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

I'm Valerie Sanderson, and in the early hours of Thursday the 17th of July, these are our main stories.

The Syrian government has started to withdraw its forces from the southern province and city of Sweda.

Following Israel's bombing of Syria in defence, it says, of the Druze minority living there.

President Trump has denied he's about to fire the chairman

of the US Federal Reserve Jerome Powell after reports that sent bank shares sliding. British doctors

have announced that eight babies have been born using genetic material from three people

in order to prevent devastating and often fatal conditions.

Also in this podcast, The Large Rock from Mars.

It's a fantastic rock. It's huge. Yes, it would be great if it was in a museum for people to see.

If it was part of a scientific collective for analyses to be done.

But it is something that is worth quite a lot.

And it's sold at auction for $5.3 million.

As we record this podcast, Syria says its army has begun to withdraw

from the predominantly Drew City of Sweda after days of deadly clashes.

According to Syria, it comes after an earlier ceasefire agreement, following an operation in the city against what it called outlaw groups.

This was the moment when a presenter on Syria TV had to run and duck for cover after one of the Israeli

airstrikes hit a building behind her.

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