European leaders hopeful after Trump call before Putin summit

Summary

Global News Podcast Summary: "European Leaders Hopeful After Trump Call Before Putin Summit"

Release Date: August 14, 2025
Host: Julia McFarlane, BBC World Service

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1. European Leaders' Positive Dialogue with President Trump

In the early hours of August 14th, European leaders engaged in a pivotal discussion with U.S. President Donald Trump, aiming to influence the forthcoming summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The primary focus was on establishing the groundwork for a potential ceasefire in Ukraine amidst ongoing conflicts.

Key Highlights:

• Strong Stance Against Russian Territorial Claims: German Chancellor Friedrich Metz, speaking via translator at [02:22], emphasized that "European leaders, some of whom were also on the call, would never recognize a land grab by Russia."

• Ukraine's Red Lines: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, participating from Berlin, stressed the necessity of "an immediate ceasefire" and urged Trump to "impose tougher sanctions on Russia" if Putin remained uncooperative ([03:00]).

• Trump's Response: At [04:08], President Trump characterized the call as "very, very friendly," expressing optimism about a "quick second meeting" that could yield productive outcomes. He noted, "If I feel that it's not appropriate... then we're not going to have a second meeting."

Analysis: James Waterhouse, the BBC correspondent in Berlin, observed that while the discussions appeared positive, the situation remains fluid ahead of Friday's summit in Alaska. He noted, "[...] there is so much that can happen between now and the end of Friday summit in Alaska" ([05:01]).

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2. Escalation on the Eastern Front in Ukraine

Amid diplomatic efforts, military tensions in Ukraine intensified as Russian forces made significant advances near Dobropillya, threatening crucial supply routes.

Key Insights:

• Russian Breakthrough: Russian units have penetrated deeper into Ukrainian territory, prompting local authorities to order civilian evacuations ([07:26]).

• Defense Perspectives: Matthew Saville, Director of Military Sciences at the Royal United Services Institute, highlighted the uncertainty surrounding the extent of the breakthrough, stating, "What we don't know yet is is this a genuinely extensive breakthrough" ([07:53]).

• Ukrainian Resilience: Despite the advances, Ukrainian officials assert that Russian units are being systematically targeted and destroyed, maintaining the integrity of Ukraine's defensive positions ([07:09]).

Future Implications: The fragility of the eastern front underscores the urgent need for a ceasefire. European allies are contemplating the deployment of stabilization forces contingent on the summit's outcome, although details remain ambiguous ([08:53]).

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3. Humanitarian Crisis in El Fha, Sudan

The besieged city of El Fha faces a dire humanitarian situation as paramilitary forces continue their assault, cutting off essential aid and exacerbating starvation and medical shortages.

On-the-Ground Report: Barbara Plettascha, reporting from Nairobi, provided harrowing footage of the crisis:

• Desperate Conditions: "In this place of relentless need, your best hope is to find a way to suppress the hunger" ([09:34]).

• Medical Emergencies: Dr. Ibrahim Abdullah Khatar lamented, "We have now, for example, five severe... complications and unfortunately there is no even drop of milk to give them" ([11:17]).

• Evacuations and Displacement: The rapid support forces' push has led to mass evacuations, with hundreds seeking refuge in camps like Tuila, 60 km away. John Joseph Ochebi of the Alliance for International Medical Action highlighted the ongoing struggles, emphasizing the "shortages in terms of wash, in terms of medical supplies" ([12:15]).

Humanitarian Appeals: The United Nations has called for a humanitarian truce, but the relentless conflict continues to devastate the civilian population, particularly affecting children and vulnerable groups ([13:46]).

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4. The Double-Edged Sword of AI in Healthcare

A recent study raises concerns over the reliance on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in medical procedures, specifically colonoscopies, where AI assistance may be diminishing doctors' diagnostic skills.

Study Findings:

• Decline in Diagnostic Accuracy: Analysis of 1,400 colonoscopies in Poland revealed a decrease in the detection of precancerous growths when AI tools were utilized ([14:19]).

• Expert Commentary: Dr. Marcin Romancek from the Academy of Silesia suggested, "Perhaps we are over relying on AI systems because we are basically waiting for the machine to show us where the polyps are" ([14:59]).

Balancing Technology and Expertise: While AI has the potential to enhance diagnostic capabilities by handling large datasets, the study warns against complacency, advocating for a balanced approach that maintains physicians' critical evaluation skills ([15:23]).

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5. Innovations in AI-Enhanced Hearing Devices

Contrasting the concerns in healthcare, advancements in AI are paving the way for groundbreaking assistive technologies in Scotland, notably the development of "superpower glasses" to enhance hearing.

Technological Breakthrough:

• Superpower Glasses: Utilizing lip-reading technology combined with AI and cloud computing, these glasses filter out background noise and isolate speech in real-time, significantly improving auditory experiences for users ([16:10]).

• Development Insights: Dr. Asan Adil of Sterling University explained the integration of visual cues from lip movements with audio processing, mimicking human brain functions to enhance speech clarity without compromising user experience ([16:10]).

Future Prospects: These innovations represent a promising intersection of AI and human senses, offering enhanced communication tools that could benefit those with hearing impairments and beyond ([17:13]).

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6. Controversial Law in Peru: Pardoning Accused Abusers

Peruvian President Dina Boluwate enacted a law that pardons military and police officers accused of human rights abuses during the nation's internal conflicts in the 1980s and 90s, sparking international condemnation.

President Boluwate's Rationale:

• Restoring Dignity: Dr. Ibrahim Abdullah Khatar reported, "She said that she was restoring dignity to people who fought for democracy and fought for the country" ([18:22]).

• Legislative Process: The measure, approved by Congress a month prior, affects approximately 5,600 individuals, effectively releasing those previously under trial for their actions during the tumultuous period ([19:10]).

Historical Context: Leonardo Rocha provided an overview of the conflict, detailing the brutality of groups like the Shining Path and the subsequent suffering of innocent civilians caught in the crossfire. The pardons have been met with outrage from human rights organizations concerned about the lack of justice for victims ([19:23]).

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7. Lebanon's Struggle with Hezbollah Disarmament Amid Iranian Pressure

Under U.S. influence, the Lebanese government has committed to disarming Hezbollah by year-end, facing staunch opposition from Iran, which backs the militant group.

Iran's Opposition:

• Sovereignty Argument: Ali Larijani, Iran's Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, accused the U.S. of "bossing Lebanon around," asserting Lebanon's autonomy in decision-making ([21:04]).

Local Reactions:

• Mixed Community Sentiment: While the Shia community, Hezbollah's base, expresses discontent due to economic hardships and lack of reconstruction efforts, broader Lebanese society largely supports the disarmament to prevent further entanglement in regional conflicts ([22:15]).

Potential for Conflict: The Lebanese cabinet's roadmap for disarmament, backed by the U.S., has heightened fears of potential violence should Hezbollah resist disarmament efforts, recalling painful memories of Lebanon's civil war ([22:08]).

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8. Historical Significance of the Trump-Putin Summit in Alaska

Friday's imminent summit between Presidents Trump and Putin in Alaska holds deep historical and geopolitical implications, given the region's strategic and cultural ties between the U.S. and Russia.

Historical Background:

• Alaska-Russia Relations: Alaska was sold by the Russian Empire to the United States in 1867 for $7.2 million, a decision now valued at billions due to its vast natural resources ([24:31]).

• Cultural Connections: Despite geopolitical tensions, there remain lingering cultural and familial ties, with remnants of Russian Orthodox communities and historical exchanges across the Bering Strait ([25:27]).

Local Perspectives: David Ramser, an Alaskan journalist, noted the local unease regarding the summit, particularly the exclusion of Ukrainian representatives, which many believe could inadvertently legitimize Putin's position in the international arena ([26:20]).

Summit Logistics: The geographical proximity of Alaska to Russia—only about 90 kilometers across the Bering Strait—adds a layer of symbolic significance to the summit, drawing parallels to historical interactions before the Cold War era ([25:22]).

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9. Protests in England Against Vice President J.D. Vance's Visit

While the focus remains on international conflicts, Vice President J.D. Vance's visit to England has sparked unexpected protests, reflecting domestic tensions within the UK.

Protest Highlights:

• Public Opposition: Demonstrators greeted Vance in the Cotswolds with banners and chants such as "JD Vance, not welcome, party," expressing widespread dissatisfaction ([27:58]).

• Diplomatic Slip-ups: During a fishing outing with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Vance inadvertently violated local fishing regulations, leading to minor diplomatic friction. Although promptly resolved, the incident added to the day's tumultuous events ([28:18]).

Community Sentiment: The protests indicate a segment of the British populace's discontent with the special relationship dynamics, particularly concerning high-profile political figures ([27:58]).

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Conclusion

The August 14th episode of the Global News Podcast delves into critical international developments, from the intricate diplomatic maneuvers preceding the Trump-Putin summit to the devastating humanitarian crises in Sudan and Ukraine. Moreover, it highlights the double-edged nature of AI advancements in both healthcare and assistive technologies. Domestically, Peru's controversial pardons and Lebanon's tense disarmament efforts underscore the ongoing struggles between justice, sovereignty, and regional stability. As the world watches the summit in Alaska, the historical and cultural underpinnings of U.S.-Russia relations add depth to the unfolding narratives shaping global affairs.

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For more detailed discussions and the latest updates, subscribe to the BBC World Service's Global News Podcast.

Transcript

[Podcast Announcer]

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[Julia McFarlane]

This is the Global News podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Julia McFarlane and in the early hours of Thursday the 14th of August, these are our main stories. European leaders have given a positive account of their talks with President Trump ahead of Friday's meeting with Vladimir Putin as they seek to influence the terms of any ceasefire in Ukraine. The Peruvian president has signed a law pardoning military and police officers who are accused of human rights abuses during a bitter conflict with leftist rebels, and Lebanon's president has warned a visiting Iranian security official against interference as the government moves towards disarming Hezbollah. Also in this podcast, please have mercy on us. Our suffering is worse than you can imagine. Help us in any way possible, especially the children. They are innocent in all this and.

[Sudanese Crisis Reporter]

They are dying before our eyes.

[Julia McFarlane]

The crisis intensifies in the besieged Sudanese city of El Fha on Wednesday, just two days before Vladimir Putin is welcomed back onto American soil. Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other European leaders spoke to Trump to make clear their red lines in any negotiations with the Russian president. Neither Mr. Zelensky nor his allies in Europe have been invited to the US Russia summit in Alaska. But President Trump took a call from Berlin. The German chancellor, Friedrich Metz, told him that he and other European leaders, some of whom were also on the call, would never recognize a land grab by Russia. His words are spoken by a translator.

[Ukrainian Official]

A legal recognition of Russian ownership of.

[Military Analyst]

This territory cannot happen.

[Ukrainian Official]

There have to be robust security guarantees. The sovereignty of Ukraine has to be respected. If there is no movement on the Russian side.

[Julia McFarlane]

The US have to put.

[Ukrainian Official]

More pressure on Russia.

[Julia McFarlane]

President Trump knows his position and largely agrees with it. President Zelensky, also in Berlin, said an immediate ceasefire must be top of the agenda. He urged the US President to impose tougher sanctions on Russia if Mr. Putin did not agree. After the call, the French president, Emmanuel Macron, said the American will was to obtain a ceasefire and the British prime minister, Keir Starmer, said there was a viable chance of one European leaders may be claiming Vey and Mr. Trump are on the same page regarding the outcome of Friday's summit. But Mr. Zelensky signaled a warning. He said that Vladimir Putin wanted to trick the United States into agreeing to give Ukrainian territory to Russia. His words are also spoken by a translator. Putin is bluffing. I have been talking to Trump, European colleagues that Putin doesn't want peace. He wants to occupy our country. And we understand it. Putin cannot fool us. We need to pressure him. Sanctions, not only from the US but also from the European Union. Together, our union of partners can really, really stop Putin's war. Speaking a few hours later in Washington, President Trump said that he had a positive conversation with Ukraine's president, who could potentially meet Mr. Putin after the summit in Alaska.

[Donald Trump]

We had a very good call. He was on the call. President Zelensky was on the call. I would rate it a 10. You know, very, very friendly. There's a very good chance that we're going to have a second meeting which will be more productive than the first, because the first is I'm going to find out where we are and what we're doing. If the first one goes okay, we'll have a quick second one. I would like to do it almost immediately, and we'll have a quick second meeting between President Putin and President Zelensky and myself, if they'd like to have me there. And that would be a meeting where maybe it could be absolutely worked. But if the second meeting takes place now, there may be no second meeting. Because if I feel that it's not appropriate to have it because I didn't get the answers that we have to have, then we're not going to have a second meeting.

[Julia McFarlane]

Our correspondent James Waterhouse, has been covering the Ukraine war since the beginning, and he spoke to me from Berlin.

[James Waterhouse]

What struck you when Zelenskyy and Mertz came out of this virtual summit is they looked shattered. It was clear they'd had some pretty intense conversations in there. You know, this is an incredibly significant week diplomatically for Ukraine, of course, and Europe, because they are trying to muscle in on a process that will define its very future. And so they were very keen to point out, yes, Donald Trump agreed to the need for a ceasefire first. He agreed the current front lines would be the starting point for any kind of negotiation. He ruled out any legal recognition of occupied territory. Now, there are, of course, technical workarounds, but I think this was Europe throwing the kitchen sink at trying to influence Donald Trump's thinking in any way. But, you know, for all of the notes of reassurance and positives they might feel. There is so much that can happen between now and the end of Friday summit in Alaska. And I think there's going to be a lot of nervous waiting to see what developments, if any, are announced after that, when, as we know, Donald Trump can change his mind very quickly indeed.

[Julia McFarlane]

I mean, how much of a difference do you think all of this will make today on Friday?

[James Waterhouse]

Well, clearly, Europe has been able to change, even improve its relationship with the US not least through its increased defense spending. I mean, going from, in some cases 2 1/2 to 5% is not to be sniffed at, and Donald Trump points that out. If you look at how Donald Trump was talking today in terms of being on good terms with Zelensky, clearly the words and tone have changed. He's also made quite sizable threats to Russia and its major trading partners in terms of sanctions and heightened tariffs. But asides from giving the green light for US Made weapons to be provided to Ukraine via Europe and paid for, by the way, there still isn't the action that the bloc would like to see exerted on Russia by the US to force it to reconsider, to slow its war machine in any way. And I think until that happens, if there is a stumbling block on Friday, then Europe will be hoping something else happens.

[Julia McFarlane]

James Waterhouse. As President Zelensky arrived for the talks in Berlin, the governor of Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region ordered the evacuation of a dozen settlements in the face of a Russian advance. More details now from our diplomatic correspondent, Paul. Paul Adams.

[Podcast Announcer]

As all eyes start to turn in the direction of Alaska, something is unfolding on the scarred battlefields of eastern Ukraine. Close to the town of Dobropillya, Russian units have broken through front lines and pushed deep into Ukrainian territory. The move threatens key supply routes and the local authorities have ordered civilians to evacuate. But what does it amount to? Matthew Saville is director of Military Sciences at the Royal United Services Institute in London.

[Military Analyst]

What we don't know yet is is this a genuinely extensive breakthrough, or have.

[Julia McFarlane]

We got small bands of Russians now roving more deeply behind Ukrainian defensive positions?

[Military Analyst]

And they will be rounded up in.

[Julia McFarlane]

The next few days, but it's certainly.

[Military Analyst]

Of a significant concern to the Ukrainians.

[Podcast Announcer]

Ukrainian officials say the Russian units involved are being detected and destroyed. But the move, possibly designed to allow Vladimir Putin to claim that Ukraine's defences are collapsing, highlights the fragility of the eastern front line and, for Kyiv's European allies, the urgent need for a ceasefire. If Donald Trump manages to persuade Vladimir Putin to halt the fighting. A very big if then the so called coalition of the willing headed by Britain and France wants to be in a position to deploy what secure Starmer is calling stabilization forces to help on land, in the air and at sea. But the shape, composition and role of such forces remain unclear.

[Julia McFarlane]

Paul Adams International aid organizations have intensified warnings about starvation in the Sudanese city of El Fha. The city has been under siege by paramilitary fighters for over a year and no aid is getting in. The Sudanese army has been battling the Rapid Support Forces militia for more than two years now. The army regained control of some parts of Sudan, but Al Fasha remains one of the most brutal front lines. The BBC has obtained rare footage showing the desperation inside the city. From Nairobi, Barbara Pletascha sent this report.

[Sudanese Crisis Reporter]

In this place of relentless need, your best hope is to find a way to suppress the hunger. This community kitchen in Al Fashr is one of the few still functioning. The kitchen of goodness, it's called now crammed with women and children sitting on the ground waiting for food. The kitchen manager is talking about the meal, if you can call it that, filming it on his phone. It's a porridge made of ambas, the residue of peanuts after the oil has been extracted, normally fed to animals. Sometimes it's possible to find cereal grains in the market. Today, he says there is no flour or bread. May God relieve us of this calamity. There's nothing left to buy. Al Fashr's been under siege by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces for more than a year. A front line in Sudan's terrible civil war and a death trap for the people inside it. No aid is getting through. This woman told us she was displaced to the city from a village nearby, only to find herself besieged from all sides. We don't know what to do.

[Julia McFarlane]

We can't find food. Please have mercy on us. Our suffering is worse than you can imagine. Help us in any way possible, especially the children. They are innocent in all this and.

[Sudanese Crisis Reporter]

They are dying before our eyes. Hospitals can't cope with the crisis.

[Dr. Ibrahim Abdullah Khatar]

I am in the pediatric hospital. We have now, for example, five severe.

[Military Analyst]

Malnourished child and also they have medical.

[Dr. Ibrahim Abdullah Khatar]

Complications and unfortunately there is no even drop of milk to give them.

[Sudanese Crisis Reporter]

Dr. Ibrahim Abdullah Khatar sent us this voice note from the Al Saudi hospital. Many others have closed, damaged by shelling and desperately short of medical supplies.

[Dr. Ibrahim Abdullah Khatar]

Again, I can see the situation. It is so miserable, it's so catastrophic.

[Julia McFarlane]

The children of Al Fahr are dying.

[Dr. Ibrahim Abdullah Khatar]

On daily basis due to lack of.

[Julia McFarlane]

Food, lack of medicine.

[Sudanese Crisis Reporter]

This week the battle intensified. The rapid support forces launched a major push on Al Fashr. They published this video claiming to have advanced in social media posts. The army and its allies insist they repelled the assault and inflicted heavy losses, but civilians caught in the middle are fighting for survival. That fight continues even after they've fled, and hundreds of thousands have ending up in squalid camps at a place called Tuila, some 60 km away. In Tuila, at least aid workers have access, but the challenges are still daunting, says John Joseph Ochebi. He's the on site project coordinator for a group called the alliance for International Medical Action.

[Dr. Ibrahim Abdullah Khatar]

We are having shortages, as you can see, in terms of wash, in terms of medical supplies to be able to deal with this situation. We have limited supplies currently in the field due to access constraints.

[Sudanese Crisis Reporter]

Lying on one of the beds in the tent is Zubaydah Ismail Ishak, looking gaunt and exhausted. She arrived from Al Fashr a few days ago. She is seven months pregnant. Her story is a tale of trauma told by many.

[Ukrainian Official]

We drink water without boiling it.

[Sudanese Crisis Reporter]

We have no one to get us water because my husband was captured on the road to El Fasha and my daughter has a head injury. The United nations is appealing for a humanitarian truce, but the enormous costs of this unending war continue to be paid by the weakest.

[Julia McFarlane]

Barbara Plett, Usher Artificial intelligence is starting to play a bigger role in all of our lives. But is it always helpful? A new study has found that doctors who regularly use AI assisted systems to evaluate footage and data from colonoscopies. An examination of the bowels become less able to detect precancerous growths. Without it, could technology be eroding the very skills it's meant to support? The researchers say the findings were concerning our technology. Editor Zoe Kleiman reports.

[Ukrainian Official]

The study analysed around 1,400 colonoscopies carried out across four centres in Poland both before and after AI tools were introduced. The research team found that the rate at which experienced professionals identified pre cancerous growths independently of the technology during the procedures fell once the tools were in use. One of the report's authors, Dr. Marcin Romancek from the Academy of Silesia in Poland, said it wasn't clear why this was the case, but other potential factors, such as increased workloads or staff working longer hours, have been ruled out.

[Dr. Marcin Romancek]

There are some suspicions that perhaps we.

[Julia McFarlane]

Are over relying on AI systems because we are basically waiting for the machine to show us where the polyps are.

[Military Analyst]

And maybe we are not paying that.

[Julia McFarlane]

Much attention for careful inspection. I would not say that based on our research, we should stop using AI, but we should identify these risk factors.

[Ukrainian Official]

The use of AI tech in healthcare is increasing and it's considered to be very successful at spotting specific symptoms. The tools are trained to use large amounts of data, as many different images as possible, for example, of the symptom they're being developed to recognise. Supporters of the tech say it frees human doctors up to spend more time with patients.

[Julia McFarlane]

Zoe Kleiman now to Scotland, where AI is having a less ominous impact. Scientists there are developing what they're calling superpower glasses, which could improve people's hearing. The device uses a mixture of lip reading technology, AI and cloud computing to filter out background noise and isolate a speaker's voice in real time. Dr. Asan Adil of Sterling University told us how it all works.

[Dr. Marcin Romancek]

You would have a camera on the glasses, or it could be on your, you know, earrings, or it could be a locket. So that visual camera is going to actually capture your visuals, specifically your lips. So because lip movements are associated with the speech. Right. So when I say hello, you would see that my lips are saying hello if you're in a very noisy environment. So the speech is going to be really buried under the noise and you can imagine yourself being in a cocktail party or, you know, in a get together. Even people, even people with normal hearing, you know, they just struggle to hear speech. But what they do, I mean, the brain automatically uses the visuals to clean the speech. So these visual images from your, you know, cameras, they're going to go into the audio only hearing, and of course they're going to improve the speech. We are developing an AI chip specifically for these multisensory hearing aids that are going to mimic a pyramidal cell in the human brain that is now suggested to be the hallmark of conscious processing. So we are able to mimic these cells and we have showed that we can really process these big data, audio, visual information on the chip.

[Julia McFarlane]

Dr. Asan Adil still to come, for.

[Military Analyst]

Thousands of years, the native people of Alas, Alaska and the Russian Far east traveled back and forth across the Bering Strait to share a common culture and speak similar languages. And all that came to a halt as the Cold War erupted after World War II.

[Julia McFarlane]

We return to Friday's Trump Putin summit and hear how Alaska, where they will meet, has been a key contact point for generations. Human rights groups have condemned the move by Peru's President Dina Boluate to grant immunity to hundreds of military and police officers for human rights abuses committed during the country's internal conflict back in the 1980s and 90s. According to official data, 70,000 people were killed during the fighting between the government and left wing rebel groups like the Shining Path, which endorsed Maoist ideology. I asked our America's regional editor Leonardo Rocha, why Ms. Boluwate had decided to sign the legislation now.

[Dr. Ibrahim Abdullah Khatar]

Well, she said that she was restoring dignity to people who fought for democracy and fought for the country. And we have to bear in mind here that President Boluati, she didn't make the decision herself. This was a measure that was approved by Congress only a month ago and she just signed it into law. Of course she supports that. She has spoken about that very, very often. And what she said is that these people were fighting communism, fighting violent groups and they've been attacked by human rights group, by the left and that they deserved to be respected for what they did in her views for the country. And this is expected to affect 5, 600 people were being tried and now they will be basically released.

[Julia McFarlane]

And Leonardo, this conflict happened decades ago. What exactly was it all about? Can you bring us up to date for those of us who aren't so well informed on Peru's history?

[Dr. Ibrahim Abdullah Khatar]

This conflict that start with Tupac Amaru, a left wing group, guerrilla group, and then the Shining Path of the Sendero Luminoso, a Maoist group. They were mainly the Maoist group, the Sendero Luminosa were vicious. They killed people, they carried out massacres. And then you had paramilitary groups, very violent groups that came on to fight them. And for a while it looked like these rebel groups were going to defeat the government. They almost brought them down. And then you had President Fujimori who died a year ago, and he came back and they fought with a lot of violence. You have many people who say they saved the country because these rebel groups were really very violent and also committing huge abuse. But what you had here is innocent people, indigenous people, poor people who are basically executed for being considered to be close to the rebels or helping the rebels or sometimes living in the same areas as them. So for many people it's a complete disgrace that you have innocent people who won't have any justice for that.

[Julia McFarlane]

Leonardo Rocha there's been a tense visit to Lebanon by a senior Iranian official. Under pressure from the us, The Lebanese government has committed to disarming Hezbollah, which is based in Lebanon by the end of the year. Iran backs the Shia Muslim group and does not want this to happen. Speaking at a news conference in Beirut, Ali Larijani, the secretary of Iran's supreme National Security Council, accused America of bossing Lebanon around.

[Dr. Ibrahim Abdullah Khatar]

Other countries should not give orders to Lebanon. The Lebanese nation is a mature nation. It can make decisions itself.

[Julia McFarlane]

Our correspondent Hugo Boshega in Beirut told me more.

[Smoothie King Advertiser]

This is part of a regional tour. First he was in Iraq, where the Iranians support a number of militias, part of what Iran has described as the axis of resistance. And here in Lebanon, obviously, Iran's supports the group that used to be the most powerful of this alliance, Hezbollah. Iran has spent a lot of time, a lot of money building Hezbollah. And the group was obviously significantly weakened in last year's war with Israel. So it is a very difficult situation for Hezbollah. This is the worst moment in their history. So I think this is a way for Iran to tell Hezbollah and also the Shia community that we've got your back. And also a way to send a message to everybody that Iran has been weakened, but it's still in the game.

[Julia McFarlane]

The recent decision by the Lebanese cabinet to disarm all the non state actors hasn't been very popular with Iran.

[Sudanese Crisis Reporter]

Sure.

[Julia McFarlane]

How has it gone down in Lebanon? And you mentioned the Shia population. How have they reacted to that? Yeah.

[Smoothie King Advertiser]

So there is obviously some discontent in the Shia community. Community, especially because there's been almost no money to rebuild, you know, communities that have been destroyed because of the war. But outside Hezbollah's support base, there is a lot of support for the idea of disarming Hezbollah. For many Lebanese, the idea of having an armed group inside the country with the ability to drag the country into wars is over. So there is a lot of support. This visit is happening just days after the Lebanese cabinet approved a roadmap backed by the US for Hezbollah's disarmament. Hezbollah so far has said, look, we're not going to accept. So there is obviously the fear here that if there is any kind of move against Hezbollah, this could lead to some kind of violence. And obviously a lot of people here, you know, still have memories of the civil war. So this is something that is being taken very seriously by a lot of people here.

[Julia McFarlane]

Hugo Bochega in Beirut. Let's return to our main story, and it's tomorrow, Friday, when the media glare will be on the US State of Alaska as the US And Russian presidents fly in to talk. President Trump has a five and a half thousand kilometer trip, but President Putin's trip from Moscow is Even further, around 7,000. The westernmost coast of Alaska is only about 90 kilometers from the easternmost coast of Russia. The northern US state was once a Russian colony sold by a 19th century czar who needed the money for a war in Crimea. In 2025, the talks will revolve around another war in the same part of the world. So how does this meeting fit into the history of Russians and Americans crossing paths in Alaska? David Ramser is an Alaskan journalist and authority.

[Military Analyst]

There are only about 800,000 Alaskans here. Even though our state is so huge, about 40% of the state population is in Anchorage. And we have about 200 very remote, mostly indigenous villages in the north and western part of Alaska that are from 50 to a couple of hundred people.

[Ukrainian Official]

So take us back to 1867, when the then czar of Russia needed some.

[James Waterhouse]

Money, he sold Alaska to the United States.

[Military Analyst]

Well, we certainly got a very good deal. $7.2 million, about 2 cents an acre is what the United States paid for Alaska. We produced that much in about a day of oil production from the north slope of Alaska. But the history between Alaska and Russia is actually very long. For thousands of years, the native people of Alaska and the Russian Far east traveled back and forth Bering Strait to share a common culture and speak similar languages. And all that came to a halt as the Cold War erupted after World War II. And so both countries agreed to a treaty that basically sealed the Bering Strait. No travel was allowed, and that pretty much lasted from 1948 to the mid-1980s.

[Ukrainian Official]

Despite that, how Russian does Alaska still feel?

[Military Analyst]

There are a number of Russian Orthodox churches in Alaska communities. A lot of Alaska native people became Russian Orthodox back in the 19th and early 20th centuries, and that still continues. There are a number of Russians that came over during the heyday of positive relations. And so there are a few hundred Russians who married Alaska citizens, started families and businesses, and remain here. It's only 55 miles between the two mainlands. And there are two islands in the middle of the Bering Sea, Russian big Diomede and us little Diomede. And they're only two and a half miles apart. Starting in the mid-1980s, for about 25 or 30 years, there was really a heyday of positive relations between the two countries. And those really continued till Mr. Putin came to power and slowly shut all that down.

[Dr. Ibrahim Abdullah Khatar]

Did you take the opportunity to go during that period?

[Military Analyst]

I did my first trip to Russia in 1988. Alaska Airlines, which is a carrier in our part of the world, loaded a plane with mostly Alaska natives who flew over to the Russian coast and met some Russian natives who they had not seen in 40 years because of the Cold War closure. And it was a very emotional time on the tarmac there, being reunited.

[Ukrainian Official]

When something like this President Trump, President.

[James Waterhouse]

Putin meeting comes to Alaska, does the state enjoy the scrutiny?

[Julia McFarlane]

Being the center of the world's attention.

[Military Analyst]

For a while, We've actually long been a meeting place for international dignitaries. A number of US Presidents, Ronald Reagan, Richard Nixon, have held summits here, and so we're used to the attention that we get internationally. But I think Alaskans are pretty upset about this summit where Ukraine is excluded, and it legitimizes Putin by allowing him to land on U.S. soil. And I think a majority of Alaskans and Americans oppose that.

[Julia McFarlane]

David Ramser speaking to Ben James. Now, while President Trump has been planning the Alaska talks, his vice president, J.D. vance, has been on a family holiday in England, though he's had a few official meetings as well. He spent the past few days in the scenic Cotswold countryside. It's hard to imagine anywhere more, well, English. But not everyone is pleased at having a VIP visitor. Rather shockingly for the sleepy Cotswolds, there have been protests against him.

[Ukrainian Official]

So we're calling it JD Vance, not welcome Party. Essentially, we just, we got everybody bringing.

[Julia McFarlane]

Along their homemade banners.

[Ukrainian Official]

We brought along loads of images of.

[Julia McFarlane]

That meme that we know he hates with him with the bald head. He's entitled to holiday here just like.

[Podcast Announcer]

Anybody else is, but we're also entitled.

[Julia McFarlane]

To express our opinion. Police everywhere in the fields. You know, our taxpayers are paying for all of that. He's not welcome here, so we want him to go home. And there's been trouble, too, for one of his hosts earlier in his stay, the British Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, who welcomed him to the government's countryside retreat of Chevening in Kent. There, the two families fished for carp together. But as Charlotte Simpson reports, perhaps they should have tried another activity instead.

[Ukrainian Official]

Angling to maintain the smooth relationship he enjoys with JD Vance, David Lammy invited him to cast a line out on the property's private lake. An innocent enough activity, the Foreign Secretary must have thought, but he's since realized the Environment Agency requires all anglers in England and Wales aged 13 and over to have a rod license to fish for freshwater species, the Foreign Office spokesperson said. Mr. Lammy quickly purchased the relevant license and alerted the agency once he realized what they called the administrative error. Despite the slip, the visit seemed to be a success, diplomatically at least.

[Smoothie King Advertiser]

The one strain on the special relationship is that all of my kids caught a fish. But the Foreign Secretary did not. I'm sorry.

[Military Analyst]

I'M sorry.

[Ukrainian Official]

No. It seems the only thing David Lammy caught was the eye of the authorities.

[Julia McFarlane]

I've haddock with all these fish puns. Charlotte Simpson reporting. And that's all from us for now. But there will be a new edition of the Global News Podcast later. If you want to comment on this podcast or any of the topics covered in it, you can send us an email. The address is globalpodcastbc.co.uk you can also find us on XBCWorldService. Use the hashtag globalnewspod. This edition was mixed by Holly Palmer, and the producers were Allison Davis and Peter Hyatt. The editor is Karen Martin. I'm Julia McFarlane. Until next time. Goodbye.