US demands Panama 'reduce China's influence' over canal

Summary

Global News Podcast Summary
BBC World Service | Episode: US demands Panama 'reduce China's influence' over canal | Released: February 3, 2025

---

1. US-Panama Tensions Over the Panama Canal

Overview:
The United States has formally demanded that Panama curtail what it perceives as excessive Chinese influence over the Panama Canal. This move has heightened diplomatic tensions between the two nations, with implications for global trade dynamics.

Key Developments:

• US Position:
  The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, conveyed strong concerns regarding China's involvement in the Panama Canal. In a statement following talks with Panamanian President José Raúl Molino, Rubio emphasized that "China's influence threatens the canal and that immediate changes are needed or the US would act" (02:30).

• Panama's Stance:
  President Molino firmly rejected the US claims, asserting Panama's sovereignty over the canal. He proposed technical-level discussions to address the issues, stating, "There is no doubt that the canal is operated by our country and it will continue to be so" (02:09).

• Diplomatic Fallout:
  Guy Hedgeko, the State Department correspondent in Panama, highlighted the escalating tensions: "The US believes that Panama is allowing China's influence and control over the canal... this will be seen by most Panamanians as threatening" (02:30). He noted that Panama has begun scaling back Chinese investments in local infrastructure in response to US pressures.

Notable Quotes:

• Marco Rubio:
  "If they don't take immediate measures to change that, the US will take necessary measures to protect our rights in the treaty" (02:30).

• President Molino:
  "I do not think there is any discrepancy in that... President Trump has his opinion about the Chinese presence, which will be clarified at the appropriate time in the technical discussion of the canal" (02:09).

---

2. US Imposes Tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China

Overview:
President Donald Trump announced wide-ranging tariffs on the US's three largest trading partners: Canada, Mexico, and China. This decision is poised to ignite retaliatory measures, potentially sparking a significant trade war.

Key Developments:

• Details of Tariffs:

  • Canada and Mexico: 25% tariffs on imports.
  • China: 10% tariffs on imports.

• US Justification:
  Trump defended the tariffs as a necessary cost to "make America great again," emphasizing long-term economic benefits despite short-term pain (04:24).

• International Reactions:

  • Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau: Promised retaliatory tariffs and urged Canadians to prioritize local products and reconsider travel plans to the US (07:13).
  • Mexico's Response: Announced tariffs affecting key exports like fruit and beer, with 80% of their exports destined for the US (07:13).

• Economic Implications:
  Economists predict increased inflation and higher prices in the US, which could erode public support for the tariffs. David Willis noted, "Economists are predicting that they could drive up prices here and thereby fuel inflation" (05:42).

Notable Quotes:

• David Willis:
  "If [prices] drive up here and fuel inflation... support could evaporate very quickly indeed" (05:42).

• Trump on Social Media:
  "I believe these tariffs will keep jobs in this country, will ease the trade deficits and will boost revenue, potentially bringing in hundreds of billions of dollars to the US treasury" (05:42).

---

3. Escalating Conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

Overview:
The city of Goma in the DRC has been captured by the M23 rebel group backed by Rwanda, leading to widespread displacement and humanitarian crises.

Key Developments:

• Capture of Goma:
  M23 rebels overwhelmed government forces, seizing key locations including the Kihihi police post and the office of North Kivu's governor (09:16).

• Humanitarian Impact:
  Over 400,000 people have fled their homes, and hospitals are overwhelmed with casualties. Paul Njie reported, "On the first day of fighting, we received 315 patients... Some were injured by flying objects caused by explosions" (10:15).

• Current Situation:
  While daily life exhibits signs of normality with businesses reopening, the presence of armed rebels and leftover military ordnance poses ongoing dangers. The Congolese government denies full control loss but acknowledges the rebels' substantial presence (10:48).

Notable Quotes:

• Paul Njie:
  "My hand was shot and I screamed for help... There are grenades and live ammo, which can be very dangerous" (10:24).

• Superintendent Darren Newman:
  "We will put all investigative resources into attempting to catch those offenders... We will make sure that we go after every single person involved in these offences" (24:26).

---

4. Trial of Spain's Former Football Federation President Luis Rubiales

Overview:
Luis Rubiales faces trial for sexual assault charges following a controversial incident during the Spanish women's football team’s World Cup victory celebration in 2023.

Key Developments:

• Incident Details:
  After winning the World Cup, Rubiales kissed a team member without her consent, sparking widespread outrage and protests demanding his removal from the federation (14:00).

• Legal Proceedings:
  Rubiales is charged not only with sexual assault but also with coercion, attempting to manipulate testimonies to portray the kiss as consensual. Three former federation members are also facing coercion charges (14:00).

• Rubiales' Defense:
  He maintains that the kiss was consensual and criticizes the case as being fueled by "false feminists" (14:55).

Notable Quotes:

• Rubiales:
  "It was a consensual kiss... There's no case to be answered here" (14:55).

• Former US Special Envoy Frank Loewenstein:
  "Netanyahu has made promises to his coalition members that he will resume the war and that very much serves his own personal and political interests" (20:25).

---

5. Surge in Anti-Semitic Attacks in Australia Amid Gaza Conflict

Overview:
Following the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, Australia has experienced a troubling rise in anti-Semitic incidents targeting Jewish communities.

Key Developments:

• Recent Incidents:

  • Five Jewish women at Sydney's Bondi Beach had eggs thrown at them accompanied by verbal abuse (23:05).
  • Explosives were found in a caravan, suspected to be linked to anti-Semitic motives.
  • Melbourne's oldest synagogue was set on fire in December (23:35).

• Law Enforcement Response:
  Australian police are intensifying efforts to identify and apprehend those responsible, dedicating extensive resources to investigate these attacks (25:13).

• Community Impact:
  The Jewish population, exceeding 100,000, faces increased fear and security measures, including heightened protection at schools (25:13).

Notable Quotes:

• Superintendent Darren Newman:
  "We will make sure that we go after every single person involved in these offences" (24:26).

• Gina Ferrer:
  "I'm not going to allow them to win. We're going to live our lives and we're proud. We're Australian, we're Jewish, and there's nothing wrong with that" (25:15).

---

6. Bill Gates Reflects on His Early Years and Legacy

Overview:
Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft and founder of the Gates Foundation, discusses his upcoming memoir "Source Code" and reflects on his childhood and personal development.

Key Highlights:

• Memoir Insights:
  Gates reveals that he believes he would now be diagnosed as neurodiverse, attributing some of his success to traits associated with this condition (26:11).

• Childhood Anecdotes:
  Gates reminisces about his early fascination with computers, often sneaking out to use them despite parental restrictions. His dedication led to a partnership with a local company to maintain the first teletype computer systems available at his school (27:10).

• Legacy and Philanthropy:
  Through the Gates Foundation, he continues to combat poverty, disease, and inequality globally, aiming to cement his legacy beyond his technological achievements (25:47).

Notable Quotes:

• Bill Gates:
  "It's not that there's some medicine that, you know, when you get this diagnosis, you take it, then your social skills are fantastic... the positive characteristics for my career have been more beneficial than the deficits have been a problem for me" (29:07).

• Bill Gates:
  "We would prepare your program and then call into the computer... It was an obsession" (28:48).

---

7. Ongoing Israel-Palestine Ceasefire Negotiations

Overview:
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is en route to Washington to meet with President Trump, marking the first foreign leader visit since Trump's inauguration. The discussions are anticipated to focus on solidifying a permanent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, among other strategic issues.

Key Developments:

• Ceasefire Status:
  The first phase of the ceasefire in Gaza has generally been holding, but the second phase, aiming for a lasting truce, remains unresolved (17:06).

• Negotiation Challenges:
  Frank Loewenstein, former US Special Envoy for Middle East Peace, suggests that Netanyahu and Trump have divergent agendas. While Trump seeks to end the war and normalize relations with Saudi Arabia, Netanyahu is reportedly committed to defeating Hamas, potentially undermining ceasefire efforts (19:27).

• Possible Outcomes:
  Loewenstein predicts that without significant pressure from Trump, Netanyahu may delay substantive negotiations, citing Hamas's intransigence as a pretext to resume hostilities once the ceasefire period lapses (22:04).

Notable Quotes:

• Frank Loewenstein:
  "Netanyahu will play for time and then he'll claim that the Hamas folks are being impossible... whether he moves back from that position will depend... on how much pressure Trump is willing to put on him politically" (20:29).

• Netanyahu (Paraphrased):
  Focused on eliminating Hamas and emphasizing that "nothing wrong" with shifting blame to them over time (21:31).

---

Conclusion:
This episode of the Global News Podcast covers a spectrum of international issues, from escalating geopolitical tensions between the US and Panama over China's influence in the Panama Canal to domestic challenges such as rising anti-Semitism in Australia and high-profile legal trials in Spain. Additionally, the podcast delves into humanitarian crises in the DRC and reflections from influential figures like Bill Gates. Each segment provides listeners with in-depth analysis and firsthand accounts, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the day's top stories.

---

Notable Speakers:

• Alex Ritson: Host
• Tom Bateman: Reporter/Correspondent
• Guy Hedgeko: State Department Correspondent
• Paul Njie: BBC Team Member in DRC
• Camilla Mills: Reporter
• Katie Brazel: Culture and Media Editor
• Frank Loewenstein: Former US Special Envoy for Middle East Peace

---

For more detailed discussions and updates, listeners are encouraged to tune into the Global News Podcast on their preferred platforms.

---

Timestamp Key:

• (MM:SS): Indicates the specific time in the podcast where each quote or event occurs.

---

Transcript

[Nicola Coughlan]

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK. I'm Nicola Coughlan and for BBC Radio 4, this is History's Youngest Heroes. Rebellion, risk and the radical power of youth. She thought, right, I'll just do it.

[Alex Ritson]

She thought about others rather than herself.

[David Willis]

Twelve stories of extraordinary young people from across history.

[Tom Bateman]

There's a real sense of urgency in them. That resistance has to be mounted. It has to be mounted now.

[Nicola Coughlan]

Follow History's Youngest Heroes wherever you get your podcasts. This is the Global News podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Alex Ritson and in the early hours of Monday 3rd February, these are our main stories. The US Secretary of State has told Panama to reduce what he believes is Chinese influence on the canal or face the consequences. But prompting outrage, President Trump has said any pain brought by the tariffs he's imposed on America's biggest trade partners will be worth it in the long run. Also in this podcast, our decisions and the courage of our soldiers have redrawn the map. But I believe that working closely with President Trump, we can redraw it even further and for the better. Israel's Prime Minister en route to being the first foreign leader to be received by President Trump since his inauguration, one of Donald Trump's key campaign pledges was of the United States to take back control of the Panama Canal, which connects the Caribbean to the Pacific. He claimed that China has too much influence over the waterway. His top diplomat, Marco Rubio, has been in Panama for talks with the President, Jose Raul Molino. After the talks, the US Secretary of State said that China's influence threatened the canal and that immediate changes were needed or the US Would act. The President of Panama says the canal belongs to Panama, but he proposed technical level talks to resolve the issue.

[Tom Bateman]

There is no doubt that the canal is operated by our country and it will continue to be so. I do not think there is any discrepancy in that. President Trump has his opinion about the Chinese presence, which will be clarified at the appropriate time in the technical discussion of the canal.

[Nicola Coughlan]

I got more from our State Department correspondent Tom Bateman, who is in Panama.

[Guy Hedgeko]

We already had a diplomatic standoff here between the US and the Panamanian government, and after that two hour meeting between Mr. Rubio and Mr. Molino, it only seems to have escalated A statement that was put out by the State Department directly after or shortly after the meeting, not mincing its words, and we have Mr. Rubio now saying that the US believes that Panama is allowing China's influence and control over the canal and basically says if they don't take immediate measures to change that, that the US Will take necessary measures, as they put it, to protect their rights in a treaty that was signed decades ago between the US And Panama, which basically says control of the Panama Canal by the Panamanians has to remain neutral. So language, I think that will be seen by most Panamanians as threatening from the US Here and really deepening this diplomatic standoff, as I say, between these two countries.

[Nicola Coughlan]

So President Molino has made some concessions.

[Guy Hedgeko]

It appears he's made some concessions over the months, really ever since Donald Trump was elected in November. And it became clear that this may become a point of tension. We've seen the Panamanians start to ease off some of the contracts or at least the proposed investments that they had from Chinese firms in some infrastructure here in Panama. But the bigger issue about what the US Alleges is Chinese control over the canal, which the Panamanians completely reject. They say this is a complete misinterpretation of the fact that a Hong Kong based company has a majority control of two of the five ports close to the canal. They say that the US Is basically turning this into an issue which they say it is not. The American position is that Beijing could sort of close the canal in the event of a trade war.

[Nicola Coughlan]

Tom Bateman in Panama. On Tuesday, President Trump will impose wide ranging tariffs on the United States three biggest trading partners, Canada, Mexico and China. All three countries have vowed to respond with retaliatory measures. Mexican and Canadian imports will be subject to a 25% tariff. Chinese imports face duties of 10%. Defending his decision, Mr. Trump said there may be some pain, but that it was a price worth paying. Speaking to the BBC, the former leader of Canada's Liberal Party, Michael Ignatieff, said that many Canadians were astonished by Mr. Trump's move.

[Tom Bateman]

There's a kind of existential shock here, and there's also anger, a sense that we've been good neighbors, good friends, good allies for 150 years, and it cuts, it cuts against our basic expectations of what our relations with our closest ally should be. So if he wants to make America great again this way, it's absolutely the wrong way to go about it.

[Nicola Coughlan]

A possible trade war could result in higher inflation in the US Inflation and higher prices were a major issue during the US Presidential campaign. But how much support is there for those tariffs across the country? A question for our correspondent in Washington, David Willis.

[Alex Ritson]

I think the strength of support, Alex, will depend really on the impact that these tariffs have on the United States economy and Economists are predicting that they could drive up prices here and thereby fuel inflation. And if that happens, then support could evaporate very quickly indeed. President Trump has warned that there might be, as you mentioned, some temporary economic pain, but he believes that the American people will deal with it and that it will be worth the price in the long run, as it were. But today, as news of the impending trade war was reverberating around the world, Mr. Trump took to his truth social social media platform to hail the dawn of what he called a golden age of America. And he believes these tariffs will keep jobs in this country, will ease the trade deficits and will boost revenue, potentially bringing in, he said before, hundreds of billions of dollars to the US treasury, enough to fund his promised tax cuts for the American people. And he maintained as well today as he has before that there is nothing that the United States neighbors produce that the US Its couldn't make. That Alex despite the fact that around 60% of America's oil comes from Canada and some of it from Mexico as well.

[Nicola Coughlan]

So a difficult time ahead for exporters on both sides of the border.

[Alex Ritson]

That's right. Canada and Mexico have both promised to impose retaliatory taxes on American imports. Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that his government would impose 25% tariffs on more than $150 billion worth of exports Tuesday and extend them to cover additional goods in the weeks ahead. And he's urging Canadians to buy local and to forego any vacations they might have been planning in the United States. He said they should travel somewhere else instead. Mexico's tariffs are expected to affect supplies of fruit and beer, amongst other things. And it's estimated, Alex, that 80% of both countries exports go to the United States. So the impact of these tariffs could be devastating for America's near neighbors. Crucial to all this is how long will Donald Trump maintain this battle and what will it take for him to change course? Economists predicting here that prices will rise in the US as a result of all this, and as a president who campaigned on a potential cut in the cost of living, that could ultimately be enough for him to change course. But as I say, in the meantime, the economic implications for all concerned could be quite significant.

[Nicola Coughlan]

David Willis to the Democratic Republic of Congo, where shops and markets in Goma have begun to reopen following last week's capture of the city by the Rwandan backed M23 rebels. Hospitals, though, remain overwhelmed. 400,000 people have fled their homes since the M23 attacked and seized Goma, which is capital of North Kivu State in the eastern DRC and the region's largest and wealthiest city. Paul Njie was one of the first BBC team members to get into Goma since last week's violence. This is his report.

[Paul Njie]

The border between Rwanda and Goma is a hive of activity. Sniffer dogs and policemen check and search men and women. Many of them arrive on foot. Fleeing violence in Goma last week, The Armed Militia M23 overwhelmed government forces and seized control of the city. This raises a critical question, who is in control now? So we've crossed the Rwanda DRC border and driving through Goma town, I noticed that the Kihihi police post is now controlled by the M23 as well as the office of the Governor of North Kivu. And to them that suggests some form of. The UN says at least 700 people have been killed as fighting gripped Goma. At the local hospital, doctors struggle to treat the large number of injured.

[Guy Hedgeko]

On the first day of fighting, we received 315 patients. There were children among them and we treated them. We have received patients with gun wounds in the head, chest, stomach, hands and legs. Some were injured by flying objects caused by explosions.

[Paul Njie]

The patients receiving care describe the trauma they've endured over the past week. I was in my house when the shooting started. Suddenly my hand felt cold and I.

[Nicola Coughlan]

Realized I had been shot.

[Paul Njie]

My hand was shot and I screamed for help. But they continued firing away from the emergency rooms. A new calm seems to have settled on Goma. I'm at Goma Town in the capital of North Kivu, and there are signs of normality returning here. Commercial bike riders are out at work and business premises are open, waiting for their customers. But as one of the residents told us, this new normal hides in serious dangers. When M23 arrived here, they surrounded the Congolese army. Some of them removed their military uniforms and threw away their weapons. Inside these heaps of military leftovers, there are grenades and live ammo, which can be very dangerous. We request the government that has taken over to remove them from the streets. The Congolese government refutes M23's claims of a total capture of Goma. But the perception here is that at least for now, the rebels are here to stay.

[Nicola Coughlan]

Paul Njia, who was part of a team from BBC Africa who gained access to the city of Goma in the drc. Now the Spanish women's football team is celebrating winning the World cup in Australia in 2023 after they beat England in the final. But it's not what happened on the winners podium that night that has overshadowed the victory today in Spain. The trial of the former president of the country's football federation, Luis Rubiales, is starting. He's facing charges of sexual assault. On that day in 2023, Mr. Rubiales sparked controversy in Spain and around the world when he kissed a member of that Spanish team on the lips after the final ended. This is what the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, had to say about the incident at the time. The behavior of Mr. Rubiales in this case shows that in our country there is still a long way to go when it comes to equality and respect between women and men. Our Madrid correspondent, Guy Hedgeko, told Julian Marshall what we can expect from the trial. First, the background.

[Tom Bateman]

Very soon after the kiss took place, there was a very strong backlash against Mr. Rubiales back here in Spain, a social backlash. There were people taking to the streets to protest against him and to demand that he be removed as president of the federation. There were politicians who waded into this. We heard Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez speaking there, but there were other politicians from across the political spectrum who also spoke out, almost all of them criticizing Mr. Rubiales. And overall, there was a feeling that this had really overshadowed a major achievement by the women's team. It was a controversy which dragged on for quite a long time and which obviously is now being talked about a lot again.

[Nicola Coughlan]

Why has it come to trial?

[Tom Bateman]

It's come to trial because the public prosecutor decided there was a case here. There was an investigation carried out into this by the investigating judge to decide whether this could go to trial. The judge decided that there was enough evidence to put Mr. Rubiales on trial, not just for sexual assault for that kiss that he gave Jenny Edmonton, but also for coercion, for trying to. Allegedly trying to force Jenny a de Maussent to support his version of events so that to try and make her say that there was consent when he kissed her when she had said there wasn't. So he's going on trial for those two charges. And there are also three other men, three other former members of the federation, allies of Mr. Rubialis, who will also be facing those coercion charges as well.

[Nicola Coughlan]

What has Mr. Rabiales said in his defence?

[Tom Bateman]

He said that it was a consensual kiss. He said that there's no case here, he hasn't done anything wrong, that he actually asked Jenny Hermoso if he could kiss her beforehand. He said she said that he could. So he said there's no case to be answered here. As far as he's concerned. And when this whole controversy blew up, he in fact said that it was being stirred up by false feminists, as he put it. So he has spoken out very strongly against the case being made against him.

[Nicola Coughlan]

With this trial guy Hedgeko in Madrid. Still to come, he was not a normal kid. He would like sit in his room.

[Bill Gates]

And chew pencils down to the lead, which. Good for you.

[Nicola Coughlan]

We return to the childhood home of the tech billionaire Bill Gates in the company of his sister.

[David Willis]

I'm Nicola Coughlan and for BBC Radio.

[Nicola Coughlan]

4, this is History's youngest heroes. Rebellion, risk and the radical power of youth. She thought, right, I'll just do it.

[Alex Ritson]

She thought about others rather than herself.

[David Willis]

Twelve stories of extraordinary young people from across history.

[Tom Bateman]

There's a real sense of urgency in them. That resistance has to be mounted and it has to be mounted now.

[Nicola Coughlan]

Follow history's youngest heroes wherever you get your podcasts. As we record this podcast, the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is on his way to the United States where he'll become the first foreign leader to meet President Trump since his return to the White House. They're expected to discuss the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal which aims to establish a permanent truce between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas. There's been no let up in fighting in the occupied west bank where the Israeli military have blown up several buildings. Our correspondent Joe Inwood sent this report from Jerusalem.

[David Willis]

For all the talk of the ceasefire holding in Gaza, in the west bank, the violence seems to be escalating. That was the sound of what Israel has called Iron Wall, its operation against armed groups. In Jenin. Huge plumes of smoke rise in the air as what are said to be Palestinian homes are brought to the ground. The IDF said a tactical group had uncovered weapons. The Palestinian Health ministry said a 73 year old man was killed by Israeli gunfire with five other people killed in airstrikes.

[Nicola Coughlan]

I'm leaving for a very important meeting with President Trump in Washington.

[David Willis]

Israel's Prime Minister flew to Washington for talks with President Trump.

[Nicola Coughlan]

Our decisions and the courage of our soldiers have redrawn the map. But I believe that working closely with President Trump, we can redraw it even further and for the better.

[David Willis]

Before setting off, Benjamin Netanyahu made no direct mention of the ceasefire talks, but did say they would deal with issues including the release of all remaining hostages and what he called the Iranian terror axis. But the negotiations around the second phase of the ceasefire in Gaza will undoubtedly be on the agenda. The truce has been holding so far, but the second phase, which would set out. A permanent end to the fighting is yet to be agreed. Key to any deal would be the Qataris, who have mediated throughout the Gulf states. Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said there was no sign of progress yet.

[Nicola Coughlan]

Phase two negotiations should start.

[Paul Njie]

We started already engaging with the parties in order to define the agenda and to start engaging in those discussions. There is nothing yet clear about who are, where are the delegations will come and when it's going to take place.

[Nicola Coughlan]

But.

[Paul Njie]

But at least over the phone, these discussions has started.

[David Willis]

The pause in the fighting in Gaza has been welcomed by almost all sides, but there are still those, including in the Israeli government, who want to see a return to arms.

[Nicola Coughlan]

Joe Inwood, what then is most likely to happen in this next phase of the ceasefire? The BBC's Julian Marshall sought the view of Frank Lowenstein, who was US special envoy for Middle east peace from 2014 to the start of 2017. He put it to Mr. Lowenstein that Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu have very different agendas for the future of the peace process.

[Frank Loewenstein]

Yeah, I think that's absolutely right. I mean, this meeting comes at a critical point for the ceasefire. The most difficult negotiations which would be required to be resolved in order to really extend the ceasefire and permanently end the war, those are going to begin after the meeting between Netanyahu and Trump. In fact, Netanyahu specifically delayed them until he returned. And we may find that his agenda is really at odds with President Trump's agenda. I mean, both of these guys have long been committed to really advancing their own personal and political agendas, first and foremost. And Trump's political agenda is to end the war and normalize relations with Saudi Arabia. And Netanyahu, I don't think, had any intention of extending the ceasefire. He's apparently made promises to his coalition members that, in fact, he will resume the war and that very much serves his own personal and political interests. So we'll see what happens. Traditionally, Netanyahu has tried to intimidate US Presidents and to bully them politically, but I think he fears President Trump in a way he's maybe never feared a US President before. So it'll be really interesting to see how this plays out.

[Nicola Coughlan]

So you do believe that Mr. Trump's view might prevail?

[Frank Loewenstein]

Well, I think that he's likely to prevail, at least in the rhetoric coming out of the meeting. I don't think Trump is going to want to have a fight with Netanyahu publicly on Tuesday or vice versa. The real challenge will come when the negotiations begin on resolving the issues that will be required to really end the war. And I know Hamas is still a very powerful military force on the ground. Netanyahu has promised that he's going to completely eliminate Hamas. He's talked about total victory. That is inconsistent with actually ending the war right now. So my guess is that Netanyahu will play for time and then he'll claim that the Hamas folks are being impossible in the negotiations and try to shift the blame to them over time. Whether he moves back from that position will depend in large part on how much pressure Trump is willing to put on him politically.

[Nicola Coughlan]

Because in fact, Mr. Netanyahu hasn't yet spelled out his terms for the end of the war. I mean, he's spoken before of defeating Hamas. And as you've alluded to, we've seen Hamas militants as a startling presence on the streets of Gaza during the hostage handover.

[Frank Loewenstein]

Yeah, you're exactly right. And I think the only way that the war can actually end in accordance with the ceasefire is if the Israelis are willing to agree upon some kind of day after plan that involves an international peacekeeping force and some form of Palestinian governance inside of Gaza Strip. And that will really need to include the Palestinian Authority if the region is to get on board. And Netanyahu has been adamant that he will never allow that to happen. And in fact, he's really done nothing in terms of suggesting what a post war plan would look like. So he's really going to have to resolve some very difficult issues, substantively and politically, if he's going to be able to move this forward.

[Nicola Coughlan]

I mean, there seems to be a general consensus that the second phase of this ceasefire agreement is likely to be the most problematic. How do you see it collapsing, if indeed it does?

[Frank Loewenstein]

Yeah, that's a great question. So I think there's a fairly good chance that this first phase, lasting another 30 days or so, will be implemented in full and the Israelis will get about a third of the hostages back. The transition from phase one to phase two requires a permanent end of the war. So you'll never even get to phase two unless there's agreement on ending the war for as far as the eye can see. And in order to do that, there just has to be this alternative to Hamas, which I don't think Netanyahu has any intention of really wrestling with that issue. So you could get to the end of the 42 day period and Netanyahu would just say the Hamas has been impossible to deal with on all these negotiations, and then the ceasefire would slowly grind to a halt and the war would resume. I think that would be the easiest path for Netanyahu politically. And as I said, I think the only way he'll do anything different than that is if he's feeling a lot of pressure from Trump.

[Nicola Coughlan]

Former US Special Envoy for Middle East Peace, Frank Loewenstein. A result of the war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas has been a rise in anti Semitic attacks against Jewish communities across the world. Sydney's Bondi beach, one of Australia's most popular spots, has become the scene of what police suspect is another such attack in the country. Officers believe that five women had eggs thrown at them and suffered verbal abuse because they were Jewish. Camilla Mills has this report.

[Camilla Mills]

Since the October 7th massacre, there has been an escalation in attacks on synagogues and buildings belonging to Australia's Jewish community. In December, worshippers were forced to flee Melbourne's oldest and largest synagogue after it was set on fire. The police believe that it was most probably an act of terrorism. On Wednesday, police in New South Wales said they found explosives in a caravan which the authorities suspected could have been used in an antisemitic attack, causing mass casualties. This weekend, five young Jewish women in Sydney reportedly had eggs thrown at them. The police said it appeared they'd been targeted because of their clothing. Also in Sydney, houses and cars in an area with a large Jewish community were defaced with anti Semitic graffiti. Superintendent Darren Newman said that more police officers would be assigned to his team.

[Nicola Coughlan]

We will put all investigative resources into attempting to catch those offenders that are committing these offences. And as you can imagine, we're looking at hundreds and hundreds of hours of CCTV footage trying to track vehicles, persons for all of these matters. So I can tell you that we will make sure that we go after every single person involved in these offences.

[Camilla Mills]

There have been other lines of inquiry. Last month, police said they were investigating whether overseas actors or individuals paid local criminals to carry out anti Semitic crimes. Whoever is to blame, the attacks have caused fear and alarm among Australia's Jewish population, which is more than 100,000 people. Security has been increased at Jewish schools. Gina Ferrer's child is at one such school.

[Nicola Coughlan]

It actually makes me really, really sad.

[Alex Ritson]

That this is what it's come to.

[Nicola Coughlan]

But at the end of the day, I'm not going to be scared and I'm not going to allow them to win. We're going to live our lives and we're proud. We're Australian, we're Jewish, and there's nothing wrong with that. So we're going to continue to do what we do.

[Camilla Mills]

Israel has urged Australia to halt what it called an epidemic of anti Semitism in the country. The Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, insisted that his government was doing all it could to combat attacks that he said included domestic terrorism.

[Nicola Coughlan]

Camilla Mills. Bill Gates, the co founder of Microsoft, has taken a very different path to some of the other tech billionaires. The Gates foundation is the biggest charitable organization in the world fighting poverty, disease and inequality. And Mr. Gates is now seeking to further cement his legacy with a trilogy of memoirs. The first, called Source Code, reveals that he thinks he would nowadays be diagnosed as neurodiverse. Our culture and media editor Katie Brazel met with him at his former family home in Seattle on the northwest coast of the US together with his sister Christie.

[Bill Gates]

He was not a normal kid.

[Nicola Coughlan]

He would like sit in his room.

[Bill Gates]

And chew pencils down to the lead, which. Good for you.

[Katie Brazel]

As Bill Gates publishes a memoir, Source Code, about his beginnings. He's taken me back to his childhood home. He hasn't visited since it was sold after his father died. And it's bringing back memories.

[Bill Gates]

My sisters lived down here. This was kind of ping pong game type room. And then my room is down here. This is where I grew up.

[Katie Brazel]

The key thing about this bedroom for me anyway is that that is the window that you used to climb out of.

[Bill Gates]

You know computers, it was very hard to get access to them and I wanted to spend as much time as I could so at night I could sneak out and go up, use the computer and then sneak back in without them knowing.

[Katie Brazel]

In the middle of the night?

[Bill Gates]

Yeah.

[Katie Brazel]

Do you think you could still do it?

[Bill Gates]

Well, it's not that hard.

[Katie Brazel]

And with that, he opens the window. Oh my. And climbs through.

[Bill Gates]

It's not, not hard at all.

[Katie Brazel]

That's it, he's out and he's off to find a computer. Yeah, that way back then, young Bill and his increasingly tech savvy school friends had a deal with a local company to check its one computer for problems in return for time on it. He'd first got access to a computer via his old school, Lakeside, where we're now heading.

[Bill Gates]

The school deserves credit. It was their mother's club that had a rummage sale that put the money to this bizarre idea of having a terminal that you could call in to.

[Katie Brazel]

A big computer and you got hooked immediately.

[Bill Gates]

And so you see, this is me here in the computer room.

[Katie Brazel]

This is, we're walking towards what's actually referred to as the shrine. Behind glass doors, there are photos and other memorabilia. A homage to Gates and His Microsoft co founder, Paul Allen, who was a school friend.

[Bill Gates]

So this is the actual teletype that's not actually a computer, but it connects over a phone line to a computer. Computers were so expensive that you could never afford one, but we got a little bit of time and so you would prepare your program and then call into the computer.

[Katie Brazel]

So this was the machine that you were first writing code on?

[Bill Gates]

Yes. We would spend hour after hours sitting there at this machine.

[Katie Brazel]

Did it feel like an adaptation?

[Bill Gates]

It was an obsession.

[Katie Brazel]

You say now you think you would probably be diagnosed on the autism spectrum. Have you had a formal diagnosis?

[Bill Gates]

No, I have not.

[Katie Brazel]

Do you plan to?

[Nicola Coughlan]

No.

[Bill Gates]

I mean, it's not like there's some medicine that, you know, when you get this diagnosis, you take it, then you know, your social skills are fantastic and, you know, I'm not sure I'd want that. I think I wouldn't because the positive characteristics for my career have been more beneficial than the deficits have been a problem for me.

[Nicola Coughlan]

Bill Gates. And that's all 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, you can 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 and the producer was Alison Davis. The editor is Karen Martin. I'm Alex Ritson. Until next time. Goodbye.

[Frank Loewenstein]

What does it take to go racing.

[Nicola Coughlan]

In the fastest cars in the world? Oscar Piastri.

[David Willis]

Your head's trying to get ripped one.

[Nicola Coughlan]

Way, your body's trying to go another.

[Frank Loewenstein]

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

[Nicola Coughlan]

We've been given unprecedented access to two.

[Frank Loewenstein]

Of the most famous names in Formula One, McLaren and Aston Martin.

[David Willis]

I'm Landon Arts. They build a beautiful bit of machinery that I get to then go no fun in.

[Nicola Coughlan]

They open the doors to their factories.

[Frank Loewenstein]

As the 2024 season reached its peak. I'm Josh Hartnett, this is F1 back at base. Listen, wherever you get your podcasts.