Zelensky challenges Putin to meet him

Summary

Global News Podcast Summary Episode: Zelensky Challenges Putin to Meet Him
Release Date: May 12, 2025
Host: Rachel Wright, BBC World Service

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1. President Zelenskyy Challenges President Putin to Direct Talks in Turkey

In the ongoing efforts to negotiate peace in the Ukraine conflict, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced his intention to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Turkey on Thursday, May 15th. This move comes amid significant pressure from former U.S. President Donald Trump, who has advocated for immediate talks without preconditions.

Zelenskyy stated at [02:20]:
"I will be in Turkey this Thursday, May 15th, and I am expecting Putin in Turkey. Personally, I hope this time Putin will not look for reasons why he can't do something. We are ready to talk to end."

Despite the Kremlin's proposal for direct negotiations, Kyiv has maintained that any discussions would only commence after Russia agrees to a 30-day ceasefire starting Monday. In his nightly address, Zelenskyy reiterated, "my proposal of a ceasefire starting on Monday remains on the table and that Kyiv is still waiting for a response from Moscow" ([02:20]).

Analysts suggest that both leaders are deflecting responsibility, potentially impeding the progress of meaningful discussions. Vitaly Shevchenko, Russia Editor at BBC Monitoring, highlighted the complexity of the situation, noting that previous negotiations fell apart after revelations of Russian atrocities in Bucha ([04:10]).

Yaroslav Trofimov, Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent at the Wall Street Journal, reflected on past talks in Istanbul, emphasizing that the renewed balance of power, with Ukraine's strengthened military capabilities, makes current negotiations fundamentally different from those earlier failed attempts ([05:55]).

2. Ceasefire Between India and Pakistan Holds Amidst Tensions

A fragile ceasefire between India and Pakistan has endured beyond the initial 24 hours following four days of intense conflict. The truce, brokered with significant U.S. involvement, particularly by Donald Trump, has received mixed reactions domestically within India.

Ambarasan Etharajan, South Asia Regional Editor, reported from Delhi that while the Indian government views the ceasefire as a strategic victory, opposition parties have criticized the reliance on U.S. mediation. Concerns have been raised about the effectiveness and true intentions behind the truce.

Zing Singh explained at [10:12]:
"The Indian military officials held a press conference and one of them said when people specifically asked about the question, they said losses were part of any combat. Beyond that, they wouldn't confirm."

Critics argue that India's objectives may not have been fully realized, pointing out that the advanced capabilities of Pakistani jets demonstrated during the conflict exposed gaps in India's defense preparedness ([11:30]).

3. Pope Leo XIV Calls for an End to Global Conflicts

In his first Sunday message, newly elected Pope Leo XIV delivered a poignant plea for peace, addressing vast crowds at St. Peter's Square. Speaking in Latin to honor traditionalists, the Pope emphasized his desire for the cessation of all wars.

Pope Leo XIV proclaimed at [13:37]:
"Maius la guerra, no more war."
(Translates to "More peace, no more war.")

He specifically referenced the suffering in Ukraine and Gaza, urging for a "true, just and lasting peace" in these regions. His message has resonated positively among many Catholics, though he has yet to address the political dynamics involving the United States directly ([13:11]).

4. Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama Poised for Historic Fourth Term

Albania is on the brink of a significant political milestone as Prime Minister Edi Rama appears set to secure an unprecedented fourth term in office. With exit polls indicating a comfortable lead, Rama's continued governance is seen as pivotal for Albania's EU accession aspirations.

Zing Singh reported at [15:08]:
"The poll in the Albanian post indicates 52% of the votes have gone to the Socialist party as against 38% to the coalition led by the Democratic Party."

Rama has championed Albania's integration into the European Union, successfully opening negotiations on multiple chapters. Analysts believe that his leadership is crucial for meeting the 2030 EU membership target, despite opposition challenges and criticisms of his long tenure ([15:40]).

5. Hamas Announces Release of Israeli American Hostage Amid Ceasefire Efforts

Hamas has declared the imminent release of an Israeli-American hostage, Idan Alexander, signaling potential progress towards a ceasefire in Gaza. This development follows direct negotiations with U.S. officials in Doha, Qatar, and is seen as a step towards easing the humanitarian crisis in the region.

Zing Singh highlighted at [18:56]:
"Hamas is describing it as a step in efforts to reach a ceasefire deal in Gaza and also to allow humanitarian aid into the territory which has been under this Israeli siege for 70 days."

However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains cautious, insisting that any negotiations must be coupled with ongoing military objectives in Gaza. The U.S. administration, under Trump, is reportedly growing frustrated with Netanyahu's stringent demands, potentially increasing pressure on Israel to engage more flexibly in negotiations ([19:30]).

6. Iran and U.S. Engage in Fourth Round of Nuclear Talks with Minimal Progress

The most recent nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States, mediated by Oman, concluded with limited substantive agreements. Both Tehran and Washington have expressed optimism in their official statements, yet significant differences remain, particularly regarding Iran's uranium enrichment activities.

Navisa Kuvanavard from Muscat reported at [21:59]:
"There are a lot of things that kind of casted a shadow on this round. But right after the announcement, all three sides immediately released statements giving signals that the format was very positive and that there has been progress."

Despite the optimistic tone, negotiators from both nations recognize the deep-seated challenges. The U.S. administration has reiterated threats of severe consequences should negotiations fail, heightening the stakes and risk of potential military conflict ([23:24]).

7. U.S. and China Report Progress in Trade War Negotiations

In a significant development, the United States and China have announced progress in their ongoing trade dispute, aiming to avert a full-scale trade war. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Besant described the Geneva talks as "productive and constructive" ([24:28]).

Zing Singh noted:
"Agreement was reached more quickly than expected, U.S. officials said, although neither side was ready to give details of what had been agreed."

The focus remains on avoiding substantial tariffs, recognizing the mutual dependence where American consumers favor Chinese goods and China's economy relies heavily on U.S. markets. A joint statement from both nations is anticipated later in the day, outlining the specifics of the accord ([24:58]).

8. Ecuador Mourns Soldiers Killed by Criminal Gangs Amid Rising Violence

Ecuador is grappling with escalating violence, marked by the tragic killing of 11 soldiers by the Border Commando, a Colombian criminal organization. This incident underscores the increasing threat posed by transnational gangs involved in illicit mining operations across South America.

Rachel Wright detailed at [26:22]:
"The attack highlights the increasing involvement of organized crime in illegal mining across South America. In Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, and Brazil, local and transnational gangs have financed and controlled mining activities, intimidating local populations and causing significant environmental damage."

In response, Ecuador declared three days of national mourning, designating the fallen soldiers as national heroes and promising robust action against the perpetrators. The Colombian government has condemned the attack and pledged cooperation in the investigation ([26:22]).

9. South Korean Political Turmoil Over Presidential Candidate Selection

South Korea's political landscape is in upheaval following a contentious process to select the People Power Party's presidential candidate. Former government minister Kim Moonsoo was initially chosen but faced immediate challenges from within the party, leading to a last-minute reinstatement after internal disputes.

Mickey Bristow, Asia Pacific Editor, explained at [27:42]:
"The party leaders held a midnight meeting and at 3am on Saturday morning opened a one-hour window to register the contender, South Korea's recent acting president, Han Duk Soo, as their sole candidate."

Despite attempts to oust Kim Moonsoo, party members voted against the change, resulting in his official nomination. This chaotic episode reflects broader instability within South Korean politics, adding uncertainty to the upcoming presidential elections ([17:50]).

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Conclusion

This episode of the Global News Podcast provided comprehensive coverage of critical international developments, from the delicate negotiations in Ukraine and Iran to significant political shifts in Albania and South Korea. The convergence of geopolitical tensions, peace efforts, and political upheavals underscores a dynamic and often volatile global landscape. Listeners gain valuable insights into the complexities shaping our world today, informed by expert analysis and on-the-ground reporting.

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For more updates and detailed analyses, subscribe to the BBC World Service's Global News Podcast and stay informed on the latest global stories.

Transcript

[Rachel Wright]

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the uk.

[Zing Singh]

I'm Zing Singh. And I'm Simon Jack. And together we host Good Bad Billionaire, the podcast exploring the lives of some.

[Simon Jack]

Of the world's richest people.

[Zing Singh]

In the new season, we're setting our sights on some big names. Yep, LeBron James and Martha Stewart, to name just a few. And as always, Simon and I are trying to decide whether we think they're good, bad or just another billionaire. That's good. Bad Billionaire from the BBC World Service. Listen now wherever you get your BBC podcasts.

[Rachel Wright]

This is the Global News podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Rachel Wright and in the early hours of Monday, 12th May, these are our main stories. President Zelensky has said he'll go to Turkey to meet Vladimir Putin on Thursday after coming under pressure from Donald Trump not to insist on a ceasefire. First, Hamas says it will release an Israeli American hostage following direct talks with the US Aimed at reaching a ceasefire deal in Gaza. China and the United States have both spoken of progress during talks on ending their trade war. Also in this podcast in Rome, a.

[Zing Singh]

Singing pope was a novelty.

[Rachel Wright]

And in Latin, the new pope addresses large crowds in St. Peter's Square at his first Sunday mass. We start with the war in Ukraine and the latest moves to bring the two warring sides together after pressure from Donald Trump. Ukraine's leader, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he will meet the Russian President Vladimir Putin in Turkey next Thursday. Direct talks between the two sides were proposed by the Kremlin. Yet Kiev initially responded to that offer by saying it would engage in the process, but only after Russia had agreed to an immediate 30 day ceasefire beginning on Monday. In his nightly address, President Zelenskyy said his proposal of a ceasefire starting on Monday remained on the table and that Kyiv was still waiting for a response from Moscow. He said he would go to the talks.

[Zing Singh]

I will be in Turkey this Thursday, May 15th, and I am expecting Putin in Turkey. Personally, I hope this time Putin will not look for reasons why he can't do something. We are ready to talk to end.

[Simon Jack]

The war Thursday, Turkey.

[Zing Singh]

President Trump supported it. All leaders support it.

[Rachel Wright]

Vitaly Shevchenko is the Russia editor at BBC Monitoring.

[Zing Singh]

Well, there are several ways of interpreting all these statements that we've heard over the past couple of hours. One way of doing that is that Zelenskyy basically folded, caved in under all the pressure after he and European allies said that ceasefire should come before talks. Then Donald Trump completely undermined that position by saying that Ukraine should agree to talks with Russia immediately. So it's easy to see Zelenskyy's statement as him saying, okay, you want me to talk to Russia, I'll go and talk to Russia. But if we look at his statement on social media, he says that first we expect a full and lasting ceasefire on Monday, and then he's expecting to meet Vladimir Putin in Turkey in person. And Vladimir Putin, he never said that direct talks with Ukraine would actually involve himself and Vladimir Zelenskyy. So what happens if there's no ceasefire? What happens if Vladimir Putin says, I'm not going? Will Volodymyr Zelenskyy go? It seems as though both leaders are sort of passing the ball to each other, the buck, the blame, and saying, the failure to reach a lasting ceasefire is not my fault, it's my adversary's fault.

[Rachel Wright]

And of course, this tramples all over the European leaders who met in Kyiv a couple of days ago. And what they wanted since Thursday, it.

[Zing Singh]

Seemed that there was a more united position developed jointly by Ukraine, European leaders and America, who had apparently agreed to put more pressure on Russia until a couple of hours ago when Donald Trump said, I want Ukraine to talk to Russia immediately. So what if these talks do go ahead and I don't think they will, frankly, what is there to talk about, given that Russia's position has not changed one bit? Vladimir Putin is still saying that there will be no ceasefire until deliveries of new weapons to Ukraine stop, until the recruitment of new fighters into the Ukrainian army stops as well. And his press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, also said today that Russia still objects to the deployment of Western forces to Ukraine peacekeeping forces or some other kind of forces. So what's there to talk about in Turkey?

[Rachel Wright]

You've got to wonder, Vitaly Shevchenko. Well, Russian and Ukrainian negotiating teams have met before face to face during this conflict that happened the month after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in Istanbul. And according to a journalist who covered those talks, circumstances were very different. Yaroslav Trofimov is Ukrainian born. He's chief foreign affairs correspondent at the Wall Street Journal. So just how close to a deal were both sides back then?

[Simon Jack]

Those were the talks that began at a time where, when Ukraine's survival was very much in question, when Russian troops and Russian tanks were on the Kyiv Ring Road. And they really started off as talks of capitulation, talks of Ukraine's surrender. And the real reason why these talks led nowhere really is because Ukraine managed to defeat the Russian military in Kiev region in the north of Ukraine. And in other Parts of the country and the situation on the battlefields changed dramatically and it kept changing. And obviously, you know, we're not talking about an imminent collapse of the Ukrainian state, which was the case when the stocks began in the first days of the war in 2022.

[Rachel Wright]

Were there signs, though at the time.

[Zing Singh]

That the Russians were fair dealing in these negotiations, that they were being straight?

[Simon Jack]

The premise of those talks was that Ukraine had lost the war and the Russians were dictating the terms. So the key issues there were, for example, a limit on how large the Ukrainian military was going to be, and it was to be a fraction of its current size, the kind of weapons the Ukrainians would have. And obviously one feature of the agreement was a ban on foreign military assistance to Ukraine. So all of these are non starters in today's environment.

[Zing Singh]

While these negotiations were happening, it emerged that the Russians had committed infamous atrocities.

[Rachel Wright]

In the town of Bucha.

[Zing Singh]

And that blew things apart, didn't it?

[Simon Jack]

Well, very much so. So the Ukrainian army entered the town of Bucha, a suburb of Kyiv, a day after that meeting in Istanbul in March 2022. And the shocking scenes of Ukrainian civilians executed left to die in the streets of Bucha really changed the mood in Ukraine, changed the public opinion, and transformed how President Zelensky was seeing the situation. And that is when he really hardened his stance, saying, you know, we now have evidence that Russia is committing war crimes at large scale in Ukraine. And so one of the preconditions for future peace is accountability for these crimes, which remains to be the Ukrainian position.

[Zing Singh]

If face to face talks were to.

[Rachel Wright]

Happen again in Istanbul this week, how.

[Zing Singh]

Different would things be?

[Simon Jack]

Ukraine has a powerful military that has sophisticated weapons that have been provided by Western allies for the past three years. It's able to strike deep inside Russia, which has been doing regularly in recent weeks and months. And so the balance of power has changed very much to Ukraine's favor. At the same time, Russia has incurred monumental losses in hundreds of thousands, possibly more of its soldiers died in this war. And so it's no longer a conversation about how Ukraine will surrender on Russian terms.

[Zing Singh]

How deep is the bitterness, the hatred even on both sides, given the course.

[Rachel Wright]

That this war has run so far?

[Simon Jack]

Well, I mean, the bitterness is there and the hatred is there, and it's been there all along, obviously. But that doesn't change. The fundamentals of the last two years of the conflict is that neither side has been able to move the front line very much. You know, Russia has been on the offensive since the autumn of 2023, and it really has not been able to increase its territory under control. You know, it used to control just under 18% of Ukraine, and now it controls just over 18% of Ukraine.

[Rachel Wright]

Yaroslav Trofimov of the Wall Street Journal talking to Paul Henley as we record this podcast. The ceasefire between India and Pakistan appears to be holding more than 24 hours after some initial violations for which both sides blamed each other. The truce, which was announced on Saturday, followed four days of fighting between the nuclear armed neighbors, the worst in nearly three decades. The agreement was reached after diplomacy and pressure from the United States. Pakistan has thanked Washington for facilitating the ceasefire and welcomed President Trump's offer to mediate on the Kashmir dispute. But what has been the reaction in India? Our South Asia regional editor, Ambarasan Etharajan spoke to us from Delhi.

[Zing Singh]

Whether India's objectives have they been achieved? Indian officials would say yes. What we did was sending out a clear message to anyone inside Pakistan who wanted to carry out any attack on civilian targets inside. And Pakistan had shot down five Indian military jets. But India has not confirmed the closest where they came to conclusion. They came to an admission about it a short while ago. The Indian military officials held a press conference and one of them said when people specifically asked about the question, they said losses were part of any combat. Beyond that they wouldn't confirm. All they said was the pilots. All the pilots were safe back in their bases. Now, in a broader perspective, people would say India did not expect such a ferocious response from Pakistan and even though Indian media channels claiming it as a victory. But there is a wider level admission that the Indian air force could not match what Pakistan was doing because the Pakistani jets were having more sophisticated missiles. So many of the defense experts are pointing out India did not complete this ambition, but at least they were able to send a message to Pakistan that despite the nuclear deterrence, we will come in if necessary.

[Rachel Wright]

You are in India. Is there much criticism from people in India of the truce or is everybody supportive of what happened?

[Zing Singh]

Most of this Indian media, they are talking about how India was able to target several bases and radar stations inside Pakistan. However, the opposition is criticizing the government, why President Trump was allowed to declare the cease. In fact, only 30 minutes later, the Indians confirmed the ceasefire. So all along, Indians were always against any third party intervention in any of the bilateral talks with Pakistan. So now President Trump announced this and later on the Indians were saying that we had a direct chat with the Pakistanis. So they were not mentioning about the U.S. mediation. So that has come under criticism by opposition parties. And several other activists saying how come the United States states is announcing a ceasefire between India and Pakistan? Because the traditional position has been that India doesn't want any third party mediation. That has been the criticism. And some retired generals have been questioning what was achieved, what was the political strategic achievements of this entire operation, whether India was able to achieve exactly what it wanted in these four days of fighting.

[Rachel Wright]

Ambar San Etharajan in Delhi. Pope Leo has used his first Sunday message to call for an end to wars around the world. He addressed a large crowd at St. Peter's Square in the Vatican. From there, our correspondent Sarah Rainsford reports. For a brand new pope, another first. Leo XIV stepped out onto the balcony.

[Zing Singh]

Of St. Peter's to deliver his Sunday blessing to great applause.

[Simon Jack]

Buona domenicar.

[Rachel Wright]

He greeted the crowd as his dear brothers and sisters. A singing pope was a novelty, and in Latin, perhaps a nod to the traditionalists. But his main message in Italian was to the most powerful.

[Zing Singh]

He said, my piu la guerra, no more war.

[Rachel Wright]

Three years ago, as Bishop Bob Prevost, he denounced Russia's invasion of Ukraine as an imperialist war and condemned crimes against humanity there. Today, as pope, he said Ukraine's suffering was close to his heart and called for a true, just and lasting peace. He wished peace for Gaza too, and between India and Pakistan. The first North American Pope has still made no mention of the USA or of its politics. But he is going down well here with many Catholics.

[Zing Singh]

So many people. Can't believe how many people there are. It's mad. Everyone's really happy. Fingers crossed.

[Rachel Wright]

Leo XIV has a very different profile to his predecessor, but these are early days and so far, his style and his focus feel familiar. Sarah Rainsford in Rome. Now, we won't know the results for some time, but as we record this podcast, exit polls suggest that Albania's Prime Minister, Edi Rama may have won an unprecedented fourth term. More significantly, the parliamentary elections are seen as crucial if the country is to continue its efforts to join the European Union. Turnout was 49% in Albania, but almost 80% among Albanians living abroad who are allowed to vote for the first time. I asked our Balkans correspondent, Guy Delaunay, just how confident Mr. Rama's supporters should be.

[Zing Singh]

That's looking fairly comfortable for Edi Rama and his governing Socialist Party at the moment. The poll in the Albanian post indicates 52% of the votes have gone to the Socialist party as against 38% to the coalition led by the Democratic Party of Saleh Berisher. That's a very handy lead for Mr. Rama and the Socialists, who would give them 79 seats in Parliament as opposed to 54 for the Democratic Party. And that would enable Mr. Rama to carry on governing as he has done since 2013.

[Rachel Wright]

But this has been described as a pivotal ballot for Albania. Why is that?

[Zing Singh]

Well, it's something which Mr. Rama was obviously keen to project. This idea that this was crucial because he has been in power for 12 years and his whole pitch to the electorate has been that he's the man who's going to get his country into the European Union. And he can obviously point to the fact that accession negotiations opened on his watch, that they have opened negotiations on more than half of the chapters in this very long book of requirements that the European Union publishes for candidate countries, and that he reckons they're on target to complete those talks by 2027 with a target date of actual membership of 2030. And, you know, there've been some encouraging noises coming out of the European Union. They've generally been positive in their progress reports on Albania, while saying a lot needs to be done, indicating that progress has been made. So that was Mr. Rama's pitch all along. I've got you this far. Let me take you the rest of the way.

[Rachel Wright]

And is that why you think people voted for him and not for his rivals?

[Zing Singh]

Sareb Barish is a problematic figure. I mean, he's 80 years old. He's been around an awful long time in Albanian politics. Well, you're not going to get a change with an 80 year old veteran of politics. You're going to get something that you had in the past. It was quite funny. His slogan was make Albania great again. And he was employing some people from the Trump presidential campaign in the US to try and get that message across. But, you know, if you look at what Albania was 20 years ago, it's not where it is now. So it was a bit of an odd pitch to make.

[Rachel Wright]

Guy Delaney in Tirana, still to come, picked unpicked and then picked again. Perhaps not the best way to start an campaign, but an episode that seems in keeping with the state of South Korean politics. Chaos in South Korea over one of the candidates in next month's presidential election.

[Zing Singh]

I'm Xing Singh. And I'm Simon Jack. And together we host Good Bad Billionaire, the podcast exploring the lives of some.

[Simon Jack]

Of the world's richest people.

[Zing Singh]

In the new season, we're setting our sights on some big names. Yep, LeBron James and Martha Stewart, to name name just a few. And as always, Simon and I are trying to decide whether we think they're good, bad, or just another billionaire. That's good.

[Simon Jack]

Bad, billionaire.

[Zing Singh]

From the BBC World Service. Listen now, wherever you get your BBC podcasts.

[Rachel Wright]

An announcement from Hamas that it will release an Israeli American hostage next week has been welcomed by Washington. The news came after direct talks between Hamas and U.S. officials. There was a distinctly less effusive response from the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. He merely insisted that any Israeli negotiations with Hamas would have to happen while fighting in Gaza continued until all Israeli war objectives had been met. Our Middle east correspondent, Hugo Boshega, has been following events in Jerusalem.

[Zing Singh]

This announcement by Hamas that it will release this hostage, Idan Alexander, who is an Israeli American citizen, came after the group confirmed that direct talks were happening between hamas and the U.S. administration in Doha in Qatar, which has been acting as a mediator in this conflict. And Hamas is describing it as a step in efforts to reach a ceasefire deal in Gaza and also to allow humanitarian aid into the territory which has been under this Israeli siege for 70 days. No humanitarian supplies have entered Gaza for 70 days. And obviously this happens just before President Trump arrives in the Middle East. He will start this visit on Tuesday. So I think it's obvious that he wants to be able to have something to celebrate. So we've seen that there has been an intensification of these efforts for some kind of deal in Gaza. But I think it's also very important to mention that over the last few days, we've seen multiple reports suggesting that the Trump administration is increasingly frustrated with the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, his demands, his positions in these negotiations. So it seems that, you know, perhaps the President is losing patience with the Prime Minister and may force Israel to strike a deal with Hamas. We don't know what has been offered or promised by the United States in return. The Israelis are saying that they are not involved in these talks and these negotiations. But again, I think this could indicate that we're likely to see more pressure from the Trump administration on the Israeli government to reach a deal. For a very long time, critics of the prime minister have been saying that he's not interested in reaching a deal, that he's prolonging the war for political purposes. This has been a constant accusation, especially from the families of the hostages who remain in captivity in Gaza. But I think over the last few weeks, you know, there has been a growing opposition to the war. We've seen a number of former military officials in public criticizing the government for not having a plan for Gaza, for not announcing a plan to end a war in Gaza. So I think perhaps this criticism of the Prime Minister is now being shared by some in President Trump's circle.

[Rachel Wright]

Ugo Beshaiga in Jerusalem Difficult but useful, said Iran. Encouraging, said the U.S. that's how Tehran and Washington described their fourth round of nuclear talks in Amman, which have now ended. Beyond a pledge to meet again, there appears to have been little agreement. Both sides remain wide apart in their positions, especially on whether Iran should dismantle its uranium enrichment activities. But despite that, there was an upbeat tempo to the mood music. After the talks I spoke to our correspondent Navisa Kuvanavard in the Omani capital Muscat and began by asking her whether we were finally seeing progress.

[Zing Singh]

There are a lot of things that kind of casted a shadow on this round. But right after when they announced that the foretron of the negotiation has finished, interestingly all three sides, I mean the host Oman and also the US and Iran immediately released the statements and talk to media giving signal that the Fortran was very positive and there have been progress.

[Rachel Wright]

So it sounds very positive. Does this mean that there is likely to be another round between the Americans and the Iranians via the Omanis?

[Zing Singh]

Yes. Interestingly the Oman foreign minister immediately posted on ICK saying that the fifth run will happen right after that. The negotiators, the US and Iran negotiators will report to their leadership. So he kind of mentioned clearly that there will be a fifth round and also Iran Foreign Minister Mr. Arochi told Iran's official TV that the fifth round is expected to happen in about one week. So he said that the fifth run on its way.

[Rachel Wright]

So what are the stakes if this doesn't work? What if there is no breakthrough? What could happen?

[Zing Singh]

Well the US President Trump repeatedly has threatened Iran that if these negotiations wouldn't go in a positive way and reach and reach both sides reach a positive agreement, then there will be a huge consequences. He mentioned about attacking Iran and he kept repeating that he is trying to avoid something that it will cost Iran a lot of blood. Even he clearly mentioned that. So there are talks about war, there are talks about attack on Iran which Iran also has responded that Iran also is getting ready. If something happen to Iran, if any country decides to attack Iran, Iran will respond that. So the stake is quite high.

[Rachel Wright]

Nafisa Kuvenawa and in other bilateral talks China and the United States say they've made progress to avert an all out trade war. The U.S. treasury Secretary Scott Besant described the discussions in Geneva as productive and constructive. China's Vice Premier Herr Le Fung spoke of important progress. Few other details have been given, but the two sides say they will issue a joint statement later on Monday. Imogen Folks Reports from Geneva before these.

[Zing Singh]

Talks began, the US treasury secretary warned against expecting any major breakthrough. But after two days face to face with Chinese diplomats, Scott Besant seemed more optimistic. Agreement was reached more quickly than expected, U.S. officials said, although neither side was ready to give details of what had been agreed. Both countries know they need a deal that doesn't involve huge tariffs. American consumers are fond of Chinese products. If they become scarce and expensive, voters may become less fond of their president. China's economy depends on exports and the US is its single biggest market.

[Rachel Wright]

Imogen Folks in Geneva. The president of Ecuador has said There are some 40,000 gang members active in the country. Last year was the second most violent in Ecuador's history. According to government figures, a person is killed every two hours and seven are kidnapped every day. On Sunday, Ecuador held a funeral with full military honors for the 11 soldiers killed by a criminal gang. On Friday during an operation against legal gold mining in the Amazon, President Daniel Noboa has declared three days of national mourning. This report from Our America's regional editor, Leonardo Rocha.

[Simon Jack]

At a ceremony in Quito, the Defence minister, Giancarlo Fredo, vowed to respond with force. He also promised the government would look after the future well being of the soldiers families the 11 young men have been officially designated national Heroes of Ecuador. Army commanders say the victims were part of a group of 80 soldiers deployed to the province of Orellana, in the heart of the Amazon rainforest to tackle illicit mining. They say they were ambushed by a Colombian criminal organization known as Border Commando. The gang was founded by former members of Colombia's FARC rebel group that operates on both sides of the border. They denied involvement and pointed a finger at Ecuadorian criminal gangs who have become powerful and dangerous since striking deals with Mexican drug cartels over the past decade. The Colombian government has condemned the killing of the 11 soldiers and has promised to cooperate with the investigation. The attack highlights the increasing involvement of organized crime in illegal mining across South America. In Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela and Brazil, local and transnational gangs have finance and control mining activities. They operate in areas that belong to private companies or indigenous reservations, intimidating local populations and causing huge damage to the environment.

[Rachel Wright]

Leonardo Rocha South Korean politics has experienced months of turmoil since the president, Kyung Seung Ryo, declared martial law in December. He's now been impeached, but the shockwaves from that one rash act continue to reverberate. Mr. Yoon's party has now picked its candidate for next month's presidential election, but in a process that veered towards the farcical. As our Asia Pacific editor Mickey Bristow explains, there was some fanfare last Sunday when South Korea's conservative People Power Party picks the former government minister Kim Moonsoo as its presidential candidate. But the celebrations soon turned flat. Only days later, party leaders began the process of getting rid of Mr. Kim when they noticed another contender was more popular in the polls. Mr. Kim pushed back and unsuccessfully tried to stop the plan in the court. They tried to oust a candidate chosen through a legitimate process, he complained. Party leaders pushed on regardless. They held a midnight meeting and at 3am on Saturday morning opened a one hour window to register the contender, South Korea's recent acting president, Han Duk Soo, as their sole candidate. Mr. Kim was furious but appeared to have been sidelined. Party leaders, though, had to get approval for changing candidates from rank and file members, and in a vote later on Saturday, they rejected the switch. Mr. Kim was renominated and on Sunday officially registered as the People Power Party candidate, picked unpicked and then picked again. Perhaps not the best way to start an election campaign, but an episode that seems in keeping with the state of South Korean politics. Mickey Bristow 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 the topics covered in it, you can send us an email. The address is is global podcastbc.co.uk you can also find us on X@BBC World Service. Use the hashtag global newspod. This edition was mixed by Nick Randall. The producer was Alison Davies. The editor is Karen Martin. I'm Rachel Wright. Until next time. Goodbye.

[Zing Singh]

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