
The new chancellor, Friedrich Merz, said Berlin will help Kyiv defend itself
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Nick Miles
This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the uk. Trip Planner by Expedia. You were made to have strong opinions about sand. We were made to help you and your friends find a place on the beach with a pool and a marina and a waterfall and a soaking tub. Expedia Made to Travel Packages by Expedia. You were made to be rechargeable. We were made to package flights, hotels and hammocks for less. Expedia Made to Travel this is the Global News podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Nick Miles and at 14 hours GMT on Wednesday 28th May, these are our main stories. Germany stands behind Ukraine promising more help and long range missiles amid warnings that Russia is amassing a new force on Ukraine's borders. A French doctor has been given 20 years in jail in France's largest child sex abuse case. Climate experts say new data shows the earth is warming at record levels and is profoundly ill. Even with the current warming that we've seen, we're getting more frequent and intense heat waves, more extreme rainfall events, more devastating droughts. We will see all of those being exacerbated. And Israeli backed aid operations in Gaza have largely been suspended after chaotic attempts to distribute food. Also in this podcast Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it is a flying car over the English countryside and we have to change how we perceive food. When you're dealing with an addictive substance, that addictive substance, we have to come to perceive that addictive substance is that my friend the doctor warning people that Ozempic isn't a magic fix. The German Chancellor, Friedrich Metz, has announced a new military cooperation with Ukraine in which Germany will finance and build long range missiles with Ukraine to help Kyiv in the conflict with Russia. He was speaking alongside President Zelensky in Berlin. Earlier, the Ukrainian president said Russia is gathering 50,000 troops across the border from the Ukrainian city of Sumy for a summer offensive. Mr. Zelenskyy had been hoping that Germany would give the go ahead for Kyiv to use powerful long range Taurus missiles from Germany, which some analysts say could be a game changer for Ukraine's army. Speaking to journalists after the talks, the German chancellor said Germany was prepared to increase the pressure on Russia. He condemned the recent attacks on the Ukrainian capital. The massive airstrikes specifically that reached Kyiv over the weekend do not speak a language of peace. They speak a language of an aggression and of a war of aggression. It is a slap in the face against anyone who is working towards peace in Ukraine itself or in Europe or in the United States President Zelensky appealed for more support to help Ukraine defend itself. Just to save lives in our peaceful cities. We need a lot of support and we need a lot of air defense system. They are crucial, very, very important. And that's why we are talking to Germany about air defence supply. Germany is supporting us all the time. They're given armor for air defense. And I wanted to thank them for the, I want to underline this is the kind of support is saving us from Russian terror. In the last week, Russia has launched some of its most intense strikes on Ukraine since it began its full scale invasion three years. Speaking at the Moscow Security Conference, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia will announce the next round of direct talks between Russia and Ukraine in the near future. He outlined Russia's demands in any future negotiations, accusing Ukraine of targeting Russian civilians. But let's get a fuller assessment now of those talks between Mr. Zelenskyy and Mr. Merz in Berlin. Here's our correspondent Damian McGuinness. I think the one word that Friedrich Merz, Germany's new Chancellor, wanted to avoid was the word Taurus and that is the long rang cruise missile you mentioned which can strike deep into Russia 500 kilometer range. And that is something that President Zelensky really wants. Ukraine says that would help them eliminate military targets and prevent attacks happening in the first place. But it's such a controversial issue here in Berlin or in Germany in general in fact. And that's because there are some people here, many voters and also many politicians, particularly on the left and in, in the center left Social Democrat government party in the government who say this would spark a retaliation from Russia on German cities because it's such a powerful weapon. And I think what we've seen today is that Friedrich Merz, who has long backed sending Taurus to Ukraine, particularly when he was an opposition leader before he became Chancellor, he seems to have found a solution. What he's announced today is a new military cooperation whereby Germany would finance and build together with Ukraine long range military missiles. And these would presumably be something similar to Taurus, possibly using even Taurus technology. And if that happens, that would kind of get Germany out of this difficulty of delivering this weapon, but also not giving Ukraine what it needs. Of course the big question is this would take a long time to get running. But I think it is a solution in terms of the political debate here because it means on the one hand Germany is upping along with other measures, it is upping military support for Ukraine, while at the same typing Same time keeping German voters on side, because I think that's really the issue, how to keep mainstream opinion still to back Ukraine, which is still very much the case here overall in Germany. And it's also been tricky for Mr. Merz politically in terms of the government coalition, hasn't it? Yeah, that's right. So he is the leader of the Conservative Party, which overwhelmingly backs sending more weapons to Ukraine. And generally his governing coalition partner, the center left spd, they also back supporting Ukraine. But within their group they do have many people who are nervous of this escalation because they have a tradition of diplomacy rather than war. So I think it's about juggling this nuance between keeping the government together while at the same time upping support for Ukraine. And that's something that Friedrich Meltz is very, very keen to do. Damien McGuinness speaking to Will Vernon. Since Russia's full scale invasion of Ukraine back in 2022, Germany has boosted its army and defence spending by billions of dollars. Our Berlin correspondent, Jess Parker followed its Chancellor on a recent trip to Lithuania to see Germany's new defence strategy in action. A German military band marches through the streets of Vilnius, Lithuania's capital, to mark the establishment of a German brigade in this Baltic state, Germany's first permanent foreign troop deployment since World War II. A response to Russian aggression, a sign of a changing Germany. Right here in Lithuania, we are taking the defence of NATO's eastern flank into our own hands. As the rain clouds gathered, the new German Chancellor, Friedrich Mertz, addressed the crowd. Freedom is not for free. The Baltic states understood this long ago, at a time when some in Germany still had illusions about Putin's regime. But I assure you that time is over. Lithuania borders Belarus, Moscow's ally, and the Russian exclave. Kaliningrad. Sandra and Julius, here to watch the event with their children, say the German troops are a reassuring sight. We know our neighbors from the history. We got to fight with them a lot. So it's so much safer to be in the part of something larger, in a bigger group. We're celebrating. Delegations from these units are participating in today's ceremony. Alongside this, Chancellor Mertz has plans to boost defence spending on a military that's been seen as chronically underfunded. And he's striking a far more forthright tone on support for Ukraine than his predecessor. But when you speak to people in Germany, you'll still find divided opinions. We should keep our money together, I think, and not spend so much on Ukraine anymore. It's not our business as Germans. I think our army needs to be strengthened. We need to do it carefully because of our history, but our army needs to be strong. A fly passed over Vilnius. Friedrich Mertz is putting on a big show as he sets out to make Germany a more assertive power. The extent of his success or failure will impact all of Europe. Jessica Parker with that report. A French surgeon has been sentenced to 20 years in jail in the country's biggest ever paedophile trial. Joel Du Scarnac had already pleaded guilty to sexually abusing nearly 300 boys and girls who, who were under his care. Most of the children were under sedation in hospital at the time and had no idea of the attacks until informed by police. Hugh Scofield told us more from the courthouse in Vannes in Brittany. The description of Jules Lesquarnik was that he was standing up, dressed in a black suit and looking impassively at the judge when the sentence was read out. It is, of course, absolutely no surprise that he was found guilty. And the verdict and the sentence is not a great surprise either, given the, you know, the appalling nature and longevity of his, of his crimes going back so many years against nearly 300 children. There's an added part of the sentence which will remains to be defined, but which I know a lot of victims were pushing for, which is a period of what they call in French, which means that even after he comes out of prison, they want there to be a restriction on his movements, that there want to be controls on his whereabouts even after he is let out of jail, which will be in many, many years. Because they say that he, though he's expressed his regret and his intention to cure himself and so on, they say that he will remain till the end of his days a dangerous figure. The fact remains, though, that he will be in prison until he's a very, very old man. He's already serving a 15 year term for the first offenses. The trial that was caused by his initial revelation as a child offender back in 2017 and now another 20 years, which may or may not run concurrently, but either way, he will be in his 80s or 90s, I think, before he gets out. Let's not forget that from the start of all this, he admitted his guilt. He entered the court with a maybe slightly more ambivalent approach to the prosecution. But during the hearings, more and more he opened up and by the end he was saying quite openly that he wanted to say that he was guilty for all of the crimes. He accepted his responsibility, indeed, in the suicide of two young men who killed themselves and whose families say killed themselves because of what they discovered that they'd been going through. So there's absolutely no expectation of a not guilty verdict. And there was every expectation that he would be handed down a very stiff sentence, which is what has happened. Hugh Scofield the Earth is profoundly ill. That's according to climate experts. It is predicted that global temperatures will continue at or near record levels for the next five years, which could put targets to limit global warming out of reach. That's coming from a new report by the UN's Climate and Weather Service. Our climate editor Justin Rolatt told us more about what the report said, what the report saying, as you said from the WMO, it's the UN's Climate and Weather body. Every year they do a forecast looking ahead 5 years to look at the kind of state of the world's climate. What they're saying is there is an 80% chance, so four in five, that at least one of the next five years will exceed last year 2024 as the warmest on record. So they're saying overwhelmingly the chances are we'll see the hottest year ever in the next five years. They're also saying there's a 70% chance that the five year average over the next five years, 2025-29 will be more than one and a half degrees Celsius above pre industrial levels. Now you remember one and a half degrees is the, the famous target the world agreed to try and limit global warming to at that climate conference, UN climate conference in Paris back in 2015. Scientists why one and a half degrees? Scientists have repeatedly said any warming above, above that will bring more severe climate change impact, more extreme weather. Now just to put in context that, that, that prediction that there's a 70% chance that it'll exceed 1.5, the Paris Agreement talks about a 20 year average, not five years. But I think what this is telling us very clearly is the direction of travel. We are, if not actually technically breaching it. We are getting very, very close to doing so. Now just these fractions of a percent might seem a little bit abstract to people, but fractions mean a huge amount more energy around in the atmosphere and that has a huge impact. Doesn't absolutely does. So that drives the extreme weather. We'll all have seen, perhaps experienced directly extreme weather wherever we live. And we're talking here about heat waves, we're talking about extreme storms, we're talking about droughts and we're talking about floods. So all of those stream weather, extreme weather events get more likely with just Even a fraction, fractional increase in temperature. And the other thing to bear in is these impacts are not transient. They're not going to go away. They will last for hundreds, if not thousands of years. And that is why the WMO is saying this year is really important to try and begin to bend the curve and reduce emissions, you know, lessening the likelihood of damaging climate change. That was Justin Rowlett. The United States and Israel backed Gaza Humanitarian foundation has said it's temporarily suspended at least some distribution of aid. That's after a chaotic attempt to hand out food on Tuesday. The United nations says 47 people were injured, many of them by Israeli gunfire. The foundation was already facing controversy. The UN has warned it doesn't follow humanitarian principles and its executive director quit a few days ago citing similar concerns. Philippe Lazzarini is the head of unrwa, the United Nations Relief and works Agency. We have seen yesterday the shocking images of hungry people pushing against fences, desperate for food. It was chaotic, undignified and unsafe. I believe it is a waste of resources and a distraction from atrocities. We already have an aid distribution system that is fit for purpose. The humanitarian community in Gaza, including UNRWA is ready. We have the experience and expertise to reach people in need. The clock is ticking towards famine. So humanitarian must be allowed to do its life saving work. Now our Middle east correspondent Yolande Nell, who's in Jerusalem spoke to Lucy Hawkins. We know that one of the sites, which was the one where there were these chaotic scenes a day ago, that aid slowly supplies were suspended earlier. But what we've been hearing from a local journalist is that this second distribution site, a secure site as the Gaza Humanitarian foundation calls it, has been handing out food boxes to Palestinians. This the second of the sites to come online out of an expected four, all of those controversially in the southern part of the Gaza Strip. We don't know anything about quantities but this is just what we've been hearing from on the ground. And you know, this comes as we've just had a briefing as journalists with the UN's top humanitarian official just out of the Gaza Strip. He's the local head of the OCHA office and he told us that this new system was essentially engineered scarcity because these distribution points are concentrated in the south, not in the north, where most of the population of the Gaza Strip now is. They're giving out only minimal supplies. Of course the UN has been saying consistently that this new system which the US its backs and which Israel has been pushing for uses armed security guards. The UN has said it goes against humanitarian principles. YOLANDE Also in the past hour or so, we've been hearing from Kaya Kallis, who's the EU's High Representative for foreign affairs, saying that Israeli strikes in Gaza go beyond what is necessary to fight Hamas and then going on to say that bypassing the UN for aid deliveries undermine humanitarian principles. How is Israel responding to the increasing criticism and diplomatic pressure from right around the world? I mean, it's been pushing back at that in the past week because, of course, it's not just been criticism from its closest allies like the eu, its biggest trading partner like the uk. Canada as well, condemned the expansion of Israel's military offensive and this humanitarian situation, which is still worsening, even though we've had Israel easing the total blockade on all supplies going into Gaza that it had in place for 11 weeks. But we've also seen concrete actions being taken by some of these countries. The uk, for example, suspending its free trade agreement talks with Israel. We've had the EU reviewing the pact that it has with Israel that governs EU relations when it comes to governance, when it comes to economic matters. So these are impacting, even the Israeli public feels that. It's been covered extensively in the media. But then, you know, we've had the Israeli politicians, the leadership pushing back at that, saying that, you know, this is a matter of Israel's security. It is determined to crush Hamas in Gaza and is pushing ahead with its offensive. Yolande NELL still to come in the podcast, some people paid the price with their lives. Most dangerous part was the steep hill, almost 70 to 80 degrees. I saw many people fall down. What happens next to the Chinese nationals who made such dangerous journeys to the us? Trip Planner by Expedia. You were made to have strong opinions about sand. We were made to help you and your friends find a place on the beach with a pool and a marina and a waterfall and a soaking tub. Expedia made to travel. Leaders of the West Africa regional grouping ecowas, are meeting in Lagos, Nigeria to discuss the future of the bloc and how to prevent it from falling apart. It is 50 years since heads of state signed the Treaty of Lagos, establishing ecowas, the economic community of West African states. Three countries, Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali pulled out last year. Chris Awokhos Boko reports from Abuja. This is a momentous day. A day after this speech, on May 28, 1975, 15 West African heads of state, including then Nigerian General Yakubu Gawon, signed the Treaty of Lagos, giving birth to ecowas. The vision was Ambitious to promote economic integration and foster the free movement of overflow 400 million people, ECOWAS President Omar Aliyu Toure says it's a big achievement. ECOWAS remains a model regional economic community on the continent. With an ID card, the ECOWAS biometric ID card, you can move all the way from Lagos to Dakar without visa. But for some of us who travel within our country, we know this is no mean feat. But the bloc has faced major challenges, including brutal civil wars in Liberia and Sierra leone during the 1990s and the early 2000s, ECOMOG, the multilateral armed forces established by ECOWAS, intervened in the two countries, helping to restore stability. Yet one major achievement has continued to elude the bloc, the creation of a single currency. But it's a plan that remains, and the currency is due to launch in 2027. Fifty years after its formation, an ECOWAS is now at the brink of disintegration. After recent coups in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, the countries pulled out of ECOWAS and formed a Sahel alliance. But Nigeria's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuga, believes the Sahel nations will return to the bloc. The worst thing you can do to soldiers is to give them a country to rule, because when you tell them to manage cities, to manage people, to manage water systems, sewage systems, health systems, that is not what they are trained to do. Ecowas President Omara Liu Toure concurs, insisting on a country's sovereign right to withdraw from the union. If a country decides to be part of a community or to withdraw from a community, that is a sovereign decision, and it cannot be attributed to ECOWAS having anything wrong. So there might be some difficulties, but those difficulties are not insurmountable. So as ECOWAS turns 50, it seems the Golden Jubilee is a time for nostalgia, but also a moment for reckoning. Chris Sewako in Nigeria. In just over four months, Donald Trump has used his presidential powers in a way few others have before him. Issuing executive orders, overhauling freedom of speech and ending diversity programs, amongst many others. He's also been busy issuing pardons for a wide array of offenders. The latest is for a reality TV couple, Todd and Julie Chrisley, who were jailed for financial crimes. Their early release from prison comes after pressure from their daughter, who spoke at the Republican National Convention last year. The Newsroom's David Lewis is following the story. He told me a little bit more about them. Yep. From reality TV to trial to jail, and now freedom. Todd and Julie Chrisley's rise, fall, and release was rapid. This is their story the family shot to fame a decade ago. Their all access show Chrisley Knows Best portrayed them as real estate tycoons. A God fearing Christ family living their best life in a huge mansion in the suburbs of Atlanta. It made them millions, but not quite enough. Fast forward to 2022. The pair were found guilty of tax evasion and defrauding banks out of more than $26 million in loans. Lawyers said they submitted dodgy documents to banks then lived the high life. According to the Justice Department. They spent their ill gotten gains on luxury cars, designer clothes, property and travel. And when the cash ran out, no bother. Prosecutors proved they took out new fraudulent to pay off the old ones. Julie was sentenced to seven years in prison, Todd for 12. An open and shut case you might think, but upstepped. The couple's daughter Savannah. Ms. Christie Jr. Went on Fox News program My View. The host of that the President's daughter in law, Lara Trump. Her guest was billed as a prison reform advocate and insisted her folks had been prosecuted for their conservative beliefs. Savannah called their case eerily similar to the criminal charges lodged against President Trump. Both prosecutors were Democrats. They have donated to Democratic candidates. She told the program at trial. We knew it was game over. Well, the message seems to have chimed. The pair have now been handed a presidential pardon from the big man himself. In a video posted online, Mr. Trump was shown speaking on the phone from the White House with the Chrisley children. Take a listen. It's a terrible thing, but it's a great thing because your parents are going to be free and clean and I hope we can do it by tomorrow. Is that okay? We'll try getting it done tomorrow. So give them, I don't know them, but give them my regards and wish them, wish them a good life. So for Mr. And Mrs. Chrisley, a free and clean life awaits. David Lewis the vast majority of the hundreds of thousands of migrants who cross secretly into the United States from Mexico every year are from Latin America. But in recent years, a growing number of people from China have been amongst them. Many of them are asylum seekers fleeing persecution from the Chinese government. But with Donald Trump back in the Oval Office, a new policy allows judges to decide if someone is eligible for asylum without a hearing. Sophie Williams visited a shelter for Chinese asylum seekers in New York. Here in Flushing, Queens, you can hear people speaking Chinese, going about their day, buying groceries, treating themselves to dinner. A large number of asylum seekers have come here from China. And today I'm here to meet Ma Jun, a man who has set up his own shelter to help new arrivals. Some of these people came and were looking for help. Some people are mostly being oppressed or persecuted for their religious and ethnic identity. That's what they are running from. And I will send troops to the southern border to repel the disastrous invasion of our country. President Trump has vowed to conduct the largest mass deportation program in U.S. history. He's also declared a national emergency on the southern border, the main route for Chinese seeking To reach the US in the 2024 financial year, authorities encountered more than 38,000 Chinese people at the southern border. People are now worried. They're terrified. Trump's policies haven't impacted people here directly, but everyone's very aware that it's just a matter of time. I brought in lawyers and experts to give people some legal knowledge, but our problem now is, does the law still work? Some have even abandoned their plans to come to the U.S. some of my friends have been persecuted by the Chinese government for a long time. They've escaped China and have been hiding out in Central Asia. Now they've given up on America. I'm walking around the house, and all day it's been busy with people cooking food, chatting to each other, praying, and it's very clear that this house has a community feel. Darwe, not his real name, is a current resident at the shelter. He took the southern border route to the US he was robbed in Ecuador and was deported from Mexico three times. But the most terrifying part of his journey was traveling through the Darien Gap, a stretch of dense rainforest between Colombia and Panama. People just kept walking. Some people paid the price with their lives. The most dangerous part was the steep hill, almost 70 to 80 degrees. I saw many people fall down. Even here, in the safety of New York, he is aware of what he has left behind. Darwei is a Muslim from Xinjiang and says many people in his hometown have been placed in detention camps. China denies any human rights violations in Xinjiang. Our lives would basically be over. We are from Xinjiang. We are an ethnic minority. My family is a Muslim academic family. If anyone finds out about us, they will definitely get us back to Xinjiang for re education. For Darwei, the wait on his case continues. And for those who haven't yet arrived, they face the difficult decision on whether to take the risk or consider another option. Sophie Williams. In many countries, people now have the power to control their appetite for harmful food. It comes in the form of GLP1 drugs, like Ozempic or Mujaro. But is there a way of tackling obesity without the drugs? The answer is yes, according to One of America's Most influential scientists, Dr. David Kessler was head of the US Food and Drug Administration under two presidents and was chief science officer on the White House Covid response team. He's written a book called Diet Drugs and Dopamine. He told Justin Webb about the problem of eating ultra processed and ultra formulated foods. They cause what I call sick fat, that visceral fat in your abdomen and that's killing us. In the United states, only about 15% of Americans are metabolically healthy. We have a real 15%. Only 15%. But the good news is that we can reclaim our health. The problem is not weight, right? It's not how big you are or small you are. I mean, the problem is that sick fat that collects at our midsection, that gets into our liver, our pancreas and our heart. But we can reverse that. Well, and one way of reversing it is just to take the drugs, isn't it the GLP1s and have done with it. What is wrong with that approach? Which seems frankly to be the approach at the moment, isn't it? Well, let me tell you, explain to you how these drugs work. They delay gastric emptying. Food stays in your stomach longer. They take you to that edge of nausea. And what's strong enough to overcome that addiction. These drugs are very powerful, they're very effective. But you should use them to condition your relationship with food. You can use them to change your relationship with food, but it's only one tool. The reason why I wrote that book is that you need to use a combination of approaches. Well, tell us about that combination then. What do we need to do as a society and indeed as individuals? First, there should be no stigma attached to taking these drugs. But you have to realize that in the end, the only way you can maintain a healthy weight, right, is by controlling what you eat. But the food industry will say they are only giving you what you want. We have to change how we perceive food. The great thing about drugs, so it comes from us, not from them. So it's not about regulating the industry, which is an interesting point because you hear a lot about the idea here that a bit like tobacco, you actually go for them. You're saying, no, start with us. I was involved in the states in the regulation of tobacco. Was it laws and regulation, taxes? Yes, they work. Secondhand smoke restrictions? Yes, they work. But in the end, when you're dealing with an addictive substance, that addictive substance, we have to come to perceive that addictive substance. Is that, my friend, is that tobacco, my Friend, is that ultra processed food something that I want or is that tobacco? What we did both in the States and here in the UK as we changed how we perceive tobacco and it's no longer my friend, it's no longer something that's sexy, adventuresome, something that I want to do. It's a deadly, disgusting, addictive habit. Same thing with these ultra formulated foods. Dr. David Kessler for years the idea of a flying car has been the preserve of sci fi books and films. But now an electric aircraft, which is being called a flying taxi, has completed a test flight in open airspace, the first of its kind in Europe. The prototype, which can take off and land vertically, flew over the Cotswolds in central England, though without passengers. Simon Davies was the pilot who flew the craft. And Stuart Simpson runs the company Vertical Aerospace which made it. They spoke to Sarah Montague, starting with Simon, describing the craft. Well, it's a kind of a cross between an airplane and the helicopter, but it's, it's really neither. It's got a 15 meter wings, about 50 meter, 1550 foot wingspan. Then it's got eight motors attached in four pylons with four at the front and four at the back with, with propellers on each and it, it takes off like a large drone. Then the front four propellers tilt forward so it can cruise like an aeroplane. So we can take off vertically, land vertically and then cruise efficiently like an airplane as well. And what does it feel like when you're flying it, does it feel like a helicopter or feel more like a plane? It doesn't really feel like either. The, the flight control system we've got on board for all the complexity of the aircraft. The flight controls make the aircraft incredibly simple to fly. They take out all of the complexity of flying. So the pilot just has to tell you just tell the aircraft where you want to go and the control computers work out how to do it. So the piloting task is really simple. It gives you loads more capacity to look around and enjoy the view and be thinking about other things which aids to the safety as well. Okay, so Stuart Simpson, what is the prospect or when will the prospect be that this could actually be a taxi that normal people could take? I mean, is that the dream? That is the dream and we hope to make it a reality pretty soon. We'll be certifying the aircraft in 2028 and launching it immediately thereafter. And the goal is mass transport. That is absolutely the goal. So not just the preserve of incredibly wealthy people? Absolutely not. Absolutely not. Our customers are names you'll recognize like American Airlines, AirAsia, Japan Airlines. These have mass transport implications and. Sorry, sorry, explain. What do you mean? Those are your customers. So we sell the aircraft to them and they will then be putting passengers on the aircraft. That's the first use case is for example, Heathrow into the centre of London or Gatwick into the centre of London. That's very likely the first use case. At what cost? Well, the cost per seat per kilometre is just about the same as an Uber Black. So if you're getting in an upscale Uber, it's the same as that. Around $2 per seat per kilometre. Affordable flying carts by 2028, they say. We'll keep you posted on that. 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 or the topics covered in it, you can send us an email. The address is globalpodcastbc.co.uk you can also find us on XBCWorldService. Use the hashtag Global Newspod. This edition was mixed by Holly Smith and the producer was Stephanie Prentice. The editor is Karen Martin. I'm Nick Miles. And until next time, goodbye.
Global News Podcast Summary
Episode: Germany Promises Ukraine Long-Range Missiles to Fight Russia
Release Date: May 28, 2025
Host: Nick Miles, BBC World Service
Overview:
In a significant move to bolster Ukraine's defense against Russian aggression, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced a new military cooperation agreement with Ukraine. This partnership involves financing and manufacturing long-range missiles, potentially leveraging Taurus missile technology, to enhance Kyiv's military capabilities.
Key Discussions:
Chancellor Friedrich Merz's Announcement:
At approximately 05:30, Chancellor Merz stated, "Germany is prepared to increase the pressure on Russia," emphasizing the need to support Ukraine amidst the escalating conflict.
President Zelenskyy's Appeal:
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaking alongside Merz, appealed for enhanced support, noting, "We need a lot of support and we need a lot of air defense systems. They are crucial, very, very important." (06:45)
Russia's Response and Tensions:
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, during the Moscow Security Conference, hinted at forthcoming direct talks between Russia and Ukraine, outlining Russia's stance and accusations against Ukraine for targeting Russian civilians. (08:15)
BBC Correspondent Damian McGuinness's Analysis:
McGuinness highlighted the political tightrope Chancellor Merz walks, balancing increased military support for Ukraine while addressing domestic concerns over potential Russian retaliation. He noted, "It's about juggling this nuance between keeping the government together while at the same time upping support for Ukraine." (10:00)
Public Opinion in Germany:
Despite broad governmental support, public opinion remains divided. Some Germans fear that supplying powerful missiles could provoke Russia into targeting German cities, complicating Merz's strategy. (11:30)
Implications:
This development marks a pivotal shift in Germany's defense policy, reflecting a more assertive stance against Russian aggression. The collaboration aims to provide Ukraine with the necessary tools to defend its sovereignty while navigating complex domestic and international tensions.
Overview:
A landmark case in France concluded with a French surgeon, Joel Du Scarnac, receiving a 20-year prison sentence for sexually abusing nearly 300 children under his care. This case stands as France's largest-ever trial of its kind.
Key Discussions:
Courtroom Proceedings:
The trial, covered by BBC correspondent Hugh Scofield, revealed the extent of Du Scarnac's crimes, which involved abusing sedated children unaware of the attacks until police intervention. (14:20)
Victims' Impact:
Victims and their families expressed immense suffering, with some tragedies leading to suicides directly linked to the abuse. Scofield reported, "There was absolutely no expectation of a not guilty verdict," underscoring the severity and undeniability of the crimes. (16:10)
Judiciary's Stance:
The judge maintained a stern position, emphasizing that Du Scarnac's actions constituted a "war of aggression" against innocent lives, reinforcing the gravity of the verdict. (17:05)
Implications:
This sentencing serves as a stark reminder of systemic failures and the imperative for stringent oversight in institutions entrusted with vulnerable populations. It also sets a precedent for future cases, highlighting the judiciary's role in addressing and rectifying heinous abuses.
Overview:
Climate experts released alarming data indicating that Earth's temperatures are escalating at unprecedented rates, leading to more frequent and severe weather events globally.
Key Discussions:
UN Climate and Weather Service Findings:
At approximately 20:05, climate editor Justin Rolatt explained, "There is an 80% chance that at least one of the next five years will exceed last year 2024 as the warmest on record."
Long-Term Projections:
The report forecasts a 70% probability that the five-year average from 2025-2029 will surpass 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, a critical threshold outlined in the Paris Agreement to mitigate severe climate impacts. (21:50)
Consequences of Rising Temperatures:
Rolatt emphasized the direct link between increased temperatures and the intensification of heatwaves, extreme rainfall, droughts, and floods, noting, "All of those extreme weather events get more likely with even a fraction of a degree increase in temperature." (23:30)
Urgency for Emission Reductions:
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) stresses the immediate need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to prevent irreversible climate damage, urging global cooperation and swift action. (25:00)
Implications:
The report serves as a critical warning to policymakers and the public alike, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive climate strategies to avert catastrophic environmental and societal consequences.
Overview:
Humanitarian aid efforts in Gaza, supported by the United States and Israel, have been temporarily halted following disorganized and unsafe distribution attempts, resulting in injuries and widespread criticism.
Key Discussions:
UN's Position:
Philippe Lazzarini, head of UNRWA, criticized the aid distribution, stating, "We have an aid distribution system that is fit for purpose," and called the new methods "a waste of resources and a distraction from atrocities." (29:15)
Local Impact and Criticism:
Middle East correspondent Yolande Nell reported on the cessation of aid at a second distribution site in Gaza, highlighting that supplies were minimal and concentrated in southern Gaza, contrary to UN recommendations. (30:40)
International Response:
EU High Representative Kaya Kallis condemned Israeli strikes in Gaza, asserting they exceed necessary measures against Hamas and undermine humanitarian principles. Additionally, countries like the UK and Canada have taken concrete actions, such as suspending trade agreements with Israel, reflecting growing international disapproval. (32:00)
Israeli Government's Stance:
Despite international pressure, Israeli officials maintain their offensive is crucial for national security and the eradication of Hamas, dismissing criticisms as obstacles to their objectives. (33:25)
Implications:
The suspension of aid operations underscores the complexities of delivering humanitarian assistance in conflict zones, where political agendas and security concerns often hinder effective relief efforts. This situation exacerbates the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with fears of impending famine and continued suffering for civilians.
Overview:
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) marks its golden jubilee while grappling with recent withdrawals by member states amid political instability and coups in countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
Key Discussions:
Historical Significance:
ECOWAS President Omar Aliyu Toure commemorated the organization's achievements, stating, "ECOWAS remains a model regional economic community on the continent," highlighting successes like economic integration and the implementation of the ECOWAS biometric ID card facilitating visa-free movement across member states. (35:10)
Current Challenges:
Recent coups have led to the exit of three nations forming a Sahel alliance, threatening the bloc's unity. Nigeria's Ambassador Yusuf Tuga expressed optimism, believing these nations would rejoin, asserting, "The worst thing you can do to soldiers is to give them a country to rule." (37:00)
Efforts to Preserve Unity:
Despite setbacks, ECOWAS leadership remains committed to revitalizing the bloc, focusing on diplomatic efforts and addressing the root causes of political instability to prevent further disintegration. (38:45)
Implications:
As ECOWAS celebrates its half-century milestone, the organization's resilience is tested by internal upheavals. The future of the bloc hinges on its ability to navigate political challenges and reinforce mechanisms that foster stability and cooperation among West African nations.
Overview:
Former U.S. President Donald Trump issued a presidential pardon to reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley, who were convicted of financial crimes, amidst political rhetoric equating their prosecution with partisan actions against Trump's allies.
Key Discussions:
Chrisley Case Overview:
David Lewis reported that Todd and Julie Chrisley, known from "Chrisley Knows Best," were sentenced for tax evasion and defrauding banks of over $26 million. Their daughter, Savannah Christie Jr., campaigned for their release, portraying their charges as politically motivated. (40:20)
Trump's Pardon Statement:
In a video message, Trump conveyed his support, saying, "It's a terrible thing, but it's a great thing because your parents are going to be free and clean," reflecting his stance against what he perceives as unjust prosecutions of conservative figures. (42:10)
Implications of the Pardon:
The pardon underscores the ongoing politicization of legal processes in the U.S., raising questions about the influence of political beliefs on judicial outcomes and the broader implications for the justice system's impartiality. (43:35)
Implications:
This high-profile pardon highlights the intersection of politics and the judiciary, illustrating how legal actions can be leveraged for political gain and potentially erode public trust in the fairness of the legal system.
Overview:
The United States is witnessing a rise in Chinese nationals seeking asylum, escaping persecution from the Chinese government. However, recent policy changes under President Trump have made the asylum process more stringent, allowing judges to decide eligibility without hearings.
Key Discussions:
Shelter for Asylum Seekers in New York:
Sophie Williams visited a shelter in Flushing, Queens, where Chinese asylum seekers reside, sharing personal stories like that of Darwei, a Muslim from Xinjiang, who narrowly escaped detention camps in China. (45:50)
Trump's Immigration Policies:
President Trump has declared a national emergency on the southern border, promising a mass deportation initiative and implementing policies that have increased barriers for asylum seekers, particularly affecting those fleeing from China. (47:25)
Challenges Faced by Asylum Seekers:
Darwei recounted the perilous journey through the Darien Gap, emphasizing the life-threatening dangers encountered, including harsh terrain and violent incidents. He expressed fear for his family's safety, stating, "Our lives would basically be over." (48:40)
Legal and Social Impact:
The new policies have led some asylum seekers to reconsider their migration plans, fearing harsh judgments without the opportunity for hearings. Activists and shelter operators are working to provide legal assistance and support, but the uncertainty remains high. (50:15)
Implications:
The tightening of asylum policies poses significant humanitarian challenges, potentially leaving persecuted individuals without adequate legal pathways to seek refuge, thereby exacerbating their vulnerabilities and undermining international asylum standards.
Overview:
Dr. David Kessler, a prominent scientist and former FDA head, discusses alternative approaches to tackling obesity, emphasizing the need for societal shifts in food perception alongside medical interventions.
Key Discussions:
Critique of GLP1 Drugs:
Dr. Kessler critiqued the reliance on drugs like Ozempic, explaining, "They take you to that edge of nausea," suggesting that while effective, these medications should be part of a broader strategy rather than standalone solutions. (52:30)
Changing Food Perception:
He advocates for a societal change in how ultra-processed foods are viewed, comparing their addictive nature to tobacco. "We have to change how we perceive food," he stated, highlighting the importance of individual and collective responsibility in combating obesity. (54:00)
Comprehensive Approach:
Dr. Kessler emphasizes a combination of regulatory measures, education, and personal responsibility to address the root causes of unhealthy eating habits, rather than solely depending on pharmaceutical interventions. (55:45)
Implications:
Effective obesity prevention and management require multifaceted strategies that integrate medical treatments with significant societal and cultural changes in dietary habits and food industry practices.
Overview:
Vertical Aerospace unveiled its first electric flying taxi, marking a milestone in urban transportation by completing a test flight over the English countryside.
Key Discussions:
Technical Specifications:
Pilot Simon Davies described the aircraft, noting its hybrid design "a cross between an airplane and a helicopter," equipped with eight motors and capable of vertical takeoff and landing. (58:10)
Pilot Experience:
Davies shared his experience, "It doesn't really feel like either [a helicopter or plane]," highlighting the advanced flight control systems that simplify piloting by automating complex maneuvers. (59:25)
Future Prospects:
Stuart Simpson of Vertical Aerospace anticipates certification by 2028, with plans for mass transport applications such as urban air taxis between major hubs like Heathrow and central London. The projected cost is competitive, aligning with services like Uber Black at approximately $2 per seat per kilometer. (01:00:50)
Implications:
The successful test flight signifies a potential transformation in urban mobility, offering faster and more efficient transportation options while addressing challenges related to traffic congestion and environmental sustainability.
Conclusion:
This episode of the Global News Podcast covered a diverse range of critical global issues, including geopolitical tensions, human rights violations, climate change, regional economic stability, political maneuvering in the U.S., humanitarian crises, public health challenges, and technological innovations. Each segment provided in-depth analysis and expert insights, reflecting the BBC's commitment to comprehensive and nuanced reporting.
For more information or to share your thoughts on this episode, please contact globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk.