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A war monitoring group says the number of people summarily executed by Syrian security forces in former president Bashar al-Assad's Latakia stronghold has risen to 134. We speak to a Syrian Alawite in the area. Also on the programme: President Trump seems to give his backing to an overnight Russian bombardment of Ukraine; a call to arms in Poland to counter the threat from Russia - military training for all adult men. We hear of the power of the micro-influencers and Lady Gaga on what she says is her angriest song ever. (Photo: A man rides his motorcycle in front of a military convoy heading towards Latakia to join the fight against the fighters linked to Syria's ousted leader Bashar al-Assad, in Aleppo, Syria, March 7, 2025. REUTERS/Mahmoud Hassano)

Syrian security forces are reported to have carried out a mass execution of fifty-two people of the Alawite minority in the coastal province of Latakia. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says activists have released footage showing dozens of bodies in civilian clothing piled in the yard of a house. The incident follows clashes in the province between government forces and supporters of the former president Bashar al-Assad, which left more than seventy people dead. We speak to a local resident in Latakia. Also in the programme: Russia targets Ukraine's energy infrastructure in a missile and drone attack overnight; and Lady Gaga on her new album and the long, hard road to get there. (Picture: Syrians demonstrate in support of the Syrian government, after attacks carried out by groups loyal to ousted leader Bashar al-Assad in the Latakia region on March 7, 2025. Credit: Mahmoud Hassano/REUTERS)

European leaders met today in Brussels as part of an emergency defence summit, as Ukraine continues its war against Russia. The Polish President had previously announced plans to spend more than 4.7% of its GDP on defence. Spain, however, recently defended its target of spending only 2% of its GDP on defence. We speak to a former Spanish foreign minister about why it spends so little on protection compared to other European states. Also in the programme: US President Donald Trump pauses most of his administration’s tariffs on Mexico and Canada; and Denmark’s postal service says it will stop delivering letters by the end of the year.(Photo: EU Council President Antonio Costa, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrive for an European Special Council meeting in Brussels, Belgium, 6th March 2025. Credit: Christophe Petit-Tesson/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

European leaders are meeting in Brussels at what's being described as a turning point in history. They're discussing a large increase in defence spending following Washington's decision to suspend assistance to Ukraine. But can they agree? Also in the programme: Turning the garbage can of our immune system into a powerful source of antibiotics; and the man with all the vibes - jazz-funk pioneer Roy Ayers - has died.(Photo: Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speak to the media as they attend a European Union leaders special summit to discuss Ukraine and European defence, in Brussels, Belgium March 6, 2025. Reuters/Stephanie Lecocq)

Mr Trump questioned President Zelensky's commitment to peace following the spat at the White House on Friday. Also on the programme: scientists in Britain say they have discovered how the drug aspirin may help stop some cancers from spreading; and Lebron James becomes the first ever basketball player to score more the 50,000 points in his career.(Picture: President Trump addresses the US Congress Credit: Reuters)

US President Donald Trump addressed a joint session of Congress six weeks after beginning his second term in office. In addition to listing his achievements while in office, he made a teenager a US Secret Service agent and reaffirmed his desire for Greenland to become part of the US. Also on the programme, Arab leaders have agreed on a post-war reconstruction plan for Gaza that would allow around 2 million Palestinians to remain in the territory during a re-build; and a chance to look at religious paintings from early 14 Century Siena.(Photo: U.S. President Donald Trump's shakes hand with Speaker of the House Mike Johnson during a joint session of Congress, in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 4, 2025. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein)

President Zelensky of Ukraine says he wants to work for peace under what he calls President Trump's 'strong leadership', after the US paused military aid to Ukraine. A Democratic congressman insists there's still support for Ukraine in Washington. Also in the programme: Canada’s prime minister hits back at the US imposition of tariffs; and Arab leaders adopt a new plan for rebuilding Gaza.

Ukraine and its allies have condemned President Trump's decision to suspend all military aid to Kyiv, but Russia has praised the move. Ukrainian politicians said Washington was pushing Kyiv towards capitulation. The Kremlin described the move as the best contribution to what it called the cause of peace.Also in the programme: New US tariffs on goods from Canada, Mexico and China have come into effect, prompting immediate retaliation from Ottawa and Beijing; and Arab leaders are meeting in Cairo today - to discuss alternative plans for Gaza's future, after Donald Trump suggested the US could take over and redevelop the territory. (Photo credit: Getty Images)

But President Trump has implied that reliance on the US is naive and needy. Meanwhile Canada faces swingeing new tariffs from tomorrow. We hear from a senior politician.Also on the programme: there's been another fatal car ramming attack in Germany, this time in the city of Mannheim; and why it took Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie, one of the world's most influential writers, ten years to produce her latest novel.(Picture: UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in the House of Commons. Credit: Reuters)

Russia says Western governments are fragmenting over the war in Ukraine. President Putin's spokesman said no coordinated peace plan was on the agenda yet. His remarks reflect recent divisions between President Trump and Ukraine and its supporters in Europe.Also in the programme: Arab states and UN condemn Gaza aid blockade by Israel; Anora sweeps the board at the Oscars; and we speak to Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.(Photo: France, the UK and other European leaders met on Sunday to discuss Ukraine's security. Credit: EPA)