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Up All Night: 29/12/2011

29/12/2011

BBC Radio 5 Live - Up All Night, 29/12/2011

Syria monitors criticised; Iran could close vital oil route; Dr Chris talks science.

Arab League monitors are criticised as they arrive in Syria; Iran threatens to close the Strait of Hormuz; thousands murdered in Venezuela; Dr Chris answers your science questions.

Rhod Sharp with stories from around the world.

There has been more violence in Syria despite the presence of the Arab League monitoring mission in the country. The leader of the Arab mission to Syria has been criticised too. Some Syrian activists say General Mustafa al-Dab's appointment is a farce. Professor Eric Reeves from Smith College in Massachusetts tells us why they're so angry.

Iran has threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz - one of the world's main oil routes. About 40% of the world's oil tankers pass through the channel. It is 21 miles wide and separates Iran and Oman. Fadel Gheit from the US-based business group Oppenheimer and Co thinks that any blockade would be very likely to lead to a war.

How many colds can you have at once? That's just one of the questions put to Dr Chris, who is standing in for Dr Karl this week for our science phone-in. Turns out the answer is up to five. Dr Chris also talks about the visual effect which means wheels sometimes appear to spin backwards, and discusses what causes cataracts.
 
Plus, we cross to Samoa, where people are missing a whole day just so their country can cross the date line. Keni Lesa, editor of the Samoan Observer, explains why.

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