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

I'm Andrew Peach and in the early hours of Thursday the 1st of August,

these are our main stories. A defiant Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel has delivered crushing blows to all its enemies.

Iran vows to avenge the killing of the Hamas political leader

and will get reaction from the father of an Israeli hostage.

Also in this podcast the contested Venezuelan election as seen by international observers

and...

She was always of Indian heritage and she was only promoting Indian

heritage I didn't know she was black until a number of years ago when she happened

to turn black and now she wants to be known as black.

Donald Trump questions Kamala Harris's racial identity at an event for black journalists.

The Israeli government says it's on extremely high alert following the

killing of a senior Hamas leader Isma Hania in Tehran and a commander of the

Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia in Beirut.

Speaking on television in his first public statement since the strikes, Israel's Prime Minister

Benjamin Netanyahu didn't mention Mr. Haneyer, but said Israel would settle its

score with anyone who harmed it.

Anyone who harmed it.

Anyone who slaughters our children, anyone who murders our citizens, anyone who

anyone who hit our country, his blood beyond his own head.

Citizens of Israel, challenging days, lie ahead.

Since the strike in Beirut there are threats sounding from all directions.

...