Newshour

Palestinians returning to Gaza are grappling with the extensive destruction left behind after the ceasefire. Meanwhile, Maria Corina Machado's recognition with the Nobel Peace Prize highlights her fight for democratic rights in Venezuela. Scientists celebrate the successful recovery of green turtles, marking a vital conservation win. The podcast also explores the implications of a dramatic immigration raid in Chicago and the rise of AI in modern warfare, raising ethical concerns.

Venezuela's opposition leader and pro-democracy activist María Corina Machado has been awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize.For years, she has campaigned against Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro, whose 12-year rule is viewed by many nations as illegitimate. We'll speak to one of her close allies about what difference the award might make.Also in the programme: Thousands of displaced Palestinians are heading back to what's left of their homes as a ceasefire comes into effect in Gaza; how AI-controlled weapons could become a reality on the battlefields of Ukraine; and a new species of pre-historic marine reptile that's just been identified by scientists.(Photo shows Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado at a protest on 9 January 2025. Credit: Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/Reuters)

Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a ceasefire and hostage release deal, paving the way for a possible end to the conflict in Gaza. Also on the programme, a Hungarian author of apocalyptic novels wins the Nobel Prize for Literature. (Photo: Einav Zangauker, the mother of hostage Matan Zangauker, reacts, after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Hamas agreed on the first phase of a Gaza ceasefire, at the "Hostages square", in Tel Aviv, Israel, October 9, 2025. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun)

US President Donald Trump says Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of his Gaza ceasefire deal. We'll speak to the father of one of the Israeli hostages held in Gaza and get reaction from Gaza City. We also assess the chances and the many obstacles that remain in the way of a lasting peace deal. Also on the programme: this year's Nobel Prize for Literature has been awarded to the Hungarian writer Laszlo Krasznahorkai; and the celebrated Chinese pianist Lang Lang on his new album. (Photo: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio updates President Trump on the Gaza proposal on September 22 at the White House. Credit: Reuters)

James Comey pleads not guilty to charges of lying to Congress, stirring political debate around accountability. Trump demands jailing local leaders who he claims jeopardize immigration enforcement in Chicago. Meanwhile, France navigates a political crisis with the resignation of its Prime Minister and uncertainty over snap elections. Discussions touch on Washington’s fragile legal standards, the humanitarian toll in Gaza, and a lawsuit over UK river pollution, highlighting the intersection of governance and social issues.

Alice Morrison, an adventurous explorer, writer, and filmmaker, shares her epic journey walking the length of Saudi Arabia. She recounts the unexpected hospitality and warmth she received from locals, highlighting how her age and dress helped her navigate cultural norms. Alice reveals the quirky personalities of her camels, Juicy and Lulu, and discusses her motivation to document the rapidly changing landscape and society in Saudi Arabia. Her insights into the cultural revolution there shed light on a nation in transition.

Eli Sharabi, an Israeli man held hostage by Hamas for nearly 500 days, shares his harrowing experiences of captivity, including starvation and resilience, and reflects on the personal tragedy of losing his family. Meanwhile, Fred Ramsdell, a Nobel Prize-winning immunologist, discusses his groundbreaking research on immune regulation, revealing how it could reshape therapies for autoimmune diseases and cancer. The discussion also touches on the profound impact of the October 7th attacks on the region and the shifting prospects for peace.

Ghada Aouda, a Palestinian journalist from Gaza, shares gripping insights into life amid war, detailing the ongoing displacement and humanitarian crises since the October 7 attacks. She vividly describes the struggles faced by families in Gaza, including shortages of essentials and the psychological toll of continuous bombing. Aouda also expresses hopes for a ceasefire amidst the devastation. The discussion highlights the stark contrast between memories of the past attacks and a search for peace in a seemingly endless cycle of conflict.

France is facing further political chaos after the country's latest prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, resigned after just 26 days in the role. We'll hear from a French parliamentarian with the right-of centre party, Les Républicains - and we'll get the long view on French politics from veteran French journalist Christine Ockrent.Also - as indirect talks begin between Hamas and Israeli delegations over the US-led peace plan for Gaza, we'll hear from an American go-between who knows the Hamas negotiators; and we look at what the appointment of Bari Weiss at CBS News says about the political weather surrounding journalism in the US.(Photo: French outgoing Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, who presented his government's resignation to the French president this morning, leaves after he delivered a statement at the Hotel Matignon in Paris, France, October 6, 2025. Credit: REUTERS/Stephane Mahe)

The chief negotiator for Hamas is reported to be meeting Egyptian and Qatari mediators in Cairo ahead of indirect talks, later in the day, with Israeli negotiators in Sharm El-Sheikh. They're looking to determine a date for the start of a Gaza truce and create conditions for the first phase of the peace plan, in which the remaining Israeli hostages would be swapped for hundreds of Palestinian detainees. Also in the programme: The French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has quit. There is political turmoil caused by inconclusive snap elections; and this year's Nobel Prize for Medicine has been awarded to three researchers for discoveries on the human immune system.(Photo: Smoke rises after Israeli air strikes at Tal Al Hawa neighborhood during an Israeli military operation in Gaza City, Gaza Strip, 06 October 2025. Credit: Mohammed Saber /EPA/Shutterstock)