World Cup Drama and Health Breakthroughs

It's Saturday twentieth of June. I'm Jamie East and this was a week that saw the US and Iran sign off on a peace deal, Andy Burnham Power to Victory in Makerfield, a social media ban for teens announced, and tributes to a British icon, David Hockney. Grab a cup of something hot , put up your feet , and get up to speed on the seven biggest stores of the week. This is the standout summon from the Smart Sun. It's news but not sun news Late on Sunday night, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shabaz arif announced an agreement had been reached between the US and Iran that would see an immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon. The deal, which we'll see the Strait of Hormuz reopen was due to be signed on Friday in Geneva, but it wasn't immediately clear what exactly it included. Both sides were keen to declare the deal a victory for them, but with Israel not a direct party to the deal, it may prove difficult to ensure a ceasefire in Lebanon. President Trump won't have been thrilled to hear former President Obama's thoughts on his deal either. It is doubtful that any agreement that arises is going to be significantly different or a significant improvement from the deal that we had in the first place. There was more mixed messaging from the US and Iran on Monday, even as an agreement was reached which would see the month long war between the US, Israel, and Iran come to an end. US President Donald Trump declared he's signed the deal already, although a ceremonial signing was originally scheduled for Friday in Geneva, which was to be attended by US Vice President JD Vance. Meanwhile with Trump in France for the G seven summit, VP Vance was left to explain how the deal might work. What the president really wanted to do is to get us to a place where we could change our relationship fundamentally with the Iranians and ensure that they never have a nuclear weapon. We feel that we're at that place now. It appeared that Iran will be able to access reconstruction funds, but where they would come from was not clear and the nuc,lear issue also appears unresolved. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu ruled out a withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon but was keen to claim a victory. For decades I have been fighting Iran's efforts to arm itself with nuclear weapons . I can define it as my life's mission. I have stood by it to this day and I will stand by it in the future. With an agreement, without an agreement, Iran will not have nuclear weapons today or tomorrow. President Trump on Tuesday at the G seven summit said he hoped to put the war in the rearview mirror, although talks on the next phase of the agreement, including the thorny issue of Iran's nuclear stockpile, which are due to start almost immediately after the formal signing . Trump was quick to restate his threats if a deal can't be reached on the nuclear issue, but was also clearly unhappy with former ally Israel. Now I'm not happy with the way Israel has handled themselves with Lebanon and with Hezbollah. It just goes on forever . And when that happens it throws a negative light on the big deal, and that's the deal with Iran. Vice President JD Vance has been doing the media rounds defending the deal, but also not revealing any specifics. There's been particular interest from the U. S. media on the idea of a reconstruction fund for Iran, but the VP was determined that no American money would change hands. We don't commit to doing anything as part of this deal. So the United States wins either way. What the president is trying to do is actually extend the hand of peace and say if the Iranian people want greater prosperity, then their leadership has to st ep up and change their behavior. As the G seven summit wrapped up in France, details finally emerged on the memorandum of agreement. The details which were read out by White House officials to reporters on a call include a commitment from Iran to down blend its uranium under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency. There's also a commitment to a permanent halt to fighting, which includes in Lebanon and sanctions relief, which is tied to nuclear commitments to be agreed during the sixty day window. Donald Trump certainly seemed happy with the deal as he spoke to reporters before departing for Washington, claiming he'd signed the deal himself in France. There's never been anybody that's been so tough in Iran. This should have been done by Clinton and Barack Hussein Obama. It should have been done by Biden. It should have been done by Bush. It could have been done by a lot of people . This has been going on forty seven years. The most difficult point in the deal still appears to revolve around Israel and Lebanon. Israel said they hadn't been given a copy of the memo, but the White House said they hadn't asked for it. Regardless, Israel's national security minister Ben Gavir was giving no sign of conceding anything on Wednesday. We must continue operating in Lebanon. We must continue to be independent. We love Trump, but we do not accept the agreement he signed, and we must continue on our own parliament The U. S. formally lifted the blockade on the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday even as sharp fractures appeared in the relationship between Israel and the U. S. over the memorandum of agreement. The deal which allows Iran to keep its missiles and requires Israel to withdraw from Lebanon while also lifting sanctions has attracted fierce criticism from both Israel and some Republicans. The planned talks on Friday were cancelled after Israel and Hezbollah traded blows on Thursday evening, and US Vice President JD Vance was in the White House press room where he had a warning for Israel that they should not be attacking their only powerful ally Donald Trump. Meanwhile at the NATO summit in Brussels, US Secretary of War Pete Hagseth had a stark warning of his own for America's allies. The United States has defended Europe for generations , and the president said that our jets would need to take off from bases in Europe to strike targets in the Middle East . But too many of our allies said no. No, he warned that the US will carry out an assessment of its European allies and that some will fail. Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper was offering reassurances that the UK will support the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. It's not just about oil and gas , it's also about fertilizer. It's about food crops across the globe . And if we don't get things moving fast , this has a long term impact After last week's Defense Investment Plan Fiasco, Prime Minister Kirstarmer had to face the G seven leaders and President Trump with serious questions over the UK's defense budget. New Defense Minister Dan Jarvis has promised to review the plan and might potentially look for additional funding from the Treasury. His case will have been helped by the weekend's events which saw the Royal Marines boarding an oil tanker, part of Russia's shadow fleet, which had been sailing south of the Isle of Wight on the way to India. The PM shared the video on social media, calling it a bad day to be Vladimir Putin, and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandi says it's an important moment. I want to pay tribute to all the Navy officers and others who've been involved in doing that . That is no small achievement, but it is also a significant blow to the Russians. Torry shadow Defense Secretary James Cartilidge was keen to get the boot into the PM over the Defense Plan. Politics aside, it is deeply worrying that the government were potentially on the cusp of producing something which in the view of the previous secretary of defense would have been dangerous for the country. I find that extraordinary. Prime Minister Kirstah headed to France on Monday evening for the G seven summit, facing a potentially difficult week, with pressure on the UK's defense investment plan and a by election on Thursday which could lead to a full on leadership contest. Tory leader Kemi Badanok had little sympathy however choosing to speak on Monday about Tory fund ing plans and her plan to cut welfare and the list of those on benefits. She says if there were less people on welfare and more people in work, funding a defence plan would be far easier, but she wouldn't be drawn on whether or not the pension triple lock is actually on the table. We came into twenty ten with a lot of pension and poverty. That is why the triple lock was put in place. Rather than moving money around and robbing Peter to pay Paul, what we need to do is to get people into work and start funding our defence. The PM was sounding calm at the G seven, but he's definitely not stepping back from a potential leadership contest either. I don't think there should be a contest. If there is a contest, I intend to be in it and to fight it. Meanwhile, with reportss that a Rusian frigate fired warning shots at a small yacht in the English channel on Tuesday morning, the ongoing dispute over the Defense Investment Plan isn't going away any time soon. Former Defense Secretary John Heley gave his farewell speech from the backbenches on Tuesday after he quit his role last Thursday, he was sticking to his argument that the defense budget is simply not enough. At this dangerous time I see the current defense investment plans falling well short of what is required. Thursday morning saw the polls open in the Greater Manchester Suburb of Makerfield. The by election that could change Britain's political future saw former Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham looking to return to the Commons and mount a challenge to Prime Minister Kir Starmer. The polls showed Burnham with a five point lead over reforms Robert Kenyan. Former health secretary West Streeting was keen not to be forgotten. He quit his role last month so that he could run in a leadership contest, but he still hasn't fired the starting signal. Wednesday saw him start to lay out some of the themes for a potential campaign. The more that this uncertainty goes on, it distracts from what the government is doing, some of which is very good and our support like a social media ban, but it also detracts from the battle of ideas. I think we need to have. I think we need a battle of ideas not a battle of the rule book. The Prime Minister was trying to walk a cautious line to make sure that Labour wins the by election and to hold off the challenge of Burnham at the same time. Yes, I wanted to have a big role in government. When I came into politics in twenty fifteen, it was Andy Burnham's team that I joined and we work very well together. If he comes back into Parliament, I hope he wins in the by election. He'll be a fantastic asset for our party and for this country. Early on Friday morning saw the results of what might be the most significant by election ever held. Andy Burnham, the former greater Manchester mayor, quit his role and stood for election so that he could challenge Prime Minister Kir Stearmer for the chance to lead the government. He was facing stiff opposition from reform, whose candidate Robert Kenyan but won an impressive victory with a majority of more than nine thousand votes. He pledged that Makerfield would not be a stepping stone to number ten, but instead a touchstone for the change that the country needs. Everyone knows that politics isn't working . Everyone can feel that the country isn't where it should be. Tonight could , just could be the turning point . Tuesday saw the leaders of the G seven gather in the French town of Avian, with a long list of priorities to discuss, at the top of which was the ongoing Russian war in Ukraine. President Zelenskyy attended the gathering along with the Indian PM, Egyptian President and the leaders of Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. The European leaders were working to refocus President Trump on Ukraine, and he did seem to at least acknowledge that Russia was in a weaker position. UK Prime Minister Kir Starmer says the whole world is coming to the same conclusion on the war in Ukraine. There was a real sense of unity in the G seven, a sort of shared consensus that things are changing, particularly this year. Ukraine has shown that it's able not just to defend itself but to take territory back. The Ukrainian President met with Trump on the edges of the summit, along with the host French president Emanuel Macron, and he seemed positive after the chat and keen to emphasize that the tide is turning. A huge percent of Russian people who understand that they now they begin to understand that they are not winning this war and that's why they have to stop this war. Ukrainian drones once again hit targets in Moscow early on Thursday morning, damaging a major oil refin ery, and filling the skies above Russia's capital with black smoke. The change of tone has upset the Russians, with Putin Aid Yuri Ushikov claiming European leaders had filled President Trump with harmful ideas about the war. EU Commission President Ursula von Der Leyen weighed in after a Brussels meeting with President Zelenskyy. There is a special momentum right now . I have the impression the tide is turning . We see that Ukraine is holding the line , even partially regaining territory . Ukraine has a very strong moment . The Ukrainian President has been warning Russia that if Ukraine burns, Russia burns too, and he was happy to announce a new deal with NATO allies which will see Patriot air defense systems and ballistic missile defense systems prioritized. When we know that Russia is preparing a massive strike against Ukraine and we are able to receive Pedro Missiles the day before that attack it helps save lives . This week saw anticipation build in advance of a speech by Prime Minister Kier Starmer on the long awaited social media ban for teens. The government completed a consultation process that had over eighty thousand submissions, and according to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandi, the majority of the responses favoured a ban. Australia was the first to ban teens at the end of last year, and data from that process has also been considered, although some internet safety campaigners have criticised what they call the sledgehammer approach of a ban and would rather see closer policing of platforms. Lisa Nandy told the BBC that the process has been fair and open. The responses to the consultation were overwhelmingly clear. That came through not just from parents and from campaigners , from many young people themselves who are feeling that they're being pulled into something quite toxic at a very young age. Monday saw Prime Minister Kir Starmer make the announcement that most teenagers have probably been dreading a ban on social media for those under sixteen. Social media is making children unhappy . It's making it easier for bullies to harass and abuse them and it could even be harming their mental health. The UK will institute a ban by next spring, following a consultation in which eighty nine percent of parents and carers strongly supported the idea. The ban may see apps like TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, X, Snapchat, and even YouTube blocked, but will allow messaging services like WhatsApp and Signal. It's not clear how the ban will be implemented, and there are many concerns that teens will find workarounds, but even Tory Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trot says it's time. We've tried policing content. It hasn't worked. If you look at what a thirteen year old boy is seeing on social media every single day, it's real life violence, it's pornography. We need to police age now and not content. The reaction from teens wasn't exactly positive with a BBC school vox pop hitting the nail on the head . What was your screen time over the weekend? Nine hours. You're going to have a lot more time to fill. And what will you do? Stare at a wall. So more details emerged on Tuesday about the planned ban. A final list of platforms to be banned hasn't been released as yet, but it appears that live streaming and chat functions on some sites such as Roblox will be banned. The government is also considering introducing an overnight curfew and how best to implement a stop to infinite scroll ing for anyone under eighteen. The intention is to protect children from harm, but campaigners are already warning that tech capable teens will find workarounds pretty quickly. Technology Secretary Liz Kendall says that things like VPN's which allow users to switch locations are on her list. I said to MP's I'll come back in July with a further statement around VPN's but also additional measures that we want to look at, further restrictions on AI chatbots, more about overnight curfews or breaks in doom scrolling for sixteen and seventeen year olds. Still to come on the standout seven. In association with Metro, the World Cup cranks up and tributes to an icon of British art right after this . Welcome back . This week has seen plenty of World Cup drama with some shock results, including Belgium drawing with Egypt and Iran getting a two all result against New Zealand in Los Angeles. There was also a huge shock as the mighty Spain could only manage a goaless draw against World Cup Minnows Cape Verde, who were at their first ever World Cup , England was set to face Croatia in their first World Cup game on Wednesday, and ahead of the game in Dallas, Jordan Henderson was tipping Jude Bellingham as the man to watch. Honestly, I couldn't speak hard enough of him. You know, I know a lot, a lot of gateway. I find it hard to read sometimes really because I just know how big an influence he is on this team, how good a team here he is off the field and what he gives us is just something really special. Wednesday saw England get their World Cup campaign underway in Dallas with a successful start against Croatia. Earlier on in the evening, Cristiano Ronaldo made his first appearance in his sixth World Cup, but his Portugal side could only draw with the Democratic Republic of Congo, who were making only their second World Cup appearance. Harry Caine opened the scoring for England with a penalty but Croatia applied plenty of pressure in the first half before England turned things around to win the game for two. Questions will remain about England's defence, but a fiery speech by manager Thomas Toukell at half time certainly impressed Captain Caine. And credit to the manager, the manager gave us a speech at half time just to say look if we lose we lose, we're losing our way. I think you saw that how the way we come out of the second half we went full g as and they couldn't live with it and that's the level we have to set for every game. So credit to everyone the first game of this tournament a great result against the tough side. As the week went on we moved into the second round of fixtures in the World Cup with j,oint hosts Mexico beating South Korea one nil, while the Czech Republic drew with South Africa, fellow host Canada clocked up a six nil win over Qatar to pick up their first ever World Cup victory. Saturday sees group leader Scotland back in action against M orocco and Steve Clark was sounding quietly confident. Sometimes the Scottish psyche, the Scottish mentality is that we're a little bit more comfortable working with the underdogs. We were the favourites against Haiti and we found a game of struggle but we managed to win. This time with the underdogs and sometimes Scotland preferred are we there was incredibly good news on Thursday as a new study found that the HPV vaccine has effectively eliminated cervical cancer for young women. The study was funded by Cancer Research UK and it tracked teenagers who received the HPV vaccine, which was offered in schools from two thousand eight. For the first time ever, there were no deaths from cervical cancer recorded in the twenty to twenty four year old age group, a landmark breakthrough. Cancer Research UK's CEO is Michelle Mitchell and she says it's an extraordin ary example of the power of vaccination. What we see is clear national evidence that the HP HPV vaccine is not just preventing cancer but saving lives. And it is one of the most powerful examples of cancer prevention working at population scale . Last weekend the death was announced of artist David Hockney just weeks before his eighty ninth birthday. The British artist was considered one of the most influential and defining figures in contemporary art, and his love of vibrant colour saw the Pompidou Centre in Paris, which had hosted major exhibitions of his art describe his work as dazzling, alive and eternal. He moved from the UK to California and was part of the sixties cultural scene with Paul McCartney among those paying tribute to his clever and witty friend. He set a record in twenty eighteen when his swimming pool picture entitled Portrait of an Artist sold in New York for ninety million dollars, a record for a living artist. His passing inspired a tribute from fellow artists Scarlet Clark and granddaughter of the artist's muse Celia Burtwell, which caused embarrass ment for the BBC as she shared advice that Hockney had given her Rest in peace, David. He just said to enjoy and paint what you love and just yeah, just everyone . Oh, sorry. Apologies for that. So I'm sorry. No . You've been listening to the smart sentence. We'll be back tomorrow at seven AM. Hit that follow button and have a great day .