The UN warns that it's "make or break" for malnourished Palestinians

Summary

Global News Podcast Summary BBC World Service, Episode: "The UN warns that it's 'make or break' for malnourished Palestinians" - Released July 28, 2025

---

1. Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza: UN's Critical Warning

Main Discussion: The episode opens with urgent reports on the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza. The United Nations has issued a stark warning, labeling the current period as "make or break" for the malnourished Palestinian civilians.

Key Points:

• A temporary 10-hour pause in Israeli military operations was initiated on Monday to facilitate the entry of aid into Gaza.
• UN Aid Chief Tom Fletcher emphasized the insufficiency of the current aid supply, stating, “Yesterday it was fewer than 100 [trucks of aid]. So it's the beginning. But the next few days are really make or break” ([02:23]).
• Despite international efforts, only a fraction of the necessary aid has reached Gaza, with reports of aid being looted by desperate civilians.

Notable Quotes:

• Tom Fletcher (UN): “We need to deliver at a much, much greater scale. We need vast amounts of aid going in much faster.” ([02:26])
• Alex Ritson: “This not going to change a great deal. What it is is symbolic, it's going to look good on television.” ([03:02])
• Yoland Nell (Correspondent): “A lot of the food that went across was looted by desperate people.” ([05:50])

---

2. Diplomatic Efforts Towards a Two-State Solution

Main Discussion: The podcast delves into ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at reviving the two-state solution between Israel and Palestine. A significant three-day conference in New York, chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, seeks to build consensus, despite the absence of the United States.

Key Points:

• The US has abstained from the conference, criticizing France for its intention to recognize a Palestinian state.
• French President Emmanuel Macron's initiative has met with strong opposition from the US and internal EU divisions.
• Public support for the two-state solution has dwindled in both Israeli and Palestinian societies, compounded by political shifts and recent conflicts.

Notable Quotes:

• Anwar Ibrahim (Prime Minister of Malaysia): “Initiate this political momentum is the only path to peace.” ([07:29])
• Tom Bateman (State Department Correspondent): “The US State Department, meanwhile, privately threatened diplomatic consequences for countries that join the UN conference.” ([08:42])
• Yoland Nell: “...a serious split between Washington and its European allies over the future of the Israeli Palestinian conflict.” ([09:10])

---

3. Ceasefire Agreement Between Thailand and Cambodia

Main Discussion: Contrasting the Middle Eastern tensions, the podcast reports on a successful ceasefire agreement between Thailand and Cambodia, ending five days of border clashes.

Key Points:

• The ceasefire, effective from midnight on July 28, 2025, marks a vital step toward de-escalation and restoration of peace.
• Both nations are under economic pressures, with the US leveraging trade deals to incentivize peace.
• Despite official declarations, skepticism remains regarding the long-term sustainability of the ceasefire due to underlying nationalist sentiments.

Notable Quotes:

• Anwar Ibrahim: “Both Cambodia and Thailand reached a common understanding... this is a vital first step towards a de escalation and the restoration of peace and security.” ([11:36])
• Celia Hatton: “It's interesting that again, he's using the term in good faith... maybe this ceasefire isn't going to hold for long.” ([13:05])
• Celia Hatton: “Both sides are facing a lot of economic pressure... but there's also nationalist pressure to continue the fight.” ([13:34])

---

4. Google's Earthquake Early Warning System Failure in Turkey

Main Discussion: The podcast critically examines Google's earthquake early warning system, which failed to adequately alert millions before the devastating earthquakes in Turkey in 2023.

Key Points:

• Google admitted that its Android earthquake alerts were insufficient, sending only 469 high-level alerts during the first quake.
• The failure potentially cost lives, as many did not receive timely warnings.
• Experts highlight the need for transparency and improved algorithms to ensure reliability in future disasters.

Notable Quotes:

• Harold Tobin (Pacific Northwest Seismic Network Director): “The take action alerts were either not delivered at all or to a very small number of people...” ([16:06])
• Harold Tobin: “If Google is going to offer a true public safety system... there's a real responsibility to understand very well how it works.” ([16:54])
• Harold Tobin: “Phones are ubiquitous... but professional seismic networks remain the gold standard.” ([17:44])

---

5. EU-US Trade Deal Brokered by Donald Trump

Main Discussion: A significant portion of the episode covers the newly announced EU-US trade deal, brokered by then-President Donald Trump, amidst mixed reactions from European leaders.

Key Points:

• The deal includes a flat 15% import tax on US goods and substantial European investments in US energy and technology sectors.
• While Ursula von der Leyen lauds the agreement as a major success, several EU leaders express reservations, highlighting the precarious balance between national interests and collective agreements.
• The deal is still preliminary, requiring further negotiations and approvals from EU member states.

Notable Quotes:

• Katya Adler (Europe Editor): “If Donald Trump had not brokered this deal, 5 million jobs in Europe would have been at risk.” ([20:11])
• Italian Prime Minister Giorgio Meloni: “There is still a lot of horse trading to do behind the scenes...” ([22:00])
• Ursula von der Leyen: “This was a very big win... a submission to the United States and a dark day for Europe.” ([21:56])

---

6. Environmental Advocacy Through Music: Fulu Maziki

Main Discussion: Highlighting positive global news, the podcast features Fulu Maziki, a Congolese band using recycled materials to create instruments and raise awareness about environmental issues.

Key Points:

• Fulu Maziki constructs their instruments and costumes from discarded items, promoting recycling and environmental responsibility.
• Their workshops with children aim to educate and inspire the next generation about sustainability.
• The band emphasizes community and family values, drawing strength from their collective mission.

Notable Quotes:

• Debule Bokungako (Fulu Maziki): “It's very important that we offer measures they can take in our music... to pass that message on to the children.” ([25:13])
• Debule Bokungako: “We have to play well to pass on the message. And that's what gives us our strength.” ([26:02])

---

7. Scandal at the Shaolin Temple: Head Monk Investigated

Main Discussion: A significant cultural story involves the ousting of Xu Yongshin, the head monk of the Shaolin Temple, amid corruption and personal misconduct allegations.

Key Points:

• Xu Yongshin, known as the "CEO Monk," transformed the Shaolin Temple into a global brand but is now under investigation for embezzlement and improper relations.
• The Chinese Buddhist authority has revoked his clergy certificate, marking a dramatic fall for the once-revered leader.
• The case reflects broader tensions between commercialization and religious integrity within China's Buddhist institutions.

Notable Quotes:

• Stephen McDonnell (Beijing Correspondent): “A decade ago, he faced similar accusations, but was cleared of them at the time.” ([28:44])
• Stephen McDonnell: “This could be the last battle the Kung fu master faces as head of the temple.” ([29:06])

---

8. Satirical Segment: Trump Meets Tom Lehrer's Elements Song

Main Discussion: In a lighter closing segment, the podcast presents a satire blending Donald Trump’s trade negotiations with Tom Lehrer's classic "The Elements" song, adding a humorous twist to geopolitical discourse.

Key Points:

• The adaptation humorously lists various elements linked to Trump’s trade deals, highlighting the complexity and vastness of international negotiations.
• The segment serves as a whimsical conclusion, juxtaposing serious news with creative satire.

Notable Quotes:

• Anwar Ibrahim (Fulu Maziki): “Can I join your band?” ([26:58])
• Tom Bateman: “It's like something being born. This vehicle was saying, I'm alive.” ([32:17])

---

Conclusion

This episode of the Global News Podcast offers a comprehensive overview of critical global issues, from the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza and intricate diplomatic maneuvers to tech failures and cultural scandals. Through expert analysis, on-the-ground reporting, and engaging storytelling, BBC World Service delivers a nuanced narrative of the world's most pressing events.

---

For more details or to share your thoughts on this episode, contact the Global News Podcast team at [e-mail] or join the conversation on Twitter @BBCWorldService using the hashtag #globalnewspod.

Transcript

[Alex Ritson]

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the uk.

[Celia Hatton]

Starting a business can be overwhelming. You're juggling multiple roles, designer, marketer, logistics manager, all while bringing your vision to life. But for millions of businesses, Shopify is the ultimate partner. Shopify is the commerce platform behind millions of businesses around the world and 10% of all E commerce in the US product from household names like Mattel and Gymshark to brands just getting started. Build a stunning online store with Shopify's ready to use templates, boost content with AI powered product descriptions, page headlines and enhance photography. Marketing is easy with built in tools for email and social media campaigns. Plus Shopify simplifies everything from inventory to shipping and returns. If you're ready to sell, you're ready for Shopify. Turn your big business idea into with Shopify on your side. So sign up for your $1 per month trial today at shopify.com try go to shopify.com try shopify.com try.

[Alex Ritson]

This is the Global News podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Alex Ritson and at 13 hours GMT on Monday 28th July. These are our main stories. The United nations has warned that it's make or break for civilians in Gaza. Thailand and Cambodia have agreed a ceasefire to end five days of fighting along their border disquiet in some European capitals at the terms of the new EU trade deal with Washington. Also in this podcast, the tickets we sell and the donations we receive go to the charity China Investigates, the head monk of the Shaolin Kung Fu Temple for corruption and womanizing. The United nations has described the next few days as crucial for Gaza. Another 10 hour pause of Israeli military operations came into effect on Monday to allow more aid into the Palestinian territory. The UN aid chief Tom Fletcher told the BBC that that the easing of restrictions on Sunday had to go much further. Yesterday was a start. It's a drop in the ocean of what's needed during the ceasefire. For those 42 days we were getting.

[Tom Bateman]

In 600, 700 trucks a day.

[Alex Ritson]

Yesterday it was fewer than 100. So it's the beginning. But the next few days are really make or break. We need to deliver at a much, much greater scale. We need vast amounts of aid going in much faster. This second day of pausing military activities follows escalating international outrage at the shocking pictures of malnourish emaciated children who've been dying in their dozens in Gaza, according to the Hamas run health Ministry. The UN has described this as man made mass starvation. Donald Trump, who's on a visit to Scotland was asked about this, Mr. President.

[Celia Hatton]

Prime Minister Netanyahu said there's no starvation in Gaza.

[Alex Ritson]

Do you agree with that assessment? I don't know. I mean, based on television, I would say not particularly, because those children look very hungry. But we're giving a lot of money and a lot of food. And other nations are now stepping up. Our international editor, Jeremy Bowen is on board a Jordanian plane dropping aid via parachutes into Gaza. He sent this report just before takeoff from a rather noisy aircraft. They're about to take off from just outside our mount in Jordan to Gaza. Now a couple of things. First of all, there are two aircraft here, I think 8 tons each of relief supplies. Yes, not bad. But there are 2 million, more than 2 million starving civilians inside Gaza. And so this not going to change a great deal. What it is is symbolic, it's going to look good on television, it's going to give the impression of things being done. But actually in reality, the only thing that's going to change things on the ground in Gaza in the humanitarian sense, and the UN has said this and others, is sustained road convoys bringing in what they need. And there is no assurance of that from the Israelis at the moment. Israel has repeatedly rejected what it calls the false claims of deliberately starving civilians to death. Foreign journalists aren't allowed into Gaza by Israel. Our correspondent Yoland Nell spoke to me from Jerusalem.

[Yoland Nell]

We're not hearing too much on the ground on the latest on aid, but what's supposed to happen with these humanitarian corridors is that you will be able to get lorry loads of food and medicines on the move for the second day. And there's supposed to be this 10 hour pause in military inactivity in Gaza City, city in Dirabala and Al Muasi where lots of displaced people are living. And the hope is that this system can start to bear fruit. We just heard on the BBC a short time ago from the UN's aid chief, Tom Fletcher. He talked about how this new arrangement he'd been told could last a week or so. He said that the whole focus was on getting aid moving, but the UN's facing bureaucratic and security constraints. And he pointed out after we heard that more than 100 lorry loads of aid were picked up from inside the Gaza border and distributed inside Gaza yesterday, that really a lot of the food that went across was looted this by desperate people in the main. And he said his drivers had to run the gauntlet going along roads where they knew there were starving civilians. And you know, these people would intercept the trucks and take away things like flour. He's really pushing for all crossings to be opened, for an ease in the permits coming from the Israelis and for improvements in the security for both the aid convoys and for the people who are rushing to try to get the aid.

[Alex Ritson]

So are these so called tactical pauses working or not?

[Yoland Nell]

I mean, so far what we've seen is only sort of a trickle going through when what's needed is a flood. And these are only limited pauses. We're just hearing in the last few hours about five people having been killed in the Netzerim corridor. That's according to a local hospital. They'd gone there hoping to get aid that was going to be distributed. People were killed there in the same sort of location yesterday as well. And you know, there have been other military strikes in different parts of Gaza, particularly in Khayr Nunis and in the center of the Strip as well. More than 20 killed, according to different sources.

[Alex Ritson]

Yoland Nell, Diplomatic efforts are continuing to try to build consensus around a future two state solution between Israel and the Palestinians. In New York, a three day conference chaired by France and Saudi Arabia is getting underway later on Monday, but the United States won't attend after condemning France last week for deciding to recognise the Palestinian state later this year. So how viable is this attempt to rekindle the wider peace process which began in 1993 with the Oslo accords? Our State Department correspondent Tom Bateman reports.

[Tom Bateman]

Mr. Prime Minister, Madam Emmanuel Macron filled his speech to the UK Parliament this month with history and ideas of unity. But Britain and France were colonial rivals when they carved up the Middle east as European superpowers a century ago and the wars that began then, they are still trying to end.

[Anwar Ibrahim]

And today working together in order to.

[Alex Ritson]

Recognize the state of Palestine and to.

[Anwar Ibrahim]

Initiate this political momentum is the only path to peace. Because since Oslo in 1993, with Gaza in Rome and west bank being on a daily basis attacked, the perspective of a Palestinian state has never been put at risk as it is.

[Tom Bateman]

Last week Mr. Macron announced France will recognize a Palestinian state in September, further angering the Americans.

[Alex Ritson]

When I heard that the French were trying to spearhead this effort to get a meeting together with the United nations, the purpose of which supposedly is to recognize a Palestinian state.

[Tom Bateman]

President Trump's ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, last month calling the plan a revolting ruse, he told France to drop it and derided the hopes meant for the people involved.

[Alex Ritson]

If France is really so determined to see a Palestinian state, I've got a suggestion for them. Carve out a piece of the French Riviera and create a Palestinian state.

[Harold Tobin]

They're welcome to do that.

[Tom Bateman]

The US State Department, meanwhile, privately threatened diplomatic consequences for countries that join the UN conference being co chaired by France and the Saudis. The American des march meant along with the divisions over the militarized system of aid in Gaza, there has never been such a serious split between Washington and its European allies over the future of the Israeli Palestinian conflict and a crisis for the concept of a negotiated two state solution.

[Alex Ritson]

Together, Arab and Jew walked onto the White House lawn with an American president.

[Tom Bateman]

Who finds a major foreign policy success.

[Alex Ritson]

Success thrust upon him.

[Tom Bateman]

Oslo meant for the first time the Palestinians had a national political body recognized by the world under US brokerage the Palestinian Authority. Since then, the pa, drawn largely from the dominant Fatah party founded by Yasser Arafat, has suffered a crisis of legitimacy among Palestinians, many of whom have come to see it as delivering no progress towards a state little more than a security contractor for Israel's military occupation.

[Yoland Nell]

As dawn broke this morning, the first television pictures coming in from Gaza showed black smoke rising over the skyline. The only people out on the streets were the gunman who'd been fighting.

[Tom Bateman]

And in the bitter and bloody rivalry between Fatah and Hamas, the latter often prevailed, winning elections in 2006 then brutally forcing the PA out of Gaza. On the Israeli side, anti Oslo forces have prevailed too. And Israel has the most extreme nationalist governing coalition in its history, proclaiming an exclusive Jewish right to all the land and rejecting a future Palestinian state. Public support for a negotiated two state solution has dropped well below 50% within both societies, plunging even further in Israel after the hamas attacks of October 7th.

[Alex Ritson]

The US and Israel are condemning France's plan to recognize a Palestinian state.

[Tom Bateman]

French president as US networks broke the news, the Israeli leader portrayed it as a reward for Hamas. Even though the French position demands Hamas's demilitarization, Paris hopes its move will strengthen the ailing internationally backed Palestinian leadership, but also create incentives for Israel. As with Saudi support, they think it could help bring normalization between those two countries. This web of diplomacy is likely far too delicate to hold though, given the shattering crisis on the ground driving new divisions over a decades old conflict.

[Alex Ritson]

Tom Bateman Thailand and Cambodia have agreed a ceasefire to end five days of fighting along their border. Government leaders have been holding peace talks in Malaysia after violence that killed more than 30 people and displaced tens of thousands of others. Anwar Ibrahim, the Prime Minister of Malaysia, spoke at a press conference.

[Anwar Ibrahim]

Both Cambodia and Thailand reached a common understanding as follows. 1 An immediate and unconditional ceasefire with effect from 24 hours local time, midnight on 28th July 2025. Tonight, this is a vital first step towards a de escalation and the restoration of peace and security.

[Alex Ritson]

Celia Hatton, our Asia Pacific Regional editor.

[Celia Hatton]

Is following developments we've heard from Cambodia's Prime Minister Hunman. He said that he confidently believes the result today provides a lot of opportunity for hundreds of thousands on both sides to return to normalcy. That's referring to the numbers of people who've been forced to flee the areas that came under fire. Lots of people who've been living in makeshift camps a few days now. It's interesting to hear what the Thai's acting Prime Minister had to say. Puntam muay chai chai. He said Thailand's agreed to a ceasefire that will be carried out successfully in good faith by both sides. Now, the in good faith part is quite interesting because right before he left Bangkok today to travel to Malaysia to engage in these talks, he said that he didn't believe that Cambodia was acting in good faith and he didn't believe that a ceasefire was going to be possible.

[Yoland Nell]

So.

[Celia Hatton]

And now that the both sides have announced the ceasefire with a lot of pressure, frankly, pushing them towards these talks, it's interesting that again, he's using the term in good faith. And so I think that leaves a little bit of wiggle room open to kind of suggest that maybe this ceasefire isn't going to hold for long.

[Alex Ritson]

Well, that was going to be my next question because Donald Trump has been putting massive pressure on both countries, saying he wouldn't sign trade deals with them unless a ceasefire was resolved. So do we think it is going to last?

[Celia Hatton]

Well, both sides are facing a lot of economic pressure. Both sides want to move forward with trade talks with the United States. So that was certainly a threat. And frankly, both sides are really dependent on things like manufacturing, supply lines, carrying on the tourist, trade continuing. So their economies have been hurting even before this conflict broke out. And the conflict really didn't do either one of them any good. So there's that economic pressure. However, there is pressure they're both probably feeling from within both of their countries to continue the fight. It's very difficult to back down because there's a lot of nationalist pressure on both sides that's really willing this conflict to continue. I will say Cambodia is the weaker of the two militaries. They're the ones who've been more eager to institute a ceasefire, but we'll see whether this one holds.

[Alex Ritson]

Celia Hatton Google has admitted that its earthquake early warning system didn't properly alert 10 million people before the devastating earthquakes in Turkey in 2023. They could have been sent a warning, giving them 35 seconds to find safety. And more than 50,000 people were killed in southern Turkey and northeast Syria. The BBC's Anna Foster covered the disaster. And after Google initially said that the Android earthquake alerts, which in theory is meant to detect tremors, had worked, she returned to Turkey to try to find people who'd received them.

[Yoland Nell]

Did you get this alert on your phone at the time of the earthquake when you were sleeping?

[Alex Ritson]

No.

[Yoland Nell]

Makes a sound?

[Alex Ritson]

No, no, no.

[Yoland Nell]

Like this. Alijan lost his grandmother when the hospital building she was being treated in collapsed. Did your Android phone, did it send you an image, a warning, did it make a sound, did it send you any kind of alert at 4:17 that that earthquake was starting?

[Alex Ritson]

No.

[Yoland Nell]

Nothing.

[Alex Ritson]

Nothing. A research paper published by Google admits that its Android system underestimated the tremors. The technology giant told the BBC that only 469 of its highest level take action alerts were sent out during the first earthquake. Google said there had been improvements to the algorithm, but. But challenges remained in trying to send warnings. Anna Foster asked Harold Tobin, the director of the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network in the us, what he made of Google's system.

[Harold Tobin]

It's very clear now that the take action alerts were either not delivered at all or to a very small number of people in an area where millions upon millions of people were in the true danger zone. So it didn't perform as I'm sure that they would have wanted at the time. It was a very new system. It's a promising technology that they're developing. So I appreciate that very much. But it does seem pretty clear that it really did not live up to what they had hoped it would do.

[Yoland Nell]

It's a difficult balance, isn't it? Because obviously it's not necessarily the responsibility of commercial tech companies to take charge of something like this, but equally, Google had talked about this tech, they'd publicized it, they'd made adverts for it. It was them that chose to move forward in this direction and to tell people they' developed something that worked well.

[Harold Tobin]

Exactly. So I think it's a technology that is tremendously innovative and it's exciting as potentially a really meaningful public safety system. If Google is going to offer a true public safety system like this, then there's a real responsibility to understand very well how it works and to be very, I think, also clear and transparent about how it works so that the civil authorities and the people in a danger zone can, can really understand what's being delivered. As you say, Google has used this as a selling point essentially for the Android system and they're operating it in 93 countries around the world. So it's very real and I think it comes with some very real responsibility.

[Yoland Nell]

Different parts of the world have different types of earthquake alert and monitoring systems. Do you think using phones is the best way forward for this kind of tech?

[Harold Tobin]

It's pretty clear that the systems that are based on professional seismic networks usually operated by a civil authority of some sort, as Japan has, as Taiwan has Mexico, and here in the Western U.S. that's really a gold standard as compared to this method. On the other hand, the phones are ubiquitous obviously, and Google has really shown that the sheer numbers of them can allow for an innovative earthquake detection system. There are clearly many countries around the world that don't have the resources or the seismic networks to operate a kind of a more professional instrument based earthquake early warning system. And I think that there's value in system like this to fill that gap. But again, that's a trade off and I think it's one that people have to enter into with very open eyes in any given country.

[Alex Ritson]

Harold Tobin still to come in this podcast, there's antimony, arsenic, aluminum, rubidium and tantalum titanium. Stay tuned for a Donald Trump satire from one of our editors. We heard from President Trump earlier on this podcast. He's on a private visit to Scotland and has been playing rounds of golf in between political meetings at his Turnberry course since Saturday morning. On Sunday he met the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and they announced a big trade deal. They seemed very pleased. But on the morning after the night before, there's some unhappiness among leaders of European Union member states. Italy's Prime Minister Giorgio Meloni said it was positive that a deal had been reached, but expressed some caution.

[Yoland Nell]

More work.

[Celia Hatton]

Will need to be done on the agreement because what was signed yesterday is a legally non binding preliminary agreement.

[Alex Ritson]

So further detail is still needed on certain aspects.

[Celia Hatton]

There is still a fight to be.

[Yoland Nell]

Had and as a result of this.

[Celia Hatton]

Work, support will need to be provided both at the national and European level for sectors that may be particularly affected by this decision.

[Alex Ritson]

The deal will see a flat US import tax of 15% on US goods as well as European pledges of hundreds of billions of dollars worth of energy purchases and investment. I asked our Europe editor Katja Adler about the reaction of EU leaders.

[Katya Adler]

I Think it's a mixture of grumbles and sighs of relief because if you listen to Donald Trump, there's been all sorts of wild threats that there would be an imposition of 50% tariffs on goods from the European Union. Then most recently, it was a 30% across the board tariff introduced. So, you know, that that really would have been disastrous. As it is, we're looking after this agreement, this preliminary agreement, as we heard from the Italian prime minister, of a flat tariff rate of about 50, 15% on most EU goods entering the United States. And the EU's also agreed the purchase of $750 billion worth of US energy products and AI chips and $600 billion of private investment in the US economy. So, I mean, I think if you look at Donald Trump, who is well known as somebody who likes to have a clear win rather than have a win win situation, in this case, he appears to be the winner. Although the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, who was talking to him in Scotland, the Commission negotiates trade deals on behalf of EU member states. She says this was a good deal. And her trade commissioner today said, absolutely, because if there hadn't been a deal, 5 million jobs in Europe would have been at risk. And if you have a look, you know, the EU US Trade deal is the biggest in the world. I mean, it's $1.7 trillion a year. So if there had been a real trade war, the two sides, this was expected to have a very big impact on the global economy. But individual leaders are not happy. Viktor Orban of Hungary says that Donald Trump ate Ursula von der Leyen for breakfast. The French Prime Minister said the deal was a submission to the United States and a dark day for Europe.

[Alex Ritson]

Briefly, catcher, will leaders, even though they're not entirely happy, will they accept the deal?

[Katya Adler]

Anyway, this is not a final deal. This is not a legal deal. And I think this is, you know, for many of the deals that we've seen Donald Trump reach, including that, you know, with Japan recently, this is not a legal document yet. And until a document exists, EU member states can't vote on it, and it therefore can't be put to the European Parliament. So as you heard there from Italy's Prime Minister, they feel there's still a lot of horse trading to do behind the scenes, even though Donald Trump will have gone away yesterday saying this was a very big win and the EU the loser in this case.

[Alex Ritson]

Katya Adler from the Democratic Republic of Congo. The band Fulu Maziki's name means music from Garbage. As they make their instruments and clothes from discarded items. The members even search for rubbish when they go on tour. Fulu Maziki is doing this to highlight the environmental damage caused by dumping refuse in Africa. Alice Zavadsky met the group in Portugal, where it performed at Festival Med.

[Anwar Ibrahim]

Yes. Hello, I'm called Sekele, a member of Fulu Miziki. I'm an artist and musician and I play all the instruments. Hello, I'm Debule Bokungako. I'm an artist of Fulumiziki and I play nearly all the instruments and I'm also a designer and composer.

[Katya Adler]

Some countries send their refuse to countries.

[Alex Ritson]

In Africa to landfill, to be burned.

[Katya Adler]

Is your message also to the wider world?

[Anwar Ibrahim]

We need things from Europe, but they are often things that are already damaged. We don't have the machines to transform this stuff. Loads of plastic and metals. These end up in the slums, even in the center of towns. There's so much rubbish on several levels, you see, you are living in a complete mess. Surtout c' est important que de genre au fer a measure a traverno music. Above all, it's important that we offer measures they can take in our music. And also with workshops we do with kids, because for us, the most important thing is to pass that message on to the children, because we only use recycled materials. We want to motivate people, to give them confidence themselves to do this, to make them see that there are some things that we shouldn't let go of.

[Celia Hatton]

When you're doing these workshops with children.

[Katya Adler]

Do you follow the same process with them?

[Anwar Ibrahim]

Well, with the children. When we were in Congo, in Kinshasa, we made instruments for ourselves, and we also made instruments for them. And even if they don't learn to play well, they understand the sound. Here in Europe, we organize workshops on how to build instruments, costumes and masks. We once did such a workshop with children in Marseille, with about 15 children, and worked with them for five days, building the instruments, but also finding the materials. It was fun looking through the rubbish bins. It was great.

[Katya Adler]

Where do you find your strength to cope with the stresses and the effort of touring.

[Anwar Ibrahim]

Well, to tour as we do? The motivation is truly Fulu Miziki. It's Fulu that motivates us. So, for example, if we come to Portugal and we don't play well, we'll demoralize Fulu because it's that that comes with us everywhere and allows us to transmit the message. And so we have to play well to pass on the message. And that's what gives us our strength. It gives luck to everyone. And everyone is important, important, important. Without all my bandmates, I wouldn't be here. There isn't a leader in our band. In fact, fact, it's the instruments you see, the costumes, that's our leader. Because it's a family. It's truly a family.

[Katya Adler]

Can I join your band?

[Alex Ritson]

That report by Alice Zavatsky. He turned China's ancient Shaolin Temple into a global brand, commercializing Kung fu and Zen Buddhism for the masses. But now Xu Yong Shin has been removed from his position and stripped of his robes. China's Buddhist authority has put him under investigation for decades of alleged embezzlement and so called improper relations with women. Our Beijing Correspondent, Stephen McDonnell reports.

[Stephen McDonnell]

From movies such as the Legend and Hag of Shaolin to the millions of tourists who travel to China to visit their Buddhist martial arts school, the kung fu monks of the Shaolin Temple have become a global marketing success story. And much of that is due to the efforts of Shi Yongshin, who became Abbot in 1999 after taking control of the 1,500-year-old institution. He immediately pursued an unashamedly commercial path for those under his tutelage, sending young monks around the world to perform on stage. For the many critics in China who say he's debased a religion and cultural icon by turning it into a money making venture, the corruption allegations against Shi Yong Shin come as no surprise. The man nicknamed the CEO Monk has now had his clergy certificate revoked by the Buddhist association of China as the authorities investigate alleged embezzlement. A decade ago, he faced similar accusations, but was cleared of them at the time. Even before that, the rumours were already swirling around about financial impropriety. When he spoke to the BBC in 20.

[Alex Ritson]

The tickets we sell and the donations we receive go to the charity.

[Stephen McDonnell]

Asked if the temple's financial records should be disclosed publicly so people could see everything was above board, he responded.

[Alex Ritson]

We'Re not independent. We have to consider the entire Buddhist community, fellow monks and many other factors.

[Stephen McDonnell]

He's also accused now, as before, of having inappropriate relationships with multiple women and fathering at least one illegitimate son. In China, people have long turned a blind eye to such infidelities amongst the Buddhist clergy. But corruption is another matter. So this could be the last battle the Kung fu master faces as head of the temple. And given the success rate of the police and prosecutors here, he may be looking at significant prison time.

[Alex Ritson]

Stephen McDonnell on our last global news podcast, we ended with the death of one of the greatest satirists of the 20th century, Tom Lehrer. His style of humor and ridicule remains undimmed, and with President Trump brokering trade deals, it seemed appropriate to combine them. Picking up on one such deal, which gave the US a stake in Ukrainian minerals and hydrocarbons, our Europe regional editor Danny Eberhardt drew up a list of elements which, well, lyra esque Dani's lyrics are delivered by Rodri Marsden at the piano. There's antimony, arsenic, aluminum, rubidium and tantalum, titanium and tungsten and tellurium and natural.

[Harold Tobin]

Gas and nickel, neodymium, germanium and gallium and indium, iridium, uranium, europium, zirconium, lutetium.

[Alex Ritson]

Vanadium and rhodium and oil and then there's platinum, pallad and holmium and graphite and some hafnium and erbium, samarium and fluorine and thulium and terbium.

[Anwar Ibrahim]

And potash.

[Alex Ritson]

Gadolinium, niobium, ruthenium, en yttrium, ytterbium and something in betweenium. There's lanthanum and fluospire and manganese, magnesium, dysprosium and scandium and cerium and cesium bismuth, barrack, lithium, beryllium and chromium and cobalt, copper, zinc, tin, gold and lots of praseodymium. For Donald, these appeal much more than struggling with harvest. There may be many others, but they haven't been discovered. Rodri Marsden there with Danny Eberhart's adaptation of Tom Lehrer's the Elements, set to the tune of I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major General by Gilbert and Sullivan. And that's all from us for now. But there'll be a new edition of the Global News Podcast later. If you want to comment on this podcast or the topics covered in it, you can send us an email. The address is globalpodcastbc.co.uk. you can also find us on X@BBC World Service. Use the hashtag globalnewspod. This edition was mixed by Nick Randall and produced by Peter Hyatt and Daniel Mann. The editor is Karen Martin. I'm Alex Ritz. And until next time, goodbye. Three, two, one.

[Tom Bateman]

And a dream to revolutionize space flight.

[Celia Hatton]

Don't lunch like a rocket and land like an airplane.

[Harold Tobin]

It was the first time anybody had ever seen any of that told by.

[Alex Ritson]

The men and women who made it happen. Countless hours developing the procedures we had.

[Yoland Nell]

Trained together for so long.

[Tom Bateman]

From the BBC World Service, 13 Minutes presents the Space Shuttle.

[Alex Ritson]

It was like something being born. This vehicle was saying, I'm alive. Let me go search for 13 minutes.

[Tom Bateman]

Presents the Space Shuttle.

[Alex Ritson]

Wherever you get your BBC podcasts, what.

[Anwar Ibrahim]

If new how to do.