Kurdish rebels burn guns in step towards ending Turkey conflict

Summary

Global News Podcast Summary: "Kurdish rebels burn guns in step towards ending Turkey conflict"

Release Date: July 11, 2025
Host: Valerie Sanderson
Produced by: BBC World Service

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1. Kurdish PKK Disarmament Ceremony in Iraq

After forty years of armed struggle against the Turkish government, resulting in the tragic loss of approximately 40,000 lives, the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) has initiated a significant step towards peace by holding a disarmament ceremony in Suleimaniya, located in the Autonomous Kurdistan region of northern Iraq. This event marks the beginning of the PKK's process to lay down its arms, a move aimed at ending decades of conflict with Turkey.

Key Insights:

• Peace Process Initiation: The PKK's disarmament is intended to pave the way for peace negotiations with the Turkish government.
• Demands for Kurdish Rights: The PKK is seeking greater autonomy and rights for the Kurdish minority in Turkey, including the recognition of the Kurdish language as an official language and the release of their leader, Abdullah Öcalan, who has been imprisoned since 1999.

Notable Quotes:

• "They are doing this to start a peace process and end a chapter of military confrontations that caused tens of thousands of lives to be lost." — Rushdie Abu Alouf [01:35]
• "The PKK want more rights for the Kurdish minority in Turkey. They want their Kurdish language to be considered an official language in Turkey. They want their leader, Abdullah Öcalan, who has been in solitary confinement in Turkish prisons since 1999, to be freed." — Rushdie Abu Alouf [02:47]

2. Gaza's Last Hospital Halts Admissions Amid Israeli Military Operations

In southern Gaza, the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, the region's largest medical facility following the destruction of Al Shifa Hospital, has ceased admitting new casualties. Israeli forces approached the hospital to within 200 meters, forcing the shutdown of life-saving services due to power outages caused by generator failures.

Key Insights:

• Critical Infrastructure Under Threat: The closure of Nasser Hospital exacerbates the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, limiting medical care for the wounded.
• Fuel Shortages: The hospital's main generator ran out of fuel, and ongoing restrictions have prevented resupply, threatening the lives of newborns reliant on incubators and other critical medical equipment.

Notable Quotes:

• "We need that electricity as soon as possible for the incubators, for walking, for the mechanical ventilation." — Dr. Guy Delaunay [04:30]
• "Israel did not allow any fuel into Gaza since March. There was a 2 million liter fuel reserve tank in some of the area and sometimes Israelis allow the hospitals to take some of that fuel. But I understand from the Hamas-run health Ministry that there is no longer fuel in this tank." — Dr. Guy Delaunay [04:55]

3. 30th Anniversary Commemoration of the Srebrenica Massacre

Marking three decades since the tragic Srebrenica massacre, where Bosnian Serb forces killed approximately 8,000 Muslim men and boys, commemorative events are held to honor the victims. However, ongoing tensions between Bosniak and Serb communities highlight unresolved grievances and differing narratives about the atrocities.

Key Insights:

• Persistent Divisions: Efforts to identify and repatriate the remains of victims continue, but inter-ethnic relations remain strained, with some Serb communities demanding equal recognition for their casualties.
• Memorial Efforts: Advanced DNA testing aids in identifying victims, yet many families endure prolonged uncertainty and grief.

Notable Quotes:

• "Srebrenica was supposed to be a safe haven under UN protection. And many Bosniaks, who are mostly Muslims, had gone to Srebrenica because they thought they would be safe there." — Mark McCochran [07:58]
• "There are seven freshly dug graves, and they'll be for the most recently identified victims of the Srebrenica massacre." — Mark McCochran [09:08]
• "The contrast is stark... Why aren't these people treated in the same way as the victims of the Srebrenica massacre? Why do Bosniaks only talk about Bosniak victims and Serb perpetrators?" — Mark McCochran [10:17]

4. DRC-Rwanda Peace Agreement and Implications for Mineral Resources

A recent peace deal between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, brokered by the United States, aims to quell decades of conflict fueled by competition over mineral-rich regions. The agreement, however, introduces complexities regarding the exploitation of valuable minerals like coltan, essential for electronics manufacturing.

Key Insights:

• Mineral Interests: The U.S. seeks a stake in the DRC's mineral resources as part of its mediation efforts, raising questions about foreign involvement and the equitable distribution of wealth.
• Local Perspectives: While some view mining as a lifeline, others express concerns over the potential impacts of increased foreign investment on local communities and environmental sustainability.

Notable Quotes:

• "US President Donald Trump wants America to get a piece of Congo's mineral resources as part of Washington's mediation." — Steve Rosenberg [13:39]
• "Any foreign investor can come here as long as they come with development for our people and increase daily wages for the miners." — Patrice Moussafiri [14:27]

5. Discovery of Potentially the Oldest Interstellar Comet

Astronomers have identified a mysterious interstellar object, believed to be over three billion years older than our solar system. This comet's elongated orbit and high velocity suggest its origin from another planetary system, offering unprecedented insights into the early formation of galaxies.

Key Insights:

• Scientific Breakthrough: The discovery challenges existing theories about comet formation and the distribution of ancient celestial bodies.
• Future Exploration: Initiatives like the European Space Agency's Comet Interceptor mission aim to rendezvous with such objects to study their composition and origins directly.

Notable Quotes:

• "It's moving so fast that it won't stop, it won't slow down, it'll just go straight through." — Ella Bicknell [17:32]
• "So we're not in the realms of theory anymore. We actually have one." — Ella Bicknell [20:00]
• "It would be a great moment for science. It's a great moment." — Ella Bicknell [20:00]

6. Russian Public Sentiment Amid Ukraine Invasion

In the wake of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, state-sponsored patriotic festivals near Moscow aim to bolster nationalistic fervor and support for the military efforts. Despite orchestrated displays of patriotism, there are underlying signs of public fatigue and desire for peace among Russian citizens.

Key Insights:

• Propaganda vs. Reality: While official events showcase military might and unity, personal interactions reveal skepticism and exhaustion regarding the ongoing conflict.
• Youth Involvement: Programs like the Youth Army engage children in militaristic activities, emphasizing national pride but also highlighting generational indoctrination.

Notable Quotes:

• "Otherwise, why are we doing all of this?" — Valentina [22:10]
• "He doesn't really care if he'll be on good terms with Russia or not." — Luba [22:10]
• "I hope the fighting will end soon. It would be better if there was peace, Alexander tells me, so that we don't touch Ukraine and they don't touch us, and we all lead separate lives." — Alexander [23:00]

7. 2028 LA Olympics Paralympics Venue Controversy

The selection of separate venues for Olympic and Paralympic swimming events in Los Angeles has sparked criticism from athletes who argue it undermines the principle of equality. Paralympic swimmers express disappointment over the decision to host their events in a smaller, less prestigious location, diverging from the Olympic facilities.

Key Insights:

• Equality Concerns: Athletes and advocates argue that separate venues send a message of inequality, contradicting the ideals of inclusivity and respect in sports.
• Organizers' Defense: LA28 officials assert that the decision enhances accessibility and aligns with logistical considerations, though this is met with resistance from the Paralympic community.

Notable Quotes:

• "Equality doesn't end with a logo." — Anastasia Pagonis [17:03]
• "They did an amazing job failing at that." — Mark McCochran [25:43]
• "The Paralympics will be in a second-tier pool, or should I say, an outdoor pool in the middle of a parking lot." — Anastasia Pagonis [26:00]

8. Miraculous Rescue of Australian Surfer Darcy DeFoltz

A harrowing incident unfolded when 19-year-old Darcy DeFoltz was swept away while surfing off the coast of New South Wales. Through a combined effort of local community members and online pleas, Darcy was successfully rescued from a remote and perilous location, highlighting the effectiveness of community-driven rescue operations.

Key Insights:

• Community Response: The swift organization of private search parties and the use of social media played a crucial role in Darcy's rescue.
• Safety Concerns: The incident underscores the dangers of popular coastal areas and the importance of preparedness and community vigilance.

Notable Quotes:

• "Darcy was located. Darcy is now in a stable condition at Grafton Base Hospital and doing well." — Matthew McLennan [28:16]

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Conclusion

This episode of the Global News Podcast provided comprehensive coverage of significant global events, ranging from geopolitical conflicts and humanitarian crises to scientific discoveries and social issues in the realm of international sports. Through in-depth reporting and firsthand accounts, listeners gained valuable insights into the complexities shaping our world today.

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Transcript

[Valerie Sanderson]

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK.

[Sali Nabil]

This is the global news podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Valerie Sanderson and at 1300 hours GMT on Friday 11th July. These are our main stories. After four decades of armed struggle against the Turkish government and the death of 40,000 people, the Kurdish PKK has held a ceremony to mark the process of laying down its arms in Gaza. The last big hospital has closed its doors to the wounded as Israeli forces continue their military nearby Srebrenica remembered. Thirty years after the massacre of 8,000 people, ceremonies are held to commemorate the dead. Also in this podcast, scientists believe a mystery interstellar object could be the oldest comet ever seen. First, members of the Kurdish rebel group the PKK arrive for a disarmament ceremony near the city of Suleimaniya in the Autonomous Kurdistan region in Iraq's north. It comes two months after the Kurdish rebels ended their decades long armed struggle against the Turkish state. But the symbolic burning of weapons is just the start of a process lasting for months, during which the PKK will gradually disarm. BBC Arabic's Sali? N is in northern Iraq and she explained why the group is doing this.

[Rushdie Abu Alouf]

They are doing this to start a peace process and end a chapter of military confrontations that caused tens of thousands of lives to be lost. They have been fighting the Turks for over 40 years. They initially wanted to have an independent country for the ethnic Kurdish minority in Turkey. And since the Turks refused and considered the PKK a terrorist organization, they started a milit confrontation that took decades and thousands of lives were lost as a result. So this is the start of laying down arms, hopefully for a peace negotiation to kick off afterwards with the Turks. But what we don't know whether or not the Turks will give them the guarantees they want. The PKK want more rights for the Kurdish minority in Turkey. They want their Kurdish language to be considered an official language in Turkey. They want their leader, Abdallah Ocalan, who has been in solit confinement in Turkish prisons since 1999, to be freed. A list of demands that has to pass by the Turkish Parliament, as they put it, to guarantee that no one could change that afterwards.

[Sali Nabil]

And what triggered this change of heart? Why are they now doing this?

[Rushdie Abu Alouf]

That's a big question and I don't think there is a clear cut answer to that. But what we know is that Abdallah Ujalan, inside his prison, he has been holding a series of meetings with some people from the Turkish side, from the Iraqi side, from the Iraqi Kurdistan government that paved the way for this big announcement that he made two months ago when he asked for the PKK to be disbanded and disarmed. There are some interpretations that say that the Turkish president Erdogan, he needs the Kurdish votes if he wants to introduce some amendments to the Turkish constitution that would guarantee that he would stay in power after his term ends. So it's not a clear cut answer that we can give to this question, but at this stage we are yet to see whether or not the Turks will be able to respond positively to the demands put forward by the PKK or not.

[Sali Nabil]

Sali Nabil, the last major hospital still functioning in southern Gaza, says it's been forced to stop admitting casualties as Israeli troops close in on the facility. The Nasser hospital in Khan Younis had been the largest medical facility in the whole of Gaza, following the Israelis destruct of much of the larger Al Shifa hospital further north in Gaza City. But Nasser halted all admissions after Israeli troops approached to within 200 meters. One doctor posted this video of the scene inside the hospital's neonatal unit as emergency alarms sounded after generators shut down cutting power to babies life support systems.

[Guy Delaunay]

We need that electricity as soon as possible for the incubators, for walking, for the mechanical ventilation. This is one of the most serious complications of the electricity and lack of fuel in Gaza and a NASA medical complex nowadays.

[Sali Nabil]

I got more details from our Gaza correspondent Rushdie Abu Alouf who's reporting for us from Cairo.

[Guy Delaunay]

23 doctors posted different videos from the hospital last night and yesterday and this morning just to update you that the Israeli troops withdrawn from the cemetery which is about 200 meter from the hospital after they conducted an operation in the area and digging and searching in the place. But the area is still dangerous described by the doctors in the hospital because it's under Israeli evacuation order for the last 34 days. This is the biggest medical center in the entire of Gaza Strip. It's essential for all the medical staff in the south of Gaza Khan Younis area. The hospital has been suffering for a very long time but yesterday the main generator of the hospital was running out of fuel. The essential operation in the operation rooms intensive care unit and the incubators for the new babies were partially functioning. Their conditioning is not functioning. I saw this video of the doctor sweating inside and hearing the alarm from the life saving machines and appealing for any fuel. Israel did not allow any fuel into Gaza since March. There was a 2 million liter fuel reserve tank in some of the area and sometimes Israelis allow the hospitals to take some of that Fuel. But I understand from the Hamas run health Ministry that there is no longer fuel in this tank. And the hospital are in really dangerous situation, especially Nasser hospital.

[Sali Nabil]

And to be clear, do we know the Israelis are reported to have pulled back, but does that still mean that the hospital is not taking in new admissions, new wounded?

[Guy Delaunay]

Well, according to the director of the hospital, he said, we are going to assist the situation now because about two, three days ago, the Israelis issued warning to all residents around the hospital to evacuate. So the hospital is having multiple problems. One is the troops around it. Second is the fuel. Now one of the problems seems to be easing a little bit, but the fuel problem remains.

[Sali Nabil]

Rushdie Abu Alouf In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the national anthem was played in a memorial center near Srebrenica, followed by a minute's silence to mark 30 years since the genocide took place there. Tens of thousands of people gathered to pay their respects following what's described as the worst atrocity on European soil since World War II. Bosnian Serb forces killed 8,000 people, mostly Muslim men and boys, and buried their bodies in mass graves. Our Balkans correspondent, Guy Delaunay, is in Srebrenica for those commemorations, and he told me first about the Atroc atrocities that took place three decades ago.

[Mark McCochran]

So we're looking back to July 1995, and Srebrenica was supposed to be a safe haven under UN protection. And many Bosniaks, who are mostly Muslims, had gone to Srebrenica because they thought they would be safe there. But the Bosnian Serb forces overran Srebrenica. The Dutch peacekeepers who were there stood aside and basically allowed the Bosnian Serb forces, under the command of the notorious General Radkovladic, to separate men and boys from the women and girls. And the women and girls were mostly sent off on buses to majority Bosniak parts of the country. But the men and boys over the succeeding days oversaw a systematic murder of those people. Over those proceedings of those following days, we said smaller than 8,000 people, most of the men and boys. But the people at Srebrenica do want to emphasize there were women and girls who were also victims of Srebrenica as well.

[Sali Nabil]

We can hear the singing behind you. How is it being marked today?

[Mark McCochran]

Well, I'm standing in Potichari Cemetery, which is across the way from Srebrenica Memorial Center. And that's actually at the time where a lot of the murders actually occurred at what is now the Srebrebrenica Memorial Center. But in the cemetery here, there was thousands of people have come to the graves here to pay their respects. And just in front of me, there are seven freshly dug graves, and they'll be for the most recently identified victims of the Srebrenica massacre. And they'll be laid to rest in a funeral in a couple of hours time. And the work to identify the victims is still going on. Still around 1,000 people have not been identified and laid to rest. We've got DNA testing, some of the best DNA testing in the world that was pioneered here in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which has been helping relatives to identify their family members. But for many people, this is an agonising wait, and it's stretching now into its fourth decade in terms of finding their relatives, laying them to rest, and finding some sort of peace.

[Sali Nabil]

And what about the relationship between communities 30 years on?

[Mark McCochran]

Well, the contrast is stark. As we came to Srebrenica this morning, we went through the town of Bratunac, which is a majority Serb town, and along the roadside there, they've placed placards with photos on them. And these are photos of Serb people who died in the Bratonac, Srebrenica area between 1992 and 1995. Under a SERB minister that I spoke to yesterday, were saying, why aren't these people treated in the same way as the victims of the Srebrenica massacre? Why do Bosniaks only talk about Bosniak victims and Serb perpetrators? Why aren't perpetrators from all ethnic groups equally held to account? And that's just one reflection of the divisions here, which don't seem to be healing, but getting deeper. With many Bosnian Serb politicians denying the genocide took place and also pushing for more secessionist legislation which would allow the majority Serb area to draw away from Bosnia and closer to Serbia.

[Sali Nabil]

Guy Delaney. In Srebrenica, the recent peace agreement between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda was promoted as an end to hostilities. In eastern drc, though people remain divided over the prospects of peace coming anytime soon. Decades of fighting have killed millions, with rival armed groups imposing their dominance in areas rich in mineral resources. Now, the United States, which negotiated the peace deal, says it also wants a stake in the minerals. The BBC's Polton GA has gained rare access to the Rubaih mining site in eastern drc, where coltan and other mineral extractions could potentially be a key U.S. target. And he sent us this report.

[Steve Rosenberg]

I'm on a commercial motorbike and we're taking a bumpy ride on the hill, headed to the Rubaiya mining site. After the long road journey, I finally make it to the mining site nestled in the lush hills of Masisi. I'm in awe of what I see. It's a vast expanse of territory, valleys, hills and meanders. For me to walk, I have to be aided by a walking stick. Otherwise I wouldn't have my balance. Mine workers like Peter Rosiase owe their entire lives to the mine. Mining has really helped me. It paid for my wife's dowry when I was getting married. This is how I earn my living. Thousands risk their lives here almost every day scooping coltan, which is essential in producing electronics. Peter knows all too well the dangers of digging minerals in the deep, dark mining tunnels. Whenever we're in the mines, temperatures are very high. When they exceed normal averages, cold air is pumped inside so that we can continue working. The problem here lies mostly in accessing the mines and the hot temperatures.

[Guy Delaunay]

My honor to invite the parties to sign the peace agreement.

[Steve Rosenberg]

Thousands of miles away from the mines, Congolese and Rwandan officials, who had been accusing each other of fueling a decades long, deadly conflict in eastern drc, finally signed a peace deal at the White House in June.

[Sali Nabil]

Thank you very much, everybody.

[Steve Rosenberg]

US President Donald Trump wants America to get a piece of Congo's mineral resources as part of Washington's mediation. But Congolese analysts like Akram Tomsifu, based in Goma, say more work still needs to be done, especially involving one of the most active armed groups in the area. Today, the M23. DRC says Rwanda is supporting these rebels despite it repeatedly denying this.

[Guy Delaunay]

The deal signed between the DRC and Rwanda is good for peace between both countries, but it's far from resolving internal crises. For peace to return, the negotiation and talks between the Congolese government and M23 must be successful.

[Steve Rosenberg]

Rubaiya, which is now under the control of the M23, holds one of the world's richest coltan deposits. It's reportedly on the radar of U.S. investors. Patrice Moussafiri, who manages the Rubaiya site, has a clear message about any possible takeover. Any foreign investor can come here as long as they come with development for our people and increase daily wages for the miners. We don't know whether the presence of industries will increase or reduce jobs or whether they will build schools, hospitals and roads. Above all, if our economies improve, we will have no problems. Patrici's call echoes the sentiment of the residents of Rubaiya mining town, who live in extreme poverty despite the abundant mineral wealth. Now, many are unsure whether their livelihoods will be affected by this deal, which is designed to bring peace, but may very well also bring much uncertainty.

[Sali Nabil]

Paul and Ga still to come in.

[Ella Bicknell]

The global news podcast, Equality doesn't end with a logo.

[Sali Nabil]

Same pool, same respect. Paralympic swimmers criticized plans for a scaled down pool at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.

[Anastasia Pagonis]

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[Sali Nabil]

Now believe a mystery interstellar object discovered on the 1st of July is probably the oldest comet ever seen and more than 3 billion years older than our solar system. Scientists realized it was from a different planetary system because of its elongated orbit and its rapid speed of 60 km a second. Mark Macachran is an astrophysicist and former senior advisor for science and exploration at the European Space Agency. He told me what scientists have discovered from the comet.

[Ella Bicknell]

Well, the first thing is to establish where it was from. So if we, if you just have one picture of something, it could be from anywhere. It could be from inside our own solar system. And it was rapidly established that this is moving on a, as you said, a very elongated orbit that comes from outside of our solar system. And it's moving so fast that it won't stop, it won't slow down, it'll just go straight through. It doesn't come particularly close to the Earth or to the Sun. I think it's the closest approach to the sun at the end of October and then relatively close to the Earth, let's say at the end of the year. But then it's gone. It'll be back out into interstellar space again.

[Sali Nabil]

And I understand there are possibilities that in the quite near future we will be able to Intercept these objects from other galaxies, is that right?

[Ella Bicknell]

Well, exactly. So this is the third of these objects discovered in the last eight years or so. And you would argue, what, are they all suddenly arriving now? Now, that's just a question of the technology we have. We're able to see them now. And in fact, a big new telescope came online very recently called the Rubin Telescope, which will be surveying the sky in the Southern hemisphere every three days. And so we'll be able to find these rapidly moving objects. And the European Space Agency is currently building a small mission called Comet Interceptor, and it's designed to go and hang out in the solar system, not with a target in mind. Nothing. It's not going anywhere specific until one of these objects comes through. Now, it might be one from the outer reaches of our own solar system, but if we could detect one of these early enough and then redirect Comet Interceptor to fly past it, that would be amazing because it gives us immediate access to objects which were not born like the rest of our solar system, something from much further, further away.

[Sali Nabil]

And what do we hope to learn from comets like this?

[Ella Bicknell]

Well, in our own solar system, comets are the remnant material from the birth of our solar system four and a half billion years ago. So this one, three I atlas, if it's, if it's shown to be correct, maybe billions of years older from a completely different part of the Milky Way galaxy. And that means that it will have formed out of different material with, of course, the same kind of molecules, atoms, but maybe different compositions, different mixtures of those things. And so it would give us a really very direct way of sampling material from another solar system that was born earlier in the life of our Milky Way. And then we can perhaps try to understand how those chemicals have mixed together, how they may be different, the ones that we find in our own solar system.

[Sali Nabil]

I mean, how big a deal is this for scientists? How exciting is this for you as an astrophysicist?

[Ella Bicknell]

I think it's, you know, it's amazing that we've discovered three of them just in the last few years, and the prospects are we'll discover many more of them with these new telescopes. But the fact that this one has turned out to be potentially much older than our own solar system, of course, there was an expectation that might happen, but here we have one now. So we're not in the realms of theory anymore. We actually have one. Unfortunately, people won't be able to see this one. It's not going to be bright enough to be seen with the naked eye. You need a fairly large telescope, but, but it's an exciting thing for science. It's a great moment.

[Sali Nabil]

Mark McCochran since its full scale invasion of Ukraine more than three years ago, the Kremlin has been trying to rally the Russian public behind the war using propaganda, using fear and other efforts to boost patriotic fervor. Our Russia editor, Steve Rosenberg, traveled to a patriotic festival almost 50km from Moscow to see how Russians are being encouraged to love their country and to hear what they think of Russia's war.

[Valerie Sanderson]

So I'm in the town of Nuginsk, which is about 35 miles from Moscow, and the event I'm at has been billed as a patriotic festival. Now, these kind of militaristic events take place a lot. Now, there are lots of stalls here set up just like you'd see at a village fete. But unlike a village fete, the little tables are packed full of weapons. So there are rocket launchers, there are kamikaze drones, and all of this is being shown off to passersby in the park. In a corner of the park, Valentina shows me some of the items that she and her fellow volunteers have been knitting and sewing for Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine, including camouflage costumes, underpants and socks. This will definitely end with our victory, valentina says. Otherwise, why are we doing all of this? Valentina introduces me to her friend Luba. We chat and get onto the subject of Donald Trump. Lyuba doesn't trust America's president on Ukraine. He's a businessman, Luba says. Buying, selling, that's what Trump does. One day he wants to get Canada, the next day Greenland. He doesn't really care if he'll be on good terms with Russia or not. There are lots of children here. Some of them are wearing red berets and are in military uniform. These are members of what's called the the Youth army, which is a youth organization linked to the Russian Defense Ministry. And at one of the stalls, children are queuing up to have their chance to assemble and then disassemble a Kalashnikov rifle at speed. Russians are being told, and from an early age, that they are a nation of winners. They are also being told that by fighting in Ukraine, Russian soldiers are defending their country and that their army is on the right side of history. But as I talk to people at the festival, I detect a definite fatigue with the war. Alexander hopes the fighting will end soon. It would be better if there was peace, Alexander tells me, so that we don't touch Ukraine and they don't touch us, and we all lead separate lives. I've often said that Russia is a country of huge contrasts and contradictions. And you really feel that in this park. I mean, on the one hand I can see these giant colorful models of Snow White and the seven dwarfs in a children's playground. On the other hand I can see some women who are weaving camouflage netting for Russian soldiers on the front line in Ukraine. So you have this very odd mixture, sort of Snow White and the Russian army.

[Sali Nabil]

Steve Rosenberg reporting. The 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles may still be three years away, but venue announcements have already caused a stir among competitors. While Olympic swimmers have been promised a high profile stage, Paris swimmers have voiced frustration over the scale down plans for the Paralympic venue. More from Ella Bicknell Los Angeles is.

[Terry Egan]

The city of stars and organisers of LA 2028 have promised a Games like no other.

[Anastasia Pagonis]

When we welcome the Games, we'll show.

[Sali Nabil]

The world the real LA Swimming will.

[Terry Egan]

Dominate the second week of the Olympic calendar, a slot usually reserved for athletics. And it's set to take place in SOFI Stadium, the most expensive stadium ever built and home to American football teams the LA Chargers and the Los Angeles Rams.

[Ella Bicknell]

Welcome to the Rams House. We're inside one of the most high tech football stadiums of all time and it's the largest venue in the entire NFL.

[Matthew McLennan]

But for LA28, it would be the home of swimming.

[Terry Egan]

Last month the organisers announced very different plans for the Paralympic swimmers. A much smaller venue outside LA in the nearby city of Long Beach. The temporary pool approved by the International Paralympic Committee will be built in the car park, the Long Beach Convention Centre. The committee said that the venue's backdrop of ocean views would bring energy to an action packed competition. But it means it will be the first time since the 1980s that Olympic and Paralympic swimmers won't share the same pool, many of them expressing their frustration on social media.

[Mark McCochran]

La28 if the message you were trying.

[Anastasia Pagonis]

To get across was unity, you did an amazing job failing at that.

[Terry Egan]

U.S. paralympic gold medalist Anastasia Pagonis posted a video on Instagram tearing up a sign with the word equality.

[Mark McCochran]

And the Paralympics will be in a.

[Anastasia Pagonis]

Second tier pool, or should I say.

[Rushdie Abu Alouf]

An outdoor pool in the middle of a parking lot.

[Anastasia Pagonis]

Not even in Los Angeles.

[Ella Bicknell]

Equality doesn't end with a logo.

[Anastasia Pagonis]

Same pool, same respect.

[Terry Egan]

When announcing the venue, LA 28 chief executive Reynold Hoover said the plans not only elevates Paralympic sport, but brings it to the next level. He said accessibility was at the top of their minds when with all venues located within a 56 kilometer radius. But like Anastasia Pagonis, other swimmers say that's coming at the expense of equality. Australia's most decorated Paralympic swimmer, Ellie Cole, called the decision extremely disappointing, and US Paralympian Martha Ruffer wrote, when it's our turn to host, we still can't have equality.

[Sali Nabil]

Ella Bicknell A simple trip to the beach took a terrifying turn when 19 year old Darcy DeFoltz was swept away on his surfboard. But the Australian teenager was miraculously rescued on a remote island off the coast of New South Wales when his hometown banded together after an online plea for help. Terrygan has the story.

[Matthew McLennan]

D' Arcy Default left his home in Woolai near the coast of New South Wales in Australia on Wednesday afternoon. He was heading for the beach on his bike and toting a surfboard, but when the 19 year old didn't return, his father, Terry contacted the police. More than that, though, he also took to the Internet to make an appeal. I need boats, he wrote, asking for anyone with a seaworthy vessel to meet him at the town's boat ramp. He also called for drone users and others to help him in the search. The waters off Wulai beach are very popular with anglers, divers and surfers, but dangerous. Just in March last year, someone fishing off rocks didn't come back after a trip north of Wullai beach and was later found dead near Northwest Solitary Island. The local police also got involved. Here's Matthew McLennan from Marine Rescue, New South Wales.

[Valerie Sanderson]

Local community had organised a fairly extensive sort of private search, so we joined.

[Ella Bicknell]

In and helped out with that.

[Valerie Sanderson]

It's rare that we ever get the.

[Ella Bicknell]

Opportunity to be participated participating in a.

[Steve Rosenberg]

Search with an outcome such as this.

[Matthew McLennan]

Finally, on that same remote, rocky northwest solitary island, 13 kilometres off the coast, Darcy was located. A Facebook group set up to look for him made the announcement. His father, who'd feared the worst, said he'd been swept off there and that it was a one in a million chance he'd been found. Darcy is now in a stable condition at Grafton Base Hospital and doing well.

[Sali Nabil]

Terry Egan giving this podcast a happy ending. And that's it from us for now. But there'll be a new edition of the Global News Podcast later. If you want to comment on this podcast or the topics covered in it, send us an email. The address is globalpodcastbc.co.uk you can also find us on X@BBC World Service. Use the hashtag global newspod. This edition was mixed by Hollywood Smith and produced by Charles Sanctuary and Isabella Jewell. The editor is Karen Martin. I'm Valerie Sanderson. Until next time.

[Ella Bicknell]

Bye.

[Terry Egan]

Bye.