Woman’s Hour – Melania Trump’s diplomacy, Philippa Gregory’s The Royal Witch, Back to Black at 20, Iron deficiency

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According to the White House, Melania Trump has taken on an unexpected diplomatic role. It’s been reported that she helped to broker a temporary ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. The agreement, due to come into effect today, is intended to allow humanitarian aid into the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky and enable civilians to leave. But how did Melania Trump become involved? Why has she been sucessful and what does this tell us about the influence a First Lady can have on world affairs? Nuala McGovern is joined by Victoria Vdovychenko from the University of Cambridge’s Centre for Geopolitics, and Anne McElvoy from Politico.

Philippa Gregory is one of the world’s bestselling historical novelists. Her books have reimagined the lives of powerful and often overlooked women from Britain’s past. She joins Nuala to discuss her latest novel, Royal Witch, which tells the story of Eleanor Cobham, an ambitious noble woman in the court of Henry V who used astrology and other “dark arts” in her attempt to gain power.

Twenty years after the release of Back to Black, Amy Winehouse’s era-defining album continues to resonate. A five-time Grammy winner, it produced five hit singles and established Amy as one of the most distinctive voices of her generation. Dr Lucy O’Brien, author of She Bop: The Definitive History of Women in Popular Music, and journalist and music critic Jude Rogers discuss the album’s lasting impact and celebrate Amy’s enduring legacy.

How is iron deficiency diagnosed in the UK? And what impact do the effects of pregnancy, menstruation, and inflammatory conditions have? Nuala is joined by Dr Aziza Sesay, a GP who specialises in women’s health and by BBC News reporter Zara Salaria, who has been looking into whether social media videos about “Ferritin face” have any scientific basis.

Presenter: Nuala McGovern
Producer: Helen Fitzhenry

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