent to people getting married?

So they're blaming the cost and the extravagance that these things are a deterrent to people getting married?

And why do the authorities think more young people should get married? Why do they believe in marriage so much?

And why do the authorities think more young people should get married? Why do they believe in marriage so much?

Celia Hatton. The American jazz and soul singer Roberta Flack has died at the age of 88. She won four Grammys during a career that spanned some five decades. But in 2022, it was announced that she was suffering from ALS, a form of motor neurone disease that left her unable to sing. Electra Naismith looks back at her life.

Celia Hatton. The American jazz and soul singer Roberta Flack has died at the age of 88. She won four Grammys during a career that spanned some five decades. But in 2022, it was announced that she was suffering from ALS, a form of motor neurone disease that left her unable to sing. Electra Naismith looks back at her life.

Elettrin A. Smith on the life of soul icon Roberta Flack, who's died at the age of 88. A marathon runner has set a new Guinness World Record for completing the course on crutches. Chris Terrell, who was 72 when he ran the Brighton Marathon last April, finished it in six hours, 11 minutes and 11 seconds. Our correspondent Ben Schofield has been to meet him in Brighton in southern England.

Elettrin A. Smith on the life of soul icon Roberta Flack, who's died at the age of 88. A marathon runner has set a new Guinness World Record for completing the course on crutches. Chris Terrell, who was 72 when he ran the Brighton Marathon last April, finished it in six hours, 11 minutes and 11 seconds. Our correspondent Ben Schofield has been to meet him in Brighton in southern England.

Ben Schofield reporting. And that's all from us for now, but there'll be a new edition of the Global News podcast later. If you want to comment on this podcast or the topics covered in it, you can send us an email. The address is globalpodcast at bbc.co.uk. You can also find us on X at BBC World Service. Use the hashtag Global News Pod.

Ben Schofield reporting. And that's all from us for now, but there'll be a new edition of the Global News podcast later. If you want to comment on this podcast or the topics covered in it, you can send us an email. The address is globalpodcast at bbc.co.uk. You can also find us on X at BBC World Service. Use the hashtag Global News Pod.