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A day after the US's indictment of former Cuban president Raul Castro, Secretary of State Marco Rubio says Havana has accepted an offer of $100m in aid but that the chances of a negotiated settlement was "not high". Could the US be considering an imminent invasion of Cuba? Also on the programme: Amid a growing number of cases, a hospital treating Ebola patients in Congo is set on fire; and the new research suggesting that Beluga whales recognise their own reflections. (Photo: Rubio speaks to the...
The US Justice Department has indicted Cuba's former leader, Raul Castro, on criminal charges. The allegations centre on a Cuban military offensive against US civilian aircraft in 1996. The planes were operated by an organisation called Brothers to the Rescue and were searching for people who wanted to leave the island, when they were shot down by the Cuban military, which was led by Castro at the time. We get the latest from the BBC’s Cuba correspondent. Also on the programme: Israel's far-righ...
Why was the Ebola outbreak able to spread so quickly? We speak to the co-chair of the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response about Ebola testing shortfalls in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Also on the programme: we examine the relationship between Russia and China as Vladimir Putin fails to reach a gas pipeline deal during a visit to Beijing. Plus, we hear why the Tyrannosaurus Rex had such short arms. (Picture: A health worker takes the temperature of an M23 rebel in Goma,...
The episode details the escalating Ebola crisis in DR Congo, exacerbated by conflict and US global health funding cuts. It highlights an innovative brain aneurysm surgery and covers a controversial presidential pardon in Honduras, plus a Spanish magnate's son's arrest. Geopolitical analysis includes Putin's China visit and asymmetrical relations. A distressing report from Afghanistan reveals a severe hunger crisis, forcing families to sell children. The program concludes with Arsenal's Premier League victory and the scientific explanation of mysterious humpback whale sounds.
The World Health Organisation has sent six tonnes of medical supplies to the Democratic Republic of Congo as it continues to sound the alarm over the scale of the Ebola outbreak in central Africa. We hear why the authorities are battling against the widespread local belief that symptoms are caused not by the Ebola virus, but witchcraft. Also, a look ahead to today's primary contests in the United States with Kentucky becoming the most expensive race ever, and the former President of Honduras, Ju...
A deadly outbreak of the Ebola virus is spreading in central Africa. We'll talk to a doctor with experience of both treating and contracting the disease. A report from Ukraine's "kill-zone". Elon Musk loses AI lawsuit against Sam Altman. and a survivor of the Blitz on her recollections of the horrors of that bombing campaign on the UK.
The BBC News Hour reports on a public health emergency due to an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, highlighting the challenges of containment without vaccines and the need for community trust. The program also delves into the impact of drone warfare on soldiers in Ukraine and discusses the UK's evolving political debate around rejoining the European Union after a decade of Brexit. Additionally, it examines the alarming rise in executions in Iran, the controversial public role of Sierra Leone's First Lady, and the severe energy and medical crises in Cuba exacerbated by the US blockade.
Ukraine sent nearly 600 drones into Russia overnight, the biggest single attack on the country since the start of the war. Targets in Moscow and a patrol ship in the Caspian Sea were hit, with at least four killed in the offensive. We hear from The Economist's Shashank Joshi about the significance of the strikes, and from Russia analyst Professor Nina Khrushcheva about how President Putin might respond. Also in the programme: The Democratic Republic of the Congo fights to contain a deadly Ebola ...
A rescue diver from the Maldives has died after searching for the bodies of five Italians who were exploring an underwater cave. The team from Italy were diving at depths that are not permitted for recreational divers. We hear from a government spokesperson about the rescue operation and from a former military diver about the conditions in the cave. Also on the programme: more than 50 children have been abducted in Nigeria; and the Eurovision 2026 finals take place in Vienna. (Photo: A police bo...
Nigeria and the United States say they have killed a senior Islamic State leader in a joint operation. Abu-Bilal al-Minuki oversaw IS-linked activities across Africa and was declared a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by Washington in 2023. We speak to a spokesperson for the Nigerian president and a regional security expert. Also on the programme: where has this week's US-China summit left Taiwan?; and the Swiss bus service on the road to nowhere. (Photo: Nigerian soldiers walk past militar...
The episode delves into the complex US-Cuba relationship, discussing a rare CIA visit amid US reports of indicting Raul Castro and the severe impact of fuel blockades on Cuban daily life. It also examines a new Ebola outbreak in the DRC with fears of regional spread and vaccine challenges. Further discussions include a major strike at Samsung Electronics, the strategic rivalry between the US and China through the lens of the Thucydides Trap, the emergence of nationalist vigilante groups in Russia, and the ongoing efforts by French museums to repatriate art looted during WWII. Finally, the program highlights how AI can be a transformative tool for musicians facing physical challenges.
US President Donald Trump left Beijing after a two-day summit saying he had struck "fantastic trade deals, great for both countries", but few details have emerged on what the two superpowers agreed. President Trump, who's flying back from a summit in Beijing, says he doesn't think there's a risk of conflict between the US and China over Taiwan. Also on the programme: US media reports say Washington is preparing criminal charges against the ninety-four-year-old former Cuban leader, Raul Castro; a...
Is the United Kingdom on the verge of replacing another Prime Minister? The incumbent Sir Keir Starmer faces fresh challenges to his leadership today, beginning with the resignation of his Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who has already called on the Prime Minister to step down after disastrous local election results last week. Meanwhile, the Mayor of Manchester, Andy Burnham, says he's going to stand for election to return to Parliament, and he could challenge Mr Starmer if he wins that by-elec...
This episode covers President Trump's visit to China, focusing on US-China relations, the sensitive Taiwan issue, and China's strategic diplomacy. It also delves into the UK's political landscape following a key government resignation, the ongoing conflict in Lebanon, and a scientific warning regarding FIFA World Cup heat safety. Additionally, the podcast examines the political transition in Venezuela post-Maduro, including an interview with opposition figure Leopoldo Lopez, and explores new evidence of Neanderthal dentistry.
President Trump arrives in Beijing for a high-stakes summit, focusing on thorny issues such as trade, technology, and Taiwan, while also hoping for China's help with Iran. The episode delves into the complex power dynamics between the US and China, examining economic strength, military might, and soft power. Other segments include an ICC arrest warrant for a Filipino senator, a study on prenatal taste development, the deepening Israel-UAE security alliance, and the UK's ongoing political instability. Finally, it recounts the dramatic story of Alex Batty's abduction and return, and pays tribute to Nigerian actor Alex Akubo.
President Trump arrives in China, the first US president to go there in nearly a decade. We'll look at how the balance of power has shifted since then and how Chinese perceptions of America have also changed. Also in the programme: on the day of the King’s Speech to Parliament setting out the next legislative programme, speculation mounts that a senior minister will challenge Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer for the leadership; and the stricken love letters of the English romantic poet John...
Keir Starmer's position as Britain's Prime Minister is looking increasingly uncertain. He's said it's business as usual, but a succession of his junior ministers have now resigned. Also on the programme: A suggestion of a huge breakthrough in the treatment of H.I.V; and the crime writer Patricia Cornwell on why she felt compelled to write a memoir. (Photo: Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer meets construction apprentices in London. Credit: Reuters/Toby Melville/Pool)
The UK's Prime Minister Keir Starmer is still fighting for his political life amid open revolt in his own party; do the rebels have the numbers to oust him - or can he hang on? Also in the programme: a special report from Khartoum three years into Sudan's civil war, where land mines are hampering aid efforts; how enjoying cultural activities can help slow down biological ageing; and - a propos - we have an appreciation of Shostakovich's first symphony, 100 years after its premiere in Leningrad. ...
President Donald Trump has dismissed Iran's response to US proposals to end the war as "totally unacceptable". Iran's semi-official news agency, Tasnim, said Tehran's proposal included an immediate end to the war on all fronts and a halt to the US naval blockade of Iranian ports and guarantees of no further attacks on Iran. We speak to a former Australian prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, about the conflict and what role China could play in ending it. Also in the programme: we report on the orig...
