Israel delays scheduled release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners

Summary

Global News Podcast Summary BBC World Service | Episode: Israel Delays Scheduled Release of Hundreds of Palestinian Prisoners | Release Date: February 23, 2025

---

1. Israel's Delayed Prisoner Release and Hostage Reunions

In a tense development, Israel has postponed the release of over 600 Palestinian prisoners, initially agreed upon in exchange for the recent liberation of six hostages by Hamas. The delay, unexplained officially, has sparked accusations from Hamas and anxiety among the families awaiting their release.

Hostage Reunions: Six hostages released by Hamas have been joyously reunited with their families. Notably, Avera Mengistu, who was held captive for over a decade, returned to a scene of overwhelming relief.

Gilly Eliassim (03:40): "We feel like we're on cloud nine, overwhelmed with happiness. It's a day of celebration."

However, Hamas has criticized Israel, alleging violations of the Gaza ceasefire and claiming that some prisoners faced assaults in Ramallah after dark.

Reasons for Delay: Sebastian Usher, the BBC correspondent in Jerusalem, suggests the delay might be a response to previous tensions, specifically referencing the incident involving Shiri Bibas.

Sebastian Usher (04:23): "It may be that big decisions are taken [during a high-level security meeting]. There's been speculation... this is in response to that."

Families remain in a state of limbo, underscoring the fragile nature of the ceasefire agreements.

---

2. US Politics: Donald Trump's Statements on the Ukraine War

Former President Donald Trump has asserted that he is nearing a resolution to the Ukraine conflict, a fulfillment of his campaign promise to end the war swiftly.

Trump (07:54): "I've spoken to President Putin and I think that thing is going to end. But it's got to end. It's a horrible, horrible thing to watch."

Trump emphasized reclaiming the billions the US has provided to Ukraine, labeling the aid as a loan from Europe.

Trump (08:15): "They get their money back. We gave it in the form of nothing."

Expert Analysis: Boris Bondarov, a former Russian diplomat, interprets Trump's motives as a strategic move against China, suggesting an alignment with Putin to counterbalance Beijing.

Boris Bondarov (09:12): "Trump... wants to achieve some very important foreign political goals for the United States by making Vladimir Putin his friend or even an ally against China."

Bondarov expresses skepticism about the effectiveness of isolating Russia to strengthen the US's position vis-à-vis China, noting the deep economic ties between Russia and China.

---

3. German Elections: CDU vs. AfD and the Future of German Politics

Germany faces pivotal elections with the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leading the polls under Friedrich Merz's leadership, aiming to replace Olaf Scholz as Chancellor. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is projected to double its vote share, stirring concerns about political extremism.

Damian McGuinness (13:59): "There's an energized feeling, a politicized feeling and a polarized feeling... a lot of people express deep dissatisfaction with the current leadership."

The CDU has declared it will not form a coalition with the AfD, maintaining a "firewall" to exclude extremist influence. However, if the AfD secures a significant portion of the vote, questions arise about the sustainability of this barrier.

Political Analyst (16:47): "They look set according to the polls to double the number of seats... But they won't get into government, they won't get into political power because there's a firewall."

Critics argue that CDU leader Friedrich Merz's recent parliamentary motions, supported by the AfD, inadvertently challenge this firewall, potentially undermining long-held political norms.

---

4. Vatican Update: Pope Francis's Declining Health

Pope Francis's health has taken a turn for the worse, with the Vatican confirming his condition remains critical after battling pneumonia.

Vatican Statement (19:04): "The 88-year-old pontiff has spent the last eight nights in a Rome hospital where he's being treated for pneumonia and his condition was thought to have stabilized."

Despite remaining alert, the Pope has experienced a prolonged respiratory crisis requiring oxygen and blood transfusions.

Sarah Rainsford (19:33): "The Pope's condition is described as critical... he remains in a critical condition."

This news has raised global concern among Catholics, especially following recent reports of his responsiveness to medication amidst a delicate health balance.

---

5. Congo Conflict and UN Resolution

The United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution urging Rwanda to end its support for the M23 rebel group and withdraw its troops from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This move aims to de-escalate tensions following the rebels' capture of major eastern cities, exacerbating fears of a broader regional war.

Congolese Official (20:59): "The resolution... calls for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire... get out of our country."

Rwanda, however, vehemently denies allegations of supporting M23, labeling the EU's stance as selectively outrageous and dismissing concerns as misguided.

Rwanda's Statement (20:59): "It condemns the decision as selective outrage against the M23 rebels."

The conflict has resulted in thousands of casualties and displaced nearly a million civilians, highlighting the urgent need for diplomatic interventions.

---

6. France Knife Attack During Congo Demonstration

A tragic knife attack unfolded in Mulhouse, France, resulting in the death of one individual and injuries to three police officers. The assailant, a 37-year-old Algerian man on a terror watch list, targeted officers during a demonstration supporting Congo.

President Macron (22:42): "There's no doubt that it's an Islamist terrorist act."

The attacker was reportedly shouting "Allahu Akbar" at the time of the assault, further classifying the incident as terrorism. This act has ignited debates on immigration policies and national security.

Jordan Bardella (22:49): "The man should have been deported before he had the chance to carry out the attack."

The incident underscores the ongoing challenges France faces in balancing security and immigration control.

---

7. Los Angeles Wildfires: Controversial Debris Sorting Along Beaches

The aftermath of the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles has left the city grappling with an immense cleanup effort. Approximately 4.5 million tonnes of debris are being sorted, with the controversial decision to process hazardous waste along the coastal regions.

EPA Official (26:28): "We have to do this very quickly... to remove the household hazardous material so they actually don't impact the ocean."

Environmentalists and local residents, including actress Bonnie Wright, have protested the placement of hazardous materials near vulnerable waterways, fearing ecological damage.

Bonnie Wright (25:38): "It just seems absolutely absurd to us to put something next to a flowing creek..."

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) maintains that immediate action is necessary to prevent environmental contamination, emphasizing the lack of an ideal sorting location.

EPA Official (26:55): "We're the nation's experts in handling hazardous materials and we're able to do it safely without incident."

The scale of the cleanup is unprecedented, with uncertainty surrounding the timeline for Los Angeles's full recovery.

---

8. Largest Crypto Theft in History: Bybit's $1.5 Billion Breach

Cryptocurrency firm Bybit has reportedly fallen victim to what could be the largest crypto theft in history, with hackers stealing $1.5 billion worth of digital currency. The breach occurred during a transitional phase from cold wallets (offline storage) to hot wallets (online storage), a process that should have enhanced security.

Professor John Sedanov (29:09): "It's a security breach... during a transition from cold wallets to warm or hot wallets."

Despite the incident, Bybit's founder assures users that their funds remain secure and that the company can cover the losses.

Speculation points to the Lazarus Group, a North Korean hacking faction, as the perpetrators behind the sophisticated attack.

John Sedanov (30:05): "There is some speculation that this is North Korean hacking... pointing to the North Korean group being at the center of this."

Blockchain analysis has traced the stolen funds to wallets linked to previous cyberattacks, highlighting the transparent yet vulnerable nature of digital currencies.

---

9. French Lottery Scratchcard Theft and Unlikely Partnership

In a peculiar twist, two men in France purchased a winning scratchcard using a stolen credit card, winning approximately €500,000. However, neither party can claim the prize independently, leading the original card owner to propose an unconventional alliance.

Jean David (32:19): "I'd like to tell them to contact my lawyer so we can work out a friendly agreement. Let's split the money."

Jean David, the rightful owner of the stolen card, seeks to collaborate with the thieves to claim the winnings legally. Meanwhile, the lottery company has frozen the prize, complicating the potential partnership.

Jean David (33:07): "It's an interesting offer... the risks may just be worth it."

With a deadline approaching for claiming the prize, the unlikely duo faces uncertain outcomes, highlighting the complexities of financial crimes and restitution.

---

Conclusion

This episode of the Global News Podcast delves into a spectrum of pressing global issues, from geopolitical tensions and political upheavals to environmental crises and unprecedented cybercrimes. Each story underscores the intricate interplay of politics, security, and societal challenges shaping our world today.

---

For more insights and detailed reporting, tune into the Global News Podcast on your preferred BBC platform.

Transcript

[Unknown Speaker]

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK.

[Janak Jalil]

Hi, this is Jenny Garth from I Do Part 2. Who do you know on Ozempic or Semaglutide right now? Everyone Right these game changing Weight loss meds are everywhere and FutureHealth makes it easy to get started. Find out if weight loss meds are right for you in just three [e-mail] FutureHealth is not a healthcare services provider. Meds are prescribed at providers discretion. Results may vary.

[Katya Adler]

Sponsored by FutureHealth hello, I'm Katja Adler, host of the Global Story Podcast from the BBC. Each weekday we break down one big news story with fresh perspectives from journalists around the world. From artificial intelligence to divisive politics tearing our societies apart from the movements of money and markets to the human stories that touch our lives, we bring you in depth insights from across the BBC and beyond. Listen to the Global Story wherever you get your BBC podcasts.

[Janak Jalil]

This is the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Janak Jalil and in the early hours of Sunday 23rd February, these are our main stories. There's been an unexplained delay to the release of hundreds of Palestinians from Israeli jails hours after Hamas freed six hostages from Gaza. The Vatican says the Pope's health has deteriorated after more than a week in hospital with pneumonia. One person has been killed in a knife attack on police officers in France that President Macron has called an act of Islamist terror. Also in this podcast, a Frenchman whose stolen credit card was used to buy a winning lottery scratch card which is now been frozen, makes this appeal to the thieves.

[Unknown Speaker]

I'd like to tell them to contact my lawyer so we can work out a friendly agreement. Let's split the money.

[Janak Jalil]

As six hostages released by Hamas have been tearfully reunited with their families. Israel has delayed the release of more than 600 Palestinian prisoners who were supposed to be freed in exchange under the terms of the Gaza ceasefire deal. There's been no official explanation for the delay, however, Israeli security officials have been meeting late into this evening. Hamas has accused Israel of a blatant violation of the Gaza ceasefire deal and claims some of the prisoners have been assaulted as night fell in the west bank town of Ramallah. Families continue to wait as we record this podcast, including these relatives of two of the prisoners. Waiting is very difficult and it's very difficult to be on edge, but we shall endure it for the sake of their freedom.

[Unknown Speaker]

For us, one hour equals a day.

[Janak Jalil]

We've been sitting on the chair waiting.

[Unknown Speaker]

For many hours but what else can we do?

[Janak Jalil]

Earlier on Saturday, five of the hostages were freed in the stage managed shows of force by Hamas that have become weekly events, while the sixth was released in private. Three of the hostages had been kidnapped at the Nova Music festival during the October 7th attacks. Crowds in Tel Aviv welcomed them back. One hostage, Avera Mengistu, had been held captive by Hamas for more than 10 years. A family member, Gilly Eliassim, described their joy.

[Unknown Speaker]

We feel like we're on cloud nine, overwhelmed with happiness. It's a day of celebration. Now that he's back and will undergo rehabilitation, we'll finally have time to reflect and hold accountable those responsible for everything that happened and for what should have happened.

[Janak Jalil]

Well, since then, Hamas has published a new video showing two Israeli hostages not yet scheduled for release who'd been brought to a release point to witness Saturday's liberation of the other hostages. The video, taken inside a vehicle, captures them pleading on camera to be taken home. Well, earlier I asked our correspondent in Jerusalem, Sebastian Usher, what we knew about why the Palestinian prisoner releases had been.

[Unknown Speaker]

Delayed after the sixth hostage was released. Hisham Al said the process of releasing the more than 600 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails would normally have started, as we've seen in other hostage handovers, but it hasn't. And we are hearing from Israeli media sources that the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is holding a high level security meeting which his Defense minister, Israel Katz, is attending. And the release of the prisoners will be discussed during that. Also the next stage in the ceasefire deal. So it may be that big decisions are taken then. There's been speculation in the Israeli media that the delay may be payback perhaps to the way in which Hamas had said that it was handing over the body of Shiri Bibas on Thursday and then it turned out not to be her body. Hamas. Hamas subsequently did return a body which has been shown to be her. But there was a day or two when Israel went beyond grief over what had happened to Shiri Bibas and her children to anger at the fact that her remains hadn't actually been returned, as Hamas had said. So potentially this is in response to that.

[Janak Jalil]

So tell us about the release of the six hostages and what condition the six men were in.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yes, I mean, this was a little bit different from what we've seen in the past few weeks of hostage handovers. It took place in three locations. Two of the events were what we've come to expect now from Hamas very stage managed. The first one took place in Rafah in which Tal Shoham, who was kidnapped on October 7, 2023 in a Hamas led attack, was released. And at the same time, Avera Mengistu, who's been held in captivity by Hamas for more than decade. He was captured after he crossed over into Gaza. There's been a lot of speculation over why he was held so long, but he was finally released. And then a little bit later, in the center of Gaza, in Al Nusarat, Eli Cohen, Omar Shem Tov and Omer Venkat were released. These are men, all in their 20s, and they were all abducted also on October 7th from the Nova Music Festival. They all looked in reasonably good shape, it has to be said. And then there was a private, for the first time, there was a release of a hostage which was done out of the gaze of the public in Gaza. That happened in Gaza City. And that was of Hisham Al Sayed, who also like Averah Mengistu, had been held for around a decade by Hamas in Gaza, again for a very similar reason. He had crossed over from Israel into Gaza. Again, questions over why he was held so long. He also appears, from what we've heard in the past, not to be in very good physical condition. Whether that's the reason that it was done in private or the fact that he's a member of the Arab Israeli community that might also have played a part.

[Janak Jalil]

Sebastian Usher in Jerusalem. President Trump has said he thinks he's close to a deal on ending the war in Ukraine. It was one of his campaign pledges that he would be able to end the war within 24 hours of taking office. Speaking at the CPAC Conservative Conference near Washington, he said he wanted to get back the billions of dollars the US has given to Ukraine.

[Unknown Speaker]

I've spoken to President Putin and I think that thing is going to end. But it's got to end. It's a horrible, horrible thing to watch.

I'm dealing with President Zelensky, I'm dealing with President Putin. I'm trying to get the money back. Europe gave it in the form of a loan.

They get their money back.

We gave it in the form of nothing.

So I want them to give us.

[Janak Jalil]

Something for all of the money that.

[Unknown Speaker]

We put up and I'm going to try and get the war settled and I'm going to try and get all that death ended.

[Janak Jalil]

Russia has been subject to strict sanctions since its full scale invasion of Ukraine nearly three years ago. Now Donald Trump's decision to deal directly with Vladimir Putin has given the Russian leader valuable diplomatic kudos. On Tuesday, US And Russian Officials held their first high level face to face talk talks since Russia's full scale invasion. Ukraine was not invited. Boris Bondarov is a former Russian Foreign Ministry official who worked at the Russian mission to the UN office in Geneva from 2019, but resigned in 2022 in protest over the Russian invasion of Ukraine. What does he make of the latest changes to U S Russia relations since Trump came to power?

[Boris Bondarov]

Trump is eager to change US Foreign policy very drastically, to be very much unl his predecessor. And also I think he wants to achieve some very important foreign political goals for the United States by making Vladimir Putin his friend or even an ally against China. I think that is the most obvious and logical explanation to all his maneuvers around Putin.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yes, that's interesting you say that because there's lots of speculation in the United States as to why President Trump seems so pro President Putin. Yeah, in his first term and his second term now. But you think it's all to do with China.

[Boris Bondarov]

Maybe not all, but I think that the primary reason, if we try to find reasons in Trump's policy, should be around China, because Trump has always stated that to contain China, to compete with China strategically, economically is his main goal and he considers China to be United States rival. Evidently Putin's Russia is not a rival in Trump. Trump's eyes, it's a small economy, it's a huge nuclear arsenal, and it's better to have Vladimir Putin out of this, you know, bilateral US China competition.

[Unknown Speaker]

Let's just sort of, for the sake of argument, say you're right and it's basically his main concern is China. Do you think this policy of isolation will help the United States assert itself vis a vis China?

[Boris Bondarov]

I think no. And I have doubts because Trump may, you know, lie to himself that he could make this split between China and Russia. But the truth is that Russia is very much dependent on China right now. 36% of Russian foreign trade is with China. And China has been a steady, predictable and very reliable partner and supporter of Vladimir Putin for the last three years. And Putin knows that in China, in Beijing, he has a reliable supporter and partner. And the United States is everything right now but predictable.

[Unknown Speaker]

You're living in Switzerland. You obviously get the European perspective as well. Europe, the European Union has never had a unified foreign policy. Really? Do you think it will now need to get one or does it not need one and can continue just thinking about trade and not assert itself internationally?

[Boris Bondarov]

It depends on whether Europeans want to play its own independent role and to have a say in worlds matters, for they are quite satisfied with, with how Trump treats them like, without any respect, without considering them to be equals. The European Union doesn't need strategy right now. It needs it three years ago, at least, when the war has started. For these three years, Europeans have not produced anything which could be characterized as a strategy or a plan of action. And if you, as someone said, when you don't know where to sail, no wind is favorable.

[Unknown Speaker]

Well, I mean, is that quite fair? I mean, the European Union may not have had such a strategy, but nor did the United States did it. I mean, you know, they were pretty much in lockstep in allowing Ukraine to defend itself, but not to inflict a defeat on Russia.

[Boris Bondarov]

Absolutely, absolutely. The United States didn't. And they haven't yet produced any sustainable strategy either. But United States, I think they can afford it more than Europe can.

[Janak Jalil]

That was Russian former diplomat Boris Bondarov speaking to Owen Bennett Jones. To Germany now and what could be momentous elections which are taking place today, Sunday amid concerns about immigration, a faltering economy and Europe's future during a second Trump presidency. The conservative Christian Democrats, or CDU, have been leading the opinion polls with about 30%, with its leader, Friedrich Mertz, hoping to replace Olaf Scholz as chancellor. But many are watch closely to see how well the far right alternative for Germany does. It has many extremists among its ranks, but polls suggest it could double its votes to come second. The CDU has ruled out forming a coalition with the AfD. These people in Berlin shared their thoughts and fears about the elections. A bit undecided because you don't know what will come of it. That's the problem.

[Unknown Speaker]

None of them have addressed health policy.

[Katya Adler]

Rents, unemployment, nor education.

[Unknown Speaker]

There were a lot of issues they.

[Katya Adler]

Didn'T address and instead they focused on.

[Unknown Speaker]

Migration policy, but in the wrong way.

[Janak Jalil]

Our BERLIN Correspondent, Damian McGuinness says people are acutely aware of how important these elections are.

[Unknown Speaker]

There's an energised feeling, a politicised feeling and a polarised feeling. The, the mood is certainly one where people are talking about politics again and engaged in politics, but not necessarily in a positive way, because there are all these crises around. And that's why people are aware of how important these elections are. A lot of people, though, are undecided. They say they don't like any of the parties or any of the main candidates. And a lot of people express deep dissatisfaction with the current leadership, the leaders of the parties and in some cases even the political system.

[Janak Jalil]

And everyone will be watching to see how well the far right AFD does. It's been backed by Elon Musk and the US Vice President JT Vance. And the party itself seems very confident after years of being treated like a pariah.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah, there's a lot going on with the afd. They look set according to the polls to double the number of seats or the share of their seats in the national parliament, going from maybe around 10% to possibly as much as around 20% if the polls are correct. So if they get 20% or more, they will be absolutely jubilant. But it has to be said they won't get into government, they won't get into political power because there's a firewall, as it's known here around them. No other party will work with them. That's because they're seen as so toxic and they are judged to be, in part, at least, right wings, extremists. The question is though, what will happen if they get well over 20% and if the Conservative Party, which was Angela Merkel's party, is now Friedrich Merz, who's tipped to be the next Chancellor, he's the leader of that party. If they get in the upper 20s, not much more than the AfD, what will then happen is there'll be plenty of right wingers within the Conservative Party who will then start questioning this firewall and start saying, well, you know, this is a powerful party with almost a quarter of voters selecting it and you do have then questions about democratic legitimacy. How long can you keep a party out of power and can you refuse to work with the party which maybe 20 or 25% of voters have voted for? So I think what the party is doing, what the AfD is doing, they're looking to four years time, this is their first step to national power, they would say, they say they want to use this election to broaden their appeal, to establish their legitimacy in order then to have a chance of bringing down the firewall next time round. But Fridis Mertz, the Conservative leader, is adamant that he's never going to do it. And his strategy really is one of undermining the AfD by luring back right wingers with some pretty tough rhetoric, particularly on migration.

[Janak Jalil]

And he has been accused of undermining that firewall himself.

[Unknown Speaker]

What he did a couple of weeks ago was to pass a motion in Parliament, a non binding motion with the support of the AfD, which in theory does undermine the firewall. But again, he would argue that he was pushing through this quite controversial measure in order to do the opposite to undermine the AfD. Because he says that only by, as he would put it, catering to people's concerns about migration would people stop voting for the AfD. I think that's why people are watching this election so closely. It's only really when the results come out will we know whether Friedrich Mehtzer's strategy has actually worked or not.

[Janak Jalil]

Damien McGuinness in Berlin still to come on the Global News podcast, we report on the operation to clear the devastation left by the Los Angeles fires and how not everyone is happy about beaches being used to sort the debris.

[Unknown Speaker]

We have to do this very quickly. I mean, we started as the fires were still raging and we have to remove the household hazardous materials so they actually don't impact the ocean.

Foreign.

[Janak Jalil]

This is Ashley Kineti from the Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous podcast. It feels like everyone is talking about GLP1s these days. Those are Ozempic and Semaglutide. And with Future Health you can find out if they're right for you too. Maybe you feel like you've been struggling with your weight for years and no matter how much you diet and exercise, you just don't feel healthy. Just go to try FH.com to find out if weight loss meds are right for you. Future Health is not a healthcare services provider. Meds are prescribed at providers discretion. Results may vary. Sponsored by Future Health.

[Katya Adler]

Hello, I'm Katya Adler, host of the Global Story podcast from the BBC. Each weekday we break down one big news story with fresh perspectives from journalists around the world. From artificial intelligence to divisive politics tearing our societies apart from the movements of money and markets to the human stories that touch our lives, we bring you in depth insights from across the BBC and beyond. Listen to the Global Story wherever you get your BBC podcasts.

[Janak Jalil]

You're listening to the Global News Podcast. As we record this podcast, the Vatican says Pope Francis health has worsened in the past day. The 88 year old pontiff has spent the last eight nights in a Rome hospital where he's being treated for pneumonia and his condition was thought to have stabilized. In its latest update, the Vatican says that although he is alert, he remains in a critical condition. Sarah Rainsford reports from the Vatican.

[Katya Adler]

Pope Francis has asked for openness about his health and the latest Vatican update is the most stark read yet. The Pope had what is described as a prolonged respiratory crisis today which required oxygen. He also needed blood transfusions, the Vatican says after tests showed he has anaemia. The Pope's condition, as before, is described as critical. The 88 year old is not out of danger, the statement says, and it adds that he is suffering more than yesterday. It declines to give any prognosis. This will all worry Catholics around the world, especially after doctors yesterday said for the first time the pope was responding to medication. But they also noted that any slight thing risked upsetting a delicate balance. Even Even so, Pope Francis is said to remain alert, and he spent the day, the Vatican says, in his armchair.

[Janak Jalil]

Sarah Rainsford the Democratic Republic of Congo has welcomed a UN Security Council resolution calling on Rwanda's military to stop supporting the M23 rebel group and to immediately withdraw all its own troops from Congo. The M23 has captured two of the largest cities in eastern Congo, stoking fears of a wider regional war. Rwanda denies allegations made by both Congo and the United nations that it is supporting the M23 rebels with arms and troops, despite the evidence to the contrary. Themez Gen de Bursai reports.

[Unknown Speaker]

The resolution, which was adopted unanimously by all 15 members of the Security Council on Friday, calls for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire. It also urged Rwanda and Congo to restart peace talks. In a post on social media, the Congolese government spokesman, Patrick Muya, hailed the resolution as a major diplomatic victory and he also had this message for get out of our country. Since January, the rebels have captured the cities of Bukavu and South Kivu's provincial capital Goma, in the country's mineral rich east. The conflict has left thousands killed and nearly a million civilians displaced, with many fleeing their homes, including to neighboring countries like Burundi. Meanwhile, Rwanda's parliament has issued a statement criticizing the European Parliament's proposal for the EU to suspend the minerals agreement and aid to Kigali because of its alleged role in the violence in the Congo. Rwanda condemned the decision as selective outrage against the M23 rebels. It said the move deliberately obscures the ongoing crisis and Rwanda's security concerns.

[Janak Jalil]

Termez Ghen de Versailles In France, one person has been killed and three police officers have been wounded in a knife attack in the eastern city of Mulhouse during a demonstration about Congo. The attacker is reported to have shouted ala Awakba or God is great as he attacked the officers. A 37 year old Algerian man who was on a terror watch list has been arrested. President Emmanuel Macron was quick to condemn the attack.

[Unknown Speaker]

In this terrorist act.

[Janak Jalil]

There's no doubt that it's an Islamist terrorist act. In view of the phrase used by the terrorist.

[Unknown Speaker]

I would like to reiterate the nation's.

[Janak Jalil]

Solidarity with the family and the government's and my own determination to continue the work we've been doing for the past eight years to eradicate terrorism on our soil. The head of the anti immigrant National Rally Party, Jordan Bardella, said the man should have been deported before he had the chance to carry out the attack. Our Paris correspondent Hugh Scofield is following developments.

[Unknown Speaker]

The bare facts seem pretty clear that there was a demonstration in Malouz this afternoon in support of Congo, the African country. And around this demonstration there were many police officers on patrol. And it seems that this man launched his knife attack against police officers, not against people taking part in the demonstration. Another person, it seems, tried to intervene and this person was knifed and died and was killed by the man. The man is under arrest and in detention. And it's been revealed by the prosecutor that he's a 37 year old Algerian man and he cried out Allahu Akbar at the time of his act. So this has been classified as a terrorist attack. And it also has been reported now that and confirmed that the man was subject to a deportation order. He was on a kind of watch list for radicalization and was subject to a deportation order to Algeria.

[Janak Jalil]

Hugh Scofield, the Los Angeles area is slowly recovering from the wildfires that tore through the city, claiming dozens of lives and displacing tens of thousands of people. Large sections of the city were destroyed, including much of the Pacific coast highway between Santa Monica and Malibu. The fires generated a staggering amount of debris, an estimated four and a half million tonnes. And some of that is controversially being sorted out along the coast. Regan Morris reports from Los Angeles.

[Unknown Speaker]

With its sun drenched lifeguard towers, bronzed surfers and bikini clad volleyball players, Will Rogers State beach is one of the most recognizable stretches of sand in the world, thanks to the global cult classic Baywatch. But now the iconic beach is barely recognizable, surrounded by the ruins of burned homes and palm trees, the parking lot is a sorting ground for hazardous waste from the wildfires. The beach babes have been replaced by Environmental Protection Agency crews in hazmat suits. The decision to sort through hazardous waste along the coast has prompted protests.

[Janak Jalil]

Sort the hazardous waste in its place.

[Jean David]

Stored the hazardous waste in its place.

[Janak Jalil]

It just seems absolutely absurd to us to put something next to a flowing creek, especially as we are in rain right now. And obviously California is known to have quite extreme rain conditions.

[Unknown Speaker]

Actor Bonnie Wright, who played Ginny Weasley in the Harry Potter films and has written a book on sustainability, has been lobbying officials to protect sensitive waterways near her neighborhood in Topanga Canyon.

[Janak Jalil]

So right there in this very vulnerable place, they're sorting this very hazardous, hazardous stuff which as we know things run off the land and into our ocean. So this isn't just a local issue. This could really damage the whole further Santa Monica Bay that obviously many LA county residents enjoy. And there's a lot of tourism on the coastline. There's a lot of industry that comes because of this beautiful coastline we have. But it won't really be beautiful if we have, you know, fire hazardous waste running off the land and into the ocean.

[Unknown Speaker]

The EPA says there is no ideal spot and that speed is of the essence. Steve Kalanog is the EPA's Incident Commander for the LA fires.

We have to do this very quickly. I mean, we started as the fires were still raging and we have to remove the household hazardous material so they actually don't impact the ocean. If we are delayed, the risk of impacting the ocean goes up again. We've done this for 15 plus years. We're the United States Environmental Protection Agencies, we're the nation's experts in handling hazardous materials and we're able to do it safely without incident.

What about all those Teslas and electric cars that were incinerated? Where do they go?

The lithium ion batteries is a unique phenomenon in our modern day life. When lithium ion batteries are damaged, and in this case by high heat and flames, they have the potential for reigniting and exploding days, weeks, months after they've been impacted. So we have to treat them like unexploded ordinance or as the military calls uxo. We have to process them so they can be transported safely to a recycling or disposal facility.

Louisiana county closed beaches along a 14 kilometer stretch from weeks following the fires in January. Torrential rain which helped douse smouldering embers, caused mudslides in the burn area and runoff of toxic ash and chemicals into the ocean. Now most beaches are reopened, but an advisory remains in effect along the coast from Santa Monica to Malibu, urging people to stay out of the water until further notice. Though some will risk most anything to catch a wave. Only the most dedicated and local surfers could access the beaches in the burn area anyway. There's no parking or stopping for miles along Pacific coast highway, which is clogged with trucks and workers cleaning up debris. It's not known how long it will take to rebuild la. The scale of the cleanup from the fires is unprecedented. But LA is a city known for reinvention and many here are working hard to rebuild and hope, hopefully welcome tourists back to the coast soon.

[Janak Jalil]

That report by Reagan Morris. It could be the biggest Crypto theft in history. Hackers are reported to have stolen $1.5 billion worth of digital currency from the cryptocurrency firm Bybit. The Dubai based company's founder reassured users that their funds were safe, as it could cover the loss the hackers stole from Bybit's Ethereum coin digital wallet. Ethereum is the second largest cryptocurrency by value after Bitco. Its value fell after the theft. Professor of Finance John Sedanov at Villanova University in Pennsylvania explained how the theft happened.

[John Sedanov]

It's a security breach. And what's. What's strange about it to an extent is that these were seemingly in cold wallets. It was during a transition from cold wallets to warm or hot wallets. So a cold wallet is something that the storage is completely or meant to be completely offline, so not connected to the Internet. So, you know, supposedly not susceptible to a hacker or somebody coming in and infiltrating the system. Hot wallet would be online and cash that's available for, for somebody to kind of hack if the circumstances were right. It does appear that this was during a transition from the cold to the warm wallets, but at the end of the day, it's a big security breach.

[Janak Jalil]

We're talking about what could be the biggest crypto theft in history. How was so much money able to be stolen from what should be a very secure place?

[John Sedanov]

There is some speculation that this is North Korean hacking the Lazarus Group. So there's a group called Arkham Research that looks out for these kinds of things, and they are speculating that or some evidence, I should say, is pointing to the North Korean group being at the center of this.

[Janak Jalil]

But a very sophisticated theft for a country that's supposedly very isolated from the rest of the world. Do we know where the money is now?

[John Sedanov]

So they are in wallets that folks have been able to track, and that's where the evidence has been able to kind of be built up to suggest who is behind this, because some of the cryptocurrency that's come out. You know, all this is available on blockchains, which is a public ledger about what's, you know, we can all look at them and see who's got cash, where and how it's being moved. Now, you know, this is anonymous to an extent, but when a wallet is identified on the blockchain, then, you know, you can kind of believe that that wallet persists with the same owner over time. So the currency ended up in wallets that were linked to other hacks that were related to this North Korean hacking group, and it is a sophisticated operation. They were behind other sophisticated attacks too. So they've got their operations spanning the globe in what they're doing, and they know what they're doing for sure. It's a worry when you cede control of your, your assets to a third party.

[Janak Jalil]

Professor of Finance John Sedanoff. Now to a different kind of money problem. Just imagine you've got a winning lottery ticket that puts you in line for about half a million dollars, but you can't claim the money. That's what's happened to two men in France who bought a winning ticket. But here's the catch. They bought it with a stolen credit card, so they're not allowed to claim the prize. Now, the owner of the credit card, who also can't claim the prize, says he didn buy the ticket, says he wants to team up with the two men so that they can split the money between them. Anna Aslan reports.

[Jean David]

Jean David was initially upset when his bag was stolen from his car in Toulouse. He reported the crime and cancelled his bank cards. But too late. €50 had already been spent via contactless payment at a nearby shop. Speaking to the cashier, he found out two men who appeared to be homeless had bought cigarettes and several scratch cards and they'd won the jackpot of €500,000. They were so excited, they left their cigarettes in the shop and hurried to claim their winnings. But Jean David had told the lottery company about the stolen card, so the pair can now be arrested and the money seized. And it's here that Mr. David's frustrations turned into excitement as he tried to strike a deal with the thieves.

[Janak Jalil]

I'd like to tell them to contract.

[Unknown Speaker]

My lawyer so we can work out a friendly agreement.

Let's split the money.

[Janak Jalil]

They have nothing to fear.

[Jean David]

It's an interesting offer. Neither party can get the money by themselves and they wouldn't have wound up in this situation without each other. It's unclear, though, whether the lottery company will definitely pay out and if the thieves could still get in trouble. But for a share of half a million euros, the risks may just be worth it. Scratchcard winners have 30 days from the date of purchase to claim their winnings, so the deadline is fast approaching for this very unlikely team.

[Janak Jalil]

Anna Aslam. 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, you can send us an email. The address is globalpodcastbc.co.uk. you can also find us on XBC World Service. Just use the hashtag Global newspod. This edition was produced by Alice Adley and it was mixed by Chris Hansen. The editor is Karen Martin. I'm Janet Jalil. Until next time. Goodbye.

[Katya Adler]

Hello, I'm Katya Adler, host of the Global Story podcast from the BBC. Each weekday we break down one big news story with fresh perspectives from journalists around the world. From artificial intelligence to divisive politics, tearing our societies apart from the movements of money and markets, to the human stories that touch our lives, we bring you in depth insights from across the BBC and beyond. Listen to the Global Story wherever you get your BBC podcasts.