This is the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service.

I'm Valerie Sanderson and at 1300-hour GMT on Monday the 2nd of September,

these are our main stories.

Israel's biggest trade union says hundreds of thousands of people joined its general strike

aimed at forcing the government to secure a hostage release deal with Hamas.

Germany's government tells mainstream parties not to work with the

far-right AFD who've won a state election. Mexico's outgoing president

Andres Manuel Lopez-Obrador defends his legacy as he attempts to push through a controversial reorganization

of the judiciary.

Also in this podcast, our correspondent has travelled to Ukraine's border with Russia to meet the latest recruits

from Ukraine as they prepare to join the fighting on Russian territory.

And how boys are besieged by violent content on social media.

I've tried like putting a little not interested thing,

but then three videos later you'll get another one.

It ruins your mood, it makes you a bit numb,

like desensitizes you to everything.

We begin in Israel where a general strike was called by the country's largest

union to pressurize

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu into agreeing a ceasefire deal

after the bodies of six hostages were recovered by soldiers in Gaza on Sunday.

Hundreds of thousands of people have been taking part across the country. Businesses were shut down and highways blockaded. The Ben-Gerena International Airport in Tel Aviv was operating with reduced staff. This was the response of one traveler.

We plan to go on a wave to Greece for a one week holiday.

...