Episodes
Interviews, news and analysis of the day’s global events.
Published 04/23/24
Published 04/23/24
A new law in Britain aims to send people arriving on small boats to Rwanda to have their asylum claims processed. The Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the plan made clear that people who arrived in Britain illegally would not be able to stay. The United Nations says the bill is the wrong solution and sets a dangerous precedent. Also in the programme: What Ukrainian soldiers on the frontline think about the supply of new American weapons; and Aboriginal people reclaim spears taken from...
Published 04/23/24
An independent review of the UN's operations in Gaza says it needs to improve its neutrality. We ask the head of the review whether countries that suspended donations because of Israeli allegations should resume them. Also on the programme: US prosecutors have accused Donald Trump of a conspiracy over hush money paid to a porn actress at the start of his criminal trial in New York; and we speak to the first woman to run the London Marathon topless to deliberately show the scars from her...
Published 04/22/24
The head of Israel's military intelligence has resigned over his role in failing to stop the Hamas attacks on October the seventh. Aharon Haliva is the highest-ranking official to step down over the assault, in which about twelve hundred people were killed and more than two hundred others abducted. He said his department had not lived up to the task it was entrusted with. Also in the programme: we look at the impact of Hindu nationalism with our Newshour's correspondent Jamie Coomarasamy...
Published 04/22/24
In a bonus episode from Delhi, James Coomarasamy explores identity and politics in India as the country conducts the world’s biggest election. He’s joined by journalists Divya Arya and Rajesh Joshi.
Published 04/22/24
Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa is seeking support for tough measures to tackle gang violence, including plans for armed forces to work alongside police. We hear from Quito on the day of the vote, and ask how one of the safest countries in South America ended up with the region's highest recorded murder rate. Also in the programme: the ultra-orthodox battalion of the Israeli Defence Forces that may face US sanctions; and new plans in France to revitalise the national cuisine. (Photo: People...
Published 04/21/24
Ukraine's recent lack of air defence systems has been blamed for Russian forces capturing hundreds more square kilometres of Ukrainian territory. So what difference will the aid make? We speak a defence analyst and get reaction from the capital, Kyiv. Also on the programme: Newshour’s James Coomarasamy asks if India can stick to its ambitious plans to tackle climate change and develop renewable energy sources; and we ask if the government of Sierra Leone is serious about tackling the drug,...
Published 04/21/24
After months of wrangling, US politicians have agreed on a 60-billion-dollar aid package for war-torn Ukraine. We hear reaction from an MP for Ukraine's governing party and a former advisor to the US Republican Party. Also in the programme: the Zambian foreign minister explains why his country is seeking international aid to help deal with an unprecedented drought; and the courageous man who rescued hundreds of people during ethnic killings in the West Darfur region of Sudan. (PHOTO:...
Published 04/20/24
After months of delay, the US House of Representatives is poised to vote on tens of billions of dollars in American military aid for Ukraine and Israel. The aid could reshape Kyiv’s war effort. We hear from Kyiv where every minute counts. Also in the programme: we’ll hear from an anti-mass tourism protest in the Canary Islands; and how the ruling BJP has had a slick social media operation ahead of the elections there. Photo: Speaker of the House Mike Johnson at the US Capitol in Washington....
Published 04/20/24
Following a presumed Israeli retaliatory strike on Iran, the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken joins renewed international calls for de-escalation. Israel has not commented on the attack, which saw projectiles reach deep into Iran. Also on the programme: the US Congress moves closer to approving $60 billion of aid for Ukraine; in India voting begins in the world’s biggest election. (Picture: Antony Blinken at the G7 foreign ministers meeting in Capri, Italy, April 19, 2024.Credit:...
Published 04/19/24
US officials say Israel hit Iran with a missile overnight on Friday, in what appears to be a retaliatory strike after weeks of escalating tensions between the two countries. There are competing claims about the scale of the attack on the Isfahan region and the extent of any damage, with Iranian state media downplaying its significance. It comes after weeks of soaring tensions between the regional rivals, which have already seen an Israeli attack on an Iranian compound in Syria, and Iran...
Published 04/19/24
Germany summons Russian ambassador over arrest of two men suspected of spying for Moscow. We’ll ask if Russian espionage activities are spreading across Europe. Also in the programme, Washington reimposes partial sanctions on Venezuela; the animals in David Bowie’s music, but should nature get the royalties? (Photo: Exterior of Russian embassy in Berlin; Credit: Shutterstock)
Published 04/18/24
Qatar is reassessing its role as a mediator between Israel and Hamas, the country's prime minister has said. Qatar has had a key role - along with Egypt and the US - in trying to secure a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and the release of Israeli hostages. We also hear testimony from the ground in Gaza from Medical Aid for Palestinians and the experiences of an Israeli woman, Aviva Siegel who was taken hostage in October. Also on the programme: Votes are counted in the Solomon Islands amid...
Published 04/18/24
As fighting continues between the Burmese military and rebels in Myanmar, young men are fleeing into Thailand to avoid the draft. We have a special report from the Thai border. And we ask why Myanmar's military government has moved the detained former leader Aung San Suu Kyi from prison to house arrest. Also in the programme: the speaker of the US House of Representatives says legislators will hold a long-awaited vote on billions of dollars of aid to Ukraine on Saturday; and Ecuador is...
Published 04/17/24
The BBC has discovered that the body count was nearly 25% higher than in the first year of the war. This overall death toll is eight times higher than the only official public acknowledgement of fatality numbers ever given by Moscow in September 2022. Also on the programme: the military regime in Myanmar has moved the jailed opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi from prison to house arrest; we ask why has Dubai suffered a years worth of rain in just a few hours? And we'll hear from actor Tom...
Published 04/17/24
The Israeli military’s chief of staff said Tehran’s missile and drone attack would not go unanswered. But what could that look like? We speak to the former director of Israel’s spy agency, Mossad. Also on the programme: UK politicians vote to ban anyone born after 2009 from ever being able to buy cigarettes, and as the Indian elections approach, how has life for women changed under Prime Minister Modi’s decade in power? (Photo: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Credit: Ronen...
Published 04/16/24
President Modi has said that India is no longer seen as a nation of "snake charmers and black magic", thanks to the IT skills of its youth. But will this affect the election? Also on the programme: one of Denmark's most historic buildings, the old stock exchange, is engulfed by fire; and is it even possible to select un unbiased jury when the accused is as famous as Donald Trump? (Picture: An election poster of President Narendra Modi of India. Credit: Reuters)
Published 04/16/24
Former US president Donald Trump begins what could be a six-week criminal trial in the US state of New York. The 77-year-old allegedly falsified business records to conceal hush-money payments to former adult film star Stormy Daniels. A pollster tells us what the trial’s political consequences might be for Mr Trump, who is seeking re-election to the White House later this year. Also in the programme: Israel’s war cabinet meets for the second day following Iran’s attempted strikes on the...
Published 04/15/24
An Iranian spokesman said the strikes, involving more than 300 missiles and drones, were a limited act of self-defence. Israel's allies have been urging restraint. We hear from the Israeli government. We also hear from a view from Qatar, a country in the region which has retained diplomatic ties with both Iran and Israel. Also on the programme: India's general election is underway,. We head to Bengaluru, formerly known as Bangalore, in the southern state of Karnataka where President Modi's...
Published 04/15/24
A hastily arranged meeting of G7 leaders called by President Biden has urged restraint from all sides after Iran's missile and drone attack on Israel. Benjamin Netanyahu has been chairing a meeting of Israel's war cabinet. Iran says there will be a bigger response in the event of Israeli retaliation. In tonight's programme, we bring you the latest from Tehran, Jerusalem and Washington. (Photo: The Americans helped Israel greatly in defending against Iran's missile attacks, and in return want...
Published 04/14/24
Israel says it and its allies have intercepted the vast majority of more than 300 drones and missiles launched by Iran. Israel's Minister of Defence, Yoav Gallant, has said the confrontation with Iran is “not over yet". Iran said the attack "achieved all its objectives" and added it would use greater force if Israel responded in kind. In a programme dominated by this story, we hear from Israel, Iran and the United States. (Photo: Israeli Air Force F-15 Eagle is pictured at an air base, said...
Published 04/14/24
The long-awaited political council has been put in charge in Haiti where armed gangs remain in control of the capital. We speak to a member of the new group nominally in charge. Also on the programme: The Israeli military says Iran has launched a wave of drones towards Israel; and the interpreter for the Japanese baseball star, Shohei Ohtani, has surrendered to authorities after he was accused of stealing $16 million from the player. (Photo: Police officers take part in an operation on the...
Published 04/13/24
A man has fatally stabbed six people at a Sydney shopping centre on Saturday. The police said the attacker "acted alone" that there is "no continuing threat" to the public. Also in the programme: as India’s general election starts next week with PM Narendra Modi expected to win a third term, we ask what his victory could mean to the world; and the efforts to keep a language known as Vlaski alive. (Photo: Tactical Response officers are seen outside Westfield Bondi Junction after a stabbing...
Published 04/13/24
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has pleaded for more weaponry, such as air defences and artillery, from his western allies to fend off Russian attacks. He has warned that if the US Congress continues to hold up a 62 billion dollar military aid package then Ukraine will lose its war against Russia. Also in the programme: US officials say retaliation from Iran in response to Israeli strikes of its consulate could happen as soon as today; and we find how a long lost silent film featuring...
Published 04/12/24