The World Tonight

Lord Mandelson failed vetting but Foreign Office overruled decision

The prime minister did not know Lord Mandelson failed security vetting for the role of US ambassador until earlier this week, the government has said. We hear from the BBC's political editor and a Labour backbencher. As a ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel comes into effect, we speak to our…

16 Apr 5PM 37 min

US war on Iran a "mistake", says Reeves

The Chancellor Rachel Reeves has said that the US made a "mistake" by ending diplomatic negotiations with Iran and entering into military conflict. Speaking on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund Spring Meetings of finance ministers and bankers, Ms Reeves said the best way to prevent Tehran from developing…

15 Apr 6PM 37 min

Government under fire over defence spending

One of the authors of the government’s Strategic Defence Review has hit out at what he calls "corrosive complacency" on the part of the government. Lord Robertson, a former Labour defence secretary and NATO secretary general, said current levels of welfare spending were unsustainable and that security must be prioritised…

14 Apr 5PM 37 min

US blockade of Iranian ports takes effect

An American blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has come into force, after the failure of peace talks with Iran at the weekend. Tehran says it'll retaliate, but President Trump has repeated his threat to destroy any Iranian attack vessels which approach the blockade. We speak to a representative of…

13 Apr 6PM 37 min

Artemis astronauts prepare to return to Earth

Having travelled further from Earth than any of their predecessors, the four astronauts aboard the Orion capsule are preparing to splash down in the Pacific Ocean. We speak to our correspondent at mission control in Houston and hear from two young astronomers on what the expedition has meant to them…

10 Apr 5PM 38 min

Israel to hold talks with Lebanon but no ceasefire

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has said he will enter into direct peace talks with Lebanon but that there will be no immediate truce. Donald Trump is reported to have called Netanyahu to encourage him to enter into negotiations. We get the latest from Jerusalem and Beirut. Also on the programme:…

9 Apr 6PM 37 min

Can the US-Iran truce survive?

Both Iran and the US declare victory as the ceasefire approaches its 24th hour, but can the truce survive? Iran says continued Israeli airstrikes violate its terms, while questions remain over the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Also on the programme: will Keir Starmer be banking on an electoral…

8 Apr 6PM 38 min

Trump’s Iran deadline approaches

The US president has given Iran until 1am UK time to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, saying that otherwise ‘a whole civilisation will die tonight’. Pope Leo, an American, has condemned Trump’s threats, while Pakistan has called on the US to extend the deadline by two more weeks.  Also on…

7 Apr 6PM 38 min

Artemis astronauts see far side of the moon

The astronauts on the Artemis Two mission have taken humanity deeper into space than ever before. The four crew members have travelled further from Earth than any other human, beating the previous record set by Apollo 13 in 1970. Their craft will now make its journey round the far side…

6 Apr 6PM 37 min

US fighter jet shot down over Iran

One crew member has been rescued and one is still missing after a US fighter jet was shot down over Iran. A search aircraft sent to retrieve the pilot also came under fire. A personnel recovery specialist tells the World Tonight how the US will attempt to carry out a…

3 Apr 6PM 38 min