The Belarusian activist Sergey Tikhanovsky, husband of the exiled opposition politician Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, was freed in a surprise release along with several other prisoners. Also in the programme: a resident of Tehran tells us why he hasn't left the city during the Israeli bombardment; and why the UK plans to map the DNA of new-born babies.
(Photo: Belarusian opposition politician Svetlana hugs her freed husband Sergey. Credit: Shutterstock)
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47:58
Erdogan slams Israeli strikes as Muslim countries explore diplomatic options
At a gathering of Muslim-majority states in Istanbul, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has condemned Israel’s military strikes on Iran, accusing it of violating international law and risking “total disaster” in the region. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, also at the summit, warned that any US involvement in the conflict would be “very dangerous.”
Also in the programme: In the UK, the launch of a new scheme to map the DNA of newborn babies; and 50 years after the hit film Jaws was released, we ask if it's finally time for a PR makeover for sharks.Photo: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan speaks in Istanbul Credit: REUTERS/Umit Bektas
Iran agrees to a second day of talks in Geneva over the fate of its nuclear programme. Their meeting marked the first face-to-face dialogue between Tehran and western governments since Israel first attacked Iran a week ago. Also on the programme, witnesses say Israeli military kills 23 Palestinians near aid site in Gaza; and, 50 years since 'Jaws' became the first summer blockbuster.(Photo: European foreign ministers to meet Iranian officials in Geneva, Switzerland - 20 Jun 2025. MARTIAL TREZZINI/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock )
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European ministers to hold talks with the Iranian foreign minister
UK, French and German foreign ministers will hold talks with their Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, in Geneva today as part of efforts to ease the Israel-Iran conflict. Also on the programme: lawmakers in the UK hold a crucial vote on legalising assisted dying; and as Italian classical singer Andrea Bocelli releases a duet with the men's tennis world number one, Jannik Sinner, we'll ponder what draws some sports stars to dabble in music.(Photo: Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi addresses a special session of the Human Rights Council at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland on June 20, 2025. Credit: REUTERS/Denis Balibouse)
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45:59
Trump to make decision on Iran attack within 2 weeks
In Washington DC earlier, President Trump said he would decide within the next two weeks whether or not to take military action against Iran. The US leader is reported to have agreed a potential plan of attack targeting Iran's nuclear facilities. The BBC’s Nomia Iqbal joins us from Washington to discuss what Trump might be thinking. We also get the latest on the Israeli Soroka Hospital that was struck by an Iranian missile overnight.
Also in the programme: Iran’s deputy foreign minister Saeed Khatibzadeh tells the BBC it would be "a big mistake” for the US to join in Israeli attacks; One of Elon Musk’s SpaceX rockets explodes on a Texas launchpad; and the project patching fragmented Roman frescoes back together in London. (Photo: US President Donald Trump answers reporters' questions in the White House in Washington DC, USA, 18th June 2025.
Credit: Ken Cedeno/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)
Ireland