Trump signs agreement to end war with Iran

Summary

Global News Podcast (BBC World Service)

Episode: Trump Signs Agreement to End War with Iran

Date: June 18, 2026
Host: Nick Miles

---

Episode Overview

This episode centers on a historic development: former US President Donald Trump and Iranian leaders have signed an agreement to end the months-long conflict between the US and Iran. The deal reopens the vital Strait of Hormuz and introduces significant nuclear and economic arrangements. The podcast explores the geopolitical implications, reactions from key players including Iran and Israel, and the global economic context. Other featured segments include South African anti-migrant tensions, Japan’s evolving defense policy, a groundbreaking AI-assisted surgery in Abu Dhabi, fuel shortages in Crimea, and Stonehenge’s newly discovered ancient predecessor.

---

Key Segments & Discussion Points

1. Trump-Iran Agreement: Ending the War

[01:08–11:00]

Context & Agreement Details

• After a turbulent four months involving US blockades and Iran’s control of the Strait of Hormuz, both countries have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to extend the ceasefire.
• Main Points of the Deal:
  • Iran will dilute its enriched uranium in exchange for large-scale economic relief.
  • The Strait of Hormuz is reopened but Iran plans to impose tariffs on ships after a 60-day period.
  • Provisions for a future US-funded reconstruction fund for Iran are contested by Trump publicly but confirmed within the agreement.

US Perspective

Guest: Thomas Morgan, US Correspondent

• Trump aimed to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons—a goal he claims is realized in this memorandum.
• Key controversies:
  • The future status of the Strait of Hormuz and upcoming Iranian tariffs.
  • US involvement in Iran’s reconstruction fund: “...if Iran adheres to what's in the agreement, the US would give them that sum of money to help reconstruct the country.” ([03:35])
• Trump faced internal criticism from both Democrats and Republicans but was under significant public and economic pressure to resolve the conflict.
• Quote:
  “This was a conflict that was resoundedly across the unfavorable by so much of the public. And even more so at a time when inflation is rising at its fastest rate for three years... He really needed to get it done. And he will look at this as a victory, even though he is being questioned by some from his own party back at home.” —Thomas Morgan ([04:37–05:33])

Iranian Perspective

Guest: Khashiar Johnedi, BBC Persian Service

• Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, presented the deal as an Iranian victory, highlighting the inclusion of Lebanon and the possibility to re-enter conflict if the US defaults.
• Critical Issues:
  • The dilution and destruction of enriched uranium will happen on Iranian soil, not abroad.
  • Iran maintains its right to enrichment and seeks future levies on traffic through Hormuz, a position at odds with US demands for open, fee-free passage.
• Quote:
  “Iran somehow managed to get this commitment from the Americans that the highly enriched uranium Iran holds will be diluted on Iranian soil... The Americans were insisting that that should be shipped out of Iran.” —Khashiar Johnedi ([06:28])

Israeli Reaction and Concerns

Guest: Lucy Williamson, BBC Jerusalem

• Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu, who encouraged Trump’s entry into war, has not responded to the agreement.
• Israeli strikes in Lebanon continue; ceasefire is unpopular among Israeli politicians and public.
• Quote:
  “Israel's UN ambassador... has described the ceasefire deal as very bad for Israel. Both Netanyahu's political rivals and allies are... calling on him to defy Donald Trump and continue fighting Hezbollah.” —Lucy Williamson ([09:41])
• Ongoing debate about maintaining Israeli security versus adhering to the ceasefire.

---

2. South Africa’s Migrant Crisis & Rising Xenophobia

[11:26–14:58]

Reporter: Nomsa Maseko, Johannesburg

• South Africa faces rising unemployment (32%), fuelling anti-migrant protests and setting a 30 June deadline for irregular migrants to leave.
• Several neighboring countries are repatriating their citizens in anticipation of renewed violence; fears of a fresh wave of xenophobia.
• President Cyril Ramaphosa announces tougher penalties for employers of undocumented migrants and enhanced border security.
• Quote (President Ramaphosa):
  “We're going to increase the penalties, including imprisonment, for employers who continue employing undocumented foreign nationals...” ([14:20])
• Migrants report being harassed and living in fear.

---

3. Japan’s Defense Reorientation

[17:58–21:25]

Interview: Shinjiro Koizumi, Japanese Defense Minister | Kurumi Mori, BBC Tokyo

• Japan, historically pacifist, is increasing its defense spending to 2% of GDP and expanding defense exports (notably warships to Australia and used destroyers to the Philippines).
• Motivation: rising tensions with China (now seen as the primary regional threat over North Korea) and the belief that “building multi layered deterrence is critical.”
• Public divided between upholding Article 9 and accepting rearmament.
• Quote (Minister Koizumi):
  “We can now transfer defence equipment overseas... We are in deep talks with Indonesia and New Zealand has also showed interest in acquiring Japanese destroyers.” —Koizumi via Kurumi Mori ([20:36])

---

4. AI-Assisted Surgery: Nigerian Twins Separated

[21:25–24:41]

Reporter: Ruby Gleason

• Nigerian twins Mercy and Goodness, conjoined at the head, were successfully separated in Abu Dhabi using augmented and mixed reality AI.
• Lead Surgeon: Professor Awais Jelani, Great Ormond Street Hospital
  • AI enabled accurate planning and trauma-free brain separation.
  • Quote:
    “The technology that we have now, the augmented reality, mixed reality technology, it really takes it to the next level... it just makes your understanding of the whole anatomy and the problem so much more accurate.” —Prof. Jelani ([22:54])
• The girls are now recovering well:
  “They work without supporting, working by themselves. ...Very, very happy. The way they are looking at you. They're really happy.” —Family member ([24:25])

---

5. Crimean Fuel Shortages Amid Ukraine Conflict

[24:48–28:59]

Guest: Stephanie Baker, Bloomberg | Interviewed by Sean Lay

• Ukrainian drone strikes are severely impacting Crimean fuel supplies and logistics, isolating Crimea and causing shortages even in Russia.
• Russia, despite being a major oil producer, faces the prospect of importing gasoline.
• Quote:
  “Russia is one of the largest oil producers in the world, is now reportedly planning on importing gasoline this summer. So I think it really does bring home the costs of this war to the Russian people...” —Stephanie Baker ([28:23])

---

6. Ancient Predecessor to Stonehenge Discovered

[29:25–30:42]

Reporter: Rebecca Morell

• Archaeologists have found evidence of a 5,000-year-old timber astronomical monument near Stonehenge, using pit alignments for solar events.
• Artifacts suggest similar communal gatherings before the famous stone circle’s construction.
• Quote:
  “This tells me about the whole community... how they were revering the heavens and how important all that was. It tells them so much more about Neolithic society.” —Phil Harding, Wessex Archaeology ([30:06])

---

Notable Quotes

• Thomas Morgan, US Correspondent:
  “He really needed to get it done. And he will look at this as a victory, even though he is being questioned by some from his own party back at home.” ([05:33])
• Iranian Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf (via Khashiar Johnedi):
  “If the Americans refrain from their commitments, then Iran's ready to get involved in another war if the Americans want to fight.” ([05:44])
• Stephanie Baker, Bloomberg:
  “Russia is one of the largest oil producers in the world, is now reportedly planning on importing gasoline this summer.” ([28:23])
• Phil Harding, Archaeologist:
  “This tells me about the whole community... It tells them so much more about Neolithic society.” ([30:06])

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:08] Major story: Trump-Iran agreement
• [02:46] US perspective and deal analysis (Thomas Morgan)
• [05:35] Iranian perspective (Khashiar Johnedi)
• [08:36] Israeli reaction and implications (Lucy Williamson)
• [11:26] South Africa migrant crisis (Nomsa Maseko)
• [17:58] Japan’s new defense policy (Kurumi Mori & Shinjiro Koizumi)
• [21:25] AI-powered surgery: Nigerian twins (Ruby Gleason/Prof. Jelani)
• [24:48] Crimea fuel shortages (Stephanie Baker)
• [29:25] Ancient Stonehenge precursor discovery (Rebecca Morell)

---

Overall Tone

The episode is brisk, analytical, and global in scope. The language is clear, direct, and focused on the significance of major international events alongside remarkable human-interest stories and scientific breakthroughs. The speakers’ tones range from urgent and critical (regarding diplomacy and conflict) to hopeful (medical innovation), reflective (archaeology), and concerned (social unrest).

---

For Further Information

• Contact: [e-mail]
• Social: @BBCWorldService with #globalnewspod

---

End of Summary

Transcript

[Nick Miles]

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK. Today's episode is sponsored by NerdWallet's Smart Money podcast. Personal finance can feel like a pop quiz you didn't study for. This podcast is your study guide. On NerdWallet's Smart Money podcast you'll hear from trusted journalists who explain the why behind major financial decisions. You'll get research backed insights and clear pros and cons. Whether you're planning a big purchase or just want to grow your wealth, make your next financial move with confidence. Follow NerdWallet's Smart Money podcast on your favorite podcast app.

[Commercial Advertiser]

You can never have too many tools. Shop Dewalt deals at Lowe's. Get a free select Dewalt 20 volt max power tool when you buy a select 20 volt max 5amp hour battery kit. Plus get a free additional Dewalt 20 volt max 8amp hour battery when you buy a Dewalt 10 inch 20 volt max dual bevel compounded miter saw. Our best lineup is here at Lowe's ballot through 624 while supplies last selection varies by location.

[Nick Miles]

This is the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Nick Miles and in the early hours of Thursday 18th June, these are our main stories. Donald Trump has signed the Memorandum of Understanding with Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the conflict between the two countries. Iran has confirmed the signing, but says it will start imposing tariffs on ships passing through the strait after 60 days. Also in this podcast, at certain points

[Professor Awais Jelani]

you have their entire brain surface exposed. The optimal way of doing the surgery is you do the separation whilst causing no trauma to the brains. And this technique essentially allows us to do that.

[Nick Miles]

How AI helped the survival chances of two sisters who were born joined at the head after nearly four months of on off conflict, a US blockade of Iranian ports and Tehran's virtual barricade across the Strait of Hormuz, everybody is feeling the economic pain. Could we now have seen the moment to relieve the tension and end the war? Well, on Wednesday, at a candlelit dinner in the palace of Versailles outside Paris, Donald Trump signed a Memorandum of understanding to extend their ceasefire. The same document was endorsed by the Iranian President in Tehran. In it, Iran agrees to dilute its enriched uranium in return for large scale economic relief. So what more is the US President looking to get out of this agreement with Iran? It's a question I put to our US correspondent Thomas Morgan, who in Washington,

[Thomas Morgan]

Donald Trump has said from the start, really, that one of the reasons that he entered into this conflict over 100 days ago was to make sure that Iran wasn't able to build any nuclear weapons. And he is confident that has come out from this deal. I mean, it has been said in this memorandum, it is written there. So we understand that that won't happen. But I think there are many question marks still with some of what's been written down in this text. I think the two main issues that some democr and some actually Republicans have also questioned about this memorandum of understanding surrounds the future of the stratum Hormuz and also potential money that could be given to Iran for a reconstruction fund. Now, Donald Trump has vehemently denied the fact that the US Would give towards a reconstruction fund. But written in this text, we've been told in a briefing by U.S. officials, is exactly that if Iran adheres to what's in the agreement, the US Would give them that sum of money to help reconstruct the country. And when it comes to the Strait of Hormuz, yes, everything is reopened now as it once was before this conflict. However, after this 60 days of negotiation and where they'll discuss in more detail what happens to some of the uranium that Iran has, the situation around the Strait of Hormuz is still up for debate. That is, the Iranians are saying they will impose a toll on ships using the straits. And that is something that has never happened before. And that is something that nobody across the world will want, certainly not many of the Americans that have been coming out criticizing this deal.

[Nick Miles]

And you mentioned criticism from some of Donald Trump's close allies. Will that concern the president at the moment?

[Thomas Morgan]

Well, I think for him, he was under pressure really, to get this deal done in some form. This was a conflict that was resoundedly across the unfavorable by so much of the public. And even more so at a time when inflation is rising at its fastest rate for three years. And also then obviously gas, oil, petrol, diesel prices skyrocketing because the strait being closed, a key conduit for 20% of the world's oil and liquefied gas. So he was under public pressure back here, though he has never kind of really shown that, really. But I think he was growing increasingly frustrating over the last week with conflicts between Israel and Hezbollah in South Lebanon and tit for tat between his US Blockade and Iran, really. So he really needed to get it done. And he will look at this as a victory, even though he is being questioned by some from his own party back at home.

[Nick Miles]

Thomas Morgan. So how is this deal being viewed by Tehran? Khashiar Johnedi is from our Persian service and he's based in the U.S. well,

[Khashiar Johnedi]

Mohammad Boger Gholiboff, the Iranian parliament speaker and chief negotiator, went on state TV Wednesday night to defend the agreement and he claimed that Iran was the victor here and the United States and Israel had lost the war. He said that Iran managed to have Lebanon being included in the Memorandum of Understanding, which he considered a great achievement for Iran. And he also said that if the Americans refrain from their commitments, then Iran's ready to get involved in another war if the Americans want to fight.

[Nick Miles]

And a lot, of course, could change during the negotiations, this initial 60 day period which has already started. But what are Iran's red lines on this? What's it prepared to give up?

[Khashiar Johnedi]

Well, this 60 days are going to be a very difficult period for both sides. Let's not forget the original nuclear deal during Obama was negotiated over 20 months and Iran is still insisting on its red lines. Including Iran somehow managed to get this commitment from the Americans that the highly enriched uranium Iran holds will be diluted on Iranian soil and destroyed on Iranian soil. The Americans were insisting that that should be shipped out of Iran. But some other obstacles remain regarding Iran's nuclear program, and that is Iran's insisting that it wants to do enrichment. The United States is against any level of enrichment in Iran. This was something that has to be negotiate. Then there is the question of Iran's missiles, Iran's proxies, but more importantly, the question of the future of the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump is insisting that Hormuz will be open to all maritime traffic without paying any kind of fees or any kind of levies. But Iran. The Iranian parliament speaker Kalibov today said that the initial 60 days where the negotiations are taking place, no fees will be collected from the passing ships. But then Iran and Oman will find a formulation with the help of the other Persian Gulf states to impose levies on ships that pass through the Strait of Hormuz because Iran and Oman as the coastal nations, have to invest in the security of naval transportation throughout the Strait of Hormuz.

[Nick Miles]

Kashea well, it was Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu who helped convinced Donald Trump to go to war with Iran in the first place. But there's been no reaction from him since the deal was signed between Washington and Tehran. Part of the agreement calls for an end to military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon. And that is causing concern amongst many Israelis from Jerusalem here's Lucy Williamson.

[Lucy Williamson]

Israel's conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon could test the US Ceasefire with Iran and the U. S. Israeli alliance. Donald Trump agreed to end this conflict and to respect Lebanon's territorial integrity. But Israeli strikes and Israeli occupation continued, with five Israeli soldiers injured in Hezbollah drone attacks. Donald Trump has frequently insulted and humiliated Netanyahu, saying he does what he's told. But Israelis from the far right to the liberal left say on this he shouldn't.

[Stephanie Baker]

I think that Netanyahu should do exactly what he wants to do and not be like harassed by Donald Trump.

[Lucy Williamson]

We would like to protect our country

[Khashiar Johnedi]

from other terror activities. Netanyahu has no choice. He is not able to give Trump everything he wants because we have to stay living here. We have to survive.

[Lucy Williamson]

Israel's UN ambassador, a close ally of Netanyahu, has described the ceasefire deal as very bad for Israel. And both Netanyahu's political rivals and allies are piling on the pressure, calling on him to defy Donald Trump and continue fighting Hezbollah.

[Khashiar Johnedi]

We must destroy Hezbollah army capacity before anyone tell us that there is a ceasefire. We will have to protect ourselves. They still attacked us. They still build capacity to attack us. And that's something we cannot live quietly with.

[Lucy Williamson]

Benjamin Netanyahu is still insisting that the war with Iran was a success, boosting Israeli power and weakening Iran, even as his critics list the ways Iran has emerged stronger from this conflict. And both his political rivals and his allies point to the rift in the American alliance that was touted as stronger than ever just months ago. Israel's prime minister has staked his political future on this war. The US And Iran will now begin negotiations over Iran's nuclear program. Netanyahu will want to influence those discussions. With his hotline to Washington gone cold, he'll be looking for a way to do it.

[Nick Miles]

Lucy Williamson. As the continent's biggest economy, South Africa, has always attracted people from abroad looking for work. But as the country faces rising unemployment, anti migrant feelings are on the rise. Protest groups have set a deadline of the end of this month for illegal migrants to leave. As Nomsa Maseko reports now from Johannesburg, that threat has raised fears that Africans from other countries may once again become the target of xenophobic violence.

[Nomsa Maseko]

Migrants are once again in the spotlight. In South Africa, a chilling deadline has emerged from ongoing protests who want irregular migrants out of the country by the end of June. They must go back to their countries. Jacinta Ngobe says Zuma is the leader of the March and March movement. And the thing that makes it like this for them to keep playing the victim card is because everyone wants to treat them like victims. The minute they come in here, they come with babies on their backs. And then everyone forgets that South Africa has its own babies that it needs to take care of. They have children. They must take care of those children in their own countries. What would happen next is unclear. But in preparation for the ominous June 30 deadline, Ghana, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Nigeria and Mozambique have cumulatively repatriated around 2,000 of their citizens. But many African nationals who are still in the country feel the clock is ticking.

[Commercial Advertiser]

We are given papers. I have my own document that recognizes my refugee status in South Africa. I have my card and my document, but all of us are still being chased away. The children are afraid. We are asking for help. There is no respect. When you pass by here, you are insulted. The children are insulted, even at school.

[Nomsa Maseko]

The ongoing protests have been largely peaceful, but violence, especially around informal settlements, simmers. At the end of May, the government of Mozambique said five of its citizens died in xenophobic violence in the Western Cape. South Africa's international Relations minister, Ronald Lamula, disputed that number. He said police are investigating the deaths of two Mozambicans and a South African teenager. For many South Africans, the anger is at boiling point. They feel unheard in a country with unemployment at 32% and increasing economic inequality. For some, the anger can boil over into what appears to be blind xenophobia.

[Rebecca Morrell]

Where are you from?

[Khashiar Johnedi]

So what are you doing here? Because we've been calling for you guys to leave the country.

[Nomsa Maseko]

In a video which has been widely shared on social media, protest leader NgosiKonandaBandaba, popularly known as PAGE, who has more than 1 million online followers, approaches a Congolese man standing by the roadside.

[Khashiar Johnedi]

Just listen to us. We are saying this peacefully. Please go to your country. 30 June is the deadline, but it's not like you must leave on the 30th of June. Leave now, because the 30th of June. I can't control people of South Africa.

[Nomsa Maseko]

Under pressure to act, President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced a new strategy to manage migration.

[Khashiar Johnedi]

We're going to increase the penalties, including imprisonment, for employers who continue employing undocumented foreign nationals whom they exploit. We are taking further measures to secure our borders, and we are continuing the crackdown on officials who sell documents facilitate unlawful entry.

[Nomsa Maseko]

As the 30 June deadline looms for many migrants in the country, it feels like a fresh wave of violence could be coming. Unless the root problems are tackled. The temptation to blame the neighbourhood is likely to return.

[Nick Miles]

Nom Samoseko reporting. Still to come in this podcast, two

[Khashiar Johnedi]

post pits tell me about the whole community, how they were thinking, how they were revering the heavens.

[Nick Miles]

Archaeologists believe they've discovered a much older version of Stonehenge.

[Commercial Advertiser]

We all can agree that housing is expensive. Rent, mortgage. It doesn't matter which one you're paying. It stings every month. But Bilt can make you feel a little better. Let me explain. Bilt started out rewarding members on their rent. Now, as of 2026, BILT members can also earn points on mortgage payments wherever they live. Every housing payment earns you points you can use toward flights with top travel partners like United and Hyatt, Lyft rides, Amazon.com purchases and so much more. And here's what you might not expect. Build members can also get access to a neighborhood concierge. It can make restaurant reservations, book fitness classes and find new local spots, all while being rewarded at more than 45,000 merchant partners. It's like having a personal assistant baked into where you live. It's simple. Being a renter and now owning a home is better with Bilt. Join the membership for where you [e-mail] podcasts that's J-O-I N B I L T.com podcasts make sure to use our URL so they know we sent you.

Hey there, it's Ryan Seacrest for Safeway for you. Save days are here now through June 25th. Find hot deals throughout the store and earn four times a point. Look for in Store tags to earn on eligible items from Kinder, Ghost, Energy, Cottonelle, Ben and Jerry's and Popsicle. Then clip the offer in the app for automatic event long savings. Stack up those rewards to save even more. Enjoy savings on top of savings when you shop in store or or online for easy pickup or delivery, restrictions apply. See the website for full terms and conditions. Every wireless service comes with a cost, right?

[Stephanie Baker]

Wrong.

[Commercial Advertiser]

The TextNow app lets you do your thing for free. Get real talk, real text and 5G data for must have apps with no monthly bill. Need more data? Add it right from the app. Done. Go back to free. No long term contracts. No pressure, no surprises. Just wireless that works around you. TextNow we've got your back. Download TextNow in your app Store today. Wireless plans require the purchase of a sim card. Visit textnow.com for terms and conditions.

When you're a maintenance engineer in a beverage manufacturing plant, you keep production lines moving and quality on track because there is no room for slowdowns. With Grainger's vast selection of high quality motors, sensors, belts and hard to find parts, you can get what you need fast and all in one place. So nothing gets in the way of getting the job done. Call 1-800-GRAINGER clickranger.com or just stop by Granger for the ones who get it done.

[Nick Miles]

Since the end of the Second World War, Japan has been known for its pacifist stance. Article 9 of its constitution specifically outlaws war as a means to settle international disputes. But in recent years there has been a shift as the country says it needs to adapt to increasing tensions in the region, including with China. The country's Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi says that strengthening the country's military capabilities is critical to prevent war. He's been speaking to our Japan correspondent Kurumi Mori in Tokyo.

[Kurumi Mori]

I sat down with Defense Minister Koizmi at his office hours ago in Tokyo and he stressed to me several times over the interview just how critical, how important it is for Japan to ramp up its defense capabilities to prevent conflict and not provoke it. So this is not Japan trying to enter anything. It is, he says, to defend itself. Especially given the security environment that has changed dramatically in the past 80 years since the end of the Second World War. The Ministry issues an annual white paper and it still calls China its greatest strategic challenge. I just want to point out that up until a few years ago it was North Korea. So I asked him whether he was concerned about a possible military conflict with China.

[Nick Miles]

Japan must first strengthen its own defense capabilities, reinforce its alliance with the United States and expand collaboration with like minded countries. Building multi layered deterrence is critical to ensure that no new war breaks out in this region. A lot of countries are increasing their spending on defense and Japan's been doing likewise, isn't it?

[Kurumi Mori]

Absolutely, yeah. Japan has a goal of upping their defense spending to now 2% of its GDP. Minister Koizumi had said that defense related spending in this fiscal year through next March 2027 would total 10.6 billion yen. That basically means it's approaching that 2% target, more in line with other Western. But the newer bit I think we should be paying attention to actually is the April change that Prime Minister Sanay takes announced about the change in policy of governing defense exports. Basically eliminating restrictions on sales of lethal weapons and other defense equipment to Japan's closest security partners that it has agreements with. So the Defense Minister spoke to me about the recent changes in this decades old ban.

[Nick Miles]

We can now transfer defence equipment overseas Australia has selected Japanese warships. Discussions are underway with the Philippines for used destroyers from Japan's Maritime Self Defense Force. We are in deep talks with Indonesia and New Zealand has also showed interest in acquiring Japanese destroyers. And briefly, Kurumi, what does the public make of this? Is it split on whether or not it should be more militarized?

[Kurumi Mori]

Yeah, you know, Article nine is a key, key point that everybody is talking about because on one hand, you have a lot of people who saw the bad effects of the war and want to keep the identity of the pacifist constitution. On the other hand, other people are seeing reasons about the changing environment and the necessity for upping defense.

[Nick Miles]

Kurumi Mori 3 year old twins Mercy and Goodness are at home and able to watch each other as they play together. But that wasn't always possible because the girls from Nigeria were born conjoined at the head. They were separated after a long surgical procedure with the help of AI technology that blends the physical world with interactive 3D graphics. The BBC's Ruby Gleason spent time with the surgeon who carried out the high risk operation to separate the twins in Abu Dhabi.

[Ruby Gleason]

Originally from Nigeria, twin girls Mercy and Goodness were born conjoined by the head, a rare and life threatening condition. For the first year and a half of their lives, they'd never seen each other face to face. But that all changed when they were separated last January with the help of cutting edge AI led by pediatric neurosurgeon Professor Awais Jelani from Great Ormond Street Hospital. I spent time with him as he prepared for the final stage of the operation.

[Professor Awais Jelani]

Mercy and Goodness is what we classify as a total vertical craniopagus, which essentially means they are longitudinal, the head's a joint top on, and their feet are away from each other. So it's quite a complex way of being conjoined. So what you then do is you do the separation of the brain and the blood vessels, then you try and expand the skin and once you feel you have enough expansion, then you do the separation.

[Ruby Gleason]

So where does the AI come in?

[Professor Awais Jelani]

The technology that we have now, the augmented reality, mixed reality technology, it really takes it to the next level where you don't have to do a lot of that 3D processing in your head. It is done for you and you can have those 3D images either suspended in space or superimposed onto the children that you're operating. It just makes your understanding of the whole anatomy and the problem so much more accurate. When you're doing the separation of conjoint twins at certain points, you have their entire brain surface exposed on the surgical table and the potential for causing injury to the brain is there. And we've had that with our previous cases. The optimal way of doing the surgery is you do the separation whilst causing no trauma to the brains. And this technique essentially allows us to do that from the start. We've called Goodness Twin one and Mercy Twin two. Correct.

[Ruby Gleason]

Months of planning, every move choreographed.

[Khashiar Johnedi]

Stage four, to see them taking the plates out.

[Thomas Morgan]

That.

[Professor Awais Jelani]

Yeah, yeah.

[Nick Miles]

The screws coming off.

[Ruby Gleason]

And then at last it happens. Mercy and goodness, after 19 months of life together, finally separated.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Khashiar Johnedi]

Okay.

[Commercial Advertiser]

Well done. I'm so, so happy.

[Ruby Gleason]

Six months on and the girls are on a long road to recovery. It's not been without complications, but the family are living a life that once seemed impossible before they conjoined.

[Khashiar Johnedi]

They can't be able to cry. They can't be able to sit. They can't be able to, to stand up by themselves. But now, now I thank God they work without supporting, working by themselves.

[Ruby Gleason]

You can see how happy they are.

[Khashiar Johnedi]

No, very happy. Very, very happy. The way they are looking at you. They're really happy.

[Nick Miles]

Ruby Gleason reporting. Russian drivers are feeling the effects of a shortage of fuel for their vehicles as a result of the war with Ukraine. Drone attacks on both refineries and tankers have reduced availability. Well, Kyiv also appears to be disrupting Russian supplies in Crimea, a Ukrainian region annexed by Moscow 12 years ago. Stephanie Baker of Bloomberg is the author of Punishing Putin Inside the Global Economic War to Bring Down Russia. Russia. She told Sean Lay how bad the shortages are in Crimea.

[Stephanie Baker]

I think it is bad. The recent strikes are increasingly focused on the broader logistics network in Crimea rather than just military assets. So the Ukrainian drone campaign has struck multiple roads, bridges, depots, and fuel tankers and trucks moving through that land corridor between Russia and Crimea. Who that has resulted in severe fuel shortages. You know, reports that people need to get a QR code from the government app max in order to be able to buy fuel with like long waiting lines. So it's having an impact as well as really turning away the Russian tourists who go there regularly in the summer.

[Interviewer]

And when you say that the focus is on the land link between Crimea and Russia, does this mean that now some tanker drivers kind of don't want to do the job or don't want to risk driving fuel up and down that link?

[Stephanie Baker]

Well, I think traffic on those routes has dropped and I think the strategy is to make those routes unsafe not just for military supplies, but fuel supplies and Cut off Crimea. It's a deliberate strategy to isolate the peninsula. And it's something that Kirill Budanov, Ukraine's head of military intelligence, told me in an interview a couple of years ago that they saw that they had an asymmetric advantage by attacking that land corridor. And I think now they've been able to do it more systematically because of the growth of Ukrainian drone production and capabilities. And it is having an impact. And forcing Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, to try to dismiss the reports of fuel shortages. He's blamed it on panic buying, but, you know, the reports on social media are very real.

[Interviewer]

And the vulnerability of Crimea, is that really geographical as much as anything else? Or has Russia, in a sense, neglected to protect a part of Ukraine which it annexed more than a decade ago?

[Stephanie Baker]

Now, it's mostly down to the geography and the fact that it doesn't have oil production or refining capacity itself. So it's quite easy to isolate the peninsula. Of course, there have been fuel shortages reported across Russia and other regions. You know, Russia has imposed a gasoline export ban through the summer because of those shortages. And that's really stems from Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian refineries across the country. Crimea carries a symbolic value and a military strategic value for Russia. They use it as a staging ground and a military supply route for other Russian occupied regions in Ukraine. So I think they view that as important to undermine Russia's campaign. Elsewhere in eastern Ukraine, some of the

[Interviewer]

international pressure on Russia over its oil exports has eased a little as a result of the Iranian war, as countries in Europe and the United States, for example, want to keep oil exports flowing. But domestic supply for Russians themselves, if that's starting to become a weakness, how vulnerable does that make the kind of war effort in Russia?

[Stephanie Baker]

I mean, it's quite stark because Russia is one of the largest oil producers in the world, is now reportedly planning on importing gasoline this summer. So I think it really does bring home the costs of this war to the Russian people, that this is causing a huge amount of disruption and hitting their economy, that they should not be having to block gasoline exports because of the shortages and the problems that they're experiencing at refineries. So, you know, I think it's definitely having an impact and potentially undermining Putin's ability to sustain the war.

[Nick Miles]

Stephanie Baker. The 93 standing stones at Stonehenge, the Neolithic site in southern England, draw in thousands of tourists and a few pagans from around the world. But what came before the ancient megaliths were dragged into place? Well, Archaeologists believe that they've discovered an earlier version of Stonehenge, about five kilometres away from the famous site. Here's our science editor, Rebecca Morell.

[Rebecca Morrell]

Stonehenge was built to mark the movements of the sun. The huge stones were placed precisely to line up with the sunrise on the summer solstice and sunset on the winter solstice. The discovery in the nearby village of Bulford was a much more simple construction. All that's left of it are two pits in the ground about 120 metres apart, which archaeologists believe held large wooden posts. The holes were discovered about 10 years ago, but a new analysis examining how the posts were positioned with a reconstruction of the ancient landscape, sky and horizon, reveals that they accurately lined up with the sun on the solstices. Phil Harding from Wessex Archaeology discovered the holes.

[Khashiar Johnedi]

Two post pits tell me more about the people 5,000 years ago. This tells me about the whole community. This tells me about how they were thinking, how they were behaving, how they were revering the heavens and how important all that was. It tells them so much more about Neolithic society. It's not something you can hold in your hand, but it really is a font.

[Rebecca Morrell]

Artifacts found near the pits, including pottery, flint tools and animal bone, suggest prehistoric people gathered at the site in the same way as they later did at Stonehenge.

[Nick Miles]

Rebecca Morrell and that's all from us for now. If you want to get in touch, you can email [e-mail] you can also find us on XBCWorldService. Do use the hashtag globalnewspod. And don't forget our sister podcast, the Global Story, which goes in depth and beyond the headlines on one big story. This edition of the Global News Podcast was mixed by Jonny Baker and produced by Steven Jensen and Wendy Urquhart. The editor is Karen Martin. I'm Nick Miles, and until next time, goodbye.

[Commercial Advertiser]

Grainger knows when you're a procurement manager for an office park, you're not managing one building, you're managing all of them. And to stay ahead, you need to see through walls and around corners. Lights about to fail, Filters ready to clog. H Vac on its last leg. If you wait until something breaks, you're already behind. Count on Grainger for quality products, easy reordering and 24. 7 support. Call 1-800-GRAINGER click grainger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done.