Oliver Conway

And that, coupled with the increase in defense spending, is likely to go down well in Washington.

And how is all this likely to go down with British voters?

And how is all this likely to go down with British voters?

Our political correspondent Rob Watson. Just over a year ago, Vladimir Putin accused the US of trying to dismember Russia in order to plunder its natural resources. But now, with Donald Trump in the White House, Russia seems happy to allow the Americans in. It has the fifth largest reserves of rare earth minerals in the world.

Our political correspondent Rob Watson. Just over a year ago, Vladimir Putin accused the US of trying to dismember Russia in order to plunder its natural resources. But now, with Donald Trump in the White House, Russia seems happy to allow the Americans in. It has the fifth largest reserves of rare earth minerals in the world.

And the Kremlin said today there were broad prospects for cooperation with the US. This was President Putin himself on Monday.

And the Kremlin said today there were broad prospects for cooperation with the US. This was President Putin himself on Monday.

Mr Putin also mentioned deposits in what he called the new territories, occupied Ukraine. President Trump has been pressuring Ukraine to sign an agreement with the US on its minerals and talks are ongoing. But now the EU is offering the Ukrainians a separate deal, as I heard from our Europe regional editor, Danny Eberhardt.

Mr Putin also mentioned deposits in what he called the new territories, occupied Ukraine. President Trump has been pressuring Ukraine to sign an agreement with the US on its minerals and talks are ongoing. But now the EU is offering the Ukrainians a separate deal, as I heard from our Europe regional editor, Danny Eberhardt.

Yes, and now the Russians are saying, hey, we've got lots of minerals too and people are welcome to come and help us develop them, especially the Americans.

Yes, and now the Russians are saying, hey, we've got lots of minerals too and people are welcome to come and help us develop them, especially the Americans.

Eleven weeks after the Assad regime was overthrown, the new authorities in Syria have opened a conference in Damascus to discuss how the country will be run. On Monday, the European Union suspended some selected sanctions, such as restrictions on oil and gas, to try to encourage support for a transition to democratic rule. Murtasem Sioufi is head of Civic Group, the Day After Association.

Eleven weeks after the Assad regime was overthrown, the new authorities in Syria have opened a conference in Damascus to discuss how the country will be run. On Monday, the European Union suspended some selected sanctions, such as restrictions on oil and gas, to try to encourage support for a transition to democratic rule. Murtasem Sioufi is head of Civic Group, the Day After Association.

But parties in Syria's autonomous Kurdish region have complained that there is only token representation for minority groups at the conference. An official from one Kurdish party, Salih Islam, told the BBC his group had been excluded.

But parties in Syria's autonomous Kurdish region have complained that there is only token representation for minority groups at the conference. An official from one Kurdish party, Salih Islam, told the BBC his group had been excluded.

Our Middle East correspondent Lina Sinjab told us more.

Our Middle East correspondent Lina Sinjab told us more.

A so-called planetary parade, which started last month, is heading towards its grand finale. Later this week, stargazers will be able to see several planets together without the need for powerful telescopes. Scientists say it's the closest we'll come to a full planetary alignment in a lifetime. Here's astronomer Rebecca Allen.

A so-called planetary parade, which started last month, is heading towards its grand finale. Later this week, stargazers will be able to see several planets together without the need for powerful telescopes. Scientists say it's the closest we'll come to a full planetary alignment in a lifetime. Here's astronomer Rebecca Allen.

Taiwan's Coast Guard has detained a cargo ship and eight members of its Chinese crew after an undersea cable in the Taiwan Strait was damaged. Five cases of sea cable malfunctions have been reported by Taiwan since the start of this year. And it says it can't rule out the possibility of interference by the authorities in Beijing. I heard more from our Asia-Pacific editor Celia Hatton.