This week’s peace talks are endangered after American forces fired on and boarded a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz. We visit Chernobyl’s ruined reactor to assess the damage done by a Russian drone to its enormous safety structure. The likes of McDonald’s and KFC have long been in China’s cities; now they are expanding at pace in the countryside.

Guests and host:

• Gregg Carlstrom, Middle East correspondent
• Sarah Lawrynuik, deputy editor of “The Intelligence”
• Don Weinland, China business and finance editor
• Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”
• Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

• Iran war, Strait of Hormuz
• Chernobyl, Ukraine war
• China, fast food

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When America seized Venezuela’s president Nicolas Maduro in January, it left the rest of his regime intact. Three months on, our correspondent finds optimism and some loosening of repression. Venezuela’s opposition leader María Corina Machado fled to America, now she explains her ambitions for the country. And celebrating the life of Nick Pope, who spent decades investigating UFOs.

Guests and host:

• Kinley Salmon, Latin America correspondent
• Ann Wroe, obituaries editor
• Rosie Blau, host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

• Venezuela, oil, Maduro, Trump
• María Corina Machado, elections
• Nick Pope, UFOs, aliens, NASA

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After six weeks of Israel’s offensive against Hizbullah, Lebanon’s president and Israel’s prime minister are due to talk today. What can they achieve? Britain’s “triple lock” pensions are unsustainable. And Uzbekistan’s footballers prepare for the World Cup.

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Guests and host:

• Anshel Pfeffer, Israel correspondent
• Josh Roberts, capital markets correspondent
• Jon Fasman, senior culture correspondent
• Rosie Blau, host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

• Israel, Lebanon, Hizbullah, Netanyahu
• State pension, Britain, triple lock, inflation
• World Cup, Uzbekistan

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.