Newshour

Colombians vote in a stark choice between left and right

Colombians are voting in a presidential run-off election. The vote pits a leftist reformer against a right-wing political newcomer who wants to use force to combat drug cartels and rebel groups. Abelardo de la Espriella, who's backed by President Trump, has vowed to wage a full-scale military campaign in contrast to Senator Ivan Cepeda who's promising to continue the less confrontational policies of the outgoing president, Gustavo Petro. Also in the programme: US Vice-President JD Vance describes 'great progress' in talks with Iran in Switzerland; and research that suggests men with children have better performing brains. (Photo: A man fills out a ballot as people vote in a presidential runoff election in Colombia, June 21, 2026. Credit: Reuters/Jair Coll)

Negotiators in talks on US-Iran peace deal

Negotiators from the United States and Iran are in Switzerland for talks aimed at turning their ceasefire into a lasting peace deal. The talks are going on despite the Iranian military saying it has closed the Strait of Hormuz again over Israel's attacks on southern Lebanon. Also in the programme: The stark choice facing voters in Colombia today; and why athletes are protesting against fossil fuel companies during the FIFA men's World Cup. [Photo shows Iranian parliament speaker and negotiating team head Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi greeting Swiss officials at an airport in Zurich, Switzerland on 21 June 2026. Credit: Iranian parliament speaker's office via EPA)

Iran says it has closed Strait of Hormuz again

Iran says it has again closed the Strait of Hormuz, in response to Israel's continued strikes on southern Lebanon which have killed at least 25 people according to Lebanese state media. The Iranian military described the attacks as a violation of Tehran's peace deal with Washington. But a US military statement said the Strait remained open and at least 55 vessels had passed through during the day. Also in the programme: An escalating row between Ukraine and Poland leads to President Zelensky returning an award from Warsaw; and the secret behind the success of a legendary TV comedy director. (Photo: Vessels are anchored in the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Oman, June 19, 2026. Credit: Reuters/Stringer)

Israel and Hezbollah continue to trade strikes despite 'ceasefire'

Could the latest violent attacks by both parties derail the tentative US-Iran peace deal? We hear from reporters on the ground in bomb-struck southern Lebanon and the Iranian capital Tehran, and ask Israeli journalist Anshel Pfeffer what Israel's strategy might be. Also in the programme: proposed economic reforms in Cuba - which the United States has dismissed as 'superficial smoke signals'. And the enduring appeal of the classic album 'The Queen is Dead' by the UK indie band The Smiths, 40 years after its release. (Civilians and Lebanese Red Cross personnel stand on the rubble of a damaged building after an Israeli strike on the village of Qennarit in southern Lebanon, June 20, 2026. Picture taken with a mobile phone. Credit: Reuters/Stringer)

Israel and Hezbollah agree ceasefire, as more Lebanon strikes reported

Israel and Hezbollah have agreed a ceasefire, a US official says, following intense Israeli air strikes in southern Lebanon that the government said killed 47 people. Also on the programme, the US government says it will stop funding programmes in South Africa intended to tackle the spread of HIV and AIDS, there's been a furious reaction in Italy after President Trump claimed the prime minister Georgia Meloni begged him for a photo at the G7 summit; and the ballet dancer, Carlos Acosta, on taking his Cuban dance group on tour. (Photo: Smoke rises over southern Lebanon after Israeli strikes, Metula, Israel - 19 Jun 2026. ATEF SAFADI/EPA/Shutterstock)