Trump briefed on new military options for Iran

This episode of the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service covers a high-stakes geopolitical moment as President Trump faces a deadline under the 1973 War Powers Resolution to seek congressional approval for continued military action in Iran. With the conflict now 62 days old and a ceasefire in place, the White House claims the clock has paused, but legal experts and some lawmakers dispute this, warning of a constitutional crisis if military action resumes without authorization. The U.S. is reportedly preparing to deploy a new hypersonic missile, Dark Eagle, signaling escalating pressure on Iran’s economy through a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, the conflict is having global ripple effects: fertilizer production is down by up to half a million tons, threatening food security—especially in Africa—where soil is already underfertilized. In Ukraine, drone strikes on Russian Black Sea ports like Tuapse are disrupting oil exports and fueling domestic unrest, while Russia scales back its Victory Day parade amid security concerns. On a lighter note, a Danish study reveals semaglutide may help treat alcohol use disorder by reducing cravings through brain reward circuit modulation. The episode also covers a White House Correspondents' Dinner security breach involving a gunman who was subdued after a brief shootout, and the ongoing plight of British detainees Lindsay and Craig Foreman, imprisoned in Iran for spying after a journey that turned into a years-long ordeal. Finally, researchers map the mouse nose in unprecedented detail, uncovering a highly organized structure of smell receptors with implications for understanding human olfaction.