Podcasts by Category
Sky News’ Yalda Hakim and NBC’s Richard Engel have covered world events for years. This is the podcast where they share 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 Trump presidency, and the war in Ukraine there is no better place for analysis and expertise New episodes from Richard and Yalda every Wednesday.
- 111 - Can we switch AI off before it's too late?
Could AI really destroy humanity?
Nate Soares is a former AI scientist and author of If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies. He has been warning for years about the dangers of building AI superintelligence.
Yalda speaks to Nate about what could happen if AI development continues unchecked. Are we past pressing "off" if we had to?
The two also discuss the AI race between China and America as well as Nate's bleak warning for the future.
Check out last week's episode with ex-CEO of Google, Eric Schmidt, on this feed.
You can email your questions to Richard and Yalda at theworld@sky.uk
Wed, 16 Sep 2026 - 23min - 110 - Eric Schmidt: Ukraine is changing warfare faster than ever
It’s been said this year that Ukraine has had some successes on the battlefield thanks to its use of drone warfare.
But- is that progress starting to slow down as Russia catches up?
This week, Richard is joined by Eric Schmidt, the former CEO and Chairman of Google, and ex-chairman of the US National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence.
He is now using his experience to advise Ukraine on its use of AI in drone warfare and provides them with advanced AI technology in his role as Chair and CEO of Relativity Space, an American manufacturing company.
Eric talks to Richard about why the use of AI has changed the nature of warfare forever, and why the West should still be worried about Russia’s use of it.
In this episode, Richard cites a NYT report on the alleged use of a Nvidia chip and AI in a Russian drone. For context, the report cites Ukrainian officials.
You can email your questions to Richard and Yalda at theworld@sky.uk
You can also watch our podcasts on our YouTube channel here.
Tue, 08 Sep 2026 - 31min - 109 - A quick message
See you in September!
You can email your questions to Richard and Yalda at theworld@sky.uk
You can also watch our podcasts on our YouTube channel here.
Wed, 29 Jul 2026 - 00min - 108 - The 'Cockroaches': Why are thousands of young Indians protesting?
Tear gas, baton charges and hunger strikes.
Thousands of young people have descended on New Delhi to demand the resignation of the education minister and a complete overhaul of the education system.
Many of them march under the banner of the ‘Cockroach’ - a movement that started as a satirical joke, but which has now become the symbol of youth resistance. What began online has now moved to the streets.
Yalda talks to Neville Lazarus, our correspondent in India, who has been at the protests, talking to those caught up in the police crackdown.
The two of them discuss the origins of the protests as well as the wider problems facing India's Gen Z.
Warning: today’s episode contains references to suicide and violence against women and girls.
If you have been affected by any of the issues Yalda and Neville discussed you can call The Samaritans, free of charge in the UK, on 116 123.
You can email your questions to Richard and Yalda at theworld@sky.uk
You can also watch our podcasts on our YouTube channel here.
Wed, 22 Jul 2026 - 25min - 107 - 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 war and military strategy.
They look at why the Iranian regime still appears so resilient when the country has suffered such significant military blows. And is the US and Israel's strategy achieving its goals - or risking something much bigger?
Together they unpack Pape's theory of the "escalation trap", explore where Iran still holds leverage, and ask whether this conflict is any closer to ending, or about to accelerate.
Email your questions about to Richard and Yalda at theworld@sky.uk. You can also watch our podcasts on our YouTube channel here.
Wed, 15 Jul 2026 - 24min - 106 - 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 told her he was ready to give his blood to defend Cuba, if Trump decides on military action.
But will he? And what about the people of Cuba? What is life actually like under a blockade, with blackouts and a growing humanitarian crisis.
This week, Yalda is joined by Dr Christopher Sabatini, director of the Latin America programme at Chatham House. He has spent a lot of time in Cuba and talks to Yalda about the state of the nation at this pivotal time.
You can email your questions to Richard and Yalda at theworld@sky.uk
You can also watch our podcasts on our YouTube channel here.
Wed, 08 Jul 2026 - 35min - 105 - 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 on America to defend them? The two get into all of these questions and debate whether this actually was America’s biggest global loss.
You can email your questions to Richard and Yalda at theworld@sky.uk
You can also watch our podcasts on our YouTube channel here.
Fri, 03 Jul 2026 - 19min - 104 - 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 a bombing campaign by the Netanyahu government that has left over 4,000 people dead, a shaky ceasefire is now in place. So what does the future hold for this country?
Richard and Kim discuss all of this on this week’s episode of The World podcast.
You can email your questions to Richard and Yalda at theworld@sky.uk
You can also watch our podcasts on our YouTube channel here.
Wed, 01 Jul 2026 - 28min - 103 - 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 blame if it fails.
Plus, Yalda reflects on her interview with US conservative commentator Tucker Carlson and what his growing influence says about the changing debate around Israel in America.
Send your questions to Richard and Yalda at theworld@sky.uk.
Also, you can watch The World on our YouTube channel here.
Wed, 24 Jun 2026 - 37min - 102 - 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 by Ali Vaez, the Iran project director at the International Crisis Group. He was involved in the negotiations that led to the 2015 nuclear deal and is a nuclear scientist.
He talks to Yalda about what the next 60 days could bring and why he thinks this war may have actually encouraged Iran to develop its nuclear programme quicker.
You can email your questions to Richard and Yalda at theworld@sky.uk
You can also watch our podcasts on our YouTube channel here.
Wed, 17 Jun 2026 - 31min - 101 - 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 stretches beyond the object itself, uncovering far reaching economic powers that shape how we live.
Along the way, Ed meets fascinating characters, from brilliant inventors to Latin American revolutionaries. He dives into their personal stories and reveals how they’ve changed the course of industries and economies.
Because when you look closely enough, even the simplest things turn out to matter more than you think.
Follow Stuff Matters to never miss an episode.
Mon, 15 Jun 2026 - 15min - 100 - 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 saying about price rises and internet shutdowns. The pair also examine whether the Kremlin is getting nervous, and how the war with Ukraine might end.
You can email your questions to Richard and Yalda at theworld@sky.uk
You can also watch our podcasts on our YouTube channel here.
Wed, 10 Jun 2026 - 45min - 99 - 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 president for policy at the Middle East Institute to ask him exactly this.
Would Trump and his team have been given this information? Why did he press ahead?
The two also discuss the situation inside Iran as well as Israel's renewed strike on Lebanon, and ask the big question: where is this all going next?
You can email your questions to Richard and Yalda at theworld@sky.uk
You can also watch our podcasts on our YouTube channel here.
Wed, 03 Jun 2026 - 38min - 98 - 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 actually be holding progress back?
You can email your questions to Richard and Yalda at theworld@sky.uk
You can also watch our podcasts on our YouTube channel here.
Wed, 27 May 2026 - 28min - 97 - 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 Ukraine's frontlines have developed with the use of tech and how Ukraine is now able to strike deep into the heart of Russia.
Four years into the war, has the tide now turned in Ukraine's favour? Professor O’Brien gives Richard his assessment.
Yalda also discusses Sky News' exclusive reporting in Minab, Iran. International affairs editor Dominic Waghorn is at the site of an alleged US strike on a primary school which left more than 150 people dead, most of them children, on the first day of the US-Israeli war on Iran.
You can watch Dom’s full report here
You can email your questions to Richard and Yalda at theworld@sky.uk
You can also watch our podcasts on our YouTube channel here.
Wed, 20 May 2026 - 39min - 96 - 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 the West Bank, in light of the New York Times investigation which alleges Israeli forces committed crimes against Palestinians. Some details of this story may be upsetting.
You can watch Richard’s full report from 2023 here.
And read Kristoff’s NYT piece here.
You can email your questions to Richard and Yalda at theworld@sky.uk
You can also watch our podcasts on our YouTube channel here.
Wed, 13 May 2026 - 25min - 95 - 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 spoken to religious leaders following the attack by a 36-year-old man on a nun.
A man has been arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated assault but not charged. The Israeli Foreign Ministry says: "This shameful act stands in direct contradiction to the values of respect, coexistence, and religious freedom upon which Israel is founded and to which it remains deeply committed".
You can email your questions to Richard and Yalda at theworld@sky.uk
You can also watch our podcasts on our YouTube channel here.
Wed, 06 May 2026 - 33min - 94 - 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 and why the world needs to pay attention - because what happens in Africa does not stay there.
Meanwhile, Richard is back in Israel and talks about the potential opposition to Benjamin Netanyahu and why he’s keen to stay on a war footing.
You can email your questions to Richard and Yalda at theworld@sky.uk
You can also watch our podcasts on our YouTube channel here.
Wed, 29 Apr 2026 - 41min - 93 - 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 talks at length about the current war, its origins and what could happen next in the Middle East.
The two also discuss Iran's 'Axis of Resistance' in the region - made up of Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis. Azizi's new book The Axis of Resistance: Iran, Israel and the Struggle for the Middle East is out later in the spring.
You can also watch our podcasts on our YouTube channel here.
You can email your questions to Richard and Yalda at theworld@sky.uk
Wed, 22 Apr 2026 - 35min - 92 - ‘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 between Lebanon and Israel although talks are underway between the two countries in Washington.
Richard gives his view from Tel Aviv, where life is much more normal.
So what could happen next in this war? Listen to the full episode to find out.
You can email your questions to Richard and Yalda at theworld@sky.uk
You can also watch our podcasts on our YouTube channel here.
Wed, 15 Apr 2026 - 32min - 91 - 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 Richard is in Tel Aviv where he managed to speak to Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a press conference. But why is what he said so extraordinary?
You can email your questions to Richard and Yalda at theworld@sky.uk
You can also watch our podcasts on our YouTube channel here.
Wed, 25 Mar 2026 - 36min - 90 - 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 of supporters take to the streets for his funeral and have spoken to ordinary Iranians about the conflict.
Yalda also talked to Dominic and his producer Zein Ja'Far about the difficulties they have faced in reporting from Iran.
If you have any questions for Yalda and the team, please email them at theworld@sky.uk
You can also watch the podcast on our YouTube channel here
Thu, 19 Mar 2026 - 27min - 89 - 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 putting troops on the ground could affect the conflict.
Meanwhile, Israel says its forces have begun “limited and targeted” ground operations against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. What’s the justification? The pair examine the possible reason and talk about when they were both there in 2024.
The two of them will answer listeners' questions, so write to them at theworld@sky.uk
You can also watch the podcast on our YouTube channel here
Wed, 18 Mar 2026 - 34min - 88 - 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 attacks in the region.
The pair discuss what the conflict means for the Gulf States and Richard gives some context to Iran's new leader Mojtaba Khamenei and what his appointment might mean for hopes of peace.
They also answer listeners' questions on which countries will benefit from the war, that reveal some surprising answers.
To watch the episode on YouTube, click here.
Send your questions to theworld@sky.uk
Wed, 11 Mar 2026 - 34min - 87 - 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, just what happens next?
The two of them will answer listeners' questions, so write to them at theworld@sky.uk
To listen to Richard’s bonus Q&A episode, click here.
You can also watch the podcast on our YouTube channel here.
Wed, 04 Mar 2026 - 26min - 86 - 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 episode, Richard answers some questions about the situation and what might happen next.
He will be back with Yalda for a regular episode later in the week.
The two of them will answer listeners' questions, so write to them at theworld@sky.uk
You can also watch the podcast on our YouTube channel here.
Sun, 01 Mar 2026 - 20min - 85 - '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 - 'the Ken Burns'.
His most recent project is a six-part series on the American Revolution that took Burns and his team at PBS 10 years to make.
He also talks to Yalda about why he chose this project, the process of making it and why he fears for the current state of America under President Trump.
You can also watch the podcast on our YouTube channel here.
Do you have a question for Richard and Yalda? Write to them at theworld@sky.uk
Thu, 26 Feb 2026 - 36min - 84 - '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 recently.
He also paints Yalda a picture of the complete destruction that he saw.
The two also reflect on the war in Ukraine, four years on from Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Yalda’s interview with the iconic American filmmaker, Ken Burns, will be available on Thursday 26th February.
You can also watch the podcast on our YouTube channel here.
Do you have a question for Richard and Yalda? Write to them at theworld@sky.uk
Wed, 25 Feb 2026 - 38min - 83 - 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 indirect talks with America. So, what’s really going on?
Richard and Yalda have both been talking to their contacts in the region and bring each other up to speed with what they are hearing.
Yalda also spent the weekend at the Munich Security Conference and gives her view on the last Shah of Iran’s son, Reza Pahlavi, who was also there.
Richard also talks about the Savannah Guthrie case. Savannah is a good friend and colleague of Richard, and the two have worked closely together for years.
You can also watch the podcast on our YouTube channel here.
Do you have a question for Richard and Yalda? Write to them at theworld@sky.uk
Wed, 18 Feb 2026 - 41min - 82 - 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 ministers, five deputy prime ministers and six foreign secretaries. He was also in charge of the security service when Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, when Trump returned to the White House, and during the upheaval in the Middle East with the war in Gaza.
In this episode of The World podcast, Yalda Hakim asks him about the vetting of Peter Mandelson, how the war in Ukraine might end, and the new world order including China and the US.
To watch the episode on The World YouTube channel click here.
Tue, 10 Feb 2026 - 38min - 81 - 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 Infantino. When asked whether FIFA should lift its ban on Russia, he said it had "not achieved anything". He also explains why he stands by his decision to give President Trump the FIFA Peace Prize.
You can also watch the podcast on our YouTube channel here.
To watch Yalda’s full interview with FIFA boss Gianni Infantino, click here.
Do you have a question for Richard and Yalda? Write to them at theworld@sky.uk
Wed, 04 Feb 2026 - 21min - 80 - 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 regime has done many times before. But why and how does it do it?
Mahsa Alimardani is associate director of technology threats and opportunities at WITNESS and specialises in how disinformation and AI are used in protests across the globe.
An Iranian herself, Mahsa tells Yalda the full scale of the misinformation tactics used by the regime as well as her ambitions to democratise satellite internet access.
You can also watch the podcast on our YouTube channel here.
Do you have a question for Richard and Yalda? Write to them at theworld@sky.uk
Sat, 31 Jan 2026 - 31min - 79 - 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 it is, who is on it and whether it could ultimately rival the United Nations.
Finally, as the United States deals with the aftermath of the killing of Alex Pretti – the man who was shot dead by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis - Richard and Yalda explain whether this could be a turning point for the country.
You can also watch the podcast on our YouTube channel here.
Do you have a question for Richard and Yalda? Write to them at theworld@sky.uk
Wed, 28 Jan 2026 - 35min - 78 - 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 Richard Fontaine about how Washington is reacting to the president’s latest moves.
Richard and Yalda then bring an update on the ongoing protests and internet blackout in Iran. With reports of soldiers firing on those in the streets, what will happen next?
To listen to Yalda’s bonus episode on the situation in Iran, go to the page on Spotify or Apple.
If you want to know more about the framework agreed on Greenland between Trump and NATO listen to our sister podcast Trump100.
You can also watch the podcast on our YouTube channel here.
Do you have a question for Richard and Yalda? Write to them at theworld@sky.uk
Wed, 21 Jan 2026 - 50min - 77 - 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 activist and Moj Mahdara who set up the Iranian Diaspora Collective about their motherland, their relationship to it, and what they want to happen next.
You can also watch the podcast on our YouTube channel here.
Do you have a question for Richard and Yalda? Write to them at theworld@sky.uk
Fri, 16 Jan 2026 - 28min - 76 - 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 make sense of what might happen next.
The two of them have been speaking to their contacts from across the globe, and Yalda has had a conversation with Shervin Pishevar, an American-Iranian businessman who has been instrumental in getting Elon Musk’s Starlink up and running in the country.
Richard also explains why even if Mr Trump acts, it will not be as easy a task as what he did in Venezuela.
You can also watch the podcast on our YouTube channel here.
Do you have a question for Richard and Yalda? Write to them at theworld@sky.uk
Wed, 14 Jan 2026 - 32min - 75 - 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 Colombia and tells Yalda what the mood is like in the neighbouring country.
Yalda also talks about what is happening in Iran and why she thinks Israel could strike the country this year.
You can also watch the podcast on our YouTube channel here.
Do you have a question for Richard and Yalda? Write to them at theworld@sky.uk
Wed, 07 Jan 2026 - 36min - 74 - 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 questions and reveal their favourite cocktails, cities and best cures for jet lag.
You can also watch the podcast on our YouTube channel here.
If you have a question for Richard and Yalda, write to them at theworld@sky.uk
Wed, 24 Dec 2025 - 28min - 73 - 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 her an update on the conditions their father is in.
To hear the full interview with the sons, click here.
To hear what the Pakistan government says about the claims Kasim and Sulaiman make, click here.
Richard also gives an update on the peace talks to end the war in Ukraine. US President Donald Trump says a deal is closer than ever. But how true is that?
You can also watch the podcast on our YouTube channel here.
Do you have a question for Richard and Yalda? Write to them at theworld@sky.uk
Wed, 17 Dec 2025 - 44min - 72 - 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 journalist and human rights activist, the British Pakistani woman Gul Bukhari.
Richard and Yalda also break down America’s new national security strategy. Why was Russia happy with it? And why did European leaders reject it?
Yalda also spoke to Donald Trump’s son, Don Junior, who revealed whether or not his father might walk away from the war in Ukraine.
You can also watch the podcast on our YouTube channel here.
Do you have a question for Richard and Yalda? Write to them at theworld@sky.uk
Wed, 10 Dec 2025 - 47min - 71 - 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 as negotiations on a possible peace plan continue between America, Ukraine and Russia. But will President Putin accept the amendments President Zelenskyy has made to the plan that appeared last week?
You can also watch the podcast on our YouTube channel here.
Do you have a question for Richard and Yalda? Write to them at theworld@sky.uk
Wed, 03 Dec 2025 - 30min - 70 - 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 Geneva and breaks down the US plan with Yalda. They go through the main sticking points: territory, military and NATO membership.
They also recap the corruption scandal engulfing the heart of Zelenskyy's government, which is putting extra pressure on the need for a ceasefire with Russia.
You can also watch the podcast on our YouTube channel here.
Do you have a question for Richard and Yalda? Write to them at theworld@sky.uk
Wed, 26 Nov 2025 - 28min - 69 - 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 capture or killing of Khashoggi, a prominent critic. MBS has denied this but acknowledged responsibility as de-facto ruler.
Plus, Richard, now back from Colombia, reveals what he learnt from his interview with the country’s president, Gustavo Petro, who is currently in a war of words with Donald Trump about the flow of drugs into the US.
And Yalda explains why the former Bangladesh leader Sheikh Hasina has been sentenced to death, and Yalda shares a story about when she caught the ‘fiery woman' off guard.
You can also watch the podcast on our YouTube channel here.
Do you have a question for Richard and Yalda? Write to them at theworld@sky.uk
Wed, 19 Nov 2025 - 38min - 68 - 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 story? And how might it escalate?
Richard is on the ground in Colombia where he explains how tensions have built and why China might play a role in Trump's motivations.
Yalda discusses the importance of Syrian leader, Ahmed al Sharaa, visiting the White House.
Previously labelled a terrorist by the US, al Sharaa had a $10m bounty on his head and led a faction of al Qaeda, yet now he is in the Oval Office being labelled "handsome" by Trump. How could this impact the dynamics of the Middle East?
You can also watch the podcast on our YouTube channel here.
Do you have a question for Richard and Yalda? Write to them at theworld@sky.uk
Wed, 12 Nov 2025 - 33min - 67 - 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, young people in Iran’s capital Tehran defied authorities and came out singing and dancing in the streets. But what does this tell us about the current status of the regime? Dom has been to Iran recently and tells Yalda what he thinks.
Dom also brings an update on Sudan where horrifying images are emerging. He has spoken to the Sudanese ambassador to the UK who says a genocide is unfolding and the world must wake up.
You can also watch the podcast on our YouTube channel here.
Do you have a question for Richard and Yalda? Write to them at theworld@sky.uk
Wed, 05 Nov 2025 - 43min - 66 - 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. And India’s women bring home the cricket World Cup.
Mon, 03 Nov 2025 - 11min - 65 - 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?
Yalda was the first journalist to speak to Hamas after the ceasefire was announced, and she asked the spokesman whether the group were ready to put down their arms and leave government. She unpacks her interview with Richard.
The two of them give their assessments on if the peace will last and why the hardest part of Trump's 20-point peace plan is yet to come.
You can also watch the podcast on our YouTube channel here. To get in touch or to share your questions, email theworld@sky.uk.
And share your thoughts on the podcast by filling out our short survey here.Wed, 15 Oct 2025 - 24min - 64 - 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 expected.
The two of them discuss the deal, and crucially, what will happen next. They also answer some of your questions.
You can also watch the podcast on our YouTube channel here. To get in touch or to share your questions, email theworld@sky.uk.
And share your thoughts on the podcast by filling out our short survey here.Fri, 10 Oct 2025 - 16min - 63 - 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 still in Gaza as well as those who were taken captive.
They also reflect on two years of devastating war in Gaza which has left 67,000 Palestinians dead. Thousands are without homes and without adequate access to food and aid as Israel continues to bomb parts of the Strip. Will Donald Trump's call to stop the bombardment be listened to?
We love making this podcast and we're always looking at ways to make it even better. We'd really appreciate it if you could take a couple of minutes to fill out our short survey here.Tue, 07 Oct 2025 - 42min - 62 - 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 finally within reach, or still a distant hope.
Did you know you can also watch the podcast on our YouTube channel here. To get in touch or to share your questions, email theworld@sky.uk.
We love making this podcast and we're always looking at ways to make it even better. We'd really appreciate it if you could take a couple of minutes to fill out our short survey here.Wed, 01 Oct 2025 - 29min - 61 - 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 about the most surprising thing she saw – and the inside information she got from former Director of the CIA General David Petraeus.
Richard has an update from a brother and sister in Gaza that he has known for nearly 5 years. Their house has been bombed by Israel and now they have to leave their home in Gaza City.
To visit their YouTube page where you can watch new episodes, click here.
To get in touch or to share questions, email theworld@sky.ukWed, 24 Sep 2025 - 32min - 60 - 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 message for Donald Trump? For Europe? For NATO?
Yalda breaks down what Zelenskyy said with Richard and gives some behind the scenes of what goes into an interview like this.
To watch Yalda’s full one hour interview with Zelenskyy, click here.
To get in touch or to share questions, email theworld@sky.ukWed, 17 Sep 2025 - 34min - 59 - 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 Richard's interview with Mike Huckabee, click here.
If you'd like to get in touch or ask Richard and Yalda a question, you can email: theworld@sky.uk.Wed, 10 Sep 2025 - 18min - 58 - 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 is still in the Middle East, where he visited the scene of the bus depot attack in Jerusalem and tells Yalda what he saw.
He has also been in the West Bank where settler violence is increasing, and the Israeli government has decided whether it will annexe parts of it.
What does this all mean if France and Britain choose to recognise a state of Palestine later this month?
To get in touch or to share questions, email theworld@sky.ukWed, 10 Sep 2025 - 40min - 57 - 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 Gaza. He has spoken to the family member of a hostage killed by Hamas, who tells him why the military campaign must now end.
The two also reflect on the latest killing of journalists by Israel, with the number of Palestinian journalists killed in Gaza now reaching 189. International media is not allowed to freely report in the territory.
And Yalda gives an update on the devastating earthquake in Afghanistan and explains why it is women and girls who could suffer the most in the days and weeks to come.
To get in touch or to share questions, email theworld@sky.uk
Wed, 03 Sep 2025 - 42min - 56 - 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, and the war in Ukraine there is no better place for analysis and expertise
New episodes from Richard and Yalda every Wednesday.Tue, 12 Aug 2025 - 00min - 55 - 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 Richard what these are.
Richard has also been doing some research into the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation aid points and tells Yalda what he has found out.
Yalda also speaks to the author of Bibi: The Turbulent Life and Times of Benjamin Netanyahu, The Economist’s Israel correspondent, Anshel Pfeffer. He tells Yalda why the prime minister has no plan for the war or what comes after.
To get in touch or to share questions, email theworld@sky.ukWed, 30 Jul 2025 - 43min - 54 - 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 leader, but can he contain the violence?
And, Yalda gives an update on the situation in Afghanistan where women and girls have been arrested by the Taliban for violating their strict dress code.Wed, 23 Jul 2025 - 35min - 53 - 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 how serious is this for those people still stuck in Afghanistan trying to flee the Taliban?
To get in touch or to share questions, email theworld@sky.ukWed, 16 Jul 2025 - 26min - 51 - 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 get in touch or to share questions, email theworld@sky.ukWed, 09 Jul 2025 - 29min - 50 - 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 accept the terms of the proposed agreement.
Yalda and Richard ask what's next for the region, and whether Trump has in fact been successful in attempting to bring peace to the Middle East.
To get in touch or to share questions, email theworld@sky.ukThu, 03 Jul 2025 - 32min - 49 - 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.ukTue, 01 Jul 2025 - 00min - 48 - 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 each other what could come next and answer a question on what regime change would entail in Iran.
Episode contains language some will find offensive.
To get in touch or to share questions, email theworld@sky.ukTue, 24 Jun 2025 - 31min - 47 - 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 questions, email theworld@sky.ukSun, 22 Jun 2025 - 21min - 46 - 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 president of Israel and Iran’s ambassador to the UK.
Richard has just been at the site of the latest missile attack from Iran and gives his eyewitness account from the scene.
He also shares his thoughts on the possibility of a ceasefire or regime change in Iran – a country he spent nearly a month in a few weeks ago.
To get in touch or to share questions, email theworld@sky.ukWed, 18 Jun 2025 - 28min - 45 - 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 something much bigger. He's standing in for Richard - who is on his way to the Middle East.
Yalda reveals what she's hearing from Mossad agents in Israel and Dominic - who has just returned from Iran - explains why the leaders there are boxed in a corner.
Also - Yalda and Dominic discuss whether the initial response from the rest of the world will hold. Can Donald Trump stay out of any escalation? And what does it mean for the UK?
To get in touch or to share questions, email theworld@sky.ukFri, 13 Jun 2025 - 17min - 44 - 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, they are joined by ex-CIA director John Brennan who was head of the spy organisation from 2013-2017. He was in post when the CIA began working with and training Ukrainians and he tells Richard and Yalda why he thinks Ukrainian spies are now some of the best in the world.
He also gives his take on Trump's peace plans, which he calls "naïve" and "unsophisticated".
The three of them also dissect the protests going on in LA.
To get in touch or to share questions for Richard and Yalda, email theworld@sky.uk
Episodes of The World With Richard Engel And Yalda Hakim will be available every Wednesday on all podcast platforms.Wed, 11 Jun 2025 - 44min - 43 - 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.Thu, 05 Jun 2025 - 02min - 42 - 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 previously said it has escorted journalists to Gaza to allow them to report safely.
Yalda also dissects the Gaza special programme she fronted and dissects two of the interviews she did. One which saw a former UN humanitarian chief use the word genocide to describe Israel's actions in Gaza, and the other which saw a heated debate with Netanyahu's former adviser.
You can watch Yalda's special programme here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0rlmON8leA
To get in touch or to share questions for Richard and Yalda, email theworld@sky.uk
Episodes of The World With Richard Engel And Yalda Hakim will be available every Wednesday on all podcast platforms.Wed, 04 Jun 2025 - 35min - 41 - 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.
Meanwhile, Richard gives his thoughts on how possible a US-Iran nuclear deal is. He also unveils the life of the super-rich in Iran's capital.
Later on, they both try to make sense of the latest drama between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.
To get in touch or to share questions for Richard and Yalda, email theworld@sky.uk
Episodes of The World With Richard Engel And Yalda Hakim will be available every Wednesday on all podcast platforms.Wed, 28 May 2025 - 34min - 40 - 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 for six years before leaving in 2023, also answers questions from listeners on spies, cyber wars and who might be the next James Bond.
GCHQ, short for Government Communications Headquarters, is the UK's largest intelligence agency, focusing on counter terrorism, cyber security and international intelligence.
To get in touch or to share questions for Richard and Yalda, email theworld@sky.uk
Click here to visit their YouTube channel where you can watch all the episodes.
Episodes of The World With Richard Engel And Yalda Hakim will be available every Wednesday on all podcast platforms.Wed, 21 May 2025 - 43min - 39 - '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 the fragile ceasefire brokered between India and Pakistan.
You can watch Richard's exclusive report from Syria here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqCEELavbFg
To get in touch or to share questions for Richard and Yalda, email theworld@sky.uk
Click here to visit their YouTube channel where you can watch all the episodes.
Episodes of The World With Richard Engel And Yalda Hakim will be available every Wednesday on all podcast platforms.Wed, 14 May 2025 - 34min - 38 - 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.
Wed, 07 May 2025 - 21min - 37 - 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 The World With Richard Engel And Yalda Hakim will be available every Wednesday on all podcast platforms.Wed, 07 May 2025 - 28min - 36 - 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 "dirty work" for the past 30 years.
This comes amid a rapid and dangerous escalation between nuclear-armed neighbours India and Pakistan.
They also discuss the status of a possible US-Iran nuclear deal.
To get in touch or to share questions for Richard and Yalda, email theworld@sky.uk
Click here to visit their YouTube channel where you can watch all the episodes.
Episodes of The World With Richard Engel And Yalda Hakim will be available every Wednesday on all podcast platforms.Wed, 30 Apr 2025 - 38min - 35 - 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 Yalda, email theworld@sky.uk
Click here to visit their YouTube channel where you can watch all the episodes.
Episodes of The World With Richard Engel And Yalda Hakim will be available every Wednesday on all podcast platforms.Wed, 23 Apr 2025 - 48min - 34 - 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 questions for Richard and Yalda, email theworld@sky.uk
Click here to visit their YouTube channel where you can watch all the episodes. Click here to fill in our listener survey!
Episodes of The World With Richard Engel And Yalda Hakim will be available every Wednesday on all podcast platforms.Wed, 09 Apr 2025 - 50min - 33 - 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 ambassador to the UK over its alleged use.
To get in touch or to share questions for Richard and Yalda, email theworld@sky.uk
Click here to visit their YouTube channel where you can watch all the episodes.
Click here to fill in our listener survey!
Episodes of The World With Richard Engel And Yalda Hakim will be available every Wednesday on all podcast platforms.Wed, 02 Apr 2025 - 42min - 32 - 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 streets against Donald Trump.
To get in touch or to share questions for Richard and Yalda, email theworld@sky.uk
Click here to visit their YouTube channel where you can watch all the episodes.
Click here to fill in our listener survey!
This form should only take a few minutes to complete, and Sky anonymises the responses as much as possible.
Episodes of The World With Richard Engel And Yalda Hakim will be available every Wednesday on all podcast platforms.Wed, 26 Mar 2025 - 42min - 30 - 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 potential war with China, and what will happen to millions of people’s genetic data now that 23andMe has declared bankruptcy?
Listen to the full episode here: https://www.tortoisemedia.com/listen/the-news-meeting/yalda-hakim-on-war-with-china-and-why-did-a-fire-shut-down-heathrow-airportTue, 25 Mar 2025 - 02min - 29 - 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 conflict with China.
To get in touch or to share questions for Richard and Yalda, email theworld@sky.uk
Click here to visit their YouTube channel where you can watch all the episodes.
Episodes of The World With Richard Engel And Yalda Hakim will be available every Wednesday on all podcast platforms.
Help us understand more about our listeners by taking our survey! Click here
This form should only take a few minutes to complete, and Sky anonymises the responses as much as possible.Wed, 19 Mar 2025 - 39min - 28 - 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
Click here to visit their YouTube channel where you can watch all the episodes.
Episodes of The World With Richard Engel And Yalda Hakim will be available every Wednesday on all podcast platforms.Fri, 14 Mar 2025 - 24min - 27 - "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 increasingly dominating politics in Europe and America.
To get in touch or to share questions for Richard and Yalda, email theworld@sky.uk
Click here to visit their YouTube channel where you can watch all the episodes.
Episodes of The World With Richard Engel And Yalda Hakim will be available every Wednesday on all podcast platforms.Wed, 12 Mar 2025 - 47min - 26 - 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 he warns the real danger lies in the Pacific region and a potential clash with China, a superpower he declares is "already on a war footing”.
To get in touch or to share questions for Richard and Yalda, email theworld@sky.uk
Click here to visit their YouTube channel where you can watch all the episodes.
Episodes of The World With Richard Engel And Yalda Hakim will be available every Wednesday on all podcast platforms.Wed, 05 Mar 2025 - 51min - 25 - In the room with President Zelenskyy
Fresh from his confrontation with President Trump in the Oval Office, Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks to Yalda. He tells her about continued Russian aggression, that there is presently no chance of a ceasefire, and his determination - still - to join NATO.
In this special episode of The World, Yalda records her immediate reaction to what she heard and what she made of her face-to-face meeting with the Ukrainian president.
To get in touch or to share questions for Richard and Yalda, email theworld@sky.uk
Click here to visit their YouTube channel where you can watch all the episodes.Mon, 03 Mar 2025 - 11min - 24 - The big bust-up between Trump and Zelenskyy
As the US and Ukrainian presidents trade bitter insults in the Oval Office, Richard and Yalda examine the fallout from what may be the most serious public row for a generation.
To get in touch or to share questions for Richard and Yalda, email theworld@sky.uk
Click here to visit their YouTube channel where you can watch all the episodes.
Episodes of The World With Richard Engel And Yalda Hakim will be available every Wednesday on all podcast platforms.Fri, 28 Feb 2025 - 27min - 23 - Putin Trumps Zelenskyy?
Will Europe fill the defence vacuum left by the American withdrawal of support for the war in Ukraine? What will a mineral deal between Ukraine and America look like? Richard and Yalda get together on the week of the third anniversary of the full scale invasion of Ukraine to discuss these questions and more.
Richard records from a bombed-out hotel in Odesa in the south of Ukraine where he has spent the week talking to those in the military and civilians to get their reaction to Trump beginning peace talks with Putin. Yalda reports on her latest discussions with diplomats and politicians from across the world.
The two of them also talk about the recent German election which saw the far-right AfD become the second largest party in the country.
To get in touch or to share questions for Richard and Yalda, email theworld@sky.uk
Click here to visit their YouTube channel where you can watch all the episodes.Wed, 26 Feb 2025 - 48min - 22 - Can Europe survive without America?
The US has told Europe it needs to spend more on defence, while the EU appears to be sidelined from peace talks aimed at ending Russia's war in Ukraine.
In this episode of The World, Richard and Yalda discuss the most significant foreign policy shift since the Second World War.
Yalda is just back from the Munich Security Conference and gives the inside view on events there, as Richard gauges the reaction of the Ukrainian people.
To get in touch or to share questions for Richard and Yalda, email theworld@sky.uk
Click here to visit their YouTube channel where you can watch all the episodes.Wed, 19 Feb 2025 - 37min - 21 - Unleash 'all hell': Trump's ultimatum
President Trump continues to tear up the rule book on the world stage. This week, he is doubling down on his plan to "take over" Gaza and threatens that "all hell" will break loose if all the hostages are not returned by the weekend. But what lies behind his thinking?
Richard and Yalda take a deeper dive into the latest developments in the Middle East as well as asking where does the new age of constant disruption leave America’s long-standing allies in Europe?
To get in touch or to share questions for Richard and Yalda, email theworld@sky.uk
Click here to visit their YouTube channel where you can watch all the episodes.
Episodes of The World With Richard Engel And Yalda Hakim will be available every Wednesday on all podcast platforms.Wed, 12 Feb 2025 - 41min - 20 - ‘F*** Around, Find Out’: Trump takes on the world
Does the key to understanding Donald Trump’s foreign policy lie in the President’s New York business dealings in the 1970s? That’s what Richard and Yalda ask themselves this week on the podcast.
From tariffs to trade wars and a proposed slashing of the overseas aid budget, Richard and Yalda unpack another tumultuous week in which Trump threatens to rip up the old world order.
To get in touch or to share questions for Richard and Yalda, email theworld@sky.uk
Click here to visit their YouTube channel where you can watch all the episodes.
Episodes of The World With Richard Engel And Yalda Hakim will be available every Wednesday on all podcast platforms.Wed, 05 Feb 2025 - 35min - 19 - 'The Wild West': Trump rips up the rule book
Two weeks after his inauguration, Yalda and Richard assess the impact of the US president's assault on the old world order and the implications for America's friends and foes alike.
They discuss his "fiery" conversation with the Danish prime minister over Greenland, his spat with the Colombian president, and his Davos address.
Yalda also talks to the head of the International Criminal Court and Richard recounts his recent trip to Syria and the "ticking time bomb" of ISIS.
To get in touch or to share questions for Richard and Yalda, email theworld@sky.uk
Click here to visit their YouTube channel where you can watch all the episodes.
Episodes of The World With Richard Engel And Yalda Hakim will be available every Wednesday on all podcast platforms.Wed, 29 Jan 2025 - 43min - 18 - President Trump: "Peacemaker"?
Donald Trump returns to the White House vowing that his success will be judged by "the battles that we win but also by the wars that we end".
Yalda in Washington DC and Richard fresh back from Jerusalem assess whether the world is a safer - or a more dangerous place - with the new president in the White House.
With a flurry of executive orders from designating cartels as terrorist organisations to renaming the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America, what does this tell us about Trump 2.0?
To get in touch or to share questions for Richard and Yalda, email theworld@sky.uk
Click here to visit their YouTube channel where you can watch all the episodes.
Episodes of The World with Richard Engel And Yalda Hakim will be available every Wednesday on all podcast platforms.Wed, 22 Jan 2025 - 28min - 17 - Peace at last in the Middle East?
After 15 months of bloodshed, have Israel and Hamas finally reached a lasting ceasefire?
Richard in Jerusalem gauges the reaction of Israelis and Palestinians, while Yalda reports from Doha where the truce was negotiated.
To get in touch or to share questions for Richard and Yalda, email theworld@sky.uk.
Episodes of The World With Richard Engel And Yalda Hakim will be available every Wednesday on all podcast platforms.Thu, 16 Jan 2025 - 30min - 16 - The return of ISIS: A global threat we can't ignore?
After the deadly New Year's Day terrorist attack in New Orleans, just how worried should we be about ISIS? That is what Richard and Yalda examine on this week's episode of The World.
From the frontline to online, they discuss why the terrorist group may be deadlier than ever.
Yalda also gives her take on the current row over whether England should refuse to play Afghanistan's cricket team because of the Taliban's treatment of women.
You can watch the full episode on YouTube and click here to watch the NBC documentary Richard mentions in the episode.
To get in touch or to share questions for Richard and Yalda, email theworld@sky.uk
Episodes of The World With Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim will be available every Wednesday on all podcast platforms.Wed, 08 Jan 2025 - 35min - 15 - A kidnapping in Syria and a close call in Ukraine
In this special episode, Richard and Yalda recount their toughest moments while reporting on the road.
For Richard, that was when he was kidnapped in 2012 for five days while in Syria reporting for NBC.
Yalda then tells the story of how in 2017, during filming for a documentary while she was six weeks pregnant in Ukraine, she thought she might be losing her unborn baby.
To get in touch or to share questions for Richard and Yalda, email theworld@sky.uk.
Episodes of The World with Richard Engel And Yalda Hakim will be available every Wednesday on all podcast platforms.Wed, 01 Jan 2025 - 32min - 14 - Looking Back at 2024: A World in Turmoil
In this special episode, Richard and Yalda take a look back at the biggest world news stories of 2024.
From reporting on the frontlines of Ukraine and Lebanon, to witnessing the election of Trump in Washington, Richard and Yalda have criss-crossed the world this year covering global events.
They take a look back at the most significant stories they have reported on, answer some listener questions and discuss what countries and conflicts they will be watching in 2025.
To get in touch or share questions for Richard and Yalda, email theworld@sky.uk.Wed, 18 Dec 2024 - 25min - 13 - Syria: Inside the fall of Assad
Richard and Yalda meet in rebel-held Damascus after the fall of one of the world’s most brutal dictators, Bashar al-Assad.
With gunfire echoing across the Syrian capital, they ask what the future holds for the country after his family’s 50-year reign of terror.
Click here to watch the full episode on YouTube.
To get in touch or to share questions for Richard and Yalda, email theworld@sky.uk.
Episodes of The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim will be available every Wednesday on all podcast platforms.Wed, 11 Dec 2024 - 48min - 12 - Former MI6 Chief Sir Alex Younger on Russia, Syria and Cyberwarfare
On this week’s episode of The World podcast, Yalda and Richard are joined by former MI6 'C' Sir Alex Younger who was head of the Service from 2014-20.
He warns how Russian cyberthreats will be a "feature of our life", gives his take on what peace between Russia and Ukraine could look like, and dissects the current rebel offensive in Syria.
Click here to watch the full episode on YouTube.
To get in touch or to share questions for Richard and Yalda, email theworld@sky.uk.
Episodes of The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim will be available every Wednesday on all podcast platforms.Wed, 04 Dec 2024 - 52min - 11 - Russian roulette?
As the death toll rises in Ukraine, what is the endgame for Putin and Zelenskyy?
On this week’s episode of The World, Richard and Yalda discuss the possibility of World War III and dissect an alleged Iranian assassination attempt in the UAE.
Click here to watch the full episode on YouTube.
To get in touch or to share questions for Engel and Hakim, email theworld@sky.uk.
Episodes of The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim will be available every Wednesday on all podcast platforms.Wed, 27 Nov 2024 - 35min - 10 - United States of Emergency? Rachel Maddow on her fears for the US under Trump
Millions interned in camps? Assassinations? Political imprisonments? That is what one of America's leading liberal commentators Rachel Maddow, host of MSNBC's "The Rachel Maddow Show" - and also The World's first guest - says could happen during Trump's next stint in the White House.
Richard and Yalda also bring listeners up to date with the conflict in Ukraine and the latest developments in the Middle East, as both are just back from the region.
Click here to watch the full episode on YouTube.
To get in touch or to share questions for Engel and Hakim, email theworld@sky.uk.
Episodes of The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim will be available every Wednesday on all podcast platforms.Wed, 20 Nov 2024 - 56min
Podcasts similar to The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim
Background Briefing ABC Australia- If You're Listening ABC Australia
- Top Comment BBC
- Americast BBC News
- Newscast BBC News
- Lady Killers with Lucy Worsley BBC Radio 4
- You're Dead to Me BBC Radio 4
- The Documentary Podcast BBC World Service
- The Interview BBC World Service
- The Daily Show: Ears Edition Comedy Central
- The Rest Is Politics Goalhanger
- The Rest Is Politics: Leading Goalhanger
- History Behind the Headlines History Extra
- Stuff You Should Know iHeartPodcasts
- HistoryExtra podcast Immediate
- Forbidden History Like A Shot Entertainment
- Pod Save the World Pod Save the World
- Stuff Matters with Ed Conway Sky News
- This Is Why Sky News
- TRUMP100 Sky News
- After America The Australia Institute
- Iran: The Latest The Telegraph
- The Daily T The Telegraph
- Ukraine: The Latest The Telegraph
