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

I'm Jonat Jalil and in the early hours of Saturday the 4th of January, these are our main stories.

In a nail-biting vote, the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, who's been backed by Donald Trump, narrowly holds onto his job.

President Joe Biden blocks the takeover of America's third biggest steelmaker by a Japanese company.

Hamas says that indirect negotiations with Israel have resumed in Qatar for a ceasefire in Gaza

and the release of Israeli hostages.

Awesome in this podcast.

Hey, Siri.

Uh-huh.

Have you been recording my private conversations?

Sorry, I don't understand.

The tech giant Apple agrees to pay a settlement of $95 million after users accused its virtual assistant Siri of spying on them.

We begin in Washington at the U.S. Capitol.

The Honorable Mike Johnson of the state of Louisiana, having received a majority of the votes cast,

is duly elected Speaker of the House of Representatives for the 119th Congress.

Where the Republican Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives managed to snatch the narrowest of victories from the jaws of defeat.

There was confusion on Friday, as it seemed that

Mike Johnson, who's been backed by US President-elect Donald Trump, had lost the vote to remain in his

role, with a handful of Republicans in the lower chamber voting against him or abstaining. But then

after huddled discussions, nearly all of them changed their minds,

giving Mr. Johnson 218 votes the lowest possible number for him to be re-elected to his post.

After the vote, he took to the House floor. What we're proposing now is just simply, as President

...