Saturday Extra - Separate stories podcast

President Donald Trump has hit out at Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s claim that Iran won its recent 12-day war with Israel, saying the United States will “absolutely” bomb the country again if it pursues nuclear weapons.Meanwhile. Iranians have been telling the BBC's Persian service that authorities have carried out arrests and multiple executions of people suspected of links to Israeli intelligence agencies, after war between the two countries.Bahman Kalbasi, a BBC Persian Service journalist says there are fears that Iran's weakened leadership may again turn inward on its own people resorting to mass arrests, executions, and greater repression.

This weekend Alice Springs will host its penultimate beanie festival.A celebration of the red centre's love for the humble beanie, the festival is in its 29th year.From humble beginnings — 100 beanies and a pot of pumpkin soup — the festival now boasts thousands of beanies from elaborate art pieces to basic knitted numbers.

Today, the weekend newspapers should have been full of Prime Minister Albanese's anticipated first meeting with President Trump. Instead, we saw a rash of headlines about how the Australian prime minister was snubbed.It's not the first time the press have seized upon the perceived slighting of an Aussie PM. Jimmy Carter called Malcolm Fraser John. Richard Nixon reportedly had to ask William McMahon how to pronounce his surname. When he announced the AUKUS defence pact, Joe Biden seemed to struggle to recall Scott Morrison's name. But is there another story to tell?

Some of the world’s leading climate and ocean researchers are gathering in Cairns for the annual conference of the Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society to discuss the latest findings in meteorology, climate science and oceanography.The meeting follows this year's extreme marine heatwaves on both sides of the continent in which Ningaloo and the Great Barrier Reef were simultaneously hit by coral bleaching.

Some of the world’s leading climate and ocean researchers are gathering in Cairns for the annual conference of the Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society to discuss the latest findings in meteorology, climate science and oceanography.The meeting follows this year's extreme marine heatwaves on both sides of the continent in which Ningaloo and the Great Barrier Reef were simultaneously hit by coral bleaching.

Over the past decade, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has poured billions of dollars into global sport, hugely influencing the governance and growth of football, golf, boxing and tennis.In 2034, the once closed-off Kingdom will host the world's most-viewed sporting event — the men's FIFA World Cup — all part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's grand plans to modernise the country.But what is the benefit of sport to Saudi Arabia? And what is sport's role in influencing global politics?GUEST: James Montague, journalist and author of Engulfed: How Saudi Arabia Bought Sport, and the World

“Fortress WA”  is how Western Australia's Treasurer Rita Saffioti described how her state will use its huge budget surplus to insulate the state from global tensions.WA has reported its seventh consecutive surplus of $2.5 billion for 2024-25, with a further surplus forecast for the following year.This budgetary position continues to be the envy of other states and territories, and the Labor state government is moving to future-proof its economy by investing billions of dollars in infrastructure projects.

European officials have lined up behind the Trump administration’s demand that Iran stop its uranium-enrichment program, increasing pressure on Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who was in Geneva for the talks. So far, Iran is refusing to end uranium enrichment or negotiate with the US unless Israel halts its attacks on the country. Meanshile, Presdient Trump has said that he will decide whether the U.S will join Israel’s attacks within two weeks to give time for negotiations to work.

A winter feast of sea urchins, wallaby wings and whisky pudding is on the menu in Hobart this weekend.Niyati Rao travelled across India in search of unique ingredients and cooking methods, and her Mumbai restaurants celebrate humble regional snacks.For Dark MOFO, Rao is teaming up with Launceston chef Craig Will to infuse fresh Tasmanian produce with big bold Indian flavours.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will face a tricky moment at the G7 in Canada this weekend, forced to confront the Pentagon's decision to review AUKUS. The Trump administration is sending a strong message to Canberra, leveraging for greater Defence spending. But could this be the off ramp for the controversial nuclear subs deal?