Israeli troops withdraw from corridor that split Gaza in two

Summary

Global News Podcast: Israeli Troops Withdraw from Corridor that Split Gaza in Two
BBC World Service
Release Date: February 10, 2025

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1. Israeli Withdrawal from Gaza’s Netzerim Corridor

Overview:
In a significant development, Israeli forces have completed their withdrawal from the Netzerim Corridor, a strategically vital road that had effectively split the Gaza Strip in two during the recent conflict. This move marks a pivotal step in the ongoing ceasefire negotiations and has allowed thousands of Palestinians to return to northern Gaza.

Key Points:

• Return of Displaced Palestinians:
  Palestinians have been returning to northern Gaza through the reopened Netzerim Corridor, which had been militarized during the conflict. Many are assessing the damage and beginning the process of rebuilding amidst widespread destruction.

  Matthew Kampen (02:31): “We are fine as long as we've been back and everyone is good and we'll all return.”

• Ceasefire Phases and Humanitarian Aid:
  The first phase of the ceasefire has seen the release of 21 hostages in exchange for over 500 Palestinian prisoners and the partial reopening of borders with Egypt to allow humanitarian aid and the evacuation of critically ill individuals.

  Unnamed Correspondent (03:20): “There's been a partial reopening of the border between Gaza and Egypt, allowing very sick people out.”

• Public Opinion and Political Pressure:
  Despite strong public support for the ceasefire in both Israel and Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces pressure from right-wing factions to end the ceasefire and resume military operations against Hamas, citing incomplete neutralization of the militant group.

  Unnamed Correspondent (03:20): “The Israeli Prime Minister is facing pressure from the right wing supporters in his government to end the ceasefire after the first phase and resume the war in Gaza.”

• Future Negotiations:
  Talks in Doha are underway to negotiate a potential second phase of the ceasefire. However, progress remains uncertain despite widespread public backing.

  Moura Davis (05:32): “If we can achieve it through a diplomatic solution, all of us in Israel are completely committed to that.”

Notable Quotes:

• Palestinian Resident Matthew Kampen (02:24): “They've deprived us of food and water, but they haven't deprived us of air. They haven't managed to do that. We remain alive.”
• Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Sharon Haskell (05:32): “The goal is to make sure that the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust will never happen again.”

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2. Ecuador’s Presidential and Parliamentary Elections: Security at Forefront

Overview:
Ecuador held its first round of presidential and parliamentary elections amid rising concerns over security and an alarming increase in crime rates. Incumbent Daniel Noboa, seeking re-election after a short 15-month tenure, faces significant challenges, primarily focusing on the surge in drug-related violence.

Key Points:

• Candidates and Campaigns:

  • Daniel Noboa: The center-right incumbent emphasizes his administration's achievements in attracting international businesses and his tough stance on violent gang crime, including the militarization of streets and prisons.

    Oscar Piastri (07:58): “He's defined himself really in large part by his tough crackdown on violent gang crime.”

  • Luisa Gonzalez: The left-wing challenger, closely trailing Noboa in the polls, advocates for a return to the prosperous times associated with former president Rafael Correa, while distancing herself from his controversial legacy.

    Oscar Piastri (08:48): “Her connection to him also does hurt her to other voters because he's someone who faced numerous corruption scandals.”

• Public Sentiment:
  Voters are divided, with some appreciating Noboa’s advancements but criticizing his administration's focus on large companies over grassroots issues like power cuts and daily security.

  Matthew Kampen (06:48): “He does not care about the people, rather the interests of large companies.”

• Election Mechanics:
  To win outright, a candidate must secure over 50% of the vote or exceed the second-place candidate by at least 10%. Current leads suggest a possible runoff in April if no candidate meets these thresholds.

Notable Quotes:

• Voter Comment (06:48): “I see that we've been able to advance in many areas with him. There are many international businesses that are now in the country.”
• Voter Criticism (06:48): “People die now no longer from illness, but from crime. Where is the security that he talked about?”

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3. Libya's Migrant Crisis: Mass Graves and Detention Releases

Overview:
Libyan authorities have discovered at least 28 bodies in a mass grave near Kufra city, highlighting the perilous journey migrants undertake to reach Europe. Concurrently, 78 migrants have been freed from forced detention, shedding light on the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region.

Key Points:

• Mass Grave Discovery:
  The rapid uncovering of over 50 bodies within a week underscores the deadly risks faced by migrants fleeing conflict and poverty in hopes of reaching Europe.

  Umzanele Niyonsu (10:00): “The discovery of more than 50 bodies in less than seven days highlights the risks migrants take to reach Europe.”

• Human Rights Concerns:
  The bodies are suspected to be linked to smuggling networks, with authorities conducting autopsies and documenting survivor testimonies to understand the circumstances.

  Umzanele Niyonsu (10:00): “The search is continuing. Libya has become a transit route for migrants fleeing conflict and poverty.”

• Historical Context:
  Since the ouster of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya has remained a critical transit point for migrants attempting to traverse North Africa to Europe, often facing exploitation and severe dangers.

Notable Quotes:

• Umzanele Niyonsu (10:00): “The search is continuing. Libya's attorney general says the bodies have been taken for autopsy, with investigators suspecting links to smuggling networks.”

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4. Study Reveals Microplastics Accumulate in the Human Brain

Overview:
A groundbreaking study by researchers at the University of New Mexico has found that microplastics preferentially accumulate in the human brain more than other organs. This discovery raises significant concerns about the long-term health implications of pervasive plastic pollution.

Key Points:

• Study Findings:
  The research indicates that microplastics are increasingly found in the brain, particularly in individuals with dementia, where levels were found to be five times higher than in healthy brains.

  Josh Hartnett (11:05): “Especially in the brain, we see that over time, there seems to be an increase in the total quantity that's been occurring.”

• Potential Mechanisms:
  The study suggests that the brain's lipid-rich environment may facilitate the accumulation of plastics, and that neurodegenerative diseases might impair the brain's ability to clear these particles.

  Matthew Kampen (12:04): “There’s no relationship with the person’s age, which means it doesn’t just accumulate in our bodies over time.”

• Implications and Optimism:
  Despite the alarming findings, researchers express optimism that the human body can gradually clear microplastics, provided there are comprehensive policies regulating plastic use and waste management.

  Josh Hartnett (12:14): “Our bodies clear these plastics, maybe slowly, but it still happens.”

Notable Quotes:

• Lead Author Matthew Kampen (12:14): “It says that this is manageable if we can get a really, admittedly comprehensive set of policies around regulating the plastics.”

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5. Revival of the Intervision Song Contest

Overview:
In an unexpected move, Russian President Vladimir Putin has resurrected the Intervision Song Contest, a Cold War-era cultural event previously overshadowed by Eurovision. This revival is seen as a strategic effort to promote Russian cultural values and counter Western influences.

Key Points:

• Historical Context:
  Intervision was established as the Eastern Bloc's answer to Eurovision, featuring performances intended to outshine its Western counterpart. The contest ceased in the early 1980s following the fall of the Soviet Union.

  Matthew Kampen (21:20): “Intervision was determined to outshine Eurovision, to be bigger, bolder, and, would you believe it, even longer?”

• 2025 Revival:
  Putin emphasizes the contest’s role in promoting traditional, universal spiritual, and family values, contrasting them with what he describes as Western decadence.

  Steve Rosenberg (22:07): “Intervision is back because we're back to the days of east-west rivalry with Moscow doing its own thing.”

• Global Participation and Cultural Impact:
  Potential entries from regions like Central Asia, China, India, Africa, and even North Korea signal Russia's intent to broaden its cultural influence. However, contrasts with Eurovision’s inclusive themes, such as LGBTQ representation, may limit its global appeal.

  Matthew Kampen (22:07): “While Eurovision has embraced LGBTQ themes and performers, Intervision most certainly will not.”

Notable Quotes:

• Matthew Kampen (21:50): “Will the songs be any good? Will anyone actually watch it? Stay tuned.”

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6. US-South Africa Relations Strained by President Trump’s Accusations

Overview:
U.S. President Donald Trump has accused the South African government of planning to seize white-owned land without compensation, leading to a diplomatic strain and the freezing of $450 million in American aid designated for HIV/AIDS programs.

Key Points:

• Trump’s Claims:
  President Trump alleges that South Africa's new land reform laws permit the expropriation of land without just compensation, labeling them as "openly racist."

  Trump (14:48): “He's going to find billions, hundreds of billions of dollars of fraud and abuse...”

• South African Response:
  South Africa's Minister for Land Reform and Rural Development, Umzanele Niyonsu, vehemently denies Trump's allegations, asserting that expropriations occur strictly for public interest projects with equitable compensation.

  Umzanele Niyonsu (17:32): “That has always been happening. We've always been acquiring properties, talking to the previous owners. Pay them.”

• Elon Musk’s Involvement:
  Elon Musk, a South African native and advisor to Trump, has publicly supported Trump's stance by questioning South Africa’s land ownership laws on social media, further exacerbating tensions.

  Elon Musk (14:22): “Why do you have openly racist ownership laws?”

• Diplomatic Implications:
  The accusations and subsequent aid freeze represent a significant diplomatic rift between the United States and South Africa, with potential repercussions for bilateral relations and regional stability.

  Umzanele Niyonsu (18:02): “It is worrying and it is regrettable... must maintain cordial relations.”

Notable Quotes:

• Umzanele Niyonsu (17:45): “President Trump cannot mention not even a single farm that was confiscated or expropriated from a single white farmer.”
• Umzanele Niyonsu (18:09): “South Africa and America must maintain these cordial relations.”

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7. Death of Sam Nyuma: Namibia’s First President and Independence Icon

Overview:
Sam Nyuma, a pivotal figure in Namibia's struggle for independence and the nation's first president, has passed away at the age of 95. His legacy as a revered freedom fighter and leader is commemorated by current President Nangola Mboumba and the Namibian populace.

Key Points:

• Early Activism and Exile:
  Nyuma was instrumental in founding the Southwest People’s Organization (SWAPO) and led the armed struggle against South African rule, spending over three decades in exile.

  Nomsa Maseko (25:03): “Sam Nyuma returning home after three decades in exile. He’d been arrested and jailed, but when he was out on bail in February 1960, he fled into exile.”

• Presidency and Governance:
  As Namibia's first president post-independence in 1990, Nyuma focused on building the nation’s infrastructure, including education and healthcare systems. His tenure lasted 15 years, during which he faced criticism for attempts to extend his rule through constitutional amendments.

  Nomsa Maseko (26:27): “He eventually stepped down, ushering in a peaceful transfer of power in 2005, but remained a powerful and influential man until his death.”

• Legacy and Impact:
  Nyuma’s dedication to Namibia's sovereignty and development has left an indelible mark on the nation, inspiring future generations to continue his work towards economic and social progress.

  Nangola Mboumba: “He was a revered freedom fighter and revolutionary leader who served the people of his beloved country.”

Notable Quotes:

• Nomsa Maseko (26:27): “He remained a powerful and influential man until his death.”
• Umzanele Niyonsu (25:06): “Very happy to be home.”

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8. US Efforts to End the Ukraine War and Diplomatic Moves

Overview:
President Trump has engaged in discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. However, skepticism remains among Ukrainian officials and international observers about the feasibility and sincerity of these negotiations.

Key Points:

• Trump’s Claims and Diplomatic Efforts:
  Trump has publicly stated that he is working to uncover “hundreds of billions of dollars of fraud and abuse” in U.S. government agencies with the help of his advisor Elon Musk, while also engaging in talks with Putin about ceasing the conflict in Ukraine.

  Trump (14:22): “He’d be five hours to go check the Department of Education...”

• Ukrainian Doubts:
  Ukraine’s former foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, expressed doubts regarding the potential for the U.S. to broker a swift end to the war, citing Putin’s determination and Russia’s ongoing territorial gains.

  Dmytro Kuleba: “He doubts whether the US could negotiate an end to the war by the end of April.”

• Strategic Recommendations:
  Experts emphasize the importance of continued military support for Ukraine, enforcement of sanctions, and efforts to reduce global energy prices as key strategies to pressure Russia into ceasing its aggressive actions.

  Matthew Kampen (20:32): “Key to this is continuing weapons supplies to Ukraine, enforcing sanctions and trying to drive down global energy prices.”

Notable Quotes:

• Josh Hartnett (20:14): “The only reason there's a war is because Vladimir Putin is waging a war against Ukraine.”
• Matthew Kampen (20:32): “KYIV will hope Mr. Trump is listening.”

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Conclusion

This episode of the Global News Podcast provided comprehensive coverage of critical global issues, ranging from the humanitarian aftermath in Gaza and political turbulence in Ecuador to emerging health concerns over microplastics and shifting geopolitical landscapes. Through insightful interviews and expert analyses, listeners were offered a deep dive into the complexities shaping our world today.

Notable Sections to Skip:

• Advertisements and introductory content related to Formula One racing.

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Production Credits:

• Host: Bernard Ecchio
• Reporter: Moura Davis
• Correspondents: Umzanele Niyonsu, Nomsa Maseko, Ione Wells, Steve Rosenberg, Danny Donald
• Editor: Karen Martin
• Producer: Marion Straughan
• Mixed by: Martin Baker

Engage with Us:
For comments or discussions about this episode, email us at [e-mail] or connect on XBC World Service. Use the hashtag #GlobalNewsPod to join the conversation.

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This summary aims to provide a thorough and engaging overview of the podcast episode, ensuring clarity and accessibility for those who have not listened to the original broadcast.

Transcript

[Bernard Ecchio]

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the uk.

[Lando Norris]

What does it take to go racing in the fastest cars in the world? Oscar Piastri.

[Oscar Piastri]

Your head's trying to get roofed one.

[Lando Norris]

Way, your body's trying to go another. Let's roll.

[Josh Hartnett]

It's very extreme in the sense of how close you're racing. Wheel to wheel.

[Lando Norris]

We've been given unprecedented access to two of the most famous names in Formula One, McLaren and Aston Martin. I'm Landon Arts.

[Moura Davis]

They build a beautiful bit of machinery.

[Lando Norris]

That I get to then go and have fun in. They open the doors for their factories as the 2024 season reached its peak. I'm Josh Hartnett, this is F1 back at base. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

[Moura Davis]

This is the Global News podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Bernard Ecchio and in the early hours of Monday 10th February, these are our main stories. Palestinians are flocking back to northern Gaza after Israeli forces completed their withdrawal from a strategic road, cutting the enclave in half. Polls have closed in Ecuador's presidential and parliamentary elections where security is a key issue. People die now, no longer from illness, but from crime. Where is the security? Also in this podcast we hear from South Africa after Donald Trump accused the government there of wanting to seize white owned land and because of that froze US funding. And an icon of Namibia's independence struggle and the country's first president, Sam Nyuma, has died. Palestinians in their thousands have today been able to cross a strategic road which had cut the Gaza Strip in half after Israeli troops completed their withdrawal. It had been turned into a militarized zone during the war. In cars and on carts laden with belongings, the displaced have been streaming back to northern Gaza through what's known as the Netzerim Corridor. Many Palestinians returning to assess the situation in the north remained defiant despite the widespread destruction caused by Israeli bombardment. They've deprived us of food and water, but they haven't deprived us of air. They haven't managed to do that. We remain alive.

[Unnamed Correspondent]

Today I came to the north to.

[Moura Davis]

Check the situation and thank God the.

[Unnamed Correspondent]

Road was good and the Israeli army withdrawn.

[Matthew Kampen]

We are fine as long as we've.

[Unnamed Correspondent]

Been back and everyone is good and we'll all return.

[Moura Davis]

Our correspondent in Jerusalem, Moura Davis, told me how important Israel's military withdrawal would be.

[Unnamed Correspondent]

The Israeli military partial withdrawal from this area under the ceasefire agreement has allowed many more people now to go back to their home areas. Of course, once they get there, they find that 60% of the houses and buildings in northern Gaza have been destroyed. Or really badly damaged. But at least for now, they're able to make their way back and try and start rebuilding their lives because of this ceasefire. But remember, it is a fragile ceasefire, as you say.

[Moura Davis]

The first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement is ending and talks are now underway in Doha on a possible second agreement.

[Unnamed Correspondent]

The Israeli line is that they are still talking about how to end the first phase of the ceasefire. We're just over halfway through that, but under that, 21 hostages have been released in exchange for more than 500 Palestinian prisoners. Much more humanitarian aid is getting into Gaza. There's been a partial reopening of the border between Gaza and Egypt, allowing very sick people out. So the first phase of the ceasefire has brought tangible benefits. There's a new opinion poll in Israel today which says that a vast majority of Israelis want it to continue because of they, of course they want to see more hostages coming out. Yet it's Benjamin Netanyahu. The Israeli Prime Minister is facing pressure from the right wing supporters in his government to end the ceasefire after the first phase and resume the war in Gaza, because their line is that the Hamas are not yet completely destroyed militarily. So even though there's widespread public support on both sides for a continuation, the talks on that haven't really got going yet. And there's some doubt whether it will happen despite the public support.

[Moura Davis]

What about the long term? How should we assess this? Clip from the Israeli President Isaac Herzog, responding to President Trump's proposal to forcibly remove some 2 million Palestinians from Gaza.

[Umzanele Niyonsu]

President Trump basically came forward and said something which I read as going back to the same routine of getting to a ceasefire, an arrangement, and then Hamas attacks you and then we go to.

[Moura Davis]

War and then terrible things happen.

[Umzanele Niyonsu]

Cannot go on. We have to look for new ideas.

[Unnamed Correspondent]

Yeah, well look, President Trump is right about two things. Gaza is a demolition site and we can't be in this place in five years time. But I don't think anybody really recognizes his view of dealing with it. It will probably be illegal under international law, but Israel is taking some of it on board. Most Gazans though, and most Arab supporters of the Palestinians are adamant that Trump's plan cannot happen as he's described it so far.

[Moura Davis]

So as we heard there talks in Doha are continuing. Sharon Haskell is Israel's deputy. She was asked whether Israel would be willing to fully withdraw its troops from Gaza as required by the second phase of the ceasefire agreement.

[Nomsa Maseko]

If it can secure and really secure the return of our family members and making sure that the 7th of October can never happen again, then of course we don't have any other goals than that. And if we can achieve it through a diplomatic solution, all of us in Israel are completely committed to that. So, you know, a war is not the goal. The goal is to make sure that the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust will never happen again.

[Moura Davis]

Israel's deputy Foreign Minister Sharon Haskell. Now to Ecuador, where polls have closed in the first round of a presidential election, one dominated by the issue of security. One of South America's more stable countries, Ecuador is now struggling to contain a dramatic surge in drug related violence. Daniel Noboa is hoping to be re elected as the president after just 15 months in office. He faces 15 challenges, but the centre right leader has only one real challenger, the left wing, Luisa Gonzalez. Here are some of the views of voters on Daniel Noboa as well as the security issue. I see that we've been able to advance in many areas with him. There are many international businesses that are now in the country.

[Matthew Kampen]

He does not care about the people, rather the interests of large companies. The power cuts occurred without warning in my house. The refrigerator was damaged and the television due to the cuts.

[Moura Davis]

People die now no longer from illness, but from crime. Where is the security that he talked about? Our South America correspondent, Ione Wells spoke to me from the Ecuadorian capital, Quito, just as the polls had closed.

[Oscar Piastri]

Certainly in the opinion polls before the polls opened, Daniel Noboa was certainly in the lead, leading by sort of 8, 9 percentage points or so. The big question really today is whether or not he can clinch enough more to secure essentially an outright win, because the polls were certainly suggesting that it may well have to go to a second round. The way that it works in Ecuador is a candidate needs to get 50% of the vote or 10% more than whoever is second behind them. So I think Daniel Naboa's team certainly are feeling optimistic about him being in the lead. The question really though is whether that would be by enough or whether it would need to go to a runoff in April.

[Moura Davis]

Well, tell us more about Mr. Noboa. What did he campaign on?

[Oscar Piastri]

Well, he's only been in office for 15 months and he's defined himself really in large part by his tough crackdown on violent gang crime. He's introduced sweeping new powers for the security forces, militarize the streets, militarized prisons. There has been a slight reduction in violent deaths and also in sort of prison violence as well. So I think his main message to voters has been, let me continue with my project. He certainly has sort of also vowed to try and be quicker when it comes to responding to things like last year's power cuts, which he received quite a lot of criticism for. But his opposition in particular, Luis Gonzalez has criticized him for not being quick enough to tackle certain problems in the country, including the violent gang crime that the country's seen over the last couple of years.

[Moura Davis]

And how is Louisa Gonzalez likely to fare?

[Oscar Piastri]

Well, certainly she was, according to most opinion polls, definitely the closest behind Daniel Noboa in the polls. So certainly her supporters feel like she might be able to do enough to sort of not let him win in the first round. She still has a fairly significant base because she is sort of the person who followed the former president Rafael Correa, who still has quite a significant voter base in the country. Some people I've spoken to feel sort of nostalgic for a time when things were more prosperous, when there was less crime in the country. They associate that with him. But her connection to him also does hurt her to other voters because he's someone who faced numerous corruption scandals, was known as being very sort of hard line. Even some accused him of being authoritarian in some of his policies. So I think there's a certain sort of wing of voters who don't want to return to that as well. So she, I think, is feeling optimistic as well. The question is just whether or not she can push this to a second round in April.

[Moura Davis]

Ione Wells in Ecuador. Libyan authorities say at least 28 bodies have been recovered from a mass grave in the southeast near Kufra city. 78 migrants were freed from forced detention. Richard Kagoi reports.

[Umzanele Niyonsu]

The discovery of more than 50 bodies in less than seven days highlights the risks migrants take to reach Europe. Images shared online show police and volunteers digging in the sand before placing corpses in black bags. The search is continuing. Libya's attorney general says the bodies have been taken for autopsy, with investigators suspecting links to smuggling networks, the authorities are documenting the testimonies of survivors. Since Muammar Gaddafi's ouster in 2011, Libya has become a transit route for migrants fleeing conflict and poverty with hopes of reaching Europe.

[Moura Davis]

It's well known that humans have been ingesting rising amounts of tiny particles of plastic, or microplastics, as such materials enter our environments and ecosystems in increasing quantities. But a new study carried out by researchers at the University of New Mexico in the US suggests that microplastics accumulate more in our brains than in other organs. The BBC's Julian Warwicker spoke to the study's lead author, Matthew Kampen.

[Josh Hartnett]

We've applied several different methods, some of them relatively new, to really get an estimate of the mass of plastics in different organs of the human body, the liver, kidney and brain. Especially in the brain, we see that over time, there seems to be an increase in the total quantity that's been occurring. There's good reasons to think that the brain may be a good resting place, if you will, for these plastics. There's a lot of fats or lipid in the brain, and if you've ever washed a plastic bowl that had bacon grease or butter in it, you know, it takes a lot of hot water and soap. So plastics and fats tend to go together. We also looked in cases that had dementia, and those cases seem to have even higher levels of plastic, about five times what normal brains had. But we really caution that dementia is a disease where the barrier between the blood and the brain is impaired. And so it may simply be that the disease is causing greater uptake of the plastics.

[Matthew Kampen]

I was struck by a quote from you saying that there is some optimism in what you found here. What specifically gives you cause for hope amidst all of this?

[Josh Hartnett]

Well, it's interesting, when we look over time, the concentrations are increasing, but when we look at the age of the subject that the samples were taken from, there's no relationship with the person's age, which means it doesn't just accumulate in our bodies over time. And that means that our bodies clear these plastics, maybe slowly, but it still happens. And there's other studies that do show that clearance is a reality. So it says that this is manageable if we can get a really, admittedly comprehensive set of policies around regulating the plastics.

[Moura Davis]

Professor Matthew Campham from the University of New Mexico. Coming up in this podcast, a Soviet era rival to the the Eurovision Song Contest is making its return.

[Matthew Kampen]

Expect entries from Central Asia, maybe China, India, Africa, perhaps even Pyongyang will want to sing along.

[Bernard Ecchio]

Porque.

[Josh Hartnett]

Comprancaro Kente permitte.

[Lando Norris]

What does it take to go racing in the fastest cars in the world? Oscar Piastri.

[Oscar Piastri]

Your head's trying to get ripped one.

[Matthew Kampen]

Way, your body's trying to go another.

[Lando Norris]

Let's stroll.

[Josh Hartnett]

It's very extreme in the sense of how close you're racing, wheel to wheel.

[Lando Norris]

We've been given unprecedented access to two of the most famous names in Formula One, McLaren and Aston Martin. I'm Landon Arts.

[Moura Davis]

They build a beautiful bit of machinery.

[Lando Norris]

That I get to then go and have fun in. They open the doors to their factories. As the 2024 season reached its peak. I'm Josh Hartnett. This is F1 back at base. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

[Moura Davis]

President Trump says Elon Musk, his unelected adviser who's overseeing a purge of US Government jobs, will help find hundreds of billions of dollars worth of fraud and waste. Mr. Trump gave no evidence for his claim. Whilst giving an interview to Brett Baier on Fox News, he said the tech billionaire had already dealt with the International Development Agency, US I told him do.

[Matthew Kampen]

That, then I'm going to tell him very soon, like maybe in 24 hours to go check the Department of Education. He's going to find the same thing. Then I'm going to go, go to the military. Let's check the military. We're going to find billions, hundreds of billions of dollars of fraud and abuse. And you know, the people elected me on that.

[Moura Davis]

An earlier purge was also aimed at South Africa. On Friday, President Trump signed an executive order freezing American aid to the country wor $450 million and directed towards an HIV AIDS program there. Why? Well, Mr. Trump says it's because of a new law that he claims allows the South African government to seize or expropriate land belonging to white farmers without compensation. This is what he told reporters earlier in the week.

[Matthew Kampen]

The leadership is doing some terrible things, horrible things. So that's under investigation right now. We'll make a determination and until such as we find out what South Africa is doing, they're taking away land, they're confiscating land, and actually they're doing things that are perhaps far worse than that.

[Moura Davis]

And Elon Musk, who was born and grew up in South Africa, has also weighed in writing in a post on X to the South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa. Why do you have openly racist ownership laws? My colleague James Menendez spoke to Umzanele Niunci, South Africa's Minister for Land Reform and Rural Development, for his response.

[Umzanele Niyonsu]

He is completely wrong because President Trump cannot mention not even a single farm that was confiscated or expropriated from a single white farmer. In fact, farmers themselves in South Africa are distancing themselves from this statement.

[Bernard Ecchio]

The law does allow for expropriation without.

[Moura Davis]

Compensation in, in some circumstances, doesn't it?

[Umzanele Niyonsu]

No, it doesn't. The law is here to regulate and it is meant to regulate in the public interest. In our case, when the government needs a national original road, public amenities such as energy transmission lines, communications, building, hospitals, schools, it does not talk about land reform. It does not talk about farms. It only talks about land for public interest.

[Moura Davis]

But what about what about, what about Minister, what about the line in the law that says property can be acquired in the public interest as long as there is just an equitable compensation? I mean, that sounds like you will be able to expropriate in some circumstances.

[Umzanele Niyonsu]

That has always been happening. We've always been acquiring properties, talking to the previous owners. Pay them. We will pay compensation where there must be payment. That must happen.

[Moura Davis]

Yeah. What about Elon Musk's intervention in all this?

[Umzanele Niyonsu]

I suspect him. That is Elon Musk and some South Africans called Afriforam that are misleading President Trump are incorrect. He is wrong, unfortunately.

[Moura Davis]

I mean, how serious a diplomatic rift is this for South Africa given the row with the world's most powerful country?

[Umzanele Niyonsu]

It is worrying and it is regrettable. Of course, what is interesting is that President Trump said the leadership in South Africa is doing horrible things before the investigation comes or the findings of the investigations are available. He's acting and suspending the donation or whatever you call it to South Africa. But it must also be maintained that South Africa and America and must maintain these cordial relations.

[Moura Davis]

South Africa's minister for land reform and rural Development, Umzanele Niyonsu. President Trump says he's spoken by phone to his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, about trying to end the war in Ukraine. The Kremlin would neither confirm nor deny the reports. It comes amid speculation that Mr. Trump might meet Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy this week. Here's our Europe regional editor, Danny Donald.

[Bernard Ecchio]

Trump famously promised to end the war within a day of taking office. Nearly three weeks into his presidency, he's still given little indication of how he proposes to do so. In a New York Post interview, he wouldn't elaborate on how many times he'd spoken to President Putin. I'd better not say it, quotes him as saying. Such talk will unnerve Kyiv. Ukraine's former foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba has told the BBC he doubts whether the US could negotiate an end to the war by the end of April. Target specified by Mr. Trump's special envoy, Keith Kellogg. Mr. Kuleba said a deal would be difficult as Mr. Putin was convinced Russia was winning. It's been seizing more territory in recent months, especially in the East. Ukrainian forces are under increasing pressure in places including Perkrovsky, Kyiv and many of its allies stress it's vital to keep up pressure on Moscow. It's an approach backed by a former special envoy on Ukraine during Mr. Trump's first term, Kurt Volker. As he told the world this weekend.

[Josh Hartnett]

The only reason there's a war is because Vladimir Putin is waging a war against Ukraine.

[Matthew Kampen]

So convincing Putin that he has to.

[Lando Norris]

Stop the war, that it's too costly.

[Josh Hartnett]

For Russia, it'll destroy Russia if he continues.

[Matthew Kampen]

That's the objective, and I think President Trump has understood that.

[Bernard Ecchio]

Key to this, Mr. Volcker argues, is continuing weapons supplies to Ukraine, enforcing sanctions and trying to drive down global energy prices. KYIV will hope Mr. Trump is listening.

[Moura Davis]

Danny Eberhard in Russia. A few days ago, in a surprise presidential decree, Vladimir Putin revived a cultural relic of the Cold War era. The Intervision song contest was, for a brief time, the Eastern Bloc's answer to Eurovision. Mr. Putin says its values will be against what he's calling the decadence of Western culture, stressing respect for traditional, universal spiritual and family values. Here's our Russia editor, Steve Rosenberg.

[Matthew Kampen]

The Intervision song contest was boom, bang, a bang for the Communist bloc. Well, plus a few others. And the guest stars they had performing Goodness me, Demis Russos Boney M. Yes, Intervision was determined to outshine Eurovision, to be bigger, bolder, and, would you believe it, even longer? As the former director of Intervision, Jerzy Gruse, told Me Back in 2012, one.

[Moura Davis]

Czechoslovakian girl went on the stage and.

[Unnamed Correspondent]

Stay on the stage 45 minutes singing.

[Matthew Kampen]

How did you finally get rid of her?

[Moura Davis]

No.

[Unnamed Correspondent]

Yes, she was Diet.

[Matthew Kampen]

It didn't last, though. In the early 1980s, Intervision faded, the Berlin Wall fell, the Eastern bloc and the Soviet empire disintegrated. But Intervision will return this year to facilitate, quote, international cultural and humanitarian cooperation. Humanitarian. This from a country which three years ago launched a full scale invasion of its neighbour. In reality, it is geopolitics that is pushing this. Now, I'm the first to concede that there's always a little bit of politics in Eurovision, but Intervision is back because we're back to the days of east west rivalry with Moscow doing its own thing. We saw this last year. With the Olympics excluded from the Games, the Russians tried to create a rival event, the Friendship Games. Didn't work out. Russia was banned from Eurovision over the war in Ukraine. And new Intervision, well, expect entries from Central Asia, maybe China, India, Africa, perhaps even Pyongyang will want to sing along. But while Eurovision has embraced LGBTQ themes and performers, Intervision most certainly will not. President Putin portrays himself as a defender of traditional family values. What Moscow will do, I think, is try to present its song contest as musically and morally superior. But will the songs be any good? Will anyone actually watch it? Stay tuned.

[Moura Davis]

Steve Rosenberg. Tributes are being paid to Sam Nioma, the first president of independent Namibia who's died at the age of 95. The current president, Nangola Mboumba, described him as a revered freedom fighter and revolutionary leader who served the people of his beloved country. Mr. Nioma was best known for his long fight to end South Africa's control of Namibia. The BBC's Nomsa Maseko looks back at his life.

[Nomsa Maseko]

An icon of Namibia's independence struggle. Sam Nioma returning home after three decades in exile. He'd been arrested and jailed, but when he was out on bail in February 1960, he fled into exile. A freedom fighter, he was the first president of the Southwest People's Organization, or swapo. His liberation movement embarked on an armed struggle for Namibia's independence through the organization's guerrilla force, the People's Liberation Army. Semnioma returned to Namibia in September 1989.

[Moura Davis]

How does it feel to be there?

[Umzanele Niyonsu]

Very happy to be home.

[Nomsa Maseko]

Despite a 30 year absence, Mr. Nioma was such a powerful and well known figure in Namibia that his picture alone became a symbol for his party. Completing his lifelong dream, Mr. Nioma ran for election as president in the country's first independent elections in 1989. He won, becoming the country's first president.

[Matthew Kampen]

Goodbye South Africa.

[Umzanele Niyonsu]

Welcome, welcome Namibia. Power to the people.

[Matthew Kampen]

We've got our land back. We need each other.

[Umzanele Niyonsu]

We need to work together. We need the unit of purpose and action if we are going to develop this country any modern way.

[Nomsa Maseko]

Namibia formally became Independent in March 1990 after his party fought a bitter liberation struggle to bring freedom to Namibia. The second struggle he embarked on was economic independence. Often described as a hands on leader, he ensured that schools and universities were built and made efforts to improve the country's health care system. He was in office for 15 years. His critics accused him of clinging to power when he pushed for constitutional amendments to extend his rule.

[Umzanele Niyonsu]

I have no intention of stepping down and only the Namibian people will tell me, step down.

[Nomsa Maseko]

He eventually stepped down, ushering in a peaceful transfer of power in 2005, but remained a powerful and influential man until his death.

[Moura Davis]

Nomsa Meseko and that's all 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, you can send us an email. The address is globalpodcastbc.co.uk you can also find us on XBCWorldService. Use the hashtag globalnewspod this edition was mixed by Martin Baker and the producer was Marion Straughan. The editor is Karen Martin. I'm Bernaz Ecchio. Until next time. Goodbye.

[Lando Norris]

What does it take to go racing in the fastest cars in the world? Oscar Piastri.

[Oscar Piastri]

Your head's trying to get ripped one.

[Lando Norris]

Way, your body's trying to go another. Let's stroll.

[Josh Hartnett]

It's very extreme in the sense of how close you're racing, wheel to wheel.

[Lando Norris]

We've been given unprecedented access to two of the most famous names in Formula One, McLaren and Aston Martin. I'm London Arts.

[Moura Davis]

They build a beautiful bit of machinery.

[Lando Norris]

That I get to then go and have fun in. They opened the doors to their factories as the 2024 season reached its peak. I'm Josh Hartnett, this is F1 back at base. Listen, wherever you get your podcasts.