Hamas submits positive response to Gaza ceasefire proposal

Summary

Global News Podcast – Episode Summary: "Hamas Submits Positive Response to Gaza Ceasefire Proposal"
Release Date: July 4, 2025
Host: BBC World Service

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1. Ceasefire Proposal Between Hamas and Israel

The episode opens with Paul Adams introducing the main stories, highlighting Hamas' positive response to Israel's latest ceasefire proposal in Gaza. However, Danny Eberhard clarifies that this response does not equate to full acceptance, citing additional conditions set by Hamas:

• Immediate cessation of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation's operations.
• Exclusive distribution of aid through the United Nations and other international organizations.
• Withdrawal of Israeli military forces to their positions prior to the last ceasefire collapse in March.
• A guarantee from the US that bombardment will not resume if the ceasefire lapses without a permanent agreement.

Danny Eberhard notes, "The last point is touching on what has been the key sticking point... Hamas wants from Israel a guarantee that the war will end." (04:22)

Despite these negotiations, Paul Adams reports that Israel continues its bombardment of Gaza, issuing evacuation orders and maintaining airstrikes, particularly around key areas like Khan Yunis and the controversial Nasser Hospital.

Danny Eberhard adds, "The Israeli military issued evacuation orders... suggests that airstrikes will be continuing in that area." (04:28)

Political dynamics within Israel are also discussed, with Danny Eberhard explaining Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's challenges: "He has pressures from within his own coalition... the far-right members... want the war to continue until Hamas is eliminated." (05:08). Netanyahu's upcoming meeting with Donald Trump in Washington is anticipated as a pivotal moment in these negotiations.

2. US Tax and Spending Cuts Signed into Law

Shifting focus to the United States, Valerie Sanderson and Peter Bose cover President Donald Trump's signing of a significant tax and spending bill into law. Valerie Sanderson states, "It's the most popular bill ever signed in the history of our country." (06:07), highlighting:

• Largest tax cuts in American history.
• Spending cuts totaling $1.7 trillion.
• Overarching promise of minimal noticeable impact on the average citizen.

However, Tom Brook presents a critical perspective, noting, "There will be cuts to health care benefits for low income Americans. Food assistance programs will be cut." (07:57). The bill is projected to increase the US national debt by over $3 trillion. While President Trump touts the bill's success and popularity, many Americans express concerns over its long-term fiscal implications and the reduction of social safety nets.

3. Accusations of Russian Chemical Weapons Use in Ukraine

Paul Adams reports on intelligence assessments from Germany and the Netherlands accusing Russia of escalating the use of chemical weapons in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Valerie Sanderson details:

• Tear gas and chloropicrin deployments by Russian forces.
• Chloropicrin is particularly concerning due to its potential lethality, especially in enclosed spaces.

The Dutch Defense Minister, Reuben Breckelmans, condemns these actions, stating, "The Russian attacks are systematic and on a substantial scale. They are completely unacceptable." (10:11). He calls for stringent sanctions and demands that Russia be excluded from international bodies like the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

Russia denies these allegations and counters by accusing Ukraine of chemical weapon use, a claim Ukraine vehemently denies. The OPCW has yet to conduct a full investigation into these incidents.

4. Strengthening Ukraine's Air Defenses

In a subsequent segment, Danny Eberhard discusses the collaboration between President Zelenskyy and Donald Trump to bolster Ukraine's air defense capabilities. This agreement comes amid Russia's largest air assault to date, resulting in casualties and significant infrastructure damage in Kyiv. Valerie Sanderson describes the scene: "There's a gaping hole here where a shahed drone landed... rescue teams inside propping up the building." (12:33)

While Zelenskyy lauds the discussions as "important and fruitful," concerns linger regarding the Pentagon's previous halt of US Patriot Air Defense system shipments due to stock shortages. John Bolton, former national security adviser, continues to express worries about the sustainability of US support. The episode underscores the ongoing uncertainty surrounding military assistance to Ukraine.

5. Kenyan President's Controversial Church Construction

Paul Adams shifts to Kenya, where President William Ruto has embarked on building an expansive church within the State House in Nairobi, costing approximately $9 million and accommodating 8,000 congregants. Guy Hetchko, the correspondent in Nairobi, reports significant public backlash:

• Constitutional Concerns: The Kenyan constitution mandates the separation of church and state, as Guy Hetchko explains, "When he wants to put up a church inside the State House, this gives the impression that Kenya is a Christian country, which goes against the constitution." (19:49)

• Lack of Support: No major religious denominations have endorsed the construction, and groups like the Atheist Kenya Community are threatening legal action.

• Public Discontent: Citizens question the necessity and legality of the church, especially amidst ongoing frustrations over governance issues such as corruption and police accountability.

6. Funeral of Portuguese Footballers Diogo Jota and Andre Silva

The podcast covers the somber occasion of the funeral of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, notable footballers who tragically died in a car crash. Valerie Sanderson describes the nationwide mourning in Gondomar, Porto, with tributes from high-profile figures including the Portuguese President and Prime Minister. Guy Hetchko emphasizes the emotional impact on ordinary fans: "But there's already the frustration from Kenyans and young people..." (19:49)

The brothers are hailed as heroes, with numerous ceremonies and public displays of grief, reflecting their significant influence in Portuguese sports culture.

7. Elephant Attack in Zambia

In a distressing report, Paul Adams discusses a fatal elephant attack in South Luangwa National Park, Zambia, where two female tourists from the UK and New Zealand were killed during a walking safari. Rhoda Odiambo shares a personal anecdote related to elephant encounters:

“I have a. I know how dangerous elephants are... there was thick bush forest... an elephant broke out... started charging me... I think it was sheer luck, absolute luck.” (24:00)

She offers safety advice, stressing the importance of reputable travel companies and having accessible transportation during safaris. The incident underscores the ongoing risks associated with human-wildlife interactions amid environmental and conservation challenges.

8. Oasis Reunion Concert in Cardiff

A highlight of the episode is the coverage of Oasis' first concert in 16 years, held in Cardiff with an audience of 74,000 fans. Paul Glynn narrates the event, capturing the emotional reunion of brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher. Notable moments include powerful performances of classics like "Champagne Supernova" and "Don't Look Back In Anger," with fans enthusiastically participating in singing.

Despite a lack of personal interaction between the Gallagher brothers on stage, the musical chemistry remains palpable. Peter Bose adds, "If the first night is anything to go by, maybe technically, they're obviously older, they're a bit grayer... the power of the band is still there." (28:31)

The concert is lauded as a successful blend of Oasis' classic sound with modern elements, attracting both long-time fans and a new generation through platforms like TikTok.

9. 50th Anniversary of "Jaws"

Concluding the episode, the podcast celebrates the 50th anniversary of Steven Spielberg's iconic film "Jaws." Tom Brook reflects on the film's enduring legacy, noting its revolutionary impact on Hollywood by establishing the summer blockbuster model. Special events include:

• Re-releases of the film in cinemas.
• Television presentations and documentaries.
• A major exhibition at the Academy Museum in Los Angeles.

Valerie Sanderson and Jana Kramer discuss the film's craftsmanship and its realistic portrayal of suspense: "The cinematography is incredible... the genius of the young Steven Spielberg is that he staged this pulp shark thriller as if it was really happening." (30:19)

Despite criticisms over its portrayal of sharks and initial impact on beach attendance, "Jaws" remains a seminal work in cinematic history, celebrated for its storytelling and technical achievements.

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Conclusion

This episode of the Global News Podcast offers a comprehensive overview of significant global events, ranging from geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and Ukraine to cultural milestones in sports and film. Through expert analysis and firsthand accounts, listeners gain a nuanced understanding of the intricate dynamics shaping our world in July 2025.

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For more detailed discussions and updates, subscribers are encouraged to listen to the full episode or contact the Global News Podcast team at [e-mail].

Transcript

[Valerie Sanderson]

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[Paul Adams]

This is the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Valerie Sanderson and in the early hours of Saturday 5th July, these are our main stories. Hamas says it submitted a positive response to the latest proposals for a ceasefire with Israel in Gaza. German and Dutch intelligence services accuse Russia of increasingly using chemical weapons. In Ukraine, President Trump signs his flagship package of tax and spending cuts into law. Also in this podcast, mostly shock because of what happened and how it happened.

[Rhoda Odiambo]

Also I can see like the contrary, I see support when those stuff happen. People tend to be more connected, especially especially Portuguese people.

[Paul Adams]

Mourners gather in Portugal ahead of the funeral of the footballer Diogo Jota. President Trump said he'd hoped to hear from Hamas shortly about the latest ceasefire proposal for Gaza after 20 months of war. Now the Palestinian militants say they've delivered a positive response to mediators and in a statement say the group is Seriously ready to enter immediately into a round of negotiations. I asked our correspondent in Jerusalem for more details about the Hamas position.

[Danny Eberhard]

They've respond saying that their response was positive. But one crucial thing to note is this doesn't mean that Hamas has accepted the proposal yet. In fact, a senior Palestinian official familiar with the talks has told the BBC that Hamas has asked for three key changes to the proposals as they currently stand. It's demanding at firstly, an immediate end to the operations of the Gaza Humanitarian foundation, which is the US and Israeli backed aid provider in Gaza. This organization has been mired in controversy after near daily reports of Israeli troops opening fire on civilians near its site, something which Israel denies is deliberate. The official also said that Hamas has requested that aid be distributed exclusively through the UN and other international relief organizations. It's also insisted that the Israeli military should withdraw to the positions that it held in Gaza before the last ceasefire collapsed in March. And finally, Hamas is also seeking a guarantee from the US that the bombardment will not resume if the ceasefire ends without a permanent agreement being reached. Essentially that last point is touching on what has been the key sticking point throughout these negotiations, which is that Hamas wants from Israel a guarantee that the war will end. It wants to see a path to the end of the war, something which Israel has so far refused to commit to as part of these negotiations.

[Paul Adams]

And meanwhile, of course, Israel is continuing its bombardment of Gaza even now, isn't it?

[Danny Eberhard]

That's right. There has been widespread evacuation orders issued around Gaza by the Israeli military throughout the week. On Friday in particular, the Israeli military issued an evacuation order for Khan Yunis in the south after evacuation orders earlier in the week for the north and for parts of Gaza City. That essentially suggests that airstrikes will be continuing in that area. It's significant too because Har Yunis is an area where Nasser Hospital is a major hospital in in Gaza, which has been characterized by the World Health Organization as a trauma center for people who have been shot, severely injured, killed while seeking aid in particular.

[Paul Adams]

And you said we had to wait to see how the Israelis would respond. Key for them obviously are the hostages still in Gaza. And of course, Benjamin Netanyahu is meeting Donald Trump in Washington next week, isn't he?

[Danny Eberhard]

That's right. And as you say, from the Israeli perspective, the release of hostages is key here. But where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing inflicting domestic pressures is that despite the majority of the Israeli public wanting an end to the war, he has pressures from within his own coalition. The far right members of his governing coalition do not want an end to the war. In fact, they want the war to continue until Hamas is eliminated, until Israel has total control over Gaza. So he will be weighing up these various different pressures politically on him ahead of this meeting with Donald Trump.

[Paul Adams]

Ione Wells in Jerusalem. Now to the White House on the lawn, in fact, where Donald Trump has made good on his word to deliver what he calls his big beautiful bill.

[Valerie Sanderson]

It's the most popular bill ever signed in the history of our country. Whether you're military or anybody else, this is the single most popular bill ever.

[Peter Bose]

Signed and it includes the largest tax.

[Valerie Sanderson]

Cut in American history, the largest spending cut, $1.7 trillion, and yet you won't even notice it.

[Paul Adams]

Then, with a quick flourish of his trademark Sharpie pen, the President turned the bill into law. He signed the legislation bringing in permanent tax cuts for some, slashing support for others. On America's Independence Day, a double celebration for the US President. I heard more from our North America correspondent, Peter Bose.

[Tom Brook]

The President likes to put on a show and this could not have fallen better for him in terms of timing. Independence Day, it's what he sought all along, a resolution to this, a signing on the 4th of July, a celebration on the lawn at the White House. The President addressing people from the balcony with the first lady by his side. There was a military flypast, pilots in the audience involved in the bombing missions in Iran last month, despite security concerns expressed by some that their identity should not be made known. And as we've just heard, the president in a brilliant mood. The country is more proud now than ever before, he said. He says he hasn't seen a spirit in this country like this for decades. Decades, the hottest country anywhere around the world. This is his conclusion of the impact of the one beautiful bill. Promises made, promises kept, he says people are very happy. Military, civilians, he says, of all types. Biggest tax cuts in the country's history. Something there, he said, for everyone. Clearly, that is disputed by many people around the country.

[Paul Adams]

Well, indeed, many people are very unhappy about this bill, aren't they?

[Tom Brook]

Unhappy for many reasons. And as we saw during the agonizing process to get it through Congress, many Republicans had reservations and made those reservations well known. They eventually all, or at least all but two, fell into line in the House of Representatives. But this is a bill that financial experts say will add more than $3 trillion to the US national debt. There will be cuts to health care benefits for low income Americans. Food assistance programs will be cut. Now, the President says that these changes to the benefits are to root out waste and fraud and abuse of the system rather than to make life harder than for those who legitimately claim the benefits. But there are many around the country who say that this bill will make life much more difficult for their family.

[Paul Adams]

Peter Bose, the intelligence services in the Netherlands and Germany say that Russia is increasingly using chemical weapons in the war in Ukraine. They say the military has deployed tear gas and the choke agent Klora Pickrin to force Ukrainian soldiers out of shelters. I heard more from our Europe regional editor, Danny Eberhard.

[Valerie Sanderson]

They're not the worst of all chemical weapons, Val, but they are nevertheless banned. Now, tear gas usually is a riot control agent used by security forces and the effects of that often wear off quite quickly. But the key thing is that although security forces can use them for riot control under the Convention of the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, they cannot be used in warfare. Now, Russia and Ukraine have both ratified that convention. It's one of the most widely observed of all international agreements and it's been enforced for nearly 30 years. Only a tiny handful of countries haven't joined. And then with chloropicrin, it's a more serious toxin, has some similar effects to tear gas, but it's a dual use chemical. So it can be used in agriculture as a fungicide or pesticide, but it's also a choking agent. It can irritate lungs, eyes, and it can be fatal if it used in enclosed spaces. It was used, as you said, in the First World War as a poison gas.

[Paul Adams]

So what do the Dutch and German authorities want to happen in response to this?

[Valerie Sanderson]

Well, the Dutch intelligence agencies say they, through their own investigations, have evidence of the use of these things. And the US has also made similar allegations against Russia in the past. The Dutch defense minister, Reuben Breckelmans, says the Russian attacks are systematic and on a substantial scale. He calls them completely unacceptable. And he stresses that their use by Russia must not be normalized. He said that if the threshold for the use of such weapons is lowered, it's dangerous not just for Ukraine, but for Europe and the wider world. So he's calling for sanctions. He's calling for Russia to be isolated and for there to be undiminished military support for Ukraine. He also says Russia should be blocked from seats on, for example, the executive council of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, the key body that monitors this.

[Paul Adams]

Interesting, isn't it, that Ukraine is saying this is an occasional use? The Defense Ministry there says Russia has carried out more than 9,000 chemical attacks since the start of the invasion back in 2022. What's Russia saying?

[Valerie Sanderson]

Well, Russia has denied using any chemical weapons in the past. It hasn't responded to these particular allegations from the Dutch and the Germans. It actually accuses Ukraine of using them chemical weapons, which Ukraine itself denies. The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons has yet been asked to conduct a full investigation. But Ukraine says 9,000 attacks. It says it's only attributed three deaths to the direct use of chemical weapons. But the important thing is that by driving Ukrainian soldiers out of trenches and foxholes using these weapons, by, for example, dropping them by drones, it allows soldiers to be killed with conventional arms.

[Paul Adams]

Danny Eberhard President Zelensky says Donald Trump has agreed to work with Ukraine to strengthen the country's air defenses. The commitment comes days after the Pentagon halted shipments of U.S. patriot Air Defense systems to Ukraine over concerns that its stock was running low. The two leaders spoke on the phone earlier on Friday after Russia carried out the largest air assault of the war so far overnight, killing one person. Moscow says it hit drone factories and military infrastructure. Our correspondent Paul Adams sent us this report from Kyiv.

[Valerie Sanderson]

This was one of Kyiv's worst nights in recent months, leaving one person dead, more than two dozen injured and plenty of wreckage. So this is one of the areas that was hit overnight. It's a residential district just a few miles from the city center and there's a gaping hole here where a shahed drone landed, we think around 4 o' clock in the morning. There are rescue teams inside propping up the building, which is clearly not in good shape. More reasons then for Ukraine's leader to repeat his plea for more help to protect his country's skies. A day after Donald Trump voiced his disappointment after a phone call with Vladimir Putin, President Zelenskyy called his conversation with Mr. Trump important and fruitful, adding that he and the president had agreed to strengthen Ukraine's air defences. He didn't say how and it's not immediately clear if the issue of Washington's suspension of critical military assistance has been fully resolved. John Bolton, who served as national security adviser during the first Trump administration, told the BBC he was still concerned.

[Jana Kramer]

It is possible that this is the.

[Valerie Sanderson]

Beginning of a cutoff of all American.

[Jana Kramer]

Military assistance, but I don't see it yet from Trump.

[Valerie Sanderson]

And I'm hoping that Zelenskyy and perhaps.

[Jana Kramer]

Other European leaders might be persuasive in having Trump take a look at this again.

[Valerie Sanderson]

For now, Kyiv's European allies are concentrating on ways to bolster Ukraine's defenses. Discussions on the so called coalition of the willing are planned for the sidelines of an Anglo British summit next week. But deployment of what's been called a reassurance force for Ukraine can only happen when there's a ceasefire and negotiations about that have ground to a halt.

[Paul Adams]

Paul Adams still to come on this podcast.

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[Paul Adams]

How a 26 year old Steven Spielberg made the iconic film Jaw.

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[Paul Adams]

It's not unusual for presidents and prime ministers to redecorate their official residence according to their taste. New wallpaper here, a lick of paint there, out with that portrait, in with this. But the Kenyan President William Ruto is taking things a bit further. He's building a whole church at his presidential palace in Nairobi. It's not small. With capacity for 8,000 people, it'll be about four times the size of London's famous Westminster Abbey. And it's not cheap. It's going to cost about $9 million and it's certainly not popular. As our correspondent in Nairobi, Rhoda Odiambo.

[Guy Hetchko]

Told me earlier, it's created a lot of pent up anger and frustration that is already there with Kenyans, especially after many people not being happy with the style of leadership of the government and the President's or the government's lack of accountability when it comes to issues of police brutal. So when he acknowledged that he is building the church inside the State House, there was a lot of frustration and anger and disappointment in Kenyans because the way he was expressing himself in the clip that was widely shared by various media houses, a lot of people ended up questioning why he is doing that. There are other denominations in Kenya such as Muslims and Hindus. Why wasn't that built in the State House by other leaders who were there? And the fact that he's also building it when he said by his own money. Because when he has been repeatedly asked by various media houses on the status of his wealth and how he has been able to acquire it, he's not been able to fully open up on how he's been able to acquire his wealth. So a lot of people are just questioning the legality of being able to put up such a huge structure at the State House without getting the necessary government approval.

[Paul Adams]

There is a group, isn't there, called Atheist Kenya Community. They're threatening to sue. Can you tell us more about that?

[Guy Hetchko]

Yes, they are threatening to sue because according to the Kenyan constitution, everyone has the right to express themselves with any religious form that they would want to express themselves in. So it could be in the Muslim faith, in Christian faith or Hinduism, or there's also the traditional African society. So the atheists believe that when the President now wants to put up a church inside the State House, this is more giving the impression that Kenya is a Christian country, which also goes against the constitution because the constitution in Article 8 says that the state does not have to be in an entanglement with the church. They're supposed to operate as two separate institutions.

[Paul Adams]

So, Rhoda, you've outlined a lot of the opposition to this plan. Is anyone supporting the president's proposal to build a church?

[Guy Hetchko]

No one has come out to say that they are supporting the construction of the church inside the State House. Catholic bishops haven't spoken, Anglicans haven't spoken. But there's already the frustration from Kenyans and young people that the church is not coming out to speak on issues that are affecting Kenyans when it comes to corruption, unemployment, governance and police accountability.

[Paul Adams]

Rhoda Odiambo Coffins containing the bodies of the Liverpool player Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, who both died in a car crash on Thursday, have been brought to a chapel in Gondomar in the Portuguese city of Porto. Ahead of their funeral on Saturday. Family and friends, the Portuguese president and Diogo Jota's agent all attended the church. Many people have left flowers and candles outside. Our correspondent Guy Hetchko is there.

[Valerie Sanderson]

It has been a day of sombre tributes in Gondomar, the suburb of Porto, where Diego Jota and his brother Andre grew up. In the morning, family and friends visited the chapel where the two men's bodies had been taken in their coffins. As the day went on, the wake became increasingly public, reflecting the stardom of the Oros Jones in his home country. The prime minister, Luis Montenegro left the wreath and the president, Marcelo Rebelo da Souza, paid his respects. High profile figures from Portuguese football also attended, such as Andre Vilas Boas, the former coach of Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur. The Portuguese Parliament in Lisbon paid tribute to the two men. But it was the grief of ordinary people who have lost a hero that was most apparent.

[Rhoda Odiambo]

Mostly shock because of what happened and how it happened. Also I can see like the contrary, I see support, a lot of support. Many people are here with respect, humblety also. When those stuff happen, people tend to be more connected, especially Portuguese people.

[Valerie Sanderson]

Tomorrow, Gondomar will be the site of the two brothers funeral, when Portugal bids them a final farewell.

[Paul Adams]

Guy Hedgeko Two female tourists from the UK and New Zealand have been killed by an elephant while in a walking safari in Zambia. Police said the animal was with its calf when it ran at the two women in South Luanga National Park. The animal was shot and wounded as guides tried to stop it charging. Alice Morrison is a writer and adventurer who herself narrowly survived after an elephant charged her in Zambia.

[Rhoda Odiambo]

Many years ago, I was in a bike race cycling from Cairo to Cape Town, and we were just near the border with Botswana, so we're on the Zambia, Botswana border. And I was brought up in Africa, so I have a. I know how dangerous elephants are. Every week in my childhood, we'd hear about somebody being killed. So we heard through the kind of the cyclist grapevine that there were elephants ahead. So I thought, right, I'll just stop. There was thick bush forest on either side. And I thought, I'll just, just stop. I'll wait for the elephant to cross the road and then I'll carry on, because, as I say, I'm frightened of elephants. And I was just sitting on my bike, you know, standing there stationary, when suddenly a bull elephant broke out of the undergrowth about 100 meters to my left and started charging me. He was trumpeting and flapping his ears, both of which are a sign of aggression. So I turned my bike around, I started. Started cycling faster than I've ever cycled before. He was so close that I could feel the ground under my bike shaking with his goodness me steps.

[Valerie Sanderson]

You're clearly a fast peddler. I mean, that must have been terrifying.

[Rhoda Odiambo]

It truly was. At that moment, I had three thoughts in my head. One was, I'm going to die. The second was, should I get off the bike and try and climb a tree? But they were thorn trees, so I could never have done it. And then really the third one, which is kind of horrible, was, am I going to be gored to death or am I going to. Going to be trampled to death? But what happened was he suddenly. I mean, he could have killed me. He was, they can go at 50 km an hour, an elephant. But he just stopped.

[Valerie Sanderson]

And so once you were out of his territory, he was satisfied.

[Rhoda Odiambo]

Exactly. It was just sheer luck, absolute luck.

[Valerie Sanderson]

You then went on and wrote a book called Dodging Elephants, which is a. Which is a very good title, but, but, but. So what is the advice to people who might be going to the bush or on safari if you ever did encounter this sort of thing?

[Rhoda Odiambo]

Well, my very first piece of advice is a very obvious one. Please book for the very reputable travel companies. My second piece of advice is if you're on a walking safari or a cycling safari, make sure there is car with you, some kind of transport, and that you're near enough to get in it. The last thing I have to say is, you know, I am absolutely sure these guides did their very, very best for these very unlucky women. And this is just a horrible accident.

[Valerie Sanderson]

There were two elderly American women who died last year in separate Incidents in Zambia. Why do you think it keeps happening? Is it that people are encroaching on their territory more than they did?

[Rhoda Odiambo]

There are two things. Number one, there is a fight for land between humans and animals in Africa, which the humans are winning. I mean, overpopulation, the eradication of disease, which used to keep the population down. Thank God people are not dying anymore. But it means that there's a huge, huge growth in population. Now they need the land for food. The animals are being squeezed and squeezed and squeezed. And actually, these game reserves are absolutely crucial to maintaining some animal population in what used to be a continent that was just teeming with wildlife.

[Paul Adams]

Alice Morrison talking there to Christian Fraser. Next to Cardiff, the capital of Wales, where the first Oasis concert for 16 years has taken place. This is the moment the band took to the stage. The brothers Liam and Noel Gallacher and the rest of the band performed in front of a crowd of 74,000 people who gathered for the first night of their reunion tour on Friday, which includes dates in the uk, the United States, South Korea, Japan, Australia and South America. They've been attracting their old fans, but also a whole new generation.

[Paul Glynn]

Today is what every superfan or any.

[Peter Bose]

Fan is waiting for. This is the pinnacle, this is the.

[Valerie Sanderson]

Holy grail of Oasis. So very, very excited.

[Paul Glynn]

This is massive.

[Peter Bose]

That'll be the biggest fan then, and I think they'll be the biggest fan again now.

[Paul Glynn]

You know, our expectations are very, very high because we miss them a lot.

[Danny Eberhard]

I. I get emotional just thinking about it, mate.

[Paul Adams]

Our correspondent Paul Glynn was at the concert.

[Peter Bose]

One of the biggest reunion tours in living memories underway in Cardiff this evening. With a bang, Liam Gallagher said to the crowd, was it worth it? This was a reference to the ticketing debacle that we had. There was a lot of people were unhappy with the dynamic pricing of the tickets when he said, was it worth it? He might have been talking about money, but it might also have been Talking about the 16 years that there's not been an Oasis gig. We were treated to powerful performances of tracks like Champagne Supernova, Don't Look Back In Anger. It was sung so loud by the fans that Noel Gallagher didn't even need to sing. He let the fans sing it. And Live Forever was a real moment. Over the duration of time that Oasis have been apart, people have seen Liam perform and people have seen Noel perform, but hearing them perform together with the harmonies and duetting on songs and backing each other up on songs like Live Forever, there was a beautiful, poignant moment at the end of the Outro of Live Forever as well, where they. On the screen was an image of the Liverpool player Diogo Jota, who sadly died this week. There was a big round of applause from the fans at that moment. In terms of Oasis, there was no real banter or chemistry between Noel and Liam. Not verbally. We know they've been. They've had a love hate relationship for years, but musically they came together, the band sounded very big, they had an extra guitarist. It was kind of a mix of oasis of the 90s with oasis of the Noughties, because an old favorite, Bonehead, was back in the band to join the last lineup. They had a new drummer in Joey Varanca. That was his debut. So Liam said, was it worth it? From the people that I saw coming out, kind of old Oasis fans and new, younger ones, I think the answer was a yes.

[Paul Adams]

You say there wasn't much to ing and froing or much of a relationship, apparently, on stage between the two brothers. I mean, why do you think they're doing this? I mean, what's it about? Is it about money?

[Peter Bose]

I think there's certainly a huge element of that. You can't deny. You see the sort of numbers that have been flying around with the tickets that they've been selling and also sponsorship deals attached to it. This is, you know, one of the biggest tours we've seen for a while, really. But, you know, at the same time, the fan base of Oasis is so loyal and sometimes you could sense towards the end of the time that maybe music was moving on and people were perhaps going a little bit tired of it. In that 16 years that's passed, they not only had the old fans really back on site, but they've got a legion of new fans as well that are coming to the music through all different means. TikTok adverts that they've seen Oasis songs on. So I think it's all come together for them nicely. And if the first night is anything to go by, maybe technically, they're obviously older, they're a bit grayer. Some of the. Some of the higher notes that Liam used to sing, perhaps maybe a few octaves lower. But the power of the band is still there. Tonight's gig was under a roof in Cardiff, and at certain points, with the. With the extra guitarist in there, they nearly blew the roof off. And as I say, for some of the songs, they didn't even need to sing because the fans had been waiting that long to sing some of these songs.

[Paul Adams]

Paul Glynn at that Oasis concert in Wales until 50 years ago, most big movies were launched at the end of the year. That all changed when an action film directed by a 26 year old was released in June 1975, creating the summer blockbuster and launching a new business model for Hollywood. The movie was Jaws. The director was Steven Spielberg. And in the US celebrations are underway to mark its 50th anniversary. From New York, here's Tom Brook.

[Paul Glynn]

It may be 50 years old, but the thriller Jaws, the story of a great white shark terrorizing a New England beach community, based on a bestseller by author Peter Benchley, is still impressing.

[Rhoda Odiambo]

Audiences love Jaws.

[Paul Adams]

Very iconic, Many, many great scenes and it's a great summer movie.

[Peter Bose]

It's fun to watch.

[Valerie Sanderson]

It's just like high entertainment. Also, just like the craft is like amazing. The cinematography is incredible.

[Paul Glynn]

To mark the 50th anniversary of JAWS, there are special TV presentations, a re release of the film in cinemas, and a major forthcoming Jaws exhibition at the Academy Museum in Los Angeles. Hype may surround the Jaws anniversary, but to many, it is a truly great movie. For film critic Owen Gleiberman, the film's strength lies in that it respects reality.

[Jana Kramer]

What its legacy should be is movies.

[Valerie Sanderson]

Should be based in reality because that's what's so great about Jaws.

[Jana Kramer]

You believe every minute of it. The genius of the young Steven Spielberg is that he staged this pulp shark.

[Valerie Sanderson]

Thriller as if it was really happening.

[Jana Kramer]

Every moment of it.

[Valerie Sanderson]

You're going to need a bigger boat.

[Paul Glynn]

Jaws is credited with launching the summer blockbuster, or more correctly, it created a new business model for Hollywood. The film was given a simultaneous release in hundreds of cinemas, almost unheard of at the time, and promoted relentlessly. It convinced studio executives that a lot of money could be made in the summer months if movies were released that way. Paul de Garibedian is a box office analyst for comScore. It just really changed the whole industry.

[Valerie Sanderson]

Before Jaws, it wasn't really a well defined summer movie season. You could have big movies coming out at any time of the year, but there was never a season that encapsulated.

[Paul Glynn]

What young people wanted to do in.

[Valerie Sanderson]

The summer, which was go to the movie theater.

[Paul Adams]

And it really changed everything.

[Paul Glynn]

Jaws broke new ground in other ways. It was the first major motion picture to be filmed on the ocean, and it ended up being a very troubled production because of the difficulties of shooting on water. Remarkably, Steven Spielberg was only 26 years old when he was directing the feature, and it was his second official film. In May 1974, when he was making Jaws, Steven Spielberg told a BBC film crew that taking on this major motion picture was a real challenge for him.

[Jana Kramer]

No, it doesn't come easy. I don't even think about it. If I thought about multi million dollar pictures and all the equipment and all the responsibility, I'd probably go bananas. You yell shark.

[Paul Glynn]

We've got a panic on our hands on the 4th of July. Jaws has left its mark. At the time of its release, it reduced beach attendance in the US because people feared being attacked by a shark. The film has also been criticized for its overly negative depictions of the great white shark as a ferocious man eating predator. And the movie's 50th anniversary in the US is perhaps making some older moviegoers nostalgic for a time when their country was was less divided politically and movies like Jaws had sufficient reach to bring everyone together under one big tent to enjoy being with one another and getting scared out of their wits.

[Paul Adams]

Tom Brooke on Jaws. And that's it from us for now. But there'll 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 X@BBC WorldService. Use the hashtag Global Newspod. This edition was mixed by Nick Randall. The producers were Richard Hamilton and Charles Sanctuary. The editor is Karen Martin. I'm Valerie Sanderson. Until next time.

[Rhoda Odiambo]

Bye bye.

[Alice Morrison]

World of Secrets the Killing Call a BBC World Service investigation into the murder of Punjabi singer and rapper Sidhu Musiala.

[Valerie Sanderson]

The facts, they aren't out in the open.

[Peter Bose]

Why is Siddhu Musaywala, you know, uncovering.

[Alice Morrison]

A global criminal underworld that reaches far beyond India's borders?

[Valerie Sanderson]

There are so many rumors no one wants to talk.

[Alice Morrison]

There might be repercussions. Listen now. Search for World of Secrets wherever you get your BBC podcasts.