Newshour

Mykhailo Fedorov stands down after only 6 months. Critics of President Zelensky say that he looks weak after accepting the loss of his innovative Defence Minister. Also in the programme: wildfires in Scotland's Cairngorm Mountains and Christina Kahlo on her famous great aunt, Frida.

Protests have been taking place in several Ukrainian cities against President Volodymyr Zelensky's surprise dismissal of popular Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. We get reaction from an opposition Ukrainian MP. Also on the programme: a court in Italy has given a 12-year sentence to the former motorway boss blamed for the fatal collapse of a bridge in Genoa in 2018; and we hear from Nasa's head of science about its new super-powerful telescope. (Photo: Ukraine's Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov attends a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, after a meeting of Nato Defence Ministers at the Alliance headquarters in Brussels, 12 February, 2026. Credit: Reuters)

Ukraine's military has intensified its attacks near Russian-annexed Crimea, following up strikes on Russia's land corridor to the peninsula by targeting maritime supply routes as well, as it tries to heap pressure on the Kremlin to end the war. Also in the programme: The United States says it's carried out another wave of strikes against Iran, aimed at degrading its ability to attack shipping in the Strait of Hormuz; Turkey marks 10th anniversary of July 15 failed coup; and the actor Andy Serkis on why he's giving Animal Farm a makeover! (Photo: A cyclist uses a flashlight in a dark street during a temporary power outage, after local authorities limited electricity supplies to households to avoid overloading the strained network, amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict in the Black Sea resort city of Yevpatoriya, Crimea, July 5, 2026. Credit: REUTERS/Alexey Pavlishak)

The US State Department has said it's supporting efforts by Iraq and Syria to restore a crude oil pipeline between them, in an attempt to bypass the Strait of Hormuz. Also in the programme: Australia has announced wide-ranging plans to regulate AI, including enhanced copyright and restrictions on data centres; and as England and Argentina prepare for their World Cup semi-final, we'll explore a fraught relationship between the two countries that goes back many decades. (Photo: US President Donald Trump meets with Iraqi PM Ali al-Zaidi at the White House - 14 Jul 2026 Credit: Photo by GRAEME SLOAN/POOL/EPA/Shutterstock)

President Trump has repeated his intention to re-impose a naval blockade on Iran, as the battle for control of the Strait of Hormuz continues.  Also on the programme, Spain’s Supreme Court has ruled that those with a particularly close connection to the person wanting to die may have the right to contest that death wish; and one of the world's most important political cartoonists, Pat Oliphant, has died. (Photo: US President Donald Trump meets with Iraqi PM Ali al-Zaidi at the White House, Washington, USA - 14 Jul 2026. GRAEME SLOAN/POOL/EPA/Shutterstock)

Iranian state media is reporting new US attacks, as the battle for control of the Strait of Hormuz continues. Donald Trump says the US naval blockade of Iranian ports will be reinstated later, and the US will start charging a levy for shipping. Also in the programme: President Macron of France says Europe has had a 'strategic awakening' as French military power is paraded on Bastille Day; and 'Gus' the T-Rex fossil goes up for auction. (Photo: A vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, July 14, 2026. Credit: REUTERS/Stringer)

Regulators in Britain have approved human trials of a new vaccine to tackle the latest Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It comes as health authorities in the DRC say Ebola has spread to two new provinces, including the populous northeastern city of Kisangani. We speak to a scientist who developed the vaccine and an aid worker in the epicentre of the Ebola outbreak. Also in the programme: President Trump announces the US will reinstate its naval blockade of Iran; and we hear tributes to the Jurassic Park actor Sam Neill, who has died aged 78. (Photo: Red Cross workers wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) gather after handling the coffin of a man who died of Ebola virus, as aid agencies intensify efforts to contain the Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus, in Bunia, Ituri province, Democratic Republic of Congo, June 10, 2026. Credit: REUTERS/Gradel Muyisa Mumbere)

At least 28 people are dead after a bar in the Thai capital was gutted by fast-moving flames. We'll hear the latest from Bangkok about the situation, as dozens remain missing and 25 people are said to be critically injured. Also in the programme: We'll go inside the world of the Chinese man known as the "Fentanyl King"; and we have a tribute to the actor Sam Neill from his friend, the former New Zealand prime minister, Helen Clark, after his sudden death. (Photo shows Thai firefighters and rescue workers working at the scene of a fire at a bar in Bangkok, Thailand on 13 July 2026. Credit: Rungroj Yongrit/EPA)

President Trump has paid tribute to the US senator, Lindsey Graham, who's died aged 71 after a brief, sudden illness. Mr Trump said the Republican from South Carolina was one of the greatest people he'd ever known. Former US National Security Adviser John Bolton reflects on Mr Graham's political career and legacy. Also in the programme: a campaigner against female genital mutilation tells us about efforts to prevent a ban on the practice being overturned; and we report live on the final day of the Wimbledon tennis championships. (Photo: U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) joins President Donald Trump to speak to reporters aboard Air Force One en route from Florida to Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, U.S., January 4, 2026. Credit: REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst)

The veteran United States senator, Lindsey Graham, has died at the age of seventy- one. His office said he'd suffered a brief, sudden illness. Graham was an influential voice on defence and foreign policy, and was a vocal supporter of Ukraine, and of military action against Iran. His death came s US forces launched their third round of strikes on Iran this week in response to Iranian forces hitting a ship in the Strait of Hormuz. Also in the programme: We talk to a woman campaigning in The Gambia to save a ban on female genital mutilation which is seen worldwide as a human rights violation. And we have an interview with the grand daughter of Ruth Ellis, the last woman to be executed in Britain about the conditional pardon she has been granted by King Charles. (Picture: A picture taken on July 10, 2026, shows U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) looking on as he speaks to the media after his meeting with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.Credit: Reuters/Valentyn Ogirenk)

Several New York Times journalists were summoned to testify under oath after they reported alleged security concerns involving President Donald Trump's new Air Force One plane, the US newspaper said. Also on the programme: firefighters have for the first time started to contain wildfires in southern Spain which have killed at least 12 people; and Czech tennis player Linda Noskova beat her friend Karolina Muchova in an extraordinary and dramatic Wimbledon final. (Photo: US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters mid-flight in the press cabin of the new, Qatari-gifted Air Force One after changing planes to return to Washington from RAF Mildenhall, Britain on July 8, 2026. Credit: Reuters)

Emergency services have been deployed around the village of Bedar. At least 12 people have been killed, another 23 are still missing. We hear from a resident. Also on the programme: Iran's foreign minister has arrived in Oman ahead of scheduled talks with the United States. And we look ahead to tonight's World Cup match between England and Norway. (Picture: Wildfire creeps towards residential buildings near the municipality of El Pocico. Credit: Getty)

The emergency services in southern Spain say they are fighting a ‘terrible and complex fire, which is spreading very fast,’ in the south-eastern province of Almería. We hear from a British couple caught up in the fire. Also on the programme: How people in Gaza are watching the World Cup; and a new species of dinosaur has been found in Thailand. (Picture: Flames approach the A7 highway during a deadly wildfire in Los Gallardos, Spain. Credit: REUTERS/Chema Artero)

Venezuelans in the coastal town of La Guaira are being forced to live in informal camps in the streets two weeks on the from the two earthquakes which hit the country. The head of the Disasters Emergency Committee, Saleh Saeed, who is visiting, tells us people have lost everything and need help with the very basics. Also on the programme: we hear about the man who was partially sucked out of a Ryanair plane mid-air but survived; and the latest in the mystery surrounding the murder of a woman suspected of carrying out a bomb attack in Monaco. Photo: People wait in tents outside an earthquake-damaged building in Caracas, Venezuela Credit: Ronald Pena/EPA/Shutterstock

As the US and Iran trade strikes in the Middle East, huge crowds have gathered in the holy city of Mashhad ahead of the burial of Iran's late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. We'll try to gauge the mood in the country and assess the options now for both the US and Iran. Also in the programme: The disinformation about Ebola fuelling attacks on Congolese health workers; we'll remember the life of the smash-hit gravel-voiced pop star Bonnie Tyle; and the Norwegian rowing sensation that's become one of the sounds of the men's football World Cup. (Photo shows mourners gathered on the day of the burial of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Mashhad, Iran on 9 July 2026. Credit: Alkis Konstantinidis/Reuters)

The US and Iran have continued to trade strikes, raising fears of a return to full scale conflict. At the same time, huge crowds of mourners pay respects to Iran's former Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. Also in the programme: False claims about Ebola are fuelling violence against health workers in the Democratic Republic of Congo; and it's France versus Morocco at the World Cup. (Photo: A handout photo made available by the Iranian Supreme Leader Office shows crowds taking part in the burial of late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the city of Mashhad, Iran, 09 July 2026)

President Trump has threatened to hit Iran hard again in the coming hours, after declaring the ceasefire over because of Iranian attacks in the Strait of Hormuz. Also on the programme, NATO's secretary general says the alliance is stronger than ever - despite transatlantic tensions - with Europeans taking greater responsibility for their own defence; and Nigeria's president has ordered a corruption investigation into allegations that a fictitious government agency was set up within his own office. (Photo: US President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference at the 2026 NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, 08 July 2026. The NATO Summit takes place from 07-08 July. World leaders meet in Ankara for the NATO Summit, Turkey - 08 Jul 2026)

President Trump says the ceasefire is over, after the US struck targets in Iran overnight following the targeting of oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz by Iran on Tuesday. Iran retaliated today against US assets in the region. We hear from Iran and also get some analysis. Also in the programme: research uncovers how COVID-19 has damaged some people's eyesight; and actor Anne Hathaway tells us how keen she was to be in new film "The Odyssey". (IMAGE: Smoke rises at an unknown location following what the U.S. Central Command says is a new wave of strikes against Iran on Tuesday after three tankers were hit by projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz, in this still image taken from video released July 7, 2026 / CREDIT: U.S. Central Command/Handout via REUTERS)

The French hard right leader Marine Le Pen says she'll still be a candidate in next year's presidential election, despite losing an appeal against her conviction for misusing EU funds. Also in the programme, we speak to Andrew Giuliani, the executive director of the presidential task force for the World Cup, on one of the most controversial moments in the tournament's history; and, a 700 year-old book telling the story of King Arthur and his court. (Photo :French far-right leader Marine Le Pen, member of parliament for the Rassemblement National (National Rally - RN) party, poses prior to an interview on the evening news broadcast of French TV channel TF1, following the verdict in her appeal trial over misuse of EU funds, in Boulogne-Billancourt, near Paris, France, July 7, 2026. REUTERS/Christian Hartmann/Pool TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)

A French court of appeal has upheld the conviction of the far right leader Marine Le Pen for misusing public funds. She will have to wear an electronic tag, which she has previously said will stop her from running for president next year. Also on the programme: a crunch Nato meeting for Ukraine's President Zelensky as he urges world leaders to cough up cash; and the story of Kenya's “eco mamas” -- the women reviving marine conservation on the country's coast. (Photo: Rassemblement National (RN) parliamentary party leader Marine Le Pen arrives at the Paris courthouse for a hearing on the verdict in her appeal trial in Paris, 7 July, 2026. Credit: EPA/Shutterstock)

US President Donald Trump confirms he spoke to FIFA before they suspended Folarin Balogun's one-game red card ban. The 25-year-old striker, who is the US's top scorer at the tournament with three goals, was shown a straight red card for a foul on Bosnia-Herzegovina defender last week. There are now warnings that football's integrity may be at stake as the ban was overturned. We hear from a former top FIFA executive who thinks football's governing body has got it badly wrong. Also on the programme: a new insight into a puzzle from the start of the universe; and why an ancient Greek epic speaks to us today as Homer's Odyssey has its global movie premiere in London. (Photo: US footballer Folarin Balogun practising in Seattle Credit: Imagn Images via Reuters/Steven Bisig)

Ukraine’s President Zelensky calls on allies for air defence help after more than seventeen people are killed in Russian ballistic missiles strikes on and around the capital Kyiv. Also in the programme: the World Cup red card row ramps up as Belgium appeals FIFA’s decision to suspend a match ban on Team USA's top striker, which followed a phone call to FIFA’s boss by President Trump; and Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese apologises to singer Kylie Minogue after comments he made on a podcast. (IMAGE: An explosion in Vyshneve, Kyiv region, Ukraine, July 6, 2026, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in this still image obtained from a social media video / CREDIT: Social media verified via REUTERS)

Ukrainian drone strikes deep inside Russian held territory fuel growing energy crisis as Kyiv tries to pressure Moscow into peace talks. We hear from one oil analyst and former Gazprom Neft employee about the impact these strikes are having on Russia's fuel supplies. Also in the news: We'll hear about Israel defying the Israeli supreme court - with President Herzog saying that crosses a red line; and why male marathon runners collapse in a heap more often than female ones (Photo: Vehicles queue to refuel at a Rosneft petrol pump, Sergey Pivovarov: REUTERS)

Ukrainian drones strike Russian energy grids amid growing fuel crisis as Kyiv tries to pressure Moscow into peace talks. We also hear how life in Russian-occupied Crimea is becoming unbearable for some residents. Also in the news: mysterious space debris found on Queensland beaches; and why women are less likely than men to hit the wall in marathons.  (Photo: Smoke rises from an oil refinery following a Ukrainian drone attack in Moscow. Credit: Reuters)

The United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, but is President Trump politicising the occasion? Also in the programme: Iran mourns late Ayatollah Khamenei ahead of his funeral; and Cape Verde, the small African island nation that made history in this World Cup. (Photograph: Fighter jets over New York. Credit: Shutterstock)

President Trump has used a speech on the eve of the 250th anniversary of US independence to claim that American identity is under threat from domestic 'radicals' and 'extremists'. At the Mount Rushmore national monument, Mr Trump warned of a resurgence of what he called 'the communist menace' and 'newcomers' who embrace ideas opposed to the American way of life. Also in the programme: The Iranian authorities say they expect up to 20 million people to take part in six days of ceremonies paying respect to Iran's former Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei; and Taylor Swift and the American footballer Travis Kelce get married in New York. (Photo: US President Donald Trump delivers a speech during a celebration for the 250th anniversary of US independence at Mount Rushmore, July 3, 2026. Credit: Reuters/Kylie Cooper)

The coffin of Iran's late Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, is on display along with those of four family members at the Grand Mosalla mosque in Tehran. Millions of people are expected to attend Saturday's official ceremony. We hear from our correspondent in Tehran. Also on the programme: a Ukrainian woman is named as the main suspect in the Monaco bomb attack; and Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are rumoured to be tying the knot today in New York's Madison Square Garden. (Photo: An Iranian man walks in front of a billboard of late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ahead of his funeral ceremonies in Tehran on July 3, 2026. Credit: EPA/Shutterstock)

Iran has begun several days of public mourning and funeral processions for its former Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, more than four months after he was killed in strikes launched by the US and Israel. Tehran is using the occasion as an opportunity to project to the world an image of power. Also in the programme: There's a grim warning from the UN that another humanitarian catastrophe is imminent in Sudan; why taking maternity leave as a town mayor is highly controversial in Japan; and we'll hear about the dolphins that are the gauge of marine destruction in the Adriatic Sea. (Photo shows mourners gathered by the coffin of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla in Tehran, Iran, on 3 July 2026. Credit: Mohammed Salem/Reuters)

A man has been rescued alive after being trapped for eight days in the rubble of a building that collapsed after twin earthquakes in Venezuela. We’ll hear from one of the rescuers in Catia La Mar. Also on the programme: Ukrainian officials say now that at least 25 people were killed in Russia's huge overnight attacks on Kyiv; and the chair of the jury of one of the world's most highly regarded international piano competitions tells us why he's planning to rip up the rule-book. (Photo: Rescue workers carry an earthquake survivor after the person was trapped under the rubble for eight days in Catia La Mar, Venezuela on July 2, 2026. Credit: EPA/Shutterstock)

Kyiv was hit overnight by some 74 Russian missiles and 500 drones. At least 26 penetrated air defences, causing fires, damage to residential buildings and at least 18 deaths. We hear the latest from the city, and ask the defence specialist and Estonian ambassador to the UK, Sven Sakkov, whether President Putin's war is sustainable. Also in the programme: the thousands of people with wartime injuries or life-threatening diseases who are desperate to leave Gaza for medical treatment abroad; and will a plethora of new satellites in space make it impossible for astronomers to scrutinise the skies? (Photo: Aftermath of massive Russian attack on Kyiv, 2 Jul 2026. Credit: MAXYM MARUSENKO/EPA/Shutterstock)

The White House has denied there are any conflicts of interest in Donald Trump's business dealings. Also on the programme: Police in South Africa say they've arrested more than nine hundred anti-immigration protesters. And there's been huge demand for tickets to see the Bayeux Tapestry in London, a very rare opportunity to see this medieval masterpiece up close. (Picture: President Donald Trump in the oval office. Credit: Getty)

The US Supreme Court has struck down President Trump's executive order that sought to end automatic citizenship for people born on American soil. Donald Trump described the ruling as "too bad", but claimed Congress could tackle the issue through legislation. Also in the programme: one of the greatest players of all time, Serena Williams, returns to the tennis court four year after hanging up her racket; and the granddaughter of legendary Indian singer Asha Bhosle explains why she took to the stage in London in her memory. (Photo: Supreme Court rules on birthright citizenship, transgender rights, Washington, USA - 30 Jun 2026. Credit: EPA)

Thousands of people are marching in South Africa's main cities to demand that all undocumented migrants leave the country. We'll hear from a minister and a migrant Also on the programme: The US military's toxic legacy in Greenland; anguish turns to anger in the destroyed neighbourhoods of Venezuela; and how the World Cup is showing the changing face of the planet's favourite sport. (Picture: Anti-immigrant protesters march on the day of an unofficial deadline set by anti-immigrant groups for all undocumented migrants to leave in Durban, South Africa, June 30, 2026. Credit: REUTERS/Rogan Ward)

A former planning minister of Venezuela, Ricardo Hausmann, has told Newshour that the current government is slowing down aid effort by ‘creating obstacles.’ We also hear from a Venezuelan who has been raising money abroad to help fund the relief effort. Also on the programme: How the young in Gaza are trying to resume online careers; and why a puffer fish invasion is causing havoc in Greece’s fishing industry. (Picture: People react to news delivered by a rescue team, in La Guaira, Venezuela. Credit: REUTERS/Gaby Oraa)

Search for Venezuela's quake survivors continues as thousands remain missing, more international aid has been pledged. Also in the programme: a statement from Russia's Vladmir Putin on fuel shortages; and the forgotten dinosaur of Antarctica. (Photograph: destroyed buildings in La Guaira. Credit: UKIsar)

Hopes of finding more survivors are fading, three days after the earthquakes. We'll hear from the affected areas. Also on the programme: Uganda's military shuts down the country's largest independent news organisation. And the World Cup reaches its knockout stage. (Picture: Ruined buildings in La Guaira, Venezuela.CREDIT: Reuters)

Iran warns against any challenge to its control of the Strait of Hormuz as Tehran and Washington accuse each other of violating their ceasefire again - just how fragile is it? Also on the programme: as hopes fade of finding survivors of Venezuela's earthquakes, we'll be reporting from the city worst-hit by the disaster; and press freedom in Uganda is under threat as the army chief vows to shut down one of its leading independent media groups. (Photo: An Iranian woman walks past an anti-Israeli mural in Tehran on June 28, 2026. Credit: Reuters)

More than 1,400 people have been killed and 3,360 others injured in the Venezuela earthquakes, according to the government, as rescuers keep searching for survivors and families wait desperately for news. Also on the programme, an oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz has been struck by an unidentified projectile, following the first exchange of fire between the US and Iran since their deal to end hostilities; and we hear from the official chef for Norway's World Cup team. (Photo: Members of the El Salvador rescue team search for survivors in the rubble of a collapsed building following an earthquake, in La Guaira, Venezuela, 26 June, 2026. Credit: Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/Reuters)

As Venezuela's acting President Delcy Rodríguez says she has faith and hope that survivors of Wednesday's earthquakes will be rescued - we hear about the reality from Carcas. Also on the programme: after the US Supreme Court removes the protected status from hundreds of thousands of Haitians living in America, we hear from one woman who could be affected; and an appreciation of Mel Brooks - as the comedy legend turns 100 years old. (Photo: Family members react as firefighters and volunteers work to get their loved ones out from the rubble of a collapsed building after earthquakes hit the country in La Guaira on June 26, 2026. Credit: Reuters)

Venezuela's government has promised that aid will reach affected areas- but already criticism of their response is growing. We speak with a professor of politics in Caracas to find out what she thinks of the response. A crucial World Cup match between Egypt and Iran in Seattle later today will unfold against the backdrop of the city’s annual Pride celebrations, Homosexuality and any symbols of pride are criminalized in both Iran and Egypt. We take you there to hear what it sounds like. And movie music instead of Bach? Symphony orchestras across the United States - and in Europe - are increasingly offering film score performances. We speak with a conductor at the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra on what he thinks about it. (Photo: A view of the donations received from locals in Caracas, Venezuela, June 26, 2026. Credit: REUTERS/Fausto Torrealba)

With many believed to still be buried beneath rubble, Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, has said UN-certified rescuers would be joining the search for survivors. The United States is deploying two warships, along with transport planes and helicopters. Specialists from Turkey, Spain, France, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK will also be involved. Also on the programme: a World Cup match between Iran and Egypt in Seattle causes friction as it coincides with the city’s Pride celebrations; the discovery that Mars once had Earth-like magma systems beneath its surface raises the possibility of life on the red planet. (Photo: People inspect the rubble of a collapsed building in La Guaira, Venezuela, 25 June, 2026. Credit: Gaby Oraa/Reuters)

At least 180 people are now confirmed to have died in northern Venezuela after two powerful back-to-back earthquakes. Thousands are still unaccounted for. We hear from two people whose homes have been destroyed. Also in the programme; the owners of Hong Kong's last independent bookshop are arrested; and how scientists have managed to read ancient papyrus scrolls burned to a cinder when Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD. Photo: People on motorbikes drive past damaged buildings following the twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela Credit: RONALD PENA R/EPA/Shutterstock

A huge rescue and recovery operation is underway across northern Venezuela after two back-to-back earthquakes struck overnight. At least 164 people have died, but experts say the number could well rise to thousands as the extent of the damage becomes clear. Also in the programme: The French government's response to the heatwave; and how Canadian football fans are trying to be cheerful about moving to the US. (Photo: A firefighter looks for his sister and nephew in the earthquake rubble of a building in La Guaira, Venezuela. Credit: Reuters/Gaby Oraa)

The UK today broke its June temperature record as a heatwave continues to engulf Europe. In Finistere in north-west France, 68, 000 people are without power, after the heat knocked out generating equipment We hear how the heat is affecting people across Europe - and how it compares with the most recent major heatwave in August 2003. Also on the programme: US officials say America has supplied doses of an experimental antibody to help fight the growing outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo; and why astronomers are excited about new images of the Milky Way. (Photo: A young man jumps from a bridge to cool off in the Canal Saint-Martin, in Paris, France, 20 June 2026. Credit: Yoan Valat/EPA/Shutterstock)

Ukraine has been intensifying attacks across Crimea as it attempts to cut off the peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014. The authorities have been forced to suspend fuel sales to the public. Also on the programme: hundreds of schools in the UK are closed as temperatures in Western Europe hit new highs; and why sperm whales use different dialects depending on where they swim in the Mediterranean Sea. (Photo: A satellite image shows burning oil storage tanks and smoke rising from the Crimea Bridge amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict Credit: Vantor/Reuters)

Schools have closed in France. A nuclear power plant near Toulouse has been forced to switch off a reactor. Nuclear power plants cannot operate correctly without enough water of the right temperature to cool down reactors. When these temperatures climb too high, the reactors need to be shut down to avoid environmental damage caused by hot water being discharged into local water courses. Also on the programme: the newly discovered manuscript containing composition lessons by Mozart; and the continuing woes of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington DC. (Photo: Young people cool off in the Fontaine de l'Observatoire fountain as temperatures rise in Paris Credit: Reuters/Abdul Saboor)

As British Prime Ministerial hopeful Andy Burnham is sworn in as a Member of Parliament, we ask one of his supporters in the government when she decided Keir Starmer should go. Also in the programme: Former Chairman of the US Federal Reserve Alan Greenspan dies aged 100; and we hear about the "ballista spider" that sets an elasticated trap is discovered in the Australian rainforest. Photo: Andy Burnham is sworn in as a Member of Parliament in London, UK. Credit: HOUSE OF COMMONS HANDOUT/EPA/Shutterstock

He has said he will stay on as UK prime minister until his successor is in place. Also on the programme: Colombia's new president promises to take a tough stance on drug traffickers and armed gangs; and Cape Verde’s World Cup fairytale continues. (Photo: Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and his wife Lady Victoria Starmer on the steps of 10 Downing Street, London, after his speech where he said he will resign as leader of the Labour Party Credit: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire )

Colombians are voting in a presidential run-off election. The vote pits a leftist reformer against a right-wing political newcomer who wants to use force to combat drug cartels and rebel groups. Abelardo de la Espriella, who's backed by President Trump, has vowed to wage a full-scale military campaign in contrast to Senator Ivan Cepeda who's promising to continue the less confrontational policies of the outgoing president, Gustavo Petro. Also in the programme: US Vice-President JD Vance describes 'great progress' in talks with Iran in Switzerland; and research that suggests men with children have better performing brains. (Photo: A man fills out a ballot as people vote in a presidential runoff election in Colombia, June 21, 2026. Credit: Reuters/Jair Coll)

Negotiators from the United States and Iran are in Switzerland for talks aimed at turning their ceasefire into a lasting peace deal. The talks are going on despite the Iranian military saying it has closed the Strait of Hormuz again over Israel's attacks on southern Lebanon. Also in the programme: The stark choice facing voters in Colombia today; and why athletes are protesting against fossil fuel companies during the FIFA men's World Cup. [Photo shows Iranian parliament speaker and negotiating team head Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi greeting Swiss officials at an airport in Zurich, Switzerland on 21 June 2026. Credit: Iranian parliament speaker's office via EPA)

Iran says it has again closed the Strait of Hormuz, in response to Israel's continued strikes on southern Lebanon which have killed at least 25 people according to Lebanese state media. The Iranian military described the attacks as a violation of Tehran's peace deal with Washington. But a US military statement said the Strait remained open and at least 55 vessels had passed through during the day. Also in the programme: An escalating row between Ukraine and Poland leads to President Zelensky returning an award from Warsaw; and the secret behind the success of a legendary TV comedy director. (Photo: Vessels are anchored in the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Oman, June 19, 2026. Credit: Reuters/Stringer)

Could the latest violent attacks by both parties derail the tentative US-Iran peace deal? We hear from reporters on the ground in bomb-struck southern Lebanon and the Iranian capital Tehran, and ask Israeli journalist Anshel Pfeffer what Israel's strategy might be. Also in the programme: proposed economic reforms in Cuba - which the United States has dismissed as 'superficial smoke signals'. And the enduring appeal of the classic album 'The Queen is Dead' by the UK indie band The Smiths, 40 years after its release. (Civilians and Lebanese Red Cross personnel stand on the rubble of a damaged building after an Israeli strike on the village of Qennarit in southern Lebanon, June 20, 2026. Picture taken with a mobile phone. Credit: Reuters/Stringer)

Israel and Hezbollah have agreed a ceasefire, a US official says, following intense Israeli air strikes in southern Lebanon that the government said killed 47 people. Also on the programme, the US government says it will stop funding programmes in South Africa intended to tackle the spread of HIV and AIDS, there's been a furious reaction in Italy after President Trump claimed the prime minister Georgia Meloni begged him for a photo at the G7 summit; and the ballet dancer, Carlos Acosta, on taking his Cuban dance group on tour. (Photo: Smoke rises over southern Lebanon after Israeli strikes, Metula, Israel - 19 Jun 2026. ATEF SAFADI/EPA/Shutterstock)

Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a ceasefire, a senior US official has confirmed to the BBC. Earlier, planned talks to cement the ceasefire between Iran and the US were delayed with reports suggesting it was due to Iranian concern over Israel's actions in Lebanon. Also on the programme: the by-election result that could decide Britain's next prime minister; and how the resident organist for the Boston Red Sox baseball team has been entertaining visiting Scottish football fans. (Photo: Khadija Amara, whom local residents said had not left her home, fills a jerrycan with water as she sits among the rubble of a house, which was damaged by an Israeli strike in the Tyre district, southern Lebanon on June 19, 2026.)

Donald Trump says he expects a ceasefire to take effect "on all fronts", including between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon while Vice President JD Vance says the memorandum signed with Tehran is already bearing fruit and insisted that Washington holds the cards in coming negotiations. Meanwhile, a message attributed to Iran's Supreme Leader says that Tehran will not submit to any excessive demands. Also in the programme: why one critic calls Barack Obama's Presidential Centre a 'Klingon Prison'; and how Nigerian sisters born conjoined at the head are enjoying life after pioneering surgery assisted by artificial intelligence. (Photo: US Vice President JD Vance speaks to the media about the Iran-US memorandum of understanding in the White House Briefing Room in Washington, DC, USA Credit: JIM LO SCALZO/EPA/Shutterstock)

A basic agreement has been signed to end the war between the US and Iran. The negotiations now turn to the really difficult issues: we hear from Iran and Israel. Also in the programme: Ukraine targets Moscow in a massive drone attack; researchers say it's way too easy to get around ChatGPT's guardrails; and an ancient oak tree in Sherwood Forest linked to Robin Hood has died - or is it just entering its next phase? (IMAGE: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian showing a signed a memorandum of understanding with the US in Tehran, Iran, 18 June 2026 / CREDIT: Photo by IRANIAN PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE/HANDOUT/EPA/Shutterstock (16934712a))

A Memorandum of Understanding outlined by the United States suggests it has found common ground with Iran, but there are still questions about whether this preliminary deal achieves any more than the agreement signed when Barack Obama was president. Meanwhile Israel, the US partner in the recent war, faces the possibility of a stronger Iran and a new balance of power in the Middle East. We hear from Alon Ben Dah-veed, senior military correspondent for Israel's Channel 13. Also in the programme: the fuel shortages affecting Russian drivers as a result of the Ukraine war; an introduction to so-called 'micro-history'; and the death at the age of 99 of the last member of a leading British 'girl band' of the 1950s, the Beverley Sisters. (Photo: US President Donald Trump holds a press conference during the G7 Summit in Evian-les-Bains, France; Credit: REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein)

Bosses of the top Artificial Intelligence firms have met the leaders of the world's biggest economies. At a G7 lunch in France, they've been discussing AI risks and dangers. Who has more power right now - the politicians or the billionaire CEOs? Also in the programme: How the Great Pyramid at Giza has survived several thousand years worth of earthquakes; and why the world's coral reefs may be more resilient to climate change than we thought. (Photo: US President Donald Trump, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis, South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung, Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi attend a working lunch with G7 leaders on innovation and AI during the G7 Summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, June 17, 2026. Credit: Reuters/Evelyn Hockstein)