Trump pauses tariffs on Canada and Mexico

Summary

Global News Podcast Summary BBC World Service | Episode: Trump Pauses Tariffs on Canada and Mexico | Release Date: February 4, 2025

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1. U.S. Tariffs on Canada and Mexico Paused

Overview: President Donald Trump has agreed to temporarily pause the imposition of tariffs on Canada and Mexico for one month. This decision comes after negotiations addressing mutual concerns, particularly illegal migration and fentanyl trafficking.

Key Points:

• Tariff Suspension: Trump delayed tariffs on Canada and Mexico, contingent upon these countries taking action against illegal migration and fentanyl trafficking.
• Mexico's Response: President Claudia Sheinbaum announced the deployment of an additional 10,000 troops to Mexico's northern borders to combat drug smuggling and related issues.
• Economic Impact: The suspension aims to prevent a potential global trade war, benefiting the Mexican economy which is heavily reliant on trade with the U.S.

Notable Quotes:

• Oscar Piastri (02:11): “President Trump asked me how long I wanted to pause tariffs. I said forever. He asked me how much time. I told him a month.”
• Jackie Leonard (05:12): “We have over a $300 billion deficit. They don't take our cars, they don't take our farm products. They take almost nothing.”

Implications:

• High-Level Meetings: During the pause, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to engage in high-level discussions with Mexican officials to ensure continued cooperation.
• Consumer Impact: Economists predict a minimal increase in consumer prices in the U.S., estimated at around 1 to 1.5%, although higher tariffs could lead to more significant price hikes.

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2. Marco Rubio Takes Control of USAID

Overview: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has assumed control of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), aiming to realign its operations with President Trump's foreign policy agenda.

Key Points:

• Leadership Change: Rubio declared his role as acting administrator, asserting the need to align USAID’s missions with national interests.
• Planned Reforms: The Trump administration is considering merging USAID with the State Department, which would lead to substantial funding cuts and workforce reductions.
• Criticism and Protests: USAID employees and critics argue that the administration lacks the constitutional authority to make such changes without congressional approval. Protests have erupted outside USAID headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Notable Quotes:

• Marco Rubio (09:53): “Our goal was to go in and align our foreign aid to the national interest.”
• Merlin Thomas (10:39): “It's an absolute gift for our adversaries.”

Implications:

• Global Aid Impact: Immediate effects include reductions in humanitarian aid in countries like Afghanistan and disruptions to HIV/AIDS testing for millions.
• Political Reactions: Democratic lawmakers have condemned the move, suggesting it could inadvertently strengthen adversarial nations by undermining U.S. influence globally.

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3. Tensions Between the U.S. and Panama Over the Canal

Overview: Panama has officially withdrawn from China's Belt and Road Initiative, attributing the decision to a smear campaign by the United States. This development has intensified tensions surrounding the Panama Canal.

Key Points:

• Panama's Withdrawal: President Jose Raul Molino announced the decision following discussions with Secretary Rubio, prompting backlash from China.
• Public Reaction: Protests in Panama City saw demonstrators burning effigies of Trump and Rubio, reflecting local resistance to U.S. interference.
• Canal Control Claims: Trump’s administration has accused China of controlling the Panama Canal, a charge Panama officials dispute, emphasizing the canal remains under Panamanian control per historical treaties.

Notable Quotes:

• Jackie Leonard (13:20): “If China wanted to obstruct traffic in the Panama Canal, they could.”
• Oscar Piastri (13:27): “And it's my view that's a violation.”

Implications:

• Regional Stability: The situation risks escalating into broader geopolitical conflicts, with significant implications for global trade and Panama’s economic stability.
• Diplomatic Strain: The U.S.'s ultimatum demanding Panama end Chinese influence over the canal could lead to strained relations and reduced cooperation.

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4. M23 Rebels in Eastern Congo Declare Ceasefire

Overview: The M23 rebel group in the Democratic Republic of Congo has announced a ceasefire starting Tuesday, citing humanitarian reasons amidst ongoing conflict.

Key Points:

• Ceasefire Declaration: M23 claims the truce is to address humanitarian crises, although skepticism remains regarding their true intentions.
• Humanitarian Impact: The conflict has resulted in significant civilian casualties and displacement, with recent reports of 900 bodies in Goma.
• International Response: The G7 and European Union have condemned the Rwandan-backed offensive, urging respect for Congo's sovereignty.

Notable Quotes:

• Will Ross (15:30): “We have no intention of capturing Bukavu or other areas. But we reiterate our commitment to protecting and defending the civilian population and our positions.”

Implications:

• Conflict Dynamics: The ceasefire may offer a temporary respite, but underlying tensions and territorial disputes could reignite hostilities.
• Regional Stability: The involvement of multiple African nations and external actors highlights the region's complex security landscape, necessitating robust international mediation.

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5. Potential Threat from Asteroid 2024 yr

Overview: Scientists are closely monitoring asteroid 2024 yr, which has a slight chance of colliding with Earth in seven years. Current assessments place the probability at just over 1%.

Key Points:

• Orbital Tracking: Discovered in December, astronomers are mapping its trajectory to refine impact predictions.
• Impact Consequences: Should a collision occur, it could result in massive explosions, city-level destruction, and tsunamis.
• Mitigation Strategies: NASA has demonstrated the feasibility of altering an asteroid’s course through past missions, providing potential defense mechanisms.

Notable Quotes:

• Oscar Piastri (24:20): “Think of this as a 99% chance that it is not going to hit us.”
• Rebecca Morell (23:11): “One option would be to send a spacecraft to knock the asteroid off course.”

Implications:

• Scientific Preparedness: Ongoing observations are critical to accurately determining the asteroid's path and preparing potential deflection missions.
• Public Awareness: While the current risk is low, continued transparency and communication from scientists will be essential to manage public concern.

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6. Humanitarian Effort to Save a Child in Gaza

Overview: A two-year-old girl from Gaza, Habiba Al Askari, suffering from a life-threatening illness, was successfully evacuated to Jordan for urgent medical treatment after intense negotiations with Israel.

Key Points:

• Medical Emergency: Habiba suffers from a rare blood condition leading to gangrene in her limbs, requiring immediate intervention.
• Evacuation Process: Initial attempts to evacuate Habiba were stalled, with Israel initially blocking her mother's travel. Eventually, Jordanian authorities facilitated the transfer.
• Current Status: Habiba is receiving treatment at the King Hussein Medical Center in Jordan, where doctors are working to establish a precise diagnosis.

Notable Quotes:

• Oscar Piastri (19:58): “If I hand it over to her, she gives me a look. I can't describe to you the look that she gives me.”
• Habiba’s Mother, Rana (20:07): “I can only pray to God to heal Habiba and make me a miracle on earth in healing her.”

Implications:

• Humanitarian Diplomacy: This case underscores the complexities of providing humanitarian aid in conflict zones and the necessity of diplomatic negotiations.
• Future Access: Successful evacuation may set a precedent for future medical evacuations, potentially easing access for other civilians in distress.

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7. MeToo Victory in France: Adele Annel’s Court Verdict

Overview: Former actress Adele Annel witnessed film director Christophe Rudier convicted of assaulting her during her teenage years. This verdict marks a significant moment for the MeToo movement in France.

Key Points:

• Case Details: Annel alleged that Rudier abused her when she was between 12 and 14 years old during the promotion of a film after its completion.
• Court Verdict: Rudier received a four-year sentence, two of which are suspended, allowing him to remain free under house confinement.
• Public Reaction: The case has sparked widespread support for Annel and highlighted ongoing issues of abuse in the French film industry.

Notable Quotes:

• Hugh Schofield (21:14): “Adele Anel for having the courage to say what you did and go public.”
• Judith Godresh (21:01): “It was a very moving and important moment.”

Implications:

• Legal Precedent: While Rudier's sentence may be seen as lenient, the case advances legal recognition of abuse in the industry.
• Cultural Shift: The verdict could bolster the MeToo movement in France, encouraging more survivors to come forward and demand accountability.

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8. Premiere of "Morgiane" by Black American Composer Edmond Dede

Overview: “Morgiane,” the earliest known full-length opera by a Black American composer, has finally premiered after being rediscovered in Harvard University’s archives.

Key Points:

• Historical Significance: Composed by Edmond Dede in the 19th century, “Morgiane” was lost for 138 years before its recent rediscovery.
• Premiere Performance: An all-Black cast staged the opera in Washington, D.C., highlighting its cultural and historical importance.
• Musical Composition: The opera blends New Orleans brass influences with French and Italian romantic styles, reflecting Dede’s rich cultural heritage.

Notable Quotes:

• Patrick Dupee Quigley (27:06): “It's the most important opera the world has never heard.”
• Jackie Leonard (27:56): “How extraordinary must he have been not just as a musician but also as an advocate for his own music that he was able to do so.”

Implications:

• Cultural Revival: The performance of “Morgiane” fosters greater recognition of Black contributions to American opera and encourages the preservation of historically marginalized works.
• Artistic Heritage: This premiere opens the door for further exploration and restoration of lost compositions by composers of color, enriching the global cultural landscape.

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Additional Coverage

Asteroid 2024 yr: Scientists continue to monitor asteroid 2024 yr, emphasizing the low probability of impact but maintaining vigilance through advanced telescope observations and potential deflection strategies.

Human Interest: A heartfelt report covered the evacuation of Habiba Al Askari, a young girl from Gaza, underscoring the human cost of ongoing conflicts and the importance of international cooperation in crisis situations.

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This summary captures the key discussions and insights from the February 4, 2025 episode of the Global News Podcast. For more detailed information, listeners are encouraged to tune into the full episode.

Transcript

[Jackie Leonard]

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the uk.

[Josh Hartnett]

What does it take to go racing in the fastest cars in the world? Oscar Piastri your head's trying to get roofed one way, your body's trying to go another. Let's roll.

[Oscar Piastri]

It's very extreme in the sense of how close you're racing. Wheel to wheel.

[Josh Hartnett]

We've been given unprecedented access to two of the most famous names in Formula One, McLaren and Aston Martin.

[Oscar Piastri]

I'm Landon Arts. They build a beautiful bit of machinery.

[Jackie Leonard]

That I get to then go and have fun in.

[Josh Hartnett]

They open the doors for their factories as the 2024 season reached its peak. I'm Josh Hartnett. This is F1 back at base. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

[Darshini David]

This is the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Jackie Leonard and in the early hours of Tuesday 4th February, these are our main stories. President Trump has agreed to pause the imposition of tariffs on Mexico and Canada by a month. The US Secretary of State is taking over the running of the main foreign aid agency USAID, saying he's determined to end its refusal to follow Mr. Trump's agenda. And Rwandan backed rebels in eastern Congo say they're declaring a ceasefire from Tuesday.

[Jackie Leonard]

Also in this podcast, imagine the level of commitment to the art form that he must have had.

[Darshini David]

The earliest known full length opera by a black American composer comes to the stage after 138 years. At the weekend, President Trump announced sweeping U.S. tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China. Just before we recorded this podcast, President Trump agreed to delay the imposition of tariffs on Canada for a month in exchange for it taking action to combat illegal migration and the trafficking of fentanyl. Hours earlier, the US President had confirmed there'd also be a one month pause on their imposition on Mexico after President Claudia Sheinbaum announced an additional 10,000 troops to police its northern borders against drug smugglers.

[Oscar Piastri]

President Trump asked me how long I wanted to pause tariffs. I said forever. He asked me how much time. I told him a month. I'm sure that during this month we'll be able to deliver good results for his people and the people of Mexico. We also discussed our common interest in reducing fentanyl trafficking from Mexico to the United States and other drugs as well, not just fentanyl.

[Darshini David]

Our Mexico correspondent Will Grant told us what President Shane Baum had to say about her conversation with Donald Trump.

[Jackie Leonard]

As we heard a bit in that snippet there, she pointed out that they discussed the areas of mutual interest that we know President Trump is focused on, namely, undocumented immigration into the United States that passes through Mexico, or indeed is including Mexicans, heading into the United States without the right papers. And, of course, fentanyl, the synthetic opioid which has caused so many thousands of overdose deaths a year. What she laid out was that she had agreed to send 10,000 troops from the National Guard to the border with the United States to focus on fentanyl trafficking. She agreed, or got an agreement from Donald Trump that the US Would do more to clamp down on the flow of guns south into Mexico, which arm the cartels. A very important point, I think, for her. And all of that led essentially to the conclusion that these tariffs, as we've been saying, have been suspended for another month.

[Darshini David]

And during that month, what will be going on?

[Jackie Leonard]

Well, as you can imagine, there'll be meetings at a pretty high level that will include the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, coming to Mexico. We suspect certainly another element that was mentioned would be working a sort of working group between the two nations on the issue of fentanyl involving public health and security officials. So that gives them chance to basically show the Trump administration, look, we are trying to move in the same direction as you, not a different direction. And then essentially, from the Claudia Schoenbaum point of view, say, well, we've done our part. Let's extend this stay, as it were, this pause on tariffs for many more months.

[Darshini David]

And what does all of this mean for the Mexican economy?

[Jackie Leonard]

Well, I think given that there's potential for this situation to become very, very sticky on a kind of global scale, that this could become essentially a global trade war with China, Canada, the European Union, the United States, all at loggerheads over it. The fact Mexico's been able to step out of that situation, at least for the next few weeks, is very beneficial. We saw the peso rise on the announcement. There is a lot of cross border trade involved. Mexico is the United States biggest trading partner. It's worth about $500 billion worth of goods a year to Mexico, about 300 billion in the other direction. So to sort of stave off that looming trade war is of obviously real importance to the Mexican economy. And to Claudio Schoenbaum personally, that was Will Grant.

[Darshini David]

And staying on the theme, President Trump also had this message for the countries of Europe.

[Jackie Leonard]

You know, we have over a $300 billion deficit. They don't take our cars, they don't take our farm products. They take almost nothing. And we take everything from them. Millions of cars, tremendous amounts of food and farm product so the UK is way out of line, and we'll see the uk, But European Union is really out of line. UK is out of line, but I'm sure that I think that one can be worked out. But the European Union is an atrocity.

[Darshini David]

So how do tariffs work? A question for our chief economics correspondent, Darshini David.

[Oscar Piastri]

Really good question. A tariff is basically a tax on goods that you import. And the way it works is that whoever is doing the importing actually faces that tax. So it can be a wholesaler, a business, it can be a person, a consumer. Ultimately, how those tariffs actually show up does vary, because sometimes they are absorbed along the supply chain and sometimes it is the final consumer who sees it. So when we're talking about the impact on prices, for example, it can really vary depending on the type of good it is and how much demand there is for it and how much competition there is from other types of goods. So there's not one hard and fast rule. But ultimately, there are two aims behind tariffs, particularly the type that President Trump introduced. Firstly, to try and protect your domestic business from competition from abroad. But also President Trump thinks that this would be a good way of raising tax money from another source by putting these taxes on imports.

[Darshini David]

So if it's protecting your local industry, it still means that customers, consumers, are going to end up paying more, doesn't it?

[Oscar Piastri]

Ultimately, quite possibly. It's not always the case. What we've sometimes seen in the past is these things do get absorbed in the supply chain, particularly at times when consumers. Consumers are feeling a little bit uncertain and businesses are a little bit concerned about the impact that could have. However, having said all that, if you look at the scale of the tariffs that President Trump is talking about this time, 25%, for example, is quite a lot to absorb, and you would expect that to be passed on. Having said that, when you look at the makeup of what American consumers buy, and if you look at what is being proposed for Mexico, for Canada and for China as well, that adds up to, on average, an increase in the price level for American consumers of, say, 1 to 1.5%? So it's not disastrous, but it's certainly unwelcome.

[Darshini David]

So in this case, does it look like tariffs are being used more as a negotiating tool than an actual way of raising revenue?

[Oscar Piastri]

It certainly looks. As we look at the movements that we've seen over the past 24 hours, I think, frankly, commentators and observers are in danger of getting whiplash here because we've seen this sort of toing and froing haven't we, for President Trump? And one minute he's unleashing Whitney. Actually, many people in the markets didn't think he would. Was that announcement about 25% on Canada, on Mexico, and an additional 10% on China. And now we've heard news of a pause in Mexico, and who knows what might follow? So, yes, there is a sense that perhaps this is a bargaining chip and he's trying to see how far he can go. But as anybody who knows that sort of story, that fairy tale, the boy who cried wolf, knows there's only so many times you can actually do that before people think you're not being serious.

[Darshini David]

That was dashini, David. The U.S. secretary of state, Marco Rubio, says he's taken over as acting administrator of usaid. He said he was determined to end what he called its refusal to follow President Trump's agenda. USAID is one of the biggest aid agencies in the world, projecting US Influence with a budget of tens of billions of dollars. Democrats and other critics argue that the administration lacks the constitutional authority to close USAID without congressional approval. The agency employ more than 10,000 people globally and is based in more than 60 countries. Speaking during a visit to a factory in El Salvador, Mr. Rubio told reporters that the agency was failing to act in the country's interests.

[Jackie Leonard]

I'm the acting director of usaid. I've delegated that authority to someone, but I stay in touch with him. And again, our goal was to go in and align our foreign aid to the national interest. But if you go to mission after mission and embassy after embassy around the world, you will often find that in many cases, USAID ID is involved in programs that run counter to what trying to do in our national strategy with that country or with that region. That cannot continue.

[Darshini David]

Our correspondent in Washington, Merlin Thomas, was listening to what Mr. Rubio had to say.

[Merlin Thomas]

He's now essentially in charge of the agency. And he also said that it's reported that the Trump administration intends to merge the agency with the State Department. Now, this will involve a significant reduction in USAID funding as well as an impact on its workforce. And just to give you a brief overview, you know, Elon Musk, the unelected adviser by Mr. Trump to improve government efficiency, called USAID a ball of worms. Not just an apple with a worm in it, but a ball of worms. You've got to get rid of the whole thing, and it's beyond repair. So it's part of his wider ideological plan to reform the federal agencies.

[Darshini David]

So what sort of reaction has there been to this news.

[Merlin Thomas]

Well, right now there are hundreds of protesters and USAID employees who are outside the headquarters in Washington, D.C. and they're out in an emotional show of force. They are, they're holding signs saying democracy died in complacency today. Usaid, what's next? This is one of the first kind of sparks of resistance that we're seeing in this city to the huge reforms that President Donald Trump has planned. And besides that, we've also heard from lawmakers, we've heard from Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen, who said that this effort by Elon Musk and Doge, as Department of Government Efficiency is known. He said it's an absolute gift for our adversaries. And he said it was nothing to do with making the government more efficient, but said it would make our adversaries stronger, saying that Russian leaders would call it a smart move to shut it down.

[Darshini David]

Just very briefly, Merlin, we know that funding was frozen. What sort of impact has that already had?

[Merlin Thomas]

It's felt almost immediately in countries like Afghanistan, where humanitarian aid underpins most of the services there. And it also affects HIV and AIDS testing for almost 80 million people. This will affect countless refugees and other displaced people, too. And you know, this is a global agency. It's the biggest agency in the world. So it will have huge impact.

[Darshini David]

That was Merlin Thomas, China's envoy to the United Nations. Fu Chong, has said that his country regrets Panama's decision to leave its Belt and Road Initiative, a multi billion dollar global infrastructure project. Mr. Fu attributed the decision to a smear campaign launched by the United States. He said China had never interfered in Panamanian affairs, including in matters relating to the canal. President Jose Raul Molino's announcement followed talks with the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio on Sunday. The Trump administration has accused the Chinese government of effectively managing the canal. Tom Bateman reports from Panama City on the sentiments regarding the recent visit by Mr. Rubio.

[Tom Bateman]

Panama, one territory, one flag. Earlier, protesters in Panama City burned effigies of Donald Trump and Marco Rubio. Riot police moved in on a crowd, firing tear gas and pulling demonstrators away. The clashes ahead of Mr. Rubio's visit were small in scale, but the anger triggered by Donald Trump's vow to retake the canal here is broadcast. Before traveling, the secretary of state explained why the waterway is in the administration's sights. He was speaking to the Megyn Kelly Show.

[Jackie Leonard]

If China wanted to obstruct traffic in the Panama Canal, they could.

[Josh Hartnett]

That's a fact.

[Jackie Leonard]

And it's my view that's a violation.

[Josh Hartnett]

Of the Treaty agreement.

[Jackie Leonard]

And that's what President Trump is raising. And we're going to address that topic. That can't happen.

[Tom Bateman]

There we go. He's saying hello to us. Yeah, he's saying that's pretty impressive. Donald Trump's sudden policy pronouncement has hit Panama like the bulk carriers that blast their way up the canal. So they're coming just to watch the boats coming to and fro.

[Darshini David]

Oh, yes, yes.

[Oscar Piastri]

This is number one attraction in Panama.

[Tom Bateman]

We're on the locks of the Pacific side entrance. Hearing from workers where Mr. Trump has claimed the canal is being run by China. The waterway is in fact owned and run by the Panamanian government under a neutrality treaty signed with the US Decades ago. But Chinese companies have invested heavily in two of the five ports nearby next to the canal. I meet Edwin Cabrera, a former Panama congressman. He's worried. Have you ever seen any Chinese soldiers? Never. Never. The problem is Trump confuses the operation of the canal with the operation of the ports, says Mr. Cabrera. There are no Chinese soldiers here. He says the two hour meeting with President Molino didn't cool tensions. Afterwards, the Secretary of State issued an ultimatum saying if Panama didn't take immediate action to end Chinese control of the canal, the US Would take measures to protect its rights.

[Darshini David]

That was Tom Bateman in Panama. The rebel group which has been capturing swathes of territory in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo has declared a ceasefire starting on Tuesday. The M23 rebels said it was for humanitarian reasons. The G7 group of countries and the European Union have strongly condemned the Rwandan backed offensive, describing it as a flagrant disregard for Congo's sovereignty. Our Africa regional editor Will Ross told us more.

[Will Ross]

This is the alliance fleur of Congo, which includes the M23 rebel group declaring a ceasefire to begin on Tuesday. But we've heard nothing from the Congolese military yet. But they're saying that this ceasefire is for humanitarian reasons. And they put out a statement blaming the Kinshasa government for the humanitarian crisis, which some people will say is a little odd given that it's a rebel offensive that's gone on for three years or so that caused so many hundreds of thousands to flee their homes. But in this statement, they interestingly say we have no intention of capturing Bukavu or other areas. But then they go on to say we reiterate our commitment to protecting and defending the civilian population and our positions. And that to me sounds like we'll fight to keep the territory that we've just capt which may not go down well, with the Kinshasa government, there's also a call for southern African troops to leave the country.

[Darshini David]

At least six African countries, as I understand it, actually have troops in the east of Congo, don't they? Why is this region so important?

[Will Ross]

Well, some people will point to the vast mineral wealth and say that's why so many countries are interested in the east of Congo. Kinshas has long accused Rwanda of trying to carve out territory and steal the mineral wealth. Kigali's denied that and has talked about the need to protect its country from rebels in eastern Congo. But I mean the humanitarian disaster that's come about because of all the fighting that's gone on, I mean, the UN has just said that 900 bodies have been collected from the streets of Goma in recent days. And now we're supposed to be having talks taking place on Friday and Saturday in Tanzania. So we wait to see if they'll take off at all. But it's possible that there is some pressure now mounting on rwanda and the M23 because the, the international criticism is getting louder and kind of more joined up.

[Darshini David]

That was Will Ross.

[Rebecca Morell]

Still to come, the asteroid was only discovered at the end of December and scientists have been attempting to accurately map its orbit.

[Darshini David]

The asteroid dubbed 2024 yr that's hurtling towards Earth.

[Josh Hartnett]

What does it take to go racing in the fastest cars in the world? Oscar Piastri.

[Darshini David]

Your head's trying to get ripped one.

[Oscar Piastri]

Way, your body's trying to go another.

[Josh Hartnett]

Let's stroll.

[Oscar Piastri]

It's very extreme in the sense of how close you're racing wheel to wheel.

[Josh Hartnett]

We've been given unprecedented access to two of the most most famous names in Formula One, McLaren and Aston Martin.

[Oscar Piastri]

I'm London artists. They build a beautiful bit of machinery.

[Jackie Leonard]

That I get to then go and have fun in.

[Josh Hartnett]

They open the doors to their factories as the 2024 season reached its peak. I'm Josh Hartnett, this is F1 back at base. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

[Darshini David]

A two year old girl from Gaza who suffers from what doctors say is a life threatening illness has been brought out so she can get medical treatment. Habiba Al Askari has a rare disease that's cut off the blood supply to her limbs. Negotiations with Israel to allow her, accompanied by her mother to be evacuated to Jordan were finalized on Sunday night. Our special correspondent Fergal Keene has traveled with Habiba on the last stage of her journey to a hospital in Jordan. And I should warn you, you might find parts of his report Distressing.

[Oscar Piastri]

It had taken difficult negotiations with Israel to reach this point. A seriously ill two and a half year old girl and her mother being taken by Jordanian military helicopter for urgent medical treatment. Here in Amman, Habiba Alaskari is suffering from a rare blood condition which has caused her to lose movement in three of her limbs. Two legs and an arm have gone black with a type of gangrene. Doctors treating her in Gaza's Nasser Hospital said she would die if she wasn't evacuated. Her mother, Rana, described Habiba's suffering.

[Darshini David]

If she asks me for a biscuit.

[Oscar Piastri]

I cannot give it to her.

[Darshini David]

If I hand it over to her, she gives me a look. I can't describe to you the look that she gives me.

[Oscar Piastri]

I can only pray to God to heal Habiba and make me a miracle on earth in healing her. Habiba is now in the King Hussein Medical center where doctors are working to establish an exact diagnosis. Her evacuation was postponed on several occasions. At one point, Israel approved Habiba's transfer but refused to allow her mother travel with her.

[Darshini David]

Fergal Keen in Jordan to Paris now cheering there as former actress Adele Annel left a court after the film director she had accused of assaulting her was found guilty. Judith Godresh, an actress and leading supporter of the MeToo movement in France, was in court for the verdict and gave her reaction to reporters.

[Rebecca Morell]

It was a very moving and important.

[Oscar Piastri]

Moment that reminded me of things that.

[Rebecca Morell]

For my part, may go unpunished.

[Darshini David]

Christophe Roughard was convicted of the assaults which happened in the early 2000s, when Adele Anel was between 12 and 14 years old. Our Paris correspondent Hugh Schofield has been following the case.

[Hugh Schofield]

She was just 12 at the time of the making of this film, Lady AB in 2001. The abuse there wasn't at the time the making the film, it was after the making of the film. And what she says happened was that there was a terribly dysfunctional and unhealthy relationship was developed between her and the director Chris of Ruggier, who was obsessed with her and who would invite her to his home after the making of the film, during the period in which it was being promoted and so on, and in these meetings that he, his flat, would touch her in various sexual ways. And she didn't come public with this for many, many years. But evidently she felt in later life that this had been a traumatic experience that needed to come out. And when she came out with the accusation about what had happened in 2019, it was at the time when, you know, the world was focused very much on allegations of abuse in cinema in general. And this is France's sort of moment. And she really kind of kick started the MeToo movement in France when she came public with the allegations of what Rodier had done.

[Darshini David]

And Rudier has been sentenced to four years, two suspended. He's not going to spend actually any time in prison, is he? What sort of reaction has there been in France?

[Hugh Schofield]

He's going to be, what's that? Under home confinement with this electric bracelet and so on. You know, I think a lot of people are looking on and saying, well done, Adele Anel for having the courage to say what you did and go public. And we heard Judith Godresh, you know, another of the activists on this score and saying that it was Anel's courage that precipitated others to make similar declarations about the way they felt they'd been amused in the cinema. I think more generally there are questions, though maybe more globally about some aspects of French cinema. I mean, I think you've got to also look at the fact that, that there are questions about why a 12 year old girl was allowed to be in a film like Les Diables back then.

[Darshini David]

That was Hugh Scofield. In Paris, scientists are meeting to discuss one of the most dangerous asteroids ever detected, which could collide with Earth in 7 years time. Dubbed 2024 yr, the huge space rock could cause an explosion big enough to level cities and trigger tsunamis. But as our science editor Rebecca Morell reports, experts aren't too worri. Even though the asteroid is believed to be between 39 and 91 meters wide.

[Rebecca Morell]

If something of that size were to strike a city, it would cause catastrophic damage. But that if is a big if. The asteroid was only discovered at the end of December and scientists have been attempting to accurately map its orbit. At the moment, its chance of colliding with the Earth is just over 1%. And the date that could happen is the 22nd of December 2032. But that probability is likely to change. Telescopes on Earth and in space are being trained on the asteroid to gather as much data as possible while it's visible over the next few weeks. Professor Colin Snodgrass is from the University of Edinburgh.

[Oscar Piastri]

So it has maybe a 1% chance.

[Darshini David]

Of hitting us, but the way to.

[Oscar Piastri]

Think of this is a 99% chance.

[Darshini David]

That it is not going to hit us. As with all things in science, it's.

[Oscar Piastri]

All about how precisely you can measure something. And so we can measure where an asteroid's going by measuring where it is now and Then extrapolating forward, the hope.

[Rebecca Morell]

Is the risk will be downgraded to a near miss. That's happened before with other asteroids. But if that's not the case, one option would be to send a spacecraft to knock the asteroid off course. While that sounds more like the plot of a Hollywood film, a NASA Test mission in 2022 successfully changed the orbit of a similar sized space rock, showing that this approach could work if we ever need it.

[Darshini David]

If that was Rebecca Morell now when it comes to opera, the time between composition and a work's premiere can vary, but few take more than a century before they're seen on stage. Morgiane is the earliest known full length opera by a black American composer. It was believed to be lost before a chance discovery in Harvard University's archive. On Monday, an all black cast brought it to life for its world premiere in Washington, D.C. ella Bicknell reports.

[Ella Bicknell]

After 139 years, Edmond Dede's four part masterpiece will finally be heard by American audiences. Born in New Orleans in 1827, Dede was a fourth generation free person, person of color of a French speaking Creole family. The Jim Crow era and the looming Civil War forced Dede, like many black artists, to flee for Europe, settling in Bordeaux, France. There he had a successful career writing nearly 100 works for the French stage. And as a member of the Institut d'afrique, he spoke out against slavery carries a similar message, telling the story of a young woman kidnapped and forced to marry a sultan and her mother's efforts to rescue her. But the sole surviving manuscript was believed to be lost until it emerged from an antique music shop in Paris in 1999, winding up in the vast archives of Harvard University eight years later. Long before New Orleans became the birthplace of jazz, the city was considered America's beating heart of opera. Hints of its brass band future can be heard in Morgian's score, mixed with the lush and romantic sounds of French and Italian traditions. Patrick Dupee Quigley is the Premier's conductor. He says it's the most important opera the world has never heard.

[Jackie Leonard]

Certainly it happens with composers of color that the first question when you tell people is, is it good music which you don't understand is that day. He was the only black music director in Bordeaux when he was appointed, and if there's anything about French music at the time that it was a strict meritocracy, imagine the level of commitment to the art form that he must have had. How extraordinary must he have been not just as a musician but also as an advocate for his own music that he was able to do so. And so people should be asking the other question, which is how is it possible that this has been obscured for so long?

[Ella Bicknell]

The project is a collaboration with Opera Creole and Opera Lafayette, two companies specialized in producing historical black and French opera. The first few performances in Washington, D.C. new York and New Orleans will feature an all black cast, something Dae Dae could have only imagined in 1887.

[Darshini David]

That report by Ella Bicknell. And that's it from us for now. But there will be a new edition of the Global News Podcast later. If you'd like to comment on this one or the topics covered in it, do please send us an email. The address is globalpodcastbc.co.uk. you can also find us on X@global newspod. This edition was mixed by Caroline Driscoll. The producer was Liam McSheffrey. Our editor is Karen Martin. I'm Jackie Leonard. And until the next time, goodbye.

[Josh Hartnett]

What does it take to go racing in the fastest cars in the world? Oscar Piastri.

[Jackie Leonard]

Your head's trying to get ripped one.

[Oscar Piastri]

Way, your body's trying to go another.

[Josh Hartnett]

Let's stroll.

[Oscar Piastri]

It's very extreme in the sense on how close you're racing. Wheel to wheel World.

[Josh Hartnett]

We've been given unprecedented access to two of the most famous names in Formula One, McLaren and Aston Martin.

[Oscar Piastri]

I'm Landon Arts. They build a beautiful bit of machinery.

[Jackie Leonard]

That I get to then go and have fun in.

[Josh Hartnett]

They opened the doors to their factories as the 2024 season reached its peak. I'm Josh Hartnett. This is F1 back at base. Listen, wherever you get your podcasts.