Trump calls Zelensky a 'dictator'

Summary

Global News Podcast Summary BBC World Service | Episode: "Trump calls Zelensky a 'dictator'" | Release Date: February 19, 2025

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1. U.S.-Ukraine Tensions Escalate: Trump Labels Zelensky a 'Dictator'

Overview: In a startling development, former U.S. President Donald Trump has intensified the already fraught relationship between the United States and Ukraine by labeling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a "dictator." This move has sparked a significant backlash from European leaders who continue to stand by Zelensky amidst ongoing geopolitical tensions.

Key Points:

• Trump's Accusations: Trump took to social media to criticize Zelensky, accusing him of mismanaging the war effort and mishandling U.S. funds. His harsh rhetoric included claims that Zelensky is unpopular, with only "4% of Ukraine's population" supposedly supporting him.

  “A dictator without elections. Zelenskyy better move fast or he is not going to have a country left.”
  — Donald Trump [01:33]

• European Response: European leaders swiftly countered Trump's allegations. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer defended Zelensky, likening the suspension of elections to measures taken during World War II. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French government officials also condemned Trump's statements, emphasizing Zelensky's democratic legitimacy.

  “It was perfectly reasonable to suspend elections during wartime, just as the UK had done during the Second World War.”
  — Keir Starmer, UK Prime Minister [04:30]

• Analytical Insights: Vitaly Shevchenko, BBC Monitoring Russia editor, highlighted the unprecedented nature of Trump's comments, noting their alignment with Russian state narratives and their divergence from European and NATO stances.

  “I cannot recall a time when America's rhetoric on Ukraine was so extraordinarily similar to Russia's rhetoric...”
  — Vitaly Shevchenko [04:30]

• Military Aid Controversy: The dispute also touches on financial support, with Trump alleging misuse of U.S. funds by Zelensky and demanding access to Ukraine's mineral resources as repayment—a demand Zelensky has firmly rejected.

  “Today I am defending Ukraine. I cannot sell my country.”
  — President Zelenskyy [07:15]

2. South Korea's Political Crisis: Martial Law and Public Unrest

Overview: South Korea faces a severe political upheaval as President Yun Sung Niel declared martial law, citing unfounded claims of pro-North Korean infiltration. This move has ignited widespread protests, blending historic fears with contemporary political manipulation.

Key Points:

• Martial Law Declaration: President Yun justified the imposition of martial law by alleging that pro-North Korean forces had infiltrated the government—a claim lacking substantial evidence. This drastic measure has led to significant civil unrest.

  “He justified this extreme move by claiming that the parliament had been infiltrated by people who were pro North Korea, pro communist.”
  — Gene McKenzie, Seoul Correspondent [09:41]

• Public Protests: Demonstrations have surged, with supporters of the ousted president demanding his release and reinstatement. Protesters have expressed extreme views, including baseless accusations against the Democratic Party.

  “They are simply not true. Cooked up concept to demonize the opposition and to justify martial law.”
  — Wi Song Lak, Democratic Party Lawmaker [13:08]

• Influence of Disinformation: Experts indicate that President Yun has capitalized on deep-seated fears and utilized right-wing media outlets to propagate his narrative, undermining trust in mainstream media and fostering conspiracy theories.

  “These people have turned to YouTube, where there are these very popular right wing channels that are amplifying these sorts of messages.”
  — Gene McKenzie [11:42]

• Impact on Society: The situation has polarized South Korean society, with notable violence and threats directed at opposition figures, challenging the nation's tradition of peaceful protest.

3. Microsoft’s Quantum Leap: Introducing the Myorana1 Chip

Overview: Microsoft has announced a groundbreaking advancement in quantum computing with the unveiling of the Myorana1 chip. This innovation promises to accelerate the arrival of quantum computers, potentially revolutionizing fields like medicine, materials science, and renewable energy.

Key Points:

• Quantum Computing Revolution: The Myorana1 chip leverages a new state of matter to enhance computational capabilities, marking a significant departure from traditional silicon-based processors.

  “It's a fundamentally different device that basically takes advantage of some weird properties of quantum physics to do things that current computers can't do.”
  — Amit Katwala, Technology Journalist [14:12]

• Scientific Explanation: The chip utilizes qubits, which can exist in multiple states simultaneously, enabling more complex and efficient simulations of natural phenomena.

  “If we can build a computer that simulates those quantum physics rules, then we're going to be much better at simulating biology, chemistry, physics...”
  — Amit Katwala [14:46]

• Industry Impact: Despite skepticism from experts regarding the feasibility of Microsoft's approach, the announcement has generated significant excitement and positioned Microsoft as a key player in the quantum race.

  “Some experts are skeptical as to whether the claims that Microsoft has made are actually going to come to fruition, but certainly they've made a big splash.”
  — Amit Katwala [15:29]

4. Climate Crisis Deepens: Glaciers Melting at an Alarming Rate

Overview: A recent study published in Nature reveals that global glaciers are melting faster than ever, contributing significantly to rising sea levels and threatening freshwater supplies worldwide.

Key Points:

• Glacier Loss Statistics: Since the turn of the century, glaciers have lost over 6,500 billion tons of ice, equivalent to 5% of their mass, with mountain glaciers outside Greenland and Antarctica losing approximately 5% of their volume annually.

  “One year's glacier ice loss is the same as 30 years of water consumption by the entire world's population.”
  — Professor Michael Semp, University of Zurich [17:46]

• Environmental Implications: The accelerated melt rates exacerbate sea-level rise and jeopardize freshwater resources for millions, highlighting the urgent need for carbon emission reductions.

  “Every tenth of a degree of warming that we can avoid will save some glaciers and will save us from a lot of damage and a lot of cost.”
  — Professor Michael Semp [17:46]

• Case Study – Gorner Glacier: Located in Switzerland, the Gorner Glacier has receded by nearly two miles since the mid-19th century, exemplifying the global trend of diminishing ice masses.

  “The loss has increased rapidly as temperatures have risen in recent decades, mostly from humanity's ongoing use of fossil fuel.”
  — Matt McGrath, Environment Correspondent [16:42]

5. New Zealand's Controversial Tourism Campaign: "Everyone Must Go"

Overview: New Zealand's latest tourism slogan, "Everyone Must Go," intended to attract visitors with the nation's stunning landscapes, has backfired. Locals and opposition parties have criticized the tagline for appearing tone-deaf amidst economic challenges and mass emigration.

Key Points:

• Campaign Intent: Aimed primarily at Australian tourists, the campaign seeks to revive the tourism sector severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

  “It's a big part of the economy and it hasn't really bounced back since COVID times...”
  — Susie Ferguson, Radio New Zealand Tourism [19:00]

• Public and Political Reaction: Critics liken the slogan to a clearance sale or a call for mass migration, undermining its effectiveness and generating ridicule across political spectrums.

  “It sounds a bit like a clearance sale, you know, like bargain bin kind of territory...”
  — Susie Ferguson [19:00]

• Cultural and Environmental Concerns: The Green Party and other groups have expressed worries about the environmental impact of increased tourism, emphasizing the need to balance economic gains with biodiversity conservation.

  “They have said that it sounds a bit like a queue for the toilets.”
  — Susie Ferguson [19:00]

• Public Perception: While some, including locals like Susie Ferguson, appreciate New Zealand's diverse and beautiful landscapes, the campaign's messaging has sparked debate about its cultural sensitivity and timing.

6. Breakthrough in Pain Management: Ukraine's Hydrodissection Study

Overview: A novel treatment called hydrodissection is being trialed among amputee patients in Ukraine, offering hope for severe pain management and reduced reliance on addictive opioids. Developed by Dr. Stephen Cohen, a U.S. army veteran and professor of pain medicine, this technique could mark a significant advancement in medical science.

Key Points:

• Mechanism of Hydrodissection: The procedure involves using ultrasound-guided injections of high-volume fluids to break up scar tissue and improve blood flow to injured nerves, potentially alleviating chronic pain.

  “Hydrodissection involves using ultrasound to inject very high volumes of fluid... it breaks up scar tissue.”
  — Dr. Stephen Cohen [21:19]

• Clinical Applications: While most effective when administered early post-injury, hydrodissection shows promise in treating not only amputee pain but also other chronic pain conditions like back pain.

  “The potential is definitely there.”
  — Dr. Stephen Cohen [23:34]

• Research and Outcomes: Preliminary studies indicate positive results, though more extensive and higher-quality research is needed to fully validate the treatment's efficacy.

  “The studies are not super large and super high quality.”
  — Dr. Stephen Cohen [23:31]

7. Shifting Paradoms in Romance: Men More Romantic Than Stereotyped

Overview: Challenging traditional stereotypes, a new study from Humboldt University of Berlin reveals that heterosexual men are, on average, more romantic than women. The research suggests that societal norms and emotional support structures play a significant role in shaping romantic behaviors.

Key Points:

• Research Findings: Men are more inclined to initiate romantic relationships and confess their love first, contradicting prevalent societal beliefs that portray women as the more romantic sex.

  “On average, heterosexual men tend to want a relationship more than women and are more likely to confess their love first.”
  — Iris Waring, Study Author [24:32]

• Underlying Causes: The study attributes this trend to men receiving less emotional support from friends and family, leading them to seek intimacy through romantic partnerships.

  “Men tend to receive less emotional support from friends and family than women typically do...”
  — Iris Waring [24:55]

• Cultural Representation: Media often reinforces the stereotype of women as the primary romantics, influencing public perception and overshadowing men's romantic tendencies.

  “Women are portrayed as more into relationships than men in movies...”
  — Iris Waring [25:46]

• Future Implications: Researchers hope the study will encourage a shift in societal norms, fostering greater emotional independence and balanced relationship dynamics.

  “These norms should be overcome and I hope that it will have an impact...”
  — Iris Waring [26:19]

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Conclusion: This episode of the Global News Podcast delved into a range of pressing global issues, from geopolitical tensions and political instability to groundbreaking technological advancements and societal shifts in romance. The discussions highlighted the complexity of international relations, the urgent challenges posed by climate change, and the evolving dynamics within human relationships and technological frontiers.

For more insights and detailed analyses, tune into future episodes of the Global News Podcast.

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Notable Contributors:

• Janak Jalil – Host
• Susie Ferguson – Radio New Zealand Tourism
• Vitaly Shevchenko – BBC Monitoring Russia Editor
• James Landell – Diplomatic Correspondent
• Gene McKenzie – Seoul Correspondent
• Amit Katwala – Technology Journalist
• Matt McGrath – Environment Correspondent
• Dr. Stephen Cohen – Professor of Pain Medicine, Northwestern University
• Iris Waring – Study Author, Humboldt University of Berlin

Production Credits:

• Producer: Stephanie Zacharison
• Editor: Karen Martin
• Mixed By: Masoud Ibrahim Kale

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This summary is intended for informational purposes and may contain excerpts from the original podcast episode for accuracy and context.

Transcript

[Janak Jalil]

This is the global news podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Janak Jalil and in the early hours of Thursday 20th February, these are our main stories. As the bitter war of words between Ukraine and the United States intensifies, Donald Trump describes Volodymyr Zelensky as a dictator. European leaders express support for Ukraine's embattled president. Microsoft unveils a chip powered by a new state of matter which it says shows a quantum computing revolution is only years away. Also in this podcast they have said.

[Susie Ferguson]

That it sounds a bit like a clearance sale, you know, like bargain bin kind of territory, which is perhaps not the sort of thing that you'd be wanting to give us the message when.

[Janak Jalil]

It comes to tourism, why a campaign to get people to visit New Zealand is being ridiculed by Kiwis. In just a week, the US under Donald Trump has gone from being Ukraine's biggest ally to becoming embroiled in a bitter war of words, even as Trump officials have held peace talks with Russia that excluded Ukraine and Europe. In his latest jaw dropping attack on Ukraine's president, Mr. Trump lashed out at Volodymyr Zelensky, calling him a dictator without elections who had done a terrible job as leader. Here's what he posted on social media. His words have been voiced by one of our colleagues.

[Donald Trump]

Think of it. A modestly successful comedian, Volodymyr Zelensky talked the United States of America into spending $350 billion to go into a war that couldn't be won, that never had to start, but a war that he without the US and Trump will never be able to settle. The United states has spent $200 billion more than Europe and Europe's money is guaranteed while the United States will get nothing back. Why didn't sleepy Joe Biden demand equalization in that this war is far more important to Europe than it is to us. We have a big beautiful ocean as separation. On top of this, Zelenskyy admits that half of the money we sent him is missing. He refuses to have elections, is very low in Ukrainian polls and the only thing he was good at was playing Biden like a fiddle. A dictator without elections. Zelenskyy better move fast or he is not going to have a country left. In the meantime, we are successfully negotiating an end to the war with Russia, something all admit only Trump and the Trump administration can do. Biden never tried. Europe has failed to bring peace and Zelenskyy probably wants to keep the gravy train going. I love Ukraine, but Zelenskyy has done a terrible job. His country is shattered and millions have unnecessarily died. And so it continues.

[Janak Jalil]

This social media post came after Mr. Zelenskyy responded to earlier claims made by Mr. Trump, not least that Ukraine started the war and that he only has the support of 4% of Ukraine's population. Mr. Zelensky said the US president was simply repeating fals. Russia. The Ukrainian leader said they belied the reality that he is supported by a majority of his country's population who want a just peace.

[Susie Ferguson]

Since we are talking about 4%, we have seen this disinformation. We understand that it is coming from Russia. It is unfortunate that President Trump, and with great respect for him as the.

[Vitaly Shevchenko]

Leader of the American people who constantly.

[Susie Ferguson]

Support us, unfortunately lives in this disinformation space.

[Janak Jalil]

European political leaders weighed in to support Mr. Zelenskyy. The British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, called him to say that it was perfectly reasonable to suspend elections during wartime, just as the UK had done during the Second World War. The German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, said that it was wrong and dangerous to deny President Zelenskyy his democratic legitimacy. A French government spokesperson said France didn't understand the logic of Mr. Trump's comments. I asked our Russia editor, BBC monitoring Vitaly Shevchenko, what he made of this increasingly alarming war of words between the US And Ukrainian presidents.

[James Landell]

I don't normally use words such as extraordinary in my interviews, but frankly, I cannot recall a time when America's rhetoric on Ukraine was so extraordinarily similar to Russia's rhetoric and also so different from Europe's and NATO's, let alone Ukraine's. And what this suggests? Well, we've got to ask the question, whether the United States is still Ukraine's ally. Is it still part of the Western alliance that's been helping Ukraine fight Russian aggression? And, frankly, the Western alliance that's emerged since the Second World War.

[Janak Jalil]

And the tone of these exchanges seems to be getting increasingly personal on Donald Trump's side. Mr. Zelensky is trying to refute him with facts, but it's getting increasingly difficult for the Ukrainian leader.

[James Landell]

It is. And the claims that Donald Trump's been making, to be honest, I've been hearing them from Russian state TV because, you know, that's my job. That's what I do. I watch Russian state tv, and I've been hearing about how Ukraine should not join NATO. I've been hearing that for years. They've been saying for years that Ukraine should forgive, forget about the territories captured or liberated as Russian state TV calls it now, President Trump says that Volodymyr Zelensky is a dictator unpopular 4% approval rating and that it's Ukraine that started this war. Again, I would expect to hear this from a commentator on Russian state tv. And okay, there are opinions and there are facts. And Donald Trump, in his post on Truth Social, he said that the landscape is a modestly successful comedian. Well, that's a matter of opinion. But in terms of facts, credible opinion polls, they suggest that Volodymyr Zelenskyy's approval ratings are more than 50%, even higher than Donald Trump's in America. And when it comes to elections, which is again something that Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin have been demanding, that Ukraine holds elections. This is what Ukrainian law specifically forbids. And none of the credible potential rivals of Volodymyr Zelenskyy in UK are pushing for the idea. They're saying, look, this is not a good idea to hold elections now. In fact, they are no less hawkish on Russia than Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

[Janak Jalil]

Vitaly Shevchenko. Well, President Zelenskyy also rejected suggestions that Ukraine should repay US Military aid by granting access to his country's largely untapped reserves of rare earth minerals and other natural resources. Our diplomatic correspondent James Landell assesses where this growing row could lead.

[Vitaly Shevchenko]

Not many people say no to Donald Trump. President Zelensky has, and now he's paying the price. At the heart of Mr. Trump's fury is a row over Ukraine's critical minerals. Mr. Zelensky floated the idea last year as part of his so called peace plan that Ukraine might offer American firms access to its rare earth deposits in return for continued US military support. Last weekend at a conference in Munich, Mr. Trump's team laid down an ultimatum. Ukraine should, it was reported, sign over 50% not only of its mineral wealth, but also its oil and gas reserves and infrastructure. Mr. Trump claims, inaccurately that America is owed $500 billion for its previous assistance to Ukraine. Critics accused Mr. Trump of seeking war reparations from the wrong side. Well, Mr. Zelensky rejected this US demand out of hand, saying any deal had to be linked to post war security guarantees. This is not a serious conversation, he said. Today I am defending Ukraine. I cannot sell my country. There is much at stake. Ukraine has vast reserves of mineral deposits. How much is not clear, but some estimates value them at more than $11 trillion. They include things like lithium, graphite, cobalt and titanium, which are used in everything from mobile phones and renewable energy to to missiles and superconductors, but these minerals are rare and China dominates the market. Donald Trump may say he wants peace in Ukraine, but he also wants a peace of Ukraine. And right now, President Zelensky is not playing ball.

[Janak Jalil]

James Landell, well, another president who has stunned the world recently is South Korea's leader who out of the blue nearly three months ago declared martial law in a country long viewed as a vibrant and prosperous democracy. Yun Sung Niel justified his power grab by claiming without any proof that pro North Korea communist forces had infiltrated South Korea and were trying to take control of it. The coup attempt failed, but since then, support for the embattled president appears to be growing as conspiracy theories take hold with thousands of people taking to the streets each week to demand his release. Our Seoul Correspondent, Gene McKenzie has been following the protests.

[Gene McKenzie]

I'm near South Korea's Constitutional Court, where at the moment the impeached and imprisoned president is testifying. And his supporters have rallied outside. They want him released, they want him returned to office. And they are shouting some pretty extreme things. They're saying that the left leaning opposition party are communists and that the leader of the opposition should be executed. When the president here declared martial law, he justified this extreme move by claiming that the parliament had been infiltrated by people who were pro North Korea, pro communist. Now, he didn't provide any evidence, but since then, these ideas have really taken hold.

[James Landell]

If the next president would be the.

[Iris Waring]

Leader of Democratic Party, what he's talking about is to become one with Kim Jong Un.

[Gene McKenzie]

There's no denying these threats used to be very real. Experts say Mr. Yoon has exploited these historic fears.

[James Landell]

Before Yun Sung Yeol we did have extreme groups saying extreme things.

[Gene McKenzie]

Sang Shin Lee is a polling expert for the Korea Institute for National Unification.

[James Landell]

But they were isolated. But now Yunsang Yeol gave those extreme words, presidential authority when he says that the left wing liberal political parties are North Korea sympathizers. People believe that.

[Gene McKenzie]

Hal It's a Saturday afternoon and the main road through the center of Seoul has been closed off to traffic because thousands of people have come out to support Mr. Yoon. These aren't just Mr. Yoon's core supporters, older ultra conservatives. There are young people here today.

[James Landell]

Like most young people, I thought, how could martial law be declared in the 21st century? I was very critical. But after researching it on YouTube, I.

[Janak Jalil]

Realized I was wrong.

[Iris Waring]

It was unavoidable.

[Janak Jalil]

If I had been in the president's position, I'd have done it too.

[Gene McKenzie]

Something people keep telling me is that they don't trust Mainstream media, even the conservative press here has been very critical of Mr. Yoon. And so these people have turned to YouTube, where there are these very popular right wing channels that are amplifying these sorts of messages. One idea the President has dangled that has really taken hold is that China interfered in South Korea's election last year and rigged the result. I noticed that you're holding a sign which says CCP out. So Chinese Communist Party out. Why is that?

[Dr. Stephen Cohen]

I believe China is interfering in all our political affairs. It is pulling the strings behind the scenes. I didn't fully understand the extent of it until recently.

[Gene McKenzie]

The protest turned violent last month when a group of young men smashed up a courthouse looking to take revenge against a judge who'd helped detain the President. These were shocking scenes for a country which prides itself on its tradition of peaceful protest. These views could create problems for the country's opposition Democratic Party. I've come to the parliament to meet one of their most seasoned politicians.

[James Landell]

I am Wi Song Lak. I'm a lawmaker from the Democratic Party.

[Gene McKenzie]

What do you say to these claims that it is the Democratic Party that is secretly colluding with North Korea, secretly colluding with China?

[James Landell]

They are simply not true. Cooked up concept to demonize the opposition and to justify martial law.

[Gene McKenzie]

The court is expected to rule in the next month on whether to bar Mr. Yoon from office. Then there would be elections and South Korea will have the chance to move on. Politicians now are going to have to work really hard to put this country back together.

[Janak Jalil]

That report by Jean MacKenzie Tech companies are in a multi billion dollar race to develop advanced quantum computers designed to crack problems that are impossible for ordinary computers to solve. Industry experts had been under the impression that this technology was decades away. But Microsoft has just unveiled a new chip called Myorana1, which it says could bring us quantum computers much faster within years. Technology journalist Amit Katwala explains the highly complex science behind quantum comput.

[Amit Katwala]

It's not just a faster version of our current computers. It's a fundamentally different device that basically takes advantage of some weird properties of quantum physics to do things that current computers can't do. So instead of using bits which are ones and zeros like a normal computer, a quantum computer uses what are called qubits. So these can be 1, 0, or somewhere in between, a state called superposition. Now, that's quite complicated. I like to think of it in terms of flipping a coin. So if a normal computer could be heads or tails, a quantum computer can be heads, tails, or also a spinning coin, where you don't know quite where it's going to land, it means it's going to be much better at simulating the natural world, which also follows those rules.

[James Landell]

Right.

[Amit Katwala]

The natural world does not follow the rules of ones and zeros. It follows these kind of quantum physics rules. So if we can build a computer that simulates those quantum physics rules, then we're going to be much better at simulating biology, chemistry, physics, you know, designing new medicines, finding materials for better batteries, things like that. So Microsoft have been trying to do this for almost 20 years and they've really embarked on a very different approach to the other companies in the field that are doing this, you know, Google, Amazon, etc. IBM. And this was really like a kind of Hail Mary play. Like when they started doing this, it was really like no one was really sure if it would actually work or not, if it was even a real thing. So some experts are skeptical as to whether the claims that Microsoft have made are actually going to come to fruition, but certainly they've made a big splash.

[Janak Jalil]

Technology journalist Amit Katwala. Still to come on the global news.

[Iris Waring]

Podcast, men tend to receive less emotional support from friends and family than women typically do, and thus they often rely more on their romantic partners for receiving such support.

[Janak Jalil]

Why? A new study is claiming that men are in fact more romantic than women. Scientists say the world's glaciers are melting faster than ever recorded as global temperatures continue to rise. Writing in the journal Nature, researchers say that since the turn of the century, the frozen rivers have lost more than 6,500 billion tons, or 5% of their ice. The new findings have alarming implications for rising sea levels and the global availability of fresh drinking water. Our Environment Correspondent, Matt McGrath takes us to one glacier that's lost more than three kilometres of its mass.

[Amit Katwala]

And whilst you're going down, come up a bit.

[Donald Trump]

Scientists drill into the Gorner Glacier in Switzerland, one of the biggest ice masses in the Alps. But it's decreased in length by almost two miles since the middle of the 19th century. In common with glaciers all over the world, that loss has increased rapidly as temperatures have risen in recent decades, mostly from humanity's ongoing use of fossil fuel. Over the past 23 years, mountain glaciers outside the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets have lost around 5% of their volume, with 273 billion tons of ice melting every year on average. To put that in perspective, one year's glacier ice loss is the same as 30 years of water consumption by the entire world's population. These melting waters are ultimately running into the oceans and are boosting sea levels across the globe. While the picture painted by this comprehensive new study is bleak, its lead author, Professor Michael Semp from the University of Zurich says curbing carbon emissions is more critical than ever for glaciers.

[James Landell]

We can already see. Well, the best case scenarios we already missed. There's going to be a damage that we're going to have. Adaptation is required, but still it matters to act because every tenth of a degree of warming that we can avoid will save some glaciers and will save us from a lot of damage and a lot of cost.

[Donald Trump]

Another important aspect of glacier loss is the impact on fresh water. From the Andes to the Himalayas, the loss of glacier ice threatens future drinking water supplies for hundreds of millions of people.

[Janak Jalil]

Matt McGraw now, depending on how you read it, New Zealand's latest tourism tagline can be a well meaning plea for people to visit. All sound like a threat to kick Kiwis out. Everyone must go is a slogan that's been printed across posters of people in the country's majestic landscapes. But what was meant as a catchy call to action aimed at mainly Australian tourists has been ridiculed for sounding like a clearance sale slogan and for being tone deaf amid widespread public service job cuts and record numbers of New Zealanders moving overseas. Susie Ferguson is a presenter at Radio New Zealand Tourism.

[Susie Ferguson]

It's a big part of the economy and it hasn't really bounced back since COVID times and that's really what the Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon, was getting at. But this is the beginning of what's really going to be a big rollout of an encouragement of people coming back over to New Zealand for tourism purposes. It's landed in a strange place, you know, like the Labour Party has been critical of it. They're the largest party in opposition here. They have said that it sounds a bit like a clearance sale, you know, like bargain bin kind of territory, which is perhaps not the sort of thing that you'd be wanting to give us the message when it comes to tourism. The Green Party as well do have concerns around things like biodiversity and endangered species when it comes to tourism. And their spokesperson said that they thought it sounded a little bit like a queue for the toilets. That everyone must go has a slightly different resonance when you think about it like that. Quite a lot of people have been mocking this as well. People think it's, it's quite a strange way to try and get people to come over. The thing that I find so extraordinary about New Zealand is the variation. Beautiful mountains, it's big country, it's got enormous sand dunes in places, you know, and there's kind of everything in between. We have super volcanoes here. The west coast of the south island is utterly breathtaking. It's one of those places that when I first went there, you drive around a corner and you think, oh, my God, we have to stop the car. It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen in my life. I mean, it's an extraordinary varied country when you look at the geography. But then if you overlay the different cultures, obviously the indigenous Mori culture, it's really a country of huge diversity as well. Everyone must go. I mean, I sort of hesitate to say it because it's the government phrase. I'm a journalist, but I came on holiday here and now I live here. So what does that tell you?

[Janak Jalil]

Susie Ferguson from Radio New Zealand. Now we bring you another story about Ukraine, but this one is about fascinating scientific research trialled among amputee patients in the country. It's a new treatment that could help with severe pain management and reduce reliance on strong painkillers like opioids, which can be addictive or have other serious side effects, called hydrodissection. And the US army veteran behind the study, Dr. Stephen Cohen, calls it a potential game changer. He's professor of pain medicine at Northwestern University, and he explained to Rebecca Kesby how this technique works.

[Dr. Stephen Cohen]

When they amputate a limb, they also cut nerves. And when you injure nerves, the chance of someone having pain that doesn't go away is much higher than when tissue is injured. And so hydrodissection involves using ultrasound to inject very high volumes of fluid. It could be local anesthetic, could involve steroid saline, in this case a sugar solution, and it breaks up scar tissue. It can improve blood flow to the scarred nerves that are not receiving blood flow. It could wash out if it's done early on. Calcifications that can form and be painful, that can stop these nerve endings from spontaneously firing and it can release them when they're scarred down.

[Janak Jalil]

The best thing would be to use this process early on in an injury. But could you also use it on an old injury?

[Dr. Stephen Cohen]

We know that outcomes are better for acute pain than for chronic pain. So some of the potential advantages for doing this early is like when calcifications form, probably extremely difficult to wash out if it's late and the studies are mixed, like when they use, you know, high volume washouts with fluid, whether it can prevent calcifications. But the other thing that happens with chronic pain is that your nervous system becomes more sensitized and that becomes really, really difficult to treat.

[Janak Jalil]

I mean, I know you've been doing this research in Ukraine where so many people have lost limbs and there's an urgent need for kind of treatment there. But could it work with other pain management for things other than amputations, like simple back pain, things like that?

[Dr. Stephen Cohen]

They've studied it for chronic pain from tissue injury, and they've studied it for neuropathic pain or pain that follows injuries to nerves. And, you know, the results are very auspicious. But I will say the studies are not super large and super high quality.

[Janak Jalil]

Potentially. The potential's there.

[Dr. Stephen Cohen]

The potential is definitely there.

[Janak Jalil]

Dr. Stephen Cohen speaking to Rebecca Kesby now you may be surprised by our next story. I was Once upon a time men prided themselves on being the strong, silent type, not soft and romantic. But now a new study claims that men are more romantic than women, even if few of them will ever admit to watching rom coms or reading romance novels. So what lies behind this discovery of more tender side to men? Imogen Rogers investigates. Did your partner forget Valentine's Day this year? Did a man just spring to mind? Whilst it's commonly thought that men have.

[Gene McKenzie]

A laissez faire attitude towards romantic gestures.

[Janak Jalil]

A new study finds the opposite to be true. Researchers from the Humboldt University of Berlin used anonymous surveys and more than 50 psychological and sociological studies to find, on average, heterosexual men tend to want a.

[Gene McKenzie]

Relationship more than women and are more.

[Janak Jalil]

Likely to confess their love first. The main author of the paper, Iris Waring, explains one of the reasons why.

[Iris Waring]

Some argue that this I love you is often said among men as a means to secure having sex with a partner.

[Janak Jalil]

But she says it's not just about wanting to get physical.

[Iris Waring]

Men tend to receive less emotional support from friends and family than women typically do, and thus they often rely more on their romantic partners for receiving such support. Both men and women are born with a need for emotional intimacy with others. But for women, it's easier to fulfill this need without a partner. And we think this is the fundamental factor that might explain explain all these differences.

[Janak Jalil]

The study also found that men are less likely to initiate breakups and more.

[Gene McKenzie]

Likely to suffer from them.

[Janak Jalil]

So why then is there a stereotype that men are less romantic than women? Why do so many romantic movies have a female protagonist yearning for a male partner when this research shows it's the other way around? Maybe this is because they can.

[Iris Waring]

Women are portrayed as more into relationships than men in movies, for instance. This is all based on these norms about women are more accepted to express their emotions. They disclose more, probably they talk more with their friends and family about their emotions in general, also about romantic relationships. Because it's more accepted.

[Janak Jalil]

Iris Waring is hopeful that the study can begin to change attitudes towards gender, romance and relationships.

[Iris Waring]

These norms should be overcome and I hope that it will have an impact on hopefully at least some men so they can be more independent from having a relationship.

[Janak Jalil]

Iris Waring, ending that report by Imogen Rogers. And that's all from us for now. But there will be a new edition of the Global News Podcast later. If you want to comment on this podcast or the topics covered, you can send us an email. The address is Global Podcast BPC CO UK this edition was mixed by Masoud Ibrahim Kale and the producer was Stephanie Zacharison. The editor is Karen Martin. I'm Janet Jalil. Until next time. Goodbye.