The World Tonight

Meta denies claims it "chose to exploit" young people to hook them on its platforms. The trial, which begins this week, stems from a lawsuit filed in 2023 by 30 US states. California’s Attorney General Rob Bonta explains why they brought to case against the tech giant.
Also in the programme: Virgin's plan to run a rival rail service to Eurostar through the Channel Tunnel moves a step closer. And Reform UK says it has plans to save more than £50bn a year from the welfare bill - but will the plans be popular with those currently supporting the party?

Friends of Jason Arday have spoken of their shock, following the death of the academic.
Also on the programme: a South Wales fire chief tells us why he needed to call in support from the army; five years after the Taliban swept back into Afghanistan's capital, one journalist tells us why she fled to Britain; and we discuss 'Tony', the new film about chef turned broadcaster, Anthony Bourdain.

Counting is underway – but will Nigel Farage win, or Count Binface? We speak to the satirical alter ego of comedian Jon Harvey.
Also in the programme: Nurses complain of "inhumane" conditions in hospitals as the heatwave results in NHS staff dripping in sweat from "head to toe". And luxury department store Harvey Nichols has been bought by the owner of Sports Direct, Mike Ashley – but can he resurrect the ailing business?

On a day when amateur eclipse chasers gaze toward the sky across Iceland and Spain, we join enthusiasts enjoying the spectacle in a packed London park. 
Also in the programme: two Palestinian families are besieged by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank. And with much of the UK on high alert for fire, one MP urges Andy Burnham to consider a national ban on the sale of disposable barbecues.

The Prime Minister says he wants the killers of PC Andrew Harper to stay behind bars. How will he do it? We ask a senior law professor who advised the government on how to manage early prisoner releases.
As Simon Levy is set to be sentenced tomorrow, the BBC has spoken to a victim who asks why her own case wasn't enough to stop the rapist and murderer from committing further crimes.
Just how unprecedented was President Trump's Air Force One sleight of hand as he left the NATO summit in Turkey?
And the Hallmark Channel has been tugging heartstrings for 25 years. We'll explore the secret of its longevity.