Oliver Conway

You're listening to the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service. Hello, I'm Oliver Conway and this edition is published in the early hours of Thursday the 13th of March. President Trump says a US team is on its way to Russia to outline his Ukraine ceasefire plan, even as President Putin is reported to have gone to the front line.

Will American tariffs stop the fentanyl coming in from Mexico? Our correspondent has been to meet one of the drug smugglers there. And the Pakistani army says it's rescued hundreds of hostages from a hijacked train, but more than 20 passengers and 30 militants are dead.

Will American tariffs stop the fentanyl coming in from Mexico? Our correspondent has been to meet one of the drug smugglers there. And the Pakistani army says it's rescued hundreds of hostages from a hijacked train, but more than 20 passengers and 30 militants are dead.

A patient survives for 100 days with a heart made of titanium. The Russian president tends to steer well clear of the fighting, even as he throws hundreds of thousands of his troops into the so-called meat grinder in Ukraine.

A patient survives for 100 days with a heart made of titanium. The Russian president tends to steer well clear of the fighting, even as he throws hundreds of thousands of his troops into the so-called meat grinder in Ukraine.

But in the past few hours, footage has been released of Vladimir Putin apparently visiting a command post in Kursk, the Russian region partly captured by Ukrainian forces last year. I very much expect that all combat tasks will be fulfilled and that the territory of the Kursk will soon be completely liberated from the enemy, said Mr Putin. He was dressed in camouflage gear.

But in the past few hours, footage has been released of Vladimir Putin apparently visiting a command post in Kursk, the Russian region partly captured by Ukrainian forces last year. I very much expect that all combat tasks will be fulfilled and that the territory of the Kursk will soon be completely liberated from the enemy, said Mr Putin. He was dressed in camouflage gear.

The Russian chief of staff, General Valery Gerasimov, told him Russian forces had now recaptured 86% of the occupied land. Ukraine has acknowledged some setbacks there, but said fighting was continuing. Russia's gains come as the US waits for the Kremlin's response to the American ceasefire proposal agreed by Ukraine. So what is the likely thinking in Moscow?

The Russian chief of staff, General Valery Gerasimov, told him Russian forces had now recaptured 86% of the occupied land. Ukraine has acknowledged some setbacks there, but said fighting was continuing. Russia's gains come as the US waits for the Kremlin's response to the American ceasefire proposal agreed by Ukraine. So what is the likely thinking in Moscow?

I asked Lisa Fox from the BBC Russian service.

I asked Lisa Fox from the BBC Russian service.

Because it comes at a time when Russia appears to be making advances on the battlefield. So I guess they may not want to pause.

Because it comes at a time when Russia appears to be making advances on the battlefield. So I guess they may not want to pause.

Now, you said that Russia is in a more difficult position than it's faced for some time. I mean, in terms of what's happened with Donald Trump now apparently moving towards the Ukrainians, what's been the reaction to that in Russia?

Now, you said that Russia is in a more difficult position than it's faced for some time. I mean, in terms of what's happened with Donald Trump now apparently moving towards the Ukrainians, what's been the reaction to that in Russia?

Lisa Fox from the BBC Russian service. The tensions between the US and its longtime trading partners look set to intensify after President Trump said he would of course respond to the tariffs announced by Canada and the EU on Wednesday. The They came in retaliation for the new American taxes on all steel and aluminium imports.

Lisa Fox from the BBC Russian service. The tensions between the US and its longtime trading partners look set to intensify after President Trump said he would of course respond to the tariffs announced by Canada and the EU on Wednesday. The They came in retaliation for the new American taxes on all steel and aluminium imports.

One of the president's main justifications for tariffs is to tackle the US opioid crisis. Fentanyl has killed a record number of Americans, and almost all of it is smuggled across the border from Mexico.

One of the president's main justifications for tariffs is to tackle the US opioid crisis. Fentanyl has killed a record number of Americans, and almost all of it is smuggled across the border from Mexico.

The Mexican authorities have arrested hundreds of cartel members and handed some over to the US, but despite the increased pressure on them, the gangs say it is business as usual, as Quentin Somerville reports from the Mexican side of the border.