Monday 22nd June 2026. Sudan disaster warning. UK end of Starmer? Europe heatwave. Iran Strait. Bolivia emergency. Italy Trump problems...

0:01 Good morning.

0:02 This is sen seven World News in seven minutes. I'm Stephen Devin Cenzi. Today is Monday, the twenty second of June twenty twenty six. Starting in Africa. Today in Sudan, the United Nations has warned that a humanitarian disaster is unfolding in the city of Al Obeyed as the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group surround the city, which until now was under the control of the Sudanese Army. UN Human Rights chief Volka Turk said that a similar situation was likely to happen as what happened last year in El Fasher, when the RSF surrounded that city and slowly forced their way in, leading to the deaths of thousands of civilians and the displacement of tens of thousands of people.

1:00 The imminent offensive against Al Obeid in Sudan risks commission of serious international crimes and deepens the catastrophic impact on an already beleagued civilian population. We have seen this playbook before, and we cannot allow the repeat of the repreventable atrocities we documented in Al Fasher and some some IDP camp be Norster for last year. The states with influence have the duty to exercise it now to stop this madness in its tracks.

1:34 In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, authorities have said that confirmed cases of ibola have risen to nine hundred and fifty six with two hundred and forty seven known deaths. There are also signs that ebola could be spreading quickly in a camp for displaced people, after reports that over thirty people have died in the camp over the last few weeks Europe. In the United Kingdom, the Mayor of Manchester, Andy Burnham, has won a seat in Parliament and is expected to start a challenge to Kiir Starmer's position as the leader of the Labour Party. If Andy Burnham wins, that would make him Prime Minister. On Friday, Kir Starmer said that he would fight any leadership challenge, but.

2:27 If there is a contest, just to be clear with you, then yes, I will run, I will stand and I've said repeatedly I'm not going to walk away from that.

2:34 However, last night the BBC was reporting that some politicians close to Kir Starmer had said that he was considering resigning, possibly today. United States President Donald Trump wrote on social media that Kir Starmer will resign, although Starmer's office said that Starmer had not spoken to Trump. Across Europe, a heat wave is on going and is expected to last all week or more. Parts of France, Italy and Spain are expecting to reach forty degrees this week, and temperatures are expected to go over thirty five degrees in parts of the UK, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Czechia, Slovakia, Poland, Ukraine and the Balkans. In response to the heat, French Prime Minister Sebastian Lecornu banned alcohol consumption at public events in

3:28 thirty five regions yesterday. In both Germany and the United Kingdom, there were train crashes this weekend. In the UK crash, the driver was killed and many people injured, and in Germany an unidentified person was killed. In Serbia, there were protests demanding early elections this weekend. In Albania, there were more protests this weekend against a planned luxury resort supported by Donald Trump's son in law, Jared Kushna, which protesters say would damage the environment and protected species. Italian Prime Minister Georgia Maloney on Friday released a video in which she said that US President Trump had lied about her begging him to take a photo with her. Maloney said, neither I nor Italy ever beg Italian foreign Minister Antonio

4:25 Tajani canceled a planned trip to the US because of this incident. On Saturday, on social media, Trump said that Maloney was losing popularity because Italy didn't help the US in its war with Iran, and also on social media, Maloney said quote, these constant, unprovoked attacks are senseless end quote, and said that Trump should focus on his own popularity.

4:53 America's Bolivian president, Rodrigo pass has announced a state of emergence over protesters road blocks that have been stopping traffic, especially around the capital Lapaz and its twin city, El Alto. The road blocks have caused shortages of fuel, food, and medicine, and Bolivia's economy has lost billions of dollars. This weekend, soldiers and armed police helped bulldozers to remove the roadblocks.

5:24 Colombia held the second round of its presidential election yesterday. At the time of recording this podcast, votes were still being counted. Most opinion polls show right wing candidate Abelardo di la Espadiea with a small lead over left wing candidate Ivan Sepeva Asia. Iran said yesterday that it was again closing the Strait of Hormuz, just days after it was supposed to have opened as part of a deal with the United States. Iran said that the peace deal had been broken by continuing Israeli attacks. In Lebanon, President Masud Pizashkiyan made a speech in which he said that Iran will not give up its right to enrich uranium and mocked US President Donald Trump for reversing his statements, including that he would only accept Iran's unconditional surrender. Yesterday,

6:23 US Vice President j D Vance said that talks with Iran in Switzerland were going well. However, last night, Iranian negotiators said that they were suspending the talks because of President Trump's threats to bomb Iran. Sri Lanka is experiencing its worst outbreak of Dengi fever for many years, with forty four thousand cases and twenty eight deaths recorded this year.

6:51 Dengi is spread by mosquitoes and in India, over two million students resat their medical college entrance exams yesterday after allegations that the previous tests questions had been leaked. The exams are notoriously hard, with only about five percent of students getting a place in a medical college. Going into the exam halls, students passed through airport style security with metal detectors. This podcast exists because of our amazing supporters who also have access to our transcripts, vocabulary lists, worksheets, and world news quizzes, and we give ten percent of our profit to highly effective charities. More information at sent seven dot org. Tomorrow you will be with Ben Mallett.

7:43 Have a great day.