Sunday Extra - Separate stories podcast

Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen has just finished a visit to Central American countries on her way to a meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California. Taiwan is trying to shore up its dwindling diplomatic support in the region, with China’s economic influence persuading countries to shift allegiances – Honduras being the latest example. Guest: Benjamin Gedan, Director of the Wilson Center’s Latin American Program

Russian President Putin's has made thinly veiled threats to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine

This week's caller makes do with an especially tiny nest – the Varied Triller.

Natural history museums create a global inventory of their collections to help with urgent issues such as climate change

SA’s Local Hero recipient for 2023 has personally micro-chipped more than 22,000 animals and spurred a national rollout of her hugely successful affordable micro-chipping scheme in SA. Despite serious health issues, Christine Robertson carried on with the volunteer-run service, all while holding down a full-time job. But when those she loved most suddenly had health issues, she had to decide whether to continue, or pause to spend precious time with family.

Guest: Christine Robertson, South Australia’s Local Hero in the Australian of the Year Awards, 2023.

To plan conservation efforts, scientists need to know what species are in an area, how big the populations are, how they interact... The list goes on. 

But what happens when the creatures that need conserving are so small you can barely see them?

Today, Lisa Kirkendale explores the importance of taxonomy in conservation, and why even the tiniest of creatures need attention.

When we define ‘value’ in medical innovation, for business it means profit, for people it means health benefit

Wales' latest Commissioner for Future Generations has just started in the job, and it's the first position of its kind anywhere in the world. Tasked by the government to ensure Wales leaves a better country for its children, the commissioner advises on sustainable development and monitors the longer term impacts of government decisions.

Guest: Derek Walker, Future Generations Commissioner, Wales.

Donald Trump has been indicted on criminal charges,  the first time in US history that this has happened to a former president. 

A Manhattan grand jury voted to indict him over a probe into hush money paid to porn star Stormy Daniels.

The charges remain unclear because they're under seal. The former president is scheduled to appear in court for his arraignment on Tuesday. 

Guest: Nick Akerman, New York attorney, former Watergate prosecutor