Israel military admits mistakes led to killing of Gaza medics

Summary

Global News Podcast Summary Episode: Israel Military Admits Mistakes Led to Killing of Gaza Medics
Release Date: April 20, 2025

The BBC World Service’s Global News Podcast delivers a comprehensive exploration of the most pressing international issues as they unfold. In this episode, host Rachel Wright navigates listeners through a series of critical global events, including the Israeli military’s admission of errors in Gaza, the volatile ceasefire dynamics in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Pope Francis’s Easter address, alarming kidnappings in Syria, innovative approaches to reconnecting humanity with nature, and escalating tensions between Canada and the United States affecting a historic library. Below is a detailed summary of each key segment covered in the episode.

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1. Israel Military Admits Mistakes in Killing Gaza Medics

Timestamp: 00:37 – 05:27

The episode opens with a deeply concerning incident where Israel’s Defense Forces (IDF) acknowledged errors that led to the tragic killing of 15 rescue workers in Gaza. Initially, the Israeli military claimed that the emergency vehicles involved did not display proper emergency signals— a statement later disproved by a video from one of the paramedics’ phones showing active emergency lights.

Key Points:

• Incident Details: On a fateful night, Israeli soldiers fired upon a convoy of emergency vehicles in Gaza, resulting in the deaths of 14 aid workers and a UN employee.
• Military Investigation: The IDF conducted an internal investigation, attributing the tragedy to operational misunderstandings and poor night visibility.
• Controversial Findings: Despite admitting initial misidentification, the IDF retrospectively classified six of the deceased as Hamas military members without providing supporting evidence or names, raising suspicions about the motives behind these claims.
• Accountability Measures: The military dismissed the commander involved in the operation and reprimanded higher-ranking officers, yet many questions remain unanswered regarding the incident.

Notable Quotes:

• Gary O'Donoghue (Jerusalem Correspondent): “[...] it was operational misunderstandings that led to that. They say that there was a problem with night visibility in identifying these as ambulances.” (Timestamp: 02:38)

• Rachel Wright: “Even after they identified them as ambulances, they did then retrospectively identify six of those they had killed as Hamas military members.” (Timestamp: 03:10)

The Palestinian Red Crescent vehemently rejected the IDF’s findings, labeling the report as “full of lies,” further intensifying the international criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza.

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2. Ceasefire in Russia-Ukraine Conflict Ends Amid Accusations

Timestamp: 06:20 – 10:25

The fragile ceasefire declared by Russia during the Orthodox Easter truce has unraveled, with both Russian and Ukrainian forces accusing each other of violating the terms. The cessation of hostilities appears temporary, with no immediate prospects for a prolonged pause or peace negotiations.

Key Points:

• Ceasefire Breakdown: Russia announced a 30-hour truce for Easter celebrations, which was not extended, leading to resumed hostilities.
• Mutual Accusations: Both sides blame each other for violating the ceasefire, undermining any hopes for lasting peace.
• Impact on Civilians: In Kherson, Ukraine, the temporary quiet was overshadowed by ongoing tensions and the fear of renewed attacks.
• Local Sentiment: Residents express skepticism about the ceasefire’s longevity, fearing the return of relentless conflict.

Notable Quotes:

• Steve Rosenberg (Russia Editor): “It looked increasingly unlikely that President Putin's 30-hour truce would lead to anything approaching a lasting peace.” (Timestamp: 06:56)

• Artem (Soldier in Kherson): “I don't have faith, but I hope it will happen.” (Timestamp: 10:00)

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3. Pope Francis Greets Crowds at Vatican's Easter Mass

Timestamp: 16:06 – 17:51

In a moment of both spiritual significance and personal triumph, Pope Francis appeared at the Vatican balcony to address thousands gathered for the Easter Mass. Having recently recovered from severe pneumonia, the Pope’s appearance was met with overwhelming relief and joy from the faithful.

Key Points:

• Papal Address: Despite his frail appearance, Pope Francis delivered a heartfelt Easter greeting, emphasizing peace and reconciliation.
• Health Concerns Alleviated: The Pope’s visible participation reassured many who had feared for his health following his hospitalization.
• Call for Peace: The Pope urged for the resolution of global conflicts, specifically mentioning Ukraine, Gaza, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Notable Quotes:

• Pope Francis: “Dear brothers and sisters, happy Easter.” (Timestamp: 16:31)

• Pope Francis (Closing Address): “The Mass closed with a call for peace and reconciliation of conflicts from Ukraine and Gaza to the Democratic Republic of Congo.” (Timestamp: 17:33)

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4. Surge in Kidnappings of Women in Syria's Alawite Community

Timestamp: 10:25 – 15:07

A distressing trend has emerged in Syria, where 48 women from the Alawite community have vanished since the start of the year. These abductions predominantly target women engaged in everyday activities, reflecting a broader pattern linked to Syria’s unstable security landscape.

Key Points:

• Targeted Demographics: All kidnapped women belong to the Alawite minority, the same sect as Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
• Community Impact: Families face harassment and extortion attempts following their loved ones' disappearances.
• Lack of Investigations: Authorities have been criticized for inadequate responses and ineffective investigations into the abductions.
• Social Stigma: The cases exacerbate existing social stigmas surrounding women in the affected communities.

Notable Quotes:

• Zubair Ahmed (Victim's Family Member): “We haven't received any updates. We have no idea how she is, where she is or who kidnapped her.” (Timestamp: 10:59)

• Sara (Syrian Rights Activist): “Security in general in Syria is not stable and some areas and some cities like villages in the coast, are not safe for people who are living there.” (Timestamp: 14:29)

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5. Virtual Reality as a Tool to Reconnect Humanity with Nature

Timestamp: 20:17 – 24:35

As urbanization restricts access to green spaces, innovative solutions like virtual reality (VR) are being explored to bridge the growing disconnect between people and nature. This segment delves into Habitat XR’s project aimed at fostering environmental empathy through immersive experiences.

Key Points:

• Project Overview: Ulrika Grecombo of Habitat XR utilizes VR to create close encounters with wildlife, exemplified by the film A Predicament of Pangolins.
• Emotional Impact: Viewers often report strong emotional responses, fostering a sense of empathy towards nature.
• Behavioral Influence: The initiative aims to inspire sustainable behaviors by igniting a lifelong connection with the environment.
• Expert Opinions: Professor John Zelensky underscores that while VR has potential, real-life interactions with nature remain crucial for lasting behavioral change.

Notable Quotes:

• Ulrika Grecombo: “This isn't about a pangolin, this isn't about climate change. This is about us.” (Timestamp: 22:39)

• Professor John Zelensky: “People who feel very connected to nature also report behaving in more sustainable ways.” (Timestamp: 21:47)

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6. Tensions at Haskell Free Library Between Canada and the US Amid Election

Timestamp: 25:40 – 29:44

Historical landmarks are not immune to geopolitical tensions. The Haskell Free Library and Opera House, uniquely situated on the Canada-US border, has become a point of contention amid rising border enforcement measures in the midst of Canada’s pivotal election.

Key Points:

• Operational Changes: The US Department of Homeland Security has restricted access for Canadians, citing concerns over drug trafficking and smuggling.
• Impact on Library Operations: Adjustments include limiting entrance access exclusively to Canadian library cardholders and individuals with disabilities.
• Community Reaction: Both Canadian and American patrons express frustration and a sense of betrayal over the division of this culturally significant institution.
• Election Context: The tensions are heightened against the backdrop of Canada’s crucial election, seen by some as the most important in its history due to close relations with the US.

Notable Quotes:

• Sylvie Boudreau (President of Haskell Free Library's Board): “Everyone is angry, everyone is discouraged about that division. It's not what the library and the Opera house is all about.” (Timestamp: 26:17)

• Lise to Set (Chief International Correspondent): “When President Trump started musing about Canada as the US's 51st state, first Canadians laughed. Then they got upset. Then they got mad.” (Timestamp: 27:35)

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Conclusion

This episode of the Global News Podcast sheds light on critical and diverse international issues, emphasizing the complexities of military accountability, the fragile nature of ceasefires in active conflicts, the resilience of spiritual leadership in times of crisis, the human cost of political instability, innovative approaches to environmental challenges, and the impact of geopolitical tensions on cultural landmarks. Through in-depth reporting and personal testimonies, the podcast provides listeners with a nuanced understanding of the global landscape as it evolves.

For further discussions and updates, listeners are encouraged to subscribe to the Global News Podcast and engage with the content through email or social media channels.

Transcript

[Simon Jack]

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[Zing Singh]

I'm Zing Singh.

[Simon Jack]

And I'm Simon Jack.

[Zing Singh]

And together we host Good Bad Billionaire.

[Simon Jack]

The podcast exploring the lives of some of the world's richest people.

[Zing Singh]

In the new season, we're setting our sights on some big names.

[Simon Jack]

Yep, LeBron James and Martha Stewart, to name just a few.

[Zing Singh]

And as always, Simon and I are trying to decide whether we think they're good, bad or just another billionaire that's good.

[Simon Jack]

Bad Billionaire from the BBC World Service.

[Zing Singh]

Listen now wherever you get your BBC podcasts. Foreign.

[Rachel Wright]

This is the global news podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Rachel Wright and in the early hours of Monday 21st April, these are our main stories. Israel's military has admitted its soldiers made mistakes when they opened fire on emergency vehicles in Gaza last month, killing 15 rescue workers. A ceasefire declared by Russia in its conflict with Ukraine has ended, with both sides accusing each other of numerous violations. Also in this podcast, Pope Francis has appeared at the Vatican balcony to wish Happy Easter to thousands of worshippers.

[Simon Jack]

And our overarching ambition is to use immersive technologies to mend the broken relationship that we have with nature, to bring people closer to it in absence of being able to physically do so.

[Rachel Wright]

Can virtual reality really help us appreciate nature? It was an incident that drew international condemnation, the killing of 15 emergency workers in southern Gaza last month. Even more troubling was the fact the Israeli army initially claimed the convoy of vehicles didn't have their emergency lights on. That was proved to be false after a video was found on the phone of one of the paramedics who'd been buried in a shallow grave along with Gaza civil defense workers and a UN employee. This was the moment the rescue workers arrived to help some injured people, only to be shot at for more than five minutes by Israeli soldiers. The Israel Defense Forces have now carried out an inter internal investigation into what happened and they've published their conclusions. Our correspondent in Jerusalem, Gary O'Donoghue, unpacked the findings of the investigation.

[Gary O'Donoghue]

What they've concluded is that the soldiers involved in the killing of the 14 aid workers and the UN worker in the first case of the 14 aid workers, medics and civil defense rescue people. Basically they say that it was operational misunderstandings that led to that. They say that there was a problem with night visibility in identifying these as ambulances, even though we have video evidence from one of the phones of one of the men who was killed that they did have their lights on and they were showing their emergency signals. So that's what they're saying about that. They're saying that even after they identified them as ambulances, they did then retrospectively identify six of those they had killed as Hamas military members. They haven't provided any evidence for that. They haven't told us what their names were so anyone could follow up and check that out. Now they have dismissed the commander who was involved that night also because this group fired on a separate UN vehicle, killed someone in that. And the IDF report is stronger on that. It says that that was a breach of orders and it's indicated that the officer on the ground effectively misled the investigators when first describing that incident. So that's where we are in terms of what they're doing. One firing, a reprimand for a commander further up the food chain. But still a lot of questions that people will be asking about what happened that night.

[Rachel Wright]

Israel have done reports in the past into events where they have found Israel Defense Force members or soldiers have been negligent and have fired. Do you think that they are upholding levels of scrutiny and is this going to be an example of that?

[Gary O'Donoghue]

Well, what they say is that this was done by an independent part of the general Staff of the idf, that it didn't involve the chain of command of those involved. Yet still, this is a Israeli military investigating the Israeli military. You're right to say that they have taken action in the past. You remember the killing of seven aid workers from the World Central Kitchen last April. There were two officers fired in that case and a number of others disciplined. So they do do this. But the thing about this particular incident, a, the numbers are larger. This is one of the bloodiest incidents involving medical and rescue workers dying in this 18 month conflict. And I think secondly, the emergence of that video from one of the workers praying for his life in the last seconds of his life, I think really has brought this incident home to people in a way that perhaps these statistics and these incidents that come along regularly in Gaza in various forms in an even more powerful way.

[Rachel Wright]

What is the situation on the ground in Gaza right now?

[Gary O'Donoghue]

Israeli action is intensifying. I think We've had around 300 airstrikes this week by the Israeli Air Force, according to their own figures. The Health Ministry on the ground is telling us that several dozen people are dying every night with more than 100 being injured every night. Israel is occupying increasingly large percentages of Gaza itself, particularly sort of around the perimeter, what it calls these sort of buffer zones around the edge. It's also moving into areas in the south around Rafah and Khan Younis. And there is now some signs in the last day or so that the clashes on the ground are starting to pick up again. That hadn't happened during the ceasefire. That seems to be possibly changing now and of course, at a point where there is nothing really on the table in terms of any negotiations.

[Rachel Wright]

Gary O'Donoghue in Jerusalem. And since speaking to Gary, we've had a reaction from the Palestine Red Crescent. They rejected the findings of Israel's investigation and said the report was full of lies. Now hopes that the short Easter holiday ceasefire in the three year Russia Ukraine war might lead to a prolonged pause in the fighting appear to be over. A statement by the Kremlin said President Putin had not issued any order to extend the truce, which ended at midnight. Both sides accused each other of repeatedly breaking the truce. This report by our Russia editor, Steve Rosenberg.

[Simon Jack]

For more than three years, Russia has been waging war against Ukraine. But for Easter Sunday, Vladimir Putin had announced an Easter truce on the front line in Ukraine. Orthodox priests held services for Russia amid the celebrations. Russia accused Ukraine of launching attacks and Ukraine accused Russian forces of breaking the Kremlin's own ceasefire. It looked increasingly unlikely that President Putin's 30 hour truce would lead to anything approaching a lasting peace. What's more likely is that the Kremlin leader will use what has happened to try to discredit Ukraine in the eyes of Washington to convince Donald Trump that it's Moscow, not Kyiv, that's serious about peace in Moscow. People I spoke to outside a church seemed resigned to the war in Ukraine dragging on. I don't think one short ceasefire will end it. Lyubov tells me we need something more substantial. When I ask Artom how to restore peace, he says, that's for those up there in power to decide. We don't decide anything. I've heard that from many Russians who were just waiting for peace.

[Rachel Wright]

Steve Rosenberg in Moscow, President Zelensky described the truce announced by the Kremlin as a ruse and called instead for Russia to agree to abandon drone and missile strikes on Ukraine's civilian infrastructure for 30 days. But despite the mudslinging, there were reported lulls in the fighting in some areas. Our Ukraine correspondent, James Waterhouse, went to the southern city of Kherson on the front line to assess the situation there.

[Simon Jack]

We are just driving into Kherson now. This scarred city has been occupied, liberated, it's shelled. Every day the Russians fly drones at civilians. It's been flooded after the destruction of a dam. If there has been Any respite from this last minute truce, people here will have noticed it. As we weave through the city streets of Kher, it becomes clear this partial ceasefire has brought with it an eerie quiet. The military here are nervous about Russian forces carrying out what they call provocation attacks, where the Ukrainians return fire and are subsequently blamed for breaking the truce. At an Easter Sunday service, for once not interrupted by sirens, we meet Svitlana.

[Rachel Wright]

This isn't usual and it's scary because.

[Zing Singh]

I can't believe this is true.

[Rachel Wright]

There is still fighting on the front.

[Zing Singh]

Line, so there is no peace and we need it.

[Simon Jack]

There is a very slim chance this ceasefire could be the first paving stone on a path to peace. But what is more likely is that the rhythm of this war will return at midnight. It's why Artem, a soldier on Kherson's front line, isn't getting carried away.

[Gary O'Donoghue]

I can't remember when it was so.

[Simon Jack]

Quiet as it is now. And do you have any faith that it could turn into something beyond tonight? I don't have faith, but I hope it will happen. It seems most of the front line has stayed active, but Ukraine hasn't seen lulz in fighting like here in Kherson for a long time.

[Rachel Wright]

James Waterhouse In Kherson, the Syrian human rights organization has said that 48 women have disappeared in Syria since the start of the year. All of those documents a part of the country's Alawite community, the same minority that Syria's ousted leader, President Bashar Al Assad belongs to. Since his regime was overthrown in December, there have been attacks targeting Alawites in areas loyal to the country's former leader. This man told the BBC that his sister was abducted a week ago. His words have been voiced by a producer as the man fears for his safety.

[Zubair Ahmed]

On 13 April, my sister was heading home around 4pm on a public transportation. She texted her husband to say she'd let him know once she was near the bus station so he could come and pick her up. But that was the last we heard from her. Her mobile phone has been switched off ever since. We reported the incident to the local police station, who promised to investigate, but we haven't received any updates. We have no idea how she is, where she is or who kidnapped her. We haven't received any direct contact from the capture themselves, but ever since we posted online that she was missing, we have received several calls from people claiming to know her whereabouts, demanding money in exchange for information. None of them provided any evidence to support their claims.

[Rachel Wright]

Well, Sara not her real name is a Syrian rights activist based in France. She's been documenting some of the cases and told my colleague Celia Hatton about the spate of kidnappings.

[Sara]

Most of women disappeared while doing like normal things, going to school with their kids or work, or visiting family. Many of them disappeared during the daytime and from different area, from Tortoise, Adlab, Hama and Jabla. Some of them, after disappearing, some of the families received messages from the victims, phone calls or voice messages. Often word like that sounds forced. Some families were asked to pay a ransom and some. Some of the women were returned. But as you may know that this situation is a very sensitive issue in our communities because it involves women. So there's still a strong social stigma, let say around women, with the different areas we are talking about. All the cases were documented, the women are Alawite.

[Rachel Wright]

Are there any indications as to who.

[Zing Singh]

Is behind these kidnappings and what their goal is? You had mentioned ransom in some situations. Can you tell me more about who you think is behind this?

[Sara]

This is very difficult to say who are behind these disappearing women, because for the women who return, either they are not allowed to talk because of their families, or we are not sure about the reason. For instance, yesterday Aya was released in the morning, but she stayed all the day in the general security office for investigation. So until now we have not much information about who are behind this and it differentiates between case and other case. Some of them received calls from a phone number from Emirates, uae. We are not sure if these are real number or the kidnappers are using masking apps. And for the investigations there is nothing serious, let me say. That's why we are asking the government, the local authority to seriously investigate.

[Zing Singh]

So you've called for investigations, but Syria is undergoing great change right now. Do you believe these abductions reflect a wider pattern linked to the breakdown in security across Syria?

[Sara]

Yes, because security in general in Syria is not stable and some areas and some cities like villages in the coast, are not safe for people who are living there, Especially after the massacre in the Syrian coast. But unfortunately these events happen during the day. People now more afraid even for many students in the university. The women are not going to their university because of the. Because they are afraid there is no security for them.

[Rachel Wright]

Syrian rights activists were calling Sara. Still to come, adults books are all.

[Zing Singh]

In Canada, in the opera house, most of the seats are in United States. The stage is in Canada.

[Rachel Wright]

The library and opera house built on the U. S. Canada border, which has found itself caught up in the current cross called attentions.

[Zing Singh]

I'm Zing Singh.

[Simon Jack]

And I'm Simon Jack.

[Zing Singh]

And together we host Good Bad Billionaire.

[Simon Jack]

The podcast exploring the lives of some of the world's richest people.

[Zing Singh]

In the new season, we're setting our sights on some big names.

[Simon Jack]

Yep, LeBron James and Martha Stewart, to name just a few.

[Zing Singh]

And as always, Simon and I are trying to disagree. Decide whether we think they're good, bad or just another billionaire.

[Simon Jack]

That's good. Bad billionaire from the BBC World Service.

[Zing Singh]

Listen now wherever you get your BBC podcasts.

[Rachel Wright]

Pope Francis has appeared on the balcony overlooking St Peter's Square in the Vatican to greet huge crowds which are gathered for the traditional Easter Mass. The Pope, who's 88, recently spent a month in hospital being treated for pneumonia in both lungs. Our correspondent Rupert Wingfield Hayes sent this report from the Vatican.

[Simon Jack]

Tens of thousands of people had gathered in St Peter's Square for the traditional Easter Mass, but it was clear many had really come in the hope of seeing Pope Francis. As the midday bells tolled, the balcony curtains on St Peter's opened and the Pope emerged to greet the crowds. In a very thin voice, Pope Francis whispered to those below, dear brothers and sisters, he said, happy Easter. The crowds clapped in delight and relief. Pope Francis has been extremely ill. At one point last month, there were real fears for his life. Many in the crowd told me they had been praying for his recovery.

[Rachel Wright]

I felt so happy because we've been knowing that he was not well.

[Sara]

We didn't expect him to come out.

[Rachel Wright]

So it was like a surprise.

[Zing Singh]

We've been praying so hard for him, but it has been, I think, rough but with hope.

[Simon Jack]

The Mass closed with a call from Pope Francis for peace and reconciliation of conflicts from Ukraine and Gaza to the Democratic Republic of Congo. But as he rode around St. Peter's Square in his popemobile, he looked exhausted and extremely frail.

[Rachel Wright]

Rupert Wingfield Hayes A police investigation is underway in Sri Lanka after a photo purportedly showing a sacred relic circulated on social media. Taking pictures of the relic, a tooth said to belong to the Buddha is strictly prohibited. Because of its religious significance, the relic is not normally on display, but for just 10 days, until the 27th of April, devotees without bags or mobiles are able to catch a glimpse of it in Kandy in central Sri Lanka. Zubiyr Ahmed has the details.

[Zubair Ahmed]

In the hill city of Kandy, thousands of barefoot worshippers make their way through the gates of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, one of Buddhism's most revered sites. For the first time in 16 years, a tooth believed to belong to The Buddha is being placed on public display, drawing pilgrims from across Sri Lanka and beyond. Housed within the richly ornamented chambers of the 16th century temple complex, the relic is not just an object of spiritual devotion. It's also steeped in political symbolism. For centuries, it was believed that whoever held custody of the tooth had the right to rule the island. That legacy of sacred kinship still echoes today, as the temple remains both a spiritual center and a national symbol of identity. Tight security surrounds the display. Photography is strictly prohibited and access is carefully controlled. But a shadow has been cast over the ongoing exhibition by the circulation of a widely shared image online purportedly showing the relic. The authorities say it may have been secretly captured or digitally altered. Police have launched an investigation. If proven genuine, it would amount to a significant breach of security. The Candy Shrine is one of the only two temples in Asia said to house a tooth relic of the Buddha. The other, a far more recent construction, stands in Singapore's Chinatown. But it is in Sri Lanka, under the watchful gaze of centuries old murals and the Saint of Jasmine offerings, that the weight of history is more keenly felt. A relic not only worshipped, but profoundly woven into the story of a nation.

[Rachel Wright]

Zubair Ahmed. More and more of us are living in cities with less access to green spaces. Some experts believe this disconnect from nature could be one of the reasons why action against climate change isn't happening as fast as scientists insist it needs to. Our reporter, Graea Jackson, has been finding out if virtual reality could help. So before you fill it with soil.

[Simon Jack]

Let us cook that water using our hands.

[Sara]

Then we make the soil around the plant.

[Julian Wariker]

Hi, my name is Violet. I am watering some podo and cypress siblings. I actually come here for a sense of peace, to relax my mind, because.

[Rachel Wright]

I know this is the best place to be.

[Ulrika Grecombo]

Violet has been planting trees at her school's wildlife club in Nairobi. Being in nature has been shown to make us happier, to make us healthier, with better bones and boosted brains. But evidence is mounting that there may be another effect.

[Rachel Wright]

I want to be a lawyer and make sure one tree is cut, planted. I would make sure that would be a law.

[Ulrika Grecombo]

Feeling connected to nature is leading people to behave more sustainably and leading them to protect our planet. But many of us, especially those living in poorer neighbourhoods or with disabilities, are less able to access it. Here's Professor John Zelensky, a psychologist from Carlton University in Canada.

[Simon Jack]

It's difficult to pin down the science for sure, but I think that more humans are living more disconnected from nature. You know, in our cities, Fewer of us are farming. We might not have access to nice nature space. And the hopeful message here is people who feel very connected to nature also report behaving in more sustainable ways.

[Ulrika Grecombo]

One South African is trying to make nature accessible to all using virtual reality and immersive films. Ulrika Grecombo of Habitat XR Our overarching.

[Simon Jack]

Ambition is to use immersive technologies to mend the broken relationship that we have with nature, to bring people closer to it in absence of being able to physically do so.

[Ulrika Grecombo]

I donned a headset to watch his film A Predicament of Pangolins. It follows the story of two pangolins trying to find ants to eat in the Kalahari Desert.

[Rachel Wright]

I smell you guys, but where are you? Hmm? So few of you in there. Where are you at? I'm so hungry.

[Ulrika Grecombo]

As the ants become harder to find, the two pangolins slowly starve to death. I was pretty emotional watching it. Gosh, that was, it was really powerful actually. It's getting to know a pangolin so close and then watching it perish is, yeah, really sad, you know, and right at the end, the sun was setting and the message was, this isn't about a pangolin, this isn't about climate change. This is about us.

[Simon Jack]

Yeah, yeah. Many people cry when watching a predicament of pangolins. So we're trying to tap into those emotions to create empathy as the currency to create attitude and behavior change.

[Ulrika Grecombo]

So I'm kind of wondering if you watch in my case a 15 minute film, what sort of long lasting impact that might have.

[Simon Jack]

Yeah, look, that's where the data is a little bit thin. Our suspicion is that there could be a lifelong impact. Right. It's not going to change who you are overnight. But I think the way that we see it is it plants a seed to start people on their own journey of, of self awareness and where it is that wildlife and nature and humanity all coincide.

[Ulrika Grecombo]

However, psychologist John Zelensky is skeptical.

[Simon Jack]

I think virtual reality has some really nice potential, but I don't think it's the full solution because it may also be important that people can experience nature in their day to day life. And something local like a park will allow that repeated connection that might add up to more over time.

[Ulrika Grecombo]

Getting yourself a nature hit in any form might make you an eco hero. And virtual reality is creating close encounters that most of us could only dream of without having to leave your own home.

[Rachel Wright]

Grea Jackson reporting. And you can hear more on this on the climate question wherever you get your BBC podcasts. The Canadian Election is still more than a week away, but already a record 2 million people, about 7% of the electorate cast their ballots on the first day of advance voting on Friday. With Canada facing new U.S. trade tariffs and U.S. president Donald Trump threatening to annex the country, some are calling it the most important election in Canadian history. One of the surprising casualties in this feud is the Haskell Free Library and Opera House. Built over a century ago as a symbol of the close relationship between the two countries, it straddles the border of Quebec in Canada and Vermont in the U.S. but now U.S. officials say drug traffickers and smugglers have been exploiting the library to get access to the US So they have announced they'll be closing the main entrance to Canadians. Julian Wariker spoke to Sylvie Boudreau, president of Haskell Free Library's board of trustees.

[Zing Singh]

We have black tape on the floor in the library as well as in the opera house. So all the books, you know, adult books are all in Canada. The children's part is in Canada, part is in United States. In the Oprah house, most of the seats are in United States. The stage is in Canada.

[Simon Jack]

So now you face a change. The Department of Homeland Security in America wants to increase border enforcement. How is that going to play out? As far as you understand it just.

[Zing Singh]

Now, what they are doing right now, until October 1st, only people with library card that are coming from Canada can still use the sidewalk to go into the main entrance in the United States. Also people that are handicapped can use it because we don't have a Canadian door that's ready for that. If you don't have a library card, you need to go either through the official port of entry or we had an emergency door on the side of the building quite in the back and we designed find it now as the Canadian door. So we did few little adjustments for that. And now we're gonna do a major renovations to make it more appealing, more welcoming. Everyone is angry, everyone is discouraged about that division. It's not what the library and the Opera house is all about. So people felt betrayed really on both sides.

[Rachel Wright]

SYLVIE Boudreau well, our chief international correspondent Lise to Set, who is herself from Canada, is back home for the election campaign. These are her reflections about the Canada U.S. relationship.

[Julian Wariker]

Like sleeping with an elephant. That's how Canada's former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau described this relationship more than 50 years ago. When you're a Canadian, everything about America seems bigger. When I grew up on the east coast of Canada and our American cousins came to visit, we noticed how their snacks, their cars, even their personalities were bigger than ours. We were awed and appalled. But a vast country stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific stirs pride. At university, we learned how Canada is a mosaic and America a melting pot. In other words, Canada allows its immigrants to preserve their distinct identities, while in America, everyone assimilates. But it's meant. Canadians have kept asking, what is Canada's identity? When Canadians travel to Britain and beyond, they're often asked, where are you from in America? Canadians and Americans do share a lot. It couldn't be otherwise. Across the longest undefended border in the world. In some places, it's just a bunch of rocks. American movies, music and more flow into Canada. Canadians know so much about America, but lament that Americans don't know much about Canada. When President Trump started musing about Canada as the US's 51st state, first Canadians laughed. Then they got upset. Then they got mad. Real mad, even taking it to the most hallowed space of all, the ice hockey rink. Elbows up is now a Canadian mantra, a hockey phrase which means you're ready to fight. Canadians, known as snowbirds because they escape winter in Florida, are now packing for other places. And American wine and whiskey have been taken off shelves across the country. People who have long joked about their identity know it's no joke that Donald Trump wants to take over the country, their identity. So a people known for being nice are taking off the gloves and not just on the ice Doucet.

[Rachel Wright]

And that's all from us for now. But there will be a new edition of the Global News Podcast later. If you want to comment on this podcast or the topics covered in it, you can send us an email. The address is globalpodcast@BBC co uk. You can also find us on x@BBC world service. Use the hashtag global newspod. This edition was produced by Judy Frankel and mixed by Caroline Driscoll. The editor is Karen Martin. I'm Rachel Wright. Until next time. Goodbye.

[Zing Singh]

I'm Zing Singh.

[Simon Jack]

And I'm Simon Jack.

[Zing Singh]

And together we host Good Bad Billionaire.

[Simon Jack]

The podcast exploring the lives of some of the world's richest people.

[Zing Singh]

In the new season, we're setting our sights on some big names.

[Simon Jack]

Yep, LeBron James and Martha Stewart, to name just a few.

[Zing Singh]

And as always, Simon and I are trying to decide whether we think they're good, bad or just another billionaire that's.

[Simon Jack]

Good Bad Billionaire from the BBC World Service.

[Zing Singh]

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