Fully automated frontlines? Robots on the battlefield? Drones fighting drones? The Ukraine war has been transformed from an old-fashioned trench war to a modern one in a matter of years. On this episode of the podcast, Richard talks to Professor Phillips O’Brien, a defence expert and head of international relations at St Andrews University - an expert on the Ukraine war. He tells Richard how Ukraine's frontlines have developed with the use of tech and how Ukraine is now able to strike deep into ...
May 20, 2026•40 min
A US President has not been to China since Donald Trump’s last trip nine years ago, so what will happen when Xi Jinping rolls out the red carpet for him again? Could there be progress made in Iran, Taiwan, or rare earth minerals? Yalda tells Richard what her contacts in the region are making of the meeting and where the war in Iran might be heading. Richard also details some of his reporting in the West Bank, in light of the New York Times investigation which alleges Israeli forces committed cri...
May 13, 2026•25 min
More than eight weeks into the war in Iran, an unlikely country has emerged as the go-between for the two sides: Pakistan. How did General Asim Munir emerge as both the Trump and Iran whisperer? Yalda explains to Richard how this came about and why India may feel sidelined. Richard also tells Yalda about the fear of Israeli extremists felt by some members of Jerusalem's Christian community. He has spoken to religious leaders following the attack by a 36-year-old man on a nun. A man has been arre...
May 06, 2026•34 min
On Saturday 25 April armed terrorists rode into the capital of Mali in West Africa. Al Qaeda affiliated jihadists now say they are going to launch a total siege of the capital – home to some four million people. Who are these jihadists? What do they want? And could Mali be about to fall? Yalda speaks to Yousra Elbagir, Sky’s Africa correspondent, about the growing threat of jihadism in West Africa and why the world needs to pay attention - because what happens in Africa does not stay there. Mean...
Apr 29, 2026•42 min
With Trump saying the ceasefire with Iran is 'extended', how could this conflict end? And what are the long-term implications for the region, and who will dominate – Israel or Iran? Richard is joined by Hamidreza Azizi, an Iranian analyst and Visiting Fellow at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs in Berlin. He has spent much of his career in Iran, studying the regime, and talks at length about the current war, its origins and what could happen next in the Middle East. The...
Apr 22, 2026•36 min
On Wednesday 8 April, more than 300 people were killed after Israel launched ‘100 strikes in 10 minutes’ in Lebanon during what is being dubbed ‘Black Wednesday’. What exactly unfolded that day? Yalda has spent time with those who witnessed the attacks and shares with Richard what they have been telling her. While a shaky ceasefire remains in place between Iran and the US, no such ceasefire exists between Lebanon and Israel although talks are underway between the two countries in Washington. Ric...
Apr 15, 2026•32 min
Is Trump winding down the war or just playing for time? Did Netanyahu just reveal his grand plan for the Middle East? And how is the conflict is playing out in Lebanon? Yalda is in Beirut where Israeli bombs continue to devastate the capital. She has spent time in residential areas that have been largely destroyed and spoken to people living there. Is this the Israeli next front line? Meanwhile Richard is in Tel Aviv where he managed to speak to Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a pr...
Mar 25, 2026•36 min
Sky News International Affairs Editor Dominic Waghorn and his team are currently some of the only international journalists inside Iran. The internet is sporadic but they managed to connect with Yalda to bring her news from straight from Iranian capital Tehran. The team were there to witness the Israeli air strike that killed Iran's security chief Ali Larijani. They were able to see the thousands of supporters take to the streets for his funeral and have spoken to ordinary Iranians about the con...
Mar 19, 2026•28 min
Is Israel about to occupy Lebanon? Why is Donald Trump sending more troops to the Middle East? And what is it actually like reporting from an active war zone? Yalda and Richard discuss the latest developments in Iran and what the killing of the country's security chief Ali Larijani could mean for any peace process. They assess the reaction of the Gulf states to the war and look at how possibly putting troops on the ground could affect the conflict. Meanwhile, Israel says its forces have begun “l...
Mar 18, 2026•34 min
Who is the new Iranian leader and will he make a difference to the conflict? Trump says the war is "won" but do his team agree? And who is set to gain from the war in Iran? Yalda is in Qatar and Richard is in Tel Aviv for this week's episode. Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al Thani has told Yalda he wants a diplomatic solution to the conflict and has told Iran to stop the attacks in the region. The pair discuss what the conflict means for the Gulf States and Richard gives...
Mar 11, 2026•35 min
What happens next in Iran? Will there be regime change? And what are the actual objectives of Israel and America? Yalda and Richard are both in Israel as the conflict in the region ramps up. Both have been reporting on the ground and working their contacts to find out what the American and Israeli strategy is. As the death toll in Iran climbs, and the Americans say the biggest hits are yet to come, just what happens next? The two of them will answer listeners' questions, so write to them at thew...
Mar 04, 2026•27 min
Can you carry out regime change without boots on the ground? Will President Trump walk away now the Supreme Leader is dead? Does this feel like 2003 all over again? Richard has been in Israel watching events unfold. He was in Tel Aviv when Israel and America launched strikes against Iran which ultimately led to the killing of Ayatollah Khamenei and many members of the top command. In this special episode, Richard answers some questions about the situation and what might happen next. He will be b...
Mar 01, 2026•20 min
Ken Burns is one of America's most successful documentary filmmakers. Ahead of the 250th anniversary of American independence later this year, he sits down with Yalda in this extra episode to reflect on where the US has come from, as well as the current state of the nation. Burns has been making films for more than 40 years, winning Emmys and Grammys, and has even had a film effect named after him - 'the Ken Burns'. His most recent project is a six-part series on the American Revolution that too...
Feb 26, 2026•36 min
What is Gaza like four months on from the ceasefire? Are Hamas still operating? Why won’t Israeli troops withdraw completely? And what about the Palestinians who have been forced to leave their homes? Richard has been taken into Gaza by the IDF, which is still the only way that international journalists are allowed into the Strip. He is shown a Hamas tunnel which the IDF says was used until recently. He also paints Yalda a picture of the complete destruction that he saw. The two also reflect on ...
Feb 25, 2026•38 min
Why did the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei just threaten to sink US warships? Is the progress made in the talks between America and Iran meaningful? What could happen next? US President Donald Trump has sent more military equipment towards Iran and has said regime change is the “best thing that could happen”. At the same time, Iranian officials have said that some progress has been made in indirect talks with America. So, what’s really going on? Richard and Yalda have both been talking to...
Feb 18, 2026•41 min
What is next for Iran? Did MI6 know about Peter Mandelson’s past with Epstein? How does Europe bring Putin to the negotiating table? When he left his job in 2025, the former head of MI6 said that he didn't think he’d left the world in a better place than when he was first appointed in 2020. But a lot has happened since he took the position, Sir Richard Moore has served two monarchs, four prime ministers, five deputy prime ministers and six foreign secretaries. He was also in charge of the securi...
Feb 10, 2026•39 min
What is the mood in Iran’s capital? Are people still protesting in the streets? What is the regime saying about what happened? Richard Engel is in Tehran for NBC News and tells Yalda what he is seeing and what officials are telling him. Because of the internet issues in Iran, Richard’s connection dropped off halfway through. Yalda then speaks about her exclusive interview with FIFA boss Gianni Infantino. When asked whether FIFA should lift its ban on Russia, he said it had "not achieved anything...
Feb 04, 2026•21 min
How does the Iranian regime use technology to control its people? How has AI and misinformation been used in the current wave of protests? The Iranian regime just implemented the longest internet shutdown in its history. For over two weeks, very little information was getting in or out of the country as security forces cracked down hard on protestors. Shutting off the internet is something the regime has done many times before. But why and how does it do it? Mahsa Alimardani is associate directo...
Jan 31, 2026•31 min
It's been a month since a wave of protests spread across Iran, followed by a brutal government crackdown. With the country under an internet blackout, it's still unclear how many have been killed - Richard and Yalda discuss what the death toll could be and we hear from one woman who shares what life is like inside Iran. With Trump’s Board of Peace now established, Richard and Yalda explain what it is, who is on it and whether it could ultimately rival the United Nations. Finally, as the United S...
Jan 28, 2026•35 min
Why does Donald Trump want Greenland so much? How is Europe reacting? Yalda is at Davos where the president insisted that America must have Greenland. He has announced a framework has been agreed with NATO, but that the details still need to be worked out. Yalda has been speaking to officials in Davos, who told her how betrayed they felt by the president. Yalda also speaks to foreign policy expert Richard Fontaine about how Washington is reacting to the president’s latest moves. Richard and Yald...
Jan 21, 2026•50 min
What does the Iranian diaspora want America to do? Do they want intervention? And what do they think is next for Iran? As protests continue across Iran and President Trump warns of consequences if the killing continues Yalda Hakim sits down with two Iranian American women to hear the views of the Iranian diaspora. In this extra episode of the World, she speaks to Azadeh Afsahi, a human rights activist and Moj Mahdara who set up the Iranian Diaspora Collective about their motherland, their relati...
Jan 16, 2026•29 min
US President Donald Trump says "help is on its way" to the protesters in Iran – but what does he mean? Will the president strike Iran? And what could actually happen if the regime falls? Protests in Iran have been spreading across the country for nearly two weeks. Why are tens of thousands of people out on the street? Richard and Yalda take stock of the fast-moving situation in Iran and try to make sense of what might happen next. The two of them have been speaking to their contacts from across ...
Jan 14, 2026•33 min
What is the real reason that Trump wanted to remove Nicolas Maduro? Could he be about to do the same thing in other countries? And why is he saying he “needs” Greenland? After the audacious events in Venezuela which saw President Nicolas Maduro removed by American special forces and taken to New York to face trial, Richard and Yalda discuss what could happen next in the region. Richard is in Colombia and tells Yalda what the mood is like in the neighbouring country. Yalda also talks about what i...
Jan 07, 2026•37 min
In this special Christmas episode, Richard and Yalda answer your questions. After a huge year in international news, the two reflect on the year that has been and what might be coming up in 2026. Questions include: What was the defining story of 2025? If you weren’t a journalist, what would you be? And how do you adjust to life after covering conflict? They also answer some more light hearted questions and reveal their favourite cocktails, cities and best cures for jet lag. You can also watch th...
Dec 24, 2025•28 min
What's next for Australia after the deadly Bondi Beach terrorist attack? Yalda grew up in Sydney and tells Richard about why Bondi is such a special place for her and Australians, as well as sharing how the country might recover after the horrific events. Yalda has also been speaking exclusively to the sons of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, who give her an update on the conditions their father is in. To hear the full interview with the sons, click here . To hear what the Pakistan go...
Dec 17, 2025•44 min
What is the truth behind that deepfake of Yalda? Why was it so inflammatory? A deepfake of Yalda and her guest went viral after it made the two women say something completely false. Yalda tells Richard exactly what happened and why these types of videos can be so dangerous. Yalda also gets to grips with the new powers granted to Pakistan’s military chief Asim Munir with the help of journalist and human rights activist, the British Pakistani woman Gul Bukhari. Richard and Yalda also break down Am...
Dec 10, 2025•47 min
Is Pakistan slipping into military rule? Why is the UN sounding the alarm about new changes to the country’s constitution? Will Imran Khan ever be released? Yalda breaks down exactly what is going on in Pakistan and speaks to one of Imran Khan's close advisors Zulfi Bukhari to get the latest on the former Prime Minister. Richard is in Ukraine and has an update as negotiations on a possible peace plan continue between America, Ukraine and Russia. But will President Putin accept the amendments Pre...
Dec 03, 2025•31 min
What is actually in the detail of the Ukraine plan? Will Russia agree to the EU and Ukraine's amendments? The leaked 28-point plan for peace in Ukraine which emerged last week was seen by many as capitulation to Russian demands. In response, European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy submitted their counter demands. Richard has been at the peace talks happening in Geneva and breaks down the US plan with Yalda. They go through the main sticking points: territory, military and NA...
Nov 26, 2025•28 min
Is this Mohammed bin Salman’s comeback tour? Mohammed bin Salman, the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, also known as MBS, is returning to the White House for the first time since the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018 at the country's consulate in Istanbul. US intelligence concluded that the crown prince approved the capture or killing of Khashoggi, a prominent critic. MBS has denied this but acknowledged responsibility as de-facto ruler. Plus, Richard, now back from Colombia, reve...
Nov 19, 2025•38 min
Donald Trump has moved a large amount of US military force to the Caribbean, but why? Trump recently referred to Colombia's left-wing president, Gustavo Petro, as "an illegal drug leader" and has ordered even more troops to the region. The US military has been bombing alleged "drug-boats" suspected of taking illegal drugs such as cocaine and fentanyl to the US, but are drugs just one part of the story? And how might it escalate? Richard is on the ground in Colombia where he explains how tensions...
Nov 12, 2025•34 min
