Gaza aid deaths: Why does this keep happening?

Summary

Global News Podcast Summary
Episode Title: Gaza aid deaths: Why does this keep happening?
Release Date: June 20, 2025
Host: Janak Jalil
Producer: Chantal Hartle and Guy Pitt
Editor: Karen Martin

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1. Gaza Aid Deaths Under Israeli Fire

Timestamp: [01:08 - 08:00]

The episode opens with a harrowing report on the escalating violence in Gaza, where Israeli military actions have resulted in the deaths of dozens of Palestinians seeking humanitarian aid. Over the past week, the Gaza Civil Defense Agency has documented more than 400 fatalities occurring as individuals attempt to access aid distribution points established by the US and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). The UN Children's Agency warns of an impending man-made drought due to the collapse of Gaza's water infrastructure amidst the ongoing conflict.

Amjad Al Shawa, Director of the Palestinian Network of Non-Governmental Organizations, emphasizes the daily toll:

“[…] Receiving tens of people who are killed, more than hundreds are injured, every day.” [03:46]

Despite these tragic losses, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have remained largely silent, refusing to comment on the incidents. Attempts by the BBC to secure interviews with the Israeli Embassy, the IDF, and the Israeli government were unsuccessful, highlighting the restricted access Israeli authorities maintain over Gaza.

Mohammed Salha, Director of Al Awda Hospital in northern Gaza, provides a firsthand account of the deteriorating situation:

“Actually now the hospital is totally under siege, so nobody can move out.” [09:25]

Salha details multiple attacks on Al Awda Hospital, including shelling that severely injured staff and patients, despite the IDF's claims that Hamas utilizes hospitals for military purposes. The hospital's eventual evacuation is marked by Salha's poignant statement:

“Everything is destroyed and damaged, which is… we hope it's finished soon to come back to our hospital.” [13:08]

This segment underscores the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where access to aid remains perilously obstructed, and civilians continue to bear the brunt of military aggression.

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2. Stalemate in Iran-Israel Conflict Negotiations

Timestamp: [13:17 - 15:51]

The podcast transitions to geopolitical tensions between Iran and Israel, focusing on the failed negotiations in Geneva aimed at de-escalating the ongoing conflict. European foreign ministers have attempted to mediate, urging Iran to return to nuclear program talks with the US. However, Iran's Foreign Minister insists that meaningful negotiations are contingent upon Israel ceasing its attacks:

“Iran's foreign minister said negotiations could only resume if Israel stopped its attacks on his country.” [13:17]

Lise Doucet, BBC's Chief International Correspondent, provides an assessment of the Geneva talks, highlighting the frustration and limited progress despite Iran's expressed readiness to engage:

“It felt a bit surreal. The attacks on Israel, on Iran, Iran and Israel are intensifying… and yet they come to Geneva and all they can agree is that they're going to discuss again without even giving a date.” [14:13]

The US President, Donald Trump, downplays the significance of these talks, dismissing them as inconsequential amidst the escalating military actions.

Amjad Al Shawa reflects on the European inability to influence Iran directly:

“Europe is not going to be able to help in this.” [14:07]

This section highlights the complex interplay between diplomatic efforts and military actions, illustrating the challenges in achieving a sustainable resolution to the Iran-Israel conflict.

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3. AI-Generated Weather Forecasts: Promise and Limitations

Timestamp: [21:15 - 24:49]

Shifting focus to technology, the podcast explores the burgeoning role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in weather forecasting. Traditional weather prediction models, reliant on expensive supercomputers and complex physics-based algorithms, are being supplemented—or in some cases, replaced—by AI-driven models capable of generating forecasts rapidly using historical data.

Chris Fawkes, BBC Weather Presenter, discusses the capabilities and shortcomings of AI models:

“If you look at the big scale stuff… these AI models can actually outperform [traditional models].” [22:00]

AI models demonstrate superior performance in predicting large-scale weather patterns, such as high and low-pressure systems. However, they falter in forecasting smaller-scale phenomena like localized showers due to their limited resolution and reliance on historical data, which may not account for the nuanced impacts of climate change:

“They can't see that kind of detail… they're not going to be that accurate.” [23:12]

The emergence of extreme weather events, exacerbated by climate change, poses additional challenges for AI models, which may not adequately predict unprecedented or rare occurrences, such as volcanic eruptions affecting global temperatures.

Chris Fawkes concludes that while AI holds significant potential in enhancing weather prediction accuracy, especially for large-scale events, it remains less effective for smaller, more immediate weather changes:

“There's a lot of excitement because they've not been around for very long… we're not there yet.” [23:44]

This segment underscores the evolving relationship between AI and meteorology, highlighting both the advancements and the inherent limitations that currently restrain AI's full integration into weather forecasting.

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4. China's Regulation of Blind Box Toys amid Addiction Concerns

Timestamp: [15:51 - 18:37]

The podcast delves into China’s recent call for stricter regulations on "blind box" toys, spotlighting the popular Labubu dolls. These collectible toys, which remain unidentified until purchased, have surged in popularity among children, raising alarms over potential addiction and consumer exploitation.

Janak Jalil explains the mechanics and appeal of blind box toys:

“There's an element of gambling to it. The idea is you won't really know what's inside until you buy it and open the packaging.” [16:18]

Labubu dolls, characterized by their plush teddy bear-like bodies and distinctive plastic faces, come in over 300 variations, prompting collectors to purchase multiple boxes in hopes of obtaining specific or desirable models. The phenomenon has not only captured the Chinese market—comprising over 60% of their sales—but also achieved international acclaim, leading to paused sales in several countries due to overwhelming demand.

In response to growing concerns, China has banned the sale of blind box toys to children under eight and is considering even more stringent restrictions. The parent company, Pop Mart, valued at approximately US$40 billion, has already experienced a decline in share prices following these regulatory announcements.

Amjad Al Shawa humorously echoes the fears surrounding these toys:

“A mindless eating machine. It will attack and devour anything.” [18:24]

This segment highlights the intersection of consumer culture, child psychology, and regulatory measures, illustrating the challenges governments face in balancing market trends with the welfare of young consumers.

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5. UK's Landmark Assisted Dying Legislation

Timestamp: [24:49 - 28:21]

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to the UK's historic decision to progress legislation allowing assisted dying for terminally ill individuals. After intense debates within the British Parliament, the Lower House passed a key vote, marking a pivotal moment in British social policy.

MP Diane Abbott vocalizes her opposition, emphasizing the vulnerability of terminally ill patients:

“I came to this House to be a voice for the voiceless. And who could be more voiceless than somebody who is in their sick bed.” [25:27]

In contrast, Kim Leadbeater, the bill’s proponent, advocates for the legislation as a means to provide dignity and autonomy to those facing the end of life:

“Giving dying people choice about how they die is about compassion, control, dignity and bodily autonomy.” [25:59]

The proposed law introduces strict safeguards, including a requirement for a diagnosis of six months to live and assessment by a panel of medical and legal experts, replacing the previous necessity for High Court approval. Rob Watson, BBC Affairs Correspondent, observes:

“Britain is now headed towards joining the sort of small but growing number of countries worldwide that do allow some form of assisted dying.” [27:08]

However, the legislation includes a four-year implementation period to allow the medical and legal systems to adapt to these profound changes.

Janak Jalil assesses the broader implications:

“It is a huge moment in sort of British social policy. And it's being compared to the way in which in the 1960s, abortion was legalized, homosexuality decriminalized and capital punishment ended.” [27:08]

This development positions the UK among a select group of nations grappling with the ethical, legal, and social dimensions of assisted dying, reflecting evolving societal attitudes toward end-of-life choices.

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6. U.S. Court Orders Release of Detained Pro-Palestinian Activist

Timestamp: [28:21 - 29:45]

The episode reports on a significant U.S. legal decision involving Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Palestinian student activist detained for over three months without formal charges. A federal judge has ordered his release on bail, citing that he is neither a flight risk nor a community danger.

Sebastian Usher outlines Khalil's background and the circumstances of his detention:

“… the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, used a rare immigration law, claiming his views were a threat to foreign policy.” [28:55]

Khalil, a Syrian-born Palestinian and legal resident holding American citizenship through his wife, was initially detained in Louisiana on March 8 for his outspoken activism during campus anti-war protests. His legal team argues that his detention infringes upon his freedom of speech rights.

The judge's decision allows Khalil to return to New York to reunite with his family, including his newborn son, while he continues to challenge his deportation in immigration court.

This case has become emblematic of the broader crackdown on foreign students during the Trump administration, raising concerns about civil liberties and the politicization of immigration laws.

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7. The Enduring Legacy of "Jaws" on Cinema

Timestamp: [28:43 - 34:29]

Concluding the episode, the podcast takes a nostalgic turn by reflecting on the 1975 film "Jaws" and its transformative impact on the film industry. Celebrating its fiftieth anniversary, "Jaws" is recognized not only as the first summer blockbuster but also for its lasting influence on cinematic marketing and audience engagement.

Richard Brody, film critic for The New Yorker, reminisces about the film's groundbreaking marketing strategies:

“There was an unprecedented television advertising campaign… the intensity of its scares… the tone of the film fundamentally resembles television.” [31:09]

"Jaws" pioneered the concept of the summer blockbuster, challenging the prior industry belief that summer was a weak season for movie releases due to outdoor activities competing with theater attendance. Its success paved the way for future franchises like "Star Wars" and reshaped Hollywood's focus towards youth-centric audiences and high-budget marketing campaigns.

However, the film's impact extended beyond box office triumphs. It inadvertently spurred a significant increase in trophy hunting of great white sharks, a development regretted by director Steven Spielberg:

“I really, truly regret that.” [30:55]

Amjad Al Shawa reflects on the environmental repercussions:

“A mindless eating machine… not to get eaten by a shark, but that sharks are somehow mad at me for the feeding frenzy of crazy sport fishermen.” [30:58]

Despite evolving media consumption habits, the enduring popularity of "Jaws" is attributed to the advent of home video and the resultant nostalgia, allowing new generations to experience the film repeatedly. This sustained interest underscores the film’s status as a cultural and cinematic milestone.

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Conclusion

In this episode, the Global News Podcast masterfully navigates a range of pressing global issues, from the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and geopolitical tensions between Iran and Israel, to advancements in AI-driven weather forecasting and societal shifts in the UK regarding assisted dying legislation. Additionally, the podcast touches upon cultural phenomena such as China's regulation of blind box toys and the enduring legacy of "Jaws" in cinema. Through in-depth reporting, expert interviews, and poignant firsthand accounts, the episode provides listeners with a comprehensive understanding of these multifaceted topics, underscored by the human stories and broader implications that shape our world today.

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Notable Quotes:

• Amjad Al Shawa:
  “So almost every day that we are receiving tens of people who are killed, more than hundreds are injured, every day.” [03:46]

• Mohammed Salha:
  “Actually now the hospital is totally under siege, so nobody can move out.” [09:25]

• Janak Jalil:
  “Why this happened after 105 days of starvation because of the Israel denied of entry of all humanitarian needs and people are in famine situation.” [04:07]

• Chris Fawkes:
  “There's a lot of excitement because they've not been around for very long, they're being developed very rapidly and the hope is that people will be able to use the traditional models and then kind of train these AI models to make better predictions for things like showers.” [23:44]

• MP Diane Abbott:
  “I came to this House to be a voice for the voiceless. And who could be more voiceless than somebody who is in their sick bed.” [25:27]

• MP Kim Leadbeater:
  “Giving dying people choice about how they die is about compassion, control, dignity and bodily autonomy.” [25:59]

• Rob Watson:
  “Britain is now headed towards joining the sort of small but growing number of countries worldwide that do allow some form of assisted dying.” [27:08]

• Richard Brody:
  “The tone of the film fundamentally resembles television… it felt very, very familiar to young viewers.” [31:09]

---

Contact and Feedback:
Listeners are encouraged to share their thoughts and feedback by emailing [e-mail]. The episode was mixed by Masoud Ibrahim Khale, with production by Chantal Hartle and Guy Pitt, and edited by Karen Martin.

---

This summary was generated based on the transcript provided and captures the key discussions, insights, and conclusions presented in the Global News Podcast episode titled "Gaza aid deaths: Why does this keep happening?" Listen to the full episode for a more comprehensive understanding.

Transcript

[Janak Jalil]

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[Sebastian Usher]

This is the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Janat Jalil and in the early hours of Saturday 21st June, these are our main stories. Dozens more people in Gaza are reported to have been killed by Israeli fire, many while seeking aid. We ask why this keeps happening. Talks between European nations and Iran on trying to end its conflict with Israel fail to make a breakthrough. Also in this podcast, tech giants are experimenting with AI generated weather forecasts. But are they any good? And China calls for stricter regulation of toys like the wildly popular Labubu doll. Israel's war on Iran has not surprisingly dominated the headlines since bombs and missiles started raining down more than a week ago, killing hundreds of people. But during that time, day after day, Gaza's Civil Defense Agency says that while the eyes of the world are elsewhere, Israeli troops have continued to kill dozens of Palestinians trying to collect food from the few aid distribution points set up in the Strip by a new secretive US and Israeli backed group. Here are three reports from the past week alone.

[Janak Jalil]

23 people are said to have died when Israeli tanks and drones opened fire on a crowd near an aid distribution center. Israel is yet to comment. In Gaza, more than 50 Palestinians are killed as they wait outside an aid distribution center. 21 of those are said to have died near an aid distribution site in.

[Sebastian Usher]

The center of the territory. Gaza's Hamas run health ministry says that in all, more than 400 people have died while simply trying to get aid since late last month when the US Israeli backed group, the Gaza Humanitarian foundation opened up these new distribution sites bypassing traditional aid agencies like the UN. This after an 11 week long Israeli blockade of a territory that has mostly been reduced to rubble. And as the UN Children's Agency is warning that Gaza is on the brink of a man made drought as its water system is collapsing because of the war. Amjad Al Shawa is based in Gaza City and is the director of the Palestinian Network of Non Governmental Organizations, an umbrella group that represents more than 130 Palestinian NGOs.

[Amjad Al Shawa]

So almost every day that we are.

[Sebastian Usher]

Receiving tens of people who are killed, more than hundreds are injured, every day.

[Janak Jalil]

We have these crimes committed against these people who are trying to get some aid to be back to their starved children.

[Sebastian Usher]

And instead of getting back with some aid, they are getting back as bodies.

[Janak Jalil]

Why this happened after 105 days of starvation because of the Israel denied of.

[Sebastian Usher]

Entry of all humanitarian needs and people are in famine situation.

[Janak Jalil]

They witness their children acute malnutrition and.

[Sebastian Usher]

They have to do something and the.

[Janak Jalil]

Only way to get it just to.

[Sebastian Usher]

Go by thousands from the early morning to stand in rows between the fences and then they'll be shot and killed and injured away from any medical bones.

[Janak Jalil]

So they are bleeding to death.

[Sebastian Usher]

I'm Jat Alshawa. The BBC requested an interview on this issue with the Israeli Embassy here in London, the Israeli Defense Forces and the Israeli government without success. Israel doesn't allow foreign journalists into Gaza, so Sebastian Usher is monitoring events there from Jerusalem. He told me about the violence in Gaza on Friday when more than 40 people were killed, around half of them while trying to get aid.

[Janak Jalil]

The Israeli army actually acknowledged pretty much for the first time that I've seen. Normally they say that they fire warning shots at people who are coming towards him in what they deem a threatening way. This time they've actually said that they did open fire on people. Again, these people, as far as the Israelis are concerned, the Israeli troops concerned, posing a threat. But that is more of an acknowledgement than we have been hearing.

[Sebastian Usher]

Yes, but it keeps happening day after day and a lot of people outside Gaza just can't understand why when people are simply trying to get aid, so many of them are being killed in Israeli fire.

[Janak Jalil]

It is unbelievable. I mean there's no way around seems to be a combination of of several very bad elements which lead to this outcome. One is, as I was saying, the wave at aid is now limited to a very small amount of distribution sites. The organization such as it is between particularly the Gaza Humanitarian foundation and the Israeli military, it just doesn't seem to be connected in any way. I mean I've covered this quite a lot and I've received emails late at night from the ghf essentially saying, you know, that our reporting, my reporting is inaccurate because it's suggesting that there is a correlation between their sites and what is happening. And every time that this happens, they essentially say that they have managed to distribute a relatively large amount of food. That's debatable as well, but without incident. And it just, as you say, it just seems utterly extraordinary. How can you say it's about incident when you are having these killings every day? But as far as GHF is concerned, it's happening outside the perimeter of what they're doing. Now, what they're doing in itself doesn't seem to have any organization. They're essentially put out the food that they have on pallets and just allow Palestinians as they finally get in to take it any way they can. No organization. And I think that's leading to the situation as well. The Israeli military has declared these zones as active combat zones between the hours of six in the evening and six in the morning. Now these aid distribution sites, when they do open, usually open just after that. But how do people get to them except in those hours of darkness? And what seems to be happening is that thousands of people, and we've seen the images, they are extraordinary. Thousands of people in the darkness are trying to get themselves in a position where they can get one, one pallet of food which will feed them maybe for a day or two.

[Sebastian Usher]

Sebastian Usher There are also grave concerns about Gaza's health system with the UN warning that evacuation orders, overcrowded hospitals, blocked aid have pushed critical care to the edge. Last month, Al Awda Hospital was described by the World Health Organization as the last functioning hospital in north Gaza. A week later, amid Israel's escalating offensive, it was declared out of service. The Israeli Defense Forces accuse Hamas and other armed groups of operating in and around the facilities. The BBC has had access to the account of the last days of this hospital told by one member of its medical staff to our reporter Alice Cuddy last night.

[Janak Jalil]

It's very difficult night.

[Mohammed Salha]

Mohammed Salha is the director of the NGO run Al Awda Hospital in northern Gaza, one of several hospitals across the territory to have ceased or reduced operations since Israel expanded its offensive last month. The BBC has corroborated key details of Salha's testimony with those from other witnesses as well as verifying video and photo evidence. We've also sent multiple inquiries to the Israeli military.

[Janak Jalil]

Actually this night, Israeli forces bombing surrounding the hospital and the house is close to the hospital.

[Mohammed Salha]

In a video shared on 18 May, on social media and verified by the BBC, an explosion close to the hospital fills the courtyard with smoke and sends people scrambling into Alawada. The IDF says it was fighting terrorist infrastructure sites in the area. They claim Hamas has a strategy of using hospitals for terror related activities, including holding hostages, storing explosives and sheltering senior operatives. On 21 May, another disturbing message from Salha.

[Janak Jalil]

Yes, good morning. Actually now the hospital is totally under siege, so nobody can move out.

[Mohammed Salha]

Then the voice note cuts out. The conversation continues over message. Salha's texts have been voiced by a BBC producer. Are you okay? I asked.

[Amjad Al Shawa]

I'm okay, but the situation is very difficult.

[Mohammed Salha]

On 22 May, Salha says by message that the situation has escalated further.

[Amjad Al Shawa]

Now the tank seize the hospital.

[Sebastian Usher]

Shooting a lot.

[Mohammed Salha]

The messages again stop for several hours until two voice notes arrive with shooting in the background.

[Janak Jalil]

Now they are shooting. The tank is sieged the hospital. It's loud voice of shooting.

[Mohammed Salha]

We later send the audio to multiple X experts who say you can hear small arms fire. Several suggest it is indicative of mounted guns on Israeli tanks. They say it is not possible to determine definitively whether it indicates a gun battle or only one side firing. Analysts at an open source defence and security intelligence company say the pitch and echo of the fire indicates that it is happening in close terrain. On 24 May, we receive a reply to an unanswered message from the day before yesterday. He says Israeli forces hit the hospital again yesterday and that staff were injured, some with shrapnel in the chest, hand and leg. Relief International also later refers to reports of staff being injured after the emergency room was hit. In response to questions about this incident, the IDF tells the BBC it is not aware of a strike on this date. But a few days later, a statement from the World Health Organization talks about an attack on this date, 23rd May. On the 29th, another voice note from Salha arrives.

[Amjad Al Shawa]

Last three days is very difficult days.

[Janak Jalil]

We are really facing a lot of bombing.

[Mohammed Salha]

And he then says he had refused to leave, but claims that the Israeli military threatened to enter the hospital and kill everyone inside if they did not evacuate. The IDF denies this. Videos verified by the BBC show patients and staff being moved to Gaza City. In one, staff, including Salha, can be seen walking along a rubble stream road. At sunset. The full evacuation of Al Awda begins. The BBC asked the IDF what was happening more than 40 hours later. It said it had enabled the evacuation of medical staff and patients following the identification of terrorist activity and Terrorists who had planted explosives in the area of Al Awda. In Salha's last voice, note a tone of defeat.

[Janak Jalil]

Everything is destroyed and damaged, which is.

[Mohammed Salha]

Doing, but also a glimmer of hope.

[Janak Jalil]

And we hope it's finished soon to come back to our hospital.

[Sebastian Usher]

Mohammed Salha, the director of the Al Awda hospital, ending that report by Alice Cuddy. Even as Iran and Israel continue to carry out airstrikes on each other, European foreign ministers have urged Tehran to resume negotiations with the US on its nuclear program. But at the talks in Geneva, the first face to face meeting between Western governments and Iran since the current conflict began, Iran's foreign minister said negotiations could only resume if Israel stopped its attacks on his country. The US President Donald Trump, speaking to reporters at an airfield, dismissed the importance of the Geneva talks.

[Janak Jalil]

We're ready, willing and able and we've.

[Amjad Al Shawa]

Been speaking to Iran and we'll see what happens.

[Janak Jalil]

We'll see what happens. Just a time to see whether or.

[Amjad Al Shawa]

Not people come to their senses.

[Janak Jalil]

Didn't Europeans help at all?

[Amjad Al Shawa]

No, that didn't help? No.

[Janak Jalil]

Iran doesn't want to speak to Europe. They want to speak to us.

[Amjad Al Shawa]

Europe is not going to be able to help in this.

[Sebastian Usher]

Our chief international correspondent, Lise Doucet gave us her assessment of the talks in Geneva.

[Amjad Al Shawa]

Well, I think if you listen carefully to the EU foreign ministers here, the Europeans, they're essentially agreeing with President Trump because while they came out of their talks expressing they were satisfied by Iran's readiness to keep talking, and they said that Iran was willing to put issues on the table which it hadn't wanted to before. But they all emphasized that Iran had to resume its negotiations with the United States. In particular, a very tough message from the British Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, who flew directly from Washington, where he met Marco Rubio, the Secretary of state, and Steve Witkoff, the envoy. He brought their message to Geneva and said basically the military threat is real, there is a pathway for negotiations, but it's going to close, so you have to return to the table. But Abbas Sarakchi, while he's ready to talk, he says, at least contrary to what President Trump says, he's ready to talk to the Europeans, but not to the United States. But we do hear. I myself spoke to the deputy foreign minister of Europe on site Khatibzelade this week and he talked about the back channels that they were getting messages from the Americans. And I met someone here in Geneva who said that there are back channels that the Iranians and the Americans are exchanging messages. But it felt a bit surreal. The attacks on Israel, on Iran, Iran and Israel are intensifying, the range of targets are intensifying and yet they come to Geneva and all they can agree is that they're going to discuss again without even giving a date.

[Sebastian Usher]

Lise Doucet State media in China has called for stricter regulation on companies that make what are known as blind box toys over fears that young people are becoming addicted to them. These types of toys, where the exact model, color or style isn't known until the box is bought and opened, have become hugely popular among children, especially in China. Harry Bly reports.

[Janak Jalil]

Blind box toys rely on the element of surprise and collectability to appeal to their target market. There's an element of gambling to it. The idea is you won't really know what's inside until you buy it and open the packaging. So there's no guarantee should you be after a specific colour or character. These kinds of products are not a new phenomenon. Over the years, collectible cards or blind card packs have also been popular where one might have to purchase several packs to get the specific playing card they most desire. But the latest craze this is the commercial for Labubu dolls. Fluffy plush teddy bear like bodies with a large plastic face with a signature look, pointy ears and a mischievous grin with nine sharp teeth. They range in price from 18 to $50 and have been around since 2019. There are 300 different variations and since you don't know what's inside the box, collectors often buy multiple and even then there's a chance of getting a duplicate. And these dolls aren't just popular in China. Labubu dolls have become an international fad with sales being paused in several countries due to overwhel. It's thought more than 60% of sales of Lobous though are from mainland China. The parent company Pop Mart is now valued at US$40 billion. But since this report in People's Daily calling for stricter regulation to avoid what it called youth addiction, shares in the company have fallen. Already. China has banned the sale of blind item toys to children under eight. Now the restrictions could get even tighter.

[Sebastian Usher]

Harry Bly still to come.

[Amjad Al Shawa]

It lives.

[Janak Jalil]

To kill.

[Amjad Al Shawa]

A mindless eating machine. It will attack and devour anything.

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[Sebastian Usher]

That's knix.com code freeflex15 for 15% off nyx.com Here in Britain, we joke that the weather is a national obsession, so getting an accurate forecast is a big deal. Until recently, our traditional traditional physics based weather prediction models have been made using supercomputers that cost billions of dollars. But in the past few years, there's been a big push towards using artificial intelligence for weather forecasting. AI can produce forecasts on a laptop in less than a minute by using decades of previous weather data. But how accurate are these forecasts? A question for BBC Weather Presenter Chris Fawkes.

[Janak Jalil]

If you look at the big scale stuff, so big areas of high pressure, big areas of low pressure that stretch for thousands of miles, these AI models can actually outperform. So they're better in some cases than the traditional physics based models. But these AI models also have their drawbacks. There are some things they simply can't do very well and it tends to be the smaller scale stuff. So things like showers, it wouldn't be very good at forecasting those. And the reason for that is the data that it's been fed on comes from the traditional global scale models. And these have a resolution of 28 square kilometers. Often showers are much smaller than that. So these AI models simply can't see that kind of detail. And one thing that you might have heard about just in the last 24 hours, we've had Hurricane Eric that hit the Pacific coastline in Mexico. AI models seem to be quite good about predicting the landfall, but the hopeless at predicting the wind strength. Now, one of the very best AI models was suggesting just 24 hours before this made landfall, that the winds would be around about 30 kilometres an hour. In reality, the winds gusting with Eric were actually closer to 220 kilometres an hour.

[Sebastian Usher]

Wow, that's a really big difference.

[Janak Jalil]

Yeah, you talk about the difference from a breezy day to a day that would rip the roof off your house. So it's a really big, important difference. So there are some things that these AI models are good at, some things that they're hopeless at, but I think there's just a lot of excitement because they've not been around for very long, they're being developed very rapidly and the hope is that people will be able to use the traditional models and then kind of train these AI models to make better predictions for things like showers. It might be possible in the future, but we're not there yet.

[Sebastian Usher]

And the fact that these AI models are relying on decades of data means that they're not going to be that accurate. As climate change continues to change the weather patterns of our planet, climate change.

[Janak Jalil]

Might well affect some of the weather patterns that we see around the world. In future years, we would expect that things like heat waves become more common, the heat becomes more extreme. Well, that's all based on physics that go into the traditional models. AI models don't know that. So the question is, is the past climate that we have had going to be representative of the future climate and also things that are rare? So when Mount Pinatubu erupted in the Philippines back in the 1990s, that was one of the biggest volcanic eruptions we've had over recent decades. It cooled the planet for about two years by half a degree Celsius. But again, those really rare events in these AI models, they've been trained on that data, they simply won't have come across that kind of thing very often. And so it's more likely than not they wouldn't have a clue about the impacts that a big volcanic eruption would have on the atmosphere.

[Sebastian Usher]

BBC weather presenter Chris Faulks. And it doesn't look like AI is going to take his job anytime soon. Now, after a highly emotional debate here in the uk, a law to allow assisted dying for terminally ill people in England and Wales has passed a key vote in the lower house of the British Parliament. One of the MPs, Diane Abbott, explained why she was against it. I came to this House to be a voice for the voiceless. And who could be more voiceless than somebody who is in their sick bed.

[Janak Jalil]

And believes they are dying?

[Sebastian Usher]

I asked members to speak up for.

[Mohammed Salha]

The voiceless one more time.

[Amjad Al Shawa]

Time.

[Sebastian Usher]

But the MP who put forward the bill, Kim Leadbeater, said there would be safeguards and it would help seriously ill people to die with more dignity at a time of their choosing.

[Janak Jalil]

Giving dying people choice about how they die is about compassion, control, dignity and bodily autonomy. Surely we should all have the right. I'm going to finish shortly.

[Sebastian Usher]

Surely we should all have the right.

[Janak Jalil]

The right to decide what happens to our bodies and decide when enough is enough.

[Sebastian Usher]

The bill now goes to the upper chamber, the House of Lords, for further scrutiny before it becomes law. It's already undergone a number of changes since it was first put forward. Perhaps most notably, High Court judges are no longer required to approve assisted deaths. The bill foresees that task being done by a panel of medical and legal experts. Instead, our UK affairs correspondent, Rob Watson watched the historic vote.

[Janak Jalil]

An argument could be made that this was parliamentary democracy at its best, discussing issues of life and death. And in the end, it was a close vote after all that passion. But in the end, Britain is now headed towards joining the sort of small but growing number of countries worldwide that do allow some form of assisted dying. And of course, just here in the uk, as well as being part of that wider international picture. It is, of course, a huge moment in sort of British social policy. And it's being compared to the way in which in the 1960s, abortion was legalized, homosexuality decriminalized and capital punishment ended, of course, before that.

[Sebastian Usher]

But it's not definitely going to become law. And even if it is, it would take some time.

[Janak Jalil]

I think it's more likely than not. Jeanette, this, this was a huge hurdle that was passed in the House of Commons. Yes, it's going to go through more stages. It's going to the upper chamber, the House of Lords. But, but I think whatever reservations they have now that MPs have given it their approval, it is going to become law. I think that's more likely than not. But absolutely, you raised this point. It's not going to be around the corner. And that's because the legislation itself builds in a four year gap. So it says that if this law is passed, it'll give the, the legal profession, the medical profession in the uk, the state, if you like, more generally, it'll give you, it'll give the state four years to prepare for what is after all a truly radical change in UK social policy.

[Sebastian Usher]

How does what's happening in Britain compare to what other countries are doing on this very sensitive issue?

[Janak Jalil]

So Britain will be at absolutely the most restrictive of the international spectrum because there'll be strict limits. You have to be a diagnosis of six months to live. And there's going to be those, going to be strong safeguards in terms of a panel assessing whether you really have, whether you're doing this freely or whether you've been coerced. So very restrictive, lots of safeguards.

[Sebastian Usher]

Rob Watson, A federal judge in the US has ordered that the pro Palestinian student activist Mahmoud Khalil be released on bail after more than three months in detention. He became one of the most high profile symbols of Donald Trump's crackdown on foreign students. He was arrested in New York on March 8. Nomia Iqbal has more details.

[Janak Jalil]

Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University graduate.

[Sebastian Usher]

Was a prominent voice during the anti war protests on campuses. The Syrian born Palestinian has an American.

[Janak Jalil]

Wife and is a legal resident, but.

[Sebastian Usher]

Was detained in Louisiana for more than three months. He wasn't charged with any crime. Instead, the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, used a rare immigration law, claiming his views were a threat to foreign policy. Mr. Kalil's lawyer said it violated his freedom of speech rights. He has a separate case in the immigration court challenging his deportation. But A judge said Mr. Khalil was not a flight risk nor a danger to the community.

[Janak Jalil]

And so it was highly unusual the.

[Sebastian Usher]

Government wanted to keep him detained. Mahmoud Khalil will now fly back to New York to be reunited with his wife and son who was born while he was in detention. Namia Iqbal. It first hit the cinemas half a century ago and made a generation of moviegoers think twice about swimming in the ocean.

[Janak Jalil]

It lives to kill.

[Amjad Al Shawa]

A mindless eating machine. It will attack and devour anything. It is as if God.

[Sebastian Usher]

Jaws, the story of a hungry great white shark attacking people in a seaside town, became a classic, and not just for the menacing soundtrack. It was the first summer blockbuster and brought in $260 million at the box office. And it continues to make money. The Jaws franchise has earned Universal around $800 million across four films. But the movie was influential in another way. It led to a big increase in trophy hunting of great white sharks, much to the regret of director Steven Spielberg.

[Amjad Al Shawa]

That's one of the things I still fear not to get eaten by a shark, but that sharks are somehow mad at me for the feeding frenzy of crazy sport fishermen. That happened after 1975, which I truly.

[Janak Jalil]

And to this day regret the decimation of the shark population because of the book and the film.

[Amjad Al Shawa]

I really, truly regret that.

[Sebastian Usher]

Richard Brody is a film critic at the New Yorker magazine. He watched Jaws when it came out in 1975. As a teenager, he told Celia Hatton what made this film stand out.

[Amjad Al Shawa]

One of the things that was different about it was the intensity of its marketing campaign. There was an unprecedented television advertising campaign. They spent an enormous amount of money to. To get viewers ready for Jaws. It also was released in many, many theaters. It was unusual for movies to be released in 400 theaters, as Jaws was. But the movie itself had something that really made it distinctive. And it isn't just the fact of the intensity of its scares. It was something about the tone of the film that's really distinctive to. In fact, that, I think, is the essence of Steven Spielberg's art. Even though he's a really sophisticated filmmaker with a remarkable panoply of techniques, the tone of the film fundamentally resembles television. In other words, it felt very, very familiar to young viewers in a way that movies by older filmmakers, not even especially very much older filmmakers, felt a little bit more remote.

[Sebastian Usher]

You mentioned that there was a huge marketing effort to accompany Jaws.

[Janak Jalil]

Can you talk about that?

[Sebastian Usher]

I mean, was Jaws the first summer blockbuster?

[Amjad Al Shawa]

Jaws was the first summer blockbuster. First of all, the campaign started long before the film was made because Peter Benchley's novel hadn't been published yet when the movie was planned. And so the studio worked with the publisher essentially to turn the book into a bestseller ahead of time. What makes it a blockbuster is the large expense, the large effort on marketing. Prior to Jaws, the summer was not actually an especially great time. According to the studios to release movies. They felt that people tended not to go to the movies during the summer, that they tended to take part in outdoor activities rather than sit in movie theaters. And Jaws stood that equation on his head.

[Sebastian Usher]

And did Jaws set the template that was copied over and over. Are our studios still as dependent on summer blockbusters as they were back then?

[Amjad Al Shawa]

Studios are probably more dependent on summer blockbusters now than they were then because the movie business was far more robust in general. Essentially, Jaws. Although there's nothing of teen culture about it, Jaws set the template for a Hollywood that was teen centric. So it started with Jaws and then it moved ahead to Star Wars a couple of years later. And Starting in the 1980s, Hollywood essentially rejuvenated itself, not exactly artistically, but in terms of the audience to which it was on which it was focusing, the kinds of movies that it made that tended to be the kinds that young people were going to go see.

[Sebastian Usher]

Would you say that Jaws has withstood the test of time?

[Amjad Al Shawa]

To be perfectly honest, I did watch Jaws again not that long ago and found it to be not especially different now from how it struck me then. Namely successful in a sensationalistic way and not especially satisfying. But what changed in between the release of Jaws and now is home video. In 1975, if you wanted to see a movie again, you had to go back to the theater. And once it left the theater, you pretty much could count on not seeing it again for a very long time until maybe it was shown on television a couple of years later. Once VHS came in in the late 70s, early 80s, the idea of re watching movies became as ordinary as listening over and over again to your records. And the result of this is that instantly movies people loved when they were, you know, teenagers became objects of nostalgia in the same way that their record collection did. And that, more than the artistic specifics of Jaws itself, is part of why it has lived on.

[Sebastian Usher]

Film critic Richard Brody. And that's all from us for now. But there will be a new edition of the global news podcast later. If you want to comment on this podcast, you can send us an email. The address is Global [e-mail]. this edition was mixed by Masoud Ibrahim Khale, and the producers were Chantal Hartle and Guy Pitt. The editor is Karen Martin. I'm Janak Jalil. Until next time. Goodbye.

[Janak Jalil]

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