Thai and Cambodian troops exchange fire in deadly clashes

Summary

Global News Podcast Summary Hosted by BBC World Service Release Date: July 24, 2025

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1. Introduction

In today's episode of the Global News Podcast, host Janak Jalil delivers a comprehensive overview of pivotal global events, ranging from intense military conflicts and tragic aviation accidents to historic trade agreements and humanitarian crises. The episode delves into the complexities of international relations, public health policies, and societal changes, offering listeners in-depth analysis and firsthand reports.

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2. International Conflicts and Clashes

a. Deadly Military Flare-Up on the Thai-Cambodian Border

At the heart of this episode is the alarming escalation of a long-standing border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia. The conflict intensified dramatically, resulting in deadly military clashes that have claimed numerous lives.

• Casualties and Military Actions:

  • Thai officials report that at least 12 people have died due to the fighting ([00:44]).
  • Thailand has responded by bombing Cambodian positions with fighter jets and has subsequently closed its entire border with Cambodia.
  • In retaliation, Cambodian troops have launched rockets and artillery fire into Thai territory.

• Statements from Authorities:

  • A Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman asserted, “[…] our country would defend itself” ([00:44]).
  • Nawal al Muguffi highlighted Thailand’s readiness to "intensify our self-defense measures” if Cambodia continues its aggression ([01:31]).
  • Jonathan Head, BBC's correspondent in Thailand, provided a ground-level perspective:
    “It's a very, very tense situation...” ([01:57]).

• On-the-Ground Reporting:

  • Jonathan Head describes the chaos near Phnom Dong Rak hospital:
    “We’ve seen video of those rockets being fired...” and details devastating impacts such as a convenience store being destroyed with six fatalities ([02:00]).

• Analysis of Escalation:

  • The dispute, initially over small patches of forested land, has been exacerbated by a “war of words” between the two nations, making diplomatic resolution increasingly challenging ([02:30]).
  • Head attributes the recent surge to political maneuvers, including former Cambodian leader Hun Sen leaking a private conversation with the Thai Prime Minister, undermining trust and fueling tensions ([03:28]).

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3. Aviation and Tragedy

a. Russian Plane Crash Claims Around 50 Lives

Tragedy struck in eastern Russia when a plane carrying approximately 50 people crashed, with all onboard feared dead.

• Crash Details:

  • The aircraft, a nearly 50-year-old Soviet-era plane, was seen ablaze upon impact in a densely forested mountainous region ([05:08]).
  • Rescue efforts are ongoing, with no survivors reported as the podcast was recorded ([05:08]).

• Insights from Paul Moss:

  • The plane had previously attempted and failed to land, leading to a second attempt where the crash occurred ([05:08]).
  • TASS, the Russian news agency, reported that the aircraft had a history of technical issues, including overrunning the runway in 2018 and suffering malfunctions related to the generator and radio ([05:15]).
  • Moss connects this incident to broader concerns about Russia's deteriorating aviation safety due to sanctions that prevent the acquisition of new aircraft and essential spare parts: “Russia can't buy spare parts for its aircraft... this is a worry for Russia” ([06:01]).

• Statistical Context:

  • In the past year, there have been over 200 incidents involving Russian planes, encompassing both crashes and emergency landings, underscoring the severity of the situation ([06:01]).

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4. International Trade and Agreements

a. Historic U.K.-India Trade Deal Celebrated by Leaders

In a significant development for global economics, the United Kingdom and India have signed a multi-billion dollar trade agreement, hailed as a landmark achievement by both nations.

• Statements from Leaders:

  • Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared the deal a “historic milestone” during the signing ceremony in the UK ([07:15]).
  • British Prime Minister Keir Starmer echoed this sentiment:
    “This is a historic day, a landmark moment for both of our countries” ([07:41]).

• Benefits Highlighted:

  • Starmer emphasized the deal’s potential to boost wages, raise living standards, and facilitate easier trade by cutting tariffs ([07:41]).

• Expert Analysis by Rob Watson:

  • Rob Watson, BBC's political correspondent, contextualizes the agreement’s impact:
    “It's a big deal... it should increase trade between the two countries by several billion dollars a year” ([08:06]).
  • However, he also notes the deal's relative scale:
    “It's estimated that this deal will increase Britain's GDP by 0.1% by 2040” ([08:06]).
  • Watson underscores the historical significance, marking one of the warmest periods in India-UK relations since 1947 ([09:07]).

• Negotiation Challenges:

  • Delving into the complexities of the negotiations, Watson explains the hurdles posed by India’s historical protectionism and Britain’s focus on the EU, as well as concerns regarding immigration post-Brexit ([09:52]).
  • Despite these challenges, the agreement signifies a mutual move towards free trade in a global environment increasingly characterized by protectionist trends ([09:52]).

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5. Humanitarian Crisis

a. Escalating Violence in Haiti’s Capital, Port-au-Prince

Haiti faces an unprecedented humanitarian disaster as gangs seize control of 90% of Port-au-Prince, leading to widespread violence and societal collapse.

• Crisis Overview:

  • The police force is overwhelmed, and government authority has nearly collapsed, resulting in over 4,000 deaths in the past six months ([10:03]).
  • US aid cuts have further exacerbated the situation, depriving vulnerable communities of essential resources like food and healthcare ([10:03]).

• Personal Stories and On-the-Ground Reporting by Nawal al Muguffi:

  • Nawal al Muguffi provides harrowing accounts from women's shelters, where victims of severe sexual violence recount their traumatic experiences:
    • “They raped and beat me. Sometimes I think about ending it all” ([11:26]).
    • Helene, a 19-year-old single mother:
      “They made me do things and said they'd kill me if I didn't agree” ([13:10]).
  • Al Muguffi highlights the gendered impact of the violence, noting that one in five victims of sexual violence is a child and that rape is used as a tool of terror and subjugation ([11:26], [12:00]).

• Community Destruction:

  • The devastation extends to neighborhoods like Delmas 30, where entire communities have been razed, and residents live in constant fear of further attacks ([13:22]).
  • Vag, a gang leader, chillingly admits:
    “When like this, you sit and talk to us. But if we're cornered, we'll come out swinging” ([15:04]).

• Broader Implications:

  • The pervasive violence has forced over a million people to flee their homes, with women and children bearing the brunt of the suffering ([10:03]).
  • Al Muguffi emphasizes the urgent need for relief and peace, as locals grapple with the nightmare of constant violence ([15:10]).

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6. U.S. Policy and Women's Health

a. Controversial Destruction of $10 Million Worth of Contraceptives

A contentious decision by the U.S. government to destroy nearly $10 million in contraception intended for global clinics has sparked significant debate and opposition.

• Government Action:

  • The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), dismantled post-Donald Trump's reelection, is destroying the contraceptives stored in Belgium that were earmarked for countries with limited access to family planning ([16:00]).
  • Official rationale cites inability to sell the products due to U.S. regulations prohibiting aid to organizations providing abortion services, alongside claims that most supplies have less than 70% shelf life remaining ([16:00]).

• Senator Jeanne Shaheen's Response:

  • Senator Jeanne Shaheen vehemently opposes the decision, asserting that the contraceptives are critical for women’s health and family planning worldwide: “These are family planning supplies. They have nothing to do with abortion” ([19:49]).
  • Shaheen challenges the administration’s justification, revealing that her staff found contraceptives with expiration dates as far out as 2031:
    “There is no reasonable explanation... to the reason the United States is burning up over $10 million” ([18:43]).
  • She has introduced legislation aimed at preventing the destruction and is actively engaging with NGOs and other governments to overturn the decision ([20:14]).

• Impact of the Destruction:

  • The destroyed contraceptives could have benefited over 47 million women and couples annually, preventing 8.1 million unintended pregnancies, 5.2 million unsafe abortions, and 34,000 maternal deaths ([17:15]).
  • Shaheen criticizes the move as both contrary to U.S. values and inherently wasteful, labeling it as a manifestation of the administration’s purported fight against waste, fraud, and abuse ([17:15], [21:17]).

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7. Global Trade Relations

a. EU-China Trade Tensions Amid U.S. Tariff Pressures

Trade relations between the European Union (EU) and China remain strained, particularly in the context of U.S. tariff strategies under the Trump administration.

• EU Concerns:

  • At a summit in Beijing, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, expressed EU apprehensions about Chinese trade practices, including the influx of cheap, subsidized goods potentially flooding European markets ([22:04]).
  • The EU also voiced concerns over China's implicit support for Russia in its war against Ukraine ([22:04]).

• China-EU Summit Dynamics:

  • The summit, intended to celebrate 50 years of China-EU diplomatic ties, was shortened to a single day at Beijing’s request, reflecting underlying tensions ([22:04]).
  • Stephen McDonnell, BBC’s correspondent in Beijing, notes that both China and the EU are preoccupied with negotiating their respective deals with the U.S., hindering substantial progress between them ([22:04]).

• Underlying Issues:

  • Access to Rare Earths: Europe seeks better access to China’s rare earth minerals, essential for various industries ([22:04]).
  • Electric Vehicle Sales: China aims to increase its electric car exports to Europe without incurring additional tariffs ([22:04]).

• China’s Strategic Positioning:

  • According to McDonnell, President Xi Jinping emphasized the importance of multilateralism and open cooperation, signaling an attempt to position China as an alternative ally to both the EU and the U.S.: “We can set up a different relationship than one we both have with the US” ([22:04]).

• Prospects for Future Cooperation:

  • Despite positive rhetoric from China, tangible breakthroughs in trade negotiations remain elusive, as both parties prioritize their negotiations with the U.S. ([22:04], [23:30]).

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8. Sports and Gender Equality

a. The Rise of Women's Football in the Netherlands

Women's football is gaining momentum in the Netherlands, with new initiatives aimed at fostering investment and increasing visibility to rival the success of men's leagues.

• Emerging Institutions:

  • Balany, a pop-up bar in Rotterdam named after the Netherlands' first female international goal-scorer, serves as a hub for women's sport enthusiasts:
    “It's named after the first woman to score an international goal for the Netherlands” ([24:00]).
  • The founders of Heera United, a new women’s-only top-flight football club, are preparing for their inaugural season by partnering with Telstar to take over their women’s setup ([25:08]).

• Challenges and Strategies:

  • Keir Starmer, BBC's correspondent, underscores the financial hurdles faced by women’s teams, highlighting the need for individual sponsors and media rights to secure sustainable revenue: “Where does the money come from? Is it individual sponsors that you have to go around...” ([26:06]).
  • Heera United's founders stress the importance of challenging the status quo and creating a movement to inspire young girls and build a robust business model around women's football ([25:08], [25:19]).

• Future Aspirations:

  • Ambitious plans for Heera United include competing in the Women’s European Champions League, envisioning packed stadiums and increased support: “Maybe one day... will be packed out with fans watching Heera United” ([27:17]).

• Broader Impact:

  • The rise of women’s football is seen as a catalyst for gender equality in sports, challenging traditional biases and opening avenues for female athletes to gain recognition and financial stability ([25:16], [25:21]).

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9. Health and Lifestyle

a. Revised Health Guidelines Suggest 7,000 Steps a Day Suffice

A recent global study published in The Lancet challenges the long-held belief that 10,000 steps a day are necessary for optimal health, suggesting that 7,000 steps can confer similar benefits.

• Study Findings:

  • Analyzing data from 160,000 adults worldwide, researchers found that:
    • 7,000 steps per day significantly reduce the risk of heart disease, dementia, depression, cancer, and falls ([24:00]).
    • Even 4,000 steps daily were associated with better health outcomes compared to very low activity levels of 2,000 steps ([24:00]).
    • Health benefits tend to plateau beyond 7,000 steps, with additional steps offering only marginal advantages for heart health ([24:00]).

• Expert Commentary by Philippa Roxby:

  • Philippa Roxby, BBC’s health reporter, emphasizes the practicality of these findings: “Encouraging people to track their steps is a practical way to improve their health” ([27:45]).
  • The study suggests incorporating step count targets into official exercise guidelines could be beneficial for public health initiatives ([27:45]).

• Implications for Public Health:

  • The revised step count recommendations could make daily activity goals more attainable for individuals struggling to reach the 10,000-step benchmark, potentially enhancing overall public health outcomes ([27:45]).

• Closing Remarks:

  • Roxby concludes with an encouraging note for listeners:
    “If you've been listening to this podcast while walking, we hope this has put an extra spring in your step” ([27:45]).

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10. Conclusion

Janak Jalil wraps up the episode by acknowledging the breadth of topics covered, from geopolitical tensions and humanitarian disasters to groundbreaking trade deals and advancements in women's sports. The episode underscores the interconnectedness of global events and their profound impact on societies worldwide.

Listeners are invited to engage with the podcast team via email at [e-mail] and to stay tuned for future episodes that continue to deliver crucial global updates and analyses.

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Produced by Ariane Kochi and David Lewis. Edited by Karen Martin. Mixed by Jonathan Greer.

Transcript

[Janak Jalil]

This is the global news podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Janak Jalil and at 13 hours GMT on Thursday 24th July. These are our main stories. A deadly military flare up on the Thai Cambodian border. We bring you the latest. Dozens of people are feared to have died in a plane crash in Russia and India and Britain sign a multi billion dollar trade deal in what both sides are hailing as a historic agreement. Also in this podcast, there is no.

[Jeanne Shaheen]

Reasonable explanation that I can say to my constituents is the reason the United States and the Trump administration is burning up over $10 million.

[Janak Jalil]

Why is the US destroying millions of dollars worth of contrast? A long standing smouldering border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia has escalated dramatically with deadly military clashes breaking out. Thai officials say at least 12 people have died in the fighting. Thailand has bombed Cambodia with fighter jets and closed its entire border with its neighbour. Cambodian troops have fired rockets and artillery into Thailand. Both sides blame each other for sparking the fighting. A Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman said his country would defend itself.

[Nawal al Muguffi]

The Royal Thai government is prepared to.

[Janak Jalil]

Intensify our self defense measures if Cambodia persists in its armed aggression and violations.

[Jonathan Head]

Upon Thailand's sovereignty in accordance with international law and principles.

[Janak Jalil]

Neighbouring countries have called for a de escalation. I got more from our correspondent in Thailand, Jonathan Head, who's at a hospital near the Thai Cambodian border.

[Jonathan Head]

I'm actually outside Phnom Dong Rak hospital. This hospital was struck by rockets fired from the Cambodian side. We've seen video of those rockets being fired from rocket launches. But those rockets and artillery from the Cambodian side struck in many places along the Thai border. There were several people injured here. They've been evacuated. Now that there have been a lot of soldiers around. They've moved out of the way for now. They're coming and going. We keep hearing the regular boom of artillery. Most of it seems to be going out from the Thai side. Some we've heard coming from the other side. And we know that Thai fighter jets have also been bombing targets inside Cambodia at certain points throughout the day. Different point from this, quite a long way along the border, about 150 kilometers in here. One convenience store was completely destroyed by rocket and that's where most of the fatalities on the Thai side were. Six people killed there. We've had many thousands of civilians evacuated from villages, schools evacuated. It's a very, very tense situation and in some ways it seems absurd when you think that the point of dispute are a few slivers of forested territory that nobody really normally bothers with. But over the past few weeks, this dispute has escalated. It's been whipped up by a war of words on both sides to the point now where it's quite difficult for the governments to de escalate. I mean, both sides are accusing the other of acts of aggression. There's not a whole lot of diplomacy going on and there's an awful lot of soldiers here on very high alert and as we've heard, quite a lot of shooting and artillery.

[Janak Jalil]

And just explain to us why you think it's being whipped up by both sides.

[Jonathan Head]

We know what the real point of escalation was. There's been tension on the border for the whole of this year. And it's where Thai and Cambodian soldiers interact over parts of their border that are disputed. And they've been sometimes shouting matches. Sometimes it got a bit worse than that. There was a shooting incident in late May when one Cambodian soldier was killed. At that point it seemed as though the commanders on both sides were ready to sit down and try and soothe things. But last month, the former Cambodian leader Hun Sen, who's still a very powerful figure, leaked a private conversation with the Thai Prime Minister Petong Than Shinawat in which she was basically appealing to his friendship with her family and criticized her own generals. That is very damaging for her. She's been suspended by the Constitutional Court, deeply embarrassed the government, and everyone's wondering quite what Hun Sen's motives were. He's of course, positioning himself as a defender of Cambodia's national interests. Cambodia is a small country with a very troubled history and feels often overshadowed by its big neighbors. But he has completely burnt the friendship he had with the Shinawatra family. And certainly that embarrassment and the political crisis it caused has brought us to this very, very tense standoff between the two countries.

[Janak Jalil]

Jonathan Head, a plane carrying around 50 people has crashed in eastern Russia with everyone on board feared dead. Aerial footage showed the fuselage of the Soviet era plane on fire. As we record this podcast, rescue crews on the scene have not found any survivors. Our Europe regional editor Paul Moss gave us more details.

[Paul Moss]

The plane appears to have crashed in densely forested area of the mountainside. What we're told it had already made one attempt to land unsuccessfully and had come round for a second attempt when the aircraft crashed. And what I think is particularly interesting is that Tass, the Russian news agency, is saying that this aircraft was nearly 50 years old and also that it had long standing problems in 2018. It overran the Runway, hit a lightning mast and damaged its wing. It had also suffered three other malfunctions involving the generator and the radio. Now, as you say, they're still looking at the possibility of pilot error. It's too soon to say what caused the crash, but I think this information about the state of the aircraft's history is certainly going to, to say the least, raise eyebrows because Russia does have.

[Janak Jalil]

A poor aviation safety record.

[Paul Moss]

It does indeed. And that's got particularly bad in the last few years because Russia is of course under sanctions since its invasion of ukra. And that means two things. First of all, Russian airlines can't buy new aircraft from the west as they used to. And we know that particularly the Far Eastern based airlines tend to use older aircraft like this one, which was nearly 50 years old. But there's another problem. It means that Russia can't buy spare parts for its aircraft. Now that's particularly serious for its Western aircraft like Boeings and Airbuses. But even its Russian planes need Western components. And that has led to repeated warnings that Russian aviation is more unsafe than it used to be. Last year we know of more than 200 incidents involving Russian planes. That's not just crashes, that involves things like emergency landings. But we also know that this is a worry for Russia because when negotiators went to America this year to try to get sanctions lifted, one of the things they specifically asked for was a lifting of sanctions on American aviation. It is obviously way too soon to start speculating about what caused this plane to crash. But it does come at a time when there have been these warnings about the safety of Russian aviation.

[Janak Jalil]

It's a trade deal that's being hailed by both sides. One, the world's fifth biggest economy, the other the world's sixth biggest. For India, it shows decades of protectionism are in the past. For Britain, it provides a much needed post Brexit boost. The Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has signed the deal in the uk, hailing it as a historic milestone. His enthusiasm echoed by the British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer.

[Keir Starmer]

This is a historic day, a landmark moment for both of our countries. It is a deal that will bring huge benefits, boosting wages, raising living standards and putting more money in the pockets of working people. It is good for business, cutting tariffs and making trade cheaper, quicker and easier.

[Janak Jalil]

I asked our political correspondent Rob Watson how big a deal this deal was.

[Rob Watson]

It's a big deal and it isn't. I mean, it's a big deal in the sense that tariffs are massively lowered for many Indian products into the UK and vice versa. So it should increase trade between the two countries by several billion dollars a year. So not to be sneezed at, I mean, why say it isn't as well is that one has to bear in mind that they are not massive trading partners. And just to give you one sort of rather stark figure, it's estimated that this deal will increase Britain's GDP by 0.1% by 2040. That's compared to the loss of something like minus 4% from Brexit. But to put this in a sort of broader context though, and why it is important been hailed as historic. I think it does mark part of a generally very warm period in relations between India and Britain. Perhaps the warmest, the most cooperative since independence in 1947.

[Janak Jalil]

I was going to ask about that because how tricky was this deal to negotiate given that troubled past that they've had as colonial power and colony?

[Rob Watson]

It's a cracking question and I think the short answer is very difficult. I mean, partly of course, because India was, has always been up until fairly recently, fairly protectionist. It fought about protecting domestic industries, particularly things like cars, textiles, technology and services. And of course because Britain's focus was primarily on its very close intimate relationship with the European Union. So all of those things went together and concerns about threats to jobs and industries in both countries, all of that has made it immensely difficult. But if you think about it, other pressures of pushing them towards this. I mean, I think India and Britain are keen to be seen as in favor of free air trade in a world where actually that trend is somewhat in reverse.

[Janak Jalil]

But the British Prime Minister did have to get around concerns that the deal would trigger a big influx of immigrants from India, especially as the issue of immigrants was a big factor in Brexit.

[Rob Watson]

Absolutely huge. And as far as I can make out that this deal does not in any way increase the number of visas that will be provided to Indian workers potentially. And I think that of course had had been a big concern that's not going to happen. There are going to be some tax breaks for Indian workers in the UK on short term contracts, but that applies to workers from lots of other countries. But I think the big concession that India really would have wanted that is more visas, more Indians working in the UK As I've read, the that is not going to happen.

[Janak Jalil]

Rob Watson. In Haiti's capital, Port au Prince, gangs now control 90% of the city. The police are outnumbered and outgunned and government authority has all but collapsed. More than 4,000 people have been killed in the past six months alone. Cuts to US aid are compounding the crisis, leaving already vulnerable communities without food or health care. The violence has forced more than a million people to flee their homes, but it's women and children who are suffering the most. One in five victims of sexual violence is a child. Nawal al Muguffi has gained rare access to the streets of Port au Prince. The names of those interviewed have been changed to protect them. And just to warn you, this report is very distressing.

[Nawal al Muguffi]

I'm in a safe house in the suburbs of Port au Prince. It's home to dozens of young women and girls. They're victims of the most heinous crimes, exposed far too early to the cruelty of mankind. We've come here to interview women who are victims of sexual violence, But I'm blown away by how young they are. Young girls holding on to babies. The youngest victim of rape is 12 years old, and the eldest is only 19. They raped and beat me. Sometimes I think about ending it all. Helene was 17 when she was captured. She's now 19 years old and a single mother. They made me do things and said they'd kill me if I didn't agree. But then I fell pregnant. They told me to avoid the pregnancy, but I said no. This baby could be the only one I ever have. In Haiti, rape has been used to terrorize and subjugate entire communities. One in three young women here are victims of sexual violence.

[Janak Jalil]

Port au Prince is the worst place in the world to be a woman.

[Nawal al Muguffi]

Lola Castro is the regional director for the World Food Program. In Haiti, they suffer from direct violence because they are exposed, both in the centers as well as in the streets.

[Janak Jalil]

To the men that are attacking them.

[Nawal al Muguffi]

Because they are powerless to defend themselves. In another women's shelter, I listened to more stories. A pattern emerges of rape, murder, and arson.

[Janak Jalil]

They raped me.

[Nawal al Muguffi]

I had my 6 year old with me.

[Janak Jalil]

They raped her, too. Our neighborhood was ambushed.

[Nawal al Muguffi]

I went back home only to find my mom, my dad, my sister, all were murdered.

[Janak Jalil]

They killed them and then burned the.

[Nawal al Muguffi]

House down with them inside, we travel to Delmas 30, the scene of a recent gang attack. The entire neighborhood is now in ruins. This is Rodrigue. He's going back for the first time since the attack, and he's taking us with him. We're being escorted by vigilantes, civilians who are trying to keep the neighborhood safe. It's a maze of alleyways. At every open space, we have to run to avoid being spotted by the gangs. Finally, we reach the ruins of Rodrigue's home.

[Janak Jalil]

This is my bedroom. This is the kids room.

[Jonathan Head]

We had a good life here.

[Janak Jalil]

There were so many victims. People killed.

[Jonathan Head]

They carried them out in wheelbarrows. People were hacked to death.

[Janak Jalil]

So many victims.

[Nawal al Muguffi]

So we've just heard some shooting and we've been told that it's probably the snipers from the bank. But we're worried that the gangs may retaliate at any moment. So we're going to leave. We're deep in gang territory. I meet Vag, a leader within the Vivint Sam coalition. They control most of the capital and this is their battleground. Look around you. People have been uprooted from their homes. Civilians have been killed. Women have been raped. Do you have any remorse? When we're fighting, we are possessed. We are no longer human. We become the devil.

[Janak Jalil]

We are people.

[Nawal al Muguffi]

When like this, you sit and talk to us.

[Paul Moss]

But if we're cornered, we'll come out swinging.

[Nawal al Muguffi]

Sometimes I kill people without even seeing them. They get shot and they die. These chains I'm wearing belong to the people I've killed. I take them and wear them to command the spirit of the dead. The gangs control over 90% of waterprints. People live in fear that their neighborhood will be targeted next. As Haiti continues to battle itself, its people are desperate for some relief, longing for a life of peace and not just survival.

[Janak Jalil]

That report by Noel Al McGuffy in Port au Prince. Still to come on this podcast, why do boys get good balls, Get a referee, get good coaches? And why girls?

[Nawal al Muguffi]

Not just by asking the question.

[Janak Jalil]

Everybody goes like women's football is on the up, but how do you turn a women's team into a successful business? The US government is going ahead with plans to destroy nearly $10 million worth of contraception, which was bought by the US Agency for International Development for clinics around the world. It's stored in a warehouse in Belgium, where it was due to be sent to clinics in countries where contraception isn't easy to access. USAID was dismantled and its projects closed down soon after Donald Trump was re elected. The government says the decision was taken because it could not sell them to any eligible buyers, in part because of American rules that prohibit sending U.S. aid to organizations that help to provide abortion services. They also say that most of the contraceptives have less than 70% of their shelf life left before they expire, and that rebranding and selling them could cost millions of dollars. The US Senator for New Hampshire, Jean Shaheen, has introduced legislation to stop the destruction. My colleague Priya Rai asked her why this was such an important issue for her.

[Jeanne Shaheen]

We know that There are almost $10 million in supplies, commodities that would help protect and promote women's health. And what the Trump administration is planning to do with those, even though they're not close to their expiration date, is to incinerate all of them when we know how many women could benefit from having access to those life saving family planning supplies that women in crisis depend on. And it's women in so many parts of the world. Normally, US family planning assistance reaches over 47 million women and couples every year. It prevents 8.1 million unintended pregnancies, 5.2 million unsafe abortions, and 34,000 maternal deaths. So these are really important supplies that could make a huge difference for women around the world. And not only there's that aspect of it. So I think it's contrary to what I believe the values of the United States are, but it's also just wasteful.

[Janak Jalil]

You say that there is plenty of shelf life left on the supplies. We're told, though, that most of the supply of the contraception has less than 70% of its shelf life left. So can you give us some context to that?

[Jeanne Shaheen]

Whoever's giving you that information is either not being honest or they're just don't. No, because I sent a staff person there and most of the supplies that she saw had an expiration date of 27 and as far out as 2031. So this is not material in this location in Belgium that is going to expire. There is no reasonable explanation that I can say to my constituents is the reason the United States and the Trump administration is burning up over $10 million. And in fact, I've had this exact conversation with the Deputy Secretary for management at the State Department. So he knows that that's not factually correct.

[Janak Jalil]

What response did you get?

[Jeanne Shaheen]

I didn't get a response.

[Janak Jalil]

The other issue that's been reported is to do with difficulties in being able.

[Nawal al Muguffi]

To sell it on or give the.

[Janak Jalil]

Supplies to other countries or companies because of US Laws, particularly around abortions.

[Jeanne Shaheen]

These are family planning supplies. They have nothing to do with abortion. That is again, another excuse that the administration is using to try and provide some sort of an explanation for why they're incinerating over $10 million in family planning supplies that women need around the world.

[Janak Jalil]

And so what are you trying to do to stop the destruction of the medicine? And is it realistic to hope that it doesn't happen?

[Jeanne Shaheen]

You know, I have introduced legislation with one of my colleagues that would prevent the administration from destroying those kinds of commodities that have already been paid for by taxpayers. We're talking to NGOs, we're talking to other governments, trying to encourage them to talk to the Trump administrations. So I'm hopeful that someone in the administration will get the message that this is not what is in keeping with the values of the United States. It's not what Congress supports. We had the House committee just approved funding for family planning. It's been a consistent position of the United States. And so it certainly doesn't make sense to me. And it's not. I mean, the president keeps saying he's combating waste, fraud and abuse. Well, this is the epitome of waste, fraud and abuse.

[Janak Jalil]

US Senator Jeanne Shaheen with the election of Donald Trump and his threatened tariffs, there had been hopes that this would help to improve the sometimes fractious relationship between China and the eu. But at a summit in Beijing with the Chinese leader Xi Jinping, the European Commission president, Ursula von der leyen highlighted the EU's concerns over trade amid fears that cheap, subsidized Chinese goods could overwhelm European markets. And its concerns over Beijing's tacit support for Russia's war against Ukraine. The summit is supposed to celebrate 50 years of China EU diplomatic ties. But expectations are low after it was reduced to a single day at Beijing's request. With more, here's Stephen McDonnell in Beijing.

[Jonathan Head]

The sticking points, of course, are things like Europe wants to get access to China's rare earths. China wants to sell more electric cars into Europe without tariffs on them. Now, it looked like when Donald Trump launched his global tariff chaos on the world, that China and Europe were going to come together quite quickly on these fronts. But it has stalled, really. And it could be because both of them are at the moment too busy trying to nut out their deals with the US with these tariff deadlines on the horizon. But now they're looking to one another and saying, well, we too, have to sort this all out. And the messages we're getting from the readouts from the Chinese side are pretty positive, though. I mean, here's one thing that's interesting. According to the readout from the Chinese side, President Xi underscored the importance for China and the EU to be both constructive forces for multilateralism, openness and cooperation. Now, what's that code for? It's like we're not like the US we're not like Donald Trump. We both support multilateral institutions and free and open trade. And this is where China will be trying to get Europe closer to them and saying, look, we can cooperate, we can set up a different relationship than one we both have with the US and they're hoping that this sort of goodwill somehow at some point generate a breakthrough on trade.

[Janak Jalil]

Stephen McDonnell. Women's football has been dominating the sports pages this week. And this weekend we'll see international champions crowned in both Africa and Europe. But soon it will be back to the club game, where women's teams must compete for investment and coverage against the much more lucrative men's game. In the Netherlands, a new women's team is just a few weeks away from playing its first game. And as Matthew Kenyon reports, its founders believe it can be a successful business as well.

[Keir Starmer]

I'm in a bar in Rotterdam surrounded by football fans. It is in some ways the traditional Dutch sporting experience. Everyone's decked out in orange, the beer is flowing. This is Balany. It's named after the first woman to score an international goal for the Netherlands. And she's sitting over there, actually. And it is thought to be the only bar in Europe focused on women's sport. For now, Balany is a pop up. Once the current women's Euros football competition comes to an end, it's going to close. But the founders are hoping that the enthusiasm for women's women's football that they've captured here is going to translate into the long term. And that's true of the founders of another institution as well, an altogether bigger and perhaps riskier investment. Because at the start of the new Dutch women's domestic season in September, there's set to be a new name on the fixture list. A women's only top flight club called Hero United.

[Nawal al Muguffi]

I believe you always should ask, why are we doing things like this?

[Janak Jalil]

And it's the same in football. Why do boys get good balls, get a referee, get good coaches? And why girls?

[Nawal al Muguffi]

Not just by asking the question.

[Janak Jalil]

Everybody goes like this.

[Keir Starmer]

Is Barbara Barent, one of the co founders of Hera United?

[Janak Jalil]

We accept the status quo while some.

[Nawal al Muguffi]

People don't start questioning it. And then you already see the change.

[Keir Starmer]

We're talking in an office in Amsterdam's historic Olympic Stadium, where here are United, have their headquarters and will play some matches. Susan Funtinen is another co founder. She's responsible for the business side.

[Janak Jalil]

It's not only about building the business of football, it's about that we are actually creating a movement that is that we stimulate every girl to be a hero. And then I think that also resonated with the investors. They also have seen, if you love football, you can see the impact also from the Euros on massive groups. And we believe if we can give that attention to female football, it has.

[Keir Starmer]

A ripple effect in the men's game. Obviously, a vast amount of money comes pouring in from television rights and media rights more generally. That's not the case in the women's game. So where does the money come from? Is it individual sponsors that you have to go around and knock on people's doors and say, we want you to sponsor us?

[Janak Jalil]

Yes. I think the business case there is built similar to the men's game. And we also look at other countries and obviously also depending on the country, depending on the club, somewhere around 10 to 30% comes from media rise. And we have to fix that. There is potential.

[Keir Starmer]

The timescale has been astonishingly tight. They first started thinking about this in 2023 and have only a few weeks left to the start of their inaugural season. And Heera hasn't just been a financial challenge. They had to get a change in rules from the Dutch football authorities to allow a single sex club to join the professional ranks. And of course, they had to get a team together. So they've done a deal with one of the traditional professional clubs, Telstar, to take over their women's setup.

[Jeanne Shaheen]

What we're basically doing is showing the.

[Nawal al Muguffi]

Rest that by focusing on this women's and girls game, you can really build a solid business case.

[Janak Jalil]

And actually we can hand it over to other clubs if they want to follow our example.

[Keir Starmer]

And maybe one day in the not too distant future, Bar Laney in Rotterdam will be packed out with fans watching Heera United in the Women's European Champions League. A dream, perhaps.

[Janak Jalil]

That report by Matthew Kenyon. Now, do you struggle to meet the target of 10,000 steps a day that's long been recommended for us to stay healthy? Well, if you do, here's some good news for you. A global study suggests that walking only 7,000 steps a day still gives many of the same health benefits, significantly cutting the risk of disease. Here's our health reporter, Philippa Roxby. If you've got a phone or a fitness tracker, you're probably checking your steps each day. Reach 10,000 and you feel smug. Why? Well, we've been told it's the number to aim for the threshold for health gains. But a review of previous studies in medical journal the Lancet, involving data on 160,000 adults worldwide suggests a target of 7,000 steps brings plenty of health benefits, too, including reducing the risk of heart disease, dementia, depression, cancer and falls. The research found that even modest step counts of 4,000 per day were linked to better health compared with very low activity of 2000 a day. For most health conditions, the benefits tended to level off beyond 7,000 steps. Although there were additional advantages to walking further for the heart, the review can't prove that daily steps alone reduce the risk of disease. Some of the findings were based on only a small number of studies, but they say encouraging people to track their steps is a practical way to improve their health, and adding a step count target into official exercise guidance could be useful for everyone. Philippa Roxby so if you've been listening to this podcast while walking, we hope this has put an extra spring in your step. And before we at the Global News Podcast Team go for our own walk, just time to let you know that there will be a new new edition of the Global News Podcast later. If you want to comment on this podcast, you can send us an email. The address is globalpodcastbc.co.uk this edition was mixed by Jonathan Greer. The producers were Ariane Kochi and David Lewis. The editor is Karen Martin. I'm Janak Jalil. Until next time. Goodbye.