Trump deploys troops to Washington in 'crime crackdown'

Summary

Global News Podcast Summary Episode: "Trump Deploys Troops to Washington in 'Crime Crackdown'"
Release Date: August 12, 2025
Host: Valerie Sanderson, BBC World Service

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1. President Trump Deploys National Guard to Washington, D.C.

In the early hours of Tuesday, August 12th, President Donald Trump announced a significant escalation in his efforts to combat rising crime in the U.S. capital. Trump declared, “[02:22] Our capital city has been overtaken by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals, roving mobs of wild youth, drugged out maniacs and homeless people. And we're not going to let it happen anymore” ([02:22]).

Details of the Deployment:

• Troop Numbers and Roles: Trump is deploying 800 National Guard soldiers to Washington, D.C., with authority over the city's police force. These troops are expected to engage in massive enforcement operations aimed at dismantling what Trump describes as “complete and total lawlessness” ([02:24] – [02:55]).

• Nature of Operations: The National Guard will assist with logistics, transportation, and guarding facilities. However, they will not possess arrest authority. Instead, a military police unit will handle detentions pending local law enforcement actions ([05:38]).

Political Reactions:

• Local Government Response: Muriel Bowser, the Democratic Mayor of Washington, characterized Trump's move as “unsettling and unprecedented” but noted it aligned with his prior rhetoric ([03:04]).
• Statistical Context: Contrary to Trump’s claims, official statistics indicate that violent crime in Washington, D.C., is at a 30-year low. “It's about feelings,” remarked Nomay Iqbal, highlighting that the actual crime rates do not justify the military intervention ([03:21]).

Criticism and Controversy:

• Legal and Ethical Concerns: Brian Schwab, the elected Attorney General of D.C., labeled the deployment as “unprecedented, unnecessary and unlawful” ([04:23]).
• Political Implications: Critics argue that Trump's actions may represent an escalation without addressing underlying issues, questioning the effectiveness in solving problems like crime and homelessness ([05:28]).

2. Trump-Putin Summit on Ukraine Conflict

President Trump is scheduled to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday for a pivotal summit aimed at de-escalating the ongoing war in Ukraine. This marks their first face-to-face meeting since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Key Points Discussed:

• Territorial Demands: Trump indicated that any peace deal might require Kyiv to cede territory to Moscow, a stance met with skepticism from European leaders.

• European Union's Stance: EU Foreign Minister Kaya Kallis emphasized that any agreement must include Ukraine and align with European interests. She stated, “[07:01] For any deal to be implemented, Ukraine needs to agree to that deal” ([07:01]).

Potential Outcomes and Reactions:

• Clara Kallis raised concerns about Russia potentially presenting "outrageous goals," urging Europe to pressure Russia while supporting Ukraine’s defense capabilities ([07:37]).

• Keith Kellogg, the U.S. Envoy to Ukraine, criticized the exclusion of Europe from the talks, questioning whether it represents a diplomatic setback despite improved U.S. relations and increased defense spending by Europe ([08:19] – [08:42]).

3. Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Crisis in The Gambia

Human rights violations continue to plague The Gambia, with the recent death of a one-month-old baby girl from FGM igniting outrage among activists and the international community.

Current Situation:

• Prevalence and Enforcement: Despite FGM being outlawed in 2015, the UN reports that three-quarters of Gambian women and girls aged 15-49 are affected. Enforcement remains weak, with only two prosecutions and one conviction since the ban ([16:37]).

Interview with Fatou Balde:

• Evolving Practices: Balde highlighted that perpetrators are increasingly targeting infants, believing younger ages result in quicker healing and less detection: “[Fatou Balde: Cutters and families who still want to continue the practice are doing it among babies because they feel that when they cut babies they can heal quicker]” ([01:40]).

• Community and Legal Challenges: The deep-rooted cultural norms and a pervasive culture of silence make reporting FGM difficult. Additionally, some law enforcement officials, influenced by their communities, fail to take decisive action against perpetrators ([17:37]).

Recommendations for Change:

• Legal Amendments: Balde advocates for stricter penalties and better implementation of existing laws to deter FGM practices effectively.

• Awareness and Education: Community awareness initiatives are crucial to shift public perception and encourage the reporting of FGM cases ([18:21]).

4. Nationwide Electricity Outage in Iraq

Iraq experienced a severe nationwide blackout due to a power plant shutdown amidst soaring temperatures nearing 50°C. Restoration efforts are underway but are expected to take several hours.

Impact and Response:

• Public Measures: The government has urged residents to reduce electricity usage while engineers work on restoring power. The blackout has left most citizens without essential cooling systems, exacerbating the effects of the extreme heat ([19:11]).

• Infrastructure and Energy Sources: The Alhamidiya power plant shutdown triggered a fault in the transmission network. Iraq's reliance on natural gas imports from Iran for power generation underscores the vulnerability of its energy infrastructure. The Baghdad government is actively signing contracts with foreign entities to build new power plants and is pursuing renewable energy initiatives to mitigate future outages ([19:11] – [19:43]).

5. Nepal Opens New Mountain Routes Amid Everest Overcrowding

As Mount Everest faces mounting concerns over safety and environmental degradation due to overcrowding, Nepal has unveiled nearly 100 new mountain routes to diversify climbing destinations and alleviate pressure on Everest.

Details:

• New Peaks and Accessibility: The new routes span various parts of the Himalayas, including regions with minimal infrastructure. Unlike Everest, which requires costly permits—up to $15,000 during peak seasons—these new routes will not necessitate such fees, aiming to attract international climbers ([20:13]).

• Challenges Ahead: Despite the incentive of waived royalties, the lack of established infrastructure—such as lodges, emergency services, and roads—poses significant challenges for the successful promotion and maintenance of these new climbing routes. Operators express optimism but acknowledge that developing the necessary support systems will take time ([21:32] – [22:36]).

6. Death of Tech Pioneer Stephanie Shirley

Stephanie Shirley, affectionately known as "Steve," passed away at the age of 91. A trailblazer in the tech industry, she founded Freelance Programmers, a company that predominantly employed women at a time when the field was male-dominated.

Life and Legacy:

• Early Life and Career: Born in Vienna in 1933, Shirley escaped to England via the Kindertransport during World War II. She launched Freelance Programmers in the 1960s, transforming it into a successful enterprise valued at nearly $3 billion by 2000. Her innovative hiring practices empowered many women, turning them into millionaires through company shares ([22:36] – [25:24]).

• Philanthropy: After retiring in 1993, Shirley dedicated her life to philanthropy, focusing on autism research and support. Motivated by her son Giles’s severe autism, she founded the residential home Kingwood and the charity Autistica, contributing tens of millions to support autistic individuals and their families ([25:24] – [25:24]).

Impact:
Shirley is remembered as a pioneer for women in technology and a compassionate mother who leveraged her success to make significant contributions to autism support and research.

7. Donald Elsam Becomes Oldest Contestant on Countdown

At 96 years old, Donald Elsam made history as the oldest contestant on the British game show Countdown. Despite not winning, Elsam showcased impressive skills, particularly in the letters round, demonstrating that age is no barrier to mental agility.

Highlights from the Appearance:

• Performance: Elsam excelled in the letters section, scoring a seven and eight in consecutive turns ([25:24] – [27:24]).

• Preparation and Strategy: He attributes his sharp mind to daily Sudoku puzzles and regular engagement with the show, often watching while on his exercise bike to maintain both mental and physical fitness ([27:59] – [28:46]).

• Advice for Longevity: Elsam encourages others to stay mentally active and persistent in their pursuits, emphasizing that continuous mental challenges can keep the brain sharp well into old age ([28:18] – [28:46]).

**8. Health Segment: Can a Conch Shell Alleviate Snoring?

A recent study by the Eternal Heart Care Center and Research Institute in India suggests that blowing into a conch shell for 15 minutes, five days a week, may help reduce snoring by strengthening facial and pharyngeal muscles.

Expert Insights:

• Sleep Therapist Kat Lederle explains that regular practice with wind instruments can prevent the collapse of soft tissues in the airway, thereby reducing snoring frequency and intensity ([10:03] – [12:02]).

• Study Limitations: While promising, the study involved a small sample size of 30 participants and calls for larger, more diverse studies to validate the findings ([11:14]).

• Additional Considerations: Other wind instruments like the didgeridoo have shown similar benefits, offering accessible methods for individuals seeking non-invasive remedies for snoring ([10:37] – [11:14]).

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Contact & Feedback:
For comments or to discuss the topics covered in this episode, please email [e-mail] or reach out via Twitter @BBCWorldService using the hashtag #globalnewspod.

Produced by: Alison Davis and Paul Day
Edited by: Karen Martin
Mixed by: Caroline Driscoll

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Transcript

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[Valerie Sanderson]

This is the global news podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Valerie Sanderson and in the early hours of Tuesday 12th August, these are our main stories. President Trump says he's sending National Guard troops to Washington, D.C. and taking control of its police force after claiming America's capital had been taken over by violent criminal criminals. Mr. Trump also said he'd tell Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine when he meets the Russian leader on Friday, but again indicated that Kyiv would have to cede territory to Moscow. Iraq has been hit by a nationwide electricity outage amid a consumption surge caused by weather temperatures approaching 50 Celsius. Also in this podcast, in the Gambia, the death of a victim of female genital mutilation, a one month old baby girl.

[Fatou Balde]

Cutters and families who still want to continue the practice are doing it among babies because they feel that when they cut babies they can heal quicker.

[Valerie Sanderson]

We hear what the perpetrators are doing to avoid detection. Donald Trump's presidency is controversial at home as much as it is abroad. Two months ago, he launched a military operation in Los Angeles to deal with protests against immigration raids. Now President Trump has announced that he will, as he did in LA, put National Guard soldiers onto the streets in Washington, D.C. 800 of them. He also said that he was temporarily taking control of the city's police force to try to end violent crime. Speaking at the White House on Monday, President Trump said that massive enforcement operations would follow.

[Donald Trump]

Our capital city has been overtaken by.

[Podcast Host]

Violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals, roving mobs of wild youth, drugged out maniacs and homeless people. And we're not going to let it happen anymore. We're not going to take it. It's becoming a situation of complete and total lawlessness and we're getting rid of the slums too. We have slums here, we're getting rid of them. I know it's not politically correct. You'll say oh so terrible. No, we're getting rid of the slums.

[Donald Trump]

And we'll deploy officers across the District.

[Podcast Host]

With an overwhelming presence. You'll have more police and you'll be.

[Donald Trump]

So happy because you'll be safe.

[Podcast Host]

When you walk down the street, you're going to see police or you're going.

[Donald Trump]

To see FBI agents.

[Podcast Host]

We're going to have a lot of.

[Donald Trump]

Agents on the streets.

[Valerie Sanderson]

The Democratic Mayor of Washington, Muriel Bizer, described Mr. Trump's actions as unsettling and unprecedented, but that, given his previous rhetoric, they weren't surprising. Our correspondent Nomay Iqbal told me that official figures for the US Capitol are at odds with the president's portrayal of crime in the city.

[Podcast Co-Host]

In terms of total violent crime, it's at a 30 year low. But facts don't really matter here. It's about feelings. And President Trump has very successfully tapped into that. I've lived in D.C. for several years now, and sure there is crime, but is it a crime emergency? And lawmakers here are pointing out to the stats and saying that this is not the case. It's not so terrible that you need to send in National Guard troops, that you need to federalize the police. And so there's a lot of criticism of what he is doing and whether or not it will solve anything if it's an escalation and what have you. But he is acting on the back of a series of incidents of, you know, there is crime that happens there. One of the most high profile ones recently was an attack on a teenage software engineer. He worked for Elon Musk in his former Doge department. And Donald Trump has decided to take action. And it's made many, many residents here, I'd say, feel very uncomfortable.

[Valerie Sanderson]

As you say he's taking control of the police, he's sending in the National Guard. Has there been any official response to this?

[Podcast Co-Host]

Well, in terms of the official response, so you've got the army statement. I can give you the D.C. army, National Guard, the Department of the army, They've activated the D.C. national Guard. They've done that. You do have the police as well, the Metropolitan Police, who have said they welcome it, but they want it to be done responsibly and what have you. But in terms of the political reaction, as I mentioned there, they've accused him of escalation. Just to give you a quote from Brian Schwab, who's the elected Attorney General of the District of Columbia. He said that this was unprecedented, unnecessary and unlawful. Just to let you know, also at the moment, House Republicans have yet to pass legislation to fix this billion dollar hole in the Capital City's budget, which could lead to layoffs and service cuts. And many of his critics also say, if you look at the U.S. in total, there are a lot of states where there are worse murder rates. D.C. obviously isn't a state, but there are parts of America where it's worse, like Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama, but these are red states. And so Donald Trump is accused by his critics of going on some sort of revenge tour and only targeting Democratic leaning places.

[Valerie Sanderson]

And just to clarify something, he said, President Trump, that he would send in the military. What would that entail as the National Guard is the military?

[Podcast Host]

Yes.

[Podcast Co-Host]

So the National Guard troops would enter D.C. but the way it would work is that they would assist with logistics, transportation, guarding facilities. It's kind of what the National Guard were doing in California over the summer when Donald Trump deployed them. And that was obviously very controversial as well. So we understand that the troops won't have arrest authority. There'll be like a military police unit that would play some role in detaining suspects while waiting for local law enforcement to make an arrest. But people are questioning the methods, like, how is that solving crime, how is that solving homelessness? Many people are homeless, are victims of crime, not actual criminals. So there's a lot of questions, a lot of anger about what Mr. Trump's doing.

[Valerie Sanderson]

Nomir Iqbal. Donald Trump has described his summit with Vladimir Putin, planned for Friday in Alaska, as a feelout meeting on ideas for ending the war in Ukraine. It will be the first face to face meeting between the US And Russian presidents since the invasion of Ukraine back in 2022. Foreign ministers from the EU, which has not been invited to the summit, met in Brussels on Monday and called for an unconditional ceasefire as a first step. Our Ukraine correspondent, James Waterhouse, spoke to the Vice President of the European Commission, Kaya Kallis. He put it to her that there's a danger of President Trump agreeing to Mr. Putin's demands and a deal being imposed before Europe gets anywhere near the negotiating table.

[Kaya Kallis]

For any deal to be implemented, Ukraine needs to agree to that deal. Europe needs to agree to that deal, because otherwise it's just not working. So therefore, in order to be part of any deal, Ukraine needs to be around the table. And it is clear, and I agree with you, that Russia will present outrageous goals, and they haven't really changed their goals at all. And now it is up to us to, to put the pressure on Russia so that they would also want peace and support Ukraine so that they are ready to defend themselves.

[Podcast Host]

What do you think Donald Trump meant by there'll be some land swapping, some good, some bad.

[Kaya Kallis]

Well, of course we have to ask President Trump what exactly did he mean. But it is clear that Russia can't be awarded aggressors, can't be awarded for the aggression. Otherwise we will just see more aggression all around the world happening because it pays off. You attack another country, you violate all the international laws and norms and then you are just awarded with what are your ultimate goals. So it pays off and it's really a signal to everybody to go for the same trajectory and with Europe.

[Podcast Host]

Keith Kellogg, the US Envoy to Ukraine, said early this year when Donald Trump returned to office that Europe would not be involved in any peace talks. You have improved relations with the US not least with your defense spending. But is it a diplomatic failure that you still haven't been able to get involved on such an immediate at the table level?

[Kaya Kallis]

Well, it's clear that Putin just wants to talk to President Trump and go for the old fashioned way of, you know, let's divide the territories and spheres of influence. But it's clear that it doesn't work that way because Ukraine has been very clear, Europe has been very clear that we can't agree to anything that Ukraine doesn't agree to. So if Ukraine is not part of the deal, any deal will just not be implemented. And that is the reason why Ukraine needs to be around that table.

[Valerie Sanderson]

Kaya Kallis as many of you may know, snoring disrupts sleep, not just for the snorer, but also for the long suffering partner who shares the same same bed. Some couples even choose to sleep in separate rooms to avoid the problem. But a new study suggests there could be a remedy. Well, that is the sound of someone blowing into a conch shell, which could alleviate snoring, according to research carried out by the Eternal Heart Care center and Research Institute in India. Do this for 15 minutes five days a week. And if you're a regular snorer, you could be on the way to a seam. Stress free night sleep. BBC's Donnie diamond spoke to the sleep therapist Kat Lederle.

[Kat Lederle]

When we snore, the tissue, the soft tissue in the upper airways in the back of the mouth, they vibrate and then worst case scenario is that they can collapse and that means it reduces the airflow that gets through and that can create the sound. Worst case scenario is that it stops altogether and that if it happens often enough for long enough, can wake us up at night and disrupt our sleep. But also often it's the bed partner whose sleep get Disrupted. So, you know, there could be two people who are struggling.

[Donald Trump]

And do you have any idea as.

[Podcast Host]

To why a conch might be such.

[Donald Trump]

A good thing to help snoring issues?

[Kat Lederle]

So what that probably does is it strengthens the muscles in the face, in the sort of pharynx, in the thoracic area. And it's really, it's the regular practice. And there are other similar studies looking at other instruments and looking at other exercises that all involve basically the face and sort of the neck, the muscles there, to strengthen them and to then stop them from collapsing at night.

[Donald Trump]

I mean, I was wondering as we.

[Podcast Host]

Searched for a conch this morning, whether a trumpet or a trombone. Yep.

[Kat Lederle]

I mean, yeah, wind instruments. Didgeridoo, you know, that can help. So, yeah.

[Podcast Host]

What do you make of the study itself?

[Kat Lederle]

So I think it's a very interesting study and it fits in with other data. It is a small sample size. So they had I think 30 people altogether and they split them into two groups. So I think it was like 14, 16 people in each group. So that's a small number. But, you know, still it is some data. It's also a very small sample, as in the exclusion criteria, and I think rightly so, they were quite exclusive. So what I would like to see is, and I think they say that in their study is to do a follow up study with, you know, bigger sample size and more sort of varied people included in the study. But as I said, it fits in with other data. And what I really like is, you know, you can do this yourself at home, you know, strengthening the muscles in your face.

[Valerie Sanderson]

Kat Liddeley speaking there to Johnny diamond, should statues of famous public figures once viewed with national pride be taken down because their colonial pasts are an embarrassment in the present day? Well, the question has triggered a debate here in the UK about the bronze statue of Clive of India, which stands grandly outside the Foreign Office in London. He was accused of contributing to the starvation of 10 million people during the Bengal famine of 1770. And he was unpopular in Britain as well. The historian William Dalrymple co hosts the podcast Empire and he told us more about Clive of India.

[Donald Trump]

He has this remarkable sort of mafia ability to kind of range up his opponents and wins every battle he ever fights by using completely unconventional means. He fights at night, in thunderstorms, at a time when in 18th century battles were set pieces like a chess game, where one side makes a move, then the other makes a move. Clive attacks at 4 in the morning in fog, from the rear, from a river. You know that sort of thing. And he's very successful. But he is responsible for the asset stripping and cleaning out of India. He's working for the East India Company. He's like a sort of 18th century tech bro, Elon Musk within a tricorn hat, if you like. When he dies, he dies of his own hand. He is booed and hissed in the streets of London until he takes his own life. He's not the man you'd want outside the Foreign Office. As far as visiting Indian diplomats are concerned, you might as well put up a statue of Dracula or Frankenstein outside the Foreign Office. Clive's statue is not put up on his own lifetime at all. He was buried in an unmarked grave when he actually dies. He was such a disgraced figure. He was put up in the early 20th century just when British rule in India was looking shaky. And even at the time, it was an extremely controversial statue. The Viceroy himself said, you must not do this. He should be taken down very carefully, put in a museum. And all the different arguments about his life ranged around him in, in a series of plaques. There's this wonderful quote which we should put in there straight away. Samuel Johnson says at the time that he's acquired his fortune by such crimes, that his consciousness of them impelled him to cut his own throat.

[Valerie Sanderson]

William Dalrymple on Clive of India. Coming up, the death of the tech entrepreneur and philanthropist Stephanie Shirley at the age of 91. She called herself Steve.

[Podcast Host]

Instead of writing a Stephanie Shirley, double feminine. I had Steve Shirley. People actually answered my letters. So I began to get some work. Travis fell in love with the perfect woman. She listened.

[Fatou Balde]

She cared.

[Podcast Host]

There was just one catch.

[Podcast Co-Host]

She wasn't human.

[Podcast Host]

She was an AI companion. But when her behavior takes a disturbing turn, Travis finds himself at the center of a much darker story.

[Podcast Co-Host]

This is flesh and Code, a true.

[Podcast Host]

Story of love, loss and the temptations of technology.

[Podcast Co-Host]

Listen to Flesh and Code where you get your podcasts.

[Podcast Host]

Travis fell in love with the perfect woman. She listened.

[Fatou Balde]

She cared.

[Podcast Host]

There was just one catch.

[Podcast Co-Host]

She wasn't human.

[Podcast Host]

She was an AI companion. But when her behavior takes a disturbing turn, Travis finds himself at the center of a much darker story.

[Podcast Co-Host]

This is flesh and Code, a true.

[Podcast Host]

Story of love, loss and the temptations of technology.

[Podcast Co-Host]

Listen to Flesh and Code wherever you get your podcasts.

[Valerie Sanderson]

Human rights campaigners in the Gambia have expressed outrage over the death of a one month old baby girl who was the victim of female genital mutilation, or fgm. Police say the baby was rushed to hospital after she developed severe bleeding, but was dead on arrival. Two women have been arrested. The UN estimates that in the Gambia, three quarters of women and girls aged between 15 and 49 are the victims of FGM, even though it was outlawed in 2015. There have only been two prosecutions and one conviction. Fatoubalde is a victim of FGM and campaigns against the practice. She told Rhoda Odiambo how perpetrators, known as cutters, are changing their strategy to avoid being detected.

[Fatou Balde]

Cutters and families who still want to continue the practice are doing it among babies because they feel that when they cut babies they can heal quicker or that those such cases will not be noticed because they are very young. And also the age at which FGM is performed on Gambian girls, we are seeing a change in that. For example, I am a survivor of FGM and I was caught between the age of seven and eight. But now we are seeing the trend is being moved to a lot, lot younger, younger girls.

[Podcast Co-Host]

Are there other trends in the country.

[Podcast Host]

That are being camouflaged from what has been known in the past?

[Fatou Balde]

Yes, we are actually seeing reported cases around infibulation, that is the stitching of girls. Where in the Gambia FGM type 2 used to be more common, but now we are seeing even more aggressive types.

[Podcast Co-Host]

And since the law took effect, what.

[Podcast Host]

Are some of the challenges of enforcing.

[Podcast Co-Host]

It and implementing it to ensure that.

[Podcast Host]

The perpetrators are brought to book?

[Fatou Balde]

FGM is a deeply rooted practice where community members don't report each other. There is still a big taboo and culture of silence around FGM as well as victim blaming. But also you will find that the professionals, like healthcare providers or police who are supposed to enforce the law, some of them because they come from practicing communities, still believe that the practice will continue. And we have seen cases where when FGM is reported, the police are not taking action.

[Podcast Host]

Do you think it's also time to amend a section of the Women's act that actually criminalize and set penalties for.

[Valerie Sanderson]

Female genital mutilation in the country to.

[Podcast Host]

Make it more stiffer and also recognizing these other trends?

[Fatou Balde]

Absolutely, but not even just to make it stiffer. It's to implement. One of our biggest challenges is that the law, we've only tested it once, in 2023, where three women were held accountable for FGM, yet the penalties that they were given were so low and there was a public outcry to repeal the ban. If the law has been reinforced effectively and people caught found guilty of FGM are being prosecuted, I believe that in addition to community awareness and the activities that we are doing, we will see a change.

[Valerie Sanderson]

Fatou Balde, Iraq has been hit by a nationwide electricity outage after a power plant shut down amid a consumption surge caused by extreme hot weather. Restoration is expected to take several hours. As Yousef Taha reports, the government has.

[Navin Singh Khadka]

Urged people to reduce their usage as engineers work to restore power. The blackout has left most Iraqis without fans or air conditioning in temperatures approaching 50 degrees Celsius. The shutdown at Alhamidiya power plant, Al Anbar province, triggered a fault in the transmission network. Iraq, a major oil producer, relies on natural gas from Iran to generate power. The Baghdad government has signed several contracts with foreign companies to build new power plants. It is also implementing an ambitious plan to generate electricity through renewable sources.

[Valerie Sanderson]

Yusuf Taha as climbers crowd Mount Everest, leading to concerns about safety and the environmental degradation of the peak, Nepal has decided to open up nearly 100 other mountain routes to intrepid international visitors. Crucially, climbers won't have to buy access to these peaks, in contrast to Everest, where a permit for the normal route will cost $15,000 per person for the peak spring season. Our environment reporter Navin Singh Khadka told me more.

[Navin Singh Khadka]

The Himalayas are from east to west, all across. In fact, you know, it starts from Myanmar, then goes on to India's northeast, Bhutan, then Nepal, and then India, Pakistan. It's a whole range. But in Nepal, what's happening is there is a full concentration on either Everest or the Annapurna region, whereas there are so many other peaks, 2000 plus identified. Some of them are in the border with China. But the thing is, only around 460 have been opened for climbing so far. So people in the far west, where there are so many peaks, they were always complaining that they should also get a chance. But the challenge is, can they with so much inadequate infrastructure, Imagine Everest or the Annapurna region have been there for many, many years now. They have established infrastructure, including, you know, all these lodges and hotels and all these emergency services, even roads nowadays to some extent. Whereas this far western part of Nepal, what we are talking about now, all these new peaks are, I mean, I've been there myself, they are mesmerizing. But there's very, very nominal infrastructure. I mean, almost negligent, almost none. And that is the challenge. It still remains a challenge. How will they do it and what.

[Valerie Sanderson]

Is really worth climbing there? Because there's nothing quite as high as Everest, is there?

[Navin Singh Khadka]

People go to Everest region because there are so many other peaks. For example, Amadablam, that's the most climbed peak, it's not Everest. So there are so many other peaks in the Everest in the far west region as well. So the idea is that there will be these other mountains 6,000, 7,000 meters and they will attract people. That's the whole idea. And then that's why these new peaks were opened earlier. But then the issue was people had to pay the same royalty as they would have to pay, let's say in the Everest region or Annapurna region. So therefore most climbers, mountaineers would choose Everest Andapuna because they have the infrastructure, they are well established, they can just fly therein to the nearest airstrip and then carry on. So having realized that, the government has decided to waive the royalty and thinking that there will be many people coming in now. But when I speak to operators, they say that yes, that's an incentive, true, but the infrastructure question is still there. It'll take time.

[Valerie Sanderson]

Navin Singh Khadkar the visionary tech pioneer and philanthropist Stephanie Shirley has died at the age of 91. Adopting the name Steve to forge her way in a largely male dominated field, she shook up the tech industry when she founded her own software company, Freelance Programmers, which almost exclusively hired women. Harry Bly looks back at her life.

[Podcast Host]

Born Fera Stephanie Buchtal In 1933 Vienna, Dame Stephanie travelled to England aboard the Kindertransport to London during the evacuation of Jewish child refugees fleeing the Second World War. By the 1960s, Dame Stephanie was married to her husband Derek Shirley, and decided to start her own software company. Having developed a passion for mathematics and computing. As a woman in charge of a company, she wasn't taken seriously. When she sent letters out trying to grow her business, she often never got a reply. And this is where Dame Stephanie's other name comes from. She was often better known as Steve. My late husband suggested that I use the family nickname of Steve. So instead of writing as Stephanie Shirley, double feminine, I had Steve Shirley. And surprise, surprise, people actually answered my letters. Began to get a few meetings and I'd got a good story to tell. So I began to get some work. The business Freelance Programmers was an enormous success. Dame Stephanie retired in 1993. By the year 2000 the firm was valued at almost $3 billion. And when she sold the company, the shares that she'd handed them made more than 70 of her mostly women's stuff into millionaires. Dame Stephanie and Derek's only son Giles was born with severe autism and had complex needs. She said much of her time when not working on her business was spent caring for Giles. At home. Determined that he should not have to live in a hospital, she went on to establish a residential home for autistic people, Kingwood, at which Giles became the first resident. She also founded the UK's National Autism Research charity, Autistica. Over the years, Dame Stephanie gave the majority of her fortune, tens of millions of pounds, to various charities and projects. Writing in her 2012 memoir, Dame Stephanie said, I do it because of my personal history. I need to justify the fact that my life was saved. Dame Stephanie will be remembered as a pioneer for women in business and a caring mother who turned her love into philanthropy, changing the lives of many living with autism and their families.

[Valerie Sanderson]

Harry Bly. At the age of 96, Donald Elsam has become the oldest ever contestant on the British version of the game show Countdown. In the program, contestants race to solve word puzzles and maths problems against ticking clock in order to build up points. It's one of the longest running game shows in the uk, with similar versions existing across the world in Australia, South Africa and Spain. Mr. Elsam, a royal Air Force veteran, has been avidly watching the show for decades. And although he didn't win, he triumphed in the letters round.

[Podcast Host]

All right, Helen, a seven. A seven from you.

[Donald Elsam]

And Donald, eight.

[Podcast Host]

An eight. Okay. What have you got there, Helen?

[Valerie Sanderson]

Politer, politer.

[Podcast Host]

And Donald, what have you spotted?

[Donald Elsam]

Pointers.

[Podcast Host]

Excellent. Well done. We don't need any of those after coming up with that.

[Valerie Sanderson]

Well, Donald Elsam spoke to the BBC's Adam Fleming about his appearance on the show, as well as the secret to keeping your mind sharp well into your 90s.

[Donald Elsam]

In 31 years, I doubt whether I've missed more than 30 episodes, apart from when I was absent or in hospital or that sort of thing.

[Navin Singh Khadka]

When you had a good excuse.

[Donald Elsam]

Yeah, I doubt whether I missed one a year.

[Podcast Host]

And had you tried before to become a contestant? Because if you've been watching it for decades, I imagine you'd been thinking about being on it for a while.

[Donald Elsam]

I can't be sure, but it was either my fourth or fifth attempt.

[Podcast Host]

What do you think got them to book you in this time?

[Donald Elsam]

Well, I suppose I was just lucky that my name came up whenever it did. I mean, age may have come into it with the Countdown team. I don't really know. You're either lucky or you're not lucky.

[Podcast Host]

What would you say was your finest moment? Was it in the numbers round? Was it in the letters round? Was it the conundrum?

[Donald Elsam]

I feel I did better on the letters than I did in numbers, but when I'm at home, I'm usually pretty good on the numbers. I mean, I obviously I watched it and I had my daughter at the side of me looking at it with my daughter, I'm sure I would have had another 15 points.

[Podcast Host]

Colin Murray, the presenter, when he introduced you, said that when you watch the program at home, you're actually on your exercise bike a lot of the time. Is that true?

[Donald Elsam]

Yes, yes.

[Podcast Host]

Wow. That's, that's, that's how you keep up with, with both, with the exercise and the program.

[Donald Elsam]

The thing is, when I'm on my exercise bike, you know, the pedals just go around automatically. I'm watching the, the screen, watching Countdown. I'm not thinking about pedaling. You know, I'm quite comfortable sitting on my exercise bike and I'm quite comfortable with my feet on the pedals.

[Podcast Host]

Brain and body are se. Have you got any tips for all of us keeping our brains fit as we get older?

[Donald Elsam]

I do sudoke you most, most at days. I, I probably spend an hour or more a day which keeps the, the brain active. I watch Countdown, which obviously keeps the brain active as well. If you feel you can do it, apply and see if you can see it. See what your luck is.

[Podcast Host]

And have you got your eye on any other shows?

[Donald Elsam]

No, I mean without of it. I think that I've proved the point that age doesn't matter on Countdown.

[Valerie Sanderson]

Donald Elson putting the rest of us to shame at 96 years young. And that's it 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, 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 Caroline Driscoll. The producers were Alison Davis and Paul Day. The editor is Karen Martin. I'm Valerie Sanderson. Until next time. Bye bye.