The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim
Sky News’ Yalda Hakim and NBC’s Richard Engel share their experiences from the frontline of global events. They debrief from flashpoints and discuss encounters with key decision makers, joined by some of those players to help make sense of world events. The podcast covers conflict in the Middle East, the Trump presidency, and the war in Ukraine, offering analysis and expertise. New episodes are released every Wednesday.
Episodes
Inside Iran: Is the war about to escalate?
Richard has just returned from Iran, where he witnessed the funeral of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He shares what he saw inside the country, answers your questions about reporting from Tehran as tensions flared once again, and explains what the funeral revealed about the mood inside Iran after months of conflict. Richard is also joined by Professor Robert Pape, one of the world's leading experts on wa
Inside Cuba: Trump's next target?
Communism, cigars and Cadillac cars. A beautiful island that has been the thorn in the side of the U.S government for 67 years. But what is it about this small island of approximately 10 million people and 90 miles off the coast of Florida that makes president after president so frustrated? Yalda has just been in Havana, interviewing the president who rarely gives interviews to foreign press. He t
Why Trump has surrendered to Iran | Robert Kagan
America has lost the war with Iran and suffered their biggest strategic defeat in history.That is according to Robert Kagan, a prominent foreign policy analyst and historian. He joins Richard on the podcast in this extra episode to talk about America’s position in the world following the start of the war in the Gulf.Why did Trump get involved? What next for Israel? Can the Gulf States still count
Why Lebanon is key to understanding the Middle East
Do all roads in the Middle East lead to Lebanon?Journalist and historian Kim Ghattas thinks so. She argues that it is often the fate of small nations to be playgrounds rather than players.Iran, America and Israel all have interest in the country. It is also now central to the Memorandum of Understanding that exists between Iran and America.After months of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah and
Can Trump's Iran deal survive?
The US and Iran have agreed a framework for peace talks, but Israel is deeply unhappy with the direction of travel. With mixed messages from Donald Trump, growing scepticism in Israel and no guarantees the deal will hold, how fragile is this peace process? Yalda Hakim and Richard Engel unpack the deal, why Vice President JD Vance has become its public face and whether he is being set up to take
The US-Iran Agreement: Breakthrough or Bluff?
Four months of fighting between America and Iran has led to this: a one-and-a-half-page agreement. But what does it actually mean? The details are sparse, but the Strait of Hormuz will be reopened, the US blockade will end and in the next 60 days there will be negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme. Trump says Iran can never have a nuclear weapon - will Iran agree? This week, Yalda is joined b
Introducing... Stuff Matters with Ed Conway
LEDs were supposed to be one of the great environmental success stories: a revolutionary technology that uses a fraction of the energy of traditional light bulbs. But have they really saved the world?In our new podcast Stuff Matters, economics and data editor Ed Conway takes an object, cracks it open and reveals the world shaping forces hidden inside.Each episode follows a trail of ideas that stre
Inside Putin’s Russia: Is the Kremlin getting nervous?
Why did President Zelenskyy write an open letter to Vladimir Putin? Why did Putin say he was rude? And why are ordinary Russians complaining about the price of cucumbers? In this episode of The World podcast, Yalda is joined by Sky’s Moscow correspondent Ivor Bennett to find out what it's like reporting from Russia. They talk about Zelenskyy’s open letter, Putin’s reaction, and what Russians are s
Ex-CIA analyst predicted Iran crisis years ago - so why was Trump surprised?
In 2012, a former CIA analyst ran a war game between the US and Iran.One of the first things he found was that Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz after America attacked. From there, his war game spiralled to a grisly end.So why did the Trump administration expect a quick victory?Fourteen years after the war game, Richard Engel sits down with Ken Pollack - the man behind the war game and now vice pre
China versus America: who will win the AI race?
Will China ever produce an Elon Musk?Kyle Chan, research fellow at the Brookings Institution and an expert on the AI race between the two superpowers thinks not.He talks to Yalda about the new Cold War - the race for the best AI between China and America.The two talk about Taiwan, Tehran and the different ways that each country approaches AI research and development. Could the Chinese government a
Robots on the frontline: Is Ukraine now winning the war?
Fully automated frontlines? Robots on the battlefield? Drones fighting drones? The Ukraine war has been transformed from an old-fashioned trench war to a modern one in a matter of years. On this episode of the podcast, Richard talks to Professor Phillips O’Brien, a defence expert and head of international relations at St Andrews University - an expert on the Ukraine war. He tells Richard how Ukrai
Trump versus Xi: Who will win the battle of the superpowers in Beijing?
A US President has not been to China since Donald Trump’s last trip nine years ago, so what will happen when Xi Jinping rolls out the red carpet for him again? Could there be progress made in Iran, Taiwan, or rare earth minerals? Yalda tells Richard what her contacts in the region are making of the meeting and where the war in Iran might be heading. Richard also details some of his reporting in th
How Pakistan became the peacemaker in the Middle East
More than eight weeks into the war in Iran, an unlikely country has emerged as the go-between for the two sides: Pakistan. How did General Asim Munir emerge as both the Trump and Iran whisperer?Yalda explains to Richard how this came about and why India may feel sidelined.Richard also tells Yalda about the fear of Israeli extremists felt by some members of Jerusalem's Christian community. He has s
Who are the jihadists sweeping across Africa?
On Saturday 25 April armed terrorists rode into the capital of Mali in West Africa. Al Qaeda affiliated jihadists now say they are going to launch a total siege of the capital – home to some four million people. Who are these jihadists? What do they want? And could Mali be about to fall? Yalda speaks to Yousra Elbagir, Sky’s Africa correspondent, about the growing threat of jihadism in West Africa
How does the war in Iran end?
With Trump saying the ceasefire with Iran is 'extended', how could this conflict end? And what are the long-term implications for the region, and who will dominate – Israel or Iran?Richard is joined by Hamidreza Azizi, an Iranian analyst and Visiting Fellow at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs in Berlin. He has spent much of his career in Iran, studying the regime, and ta
‘Black Wednesday’ - Inside Lebanon after Israel’s airstrikes
On Wednesday 8 April, more than 300 people were killed after Israel launched ‘100 strikes in 10 minutes’ in Lebanon during what is being dubbed ‘Black Wednesday’. What exactly unfolded that day? Yalda has spent time with those who witnessed the attacks and shares with Richard what they have been telling her. While a shaky ceasefire remains in place between Iran and the US, no such ceasefire exists
Inside Lebanon: A war within the war
Is Trump winding down the war or just playing for time? Did Netanyahu just reveal his grand plan for the Middle East? And how is the conflict is playing out in Lebanon?Yalda is in Beirut where Israeli bombs continue to devastate the capital. She has spent time in residential areas that have been largely destroyed and spoken to people living there. Is this the Israeli next front line?Meanwhile Rich
Inside Iran: What's it like in Tehran right now?
Sky News International Affairs Editor Dominic Waghorn and his team are currently some of the only international journalists inside Iran. The internet is sporadic but they managed to connect with Yalda to bring her news from straight from Iranian capital Tehran. The team were there to witness the Israeli air strike that killed Iran's security chief Ali Larijani. They were able to see the thousands
Did America and Israel just ramp up the war in the Middle East?
Is Israel about to occupy Lebanon? Why is Donald Trump sending more troops to the Middle East? And what is it actually like reporting from an active war zone?Yalda and Richard discuss the latest developments in Iran and what the killing of the country's security chief Ali Larijani could mean for any peace process.They assess the reaction of the Gulf states to the war and look at how possibly putti
10 days of war: How the Iran conflict is becoming a global crisis
Who is the new Iranian leader and will he make a difference to the conflict? Trump says the war is "won" but do his team agree? And who is set to gain from the war in Iran? Yalda is in Qatar and Richard is in Tel Aviv for this week's episode. Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al Thani has told Yalda he wants a diplomatic solution to the conflict and has told Iran to stop the
Have America and Israel just started a forever war with Iran?
What happens next in Iran? Will there be regime change? And what are the actual objectives of Israel and America? Yalda and Richard are both in Israel as the conflict in the region ramps up. Both have been reporting on the ground and working their contacts to find out what the American and Israeli strategy is. As the death toll in Iran climbs, and the Americans say the biggest hits are yet to come
Ayatollah Khamenei killed: What next for The Middle East? Q&A with Richard Engel
Can you carry out regime change without boots on the ground? Will President Trump walk away now the Supreme Leader is dead? Does this feel like 2003 all over again?Richard has been in Israel watching events unfold. He was in Tel Aviv when Israel and America launched strikes against Iran which ultimately led to the killing of Ayatollah Khamenei and many members of the top command.In this special ep
'We are not out of the woods': Why democracy in the United States is being tested
Ken Burns is one of America's most successful documentary filmmakers.Ahead of the 250th anniversary of American independence later this year, he sits down with Yalda in this extra episode to reflect on where the US has come from, as well as the current state of the nation.Burns has been making films for more than 40 years, winning Emmys and Grammys, and has even had a film effect named after him -
'Not a Palestinian in sight': Inside Gaza after the ceasefire
What is Gaza like four months on from the ceasefire? Are Hamas still operating? Why won’t Israeli troops withdraw completely? And what about the Palestinians who have been forced to leave their homes?Richard has been taken into Gaza by the IDF, which is still the only way that international journalists are allowed into the Strip. He is shown a Hamas tunnel which the IDF says was used until recentl
Is Iran about to go to war?
Why did the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei just threaten to sink US warships? Is the progress made in the talks between America and Iran meaningful? What could happen next?US President Donald Trump has sent more military equipment towards Iran and has said regime change is the “best thing that could happen”. At the same time, Iranian officials have said that some progress has been made in i
Former spy chief on Mandelson, Ukraine, China and Trump
What is next for Iran? Did MI6 know about Peter Mandelson’s past with Epstein? How does Europe bring Putin to the negotiating table? When he left his job in 2025, the former head of MI6 said that he didn't think he’d left the world in a better place than when he was first appointed in 2020. But a lot has happened since he took the position, Sir Richard Moore has served two monarchs, four prime m
After the crackdown: what is happening on the streets of Iran?
What is the mood in Iran’s capital? Are people still protesting in the streets? What is the regime saying about what happened?Richard Engel is in Tehran for NBC News and tells Yalda what he is seeing and what officials are telling him.Because of the internet issues in Iran, Richard’s connection dropped off halfway through. Yalda then speaks about her exclusive interview with FIFA boss Gianni Infan
Iran's information war: the battle for control of the internet
How does the Iranian regime use technology to control its people? How has AI and misinformation been used in the current wave of protests?The Iranian regime just implemented the longest internet shutdown in its history. For over two weeks, very little information was getting in or out of the country as security forces cracked down hard on protestors.Shutting off the internet is something the regim
Regime crackdown: Life inside Iran
It's been a month since a wave of protests spread across Iran, followed by a brutal government crackdown. With the country under an internet blackout, it's still unclear how many have been killed - Richard and Yalda discuss what the death toll could be and we hear from one woman who shares what life is like inside Iran. With Trump’s Board of Peace now established, Richard and Yalda explain what
Trump at Davos: What does Europe do next?
Why does Donald Trump want Greenland so much? How is Europe reacting? Yalda is at Davos where the president insisted that America must have Greenland. He has announced a framework has been agreed with NATO, but that the details still need to be worked out. Yalda has been speaking to officials in Davos, who told her how betrayed they felt by the president. Yalda also speaks to foreign policy expert
The Iranians who want Trump to intervene
What does the Iranian diaspora want America to do? Do they want intervention? And what do they think is next for Iran?As protests continue across Iran and President Trump warns of consequences if the killing continues Yalda Hakim sits down with two Iranian American women to hear the views of the Iranian diaspora.In this extra episode of the World, she speaks to Azadeh Afsahi, a human rights activi
Is the Iranian regime about to fall?
US President Donald Trump says "help is on its way" to the protesters in Iran – but what does he mean? Will the president strike Iran? And what could actually happen if the regime falls? Protests in Iran have been spreading across the country for nearly two weeks. Why are tens of thousands of people out on the street? Richard and Yalda take stock of the fast-moving situation in Iran and try to mak
Could Trump go for Greenland or Cuba next?
What is the real reason that Trump wanted to remove Nicolas Maduro? Could he be about to do the same thing in other countries? And why is he saying he “needs” Greenland?After the audacious events in Venezuela which saw President Nicolas Maduro removed by American special forces and taken to New York to face trial, Richard and Yalda discuss what could happen next in the region.Richard is in Colombi
50 Cent, Zelenskyy and Trump: a Christmas Q&A special
In this special Christmas episode, Richard and Yalda answer your questions. After a huge year in international news, the two reflect on the year that has been and what might be coming up in 2026.Questions include: What was the defining story of 2025? If you weren’t a journalist, what would you be? And how do you adjust to life after covering conflict?They also answer some more light hearted questi
Bondi, Imran Khan’s sons speak out and is a deal close in Ukraine?
What's next for Australia after the deadly Bondi Beach terrorist attack? Yalda grew up in Sydney and tells Richard about why Bondi is such a special place for her and Australians, as well as sharing how the country might recover after the horrific events. Yalda has also been speaking exclusively to the sons of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, who give
How did a viral deepfake stoke tensions between India and Pakistan?
What is the truth behind that deepfake of Yalda? Why was it so inflammatory? A deepfake of Yalda and her guest went viral after it made the two women say something completely false. Yalda tells Richard exactly what happened and why these types of videos can be so dangerous. Yalda also gets to grips with the new powers granted to Pakistan’s military chief Asim Munir with the help of jou
Imran Khan versus the military: What's just happened in Pakistan?
Is Pakistan slipping into military rule? Why is the UN sounding the alarm about new changes to the country’s constitution? Will Imran Khan ever be released? Yalda breaks down exactly what is going on in Pakistan and speaks to one of Imran Khan's close advisors Zulfi Bukhari to get the latest on the former Prime Minister. Richard is in Ukraine and has an update a
Is Trump's new Ukraine plan capitulation or compromise?
What is actually in the detail of the Ukraine plan? Will Russia agree to the EU and Ukraine's amendments? The leaked 28-point plan for peace in Ukraine which emerged last week was seen by many as capitulation to Russian demands. In response, European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy submitted their counter demands. Richard has been at the peace talks happening in Gen
Trump & The Prince: Why is the Saudi leader’s visit to the White House so significant?
Is this Mohammed bin Salman’s comeback tour? Mohammed bin Salman, the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, also known as MBS, is returning to the White House for the first time since the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018 at the country's consulate in Istanbul. US intelligence concluded that the crown prince approved the c
Inside Colombia - is Trump preparing for war?
Donald Trump has moved a large amount of US military force to the Caribbean, but why? Trump recently referred to Colombia's left-wing president, Gustavo Petro, as "an illegal drug leader" and has ordered even more troops to the region. The US military has been bombing alleged "drug-boats" suspected of taking illegal drugs such as cocaine and fentanyl to the US, but are drugs just one part of the s
From New York to Iran: how are young people upsetting the establishment?
What does Zohran Mamdani's win in the New York mayoral race mean for America? Will the Democrats embrace him? What will Donald Trump do? The youngest person in 100 years has just been elected the city's mayor and Yalda and Dominic Waghorn - stepping in this week for Richard - assess what's happened. While young people voted overwhelmingly for Mamdani, youn
Cheat Sheet... A new podcast from Sky News
Sophy Ridge and Wilf Frost bring you the Cheat Sheet to the day’s news in 10 minutes. On this first episode, they look at the Huntington mass stabbing and hear from an eye witness. Sophy’s spoken to the sole survivor of the Air India crash which killed 241 people back in June. And Wilf’s heard from the US ambassador to the UK Warren Stephens, who wants the UK to keep drilling for oil and gas.
Is Hamas ready to give up Gaza?
Could civil war be about to erupt in Gaza? As all the remaining living hostages taken by Hamas on October 7, 2023, are freed, and almost 2,000 Palestinian prisoners in Israel are released, Yalda and Richard are in Tel Aviv to debrief on a momentous day for the Middle East. But with outbreaks of violence between Hamas and rival militias in Gaza, could the Strip be about to descend into civil war?
BONUS EPISODE: Will the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas last?
Will Hamas agree to disarm? Will the bodies of all the hostages in Gaza be recovered? Will Israel keep up its side of the ceasefire deal? In this bonus episode of The World podcast, Richard and Yalda are recording from Jerusalem reviewing the last few days. Live on air, Yalda got a text from a source inside the negotiating room who gave her the heads up an agreement was coming sooner than expec
Is peace any closer two years on from October 7?
How close is a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas? Just how badly does Donald Trump want the Nobel Peace Prize? Why has Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to this deal now? Richard and Yalda are both in Israel, two years on from the October 7 Hamas attacks, in a week where a ceasefire could be close between the two sides. Both Richard and Yalda have been speaking to the family members of hostages
Will Trump's Gaza plan leave eternal peace in the Middle East?
A new US-brokered deal is on the table: Donald Trump's 20-point plan for Gaza is endorsed by Benjamin Netanyahu and awaiting Hamas's response. It promises hostages freed, aid flowing, and Gaza rebuilt under international oversight. But who really gains, and who gets to decide Gaza's future? Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim break down the proposal and speak to key players about whether peace is finall
Your countries are "going to hell”: Trump versus the world at the UN
What was Donald Trump’s message to the world in his UN speech? Will his position on Gaza ever shift? Will the UK’s recognition of a state of Palestine actually do anything for the Palestinians in Gaza? Yalda is recording from New York where the United Nations General Assembly is taking place. All the most prominent world leaders are there to talk about global politics and diplomacy. Yalda talks a
Zelenskyy tells Yalda: Trump, the time to act is now
What do you do when the President of Ukraine tells you he wants an interview? You get on a plane and go. Yalda is recording in Kyiv just after she sat down with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who agreed to an exclusive interview the day before Donald Trump's state visit to the UK. He also agreed to a rare walk with Yalda around bombed-out Kyiv to show her the extent of the Russian damage. What was his mes
BONUS EPISODE: Bombs in Doha and drones in Poland
How significant is Israel’s airstrike on Hamas leaders in Doha, Qatar?And, with Russian military drones being shot down in Polish airspace, what will NATO do? Richard and Yalda debrief on the international reaction to the latest from the Middle East and Europe. Also featuring interviews with the US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee and NATO general secretary Mark Rutte. To watch the whole of
Economic crisis, political turmoil: what is happening in France?
Why has France just lost its fourth prime minister in two years? Why is its debt spiralling out of control? Is the EU going to have to bail it out? Yalda is in Paris answering all these questions as she covers the fall of Emmanuel Macron's latest prime minister. Thousands say they will descend on the streets, while opposition politicians call for Mr Macron to stand down. But will he go? Richard
Has China humiliated Trump?
Has Vladimir Putin traded Donald Trump for Xi Jinping? Yalda and Richard are back from their summer break and unpack the summit in Beijing. The leaders of Russia, India and North Korea are all there - but what is going on? And what will President Trump make of it? Richard is recording from Israel where hundreds of thousands of people have been out on the streets protesting against the war in Gaz
Welcome to The World
Sky News’ Yalda Hakim and NBC’s Richard Engel have covered world events for years. Now, they have teamed up to share their experiences from the frontline. They debrief from global flashpoints and discuss their encounters with the biggest decision makers. They’ll also be joined by some of those key players to help make sense of world events. From conflict in the Middle East, to the US election,
Why Palestinian statehood won’t stop the starvation
Will recognising a Palestinian state help the people of Gaza?Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced that the UK would recognise the state of Palestine in September if Israel does not accept certain conditions, including a ceasefire – but what will this actually mean? Yalda thinks that there are better ways to pressure the Israeli government into allowing more aid into Gaza, and she tells Richar
Can Syria's new President be trusted?
On this week's episode, Yalda and Richard talk about the growing international condemnation of Israel's war in Gaza, including from a usually staunch ally – the evangelical right wing of America. But what has made them voice a rare criticism?The two also talk about the shaky ceasefire that is currently in place in the southern Syrian city Sweida. This is the first real test for the new Syrian lead
Why Trump changed his mind on Ukraine
This week, Yalda and Richard discuss Donald Trump's big decision to send weapons to Ukraine through NATO. Why has he changed his mind?Yalda gives her take on the situation and why she thinks Trump is following a similar position to presidents before him when it comes to the Russian leader.The two also discuss the UK’s secret Afghan immigration scheme after a massive data leak and gagged media. But
Iran's crackdown on so-called Afghan spies
Richard is just back from Iran and tells Yalda what he saw at the Evin prison which Israel bombed. The two also talk about Iran's crackdown on Afghan refugees and undocumented workers in the country, some of whom the Iranian government say were working as spies for Israel.But how true is this? Yalda reveals what her Mossad contact told her.They also ask how close a ceasefire in Gaza might be.To ge
What's it actually like in Iran right now?
In this episode, Richard and Yalda lift the curtain on what life is actually like in Iran, as Richard details how he managed to get into Tehran this week - and what he's found out about a country still reeling from the ramifications of the war against the US and Israel.After President Trump announced on Tuesday night that Israel had agreed to a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, we wait to see if Hamas acc
The World...slightly later than billed
The World will be in your feeds a little later than usual this week. To get in touch or to share questions, email theworld@sky.uk
Do Israel and Iran know ‘what the f***’ they’re doing now?
In this episode, Richard and Yalda react to US President Donald Trump’s ‘they don't know what the f**k they're doing’’ comment on the White House lawn as the shaky Israel-Iran ceasefire comes into effect. Yalda gives Richard her inside scoop on the phone call Trump had with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to stop him from bombing Iran and further violating the ceasefire.They also ask eac
BONUS EPISODE: Trump bombs Iran
In this bonus episode, Richard and Yalda get together and talk about President Trump’s decision to strike three nuclear sites in Iran.Yalda is in Jerusalem and Richard is in Tel Aviv where both of them have been reporting all night long.Yalda reveals what her contacts are telling her about the extent of the damage done to the sites. They then ask, what could happen next?To get in touch or to share
Inside Israel-Iran conflict special
In this episode, Yalda and Richard meet up in Tel Aviv as they are both in Israel reporting on the Israel-Iran conflict. Yalda has been in Jerusalem since Israel launched its attacks on Iranian nuclear sites, military bases and top commanders. She discusses with Richard the toll this new war is taking on the region and the people of both Israel and Iran. She also unpacks her interviews with the pr
Israel v Iran – what's next?
Israel has attacked Iran and its operation will continue for "as many days as it takes", according to Benjamin Netanyahu – meanwhile, Iran's leader has vowed "severe punishment" in return. In this extra episode of The World, Yalda Hakim is joined by Sky News' international affairs editor Dominic Waghorn to ask why Israel decided to launch these attacks now and whether this is the start of some
Is Ukraine winning the spy war? In conversation with ex-CIA chief
This week, Richard is in Ukraine, recording just hours after the country was hit with 500 drones from Russia. He is in Mykolaiv and brings Yalda up to speed with what the city is like, over two years into the conflict.Yalda then takes Richard behind the scenes of her headline-making interview with the Russian ambassador to the UK who blamed Britain for the Operation 'Spiderweb' drone attack.Then,
Introducing... The Wargame
A bunker. A scenario. A group of former senior ministers, military chiefs and other experts. Russia knows our weaknesses – but do you? Sky News' security and defence editor Deborah Haynes presents The Wargame – a major new five-part series from Sky News and Tortoise, set in the near future. Launching 10th June.
Has Ukraine proved Trump wrong?
This week, Richard and Yalda talk about ‘Operation Spiderweb' - the Ukrainian drone attack that is being described by some analysts as 'Russia's Pearl Harbor'. How did Ukraine pull this unprecedented attack off? Where does this leave peace talks? And how might President Putin respond? Richard and Yalda also reflect on the difficulties of not being able to report from inside Gaza. Israel has previo
Could a ceasefire deal in Gaza be close?
As international criticism of Israel’s latest military offensive in Gaza mounts, Richard and Yalda ask how likely a ceasefire is in the coming weeks. Also, one of Richard’s contacts tells him how Israel is using talking drones in Gaza which he describes as ‘like something from Black Mirror’.Yalda unpacks her interview with a Hamas official who has an interesting revelation about negotiations. Mea
Former spy chief on Gaza, China, and cyberwarfare
Former GCHQ director Sir Jeremy Fleming joins Richard and Yalda for a wide-ranging conversation covering the war in Gaza, Donald Trump’s foreign policy, the threat of China and the dangers of AI.What does the former spy chief think will happen in the war in Ukraine? How close is a nuclear deal with Iran? What are the biggest threats to the UK’s national security?Sir Jeremy, who held the top role f
'A Golden Age of the Middle East'? Trump visits the Gulf
This week, Yalda is in Riyadh and Richard is back in Tehran as they discuss President Trump's trip to the Gulf states. He hails a "Golden Age of the Middle East" and vowed to stop sanctions on Syria and repeats his desire for a nuclear deal with Iran.Richard also tells Yalda about his trip to Syria where he joined a search for American hostages killed by ISIS - and Yalda shares her concerns over t
India and Pakistan clashes
In a special extra episode, Yalda talks to Sky News' India reporter and producer Neville Lazurus in Delhi on the roots of the latest hostilities between the two nuclear-armed countries and asks if this has the potential to escalate into a global conflict.
John Bolton on Iran and China
Former US national security adviser John Bolton talks to Yalda about his experience of being the target of an attempted assassination plot by a member of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.Mr Bolton also discusses why he believes China poses an "existential threat" to the West - and why he describes working in Donald Trump's White House as like "living inside a pinball machine".Episodes of T
Fast and Furious: 100 days of Trump
Yalda and Richard discuss whether there is any rationale behind President Trump's foreign policy or is he just winging it?They analyse the most recent volte-face on his attitude towards Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin and the impact on his popularity at home.Also, Yalda discusses her interview with Pakistan's defence minister Khawaja Asif who admitted his country has been doing America's "d
Inside Iran special - how close is a nuclear deal?
Richard reports exclusively from Tehran and discusses with Yalda whether the US can strike a nuclear deal with Iran.They also discuss the likelihood of war with Israel as well as Iranian women's rights.In addition, Richard and Yalda analyse President Trump’s broader foreign policy as he approaches the 100th day of his second term in office.To get in touch or to share questions for Richard and Yald
A conversation with historian Sir Niall Ferguson on Trump, tariffs and China
Richard and Yalda are joined by one of the world's most eminent historians and political commentators to discuss culture wars, trade wars and the possibility of World War Three over Taiwan. Sir Niall says the US may be in the stage of "buyer's remorse" with the Trump presidency and predicts that by this time next year he could be "deeply underwater" in the polls.To get in touch or to share questio
Donald Trump forever?
Following Donald Trump's recent interview with NBC's Meet the Press in which the US president said "there are methods" for serving a third term, Richard and Yalda discuss whether this is a reality or a pipe dream. Also, continuing the theme of popular uprisings around the world, Yalda discusses claims that an illegal sonic weapon was used against protesters in Serbia and how she confronted the amb
Top secret scandal: How damaging is the war plan leak to Trump administration?
This week, Richard and Yalda discuss what she calls the WTF?! moment when it was revealed that the most senior US administration officials had shared details of a highly classified attack on Yemen to a US journalist.And with large-scale demonstrations in Turkey and Tel Aviv against President Erdogan and Prime Minister Netanyahu, they discuss when - if ever - will the American people take to the st
Yalda Hakim meets The News Meeting
As well as this week's usual World podcast, Yalda can also be found on Tortoise's News Meeting this week.She debates with Giles Whitell, Patricia Clarke and Cat Neilan as they each pitch a story that they think should lead the news.They debate if the disruptions at Heathrow airport reveal key weaknesses in the UK’s infrastructure, if the US looking to pull out of Ukraine so it can focus on a poten
Trump's call with Putin: Ending one war, preparing for another?
This week, Richard and Yalda get together from opposite parts of the globe to dissect Donald Trump's phone call with Vladimir Putin.Richard is on the frontline with Ukrainian soldiers in Kharkiv who tell him that the Russian president is playing Mr Trump.Meanwhile, Yalda is in Delhi speaking to world leaders who all tell her the same thing - America is pivoting from Europe and preparing for confli
Deadlock in Ukraine
With diplomatic talks between Russia and America stalled, the killing on the battlefields continues.Richard reports from the frontline of Mykolaiv, witnessing continued Russian bombardment of the region, while Yalda reveals what the Russian ambassador in London told her about Moscow’s conditions for a ceasefire. To get in touch or to share questions for Richard and Yalda, email theworld@sky.uk Cli
"Democracy is in Decline”: On Turkey, Trump and the Truth with Elif Shafak
This week Richard and Yalda interview international best-selling author Elif Shafak. Elif - who was once put on trial for "insulting Turkishness" - issues a stark warning. She tells The World that in countries across the world women’s rights, LGBTQ rights, human rights, freedom of speech and even democracy itself are under attack from the forces of intolerance and populism that are now increasin
Peace in Europe, War with China?
This week Richard and Yalda sit down with Matt Pottinger, former Deputy National Security adviser to Donald Trump and one of the leading US experts on foreign affairs.With an insider’s knowledge of the president’s decision making, Matt lays out what he believes is the rationale behind Trump's foreign policy.He predicts Europe and America will eventually work in tandem and call Putin's bluff, but h
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