As the 21st century dawned, a newly elected Vladmir Putin was making friends on the world stage. He smiled for photo ops at G8 meetings, and was the first foreign leader to call George W. Bush after the attacks of 9/11, offering his support against terrorism.

So what changed? To understand Russia’s view of the world now – and its continued aggression towards Ukraine – it helps to know more about the psyche of the country and its leader.

In today’s episode of The Conversation Weekly podcast, we talk to James Rodgers, a reader in international journalism at City St George’s, University of London, about how a festering sense of national humiliation after the collapse of the Soviet Union hardened Putin’s tough man regime and led Russia to turn its back on the west.

In 1991, when the Soviet Union collapsed, many in the west believed liberal democracy and free markets had won in Russia. The cold war was over and Russia would join the community of democratic nations. But that’s not what happened.  Instead, Russians experienced economic freefall, large-scale poverty and a sense of national humiliation.

“People felt this great loss of status,” says Rodgers, who has just written a new book called The Return of Russia about why it came into confrontation with the west.

“With the coming of new western ideas of the free market, a lot of people lost their jobs and the status that went with them,” says Rodgers. “Russia also lost the standing on the world stage that the Soviet Union had enjoyed.”

Putin became president on the eve of the new millennium. Rodgers says, Putin had not forgotten the economic pain and humiliation of the 1990s, and understood its importance to his constituency in Russia. “He understood the political potential of that humiliation in a way that I think some western policymakers did not understand the possible political consequences of it.”

Soon after, the 9/11 attacks in 2001 pushed the US to war in the Middle East. Whatever support Putin had pledged western governments began to crumble, particularly over the invasion of Iraq. Through interviews with former top western officials, Rodgers pinpoints that Russian foreign intelligence knew Iraq’s leader Saddam Hussein did not have weapons of mass destruction, and they were certain that the CIA and other western intelligence agencies knew that.

“Russia determined that the west was acting in bad faith about the reason that they’d given for going to war in Iraq, and this was actually about regime change and not at all about weapons of mass destruction,” says Rodgers. He says the invasion made Putin deeply suspicious of western motives in foreign relations, who began to think: “If they can do this to Saddam Hussein, then maybe one day the west will try to decide to do it for me.”

Listen to the interview with James Rodgers on The Conversation Weekly podcast. This episode was written and produced by Mend Mariwany and Gemma Ware with editing help from Ashlynne McGhee. Mixing by Eleanor Brezzi and theme music by Neeta Sarl. Gemma Ware is the executive producer.

Newsclips in this episode from BBC News, AP Archive, ABC News, C-Span, CNN, The Phoenix ReNasCor, DW News and
Voice of America.

Listen to The Conversation Weekly via any of the apps listed above, download it directly via our RSS feed or find out how else to listen here. A transcript of this episode is available via the Apple Podcasts or Spotify apps.

A toxic gas leak at a mine in Nigeria has killed 37 people and left 26 injured in hospital. 

Poisonous lead, sulphur and carbon monoxide was suddenly discharged into the shaft, killing nearly 40 miners working underground.

They were said to have not realised they were breathing in deadly fumes until they started to become unwell, according to the Nigerian government.

The victims were taken ill in the early hours of Tuesday morning in Kampani Zurak, a police spokesman said.

Alfred Alabo said: “A preliminary investigation revealed that the miners faced a sudden discharge of lead oxide and other associated gases like sulphur and carbon monoxide.

“These gases are toxic and poisonous to humans, particularly in a confined or poorly ventilated environment.”

He added that the bodies of the deceased had been released to their families for burial in accordance with their religious practices.

The Nigerian government has closed the mining site and an investigation into the leak is continuing.

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The miners were unaware of the toxic nature of the emissions and continued their operations, Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development Dele Alake said.

It’s not clear what was being mined at the site and whether the mine was operating legally.

Nigeria is trying to rein in illegal gold mining operations across the country that have killed hundreds of people over the years.

During freezing winter weather, it’s all too easy to twist the thermostat up a notch (or three). But while it may end with a toasty home, it can also result in an energy bill that leaves you questioning every degree of comfort. In some cases, a decent electric heater is the smarter move, as it warms the space you’re in, rather than empty rooms.

Luckily, there’s a heater for every budget, from basic VonHaus models to high-end technology from Dyson that doubles as a fan and comes with app connectivity. The best designs warm up chilly rooms quickly, feature adjustable thermostats and timers, and operate quietly enough to avoid disturbing you. Look for integrated safety features, and watch out for power-hungry models that may be costly to run.

To help you choose, we’ve found the best electric heaters, covering every price point and size. We tested 16 models in total, with 12 reviewed below, plus answers to frequently asked questions.

The best electric heaters in 2026: At a glance

How to choose the best electric heater

Picking an electric heater isn’t just about grabbing the cheapest one on the shelf. For starters, there are several types to choose from. Brian Horne, technical knowledge lead at Energy Saving Trust, says: “Oil-filled, convector, halogen and fan electric heaters are equally efficient, but they distribute heat differently.”

Consider your room size when choosing between them. Horne says: “Oil-filled heaters heat up and cool down slowly, so are best for providing low level heat for an extended period.” This also makes them well suited to living rooms as they can distribute heat across a bigger area. Similarly, “convector heaters warm the air which then circulates around the room, making them effective for heating the whole space”.

For smaller spaces, Horne recommends fan or halogen heaters: “Fan heaters blow hot air directly at you, offering a quick burst of warmth when needed. Halogen heaters emit radiant heat that warms only what’s in front of them, so are best for keeping you warm without heating the rest of the room.”

Power output, measured in Watts, determines how quickly a heater can warm a space and running costs (higher Watts mean faster heating and higher electricity consumption). Charlotte Friel, director at Ofcom, says: “Using heaters all the time can quite quickly increase energy bills, so if possible, use them for short bursts or to heat one room and not as an alternative to central heating.”

Adjustable thermostats and timers help prevent energy waste once the room reaches temperature, while tip-over and overheat protection are must-haves for homes with pets or children. And don’t forget noise levels, as some heaters hum quietly in the background, others sound like a jet engine.

“If you need to use an electric heater, choose the type that best suits what you want to heat and for how long. Position the heater in the part of the room you want to warm, keeping it at a safe distance from yourself and any furniture,” concludes Horne. “Remember to always follow the safety instructions that come with the product.”

Marcus Rashford looks set to join Barcelona on a permanent deal this summer after his loan spell from Manchester United though his game time may not be guaranteed

Marcus Rashford could be battling for game time next season if Barcelona make his loan switch permanent, given their search for a ‘mobile striker’ should Robert Lewandowski depart. The Manchester United star is currently enjoying a season-long stint with the Catalan giants under Hansi Flick.

Although Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal and Raphinha are all established first-team regulars at the Camp Nou and take precedence over Rashford, the 28-year-old has still racked up 10 goals and 13 assists from 34 outings across all competitions. Barcelona also possesses an option to sign Rashford permanently at the end of the 2025/26 campaign for approximately £26million – a clause they appear increasingly likely to trigger given his reliable displays.

However, the versatile forward could also encounter more competition for playing time with the La Liga heavyweights next season should he complete a transfer. At 37 and with his deal running out at the end of the current campaign, Lewandowski’s future with Barcelona has come under scrutiny.

This is despite the Polish striker demonstrating he’s still got plenty to offer with 10 La Liga goals to his name this term. Consequently, Sport reports that the club are preparing to explore the market this summer for a mobile striker who can combine effectively with team-mates in attack and apply pressure when Barca are out of possession.

READ MORE: Barcelona release fresh Marcus Rashford statement as Man Utd get update on transfer impact

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Dusan Vlahovic has surfaced as a possible option for the position, given he ticks all the boxes and his Juventus contract expires at the end of the Serie A campaign, meaning a financially cautious Barcelona wouldn’t need to fork out a substantial fee for him. Tuttosport also report that Vlahovic has informed his agent that his preference is to join Barcelona, though he’s awaiting an official approach from the club.

Should no offer materialise, the 26-year-old is also said to be willing to negotiate fresh terms with the Old Lady. This could ultimately create complications for Rashford, though, as the forward has demonstrated his adaptability by operating as a central striker beyond his preferred left-wing position.

With two-and-a-half years remaining on his existing United deal, his long-term prospects at the club remain uncertain. The England international lost his place under Ruben Amorim shortly after his arrival in November 2024, spending the final months of last season on loan at Aston Villa.

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Still considered expendable by the Portuguese manager upon his return, Rashford subsequently moved to Barcelona on a temporary basis in the summer. However, with Amorim having been shown the door at Old Trafford and Michael Carrick now in charge until the end of the season, the door could be open for Rashford to return to the club he has devoted his entire career to should he wish to.

Much will hinge on whether Barcelona make his loan move permanent, what Carrick thinks of the forward should he be handed the role on a full-time basis, or whether an incoming manager arrives who sees Rashford fitting into his plans.

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The actress says that living in Pontypridd keeps her grounded as “nobody cared”

When it comes to Welsh actors, we can’t help being proud of one of our own and celebrate every role and on-screen appearance. However, there’s one thing the Welsh do well and that is keep people humble.

That was the case for Kimberley Nixon, who is best known for starring as Josie in the comedy sitcom Fresh Meat, as well as numerous early 2000s coming of age movies, and more recently the Sky series Under Salt Marsh. You can read more about the true story behind the TV show here.

The actress from Pontypridd said that even when she was appearing in major motion pictures, the local community kept her grounded as “nobody cared” and she hardly ever gets recognised.

Speaking to Bronwen Lewis on BBC Radio Wales, the actress shared an anecdote of when she worked with Colin Firth on the movie Easy Virtue.

Kimberley explained that she wasn’t sure how to become an actress when she was from a small town in Wales. She said: “You know, I grew up in Ynysybwl just outside Pontypridd. How do I get into those rooms in London and beyond to make that a reality?”

The host replied: “I bet there’s so many kids out there, you know, listeners thinking, ‘oh, you know, yeah, my kid or I want to be an actor and it is having to get used to rejection’. But do you think that having Pontypridd as that base then has almost, that is your grounding, that’s your rooting and whatever happens I’m going back to a family and a place that loves me.”

The actress replied: “That’s exactly what it is, because there were two things. One, in the olden days, I used to travel on the train to London, go and do an audition. It could go brilliantly, it could go terribly, and there were a lot of those, really, really badly.

“Then I would get back on the train, come home to Ponty, and my life here had nothing to do with that. My value wasn’t placed on whether I got that job or not. You know, which was incredible.

“The other thing, I was shooting a film called Easy Virtue with Colin Firth and Kristin Scott Thomas through the week, and then I would come home for the weekend, and I remember being in Ponty in the Opticians on a Saturday, and they were like, ‘oh, are you filming with that Colin Firth?’ And I was like, ‘sort of, yeah’. But mainly, nobody cared. Nobody.”

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Bronwen responded: “Oh, it’s refreshing, isn’t it?”

Kimberley continued: “I never get recognised in Ponty, hardly ever. People go, ‘what’d you do?’ And you go, ‘you know, an actress’,

“The say ‘what were you in?’ And you say, and they go, ‘all right, okay.’ They’re just not interested, but in a wonderful way.”

Bronwen added: “Because they’re interested in who you are as a person.”

The actress said: “Exactly that. I think what helped me stay who I am is that I’ve lived in Pontypridd the entire time.”

Kimberley currently stars in Sky’s Under Salt March as Shell Hill, the mother of nine-year-old Cefin who was found dead by his teacher (played by Yellowstone’s Kelly Reilly).

The series follows the fictional Welsh town of Morfa Halen, as they not only deal with the tragic death of one of their own, but the community faces an impending storm which threatens the residents with dangerous flooding.

You can watch Under Salt Marsh on Sky Atlantic, Sky on demand or Now TV. If you haven’t already signed up for Sky, you can do so here.

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A new Switch 2 Edition game has just been announced, available as a full game or an inexpensive upgrade from the Switch 1.

There have been two Nintendo Directs this year so far, but neither had any updates on Nintendo’s actual video game plans for 2026. The first was just a trailer for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, the second was only for Tomodachi Life: Living The Dreamm and the third covered third party games from other studios like Bethesda.

A first party showcase is sure to drop sooner rather than later, but if there’s one thing that won’t be unveiled during it, it’s a Nintendo Switch 2 port of Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition.

That’s because it was just unveiled out of nowhere earlier today and is available for purchase right now, albeit only digitally.

This isn’t one of those simple free updates either, but a full-on upgrade, which means even if you already own the Switch 1 version, you need to pay for it.

The upgrade costs £4.19, making it one of the cheaper upgrade packs alongside Animal Crossing: New Horizons’ Switch 2 version, which launched last month.

If you don’t own the original game, it’s also available as a separate digital purchase of £54.99, with a physical version releasing on April 16. However, it doesn’t appear to include any new content.

Both Nintendo’s announcement and its eShop listing only mention improved resolutions up to 4K in TV mode and improved performance upwards of 60 frames per second.

This is likely why the price for upgrading isn’t as high as other Switch 2 upgrade packs, like the ones for Super Mario Party Jamboree and Kirby And The Forgotten Land.

On one hand, this news isn’t super surprising as fans already suspected that Xenoblade Chronicles X would see a Switch 2 port as early as last March, after a hidden 60fps mode was found in the game’s executable file.

That said, it is a bit strange that Nintendo would just announce and release it with zero build-up, but the game’s Switch 1 version was also randomly revealed with a surprise trailer, so Nintendo is being consistent.

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What is definitely odd is that Nintendo would prioritise a Switch 2 port of the Xenoblade spin-off rather than any of the mainline numbered games. Xenoblade Chronicles 3 did receive a free update (which made ‘several adjustments’ to the gameplay), but none of them have dedicated Switch 2 upgrades that boost their performance.

It’s unclear if Nintendo plans on further Xenoblade upgrades, although some fans believe developer Monolith Soft teased one for Xenoblade Chronicles 2 via social media last year.

Speaking of Xenoblade, earlier this month the fanbase went into a tizzy when it was alleged that voice actress Caitlin Thorburn, who voiced the character KOS-MOS in Xenoblade Chronicles 2, had updated her profile on casting website Spotlight to mention she had reprised the role for a Xenoblade Chronicles game out in 2026.

A screenshot of this was shared to Famiboards and quickly spread among the Xenoblade community, sparking theories of either a brand new game or a Switch 2 re-release of Xenoblade Chronicles 2. It doesn’t have anything to do with Xenoblade Chronicles X, though, since KOS-MOS doesn’t appear in that game and nor does Thorburn provide any voicework.

Assuming another Xenoblade game is being planned for 2026, it might be revealed in the next Nintendo Direct, which is likely to take place in March or April.

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Sir Jim Ratcliffe recently claimed that the UK had been ‘colonised by immigrants’, and although he apologised for his comments, the Manchester United part-owner continues to receive backlash

Manchester United fear missing out on millions in new sponsorship deals in the wake of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s controversial comments about immigration in the UK. United are still without a training kit partner, while the club’s shirt sleeve sponsor deal will expire this summer.

And United’s owners the Glazers have raised concerns to senior figures about the club’s chances of securing new partners, after its image and reputation took a huge hit following Ratcliffe’s recent interview. The co-owner apologised to the Glazers after sparking outrage when he claimed immigrants had ‘colonised’ the UK.

The backlash has been immense, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer demanding the billionaire apologise – which he did. The FA are still examining the comments and could decide to launch a full-scale investigation.

The Glazers regard United’s commercial value as one of the main reasons the Floridians have never agreed to sell their stake in the club. And the Americans are now worried about the impact Ratcliffe’s comments will have on the club’s chances of securing lucrative new deals moving forward.

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READ MORE: Sir Jim Ratcliffe apologises to Glazers over immigration comments as Man Utd concerns mountREAD MORE: Man Utd rage at Marcus Rashford mistake as they think £50m transfer now possible

The Glazers know bluechip companies only want to be associated with forward-thinking and progressive clubs. While the situation could be made even worse if United fail to secure Champions League qualification this season.

The situation will pile even more pressure on interim boss Michael Carrick to secure a top-four finish. Carrick, who is unbeaten in five games since taking charge, will take his side to face Everton on Monday night.

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And he is preparing to face a grilling about Ratcliffe’s comments – and the club’s response to them – when he faces the media on Friday lunchtime.

It’s understood United’s communications team has briefed Carrick on what to expect and how to deal with questions about Ratcliffe, in the hope of not making the situation worse.

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President Donald Trump on Thursday said Iran must reach an agreement with the United States on curbing its’ nuclear program or risk “bad things” as addressed a meeting of his “Board of Peace” at which he touted his supposed progress in ending Israel’s war on Gaza.

The president laid out what appeared to be a new ten-day deadline for Tehran to avoid military action and said talks between American and Iranian officials have been “good.”

“Good talks are being had. It’s proven to be, over the years, not easy to make a meaningful deal with Iran. We have to make a meaningful deal, otherwise bad things happen,” he said, adding that Iran “cannot have a nuclear weapon” and stressing that military action could come “over the next, probably 10 days” in the absence of an agreement.

Iran, Trump continued, “cannot continue to threaten the stability of the entire region, and they must make a deal.”

“Or if that doesn’t happen, I maybe can understand if it doesn’t happen … but bad things will happen if it doesn’t,” he said.

The president’s comments come days after talks in Geneva between Iranian representatives and his own envoys had ended without any sort of breakthrough as a massive number of American warplanes continue to assemble in the Middle East region.

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