Trump arrives in Saudi Arabia

Summary

Global News Podcast Summary Episode: "Trump Arrives in Saudi Arabia" | Release Date: May 13, 2025

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1. President Trump's Lavish Arrival in Saudi Arabia

Overview: President Donald Trump embarked on his first foreign trip since returning to the White House, landing in Saudi Arabia amid a grand military guard of honor. The primary focus of his visit is to secure substantial trade deals purportedly worth a trillion dollars, echoing his administration's emphasis on bolstering American investment abroad.

Key Discussions:

• Trade Deal Ambitions:

  • Sarah Smith, North America Editor: "Donald Trump is not on a diplomatic mission to cure any kind of peace deals or negotiate long term strategic goals in the Middle East. He is here to secure American investment." [01:51]

• Potential for Corruption:

  • Concerns have been raised regarding the intertwining of Trump's political agenda with his family's business interests. Eric Trump has been actively involved in negotiations, signing deals that could benefit the Trump Organization directly, leading to allegations of potential corruption.

• Analysis from Lise de Set, Chief International Correspondent:

  • "This is a very strong personal relationship between Donald Trump and Mohammed bin Salman, threaded through with very ambitious visions for this region and deal making." [03:26]
  • She highlights Trump's admiration for affluent, authoritative leaders and notes the seamless diplomacy contrasting previous administrations.

Notable Quotes:

• "If it's out in the open. If it's transparent, if you know about it, then it cannot be corrupt." – Trump’s defense against corruption allegations. [02:15]

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2. Prospects of Peace Talks Between Putin and Zelensky in Istanbul

Overview: Thursday’s anticipated negotiations in Istanbul mark the first direct talks between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin since the escalation of the Ukraine War in 2022. The meeting's success remains uncertain amidst ongoing hostilities.

Key Discussions:

• Ukraine's Stance:

  • Ukraine insists on Putin's presence at the talks, signaling a direct appeal for dialogue.

• Kremlin’s Response:

  • Dmitry Peskov, Putin’s Spokesperson: "Preparations continue. We will announce who exactly will be going to Turkey when Vladimir Putin deems it necessary." [11:02]

• Vitaly Shevchenko, Russia Editor at BBC Monitoring:

  • "Vladimir Putin despises Volodymyr Zelenskyy and is unlikely to attend the talks, as it would mean placing himself on the same level as Zelensky." [12:15]
  • He suggests that Trump might play a pivotal role in facilitating the discussions, although skepticism remains regarding Putin's willingness to engage.

Notable Quotes:

• "Both Russia and Ukraine are trying to pass the blame for this whole process, saying, well, I'm willing to do something you're not." – Vitaly Shevchenko [12:53]

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3. Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza Amid Israel’s Blockade

Overview: Philippe Lazzarini, head of UNRWA, condemned Israel's blockade of food and humanitarian aid to Gaza, labeling it a form of warfare. The blockade has led to severe shortages and exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in the region.

Key Discussions:

• Impact on Civilians:

  • "Starvation is spreading. People are exhausted. People are hungry." – Philippe Lazzarini [08:37]

• Use of Aid as a Weapon:

  • Lazzarini unequivocally states, "Food and humanitarian assistance is indeed being used to meet political or military objectives." [09:13]

• Accusations of War Crimes:

  • Jeremy Bowen: "That's a war crime." [09:24]
  • Lazzarini supports this by referring to the International Criminal Court’s potential classification of these acts as war crimes.

• Alleged Double Standards:

  • Lazzarini notes a "double standard" in the application of international rules, particularly concerning Israel and Palestine. [10:06]

Notable Quotes:

• "I have absolutely no doubt." – Lazzarini on the use of aid as a weapon. [09:13]
• "There is a double standard." – Highlighting perceived unequal application of international laws. [10:06]

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4. Gerard Depardieu Found Guilty of Sexual Assault

Overview: In a landmark MeToo trial, renowned French actor Gerard Depardieu was convicted of sexual assault, receiving an 18-month suspended sentence for groping two women on a film set in 2021. The verdict has ignited discussions about accountability in the French film industry.

Key Discussions:

• Victims' Testimonies:

  • Amelie Kay: "For me, it's a victory, truly a great step forward. I feel justice prevailed." [00:47]

• Court's Stance:

  • The Paris Criminal Court's 10th Chamber emphasized that "accusation equals conviction," disregarding inconsistencies in Depardieu's defense. [19:26]

• Jeremy Bowen’s Analysis:

  • Bowen discusses the generational divide in public opinion, noting that younger French individuals are more supportive of the verdict, whereas older generations, especially within the acting community, defend Depardieu. [20:33]

Notable Quotes:

• "It's deeply frustrating." – Philippe Lazzarini on perceived injustices. [10:34]
• "It's a victory, truly a great step forward." – Amelie Kay, expressing relief and justice. [19:26]

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5. Return of Families to Homs, Syria Post-Civil War

Overview: Five months after the fall of the Assad regime, families are beginning to return to Homs, Syria, aiming to rebuild their lives amidst lingering destruction and uncertainty.

Key Discussions:

• Personal Stories:

  • Fatima Hazura: Expresses immense happiness in returning home, despite her family's old house still suffering from past shelling. [24:05]

• Challenges Ahead:

  • Despite the return, the majority of homes remain uninhabitable, with families residing in rented flats. The new Syrian leadership faces the monumental task of reconstruction amid ongoing international sanctions. [25:01]

• Observations from Tim Huell:

  • Highlights the resilience of families like Fatima’s, who despite past attacks, choose to celebrate their return and hope for a peaceful future. [25:56]

Notable Quotes:

• "I am really, really happy being back here." – Fatima Hazura [24:05]
• "It's a happy day indeed." – Reflecting the mixed emotions of returning amidst devastation. [26:06]

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6. Pakistan and India’s Renewed Cooperation Against Terrorism

Overview: Pakistan has signaled its willingness to collaborate with India and other nations to address and mitigate terrorism within its borders, following a recent ceasefire that has temporarily eased tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.

Key Discussions:

• Statements from Ishaq Dar, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister:

  • "We have to work together to eliminate the manners of terrorism." [17:17]
  • Emphasizes Pakistan’s significant sacrifices in the global fight against terrorism, having lost 90,000 lives.

• Allegations and Denials:

  • Pakistan denies involvement in recent explosions in Indian-administered Kashmir, suggesting possible orchestrations to destabilize the region. [17:55]

• Demand for Evidence:

  • Ishaq Dar: Challenges India to provide concrete evidence of terrorist activities, expressing skepticism over India's claims. [16:40]

Notable Quotes:

• "We are the worst sufferers of terrorism." – Highlighting Pakistan's extensive sacrifices. [17:17]
• "I think we can work together because if they are so allergic not to work together against this madness, we can have two, three more partners." – Advocating for broader cooperation. [17:39]

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7. New Pope's Connection to Peru and Its Global Implications

Overview: Father Samuel David Miranda from Chiclayo, Peru, shares insights into the newly appointed Pope, who hails from the same region. The Pope's experiences in Peru have significantly shaped his compassionate and missionary-focused pontificate.

Key Discussions:

• Personal Connection:

  • Miranda recounts his personal interactions with the Pope, describing him as "a very welcoming man, very simple and with a very, very gentle gaze." [26:43]

• Influence of Peru:

  • Emphasizes how the Pope's time in Peru fostered his sensitivity towards the needy and his commitment to peace. [27:47]

• Vision for the Papacy:

  • The Pope aims to center his pontificate around the poor and global solidarity, striving to embody peace. [29:15]

Notable Quotes:

• "I do not belong to the clergy of Ciclayo, I belong to another diocese. But the times I met him, I always found him to be very close, very attentive." – Father Miranda [26:43]
• "God wanted it that way. That is God's work." – Expressing the divine orchestration of the Pope's election. [28:34]

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8. Additional Stories

• Tennis Partnership Dissolution:

  • Russell Fuller, Tennis Correspondent: Reports the amicable split between Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic after six months of collaboration, attributing the decision to diminishing on-court successes and evolving personal dynamics. [13:31]

• Pakistan's Internal Turmoil:

  • Coverage of internal chaos in Pakistan amid attempts to engage in dialogue with India, highlighting public discontent and skepticism over the government's stance on terrorism. [16:30]

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Conclusion: This episode of the Global News Podcast delves into significant international events, from high-stakes political maneuvers and humanitarian crises to landmark legal decisions and cultural shifts. Through in-depth interviews and expert analyses, listeners gain a comprehensive understanding of the complexities shaping our world today.

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For more insights and updates, subscribe to the Global News Podcast on your preferred platform.

Transcript

[Andrew Peach]

This is the global news podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Andrew peach and at 14 hours GMT on Tuesday 13th May. These are our main stories. President Trump's lavish welcome in Saudi Arabia as he seeks trade deals worth a trillion dollars. The latest on whether President Zelensky will meet Vladimir Putin in peace talks in Istanbul on Thursday. And the head of the main UN Agency for Palestinians tells the BBC Israel's blockade of food deliveries to Gaza is a war. CR Also in this podcast, one of France's biggest film stars, Gerard Depodieu, is found guilty of sexual assault. For me, it's a victory, truly a great step forward. I feel justice prevailed and but the.

[Russell Fuller]

Thought that he could be going behind enemy lines, if you like, and working for the man who was his great adversary for so many years, helping him trying to win a 25th Grand Slam title so soon was phenomenal.

[Andrew Peach]

Tennis rivals Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic end their partnership. President Trump has landed in Saudi Arabia for his first foreign trip since returning to the White House. He was greeted by a military guard of honor, the emphasis of this trip being on trade. The president hoping to secure deals worth a trillion dollars. Saudi Arabia was also the first country Mr. Trump went to in his first term in the White House. So why is it so important to him? Our North America editor, Sarah Smith is traveling with the president because it's about the cash.

[Sarah Smith]

To be absolutely, brutally blunt about it, Donald Trump is not on a diplomatic mission to cure any kind of peace deals or negotiate long term strategic goals in the Middle East. He is here to secure American investment. And Saudi Arabia has promised him hundreds of billions of dollars of it. Donald Trump's visiting three countries in all. First Saudi Arabia, also Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. And if it goes as he hopes, he wants to go home with $1 trillion worth of promised investment in America, which of course, he can tell his constituents is money coming to their communities for prosperity and jobs. His son, Eric Trump has been on a sweep through the Middle east doing deals with the Trump Organization in all the countries that Donald Trump is visiting for new Trump towers and hotels, commissioning a Saudi building firm to do hundreds of millions of dollars worth of work for them. He has signed on the dotted line all of these personal business deals from which Donald Trump himself will ultimately profit just before his father sweeps through on this political visit. All of this, of course, has a whiff of corruption about it, say Donald Trump's adversaries. But he has always been very, very upfront about saying, look, if it's out in the open. If it's transparent, if you know about it, then it cannot be corrupt. Although, of course, what many of his critics are saying is we have no idea what promise now or in the future in return for this.

[Andrew Peach]

Also in Riyadh, chief international correspondent Lise de Set gave me her take on the trip.

[Lise de Set]

It's a very royal welcome for the United States of America. This is a very strong personal relationship between Donald Trump, the president of the United States, and the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman. This relationship has gone from strength to strength, and it is threaded through with very ambitious visions for this region and very ambitious deal making.

[Andrew Peach]

There has been a flurry of diplomatic activity from the Trump administration in the past couple of days, even by his standards. He's been involved in negotiations over Ukraine, Russia, over India, Pakistan, over Gaza, over the trade deals with China. What's on the agenda during this trip?

[Lise de Set]

It is a dizzying week for diplomacy. And this is very much the signature of President Trump's style, is that everyone wonders in the morning just what will President Trump post on his truth social platform? What will he say when there's a microphone in front of him? And he seems to have microphones in front of him at all times of day. And he'll certainly be speaking out here. Will he speak about the meeting on Thursday? If there is a meeting between President Putin and President Zelensky of Ukraine? President Trump has even said that if something happens in Istanbul, and there's some skepticism that it will, that he's willing to join those talks, will he talk about moving towards a ceasefire in Gaza? He's made it clear, as he does on every other front line, he wants those wars to end. And it's been clear that there's a growing impatience between him and the leader of Israel, the Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, President Trump's envoy for the Middle east, his envoy for everything, really. Steve Witkoff, also took the unprecedented step of publicly criticizing Israel for dragging its feet, keeping the war going when it had achieved all of its objectives. So we may hear something about the Gaza, we may hear about other issues, but we'll see a lot of images of him with his Sharpie pen signing those deals. He's got prominent business and tech leaders who've come to the kingdom with him as well.

[Andrew Peach]

Donald Trump is certainly very comfortable striding the international stage, meeting other world leaders. He gets a lot of criticism for all sorts of things. Is this something he's actually quite good at?

[Lise de Set]

Well, he likes to see himself as the world's best dealmaker. He attributes his success to his own personal style, to personal relationships. And this is very much on show here. He doesn't hide his admiration for the kind of authoritarian rulers who can literally call the shots in their own country. And if those rulers are also fabulously wealthy, well, that's even more attractive to President Trump. He likes all the glitter, he likes all the gold, he likes the lavish receptions. All of this he'll get in abundance here on this trip. There's going to be no signs of any tension between the Saudi and American leadership, between Americans and Saudi ambitions, none of that awkwardness that we saw when President Biden. Our listeners may remember how in his election campaign many years ago, he had vowed to make the Saudi kingdom a pariah state. And then he then really had to eat humble pie. He arrived here in the kingdom and did a fist bump with Mohammed bin Salman. Because no matter who's in power in the White House, they have to deal with Saudi Arabia. Not only is it one of the world's most important oil producers, huge sovereign wealth fund, but more and more, Saudi Arabia is a pivotal political player in the region.

[Andrew Peach]

Our chief international correspondent Lee's Dasset with me from Riyadh. There's more from Lise on our [e-mail] News now there's hope that Donald Trump's Middle east tour could help bring about a ceasefire in Gaza and address the dire humanitarian situation there. Philippe Lazzarini is head of unrwa, the main UN agency for Palestinians, and has told BBC News that Israel's blockade of food deliveries to Palestinians in Gaza constitutes a war CR. He's also denied Israel's repeated criticism of unrwa. And Philippe Lanzarini has been talking to my colleague, our international editor, Jeremy Bowen.

[Jeremy Bowen]

Look, the Israelis say that your activities.

[Andrew Peach]

Are hopelessly compromised in Gaza by infiltration by Hamas. And the fact that staff is at UNRWA actually took part in the killing on the 7th of October.

[Philippe Lazzarini]

Well, first of all, we do not have any proof that staff of UNRWA has participated to the October 7th massacre. There have been an investigation for 19 staff and the conclusion has been that for nine of them, if the information can be authentic and corroborated, there might be a crime behind it and they should be held accountable. The agency decided for the sake of the agency to suspend the 19 staff even for those for which there was absolutely no proof. Since then, we are receiving hundreds of allegations from the State of Israel. Each time as a rule based organization, we keep asking for substantiated information, we never, ever receive them.

[Andrew Peach]

Israel has not allowed any humanitarian aid in now for more than two months. How serious is the situation there for civilians?

[Philippe Lazzarini]

I think we have soon no word anymore to describe the misery and the tragedy affecting the people in Gaza. Starvation is spreading. People are exhausted. People are hungry. And more and more now we can expect in the coming weeks, if no aid is coming in that people will not just die because of the bombardment, but they will die because of the lack of food aid.

[Andrew Peach]

Do you think Israel is using food aid, medical aid, humanitarian aid as a weapon of war?

[Philippe Lazzarini]

I have absolutely no doubt. And this is what we have witnessed during this last 19 months, but especially during this last two months.

[Jeremy Bowen]

That's a war crime.

[Philippe Lazzarini]

That will be qualified as a war crime. The qualification will come from the icg, not from me, but what I can say, what we see, what we observe. Food and humanitarian assistance is indeed being used to meet political or military objectives. In the context of Gaza, that's nothing else than the weaponization of humanitarian assistance.

[Andrew Peach]

There are international rules.

[Jeremy Bowen]

Do you think they are applied to.

[Andrew Peach]

Israel with the same tenacity as they might be applied to other countries? A lot of people say there are double standards.

[Philippe Lazzarini]

Well, you have the answer in your question. There is a double standard. There is a feeling that it is selectively implemented, that some rules do not apply the same way when it comes to Israel, Palestine. And there is a very, very deeper feeling of injustice in the region, which is also fueling polarization.

[Jeremy Bowen]

Do you share that feeling?

[Philippe Lazzarini]

I do share this feeling. It's deeply frustrating.

[Andrew Peach]

Philippe Lancerini with Jeremy Bowen. Thursday's expected talks between Ukraine and Russia will be the first direct negotiations between the warring sides since Moscow's full scale invasion in 2022. It follows pressure from the US for the two sides to meet face to face. But who will be at that meeting in Istanbul? Will we see President Putin and President Zelenskyy sitting same table? I've been talking to our Russia editor from BBC monitoring Vitaly Shevchenko.

[Vitaly Shevchenko]

What we know is that Ukraine demands that Vladimir Putin is there. Basically, Volodymyr Zelensky has challenged him to travel to Turkey and meet the Ukrainian leader for talks. But the Kremlin's response has been evasive. This morning, Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, of course, he was asked about this at his daily press briefing, and all he said was that preparations continue. I can't really tell anymore. We will announce who exactly will be going to Turkey when Vladimir Putin deems it necessary. Ukraine has stopped short of saying that it's Putin or nothing, who is a key presidential advisor in Ukraine. He said that Zelensky will only speak to Putin, but that doesn't rule out the possibility of talks at a. At a more junior level. But everything I know about Vladimir Putin makes me think that he's extremely unlikely to go there, because he absolutely despises Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He has questioned his legitimacy, and it.

[Andrew Peach]

Would be putting himself on the same level as Zelenskyy, which, of course, Putin.

[Vitaly Shevchenko]

Won'T want, stooping to it, even.

[Andrew Peach]

As.

[Vitaly Shevchenko]

I understand Vladimir Putin's thinking. And he also despises being told what to do, being pressured into doing things. Donald Trump appears to be the only world leader who has anything to do with this situation, who seems to believe that Vladimir Putin may be there.

[Andrew Peach]

And Zelenskyy, of course, can't say, well, I won't go, because the next thing that will happen is Trump will put something on social media that sor of forces him into doing so anyway.

[Vitaly Shevchenko]

Which is precisely what Vladimir Putin's plan is. For the past few days, I think we've been seeing both Russia and Ukraine trying to pass the ball onto each other's court or passing the buck, or the blame for this whole process failing, saying, well, I'm willing to do something you're not. And this has been going on and on and on. There's been less fighting or fewer Russian attacks on Ukraine after Ukraine and its EU allies demanded a ceasefire on Monday, and the UK as well. But the fighting still continues.

[Andrew Peach]

Vitaly Shevchenko, Russia Editor at BBC monitoring Two of the world's best tennis stars, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic, are to end their working partnership after just six months. Djokovic, who has 24 Grand Slam titles, hired Murray as his coach in November. In a statement, Djokovic thanked Murray for all the hard work, fun and support both on and off the court. Our tennis correspondent Russell Fuller says it seems to be an amicable split.

[Russell Fuller]

Here was a man in Andy Murray, who'd only retired in early August at the Olympics and had said he definitely wanted to take a break. But the thought that he could be going behind enemy lines, if you like, and working for the man who was his great adversary for so many years, helping him, trying to win a 25th Grand Slam title so soon was phenomenal. And we enjoyed the ride in Melbourne, where Djokovic reached the semi finals before injury denied him playing more than a set against Alex Verev. They were also together in Miami, where Djokovic reached the final. Only two other events though and on both of those occasions Djokovic lost his first match and he's had a bad run in the two clay court tournaments he's played. He's not playing in the Italian Open at the moment. So they've not been together as much and it appears as if it has just fizzled out and we are going to be denied that spectacle at Wimbledon. Djokovic trying to win an eighth title with the two time Wimbledon champion Andy Murray there in the players box trying to help him. The two knew each other from childhood, they played a lot together on the junior circuit and they are about 10 days apart in age and it's one of those relationships that has fluctuated over the years if you like. There have been times where there have been a great rivalry and certainly Murray was unhappy with some of Djokovic's antics on court in the great finals in which Djokovic invariably won. So there were ups and there were downs, but there was always huge respect. And I think that friendship probably took a step forward in the few months that they had have been working together. I don't know for sure, but I don't detect any big falling out here and I think probably the friendship will only be stronger in future.

[Andrew Peach]

Our tennis correspondent, Russell Fuller. Still to come on the global news podcast. I'm really, really happy. I mean, how else could I be feeling? I'm super happy being back here. We travel to Syria to meet one family who returned after the civil war. Pakistan has indicated it's prepared to work with India and others to address allegations that terrorists operate within its borders. The Foreign Minister, Ishak Dar said he was hopeful direct talks could resolve long standing problems. The ceasefire announced on Saturday has largely halted the worst clashes in decades between these two nuclear armed neighbours. Ishaq Dar has been talking to my colleague Azadeh Mashiri and began by reacting to events of recent days.

[Ishaq Dar]

From north to south of Pakistan, the public was just in chaos and in anger. What's going on in Pakistan, which throughout.

[Andrew Peach]

India has said it was targeting terrorist infrastructure.

[Ishaq Dar]

Come on. What terrorist infrastructure? I mean, show us one, please. You're most welcome. BBC.

[Andrew Peach]

I visited one of the mosques in Muzaffarabad which was destroyed. What India is claiming is that every site was connected to some activity or train.

[Ishaq Dar]

Their media claimed that they have destroyed Islamabad. You are sitting in Islamabad interviewing me. They said Karachi Port has vanished and disappeared from the map. You are welcome to go to Karachi Port.

[Andrew Peach]

What concessions is Pakistan willing to make when it comes to any monitoring of militants or former militants on Pakistani soil.

[Ishaq Dar]

We are the worst sufferers of terrorism. We had fought global war against terrorism. We have been the front ally in the war against terrorism. We have lost 90,000 people, but then it takes two to tango. We have to work together to eliminate the manners of terrorism.

[Andrew Peach]

What does working together look like?

[Ishaq Dar]

I think we can work together because if they are so allergic not to work together against this madness, we can have two, three more partners.

[Andrew Peach]

Within hours our team heard explosions in Srinagar in Indian administered Kashmir. What were they?

[Ishaq Dar]

We have nothing to do with this. So sometime it's choreographed. Unfortunately I don't want to go into any negative choreographed.

[Andrew Peach]

So you think it was India's doing.

[Ishaq Dar]

But I don't want to just because it's a very fresh ceasefire.

[Andrew Peach]

In this instance they're talking about violations.

[Ishaq Dar]

Yeah, yeah. We had, we had, you know, Jafar Express just few weeks back. We didn't blame anybody. We know that we have ample evidence to put blame on certain actors, global actors, but we didn't do it.

[Andrew Peach]

Shaktar with our Pakistan correspondent Azadeh Mashiri in Islamabad. In what's being called France's highest profile MeToo trial, the celebrated French actor Gerard Depadieu has been found guilty of the sexual assault of two women on a film set in 2021. The 76 year old actor was given an 18 month suspended sentence for having groped a 54 year old set dresser and a 34 year old assistant director. His lawyer Jeremias criticize the court's decision. Gerard Depardieu has been found guilty. He will of course appeal. But what is particularly important and what must be remembered from this decision is that for the 10th Chamber of the Paris Criminal Court, accusation equals conviction. From the moment one is implicated in a so called sexual assault case today, conviction seems automatic, regardless of contradictions, falsehoods or even physical inconsistencies or impossibilities. One of the women who brought the case, identified as Amelie Kay, expressed her relief. I, who have been quite talkative until now, find myself struggling to express my thoughts today.

[Vitaly Shevchenko]

I am truly moved and I am.

[Andrew Peach]

Very, very satisfied with this decision. For me it is a victory, truly a great step forward, a significant progress. To find out more, I spoke to our correspondent in Paris, Hugh Schofield.

[Jeremy Bowen]

The women had said that they had been separately touched up, basically groped by Gerard Depogee on this film set in 2021. One of them said that on three occasions she'd been accompanying him from his dressing room to the set and he Touched her buttocks on one occasion and her breasts on another occasion through her clothes. The other one said that they'd had a minor altercation and he'd. He'd gripped her between his legs. He was sitting down and sort of held her between his. His leg. Legs and making lewd comments all the while. He'd said, and his defense had said that this was not the case, that he'd maybe touched him accidentally or to get his balance back or whatever, but there'd be no sexual intention. But the court simply did not believe him.

[Andrew Peach]

The lawyer for the women has said this is the end of impunity for the French film industry. Will it make a significant difference, do you think, in that way?

[Jeremy Bowen]

Well, I mean, you've got to see this as part of a process. Things are undoubtedly changing. This is not the only trial that has arisen from, you know, the kind of junction of the MeToo movement and practices that have undoubtedly gone on in the French film world longer than in maybe the English speaking world of cinema. There has undoubtedly been a kind of blind eye turned to certain stars, Gerard Depradura among them, who've been allowed to get away with behavior which is no longer deemed acceptable. I mean, in his trial, I was there when he said, look, I know I'm from a different era. And that is basically, I think, the fact, you know, he grew up in a time when touching women up in this way was regarded not as, well, not as a welcome thing, but a sort of reprehensible but hardly criminal affair. And now he's in a world where it is a criminal affair and he hasn't caught up with the times. And I think that is. That is the explanation. He moves in a mental era which has passed.

[Andrew Peach]

And I just wonder where French public opinion is on these issues and on him now.

[Jeremy Bowen]

It's very generational, I would say. I would say that younger people are far more likely to be in line with the prosecution and what the court has decided. In other words, there is a criminal aspect to this, that examples need to be made, that it's no longer possible for what Depardieu did to go on. And there are, though, of course, and this is, you know, well known, has been spoken of a lot older people in France, particularly in the world of acting, you know, people who've leapt to his defense saying that it is completely out of proportion what has happened to him now with his career effectively ended, not for rape, not for anything that comes close to rape, but for touching women in admittedly unwelcome Ways, but hardly ways which in the past people like Brigitte Bardot would say they were able to fend off easily enough by slapping men down. That's the attitude of people of his generation.

[Andrew Peach]

Hugh Scofield with me from Paris. It's been five months since the toppling of the Assad regime in Syria. A long period of dictatorship and a civil war that broke out in 2011 had caused millions to flee their homes. Now some of them are slowly starting to return. Tim Huell has been to Homs, Syria's third city and the scene of some of the worst destruction, to meet one family who gone back home.

[Tim Huell]

This is an amazing sight. So there's a convoy as far back as the eye can see along the road. We're in the center of Homs and this is Convoy bringing back 100 families displaced people from camps in the north of Syria back here to their home city after years away. So they're being greeted here in the sense of the city. There are many traditional costume, leather boots, black and white caps, silk embroidered shirts because they're about to get off the buses. Syria, five months after the fall of the Assad regime, after a civil war which began in 2011 which forced half the population to move, 6 million fled abroad, 7 million within Syria. Bringing them back is perhaps the country's biggest challenge.

[Andrew Peach]

My name is Fatima Hazura.

[Tim Huell]

So how do you feel to be back here?

[Andrew Peach]

I'm really, really happy. I mean, how else could I be feeling? I'm super happy being back here. She's also inviting us to go to her home.

[Tim Huell]

We're going to Baba Amer, which is really the absolute center of the fighting in the early years of the revolution. Probably the most destroyed part of Homs. They're unloading mattresses, carpets, pots and pans. But it's not Fatima's old home. Most of that's uninhabitable. This is a rented flat. Even so, Fatima's son in law, Abdul Razak, who's traveled back with her, is rejoicing.

[Andrew Peach]

Today we're back to my area. It's a very beautiful feeling. We move it to the north by force because of Assad government.

[Tim Huell]

Do you have a job here in.

[Andrew Peach]

Yes, I was a teacher in the north. But now I don't know what our future we will wait the new government to do to decide.

[Tim Huell]

Almost everyone I've met says that though they've been in power five months, the intentions of Syria's new rulers, former Islamist rebels, are still largely unknown. Syria's still under international sanctions and even if they're lifted, rebuilding the country will be an almost unimaginable task. We've come now to fam we's old house.

[Andrew Peach]

Two rockets hit our house. One hit this room and the other hit the wall there.

[Tim Huell]

She doesn't know when they'll be able to return, but today, at least, they can celebrate.

[Andrew Peach]

It is a happy day indeed. And after we finish unloading the truck, we're going to have lunch together. Maybe you can join us for lunch.

[Tim Huell]

Thank you very much.

[Andrew Peach]

Tim Huell in Homs. Father Samuel David Miranda is from Chiclayo in Peru, the town where Pope Leo served for over two decades. He may have been born in Chicago, but the people of Chiclayo and wider Peru are claiming him as their own. Restaurants around the town proudly advertise. The Pope ate here. And banners are draped across Chiclayo with a newly appointed Pope's face. As news starts to sink in, Father Samuel David Miranda has been talking to my colleague Mimi Swaby, and began by telling her how he knows the Pope.

[Father Samuel David Miranda]

I am from Ticlayo, from the same diocese where he spent the last few years before coming to Rome. And as a Ciclayo native, I felt the times I was able to meet him because I do not belong to the clergy of Ciclayo, I belong to another diocese. But the times I met him, I always found him to be a very welcoming man, very simple and with a very, very gentle gaze and with a very deep gaze. The first time I met him was on the day of my ordination, which was in June 2018. I found he was always concerned with a lot of detail and always attentive to what people told him. I invited him to the day of the celebration of my ordination, and he came and there were even some photographs and videos of that little moment. And the times we have met on other occasions, I've always perceived him as very close, very attentive, Muy sercano, muya tenta.

[Vitaly Shevchenko]

How do you think his time in.

[Andrew Peach]

Peru has influenced his view of the world?

[Father Samuel David Miranda]

Peru definitely helped his sensitivity towards others. Just look at the photographs of him walking through puddles of water and giving a plate of food to the most needy, hugging children and young people. Remember that he, he is a devout person, and as a priest and as a missionary, he has had to experience very deep realities. I believe that Peru and Tiklayo above all, taught him to be a good missionary, and that has been the foundation for him to place the poor and the whole world at the center of his pontificate. Today, I hope for a pontificate where he will continue to be simple, close, profound and brotherly. A week before he was elected, before the conclave, I was talking to a friend of mine and he said to me, hey, what would happen if the bishop who ordained you in Chiclayo became the new pope? And I said to him, well, it would be crazy. It would be extraordinary. And that conversation, which seemed to be a bit of a joke, came true because God wanted it that way. That is God's work. He used, when he stepped out onto the balcony to make his first announcement, a word that I believe will mark his pontificate, peace. You only have to look at the Pope and that is what he conveys, a great deal of peace.

[Andrew Peach]

Father Samuel David Miranda with Mimi Swaby. And that's all from us for now. There will be a new edition of Global News to download later. If you'd like to comment on this podcast, email Global [e-mail] or find us on XBCWorldService and use the hashtag globalnewspod. This edition was produced by Harry Bly and Simran Sohal. It was mixed by Callum McLean. The editor is Karen Martin. I'm Andrew Peach. Thanks for listening and until next time, goodbye.