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Five months after the fall of Bashar al-Assad, can Syria overcome immense problems under its new Islamist rulers? Also in the programme: an army reservist speaks about the plan by Israel's government to send more troops into Gaza; and Donald Trump says he could hit movies made in foreign countries with a 100% tariff - but how?(File photo: A drone view shows people waving flags adopted by the new S...

Five months after the fall of Bashar al-Assad, we ask can Syria overcome its immense problems under its new Islamist rulers? Also in the programme: Europe commemorates the 80th anniversary of the Nazi surrender in 1945; and the end of the road for Skype. Photo: A torn poster of Bashar al-Assad in Damascus suburb. Credit: Reuters.

Israel military has confirmed that tens of thousands of call-up orders are being sent to reservists, to prepare for another expansion of the war in Gaza. Israel says it's aiming to put pressure on Hamas to release the remaining hostages. Aid agencies have condemned Israel’s continued blockade of the territory. Also, Newshour's Tim Franks reports from Syria, looking at the huge challenge of rebuild...

Romanians vote for a new president after suspected Russian interference in 2024 poll. The nationalist presidential candidate, George Simion, a self described MAGA candidate, has said his only objective is “to put the Romanian people first”. Also in the programme: We explore the ongoing impact of President Bashar al-Assad’s brutal repression tactics on ordinary Syrians; and we hear from Internation...

Labor's Anthony Albanese has defied the so-called "incumbency curse" to be re-elected Australia's prime minister in a landslide. Also on the programme, the medical charity, Medecins Sans Frontieres, says one of its hospitals in South Sudan has been bombed and that there are reports of deaths and injuries; and, Warren Buffett - regarded as one of the world's most influential investors - has surpris...

Less than a week after the Liberals came from behind to win in Canada, Australia's governing Labor Party has won the election there. Is the Trump effect in play once more? Also in the programme: Israel ramps up airstrikes on Syria, claiming to be defending the Druze minority; Poland boosts its defences in the face of the Russian threat; and we hear from an author shortlisted for the International...

The German Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party has been classified as extreme-right by the country's intelligence agency. This will allow for closer surveillance of the party - and potentially even a total ban. We hear from the party’s deputy leader who calls the decision ‘totalitarian’.Also on the programme: The crew of a boat transporting aid to Gaza claims it was attacked by drones in inter...

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says an Israeli strike close to the Presidential Palace in Damascus is a message to Syria's government not to threaten the Druze community. The new Syrian government says any breach of the country's sovereignty is unacceptable -- but Mr Netanyahu insisted that Israel would "not allow" Syrian forces to deploy south of the capital. Sectarian clashes in Syri...

The US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz has been demoted to UN Ambassador after a controversy involving sensitive military plans and a Signal group chat. Also on the programme: the US and Ukraine clinch a natural resources deal but an agreement to end the conflict remains elusive; and with Roman Catholic cardinals readying to elect a new Pope, British author Robert Harris talks about his book...

Ukraine and the US have signed a much-anticipated natural resources deal, after months of tense negotiations. The deal - which says the US will share profits from future sales of Ukraine's mineral and energy reserves - aims to incentivise Washington to invest further in Ukraine's defence and reconstruction. Also in the programme: Syrian officials say they have regained control of a Damascus suburb...

The US economy shrank in the first three months of 2025, with GDP falling 0.3 per cent, partly because of a surge in imports in anticipation of President Trump's tariffs. Mr Trump says growth is on track; we hear from an economist. Also in the programme: the US and Ukraine appear poised to sign a revised minerals deal; 50 years after the fall of Saigon, we hear from the former US marine who flew o...

The Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, has held a series of high-level meetings with his cabinet colleagues and senior military officers, amid growing tension with neighbouring Pakistan. It comes after having repeatedly accused the Pakistani authorities of supporting Kashmiri separatists who launched a deadly attack on tourists near Pahalgam last week. Also on the programme, Turkey has been bui...

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney has said his country deserves respect from the United States and will only enter trade and security talks on its own terms. He was speaking to the BBC just before his Liberal Party's election victory was announced. Newshour hears from newly-elected Conservative MP Andrew Lawton. Also in the programme: Trump's first 100 days in office; and Malta ordered to end "g...

In a remarkable turnaround, Canada’s Liberal Party has won a fourth consecutive term. It had been trailing by 15 to 20 points behind the Conservative opposition. But it’s not yet clear if they’ll command a majority in parliament. We ask a Liberal Party MP about the challenges ahead. Also in the programme: a vaccine that does not need to be refrigerated starts human trials in the UK; and the chaos...

Spain aims to restore power nationwide "soon" after a blackout disrupted daily life for millions but has no "conclusive information" about its causes, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said. In Portugal, electricity provider REN said it had restored power to some 750,000 consumers. Newshour hears from Kristian Ruby of Eurelectric, a trade body for power suppliers. Also in the programme: trial begins in...

Large parts of the Southern European countries hit by power outages as trains, restaurants, and even traffic lights are impacted. The Madrid metro has been evacuated and long queues have formed at cash points as card payments aren’t working. The source of the power cuts is currently unknown. Also in the programme: The International Court of Justice has begun five days of hearings to examine Israel...

Canadian police say a suspect detained after a car was driven at high-speed into festivalgoers in Vancouver had suffered mental health problems. The interim police chief told a news conference that the number of people killed had risen to 11. Dozens more were hurt at the Filipino street festival on Saturday. He said many unanswered questions remained after what he called the darkest day in Vancouv...

At least nine people have been killed after a car ploughed into crowds at a Filipino cultural event in Vancouver. Yousef Vardeh is a Filipino-Canadian who witnessed the incident from his bao-bun food truck and watched as his customers were hit. Also in the programme: Iranian officials say they have contained a deadly fire following an explosion at one of the country's largest ports; and we speak t...

Pope Francis has been laid to rest at his favourite church in Rome, Santa Maria Maggiore, after a funeral attended by hundreds of thousands of people. Many lined the streets to see his coffin being taken there from the Vatican on an adapted popemobile. He is the first pontiff in more than 120 years to be buried outside the Vatican. Also in the programme: With tensions high between India and Pakist...

From refugees he championed to world leaders he rebuked, a quarter of a million people gather in Rome for the funeral of Pope Francis. Former Vatican spokeswoman under Francis, Paloma Garcia Ovejero, tells us he was a kind and tireless leader who changed the church forever. Also in our programme: Pakistan’s prime minister calls for a ‘neutral investigation’ into the Kashmir terror attack; and an i...

The Kremlin says high level talks between the United States and Russia have been constructive. Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and President Putin attended the three-hour meeting in Moscow. Also today: the UN's World Food Programme says it's run out of food stocks for families in Gaza; and is a male protuberance in an ancient tapestry a phallus or a fallacy?(Photo: Russian President V...

The mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, has become the first leading Ukrainian politician to say the country might have to recognise Russian control of key regions of Ukraine, including Crimea, in exchange for a temporary truce with Russia. The comments come after Russian missiles and drones killed twelve people and injured hundreds in Kyiv. We speak to a resident from the city of Mariupol who was fo...

Diplomatic relations between India and Pakistan have rapidly deteriorated following the killings of 26 people in Indian-administered Kashmir. India's government has blamed Pakistan for the attack and introduced a series of measures including the suspension of a water-sharing treaty. Pakistan has said any attempt to limit waters from the Indus would be regarded as an act of war. We hear from a Paki...

Ukraine says Russia is the real obstacle to peace, after Moscow launched a big missile and drone attack on Kyiv. President Trump has once again blamed Ukraine for blocking a settlement, saying it's in no position to dictate terms. We hear from one of his former advisors on Russia. Also in the programme: Gazans speak out against Hamas; and the legendary performance artist Marina Abramovic on direct...

India closes its main border crossing with Pakistan following Tuesday's attack by separatists on tourists in the disputed territory of Kashmir. Also on the programme: The European Commission imposes fines on tech giants Apple and Meta. They are smaller than expected but why?; and British researchers claim they have found the first physical evidence that gladiators fought wild animals.(Photo: Grand...