Putin agrees to pause Ukraine energy attacks during Trump call

Summary

Global News Podcast Summary
Episode: Putin agrees to pause Ukraine energy attacks during Trump call
Release Date: March 19, 2025
Host: Janet Jalil, BBC World Service

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1. High-Stakes U.S.-Russia Diplomatic Engagement

Main Story:
In a highly anticipated phone call between former U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, significant developments emerged regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Although Putin did not agree to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, he consented to halt attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure for a 30-day period.

Key Points:

• Energy Infrastructure Pause:
  Putin agreed to cease strikes on Ukrainian energy facilities for 30 days but refrained from committing to a full ceasefire.
  "Mr. Putin has agreed to halt strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure for 30 days," [01:30] Tom Bateman explained.

• Divergent Ceasefire Agreements:
  President Trump and Ukrainian officials had previously advocated for a comprehensive 30-day ceasefire. However, the outcome indicates a split, with Russia's concessions being limited to energy targets.
  "President Trump has got agreement from now the Ukrainians and the Russians on two completely different ceasefires," Frank Gardiner stated at [03:07].

• Putin's Conditions for Negotiations:
  Putin emphasized that any further negotiations would necessitate the cessation of all Western military and intelligence support for Ukraine. This condition poses a critical challenge, as it directly impacts Ukraine's defense capabilities.
  "Mr. Putin has made that a key condition of ending the war... he says that America has to stop arming Ukraine," Frank Gardiner noted at [04:50].

Expert Analysis:
Frank Gardiner provided insight into the implications of the call, highlighting that Russia appears to be leveraging the energy infrastructure pause as a tactical move rather than a genuine step towards peace. The lack of willingness to agree to a full ceasefire suggests that Russia may be buying time while imposing stringent conditions on any potential negotiations.

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2. Germany's Historic Defence Spending Vote

Main Story:
German lawmakers have approved a substantial increase in defence spending, marking a significant policy shift for the country. This decision involves financing through extensive borrowing, which is a departure from Germany's traditionally conservative fiscal approach.

Key Points:

• Defence Budget Surge:
  The Bundestag approved a major increase in defence expenditure, financed by borrowing hundreds of billions of dollars.
  "This is the lower house, so the parliament, the Bundestag... has got to get through the upper house," Emir Nader reported at [07:21].

• Political and Historical Context:
  Germany's move is influenced by its historical aversion to military spending post-World War II and is now driven by contemporary security concerns.
  "This is a really radical departure for Germany to spend so much on its military," Emir Nader commented at [08:23].

• Implications for Europe and Ukraine:
  The increased defence budget is seen as a response to perceived instability and aims to strengthen Europe's military capabilities, especially in light of the Ukraine conflict.
  "This will certainly help Europe sustain its assistance to Ukraine," Emir Nader added at [09:46].

Expert Analysis:
Emir Nader emphasized that Germany's shift in defence spending is not only a response to current geopolitical tensions but also an attempt to rejuvenate its economy. By removing debt limits, Germany aims to support broader NATO and EU defence initiatives, indicating a coordinated effort to bolster European security in the face of reduced reliance on U.S. military support.

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3. Escalation of Israeli Strikes on Gaza

Main Story:
Israel has intensified its military operations in Gaza, resulting in significant civilian casualties and escalating tensions in the region. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that the renewed airstrikes are only the beginning of a more extensive campaign against Hamas.

Key Points:

• Humanitarian Impact:
  Over 400 people, including many women and children, were reported killed in Gaza due to the latest Israeli airstrikes.
  "Rebecca Morell: Terrifying and suddenly wake up at the heavy explosions everywhere near my home... around 30 people died," [11:16].

• Netanyahu's Declaration:
  Netanyahu announced that Israel would continue its offensive operations, stating, "From this point on, Israel will act against Hamas with growing intensity," [11:59].

• Hostage Crisis:
  Despite ongoing negotiations, hostilities have intensified, complicating efforts to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas.
  "Negotiations will only happen under fire," Netanyahu stated at [11:59].

• Domestic and International Reactions:
  These actions have sparked international condemnation, with Arab and some European governments criticizing Israel's strategy. Additionally, domestic pressure mounts within Israel as protests erupt against Netanyahu's leadership and handling of the crisis.
  "He will continue to fight... to release all of the hostages," Frank Gardiner reported at [12:33].

Expert Analysis:
Frank Gardiner and Emir Nader provided perspectives on the broader implications of Israel's renewed military actions. The strategy appears to be aimed at weakening Hamas through sustained military pressure, but it risks further entrenching the conflict and complicating diplomatic resolutions. The heavy civilian toll and international backlash underscore the complexities of achieving a lasting ceasefire.

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4. Safe Return of NASA Astronauts

Main Story:
Two NASA astronauts, Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, have safely returned to Earth after an extended nine-month mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Their mission, initially slated for eight days, was prolonged due to technical issues with their spacecraft.

Key Points:

• Mission Duration and Challenges:
  The astronauts' mission was extended after a technical fault with Boeing's Starliner capsule, resulting in their longest stay on the ISS to date.
  "Their mission was dramatically extended," Dr. Elwin Scali explained at [16:30].

• Physical and Psychological Effects:
  Extended time in space has significant impacts on the human body, including bone density loss, muscle atrophy, hormonal changes, and alterations in the microbiome.
  "Their bodies will have suffered in space... bone loss, muscle loss," [17:11].

• Return and Recovery:
  The astronauts successfully splashed down off the coast of Florida and are now en route to the Johnson Space Center in Houston for medical evaluations and rehabilitation.
  "Emerging from the capsule with waves, big smiles and a thumbs up," Dr. Elwin Scali detailed at [17:31].

Expert Analysis:
Dr. Elwin Scali highlighted the resilience of the astronauts and the advancements in space mission management. The successful return underscores the importance of robust support systems and contingency plans in space exploration, especially during unforeseen technical challenges.

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5. Ilfolio's Pioneering AI-Generated Daily Editions

Main Story:
Italian newspaper Ilfolio has launched the world's first daily edition entirely produced by artificial intelligence (AI). The initiative includes four pages of AI-generated content, showcasing the growing influence of AI in the journalism industry.

Key Points:

• AI Integration in Journalism:
  Ilfolio aims to demonstrate AI's capability to impact daily news production by releasing an AI-generated supplement for a month.
  "Ilfolio wants to showcase the impact it's having on our daily lives," Tom Bateman reported at [25:52].

• Content Highlights:
  The inaugural AI edition featured a critical analysis of President Trump, a piece titled "10 Betrayals by Vladimir Putin," and stories on social trends such as young Europeans leaving stable relationships. Additionally, it included AI-generated letters from readers addressing concerns about technology's future role in human society.
  "There are stories on how young Europeans are ditching stable relationships and a selection of AI generated letters," Tom Bateman noted at [25:52].

• Future Prospects:
  This experiment seeks to explore the boundaries of AI in content creation and its potential to complement traditional journalism practices.
  "The AI editor's response, not yet," referring to an AI response to reader concerns, Tom Bateman mentioned at [25:52].

Expert Analysis:
The initiative by Ilfolio represents a significant trend in media innovation, leveraging AI to enhance content production and explore new storytelling methodologies. However, it also raises questions about the authenticity, reliability, and ethical implications of AI-generated journalism.

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6. Judicial Pushback Against Trump's Impeachment Calls

Main Story:
Following Donald Trump's public criticism of U.S. judges, Chief Justice John Roberts issued a statement rebuking the former president's calls for impeachment, emphasizing the inappropriateness of such actions in response to judicial decisions.

Key Points:

• Trump's Criticism of Judiciary:
  Trump labeled Judge Boasberg as a "radical left lunatic" and called for his impeachment, reflecting escalating tensions between the executive and judicial branches.
  "Donald Trump called Judge Boasberg a radical left lunatic... he should be impeached," Robin Ince summarized at [19:25].

• Chief Justice Roberts' Response:
  Roberts condemned the impeachment calls, asserting that impeachment is not a suitable mechanism for disagreements over judicial rulings.
  "Impeachment wasn't an appropriate response to disagreements concerning a judicial decision," Roberts stated.

• Implications for U.S. Governance:
  The situation underscores potential constitutional crises, as the separation of powers is challenged by executive attempts to undermine judicial authority.
  "This presents an unequivocal admonishment... in what is shaping up to be a potential constitutional crisis," Robin Ince commented.

Expert Analysis:
The confrontation between Trump and the judiciary highlights the fragility of the checks and balances system in the U.S. Political analyst Gary O'Donoghue remarked on the resilience of the judicial system despite executive pressure, but also pointed out the high barriers and historical challenges in successfully impeaching a president, noting Trump's previous survival of impeachment attempts.

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7. Investigation into Assault at South African Antarctic Research Station

Main Story:
An incident involving an assault and death threats at a South African-run Antarctic research station has prompted a government investigation. The situation has raised concerns about the psychological strains of remote scientific missions.

Key Points:

• Incident Details:
  A male scientist assaulted a colleague and made death threats, leading to an investigation by South African authorities. The accused has apologized and is cooperating with the investigation.
  "The accused man is said to be cooperative and to have apologised to his alleged victim," Jacob Evans reported at [21:11].

• Living Conditions and Stress Factors:
  The remote and harsh environment of Antarctic stations can contribute to interpersonal conflicts and mental health challenges among staff.
  "These harsh weather conditions mean scientists can be cut off from the rest of the world for much of the year," Jacob Evans elaborated at [22:00].

• Government Response:
  The South African government is actively mediating and providing support to ensure the situation remains under control and that the research mission can continue safely.
  "The situation at the base is calm," Frank Gardiner reported at [21:49].

Expert Analysis:
The incident underscores the psychological and social challenges faced by individuals in isolated and extreme environments. Mental health support and robust conflict resolution mechanisms are essential for the success and safety of long-term scientific missions in such settings.

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8. New Insights into the Genetic Origins of Modern Humans

Main Story:
Researchers at the University of Cambridge have unveiled evidence suggesting that the genetic heritage of modern humans is more complex than previously understood. Their findings indicate descent from at least two ancient populations that diverged approximately 1.5 million years ago before later reconverging.

Key Points:

• Multiple Ancestral Populations:
  The study reveals that Homo sapiens originated from multiple, distinct populations within Africa, challenging the earlier hypothesis of a singular ancestral lineage.
  "The evidence suggests that back then, human ancestors did indeed live in multiple populations," Dr. Elwin Scali noted at [23:30].

• Genetic Analysis Techniques:
  Utilizing modern genomic data, researchers analyzed genetic variations to trace back ancestral lineages, demonstrating the presence of diverse genetic ancestries within contemporary human genomes.
  "Looking at the genetic ancestry that's actually found in every single person's genome," Rebecca Morell explained at [24:06].

• Implications for Human Evolution:
  These findings provide a more nuanced understanding of human evolution, highlighting extensive interactions and migrations among different populations in Africa before the eventual spread of Homo sapiens globally.
  "Our study set out to address that using genetic evidence, which is another way of looking at human evolution complementary to fossils," Rebecca Morell added at [22:15].

Expert Analysis:
Dr. Elwin Scali emphasized that this research enriches our comprehension of human evolutionary history, illustrating the genetic diversity and complexity that existed among early human populations. The study paves the way for further investigations into migration patterns and genetic intermixing in prehistoric Africa.

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9. Conclusion

This episode of the Global News Podcast delved into critical global issues ranging from high-stakes diplomatic negotiations and historic defence spending shifts to escalating conflicts and groundbreaking scientific discoveries. Through expert analysis and firsthand reports, the podcast provided a comprehensive overview of the multifaceted challenges and developments shaping our world in March 2025.

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Notable Quotes:

• "Mr. Putin has agreed to halt strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure for 30 days." — Tom Bateman [01:30]

• "President Trump has got agreement from now the Ukrainians and the Russians on two completely different ceasefires." — Frank Gardiner [03:07]

• "From this point on, Israel will act against Hamas with growing intensity." — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu [11:59]

• "Impeachment wasn't an appropriate response to disagreements concerning a judicial decision." — Chief Justice John Roberts [19:25]

• "The evidence suggests that back then, human ancestors did indeed live in multiple populations." — Dr. Elwin Scali [23:30]

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Contact Information:
For comments or feedback on this podcast, email [e-mail].

Transcript

[Robin Ince]

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the uk. Hello, I'm Robin Ince.

[Brian Cox]

And I'm Brian Cox. And we would like to tell you about the new series of the Infinite Monkey Cage. We're going to have a planet off Jupiter versus Scepter. It's very well done that, because in the script it does say wrestling voice.

[Robin Ince]

After all of that, it's going to kind of chill out a bit and talk about ice.

[Brian Cox]

And also in this series we're discussing history of music recording with Brian Eno and looking at nature shapes.

[Robin Ince]

So listen wherever you get your podcasts.

[Janet Jalil]

This is the Global News podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Janet Jalil and in the early hours of Wednesday, 19th March, these are our main stories. In a much anticipated phone call with Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin has rejected an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine, but agreed to halt Russia attacks on energy infrastructure. Amid international outrage over Israeli strikes on Gaza that have reportedly killed more than 400 people, Israel's prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says this is just the beginning. Two NASA astronauts who've been stranded in space for nine months have landed safely back on Earth. Also in this podcast, an Italian newspaper says it's become the first in the world to offer a daily edition produced by artificial intelligence.

[Tom Bateman]

Tuesday's inaugural edition provides a scathing look at President Trump and a selection of AI generated letters from supposed readers.

[Janet Jalil]

It was a highly anticipated phone call. We begin today at the White House where a high stakes phone call between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, a White House adviser. We are following some breaking news in Washington. In a statement out moments ago, the White House says, quote, the movement to peace will begin with an energy and infrastructure ceasefire. Fire. This morning's hour. In the course of a lengthy conversation between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, the Russian president agreed to halt strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure for 30 days, but stopped short of agreeing to the unconditional 30 day ceasefire that the US had been calling for. Ukraine's leader, Vladimir Zelensky, said his country had always supported a truce on attacking energy infrastructure, but that Russia wasn't ready to end the war.

[Robin Ince]

We'll support any proposals that lead to a sustainable, just peace. But for this we have to understand what's at stake, what are the details? And I hope to God that we know all these details so that the partners talk to us, because there are two sides in this war, Russia and Ukraine. Trying to negotiate without Ukraine, in my view, will not be productive.

[Janet Jalil]

I asked our State Department correspondent Tom Bateman for his assessment of the call.

[Frank Gardiner]

Well, the first thing to say is this was a very long call, possibly up to two and a half hours between Presidents Trump and Putin. The sort of tangible outcome is that Mr. Putin has agreed, as you say, to what appears to be an immediate cessation of what is basically long range missile fire on the power grid in Ukraine. Now, that is not inconsequential. That has been a significant part of his attacks on Ukraine since the full scale invasion. However, what seems to have happened here is that President Trump has got agreement from now the Ukrainians and the Russians on two completely different ceasefires. So what he had agreed with the Ukrainians last week was an immediate full 30 day ceasefire. They said, quote, you know, the ball is now in Russia's court. He's had this call with Vladimir Putin and seems to have significantly retreated on that position. So the language from the White House in the statement they put out after the call makes no mention at all of a full 30 day ceasefire. And instead, you know, we have the clarification from Mr. Putin on their statement on the call that there is this agreement or that Mr. Putin says he will stop missile strikes on energy infrastructure, although we don't yet know if the Ukrainians will also agree to that far, far lesser form of truce than they said they were ready for with the Americans.

[Janet Jalil]

And this was a moment when many people thought that it was an opportunity for Donald Trump to prove that he can deliver on his claim that he can end the war in Ukraine soon. But it seems that Russia is stalling rather than making the concessions that are needed for an agreement.

[Frank Gardiner]

Well, there certainly aren't any of the kind of concessions that you might have expected from Russia if there was to be a full 30 day ceasefire and if that was to start immediately. And so I think, you know, the Ukrainians will very much see this as Vladimir Putin playing for time, while at the same time adding a string of conditions and trying to get Mr. Trump to bend to that position. Now, what we have seen in the statement from the Kremlin is that the Russian leader is saying that there is a key condition to continue negotiations or to pick up further negotiations over ending the war. And that is that there must be an end to all Western military and intelligence support for Ukraine. Now, that, of course, is an absolutely existential issue for the Ukrainians. I think what's happened there is President Putin has sort of got a taste for Mr. Trump's readiness to potentially do that, to cut off ammunition and arms supplies to the Ukrainians, because he did that a couple of weeks ago to leverage the Ukrainians. And so he's now making that a key condition of ending the war, in effect, to go forward with the negotiations. He says that America has to stop arming Ukraine.

[Janet Jalil]

Tom Bateman, well, as the Russian threat looms over Europe, German lawmakers have, in a historic vote, approved a massive increase in defence spending financed by the borrowing of hundreds of billions of dollars. A seismic shift for a debt shy country still scarred by the horrors of its Nazi past. And it's a shift that could reshape not just Germany's, but Europe's defence at a time when Donald Trump has made it clear that for the first time since the Second World War, other Western nations can no longer rely on the US Defence shield. The vote was called by Germany's chancellor in waiting, Friedrich Metz.

[Robin Ince]

For at least a decade, possibly much longer, our society had a false sense of security. We now need to rebuild our defence capability from scratch with automated systems, with independent European satellite surveillance, with armed drones, and with many modern defence systems, and most importantly, with reliable and predictable orders that should go to European manufacturers where possible.

[Janet Jalil]

Our security correspondent, Frank Gardiner watched the vote in the Bundestag in Berlin.

[Emir Nader]

This vote was being called absolutely crucial. A day of destiny, a historic opportunity by various people, politicians, journalists, others. It needed to pass by two thirds and it did. It's passed by 71%. This is the lower house, so the parliament, the Bundestag has still got to get through the upper house, the Bundesrat on Friday. But that's thought to be now something of a formality. But it has been a race against time because this is the outgoing German parliament, the new one that sits, that's for the first time on the 25th of March, in a week's time, has got a stronger representation from the rfd, the alternative for Deutschland, that's the far right party and Linke, the far left party, both of whom strongly oppose these measures.

[Janet Jalil]

This is a really radical departure for Germany to spend so much on its military. It's a move that could revive Europe's largest economy. But some say it's also a move fraught with risks given Germany's Nazi past.

[Emir Nader]

Well, yes, I mean, there are two reasons why Germany has been averse to doing this in the past. One is, as you rightly say, the historic reasons going back to 1945. And there is a strong neo Nazi movement in this country. There is that risk politically, but also economically, Germany has been incredibly conservative for over a decade. And I think there is a growing acceptance amongst many people, certainly in the leading main parties that this has possibly held back the German economy. And they are hoping that this huge uptick in borrowing, although fiscally risky, is going to stimulate the German economy. The other part of this and what was approved today is taking off the debt breaks on how much money Germany can borrow, can go into the, into the market to borrow for defence. And there's no limit to that. It could be hundreds of billions. And this is crucial because the rest of NATO and the EU were all looking very closely at what happened today. If this had stumbled at the first hurdle, this proposal, then it would have dealt a pretty serious knock to Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission's plans for a project called Rearm Europe. And that's for an 800 billion euro fund.

[Janet Jalil]

So Frank, what does this mean for Ukraine?

[Emir Nader]

Well, it's good news for Ukraine this, because obviously Europe and Ukraine are extremely worried that, that the U.S. support for Ukraine is shaky at best and Europe has been scratching its head as to how they can try and fill that gap. Now there are things that are going to be very hard to replace like Patriot missile batteries and long range artillery, but there's a lot of other stuff like artillery shells and drones that Europe can gear up its industry to doing so this vote today, this will certainly help Europe sustain its assistance to Ukraine.

[Janet Jalil]

Frank Gardner in Germany there has been international outrage at Israel's decision to renew its extensive strikes on Gaza, breaking the fragile ceasefire with Hamas that had been in place since January. More than 400 people were killed, many of them women and children in the early hours of Tuesday morning, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, making it one of the deadliest days in the war. This comes as ceasefire talk had stalled and as Israel has been blocking aid from entering the Strip for the past two weeks. Egypt accused Israel of deliberately making Gaza uninhabitable to force out Palestinians. A UN humanitarian official said once again the people of Gaza were living in abject fear. 17 year old Sanabel described the scene in Gaza City last night was too.

[Rebecca Morell]

Terrifying and suddenly wake up at the heavy explosions everywhere near my home. I live near to the Tabiin School. The school were targeted a lot of times so the Israeli army also targeted in the night about 30 people died. There are no safe place here in Gaza Strip.

[Janet Jalil]

The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the renewed airstrikes on Gaza were just the beginning. In a televised address, he said Israel had resum combat with full force, accusing Hamas of rejecting the proposals Israel had brought to cease fire talks. His words are spoken by an interpreter.

[Frank Gardiner]

From this point on, Israel will act against Hamas with growing intensity. From this point on, the negotiations will only be done under fire. Hamas in the past day has felt the fourth of our armor weapons in the past day. And I want to tell you that this is just the beginning. He will continue to fight in order to achieve all of the war goals, to release all of the hostages, to get rid of Hamas, and to ensure that Hamas will no longer constitute a threat to Israel.

[Janet Jalil]

Israel's large scale assaults on Gaza come amid mounting domestic pressure on Mr. Netanyahu as he tries to fire the head of the Shin Bet internal security service. With mass protests planned over his governance. These Israelis at a protest camp in Tel Aviv demanding the return of the hostages, expressed their fears.

[Frank Gardiner]

I think it's disastrous because we have our kidnapped people sitting there and either they will be hurt directly or by the Hamas. It will not bring anything good.

[Emir Nader]

I have no idea what is going to happen to the remaining hostages if the fighting keeps on going. It's an absolute disaster.

[Gary O'Donoghue]

This is no longer a war that is about something that is important. It's all about the survival of this government. The survivor of Benjamin Netanyahu I asked.

[Janet Jalil]

Our correspondent in Jerusalem, Emir Nader, what the latest was on the casualties caused by the Israeli airstrikes.

[Gary O'Donoghue]

The number announced by the health authorities in Gaza has been rising throughout the day. Now, over 400 dead is the latest figure we've had announced from those bodies counted when they've arrived at hospitals. They've said, amongst those figures, over 260 women and children. The hospitals have been overrun with queues of people trying to get surgery after being injured in the airstrikes. And you know, we've heard reports throughout the day of entire families being killed in that very heavy series of bombardments that mostly took place through the night and continued into the day. Hamas has also acknowledged that a number of its senior leadership have been killed in the airstrikes, around four or five, including the head of the government in Gaza, the kind of administrative government there. So it has been acknowledged that amongst the very heavy civilian casualties, Hamas has suffered some direct losses to its organization.

[Janet Jalil]

And why has Israel decided to carry out such large scale strikes now when there are still hostages being held in Gaza?

[Gary O'Donoghue]

Well, that's a big point of contention. The Israeli government is saying that it's doing so in order to release the hostages. Now in the clips we've just heard from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said from now on, negotiations will only happen under fire and he's struck a very belligerent tone. He says that military pressure is a necessary condition of releasing hostages. This comes after obviously, just over two weeks of Israel preventing aid getting into Gaza. And there are critics, including the Hamas side, that say this is because Israel has tried to renegotiate the terms of the ceasefire that was agreed in January. The phase, the second phase of the ceasefire that was supposed to commence had on the table that the Israeli troops would begin to withdraw from Gaza and it would lead to a permanent cessation of hostilities. Hamas has said it still would like to pursue that form of deal that would lead to a permanent cessation of hostilities. Israel seems to be now opting for a different kind of ceasefire that would release more hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners being released, but would delay the negotiation of a permanent end to the war. And Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is making those statements despite the condemnation that we're hearing from Arab governments and indeed some European governments this afternoon.

[Janet Jalil]

Emma Nader Astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore left Earth last June for what was supposed to be an eight day mission to test Boeing's Starliners capsule. But their spacecraft suffered a technical fault once it had docked with the International Space Station and they ended up staying nine months. Now, though, they're back having splashed down off the coast of Florida in an apparently smooth and spectacular spectacular landing. Our science editor Rebecca Morell has this report and splashdown.

[Dr. Elwin Scali]

Crew 9 back on Earth the moment NASA's Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams epic mission came to an end. After making a fast and fiery re entry through the Earth's atmosphere, their SpaceX capsule opened its parachute to take it gently down into the ocean. Butch and Sunny arrived on the International Space Station last June and were only supposed to stay for just over a week. But after the Boeing spacecraft they travelled on suffered technical problems, their mission was dramatically extended. Butch and Sunny embraced their time on the orbiting lab, carrying out an array of experiments and conducting spacewalks. But space takes a toll on the body. As Helen Sharman, Britain's first astronaut, explains.

[Janet Jalil]

They will feel first of all fantastic to be back on Earth. So the fresh air is the first thing that gets you really. But then of course, their bodies will have suffered in space, so particularly bone loss, muscle loss as well, their hormones, balance will be all sort of all changed. Microbiome will be changed.

[Dr. Elwin Scali]

So all of that will have to.

[Janet Jalil]

Let'S say, get back to normal.

[Dr. Elwin Scali]

After emerging from the capsule with waves, big smiles and a thumbs up, Butch and Sunny will now be flown to the Johnson Space center in Houston for medical checks before at long last being reunited with their friends and family.

[Janet Jalil]

Rebecca Morell, still to come, there's been.

[Rebecca Morell]

A long standing debate in whether or not humans Homo sapiens, which we know appeared in Africa about 200 to 300,000 years ago, whether or not that happened all in just in one population somewhere in Africa.

[Janet Jalil]

Now, new evidence suggests that the genetic origins of modern humans are far more complex than previously thought.

[Robin Ince]

Hello, I'm Robin Ince.

[Brian Cox]

And I'm Brian Cox. And we would like to tell you about the new series of the Infinite Monkey Cage. We're going to have a planet off Jupiter versus Scepter. It's very well done that, because in the script it does say wrestling voice.

[Robin Ince]

After all of that, it's gonna kind of chill out a bit and talk about ice.

[Brian Cox]

And also in this series, we're discussing history, music recording with Brian Eno and looking at nature shapes.

[Robin Ince]

So listen wherever you get your podcasts.

[Janet Jalil]

You'Re listening to the Global News Podcast. Since returning to the White House, Donald Trump has frequently lashed out at judges who are trying to constrain his sweeping claims of presidential authority. Now, in a rare public rebuke, the chief justice of the US Supreme Court, John Roberts, has issued a statement in response to Mr. Trump's call for the impeachment. A federal judge who tried to stop deportation flights, Mr. Roberts said that impeachment wasn't an appropriate response to disagreements concerning a judicial decision. Our North America correspondent, Gary O'Donoghue reports from Washington.

[Robin Ince]

In a social media post, Donald Trump called Judge Boasberg a radical left lunatic, a troublemaker and an agitator, adding that he should be impeached. In other words, removed from office. While not addressing the president directly, the statement from the chief justice, John Roberts, presents an unequivocal admonishment of the president's words and a significant intervention in what is shaping up to be a potential constitutional crisis. America's political system is based on three branches of government, the executive, Congress and the judiciary. And this separation of powers is designed to create a system of checks and balances so that no one branch can dominate the others. But in recent days, a number of senior administration officials have suggested the White House could simply ignore judic decisions it doesn't like, with the border czar Tom Homan saying, we're not stopping. I don't care what the judges think. What concerns many is that it's far from clear what could prevent the White House from ignoring the courts if it chose to do so. After all, judges have no means of enforcing their decisions, no army at their beck and call. Congress could impeach a president who took such a course, but the bar for doing so is high, and Mr. Trump has already survived two such attempts before.

[Janet Jalil]

Gary O'Donoghue in an earlier podcast, we told you that a team of scientists trapped in a remote Antarctic research station had appealed for help after a colleague assaulted one of them and made death threats. Now the South African government has launched an investigation into events at the South African run station. The accused man is said to be cooperative and to have apologised to his alleged victim. Miami Jones reports from Johannesburg.

[Jacob Evans]

According to the South African authorities, all those working on the research base went through checks and assessments before being deployed at the start of February. But they have admitted it isn't uncommon for individuals to have an initial adjustment period after arriving at a remote base. The authorities say they learned that four weeks into the mission, one man physically assaulted a colleague. They're also investigating allegations of sexual harassment. Officials say they're in touch with the team daily, that a mediation process is ongoing. The man involved has written a letter of apology to the victim and is also willing to apologise to the rest of the team. Dr. Dion George is the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.

[Frank Gardiner]

The situation at the base is calm.

[Brian Cox]

And all is under control.

[Robin Ince]

I will be keeping close contact with the base to ensure that it remains that way.

[Jacob Evans]

The SANE fourth research base usually houses staff for 13 months during the Antarctic winter. It's located more than 2,500 miles from mainland South Africa, and harsh weather conditions mean scientists can be cut off from the rest of the world for much of the year.

[Janet Jalil]

Myne Jones scientists here in the UK say they found evidence that the genetic origins of modern humans are far more complex than previously thought. Researchers at the University of Cambridge say we're descended from at least two ancient populations that became separated one and a half million years ago. They developed separately, then eventually reconnected several millennia later. Previously, it was thought that we originated from one genetic lineage. Rebecca Gillespie spoke to the co author of the research, Dr. Elwin Scalli, fellow at Darwin College, Cambridge. So does this research change our ideas about evolution?

[Rebecca Morell]

Well, there's been a long standing debate in human evolution about whether or not about how humans evolved in Africa. And a lot of this was previously based on fossil evidence. Whether or not humans, Homo sapiens, which we know, appeared in Africa about 200 to 300,000 years ago, whether or not that happened all in just in one population somewhere in Africa, or whether or not there were lots of populations all over Africa, perhaps maybe even some outside, all interacting in some way which collectively represent human ancestors at that time. So this study set out to address that using genetic evidence, which is another way of looking at human evolution complementary to fossils.

[Dr. Elwin Scali]

And what did you find?

[Rebecca Morell]

Well, we found that actually the evidence suggests that back then, human ancestors did indeed live in multiple populations. So just like today, humans live all over the world in lots of different populations. Not completely separate, of course, but nevertheless distinct in many ways. And it seems that that was also the case back then. So whether or not these were all across Africa, whether or not some of them were outside, that's less clear. But the evidence from the genetic data is pretty clear that it was that rather than a single, single population somewhere in East Africa or wherever.

[Dr. Elwin Scali]

And what was the technique that you used to make these discoveries?

[Rebecca Morell]

But it's really looking at the genetic ancestry that's actually found in every single person's genome all over the world. So you can do this just looking at one individual genome, which is really quite remarkable. It's kind of astonishing in many ways. And that's because there are ancestry differences between the chromosomes, the two copies of the chromosomes that you have that everybody inherits from their mother and father. And some of those ancestry differences go back to relatively recent ancestors just a few generations back. But some of it goes back a lot further, some even back to this time in Africa, hundreds of thousands of years ago.

[Dr. Elwin Scali]

Fascinating. So you've done this through living humans, not fossils and digging up bones and that sort of thing?

[Rebecca Morell]

Yes, exactly, that's right. Just from modern day individuals living today, just looking at each person's genome.

[Dr. Elwin Scali]

You've done this research using living people geographically. Did you work out whether people are still living in the same sort of areas, or whether there's been migrational moves or that sort of thing?

[Rebecca Morell]

Oh, there's been a lot of migration and movement of humans all around the world since that time. I mean, not least the fact that although all our ancestors, the answers of everybody alive today was, was back in Africa at that time. Well, since then our ancestors left Africa and have spread all around the world. And so you find us, you know, on every continent, in every place now. So there are people everywhere now. Whether or not the, the ancestry of people today in these places reflects some of that movement, that's the kind of question that we would like to look at a bit further as well.

[Janet Jalil]

Dr. Alwin Scali, an Italian newspaper, says it's become the first in the world to offer a daily edition produced by artificial intelligence. Four pages of entirely AI generated content are included in Ilfolio's latest broadsheet and on its website, Jacob Evans has more details.

[Tom Bateman]

As artificial intelligence becomes more advanced, Ilfolio wants to showcase the impact it's having on our daily lives. Every day. For the next month, it will release an AI generated supplement, which you can pick up or read online. Tuesday's inaugural edition provides a scathing look at President Trump and what it calls 10 betrayals by Vladimir Putin. There's also stories on how young Europeans are ditching stable relationships and a selection of AI generated letters from supposed readers. One asks whether the technology will render humans useless in the future. The AI editor's response, not yet.

[Janet Jalil]

And that was the very real Jacob Evans. And that's all from us for now. But there will be a new edition of the Global News Podcast later. If you want to comment on this podcast or the topics covered, you can send us an email. The address is globalpodcastbc.co.uk this edition was mixed by Caroline Driscoll. The producer was Liam McSheffrey. The editor is Karen Martin. I'm Janet Juliel. Until next time. Goodbye.

[Robin Ince]

Hello, I'm Robin Ince.

[Brian Cox]

And I'm Brian Cox. And we would like to tell you about the new series of the Infinite Monkey Cage. We're going to have a planet off Jupiter versus Scepter. It's very well done that, because in the script it does say wrestling voice.

[Robin Ince]

After all of that, it's going to kind of chill out a bit and talk about ice.

[Brian Cox]

And also in this series, we're discussing history, music recording with Brian Eno and looking at nature's shapes.

[Robin Ince]

So listen, wherever you get your podcasts.