Diplomacy gathers pace over war in Ukraine

Summary

Global News Podcast Summary BBC World Service | Released: February 16, 2025

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1. Diplomacy Efforts Intensify Over the War in Ukraine

The global community is witnessing accelerated diplomatic activities aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. U.S. officials are gearing up for direct talks with Russia, although Ukraine and European nations have not been officially invited to these discussions. Concurrently, European leaders are preparing to convene an emergency summit in Paris to address the conflict independently.

Key Points:

• U.S.-Russia Talks: The United States plans to engage Russia directly without including Ukraine or European nations, signaling a shift from the traditional multinational negotiation framework.
• European Response: European leaders, feeling sidelined, are organizing their own summit in Paris to assert their stance and seek solutions.

Notable Quotes:

• Yulia Navalnaya [01:18]: "Even now, a year after his death, Putin is trying to erase Alexei's name from our memory to hide the truth about his murder. But he will not succeed."
• Katja Adler [02:19]: When questioned about Ukraine's presence at the negotiating table, she affirmed, "Of course the Ukrainians are going to be at the TABLE."
• Keir Starmer [02:41]: Highlighted the urgency of the moment, stating, "This was a once in a generation moment for our national security where we needed to engage in the reality of the world."

2. Tensions Rise Over President Trump's Plan for Gaza

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is actively working to implement President Donald Trump's controversial plan for Gaza, which proposes significant changes to the region's future. Trump's proposal includes the removal of Palestinians from Gaza, a move that has been met with strong opposition from Palestinian leaders and Arab nations.

Key Points:

• Netanyahu’s Support: Netanyahu aligns closely with Trump’s plan, expressing confidence in the U.S.-Israel partnership.
• Arab Nations' Opposition: Nations like Jordan and Egypt are formulating alternative plans in response to Trump’s proposal, aiming to fill the strategic vacuum created by the U.S. stance.

Notable Quotes:

• Netanyahu [07:21]: "President Trump is the greatest friend that Israel has ever had in the White House. I have no doubt that working together, America and Israel will overcome the challenges."
• Tom Bateman [08:15]: Analyzed the rhetoric shared by Netanyahu and Trump, questioning whether it's a strategic shift or simply pressure tactics, stating, "Is this a change of tack from the Israelis and the Americans to try to effectively redraw the current phased ceasefire hostage release process?"

3. Escalating Conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is facing heightened tensions as Rwanda-backed M23 rebels have seized the city of Bukavu. The DRC government accuses Rwanda of violating its territorial integrity and ignoring ceasefire calls, leading to increased instability in the eastern region.

Key Points:

• Rebel Takeover: M23 rebels have expanded their control, entering Bukavu without resistance, which marks their most significant territorial gain in three years.
• International Concerns: The Africa Union warns of potential fragmentation of the DRC, while the UN Secretary-General emphasizes the need for dialogue to prevent regional conflict.

Notable Quotes:

• Margus Sakala [12:50]: "Residents, of course, the people, the civilians down in Bukavu, some of them are really happy with their presence because the time they came they have been warmly welcomed."
• Margus Sakala [14:23]: "We are still waiting to see what will happen later... People are being killed down Gurmab. We don't know if the same case won't be produced down in Bukavu."

4. Commemorating Alexei Navalny: A Year Later

On the one-year anniversary of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny's death, memorials were held in Moscow despite Kremlin warnings. Navalny's widow, Yulia Navalnaya, delivered a heartfelt message from exile, condemning Putin's attempts to erase her husband's legacy.

Key Points:

• Public Remembrance: Hundreds gathered at Navalny's grave, demonstrating significant public support and defiance against the Kremlin's suppression.
• Government Crackdown: Authorities remain vigilant, monitoring attendees to prevent dissent and maintain control over Navalny's narrative.

Notable Quotes:

• Yulia Navalnaya [16:45]: "Even now, a year after his death, Putin is trying to erase Alexei's name from our memory to hide the truth about his murder. But he will not succeed."
• Steve Rosenberg [17:18]: "People laid flowers on his grave. A simple act, but one not without risk... Those in power here seem to believe that even after his death, Mr. Navalny and his ideas of a democratic Russia are still a danger to them."

5. U.S. Immigration Policies and Their Impact on Agriculture

The Trump administration has intensified efforts to deport undocumented migrants, a move that poses significant challenges to American industries reliant on migrant labor, particularly in farming. With over 40% of workers in some sectors being undocumented, mass deportations could disrupt agricultural productivity.

Key Points:

• Increased Deportations: Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have ramped up arrests, more than doubling the previous year's numbers.
• Agricultural Dependency: Farmers like Corey Hoffman in Minnesota highlight their reliance on Hispanic migrant workers, emphasizing the potential collapse of the farming industry without them.

Notable Quotes:

• Corey Hoffman [23:05]: "We milk 500 cows three times a day. We have eight Hispanics, and they've been here anywhere from three years to almost 13 years now. And as far as how it's gonna affect us... I've been extremely happy. My employees, I feel, are essentially like family members."
• Mercedes Fork [24:00]: "If employees were rounded up, the dairy industry would crumble."

6. From North Korea to K-Pop: A Defector's Journey

Yoo Hyuk, a North Korean defector, has made headlines by becoming the first member of a K-pop boy band to debut in the United States. His journey from a tumultuous childhood in North Korea to international stardom symbolizes resilience and the transformative power of music.

Key Points:

• Defection Story: Yoo Hyuk endured a challenging upbringing in North Korea before defecting to South Korea at age 13.
• K-Pop Success: Leveraging his passion for poetry and lyrics, Yoo Hyuk has successfully transitioned into the global K-pop scene despite initial fears of acceptance.

Notable Quotes:

• Yoo Hyuk [25:44]: "I'm half happy, half anxious now. Where else can I go and have this experience, the world is spinning, it's moving, it's busy, and I feel like I'm part of it."
• Yuna Koo [25:12]: "Yoo Hyuk didn't set out to become a K-pop idol from the start. What really gave him comfort was writing poetry and lyrics because he had been through so much from a young age."

7. Relic Diplomacy: Buddha's Tooth Returned to China

In a significant act of cultural diplomacy, Thailand has returned a relic believed to be a tooth of Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, to China. This gesture underscores China's strategic use of cultural artifacts to strengthen diplomatic ties within Southeast Asia.

Key Points:

• Cultural Significance: The relic, originally housed in Beijing's Lingguang Temple, was displayed in Bangkok to commemorate the Thai king's birthday and the 50th anniversary of Sino-Thai relations.
• Diplomatic Strategy: China leverages such cultural exchanges to reinforce its influence in the region, particularly amidst tensions like the South China Sea disputes.

Notable Quotes:

• Jason Lee [27:26]: "China sees Southeast Asia sort of as its periphery and has been increasing its influence over the region over the past few years in direct competition with the traditional influence of the United States."
• Katja Adler [28:37]: "This loaning of the Buddhists appears to be China using its cultural artifact as a way of trying to bring one of its most prominent regional partners, Thailand, closer to its sphere of influence."

8. Rediscovery of Camille Claudel's Lost Bronze

A lost bronze sculpture by the renowned French sculptor Camille Claudel, titled Mature Age, was sold at auction for over $3 million. The piece, which had been missing for over a century, was inadvertently discovered in a Parisian apartment that had been empty for 15 years.

Key Points:

• Artistic Significance: Mature Age is interpreted as both an allegory of aging and a reflection of Claudel's complex relationship with fellow sculptor Auguste Rodin.
• Cultural Impact: The rediscovery of this masterpiece has sparked renewed interest in Claudel's work, highlighting her legacy as a feminist icon whose genius was largely unrecognized during her lifetime.

Notable Quotes:

• Jason Lee [27:31]: "It's believed to be the tooth of Buddha, so it's considered very sacred among Buddhists. Just to disappoint you, there are many tooth of Buddha that's been claimed by multiple museums and temples."

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This detailed summary captures the essential discussions, insights, and conclusions from the February 16, 2025, episode of the BBC World Service's Global News Podcast. For the full experience, listeners are encouraged to tune into the podcast directly.

Transcript

[Oliver Conway]

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the uk.

[Josh Hartnett]

What does it take to go racing in the fastest cars in the world? Oscar Piastri.

[Oliver Conway]

Your head's trying to get roofed one way, your body's trying to go another.

[Josh Hartnett]

Let's roll.

[Oliver Conway]

It's very extreme in the sense of how close you're racing. Wheel to wheel.

[Josh Hartnett]

We've been given unprecedented access to two of the most famous names in Formula One, McLaren and Aston Martin.

[Oliver Conway]

I'm Landon Arts. They build a beautiful bit of machinery that I get to then go and have fun in.

[Josh Hartnett]

They open the doors for their factories as the 2024 season reached its peak. I'm this is Josh hartnett. This is F1 back at base. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

[Oliver Conway]

You're listening to the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service. Hello, I'm Oliver Conway. This edition is published in the early hours of Monday, 17th February. US officials are preparing for talks with Russia over Ukraine while the Europeans are set to hold a meeting of their own in Paris. The Israeli Prime Minister says he's working to make President Trump's plan for the future of Gaza a reality. And the Democratic Republic of Congo says Rwanda is ignoring calls for a ceasefire after M23 rebels seized the city of Bukavu. Also in the podcast, a year on from the death of Alexei Navalny in an Arctic prison. A defiant message from his widow.

[Yulia Navalnaya]

Even now, a year after his death, Putin is trying to erase Alexei's name from our memory to hide the truth about his murder. But he will not succeed.

[Oliver Conway]

And I tell the employees all the time, as long as you stay out of trouble, you're not going to have any trouble as long as they don't get drunk driving or stealing or anything like that. What do American farmers think about plans to deport undocumented migrants? The coming days could be crucial in shaping negotiations over the war in Ukraine. US officials are due in Saudi Arabia for talks with the Russians. Ukraine says it hasn't been invited. Nor have the Europeans, who hold an emergency summit of their own in Paris. The speed with which President Trump has upended the old consensus on European security was underlined by the US Special envoy on Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, when asked who would be involved in talks on ending the war. Can you assure this audience that Ukrainians.

[Katja Adler]

Will be at the table and Europeans.

[Oliver Conway]

Will be at the table? The answer to that last question, just as you framed it, the answer is no. The answer to the earlier part of that question is yes. Of course the Ukrainians are going to be at the TABLE the British Prime Minister Keir Starmer says the meeting in France on Monday is an opportunity to reset Europe's security arrangements. Here's our Europe editor, Katja Adler, stunned.

[Katja Adler]

And horrified at being sidelined by the us the leaders of France, the UK and the Defence alliance NATO are amongst those scrambling to this emergency summit in an attempt to force a place at the negotiating table for Europe. This isn't just about Ukraine. The parameters of the Russia U S talks and how emboldened President Putin may feel after them could end up reshaping Europe's security infrastructure to Moscow's advantage. Western neighbors of Russia, particularly the tiny former Soviet Baltic states, feel hugely exposed. Sir Ker Starmer noted that this was a once in a generation moment for our national security where we needed to engage in the reality of the world. Today, he and other leaders in Europe face their own domestic economic pressures, but the majority now feel forced to discuss concrete plans to shore up European security with or without the US defence umbrella this continent has relied on since the Second World War. The possibility of sending troops to Ukraine will also be discussed in Paris. What their mission statement would be, how big a for and under whose command are major questions that have to be answered.

[Oliver Conway]

Katya Adler the starest rendering of the new US approach to Europe came in a speech by the American Vice President J.D. vance to the Munich Security Conference. That event is now over, but the Europeans have been left reeling as we heard from our chief international correspondent Lee Doucet.

[Liz Doucet]

Luxury German cars pulling away from the entrance of the elegant Bayer Ischerhof Hotel here in Munich as this conference comes to a close. It's snowing and there's a chill in the air. And that's not just the freezing temperature. Everyone I've spoken to has described this year's conference as truly historic, the darkest moment in the history of what's known here as the transatlantic relationship. In the minds of European leaders and the Ukrainians attending this conference, it's now in tatters as President Trump's team pushes forward with an approach to resolving world crises, including ending the war in Ukraine. That leaves the Europeans and the Ukrainians out in the cold. So I've been asking delegates here, what is the mood in Munich?

[Oliver Conway]

I'm dizzy.

[Josh Hartnett]

I've heard so many different expressions of.

[Oliver Conway]

US plans for Ukraine. I've heard Americans say such directly critical things of Europeans. It doesn't feel like any Munich security conference I've ever been to.

[Liz Doucet]

It's a very gloomy mood in Munich.

[Tom Bateman]

Munich was head spinning for me.

[Josh Hartnett]

I think this was probably one of.

[Tom Bateman]

The biggest moments of inflection in Europe since February 2022.

[Liz Doucet]

So great is the concern here among European leaders that the European foreign policy chief, Kaya Khalas, has convened a meeting of the European ministers here to discuss ways forward. And they're just coming out of that meeting. And here's Estonia's Foreign Minister, Margus Sakana. You've got a smile on your face. But there's no denying there is deep concern among European leaders now.

[Margus Sakala]

Yeah, but things are more clear. It's better than nothing. And what is clear as well, that Europe must stand up. We need to decide what are the next steps to give Ukraine the opportunity to decide what will happen.

[Liz Doucet]

And this is about, of course, the idea is about ending the war in Ukraine and making sure any peace deal sticks and that Russia doesn't invade again. But what is at stake for Europe.

[Margus Sakala]

At stake for Europe is actually that Putin has not changed the main goal. And this is not about Ukraine territory, it's about destroying Ukraine and also pushing NATO back to the situation it was in 1997. So we need to understand what kind of resources we have and decide to use them.

[Liz Doucet]

This moment, not just at the Munich security Conference, is ending, but it seems a whole new chapter for Europe is beginning.

[Oliver Conway]

Our chief international correspondent, Liz Doucet. Well, of course, Ukraine is not the only conflict that President Trump has been voicing his opinions on recently. His suggestion that Palestinians should be moved out of Gaza led to fears the ceasefire there could collapse. The Israeli prime minister on Sunday again expressed his strong backing for the idea, which the Palestinians and Arab nations have firmly rejected. Benjamin Netanyahu was speaking after talks with the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio in Jerusalem. The president has been very bold about.

[Josh Hartnett]

His view of what the future for Gaza should be. Not the same tired ideas of the past, but it may have shocked and surprised many. But what cannot continue is the same.

[Oliver Conway]

Cycle where we repeat over and over again and wind up in the exact same place. My dear friend, Marco, it's great to welcome you in Jerusalem. I've said, and I'm going to repeat it again, President Trump is the greatest friend that Israel has ever had in the White House. I have no doubt that working together, America and Israel will overcome the challenges.

[Josh Hartnett]

And seize the opportunities.

[Oliver Conway]

Well, Mr. Netanyahu is sending negotiators to Egypt on Monday to discuss the, quote, continued implementation of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire, while his security cabinet will meet to consider the second phase. Tom Bateman is traveling with the US Secretary of State and had this assessment of the joint news conference in Jerusalem with the Israeli Prime Minister.

[Tom Bateman]

Well, I thought it was particularly striking that after what was a more than three hour long discussion between Mr. Netanyahu and Marco Rubio, that the language the Israeli prime Minister used absolutely echoed that of Donald Trump. He talked about the gates of hell opening if Hamas didn't release all of the hostages. Now, this has been a line almost word for word that Mr. Trump has used when he gave that very dramatic ultimatum earlier in the last week that if all the hostages weren't released and he gave a noon Saturday deadline, then there would be hell to pay or all hell would break loose. He said now, that obviously didn't happen. All the hostages weren't released. It was the process, the current ceasefire for hostage release process that was ultimately stuck to. Mr. Trump effectively took that as a negotiating win, that he believes he had got the process back on track after Hamas, in his view, threatened to derail it. But we're now seeing this very, very strong rhetoric from both the Israeli leader and the American, the American president. So the question then is raised, is this a change of tack from the Israelis and the Americans to try to effectively redraw the current phased cease foreign hostage release process, or is this simply rhetoric to sort of dial up the pressure on Hamas? And I think we have to wait to see what comes out of what you just mentioned Mr. Netanyahu saying that, you know, he's engaging in talks around the first phase of the process itself now and whether they will really stick to the desire to move forward to a second phase.

[Oliver Conway]

Yeah. And where are Arab nations in all this?

[Tom Bateman]

Well, what we have seen over the last week, particularly with a visit by King Abdullah of Jordan to Washington, is, I think, the Arab nation scrambling to try to come up with their own version of a plan for the future of Gaza. And that is because, as you say, Donald Trump has said that he wants the US to take possession of Gaza after its Palestinian population has been emptied from the Gaza Strip and not given no right to return. And I mean, a move that would clearly breach international law in the Fourth Geneva Convention. And I think the Arab nations are now who received significant amounts of money, Jordan and Egypt, in terms of financial and military aid from the Americans scrambling really to come up with their own version of a plan for the future of Gaza to present as an alternative to Mr. Trump's plan. And we have heard Marco Rubio say that, you know, his justification for Mr. Trump's plan is it puts the onus on Arab countries to come up with their version to effectively pay and to even provide security forces to establish a future for Gaza. But what all of this does is really create a vacuum of any strategic future for Gaza that is both viable and internationally accepted. And I think that is why, you know, the current ceasefire and hostage release process in terms of its end goal is in quite serious jeopardy now.

[Oliver Conway]

Tom Bateman in Jerusalem. Other news now, the Democratic Republic of Congo says Rwanda is ignoring calls for a ceasefire after M23 rebels who it backs seized a major city in eastern Congo. The Congolese communication minister said Rwanda was violating the DRC's Territorial Integrity and insisted the government was working to restore order in the city of Bukavu. Richard Kagoi reports from Nairobi. Tensions arising in eastern DRC as M23 rebels backed by Rwanda expand their hold on key cities. Authorities in Kinshasa say they are closely monitoring the security situation in south Kivo, nearly 1,000 miles away. On Sunday, Rwandan backed forces entered Bukavu without resistance, marking their farthest territorial gain since the insurgency began three years ago. Residents have been urged to stay indoors, fearing attacks by occupying forces. The conflict has drawn international condemnation. The Africa Union is warning against the potential breakup of the DRC, calling for the immediate withdrawal of M23 fighters. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres is urging dialogue, saying a regional war must be avoided. Rwanda continues to deny any military involvement. Richard Kigoi, Bukavu is the second city taken by the rebels on the Congolese Rwandan border in a matter of weeks. A resident in Bukavu told us when he first became aware of the M23's presence in the city.

[Margus Sakala]

We have been aware of the coming of the rebels early this morning because when the end the city, they have held their first meeting at the independence place down in Bukavu city. And this has really officially announced their presence in the town.

[Oliver Conway]

And would you say that they now control the whole of Bukavu or is there maybe still some resistance from government troops?

[Margus Sakala]

There is no resistance from the national army. There is no resistance because when they came to the city, the ground was somehow empty and they could really move around the city the way they could as much as they could.

[Oliver Conway]

Were people pleased to see them? I mean, we've heard cheering by some.

[Margus Sakala]

Residents, of course, the people, the civilians down in Bukavu, some of them are really happy with their presence because the time they came they have been warmly welcomed. Let me say that before their presence in the city there was some kind of vandalism because shops, stores here have been vandalized especially the way the food program shop.

[Oliver Conway]

So you say that there was looting before the rebels arrived, as people thought they were coming into the city. And is that still going on, the looting, the vandalism?

[Margus Sakala]

So far there is no longer looting, there is no longer vandalism, because when the rebels entered, they have tried to maintain the security. And for the moment, people are now relaxing and there is some kind of. Some kind of security down the city.

[Oliver Conway]

So how would you describe the mood now in Bukavu in case you happen.

[Margus Sakala]

To resist, to obey their laws? People are being killed down Gurmab. We don't know if the same case won't be produced down in Bukavu. So we are still waiting to see what will happen later.

[Oliver Conway]

As well as government troops, there were troops from Burundi helping to defend Bukavu. Have those Burundian troops gone away now?

[Margus Sakala]

All the troops from both countries, I mean the Burundian and the DRC troops, all of them have fled away. There is some kind of betrayal in the DRC army. That's why as a citizen, as a resident from Bukavu dusk to the DRC government, to reshuffle all the national army, because there are so many betrayals. All of us over here feel bound by the government betrayals.

[Oliver Conway]

Do you mean by that? Deserters, soldiers who ran away?

[Margus Sakala]

Really, it's a pity. It's a pity to see people run away. That's the case for our army. For the moment. There is no way to move out to shops because all the shops, all the stalls, all the markets, all the supermarkets are closed. Bandits are still on the streets. Though the rebels are in the city, some bandits are still hidden in the streets.

[Oliver Conway]

Who are these bandits you speak about?

[Margus Sakala]

They are gunmen. We don't know where they came from. We don't know. We don't know civilians who have picked up guns which have been left by the government soldiers. Others try to speak that these are people who benefited from the prison break, because before the rebels came to Bukavu, there was a prison break. And people are trying to say that probably these people who came from the prison break are the ones taking their guns to threaten the citizens.

[Oliver Conway]

A RESIDENCE of Bukavu Hundreds of people gathered in Moscow on Sunday at the grave of the Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, a year after his death in a prison in the Arctic. They marked the anniversary. Despite warnings from the Kremlin, the authorities would be watching. His widow Yulia Navalnya, sent this message from exile.

[Yulia Navalnaya]

I'm grateful to everyone who remembers Alexei, who talks about him, writes about him who comes to the cemetery. I'm grateful to those who've been supporting me this year. Your letters, your hugs. This is what stops me from forgetting why Alexei did this and why I'm doing this. Even now, a year after his death, Putin is trying to erase Alexei's name from our memory, to hide the truth about his murder. But he will not succeed.

[Oliver Conway]

Our Russia editor, Steve Rosenberg watched as people laid flowers at Alexei Navalny's grave in Moscow.

[Steve Rosenberg]

This was a day for remembering the Kremlin's fiercest critic. To the pealing of church bells, Russians filed through the gates of a cemetery on the edge of the city. They'd come to honor Alexei Navalny, who died exactly one year ago in a remote penal colony and in suspicious circumstances. People laid flowers on his grave. A simple act, but one not without risk. For in Russia today, those the authorities suspect of sympathy for the late opposition leader are in danger of creating problems for themselves with the police and the courts. Those in power here seem to believe that even after his death, Mr. Navalny and his ideas of a democratic Russia are still a danger to them. In and around the cemetery, there were lots of police and security officers and individuals who were clearly not journalists, but who were filming each face, every person visiting this grave. When they arrived, there was applause for Alexei Navalny's parents, lyudmila and Anatoly. Mr. Navalny's mother said she wanted those who had murdered her son to be punished. I am sure, she added, that someday the truth will prevail. The Russian authorities deny that Alexei Navalny was killed and that they had anything to do with his death. As for his memory, the crowds at the cemetery show that some Russians are trying to keep that alive.

[Oliver Conway]

Our Russia editor, Steve Rosenberg. And still to come on the global news podcast, the North Korean defector becoming a K pop star.

[Margus Sakala]

Where else can I go and have this experience? The world is spinning, it's moving, it's busy, and I feel like I'm part of it.

[Oliver Conway]

And a relic believed to be a tooth of Buddha has returned to China after being displayed in a temple in Thailand.

[Josh Hartnett]

What does it take to go racing in the fastest cars in the world? Oscar Piastri.

[Oliver Conway]

Your head's trying to get ripped one way, your body's trying to go another.

[Josh Hartnett]

Let's stroll.

[Oliver Conway]

It's very extreme in the sense of how close you're racing.

[Josh Hartnett]

Wheel to wheel, we've been given unprecedented access to two of the most famous names in Formula One, McLaren and Aston Martin.

[Oliver Conway]

I'm London Arts. They build a beautiful bit of machinery that I get to then go and have fun in.

[Josh Hartnett]

They open the doors to their factories as the 2024 season reached its peak. I'm Josh Hartnett. This is F1 back at base. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

[Oliver Conway]

Austria's Interior Minister Gerhard Karner has said a knife attack in the southern town of Vilach on Saturday appears to have been linked to the Islamic state group. A 14 year old boy was killed and three people are still being treated in hospital. The Suspect is a 23 year old Syrian asylum seeker. Our Vienna correspondent BETHANY BELL reports. Mr. Khana said the Syrian asylum seeker hadn't previously attracted the attention of the authorities. He said the man, who had a valid residence permit and no criminal record, appears to have been radicalized online in a short space of time. Investigators had found an Islamic State flag in his apartment. The Syrian was arrested soon after the stabbings. Police say a delivery worker, also from Syria, stopped the attacker by driving his vehicle at him. Residents of the town of Filagh have laid candles at the scene. The attack comes at a time of heated debates over asylum laws in Austria and a political crisis after a far right party won September's election but was unable to form a coalition. Bethany bell during last year's presidential campaign, Donald Trump promised he would make it harder for undocumented migrants to remain in the United States. By the end of last month, Immigration and Customs officers were arresting more than 700 migrants a day on average, more than double the figure from the last year of the Biden presidency. Planes have landed in India and Venezuela carrying hundreds of deportees. But what impact is all this having on American industries like farming? In some sectors, officials estimate that more than 40% of workers are undocumented migrants. This report from the Newsroom's Stephanie Prentice.

[Yulia Navalnaya]

One week in office, 10 executive orders. Donald Trump stuck to his pledge to make changes the minute he got into power. And immigration and removing undocumented migrants was in his crosshairs throughout his election campaign and has continued into current policy shifts. There's been a spike in arrests in states along the U. S. Mexico border, like California and Texas, and those with large Hispanic populations like Florida. But businesses throughout the US have expressed concern that a mass deportation of undocumented migrants could severely harm their industries, particularly the farming industry and especially dairy farming, often described as a 24 hour job. Corey Hoffman is a dairy farmer in the state of Minnesota. He employs Hispanic migrant workers to milk his cows and says he relies on them.

[Oliver Conway]

We milk 500 cows three times a day. We have eight Hispanics, and they've been here anywhere from three years to almost 13 years now. And as far as how it's gonna affect us, like I tell the employees all the time, as long as you stay out of trouble, you're not going to have any trouble. As long as they don't get drunk driving or stealing or anything like that, I've been extremely happy. My employees, I feel, are essentially like family members.

[Yulia Navalnaya]

President Trump's administration has suggested his focus is on criminal migrants, though many fear this scope will be broadened. And on the ground, rumors abound, including one that homosexual migrants will be rounded up. Mercedes Fork is president of Puentes Bridges Organization. It's a nonprofit which aims to bridge cultural and language gaps on farms in.

[Oliver Conway]

A couple of the communities right around us. There has been rumors about ICE going around in unmarked vehicles, hanging out of Walmarts. We have found that that is not happening, that they are targeting specific individuals. So what we're trying to do as an organization is let people know what all their rights are. And that official or individual cannot just arrest someone without having a specific order for their arrest.

[Yulia Navalnaya]

If employees were rounded up, she says, the dairy industry would crumble. Estimates of the number of migrant workers currently on farms start at just over a million, with others much higher. One dairy farmer in the state of Wisconsin has said that if immigrants were prevented from working in his sector, all Americans might have to become vegan.

[Oliver Conway]

Stephanie Prentice Korean pop music may have taken the world by storm, but it's banned in North Korea. Last year, a young man there was reportedly executed for watching and distributing South Korean music and film. But now a young defector called Yoo Hyuk has become the first North Korean member of a K pop boy band, which is due to make its debut in the US later this year. We heard more about him from Yuna koo of the BBC Korean service.

[Yuna Koo]

Yoo Hyuk is actually one of those 30,000 North Korean defectors right now living in South Korea. In this case, what makes him different is that he has been going through a very hard childhood. When he was back in North Korea, his parents divorced when he was 4, and then he lived with his father and grandmother, but both of them were unable to work. So from the age of nine, he had to make his own living.

[Margus Sakala]

I tried begging and I tried stealing. There was nothing left in the house. It was a crisis, like I was going to fall off a cliff. I could have died if I didn't do something. I'm half happy, half anxious now. Where else can I go and have this experience, the world is spinning, it's moving, it's busy, and I feel like I'm part of it.

[Yuna Koo]

His mom, after divorcing, she defected to South Korea earlier. And then she sent a Chinese broker to bring her son to South Korea as well. However, Yoo Hyuk wanted to leave with his grandmother and his father. So first time, he refused to go to South Korea. However, his mom sent broker for the second time, and this time, his father also persuaded Yoo Hyuk to follow the broker. That was when he was 13. Yu Hyuk didn't set out to become a K pop idol from the start. What really gave him comfort was writing poetry and lyrics because he had been through so much from a young age. Unlike many other people, he had this innate fear of sharing his experience and feelings to other people in South Korea because he thought nobody would accept and resonate with his experience.

[Oliver Conway]

Yunaku from the BBC Korean Service. China has for decades practiced panda diplomacy, lending pandas to zoos around the world. But what about relic diplomacy? Well, Thailand has just returned a tooth believed to be from Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha. Our Asia Pacific editor, Jason Lee, has been looking at the story, and he spoke to Rachel Wright.

[Jason Lee]

It's believed to be the tooth of Buddha, so it's considered very sacred among Buddhists. Just to disappoint you, there are many tooth of Buddha that's been claimed by multiple museums and temples. So this is just one of many. And it's originally housed in Lingguang Temple in Beijing in the Chinese capital. Now, the Chinese government loaned this to Thailand in December to commemorate the birthday of the Thai king. And it was also to mark the 50th anniversary of the official relationship between the two countries. Now, while on display in Bangkok in a temple in Bangkok, thousands of visitors came to see the artifact, pay their homage, because Thailand is a very deeply Buddhist country. So they want to get a glimpse of this artifact. And as you mentioned, it was flown back to China after a ceremony which was attended by officials and monks.

[Oliver Conway]

Is there any certainty that this actually.

[Yulia Navalnaya]

Is the tooth from the Buddha, or is it just belief?

[Jason Lee]

Well, it's. We don't have DNA, you know, result to really say if this is Buddha's tooth. I mean, this is what's believed by the Buddhists who followed follow the religion.

[Yulia Navalnaya]

And what benefit does China get from.

[Katja Adler]

This sort of diplomacy?

[Jason Lee]

So China sees Southeast Asia sort of as its periphery and has been increasing its influence over the region over the past few years in direct competition with the traditional influence. Superpower in the region, the United States, which has influence over it, although US is, you know, located in North America. And this has brought some positive impacts. You know, China is the largest trading partner of Southeast Asia. It's also the largest investor and infrastructure in the region. But this has also led to tensions, most notably in the South China Sea, where Beijing has lots of territorial and maritime disputes. But unlike some of his neighbors who has these disputes with China, Thailand has a relatively stable relations with China. So this loaning of the Buddhists appears to be China using its cultural artifact as a way of trying to bring one of its most prominent regional partners, Thailand, closer to its sphere of influence.

[Oliver Conway]

Jason Lee talking to Rachel Wright. A lost work by the French sculptress Camille Claudel has sold at auction for more than $3 million. After being rediscovered by chance, the bronze, titled the Mature Age, was found in a Paris apartment that had been empty for 15 years. James Reid reports. Camille Claudel destroyed much of her work before her family confined her to a Psychiatric Hospital in 1913. This bronze had been lost for more than a century. The expert who found it said he was overcome with emotion when he lifted a dust sheet and recognized a masterpiece. The Mature Age is widely interpreted as a representation of Claudel's doomed love affair with her fellow sculptor, Auguste Rodin. It's also an allegory of aging. There's been renewed interest in her work in recent decades, with books and films portraying her as a feminist icon whose genius was overlooked by contemporaries. James Reid and that's all from us for now, but the global News podcast will be back very soon. This edition was mixed by Ricardo McCarthy and produced by Stephanie Tillotson. Our editor's Karen Martin. I'm Oliver Conway. Until next time. Goodbye.

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