Oliver Conway

Stephanie Prentice. London's black cab drivers are well known for their detailed grasp of the roads in the British capital. In fact, studies have shown their brains actually change due to the amount of information they're storing. But it takes years to memorise all the routes needed to pass the infamous test known as the knowledge. Here's one driver called Billy.

Stephanie Prentice. London's black cab drivers are well known for their detailed grasp of the roads in the British capital. In fact, studies have shown their brains actually change due to the amount of information they're storing. But it takes years to memorise all the routes needed to pass the infamous test known as the knowledge. Here's one driver called Billy.

Well, there are now calls to make the knowledge easier, as a think tank warns that black cabs could vanish from the capital streets within two decades, in part because of the severe demands on the drivers. Hugo Spears is a professor of cognitive science at University College London.

Well, there are now calls to make the knowledge easier, as a think tank warns that black cabs could vanish from the capital streets within two decades, in part because of the severe demands on the drivers. Hugo Spears is a professor of cognitive science at University College London.

Professor Hugo Spears. Still to come on the Global News Podcast...

Professor Hugo Spears. Still to come on the Global News Podcast...

The ugly creature that's won fish of the year.

The ugly creature that's won fish of the year.

Returning to the conflict in Ukraine now, and the Ukrainians may have signed up to the American plan for a ceasefire, but Russia has not. So what levers might the US be able to pull? Some in the Republican Party have called for new or tougher sanctions, an idea floated by President Trump himself.

Returning to the conflict in Ukraine now, and the Ukrainians may have signed up to the American plan for a ceasefire, but Russia has not. So what levers might the US be able to pull? Some in the Republican Party have called for new or tougher sanctions, an idea floated by President Trump himself.

Jamie Kumar Asami spoke to Maria Shagina at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, asking first what type of sanctions has America already imposed on Russia?

Jamie Kumar Asami spoke to Maria Shagina at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, asking first what type of sanctions has America already imposed on Russia?

Maria Shagina, Senior Research Fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. A unique medical trial has been carried out in Bangladesh to try to identify patients suffering from methanol poisoning even before symptoms begin. Experts believe only a tiny fraction of victims of this potentially fatal poisoning are diagnosed and treated in time.

Maria Shagina, Senior Research Fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. A unique medical trial has been carried out in Bangladesh to try to identify patients suffering from methanol poisoning even before symptoms begin. Experts believe only a tiny fraction of victims of this potentially fatal poisoning are diagnosed and treated in time.

But it's hoped this new initiative could change that and save tens of thousands of lives. This report from our health correspondent, Matthew Hill.

But it's hoped this new initiative could change that and save tens of thousands of lives. This report from our health correspondent, Matthew Hill.

Matthew Hill reporting. And there's more on this in the documentary What's Your Poison? The Methanol Crisis, wherever you get your BBC podcasts. Do you know what to do in a national emergency? What would you pack if you had time? Well, the French government is distributing a survival manual to every household to help prepare for war and disaster.

Matthew Hill reporting. And there's more on this in the documentary What's Your Poison? The Methanol Crisis, wherever you get your BBC podcasts. Do you know what to do in a national emergency? What would you pack if you had time? Well, the French government is distributing a survival manual to every household to help prepare for war and disaster.

Last year, Nordic nations, including Finland and Sweden, issued millions of updated guides with advice on how to cope with increasing security threats in Europe. So why is France doing this? Isabella Jewell spoke to Bernadette Kehoe.

Last year, Nordic nations, including Finland and Sweden, issued millions of updated guides with advice on how to cope with increasing security threats in Europe. So why is France doing this? Isabella Jewell spoke to Bernadette Kehoe.