Trump signs executive order to close Department of Education

Summary

Global News Podcast Summary
Episode: Trump Signs Executive Order to Close Department of Education
Release Date: March 21, 2025
Host: Valerie Sanderson, BBC World Service

---

1. President Trump Dismantles the U.S. Department of Education

In a landmark move on Friday, March 21, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to abolish the U.S. Department of Education. This decision, which targets the agency overseeing public school funding, student loans, and programs for low-income students, marks a significant shift in American education policy.

Trump’s Rationale and Vision

At a press conference held at the White House, President Trump criticized the Department of Education's performance, asserting long-standing failures in the U.S. education system. He stated:

"We're going to be returning education very simply back to the states where it belongs. And this is a very popular thing to do. But much more importantly, it's a common sense thing to do and it's going to work. Absolutely, it's going to work." [02:14]

Trump emphasized decentralizing education, arguing that state control would enhance quality and reduce costs:

"Probably the cost will be half and the education will be maybe many, many times better." [02:25]

Political and Public Reactions

The executive order has sparked intense debate. Democrats branded the move as reckless, highlighting the Department's significant budget of $268 billion and its impact on 50 million public school students. Former White House advisor Joanna Masker criticized the decision, underscoring the potential negative effects on vulnerable student populations.

Merlin Thomas, BBC’s North America correspondent, provided a detailed analysis:

"President Trump cannot scrap the entire department. It was set up with congressional approval and so it will need congressional approval to dismantle it as well... this is likely to just go into court and legal battles." [03:33]

Impact on Education Funding

While the federal government controls nearly 10% of education funding, primarily supporting disabled and low-income students, critics argue that dismantling the Department could disproportionately affect these groups. The shift is expected to transfer control back to state governments, potentially leading to disparities in educational quality and accessibility across states.

Public Sentiment

Reactions among the public are mixed. Supporters of the move, particularly Republican voters, view it as a fulfillment of a long-standing party agenda to reduce federal oversight. Conversely, many others express concern over the potential loss of federal support for disadvantaged students. Elon Musk, who served as an adviser, shared his perspective:

"They feel like they have control because look, we all want our kids to have the best education." [03:10]

---

2. Kirsty Coventry Becomes IOC President

In a historic election held in Greece, Kirsty Coventry made headlines by becoming the first woman, the first African, and the youngest president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Coventry, a former Olympic swimmer and Zimbabwe's current sports minister, secured her position through a secret ballot at a luxury resort near Mount Olympus.

Election Significance and Coventry’s Vision

Coventry's victory is seen as a transformative moment for the IOC, traditionally dominated by European and American men. Reflecting on her win, Coventry stated:

"As a nine-year-old girl, I never thought that I would be standing up here one day... our movement is going to be so much stronger when we now come back together and deliver on some of those ideas that we all shared." [06:xx]

Trump’s Commentary on Coventry’s Election

President Trump weighed in on Coventry's election, highlighting its unexpected swift nature:

"It's absolutely a historic day... she won in the first round... it was a surprise she did it so quickly." [07:05]

Challenges Ahead for Coventry

Coventry faces numerous challenges during her tenure. Major issues include managing geopolitical tensions, such as Russia's potential reintegration into international sports and addressing the inclusion of transgender athletes. Additionally, climate change has become a pressing concern among athletes, urging Coventry to prioritize sustainability within the Olympic movement.

"There are some dark clouds... climate change. A lot of athletes... have written to the IOC demanding that the new president put climate change and sustainability right at the top of their list of priorities." [08:15]

NATO and International Relations Impact

Coventry's presidency also intersects with broader geopolitical dynamics, particularly with NATO's role and relations with Russia. Her ability to navigate these complex issues will be critical in shaping the future of the Olympic Games and maintaining global sports integrity.

---

3. Ukraine War: Ceasefire Negotiations and International Support

Amid ongoing ceasefire talks in the Ukraine conflict, President Volodymyr Zelensky appealed to European Union (EU) leaders, urging them to discourage Russia from making exacerbating demands that could prolong the war. Concurrently, President Trump advocated for increased military aid to Ukraine, emphasizing the need for European investment in defense.

Zelensky’s Appeal to the EU

President Zelensky delivered a poignant message to EU leaders, stressing that Russian demands are unnecessarily extending the conflict. He called for more robust military support to Ukraine to ensure a swift resolution.

Trump’s Call for Enhanced Military Aid

President Trump echoed the need for substantial military assistance, requesting:

"We need funds for artillery shells and would really appreciate Europe's support with at least 5 billion euros as soon as possible." [10:17]

Trump further emphasized the importance of local production:

"Investments in weapons production are needed both in Ukraine and in your countries. Everything necessary to defend the continent should be produced here in Europe." [10:28]

EU’s Stance on Military Support

Danny Eberhard, BBC’s Europe regional editor, reported on the EU’s cautious approach. While there is broad support for Ukraine among EU nations, the proposal to deliver 2 million large-caliber artillery shells has yet to gain full endorsement:

"Ukraine can't get enough military aid as things stand... it's just a proposal." [10:56]

Internal EU Dynamics and NATO Relations

The EU remains divided, with Hungary under Viktor Orban opposing increased military aid to Ukraine. Orban advocates for rapprochement with Russia, challenging the majority of EU members who are deeply concerned about Russian aggression. NATO's role remains pivotal as European nations balance internal divisions with the broader security strategy against Russia.

"NATO membership. Full stop. That for a long time has made the Baltics feel safe. But Donald Trump is changing that..." [14:14]

---

4. Protests in Istanbul Over Detention of Mayor Ekrem Imamolu

Thousands of protesters in Istanbul have defied a government-imposed ban on public demonstrations, rallying in support of detained Mayor Ekrem Imamolu. Imamolu, a leading opposition figure and rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was arrested days before being named the ruling party’s presidential candidate.

Protests and Government Response

Demonstrators have taken to the streets for a second consecutive day, facing heightened police presence and the use of rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse crowds. Ozge Ozel, leader of Imamolu’s party, accused the government of attempting a coup and expressed concerns over Erdogan’s intentions regarding the upcoming elections.

"We think we will win with Imamolu as our presidential candidate, and if his candidacy is blocked, this will lead to much higher support for him..." [20:21]

International and Domestic Reactions

The opposition party, CHP, has vowed to proceed with internal ballots to select Imamolu as their presidential candidate, despite his detention. They are organizing rallies across 14 cities and 21 provinces, challenging the government’s restrictions and calling for international support to uphold Turkish democracy.

Elon Musk commented on the tense atmosphere:

"It definitely feels very tense in Istanbul... there have been calls already from the opposition party..." [20:38]

Government’s Stance and Future Implications

President Erdogan has softened his rhetoric, attributing the opposition’s actions to attempts to cover up internal mistakes rather than outright hostility. However, the situation remains volatile, with ongoing protests and fears of political instability ahead of the elections.

---

5. Escalating Conflict in Israel-Gaza

The Israel-Gaza conflict continues to escalate, with significant casualties and military actions impacting civilians, particularly children. Israeli forces have expanded their offensive in Gaza, resulting in over 600 Palestinian deaths since Tuesday, including approximately 200 children under 18.

Recent Developments and Humanitarian Impact

Israel issued a fresh evacuation order across Gaza, urging residents to move to "safe areas" or leave the region altogether. Despite the ceasefire, tensions remain high as Hamas retaliated with rocket fire into Tel Aviv, prompting Israeli airstrikes.

John Donison, spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, highlighted the ongoing threats:

"Israel is fighting to achieve its war goals, returning all of our hostages, dismantling Hamas's military and governing capabilities..." [23:38]

The humanitarian situation is dire, with schools closing again and families struggling to survive amidst the relentless conflict. Civilians like 13-year-old Judy from Khan Yunis are forced to take on roles beyond their years to support their communities.

International Responses and Appeals

The international community remains concerned about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Meanwhile, scientific advancements continue to be reported amidst the conflict, showcasing the ongoing pursuit of knowledge even in turbulent times.

---

6. Breakthrough in Astrophysics: Oxygen in the Most Distant Galaxy

Astronomers have made a groundbreaking discovery by detecting oxygen in the most distant galaxy ever observed, challenging existing theories about the universe's early development. This finding suggests that the universe expanded and evolved much faster after the Big Bang than previously believed.

Implications of the Discovery

Carol Haswell, professor of astrophysics at the Open University, emphasized the significance of finding oxygen, a crucial element for life:

"Oxygen is one of the building blocks of life... it means that it's possible that life like us formed earlier than we thought." [25:10]

The discovery was made using data from the European Southern Observatory and the ALMA telescope in Chile. The presence of oxygen 13.4 billion years ago indicates that star systems and chemical processes capable of producing such elements were active much sooner than scientists had anticipated.

Scientific Community’s Reaction

The astrophysical community views this as a pivotal moment, prompting a reevaluation of chemical evolution and galaxy formation theories. The unexpected presence of oxygen in such an ancient galaxy opens new avenues for research into the conditions that prevailed during the universe's infancy.

---

7. Auction of Jean Luc Godard’s 'Breathless' Script

The screenplay of Jean Luc Godard's iconic French New Wave film Breathless (À bout de souffle) is set to be auctioned by Sotheby's in Paris this June. Valued at an estimated $650,000, the 70-page handwritten script offers a rare glimpse into the creative process of one of cinema’s most influential directors.

Significance of the Script

Breathless, released in 1959, is celebrated for its innovative narrative and avant-garde filming techniques. Godard famously often improvised scenes and adjusted dialogue on the fly, making his handwritten script a valuable artifact that captures the film's spontaneous essence.

Hugh Scofield of the BBC reported:

"Jean Luc Godard never wrote a complete script... so the script auctioned is at best a partial script. Large parts of the film were simply never put down on paper." [27:20]

Cinematic Legacy and Auction Details

The film features memorable performances by Jean Paul Belmondo and Gene Seberg, particularly noted for its unconventional ending. The auction highlights the enduring legacy of Breathless and Godard’s pivotal role in shaping modern cinema.

---

Conclusion

This episode of the Global News Podcast delves into pivotal global events, from significant political shifts in the U.S. education system and the historic election within the IOC to the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. Additionally, it touches upon remarkable scientific discoveries and cultural milestones, providing listeners with comprehensive coverage and expert insights. For those interested in further discussion, the podcast invites participation through emails and upcoming Q&A sessions.

Contact and Further Information:
Email: [e-mail]
Social Media: @BBCWorldService on X (formerly Twitter) with the hashtag #lobalnewspod.

---

This summary was produced based on the transcript provided and aims to encapsulate all key points discussed in the episode for listeners and non-listeners alike.

Transcript

[Robin Ince]

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the uk. Hello, I'm Robin Ince.

[Brian Cox]

And I'm Brian Cox. And we would like to tell you about the new series of the Infinite Monkey Cage. We're going to have a planet off Jupiter versus Scepter. It's very well done that, because in the script it does say wrestling voice.

[Robin Ince]

After all of that, it's going to kind of chill out a bit and talk about ice.

[Brian Cox]

And also in this series we're discussing history of music recording with Brian Eno and looking at nature shapes.

[Robin Ince]

So listen wherever you get your podcasts.

[Valerie Sanderson]

This is the global News podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Valerie Sanderson and in the early hours of Friday, 21st March, these are our main stories. President Trump signs an executive order to dismantle the US Department of Education. The first woman, first African and youngest ever International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry wins at an election held in Greece. As ceasefire negotiations continue, President Zelensky tells EU leaders that Russia must stop making unnecessary demands that prolong the war in Ukraine. Also in this podcast, thousands of protesters have defied a government ban and rallied for a second day in Istanbul over the arrest of the city's mayor, a key rival, Turkey's President Erdogan.

[Donald Trump]

If his candidacy is blocked, this will lead to much higher support for him.

[Brian Cox]

Because people in Turkey will not allow.

[Donald Trump]

Their ballot box rights to be denied.

[Valerie Sanderson]

And why the script of the groundbreaking French film breathless could fetch $650,000. It was one of Donald Trump's chief pledges in the run up to the 2024 election. And in the last few hours, the president has signed an executive order disman the Department of Education, the body which oversees public school funding, student loans and programs for low income students. Speaking at the White House, Mr. Trump accused the department of breathtaking failures, claiming that the US hadn't done well in education for a long time.

[Donald Trump]

We're going to be returning education very simply back to the states where it belongs. And this is a very popular thing to do. But much more importantly, it's a common sense thing to do and it's going to work. Absolutely, it's going to work. And I can tell you from dealing with the governors and others in the state, they want it so badly. They want to take their children back and really teach their children individually. Probably the cost will be half and the education will be maybe many, many times better.

[Valerie Sanderson]

The Department of Education has a budget of $268 billion, 4,400 staff and affects 50 million public school students. The Democrats have described the as reckless. Joanna Masker is a former White House advisor who served in the Obama administration.

[Elon Musk]

It may make people feel better that.

[Donald Trump]

They feel like they have control because look, we all want our kids to.

[Elon Musk]

Have the best education.

[Donald Trump]

But if we don't have the best data and the best tools at every state level, we have 50 different Department of Educations competing with all of the countries that are providing those resources to their students.

[Valerie Sanderson]

Our North America correspondent Merlin Thomas is following developments on his own.

[Merlin Thomas]

President Trump cannot scrap the entire department. It was set up with congressional approval and so it will need congressional approval to dismantle it as well. And that is not something that is likely to happen because Republicans would need 60 votes in the Senate, it would need a supermajority. And that's not something that is happen. It's a political long shot. And even in the House of Representatives, President Trump would likely struggle to gain the necessary support as well. And just as a reminder, there was a vote last year to abolish the Education Department and that was attached to another amendment as well, but that failed to pass because 60 Republicans joined Democrats in the House to vote no. So like a lot of other President Trumps policy moves, this is likely to just go into court and legal battles.

[Valerie Sanderson]

But what impact is this executive order going to have now?

[Merlin Thomas]

So President Trump and his Republican supporters and other Republicans have been keen to emphasize that this will really help the test scores in schools and they blame the department for those test results. But actually a lot of the funding so individual states already control almost 90% of money that educates children does lie with the federal department is actually provision of support for disabled and low income students. So a lot of critics of this move are saying that the people who are going to be losing out are those children who are more disadvantaged, those who are from low income backgrounds, those who receive particular grants like Pell grants and those are the ones that are federally funded and federally distributed as well.

[Valerie Sanderson]

And what's the reaction among people say who have children at school?

[Merlin Thomas]

There's a mixed reaction from people who have children at school. I mean some Republican supporters are very enthusiastic about this. This has been something that has been a long standing wish of the Republican Party. But otherwise the elected adviser Elon Musk celebrated with a picture of Donald Trump and a grave saying Department of Education with a thumbs up. So very mixed reactions.

[Valerie Sanderson]

Merlin Thomas in the history of the modern Olympics, the nine presidents of the International Olympic Committee have all been men, every one of them from Europe or United States. So the news that a woman and an African has been chosen as the new head of the IOC is making waves, appropriately for a former swimmer who won two gold medals at the games held in Athens. In Beijing, Kirsty Coventry, currently serving as Zimbabwe's sport minister, won the secret ballot at a luxury resort not far from Mount Olympus in Greece. She had this to say after it was announced she'll hold sports highest office for at least the next eight years. As a nine year old girl, I never thought that I would be standing up here one day getting to give back to this incredible movement of ours. This race was an incredible race and it made us better, made us a stronger movement. I know from all of the conversations that I've had with every single one of you how much stronger our movement is going to be when we now come back together and deliver on some of those ideas that we all shared. It was an emphatic win over six other candidates bidding for the job. But for a governing body with a history of corruption and scandals, what will Kirsty Coventry hope to achieve in her presidency? BBC Sports Alex Capstick is in Costa Navarino in Greece.

[Donald Trump]

It's absolutely an historic day, one that not so long ago people thought wouldn't happen for decades. They felt that the safest Bush would be another man. That hasn't happened. They've gone with, with Kirsty Coventry in the build up and she didn't want the fact that she was a female to be the reason why she was chosen. She wanted to be picked because she's the right person for the, for the job. But she did say she would bring a different set of skills to the role, some softer skills and that would help the movement and in fact all the other contenders. Just before I spoke to you, they were saying that it's good that a former athlete is in charge of the movement. I think what was surprising is that she won in the first round. This was the race that was said to be very, very close, very fine margins. Nobody thought with 7 Canc that one of them would get 50 plus 1% in the first round of voting and that Kjersti Coventry did that. And so, yeah, it was not a massive surprise she has won, but a surprise she did it so quickly.

[Valerie Sanderson]

And what are the main issues do you think she faces first? Are you thinking of Russia's involvement in future games, drugs and the whole transgender issue in sport?

[Donald Trump]

Well, I think initially she probably has to convince the world that she's the right person. She's very young, only 41 years old. Much younger than any other previous IOC president, by far the youngest of the of the candidates. She is the current sports minister of Zimbabwe and she has been asked about that and she says she's there because it is better to make change from within. As for the IOC role, this will be something that she has never experienced before in terms of a global prestigious role like this. It's one with huge challenges ahead. She's certainly got enough support from within the ioc. And it was said that Thomas back, the outgoing president, was lobbying on her behalf and no one has actually confirmed that and they won't isn't allowed. But the challenges that she faces are. Well, there's lots of them and they're mainly on the horizon because the IOC is in a financially stable position that had a successful Games in Paris. But coming up, there are some dark clouds. The LA Games dealing with Donald Trump, who said that he's going to not allow transgender athletes who want to compete in the female category from entering the usa. Athletes from other countries may struggle to get visas as well. So that's something she's got to look at closely. And then there's Russia's reintegration. If peace is made between Russia and Ukraine, that won't be welcomed by all sports and all national federations. And then climate change. A lot of athletes, hundreds of athletes in fact, have written to the IRC demanding that the new president put climate change and sustainability right at the top of their list of priorities.

[Valerie Sanderson]

Alex Kapstick A day after speaking to President Trump on ending the war in Ukraine, President Zelensky has been addressing European Union leaders on the need to not give in to Vladimir Putin. Mr. Zelensky told them that the Russian leader must stop making what he called unnecessary demands that prolong the war in Ukraine. As well as political support. The Ukrainian president also called for more military aid.

[Donald Trump]

We need funds for artillery shells and would really appreciate Europe's support with at least 5 billion euros as soon as possible. Investments in weapons production are needed both in Ukraine and in your countries. Everything necessary to defend the continent should be produced here in Europe. We must work toward this together.

[Valerie Sanderson]

EU leaders have been meeting in Brussels to discuss the economic and military challenges facing the continent. Our Europe regional editor, Danny Eberhard, is there and told me more about whether President Zelensky had got what he wanted.

[Robin Ince]

In terms of military aid. Val? Probably not. He did get some commitment of backing from the EU's foreign policy chief, Kaya Kallas on that request. Therefore, about $5 billion worth of artillery shells. And she's proposed an initiative for EU members to get involved in delivering about 2 million large caliber artillery shells this year to Ukraine. That hasn't actually been endorsed though, by EU leaders. So for the moment, it's just a proposal. Obviously, Ukraine can't get enough military aid as things stand. We obviously recently had a pause of US Military aid that has since reset started. But there are ongoing clashes on the both on the front line and also strikes, obviously both from Russia against Ukraine and also Ukrainian drone strikes against Russian territory as well. So the combat, despite cease fire talk, is still very much ongoing.

[Valerie Sanderson]

How united are European Union leaders in their attitude to President Zelensky and what's going on in Ukraine?

[Robin Ince]

There's very broad support for Ukraine. It's not unanimous. The big naysayer is Hungary, Viktor Orban. He's an ally of President Trump. He very much believes in President Trump's push to to get some sort of rapprochement with Russia. He believes that the time is to be speaking peace and not. He has never backed military aid for Ukraine. So as regards the summit's position on Ukraine, it was backed by all 26 countries, but not the 27th, which is Hungary. There is other nuances within that. So there are, for example, some countries in southern Europe are more interested in some of the challenges they face rather than the challenges that countries in the EU on the eastern front with Russia are facing. So countries like Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, they're obviously much more concerned about the military threat from Russia than a country like Spain or Portugal, for example.

[Valerie Sanderson]

How far do you think is the EU willing to continue to support President Trump's efforts to end the war?

[Robin Ince]

This is a difficult one for the EU because it obviously has a lot of reservations about President Trump's moves and the some of what seem like concessions he's made in advance of talks with Russia. But it's treading a very delicate diplomatic line. The Europe still depends very much on the US Security umbrella, as does Ukraine, for military support against Russia. So it's backing President Trump's push for a ceasefire, but it stresses this is not just about Ukraine's security, it's about Europe security as well. And what's needed is a durable, comprehensive ceasefire in Ukraine so that Russia doesn't restart an aggression later on.

[Valerie Sanderson]

Danny Eberhard well, one issue worrying leaders of countries near Russia is where President Putin might attack next. Many are concerned he may set his sights on the city of Narva in Estonia, where almost all the nearly 60,000 people living there speak Russian, and which is situated just across the river Narva from Russia itself from there. Our Europe editor, Katja Adler sent us this report.

[Donald Trump]

NATO, you are cleared for takeoff.

[Katja Adler]

This is no ordinary plane ride. I'm on a very loud NATO surveillance plane, a 707 with a huge mushroom looking radar on top of the aircraft flying over the Baltic states. As I walk down the aisle, instead of rows of seats, I'm looking at rows of desks with NATO personnel scanning computer screens, searching for suspicious activity below by Russia.

[Annetta]

My name is Annetta and I'm the surveillance controller. We can see two military fighters over there.

[Merlin Thomas]

We assume it's Russian activity over Kaliningrad.

[Katja Adler]

So NATO's showing its presence and they're showing theirs.

[Donald Trump]

Exactly.

[Katja Adler]

Can see Estonia clearly below us. It's policing missions like this and NATO membership. Full stop. That for a long time has made the Baltics feel safe. But Donald Trump is changing that with his far more open attitude towards Moscow and his very clear message for Europe that US military backing can no longer be taken for granted. That sent a chill through NATO members in the Baltic. I'm in the northern town of Narva, by the river of the same name dividing Estonia from Russia. There's a medieval looking fortress either side of the river, one flying the Russian, the other the Estonian flag. And in between, the bridge, one of Europe's last pedestrian crossings still open to Russia. I've come to speak to border police chief Eggert Belichev. Estonia's security services say Moscow is constantly testing them.

[Donald Trump]

We have a border with the Russian Federation. It's 338 km. There is constant provocations and constant tensions on the border. We know all the tricks and there is a constant GPS signal jamming. It has huge consequences also how we are able to carry out our tasks on the border.

[Katja Adler]

I'm coming out of the customs area where the border police are, back into the driving snow and past a huge queue of shivering people, many of them with cases, waiting to cross over into Russia. Excuse me, how long are you going to Russia for?

[Valerie Sanderson]

I'm going for two weeks.

[Merlin Thomas]

My son study there.

[Valerie Sanderson]

I have a Russian passport and an Estonian ID card.

[Katja Adler]

A whopping 96% of people in this part of Estonia are mother tongue Russian speakers. And Estonia worries that a confident Vladimir Putin could use this big ethnic Russian community here as an excuse to invade. It's a playbook he's used before in Georgia and Ukraine. Would NATO allies risk war with nuclear power Russia to defend this tiny corner of tiny Estonia? It's a question for Estonia's Defence Minister, Hanno Pevkor.

[Donald Trump]

We have to trust our allies also Americans.

[Katja Adler]

President Trump has said lots of different things about NATO.

[Donald Trump]

I'm quite confident that attacking just even the peace of Estonia, this is the attack. And this is the question then to all the 32 members, are we together or not?

[Katja Adler]

Mixed messages from Washington and a fear the US could pull out or at least reduce troop presence in Europe means Estonia looks ever more to European allies like the UK, which promises to boost its permanent presence here.

[Annetta]

Major Alex Humphries, I'm one of the squadron leaders here with the Royal Dragoon Guards Battle Group and Estonia.

[Katja Adler]

Is it Estonia asking you to do this or is it saying we feel vulnerable, we feel exposed?

[Annetta]

I think NATO at large feels exposed, feels the quite prominent and clear threat that is coming from the Russian Federation. We don't want this to come to war, but if it does come to war, we're fully integrated, fully prepared to deliver lethal effect to protect Estonia.

[Valerie Sanderson]

Major Alex Humphreys ending that report by Katja Adler in Estonia. And as you may know, we broadcast a special Q and A podcast on Ukraine a couple of weeks ago, but we're still getting emails. So we're going to do it all over again at the beginning of April. If you'd like to get involved, please do send us your questions on the war, peace negotiations, Donald Trump's intervention and anything else. Our email address is globalpodcastbc.co.uk and if possible, please record your question as a voice note. Still to come in this podcast, it's possible that in some galaxy a long.

[Annetta]

Way away, life like us formed earlier than we thought. It's kind of mind boggling that we're.

[Merlin Thomas]

Even able to learn things like this.

[Valerie Sanderson]

Scientists have found further evidence that the universe expanded much faster than previously thought after the Big Bang.

[Robin Ince]

Hello, I'm Robin Ince.

[Brian Cox]

And I'm Brian Cox. And we would like to tell you about the new series of the Infinite Monkey Cage. We're gonna have a planet off Jupiter versus Scepter. Well, it's very well done that, because in the script it does say wrestling voice.

[Robin Ince]

After all of that, it's gonna kind of chill out a bit and talk about ice.

[Brian Cox]

And also in this series, we're discussing history, music recording with Brian Eno and looking at nature's shapes.

[Robin Ince]

So listen wherever you get your podcasts.

[Valerie Sanderson]

Thousands of demonstrators have defied a ban on public protests in Istanbul in support of the city's detained mayor, Ekreb Imamolu, the main rival to President Erdogan. He was arrested days before he was due to be Named as presidential candidate, police have reportedly fired rubber bullets and tear gas at his supporters. His party's leader, Ozgo Ozel, accused the government of attempting a coup. He's also said President Erdogan is afraid of the election.

[Donald Trump]

We think we will win with Imamolu as our presidential candidate, and if his candidacy is blocked, this will lead to.

[Brian Cox]

Much higher support for him because people.

[Donald Trump]

In Turkey will not allow their ballot box rights to be denied.

[Valerie Sanderson]

Our correspondent Emily Wither is in Istanbul.

[Elon Musk]

It definitely feels very tense in Istanbul, and we're seeing pressure build on the streets now for a second night, not only in Istanbul, but also in the capital Ankara, with demonstrators going out onto the streets and protesting the detention of the very popular mayor here, Ekrem Imomolu. There have also been calls already from the opposition party, the chp, which Imamolu belongs to, calling for major rallies tomorrow in 14 cities and 21 provinces. And this is despite a government ban on protests. We are seeing the protests, some of them, being violently broken up by the police. We expect that to continue in the coming days. We've heard from Erdogan for the first time on all of this, and the language that he used was a lot softer compared to when he usually wants to attack the opposition. So he said tonight that the opposition were just seeking to cover up internal mistakes. And this is much softer language compared to what we heard from Ekrem Imomolu earlier. The detained mayor, who's in custody, custody, he took to social media, and he appeared to share a message aimed directly at President Erdogan. He accused him of corruption, and he called on members of the ruling AK Party and the judiciary to oppose any injustice. And despite the fact that Imamolu at this point is very likely to be charged and imprisoned, the CHP have said that they are going to go ahead with their internal ballot, which will see around 1.5 million members voting for Emolu to be their next presidential candidate in any future election. Elections. They've also called for something else, which really could cause a lot of problems on the streets. They have said that they're going to place ballot boxes all over towns and cities across Turkey, and they're calling on ordinary members of the public to go out and place a symbolic vote in support of Ekrem Imamolu. And we also heard from the Turkish opposition leader today, Ozge Ozel, and he's made an international plea asking for help. He asked Europe, what are you going to do about this injustice? And he said that the EU should not sacrifice Turkey's democracy.

[Valerie Sanderson]

Emily, wither Hamas said its attack on Tel Aviv on Thursday was in response to the massacre of hundreds of civilians from Jerusalem. Here's Don done.

[John Donison]

It was another day of mass casualties in Gaza. More than 80 Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes, bringing the total number to almost 600 since Tuesday, according to the Ministry of Health, which operates under Hamas. Israel's military issued a fresh evacuation order across much of the strip as it expanded its offensive. It dropped leaflets in residential areas telling people to move to so called safe areas or even to leave Gaza. How or where to, nobody knows. Up until now, Hamas has not responded militarily to Israel breaking the ceasefire that changed this afternoon when it sent three rockets into Israel. David Mentzer is the spokesperson for the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

[Annetta]

Two hours ago, sirens sounded across central Israel as three rockets were fired from southern Gaza. Our air force intercepted one and two.

[Donald Trump]

Landed in open areas. Israel is fighting to achieve its war goals, returning all of our hostages, dismantling Hamas's military and governing capabilities and removing.

[Annetta]

The terrorist threat from Gaza.

[Donald Trump]

To the people of Gaza, we say.

[Annetta]

Very clearly stay away from Hamas.

[Donald Trump]

Move to safer areas.

[John Donison]

Among those suffering the most are Gaza's children. Around 200 of those killed this week have been under the age of 18. Schools across the strip, which had reopened briefly during the two month long ceasefire, are now closed again. Thirteen year old Judy in Khan Yunis now has to teach her younger friends.

[Elon Musk]

I feel fear and sadness because there will be bloodshed again.

[Valerie Sanderson]

There won't be security and safety anymore. When we had the ceasefire, we felt a bit safe. I could go to school and we were happy.

[John Donison]

For Gazan families, the struggle to survive goes on. The Israeli government blames Hamas. It says Gaza faces complete destruction if Hamas isn't eliminated and all hostages returned.

[Valerie Sanderson]

John Donison Astronomers say they believe the universe may have developed much faster than previously thought. They've unexpectedly found evidence of oxygen in the most distant known galaxy, something which is only usually seen after the death of a star. One of the scientists said it was like finding a teenager when you expected to find a baby. Nikki Cardwell reports.

[Annetta]

The cosmos in its infinite complexity has once again defied astronomers expectations. Teams of scientists have been examining photos of the most distant galaxy ever detected that were taken by the European Southern Observatory and the ALMA telescope in Chile. Because of the length of time it takes for light to reach Earth, the images portray what happened in this star system 13.4 billion years ago at the beginning of the cosmic dawn, not long after the Big Bang. Scientists had thought that at just 300 million years old. The galaxy was very early in its life. It should not have contained oxygen, because this only usually appears after the collapse of stars within the system. Carol Haswell is a professor of astrophysics at the Open University. She says this discovery is important because oxygen is one of the building blocks of life. It does mean that it's possible that.

[Valerie Sanderson]

You know, in some galaxy a long.

[Annetta]

Way away, life like us formed earlier than we thought. It's kind of mind boggling that we're.

[Merlin Thomas]

Even able to learn things like this.

[Annetta]

So I think it's exciting. The discovery challenges current theories about how chemicals evolve and how early galaxies are formed. It appears they develop much faster than had previously been thought. The photos themselves and this discovery are a rare glimpse into the infancy of the universe.

[Valerie Sanderson]

Nikki Cardwell Aboud de Souffle, or Breathless, as it's known to many, is the French New Wave film that critics revere as a masterpiece of cinema. Its director, Jean Luc Godard, never wrote a complete script, sometimes simply making it up as he went along or writing dialogue the night before he shot any scenes. It was a technique that matched the freewheeling camera style of the movie, which was filmed back in 1959. Goddard's only known handwritten script for Breathless, which stretches to 70 pages, will be auctioned by Sotheby's in Paris in June, and it'll possibly fetch as much as $650,000. As Hugh Squeford reports.

[Hugh Scofield]

From the opening sequence with cocky tough guy Jean Paul Belmondo driving through rural France and nonchalantly sh. Shooting dead a traffic cop, you know, you're watching a revolution in cinema. As Jean Luc Godard later said of his generation of New Wave directors, we walked into cinema like cavemen into Versailles. The love interest in Breathless was the American Gene Seberg.

[Donald Trump]

New York Herald. New York Herald.

[Hugh Scofield]

It was all made on the hoof in Paris with a tiny budget, minimal lighting and a handheld camera. Oh yes, and a script that kept changing. Jean Luc Godard said his best inspirations came at the last minute. So often the actors were more or less improvising. It means that this document, put on sale now by the widow of the film's producer, is at best a partial script. Large parts of the film were simply never put down on paper. Not that it matters. All the classic bits are there, notably the ending when the dying Belmondo, just shot by police on the street, looks up at Seaberg and says, you're disgusting. To which she replies, que?

[Valerie Sanderson]

Que c'est des glaces?

[Hugh Scofield]

What is disgusting?

[Valerie Sanderson]

Hugh Scofield in Paris. And that's au revoir 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 hashtaglobalnewspod. This edition was mixed by Philip Ball. The producer was Stephanie Tillotson. The editor is Karen Martin. I'm Valerie Sanderson. Until next time. Bye bye.

[Robin Ince]

Hello, I'm Robin Ince.

[Brian Cox]

And I'm Brian Cox. And we would like to tell you about the new series of the Infinite Monkey Cage. We're going to have a planet off Jupiter versus Scepter. That was very well done, that, because in the script it does say wrestling voice.

[Robin Ince]

After all of that, it's going to kind of chill out a bit and talk about ice.

[Brian Cox]

And also in this series, we're discussing history of music recording with Brian Eno and looking at nature's shapes.

[Robin Ince]

So listen, wherever you get your podcasts.