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Iran's chief negotiator has cast fresh doubt on whether a second round of peace talks with the United States will go ahead in Pakistan. Mohammed Bagher Qalibaf said Tehran would not accept negotiations under the shadow of threats, and was prepared to show "new cards on the battlefield". The US vice president, JD Vance, is expected to lead the American delegation. Also: outrage after a social media image shows an Israeli soldier hitting a statue of Jesus with a sledgehammer in southern Lebanon. O...
The US military says it has intercepted an Iranian-flagged cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman as part of its naval blockade. Iran has promised to retaliate. The announcement came after the White House confirmed US Vice-President JD Vance would lead another delegation for a second round of talks on ending the war with Iran in Pakistan. Tehran has not yet confirmed its attendance. Iranian state media has reported that officials will not participate while the US blockade remains in place. Also, a gunma...
Anthropic - one of Silicon Valley’s leading AI firms - recently announced that they have built a model which is too dangerous to be released to the public. Instead, they are only giving access to the model to a handful of big companies, to help them find security vulnerabilities.The company says the model has already found weak spots in “every major operating system and web browser”. Is this a genuine example of a company acting responsibly, or more of a carefully calibrated publicity move? We s...
Iran says its forces are in full control of the Strait of Hormuz and passage through the vital oil waterway would remain restricted, unless the US removed its blockade of Iranian ports. President Trump has said the US will continue to stop ships going to or coming from Iran until a peace deal is agreed. Tehran warned any vessels approaching the shipping lane would be "targeted". Also: Hezbollah has denied being responsible for an attack that killed a French UN peacekeeper in southern Lebanon. Po...
We meet the man helping to tackle loneliness by offering strangers somewhere to sit and chat. Dean Perryman started the Empty Chairs project, honouring the memory of his best friend. After he posted the concept online, it has been replicated around the world. Also: How technology has allowed a dancer with a muscle-wasting disease to see herself performing on stage again. A headset allowed Breanna Olson to control a digital avatar with her brainwaves in real time. Plus, we meet the 95-year-old sw...
President Trump has again insisted that Tehran is ready to hand over its enriched uranium as part of a deal to end the war, despite Iran saying no such agreement is in place, and that its nuclear material is "going nowhere". Iran says the Strait of Hormuz is open - but shipping companies have been warned to steer clear. Tehran threatens to shut the key shipping lane once more if the United States continues its blockade of Iranian ports, hours after the waterway was announced as reopened followin...
A 10-day pause in the fighting between Israeli forces and Hezbollah has led to tens of thousands of displaced Lebanese families returning home. Despite the ceasefire, Israel has said it reserves the right to continue targeting the Iran-backed militant group. It also says civilians could be forced to move again. Also: finance ministers and central bankers express concern about a powerful new AI model that could undermine financial systems. Large crowds gather in Douala, Cameroon's biggest city, ...
A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon has come into effect after it was brokered by the United States. Hezbollah have indicated they will observe the truce, though Israeli troops are to remain in Lebanese areas they have occupied. Iran has welcomed the development but wants a full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon. President Trump says Iran has agreed to hand over its enriched uranium, one of the key sticking points in negotiations to bring the war to an end. Fresh talks, he said, could re...
In unusually forceful political remarks, Pope Leo has said the world is "being ravaged by a handful of tyrants". Addressing a crowd during his visit to a region of Cameroon affected by a separatist insurgency, the head of the Roman Catholic Church condemned the people who -- he said -- manipulated "the very name of God" for their own gain. Also: a Lebanese official has told the BBC that President Joseph Aoun is not planning to speak to the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu - despite ear...
This episode delves into various global news topics, starting with the delicate US-Iran peace negotiations, mediation efforts, and the US administration's economic pressure tactics. It then shifts to a major fire at an Australian oil refinery, raising concerns about fuel supply. Other segments include a landmark US court ruling against Live Nation and Ticketmaster for operating an illegal monopoly in the live music industry, and Africa's significant strides in measles vaccination. The podcast also explores the controversial topic of patient requests for unvaccinated blood and Sweden's innovative decision to revert to traditional pen-and-paper learning in schools. Finally, new research examines how birth order might affect health.
Iran warns that it will block trade through the Red Sea as well as the Gulf and the Sea of Oman, if the United States continues its own blockade of Iranian ports and shipping. The head of the Iranian military command centre says the US blockade is a prelude to a violation of the ceasefire. Also: a day after peace talks in Washington between Israel and Lebanon, the Iranian backed group, Hezbollah, and Israel exchange fire again. On the third anniversary of the civil war in Sudan, an international...
Sudan marks the third anniversary of its civil war. The fighting has led to a de facto partition of the country and created the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. The conflict was triggered by a power struggle between the regular army and paramilitary fighters, the Rapid Support Forces. Peace efforts led by the Americans have failed, as both warring parties get support from regional powers that enables them to keep fighting. Sudan’s economy has collapsed; 65 per cent of the population is in ne...
China has described the US blockade of Iranian ports as "irresponsible and dangerous". The measure came into force on Monday, after peace talks failed over the weekend. Beijing's foreign ministry said Washington's actions would undermine the current ceasefire and further jeopardise the safety of ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump said he ordered the blockade to force Iran to give up its nuclear ambitions. Analysts say the move is also designed to put pressure on China --...
This episode covers US-Iran tensions and naval blockades, with Vice President Vance suggesting renewed talks while accusing Iran of "economic terrorism." The conflict's volatile impact on global markets and inflation is examined, noting Russia's benefit. Other major stories include President Trump's public disagreement with Pope Leo, Colombia's plan to cull invasive hippos, a BBC exposé on life-threatening malpractice in a Pakistani hospital, and the dismissal of Trump's defamation lawsuit. Finally, the podcast discusses Hollywood's opposition to a studio merger and Duolingo's controversial "taxi test" for senior hires, raising questions of fairness.
This episode covers Pope Leo's refusal to debate Donald Trump amidst criticism over war and immigration, alongside the US imposing a blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, raising oil prices and escalating tensions with Iran. Domestically, Hungary's new Prime Minister, Peter Modjo, pledges a fresh start after Viktor Orban's rule, with implications for EU relations and support for Ukraine. The podcast also highlights a concerning rise in executions in Iran, accusations of China poisoning waters in the South China Sea, and features a heartwarming story about an eight-year-old's zero-gravity indicator toy used in NASA's Artemis Moon mission.
Péter Magyar, leader of the Tisza party, has promised closer ties with the European Union - and an anti-corruption drive - after winning the Hungarian election. The 45-year-old defeated Viktor Orbán, of the Fidesz party, who had ruled the country for 16 years. Also, Iran has said it won't submit to threats from the US after President Trump said the American military would start blockading the Strait of Hormuz from Monday afternoon. Peru's election authority says it will be reopening some polls a...
This episode delves into a BBC investigation revealing the devastating impact of dopamine agonist drugs, which can cause severe impulse control disorders in patients. Through the story of Charlene, who developed hypersexuality and other compulsions, the report highlights how these personality-altering side effects often go undiagnosed due to inadequate warnings from doctors and drug manufacturers, despite research confirming their prevalence. The discussion also explores the ethical challenges, legal complexities, and the urgent need for clearer disclosure to empower patients to make informed decisions and reduce the pervasive stigma.
Marathon talks between senior US and Iranian officials on ending the Middle East conflict have ended in failure. Speaking after the negotiations in Pakistan, US Vice President, JD Vance, said they could not reach an agreement, and he was leaving after putting forward a 'final and best offer'. Iran said the talks were 'intensive' but the US made 'unreasonable demands'. Meanwhile, Israel has continued to attack the Iranian proxy militia, Hezbollah in Lebanon with more than 20 people reported to ha...
The mayor of Ingersoll beams with pride at the Canadian town being represented on Artemis II. Ingersoll is home to 15,000 people, including the astronaut Jeremy Hansen - who is the mission specialist. Also, we speak to two former NASA astronauts about why the Artemis II mission has gripped people around the world. Plus, the garden designed to support people with Parkinson's disease. It will go on display in May at the British Chelsea Flower Show, and then find its roots at a specialist hospital....
Nasa's four Artemis astronauts: commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen have safely returned to Earth, after a nine-day mission around the Moon. Officials say the crew are "feeling great" and will now undergo full medical checks. The Orion module carrying the team back to Earth splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on schedule after a six-minute communications blackout. Nasa officials say teams in the Houston control room m...
Islamabad warns that the gap between the negotiating positions of the US and Iran remains wide. Each has accused the other of breaking the terms of the tentative ceasefire agreed this week. Also: on the first visit by a Taiwanese opposition leader to China in a decade, Cheng Li-Wun meets the Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. Her trip has provoked fierce debate back home in Taiwan with many accusing her of cosying up to the communist party on the mainland. As we've previously reported, US ...
The Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian says Israel's attacks on Lebanon violate the ceasefire agreement with the United States, and warns that upcoming negotiations will be meaningless if strikes continue. In Beirut, rescue workers are searching through rubble for people missing after Wednesday's bombardments. The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to keep attacking the Iran-backed group Hezbollah "wherever necessary". Where does this leave peace talks, currently planned for ...
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard says it will deliver a "regret-inducing response" if Israeli strikes on Lebanon don't stop immediately, according to state media. Lebanese officials say Israel has killed more than 250 people in a wave of attacks targeting Hezbollah that brought down several buildings in Beirut. The US and Israel say Lebanon is not included in the ceasefire deal. Despite the internet blackout in most of Iran, we look at how Iranians have been reacting to the two-week ceasefire. An...
As a fragile ceasefire begins, both the United States and Iran claim victory. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth says Iran will no longer enrich uranium, and that Operation Epic Fury has destroyed Tehran's ability to build missiles or other sophisticated weaponry. Iran has broadcast triumphant messages of victory on state TV, warning that "the slightest mistake by the enemy will be met with full force". Despite statements from Iran and mediators Pakistan that fighting will cease on all fronts, Is...
A temporary two-week ceasefire has been agreed between the US, Israel, and Iran, leading to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and a drop in oil prices, though conditions and interpretations of the deal remain contentious. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe faces major divisions over proposed constitutional amendments to extend the president's term, and a 14-year-old is making political history by running for governor in Vermont.
President Trump has warned that "a whole civilisation will die tonight", as his deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz approaches. Iran's Revolutionary Guards have said they'll retaliate beyond the Middle East, and deprive the US and its allies of oil and gas if Washington crosses 'red lines'. Also, the US Vice-President, JD Vance, is in Hungary, trying to bolster the campaign of Prime Minister Victor Orban's party in advance of Sunday's parliamentary elections; the organisers of the B...
The Artemis II astronauts have travelled farther from Earth than any human in history and successfully looped around the far side of the Moon. The NASA crew is now on its way back home after taking photographs of the lunar surface and witnessing a solar eclipse. Also: Donald Trump dismisses concerns that the US targeting civilian infrastructure in Iran could be a war crime; the BBC gets special access to a siezed scam compound in Myanmar; Albanian environmentalists protest against Ivanka Trump's...
This episode delves into several pressing global issues, starting with the assassination of Iran's Revolutionary Guards intelligence chief and the resulting regional tensions. It also provides an update on the Ukraine war, highlighting both civilian impacts and a unique theatre program aiding veteran recovery. The podcast further explores rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula, NASA's Artemis II mission around the Moon, India's unconventional border security measures, and the potential for island nations to leverage offshore wind power for energy independence.
Donald Trump has changed the deadline for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to Tuesday, and threatened to bomb Iran's bridges and power plants if his demands are ignored. Tehran has dismissed the warnings as "nonsense". And US forces have rescued the missing American aviator whose fighter jet was shot down in southern Iran. Also: The challenges that autistic children and their parents face in Malawi. Sponsors pull out of Britain's Wireless music festival because Kanye West is headlining. And...
President Trump has given Iran 48 hours to make a deal or open up the Strait of Hormuz - an ultimatum Tehran has rejected. Both countries are trading threats to unleash "hell" as the search continues for a missing American aviator. The diplomatic fallout has also seen the US revoke the green cards of two women thought to be related to the late Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani. We'll get analysis from our correspondents on the ground and a military expert. Also: Bangladesh launches an emergency...
