Global stock markets plunge amid Trump tariff turmoil

Summary

Global News Podcast Summary BBC World Service | Episode: Global Stock Markets Plunge Amid Trump Tariff Turmoil | Release Date: April 7, 2025

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1. Global Stock Market Turmoil Triggered by U.S. Tariffs

The episode opens with a significant focus on the turbulence gripping global stock markets in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's imposition of new trade tariffs. The abrupt introduction of these tariffs has sent shockwaves through financial markets worldwide, leading to substantial declines across major indices.

Key Points:

• Market Reactions: Stock markets in Asia and Europe experienced steep declines, signaling investor fears of a looming global recession. European markets, particularly in France, Germany, and the UK, saw drops ranging from 3% to 4% at the time of recording.

• Expert Insights: Carsten Brzeski, Chief Economist for Germany at Bank ING, explains, “We see that financial markets are currently completely repricing their view on the global economy... They are now expecting a recession coming in the US and they also see the threat of a global recession this year” (02:27).

• Market Sentiment: Peter Ruddock, Business Reporter in Singapore, highlights the severity of the sell-off, comparing it to past crises like the 1997 Asian financial meltdown and the 2008 global financial crisis. He notes, “These tariffs may actually be just as big to push the world economy into a recession” (03:20).

• Government Responses: European Union ministers convened in Luxembourg to deliberate on countermeasures against the U.S. tariffs. Responses from Asian governments varied, with Beijing retaliating strongly while Taiwan opted to lower import duties on American products.

Notable Quotes:

• Carsten Brzeski: “Markets are not finally understanding that these tariff threats are not short-lived or half-baked. This is really for real. They are here to stay...” (02:27).

• Johan Nell, European Market Correspondent: “It appears to be real shifting expectations that these tariffs are not going anywhere. Perhaps even that the initial market moves... were a bit understated” (06:25).

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2. Allegations of Torture of Palestinian Detainees by Israel

The podcast delves into distressing reports from Palestinian prisoners who allege severe mistreatment during their detention in Israeli custody. These accounts contribute to the growing body of evidence pointing towards systemic abuse within Israeli detention facilities.

Key Points:

• Personal Testimonies: Mohammed Abu Tawele, a former mechanic from Gaza, recounts extreme physical abuse: “They cuffed me and beat me so much that blood was pouring down my arms and legs. I went three days without a single drop of water” (10:26).

• Systemic Issues: Multiple detainees reported being subjected to beatings, chemical attacks, starvation, and lack of medical care. Abdul Karim Mejtahar, another prisoner, described his ordeal: “They denied access to water and soap, leading to skin blisters and infections” (10:10).

• International Law Violations: Professor Lawrence Hill Cawthorn, an expert in international law, commented on the allegations, stating, “The alleged conduct absolutely would violate international and Israeli law...” (11:25).

• Israeli Response: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) denied systematic abuse, asserting that detainees are held for security reasons and that any claims will be investigated by relevant authorities.

Notable Quotes:

• Valerie Sanderson: “There was no comfort. We would get tortured on the way... This is how we were tortured” (09:13).

• Professor Lawrence Hill Cawthorn: “The law of armed conflict requires you to treat all detainees humanely” (11:32).

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3. Ongoing Efforts to Restore Ceasefire in Gaza

Amidst renewed violence, international efforts to broker a lasting ceasefire between Israel and Hamas are intensifying. Diplomatic discussions are ongoing, with key players like Egypt, Qatar, and the United States actively mediating.

Key Points:

• Diplomatic Negotiations: French President Emmanuel Macron and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al Sisi are leading talks aimed at reinstating the ceasefire. Macron emphasized the urgency, stating, “France and Egypt... condemn Israel's resumption of strikes on the Gaza Strip” (15:26).

• Hostage Situation: Israel is pressing for the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas, currently estimated at 24. Hamas, conversely, seeks to conclude hostilities and have Israeli forces withdraw from Gaza.

• Continued Violence: Despite diplomatic efforts, Israel launched airstrikes in response to rocket fire from Hamas, resulting in casualties and further destabilizing the region.

Notable Quotes:

• Mariko Oi: “The white house says that more than 50 governments, global leaders, are in touch with Washington to negotiate a deal” (03:20).

• Mariko Oi: “It's a quite a serious situation on the stock markets now... that we could be on the verge of a much larger economic slowdown” (07:10).

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4. Dominican Republic's Strict Measures Against Haitian Migration

The podcast highlights the Dominican Republic's recent crackdown on migrants from Haiti, driven by escalating gang violence and a breakdown in law and order within Haiti.

Key Points:

• Government Actions: Dominican President Luis Abinader announced measures including the accelerated construction of a border wall and the deployment of an additional 1,500 soldiers to border surveillance teams. These steps aim to curtail the influx of migrants fleeing Haiti's instability.

• Humanitarian Crisis in Haiti: Haiti is grappling with severe gang control, particularly in the capital, Port-au-Prince, where gangs reportedly control around 85% of the city. This has led to the collapse of essential services and widespread violence, including kidnappings and the recruitment of child soldiers.

• Impact on Migration: Over a million Haitians are internally displaced, with many living in makeshift camps. The Dominican Republic's tough stance has intensified, reflecting growing regional tensions over migration.

Notable Quotes:

• Stephanie Prentice: “The situation is really the worst in the capital, Port au Prince... gangs control around 85% of the city” (19:33).

• Stephanie Prentice: “They are doing here, which is to get rid of the tenants who have been here a long time...” (25:47).

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5. Innovative Technology to Protect European Honeybees from Asian Hornets

In a positive scientific development, European researchers have developed a method to detect invasive Asian hornets threatening native bee populations. This technology could play a crucial role in safeguarding vital pollinators.

Key Points:

• Hornet Identification: Professor Martin Benchik explains that the distinguishing features of Asian hornets' flight sounds—lower pitch and a vibrato effect—allow them to be differentiated from honeybees. This auditory discrimination is pivotal for early detection.

• Implementation for Beekeepers: The technology enables beekeepers to identify colonies under threat, allowing targeted actions to protect bee populations effectively without expending unnecessary resources on untouched hives.

• Impact on Biodiversity: By mitigating the threat posed by Asian hornets, this innovation supports the preservation of honeybee populations, which are essential for pollination and maintaining ecological balance.

Notable Quotes:

• Professor Martin Benchik: “It's a lower pitch... It also has some kind of vibrato... honey bee hasn't got it” (28:45).

• Professor Martin Benchik: “So one way this might help the beekeepers... it's an economy of means for the beekeeper” (29:39).

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6. Housing Crisis and Public Protests in Spain

Spain faces a severe housing crisis characterized by skyrocketing rents, foreign investment in holiday rentals, and a significant shortage of affordable housing, sparking widespread public protests.

Key Points:

• Public Outcry: Hundreds of thousands took to the streets to protest against the high cost of living and housing instability. Issues include landlords neglecting maintenance to force tenants out and properties being converted into short-term rentals, exacerbating the shortage of long-term housing.

• Government Measures: Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has introduced a housing law capping rents in specific urban areas and proposed a hefty tax on property purchases by non-EU residents to deter foreign speculation. However, critics argue these measures may deter investment and worsen the housing shortage.

• Construction Challenges: The slowdown in new housing projects is attributed to high building costs, limited available land, and a shortage of labor, hindering efforts to alleviate the housing shortage.

Notable Quotes:

• Blanca Castro: “I have to wash my dishes in the bathtub... the company... has deliberately halted all maintenance work to encourage the tenants to leave” (25:20).

• Valerie Sanderson: “The government has introduced a housing law which puts a cap on rentals... lower income Spaniards are calling for more drastic measures” (26:56).

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7. Measles Outbreak and Public Health Challenges in the U.S.

The podcast addresses the alarming resurgence of measles in the United States, highlighting the public health challenges posed by misinformation and inadequate vaccination coverage.

Key Points:

• Current Situation: The CDC reports approximately 650 measles cases across the U.S., from Alaska to Florida. The outbreak has been fueled by communities with low vaccination rates and widespread misinformation about vaccine safety.

• Public Health Response: Dr. Peter Hotez emphasizes the highly contagious nature of measles and the dire consequences of outbreaks in unvaccinated populations. He criticizes current leadership for undermining public health efforts through misinformation.

• Vaccine Advocacy: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., previously known as a vaccine skeptic, has now endorsed the MMR vaccine as the most effective prevention against measles, following a tragic second child death from the disease.

Notable Quotes:

• Dr. Peter Hotez: “The measles virus is a good exploiter of children who are not vaccinated... it's one of the most contagious viruses we know about” (23:29).

• Carsten Brzeski: “We’re seeing this enormous epidemic of measles this year because it's initiated in a community that was unvaccinated” (22:14).

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8. Technological Innovations and Environmental Concerns

The episode concludes with a look at how technology is being leveraged to address environmental threats, specifically the invasive Asian hornets impacting bee populations in Europe.

Key Points:

• Sound Detection Technology: Researchers have successfully differentiated the sounds of Asian hornets from native honeybees, enabling proactive measures to protect bee colonies. This advancement represents a significant step in combating the decline of essential pollinators.

• Ecological Importance: Protecting bee populations is crucial for maintaining biodiversity and ensuring the pollination of numerous plant species, which has far-reaching implications for agriculture and ecosystems.

Notable Quotes:

• Professor Martin Benchik: “It's a lower pitch... It's a vibrato... it’s an economy of means for the beekeeper” (28:45).

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Conclusion

This episode of the Global News Podcast provides a comprehensive overview of pressing global issues, from economic instability caused by trade wars to humanitarian crises and public health emergencies. By incorporating firsthand accounts, expert analyses, and up-to-date reporting, the podcast offers listeners an in-depth understanding of complex international developments shaping our world today.

For more detailed coverage and ongoing updates, listeners are encouraged to visit the BBC News website or subscribe to the Global News Podcast for future episodes.

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For comments or feedback on this summary, feel free to contact the Global News Podcast team at [e-mail].

Transcript

[Valerie Sanderson]

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK.

[Mariko Oi]

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[Alice Qadi]

This is the Global News podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Valerie Sanderson at 1330 hours GMT on Monday the 7th of April. These are our main stories. All eyes turn to Wall street as stock markets in Asia and Europe plunge. Carsten Brzeski is chief Economist for Germany at the bank ing.

[Carsten Brzeski]

We see that financial markets are currently completely repricing their view on the global economy, namely that they are now expecting a recession coming in the US and they also see the threat of a global recession this year.

[Alice Qadi]

We hear about the allegations of mistreatment of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody.

[Carsten Brzeski]

They cuffed me and beat me so much that blood was pouring down my arms and legs. I went three days without a single drop of water.

[Valerie Sanderson]

We would get tortured on the way from the barracks to the doctor's room.

[Alice Qadi]

As efforts continue to restore a ceasefire in Gaza. Also in this podcast, the Dominican Republic cracks down on migration from neighbouring Haiti which is being ravaged by gang violence and the new technology that could save honeybees in Europe from aggressive Asian hornets. We start with the global stock market turmoil as investors react to US President Donald Trump's trade tariffs. European exchanges have plunged following heavy falls on the Asian stock markets as concerns grow over a global recession. Markets In Europe's big three economies, France, Germany and the UK have recovered slightly but were down 3 to 4% at the time of recording this podcast. EU ministers are meeting in Luxembourg to discuss countermeasures to the U.S. tariffs. Carsten Brzeski, chief economist for Germany at the bank ing, says markets fear a global downturn.

[Carsten Brzeski]

We see that financial markets are currently completely repricing their view on the global economy, namely that they are now expecting a recession coming in the US and they also see the threat of a global recession this year. Markets are not finally understanding that these tariff threats are not short lived or half bacon. This is really for real. They are here to stay and it really will require big trade deals in order to see a reduction in tariffs again. And I cannot see how big, bigger countries like the eu, like China, will be able to deliver these great trade deals that Donald Trump is expecting.

[Alice Qadi]

Asian markets are now closed after heavy falls. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index closed with its steepest decline since the 1997 Asian financial crisis. Here's our business reporter, Mariko Oi in Singapore.

[Peter Ruddock]

I've been covering the stock market, especially here in Asia, for about 20 years now. And this is probably one of the biggest and continued sell off that Asian markets have suffered. Last time was during the pandemic and before that was the global financial crisis. And that was when the global economy fell into a recession. And it usually takes an enormous shock like those events to trigger something like that. But now analysts think that these tariffs may actually be just as big to push the world economy into a recession. And that's why we're seeing the sell off to continue as European markets reopen for trade.

[Alice Qadi]

And how are Asian governments reacting? Are they, some of them trying to do a deal with.

[Peter Ruddock]

Well, the White House says that more than 50 governments, global leaders, are in touch with Washington to negotiate a deal. So I would assume that many of them are Asian governments because as we were talking about it last week, Asian countries have actually been hit some of the hardest. Some of the highest tariffs by the United States. Of course, China is a key target. But of course other governments have also been hit hard by those high tariffs. So I'm sure they are negotiating. It is interesting, though, to see some somewhat of mixed reaction from Asian governments. So Beijing was one of the first and strongest to respond to those tariffs last week, announcing those territory tariffs. But for example, the Taiwanese government said that they're not going to retaliate. They're going to lower import duties on American products. And Vietnam was doing that even before the announcements of the tariffs were made last week. And other governments are also scrambling to offer support for businesses that are directly affected by these tariffs. So we've so far heard from the South Korean government, Indian government, as well as Taiwanese governments offering some kind of help to those businesses. So a lot of negotiating, I'm sure, are taking place behind closed doors. But also those talks of offering support to their businesses, that's continuing as well.

[Alice Qadi]

Our business reporter, Peter Ruddock is following European market reaction.

[Johan Nell]

There are usually winners and losers when you have sort of stock market declines. Every one of the 100 stocks on the FTSE 100 is in decline today. Some of the big Names that are particularly suffering, banks, oil and gas companies. We've seen the oil price falling today as well. So potentially that's one of the reasons they're falling by so much. British Airways, iag, that airline firm. I think if we talk about Friday's big move, that was driven by a very clear moment, China's retaliation to the original tariffs today, it's not as clear there is a specific market reason. It appears to be real shifting expectations that these tariffs are not going anywhere. Perhaps even that the initial market moves we saw in the hours after Donald Trump's Rose Garden address perhaps were a bit understated. If this last possibly represents the fear we could be on the verge of a global recession, that appears to be what's going on in the markets today.

[Alice Qadi]

And I think we should make it clear, I mean, the tariffs haven't actually come in yet, have they?

[Johan Nell]

No, absolutely. The sort of largest ones of those are not coming in to sort of just gone midnight US time on Wednesday. Worth saying, of course, that, you know, as I mentioned, the big move on Friday appeared to be China's retaliation. We still haven't had the EU response yet, so we know that European trade ministers are meeting right now. Their response, if it is a retaliation, well, that could move things as well. This is quite a sort of a serious situation on the stock markets now. In a way, if you're sort of invested in the stock market, you're probably concerned, but actually the likelihood is you've got sort of a longer term investment, especially if it's pensions, if you're not invested. I think potentially there's the suggestion that you could be more concerned that you might be, because this might well signal, as I say, that we could be on the verge of a sort of much larger economic slowdown.

[Alice Qadi]

You called it serious, some have called it carnage. I mean, is this trash?

[Johan Nell]

Which words do we.

[Peter Ruddock]

Yes, which word?

[Alice Qadi]

Tell us.

[Johan Nell]

Well, look, I mean, look, crash is quite a specific term which we use for when a sort of stock market falls by about 10% in a day or sort of 20% over the period of a couple of days. The FTSE is obviously down and it's been down over two or three days. We're nowhere near that kind of level yet. If you compare it to a year ago, the level of a FTSE 100 in the UK here is sort of down about 2 or 3%. It's still long term, doing pretty well. So we're not in crash territory yet. A couple of people I've spoken to have said it's It's a bit crashy, crash like, but not quite a crash.

[Alice Qadi]

Peter Ruddock Palestinians arrested in Gaza in the months after the 7 October 2023 Hamas attacks, who were released in the ceasefire earlier this have told the BBC that they were subjected to mistreatment and torture in Israeli custody. Their accounts add to mounting reports of abuse within Israeli barracks and jails. Israel says they did not engage in systematic abuse of detainees. Alice Qadi reports about what the prisoners say happened to them.

[Mohammed Abu Tawele]

Mohammed Abu Tawele used to be a mechanic. That was before he was arrested by Israeli forces last year. He says the torture began almost immediately.

[Valerie Sanderson]

They dunked my head in a bucket of chemicals. They hit me on the head and on the eye.

[Mohammed Abu Tawele]

Now his body bears the scars of a year in detention. The skin around his eyes is badly damaged. He's lost a lot of weight. But most shocking is his back and arms now covered in thick red welts. He said Israeli soldiers poured chemicals on him, beat him and set his back alight. In the days after his arrest in detention, he says the mistreatment continued.

[Valerie Sanderson]

There was no comfort. We would get tortured on the way. When they would take us from the barracks to the doctor's room or to the interrogation room, we would get beaten up. They'd unleash the dogs at us, tighten the cuffs. This is how we were tortured.

[Mohammed Abu Tawele]

Mohammed was one of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners from Gaza released in the ceasefire earlier this year in exchange for Israeli hostages. During their time in detention, they were questioned about links with Hamas and the whereabouts of the hostages. But in the end, Israel said none of those released were found to have participated in the October 7 attacks. Despite this, many prisoners say they endured hostility and hardship throughout their time.

[Carsten Brzeski]

The rice we got was uncooked. It was just soaked in water and they bring it to us. It caused us stomach cramps, diarrhea and constipation.

[Mohammed Abu Tawele]

Abdul Karim Mejtahar used to work at a slaughterhouse in Gaza. He said he was arrested by Israeli soldiers while he tried to cross a checkpoint with his family. What followed, he says, was more than a year of torture and humiliation.

[Carsten Brzeski]

They cuffed me and beat me so much that blood was pouring down my arms and legs. My legs swelled up, bruising, swelling, and they began to smell.

[Mohammed Abu Tawele]

He says he was denied water and soap, leading to skin blisters and infections.

[Carsten Brzeski]

I went three days without a single drop of water. When we asked for medical treatment, they said, as long as you have a pulse, you are okay.

[Mohammed Abu Tawele]

The BBC spoke to several other Gazan men after their Release. They all said they were stripped, blindfolded, cuffed and beaten during their time in detention. Some said they were denied access to medical care. Others said they witnessed the deaths of fellow detainees. The allegations are in line with reports by the UN and human rights groups of mistreatment of Palestinian detainees held in Israeli military barracks and prisons. We shared the allegations with Professor Lawrence Hill Cawthorn, an expert in international law from the University of Bristol.

[Valerie Sanderson]

The alleged conduct absolutely would violate international and Israeli law. The law of armed conflict requires you.

[Carsten Brzeski]

To treat all detainees humanely.

[Alice Qadi]

There's an absolute prohibition of torture, another inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

[Valerie Sanderson]

And there's obligations relating to meeting the.

[Alice Qadi]

Basic needs of detainees, including medical care.

[Mohammed Abu Tawele]

For example, we put our allegations in detail to the idf. They said the IDF detains individuals in the Gaza Strip who are suspected of being involved in terrorist activities. They also said the IDF completely rejects accusations of systematic abuse of detainees, but that claims will be examined by the relevant authorities. Shortly after the men we spoke to were freed, the ceasefire collapsed after Israel renewed its offensive. Mohammed Abu Tawele says the injuries he sustained during detention have been life changing.

[Valerie Sanderson]

The thing I suffer from most is that I'm unable to do anything because of my injury, because my eye hurts and it tears and it feels itchy and all the burns on my body feel itchy. It's bothering me a lot. Unfortunately, I'm unable to do anything in my life.

[Alice Qadi]

That report from Alice Cuddy and you can read the full investigation on the BBC News website. Efforts are continuing to try to restore a ceasefire in Gaza. Overnight, Israel launched airstrikes following a barrage of rockets fired at southern Israel by Hamas. Later, the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is holding talks with the US President Donald Trump in Washington. I got the latest on the moves to restore a ceasefire from our Middle east correspondent, Johan Nell, who's in Jerusalem.

[Mariko Oi]

Well, there have been ongoing attempts by Egypt and Qatar in the region as mediators, along with the US as well. And so we do expect that when Israel's prime minister meets Mr. Trump, they've said that they're planning to discuss the tariff issue, as you'd expect, but also efforts to return Israeli hostages. It's thought there are 24 still alive in Gaza, as well as other regional issues. You also have France's President Macron, who's in Egypt, meeting both Egypt's President Sisi and King Abdullah of Jordan really talking about ceasefire efforts as well. Where things have got stuck in recent days is that, you know, Hamas said it agreed to an Egyptian plan, which we understand would involve freeing five hostages in exchange for a temporary ceasefire. Israel wants more hostages freedom, and really has been trying to kind of limit the length of the ceasefire as much as possible. And ultimately the big sticking point when it comes to kind of moving on to what was supposed to be the second stage of the original ceasefire deal back in January that lasted for two months. Israel really has now resumed its military offensive in Gaza, saying it wants to defeat Hamas completely. It's talking about sending its leaders into exile, continuing fighting until that goal is achieved, and saying it's also putting pressure on Hamas to bring its hostages back. But Hamas has been consistently saying that it wants to move to the second stage of this original ceasefire deal, where the war would end and Israel would withdraw its forces from Gaza.

[Alice Qadi]

And meanwhile, we've had these Israeli airstrikes on Gaza overnight and indeed, Hamas rocket attacks on Israel.

[Mariko Oi]

Yes. So what we've seen is these 10 rockets fired from the center of Gaza at southern Israel. Five of those intercepted, five landed in open areas. The Israeli military says that really being seen as a sort of, you know, message from Hamas that it does still have some fighting power, but on the ground, you know, Israel is the side which has the overwhelming military strength. Of course, it's been saying that it has now retaken 40% of the Gaza Strip. And we've seen more than a dozen people killed in the latest airstrikes in Gaza since midnight last night.

[Alice Qadi]

Yolande Nel in Jerusalem. And in a news conference in Cairo, the French President, Emmanuel Macron, said that France and Egypt. Egypt condemn Israel's resumption of strikes on the Gaza Strip. At a joint press conference with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al Sisi, Mr. Macron called for an immediate return to the ceasefire and the release of hostages still being held by Hamas. Mr. Sisi said they'd agreed to reject the displacement of Palestinians from the territory. Heavy rains and extreme heat are complicating relief efforts in Myanmar, which is trying to cope with the aftermath of an earthquake on March 28. The UN says the extreme weather conditions have affected the distribution of aid and increased the risk of disease, such as cholera. Temperatures are expected to hit 37 degrees Celsius and possibly higher this week. State media say the number of dead from the devastating earthquake has now risen to nearly 3,500 people. Sarah Netzer is the country director of UNOPS, the UN's office for project Services, and has just returned from Naypyidaw, one of the worst hit areas here. She describes what she saw on the.

[Sarah Netzer]

Road to Naypyidaw, there were numerous cars and trucks loaded with supplies where people in Myanmar are coming together to respond to those who've been affected. And then as you near Naypyidaw, you start to see the road has buckled, bridges are cracked, huge openings in the earth just gaping open. And as you get into Naypyidaw, you see people camping outside of what was their home. As you mentioned, the heat is extremely hot. It's going into the hot season, very humid, which makes it feel even hotter. And they're outside, and there's no access to running water, to toilets, kitchens, anything like that. Many are under tents. So we've also distributed what we call temporary shelter, which are tents. But the thunderstorm Saturday night in Mandalay, the temporary shelters aren't always going to be able to hold up for that. So one of the things that we're looking at now is this race against the clock to the monsoon season, which starts in June, when the rains will become very heavy and we really need to get people out from underneath the tents and into some temporary shelter before them. Food distributions are underway by a range of partners, including UN Ops, as well as the World Food Program. And there's so many local groups on the ground. Our teams in Mandalay saw a bonfire where two young women were cooking 600 eggs to distribute with rice and a few other things in plastic baggies for people that don't have a way to cook for themselves. We definitely need to have continued access to all the areas that are affected so that we can continue to provide assistance to those that need it most.

[Alice Qadi]

Sarah Netzer, the country director of UN OPS, the UN's office for project services. Still to come on this global news podcast, how scientists in Europe have harnessed the sound of Asian hornets to protect native bees.

[Mariko Oi]

Live from the Internet's red carpet, it's Vrbo's 2025 vacation rentals of the Year, our annual showcase of the very best of Vrbo. Selected from over 2 million private vacation rentals, this year's list features breakout hits.

[Carsten Brzeski]

Like a ski in, ski out, mountain.

[Mariko Oi]

Chalet and a modern beach compound. With unobstructed ocean views, and with discounts on select stays of one week or longer, these critically acclaimed homes might be more affordable than you'd think. Head over to vrbo.com that's vrbo to check out the official list and make it a vrbo.

[Alice Qadi]

The president of the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader, has announced a crackdown on migration from Haiti as the neighbouring country struggles with gang violence and A breakdown of law and order. Haiti's national police and a UN backed security force have failed to stop a year long criminal uprising. Stephanie Prentice told me it's been really.

[Stephanie Prentice]

Challenging to report from Haiti. It's just not safe there. And the situation is really the worst in the capital, Port au Prince. The last estimate we had from the UN was that gangs control around 85% of the city. That's led naturally to a collapse of basic systems people need to live like health care, food distribution, as well as widespread reports of violence, sexual violence, kidnappings, and even children being recruited as soldiers. We also know gangs recently stormed a prison in Mirbulet, that's a nearby town, and released around 500 prisoners. And overall more than 5,600 people were killed in that gang violence last year. So many people have fled, especially those gang controlled areas. In the UN estimate, more than a million people are internally displaced and a huge amount of them are just living in makeshift camps.

[Alice Qadi]

So the Dominican Republic borders Haiti. They're now cracking down on people trying to cross the border.

[Stephanie Prentice]

Yes. The president of the Dominican Republic has just announced a wave of measures to tighten up the border they have with Haiti. He did run on an anti immigration ticket back in 2020. Of course, the situation has become a lot worse since then. So when he was speaking at a press conference, he did appear to sympathise with the struggles of civilians there, but said action was needed urgently.

[Johan Nell]

Today we are called to an unavoidable.

[Mariko Oi]

Duty, a challenge we didn't choose, but one we must face with courage and determination. The challenge of the irregular migration of Haitians whose streets are overtaken by violence, abandoned to despair where order has succumbed to chaos.

[Stephanie Prentice]

So now 15 new measures will see an acceleration of the construction of a border wall that was already being built and that's going to separate the two countries. He's also said he'll add 1,500 soldiers to these border surveillance teams he already has in place. And he said there will be harsh penalties and that's for anyone who may help someone. So taking people in with what he called irregular immigration status, so that counts for renting them properties, taking them into their homes or just helping them get into the country in any way.

[Alice Qadi]

Stephanie Prentice, the US health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Who's previously been considered to be a vaccine skeptic, now says the most effective way to prevent the spread of measles is the MMR vaccine. His comments posted on X came after a second child died of measles in the Dr. George Benjamin is executive Director of the American Public Health association and said a lack of consistent messaging has fueled the current outbreak in the US.

[Carsten Brzeski]

We'Re seeing this enormous epidemic of measles this year because it's initiated in a community that was unvaccinated. And it's a community that has had a lot of misinformation about the risks of vaccinations. It just continues to grow. And when you get behind on these kinds of outbreaks with measles because it's so infectious, it really takes you a while to catch up. Unfortunately, we have a anti vaccine secretary as a Secretary of Health and Human Services who not only has not been very supportive of vaccines, has actually been someone who has been a person who has spread misinformation and disinformation around vaccines. But even worse, he's also advocated for alternative prevention therapies such as promoting vitamin A, which we know does not work to prevent measles. And that's been a real challenge here.

[Alice Qadi]

The CDC, America's disease prevention agency, has recorded around 650 cases stretching from Alaska to Florida. So what threat does measles pose now? Dr. Peter Hotez is a pediatrician and co director of the Texas Children's Hospital center for Vaccine Development.

[Carsten Brzeski]

The measles virus is a good exploiter of children who are not vaccinated. It's one of the most contagious viruses we know about. It has a reproductive number of 12 to 18. What that means is if you have measles exposure, on average 12 to 18 non vaccinated children will become infected. So this is really a monster epidemic at this point. Back in the 1980s, measles was the single leading killer of children globally. Two to three million children lost their lives because of measles. And then through the good work of the GAVI alliance, the global alliance of vaccines and immunizations, over the last 20 years, we've brought that number down to around 100,000. And the reason is the virus, after it causes sets up infection, it gains access to the bloodstream, spreads to the lungs and causes a serious giant cell pneumonia which is life threatening. In the past, you could have a discussion with a parent and explain the devastating effects of the measles virus versus the high level of safety of the MMR vaccine. It's become more complicated now, particularly in our state of Texas, because we have a very aggressive anti vaccine movement. And now having the Health and Human Services secretary publicly make reckless statements about the MMR vaccine, it's gotten all that more complicated.

[Alice Qadi]

Dr. Peter Hotez Hundreds of thousands of Demonstrators took to the streets of Spain this weekend to protest against the high cost of housing in what is Europe's fastest growing economy. Soaring rents, flats bought by foreigners which are turned into holiday rentals and few affordable homes being built, has caused anger across the country. The problem is especially acute in the capital Madrid, from where Guy Hedgco reports.

[Valerie Sanderson]

Blanca Castro has to wash her dishes in the bathtub. That's because her kitchen is dangerous and unusable, with a large hole in the ceiling which leaks water from above. Blanca believes that the company which owns her flat and others in the building has deliberately halted all maintenance work in order to encourage the tenants to leave.

[Mariko Oi]

The current rental bubble is encouraging a.

[Carsten Brzeski]

Lot of big owners to do what.

[Mariko Oi]

They are doing here, which is to.

[Carsten Brzeski]

Get rid of the tenants who have.

[Mariko Oi]

Been here a long time in order.

[Carsten Brzeski]

To have short term tourist flats or.

[Mariko Oi]

Simply to hike up the rent.

[Valerie Sanderson]

Blanca is just one of millions of Spaniards who are worried about the cost of housing. Over the last decade, salaries in Spain have increased by around 20%. But during the same period, the cost of an average rental has doubled. I'm next to a group of workmen and some cranes where a block of flats is being built just on the outskirts of Madrid. This kind of site is much less common now than in 2000, 2007, at the height of Spain's property boom, when more than 600,000 homes were built in just one year. Last year, by contrast, only a sixth of that number of homes were completed. High building costs, lack of available land and a shortage of manpower have all been factors in restricting construction in recent years. The Socialist Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez says he's now making it easier for cheap housing to be built. His coalition government is also taking more interventionist measures.

[Mariko Oi]

Spaniards want the housing market to operate according to the law of reason of social justice, not the law of the jungle. They want us to ensure that vulture.

[Carsten Brzeski]

Funds and speculators are not doing whatever they like.

[Valerie Sanderson]

The government has introduced a housing law which puts a cap on rentals in some urban areas. So far, it's only been implemented in a handful of regions such as Catalonia and the Basque Country. The government has also proposed a tax of up to 100% on the purchase of property by non residents from outside the eu, which could affect British buyers in particular. Critics say this kind of interventionism scares owners and investors, causing properties to be taken off the rental market and making the situation worse. However, lower income Spaniards are calling for more drastic measures to be taken as anger over the housing crisis builds.

[Alice Qadi]

Guy Hedgko in Madrid in Spain. Scientists in Europe have found a way of remotely detecting invasive Asian hornets hovering outside beehives. A single Asian hornet can kill up to 50 honeybees a day, and their presence deters the insects from venturing out to forage. The hornet is native to Southeast Asia and is believed to have traveled to France in a cargo of pottery from China about 20 years ago. Researchers have now identified the hornets hovering flight sounds. First hears the sound of honeybees, and this is the sound of hornets. Now, can you tell the difference? Well, Professor Martin Benchik was involved in the study, and he explained how the sound of the hornets compare to honeybees.

[Carsten Brzeski]

It's a lower pitch. So this is one of the features we're using to discriminate the hornet from the bee. And the recording also demonstrates another feature which we've highlighted. It also has some kind of vibrato, you know, like a musician playing a note. The musician or the singer, they can wobble the frequency of the notes that they're producing. It's called the vibrato in music. And the hornet also has got that vibrato was. The honey bee hasn't got it. Usually the Asian hornet is localized somewhere in a woodland, and it might be near your bees or it might not be near your bees. So one way this might help the beekeepers, first of all, is to flag up to them those colonies that are under threat and those that are not under threat, you can leave them. There's no need to act. And those that are under threat, you act on them. So I guess it's an economy of means for the beekeeper.

[Alice Qadi]

Professor Martin Benchik. And that's it 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, send us an email. The address is globalpodcastbc.co.uk. you can also find us on XBCWorldService. Use the hashtag globalnewspod. This edition was mixed by Jack Wilfen, and the producer was Isabella Jewell. The editor is Karen Martin. I'm Valerie Sanderson. Until next time, bye.