US downplays claims Hamas is violating ceasefire deal

Summary

Global News Podcast (BBC World Service)

Episode: US downplays claims Hamas is violating ceasefire deal
Date: October 16, 2025
Host: Charlotte Gallagher

---

Episode Overview

This episode of the Global News Podcast delivers a comprehensive update on major global news stories. The main focus is the ongoing tensions between Israel and Hamas regarding the ceasefire deal and the return of hostages’ bodies, with analysis on US diplomatic positioning. The episode also covers France’s political turmoil, Sudan’s humanitarian crisis, controversial healthcare restrictions in South Africa, protests in Peru, new revelations about Virginia Giuffre's allegations against Prince Andrew, the legacy of legendary Sherpa Kancha Sherpa, and a PR disaster over a firework display in Tibet.

---

Key Segments and Insights

1. Israel-Hamas Ceasefire & US Response

[00:38 – 08:37]

• Summary:
  Washington is downplaying Israeli claims that Hamas is violating the ceasefire by not returning all hostages’ bodies. The US stresses the complexity of the process, noting the emotional weight for Israel and political repercussions if the deal unravels.

• Analysis & Commentary:

  • Sebastian Usher (Middle East Analyst) explains that US officials are urging patience while concerns about the ceasefire’s collapse grow. He highlights:
    • Israeli demands for the return of all hostage remains.
    • US focus: “I think that these two senior advisers to President Trump stepped in to give this briefing to try to forestall any momentum towards a sense that the ceasefire is beginning to break down because of this issue.” — Sebastian Usher [02:20]
    • Progress: Exchange of bodies continues, with 30 more delivered bringing the total to 120, but 19 remain missing.
    • Emotional toll: The Israeli public remains unified in demanding closure.
    • Reports (unverified by BBC) of signs of torture or shootings among returned bodies, intensifying public emotion.

• Human Impact:

  • Interview with Ella Hamey, wife of a missing Israeli hostage:
    • “It's very hard days. We're very tense. … Hamas doesn't do everything he can and he doesn't have the passion enough to bring all the rest of the hostages.” — Ella Hamey [06:10]
    • On uncertainty: “I miss him so much. … One of the hardest parts for me is the baby, because I know that Tal didn't meet him.” — Ella Hamey [06:56]
    • She acknowledges some logistical challenges but believes Hamas could try harder.

• Situation in Gaza:

  • Aid still severely restricted; at least 600 trucks are needed when only around 300 were previously allowed in. Rafah crossing is closed except for limited movement [05:06].

---

2. France's Ongoing Political Crisis

[08:37 — 11:48]

• Parliamentary Turmoil:

  • Reporter Hugh Schofield outlines the narrow escape from no-confidence votes:
    • Far-left and far-right united to almost topple the government.
    • The closest motion fell short by 18 votes (271, majority +1 needed).
    • “It all came down to individuals. Could there be enough rebels in the ranks of different parties to make a difference?” — Hugh Schofield [09:33]
    • PM LeCornou survives, but only by making major policy concessions, such as freezing Macron's pension reform.

• Challenges Ahead:

  • Government must now attempt to pass a controversial budget; potential for future instability is high.

---

3. Children and the Humanitarian Crisis in Sudan

[11:48 – 15:34]

• Background:

  • After two years of civil war, Sudan faces famine, mass displacement, and devastation — especially for children.

• On-the-Ground Reporting:

  • Nawal Al Magafi reports from Khartoum, bringing voices of youth:

    • Boys playing by the Nile, seeking brief happiness amid war:

      • “Just the river. Nowhere else. It's everything.” — Ali, 17 years old [13:18]

    • Destroyed playgrounds now sites of child labor and grim reminders:

      • Ahmed, 16, now works in ruins; “Ever since the war began, I've been sure that I am destined to die. I've stopped thinking about my future.” — Ahmed [14:10]

    • Malnutrition is rampant; 3 million children under 5 at risk of starvation.

    • Closing note: “Even in the shadows of war, they hold on to the possibility of tomorrow.” — Nawal Al Magafi [15:00]

---

4. Healthcare Access Controversy in South Africa

[16:40 – 20:24]

• Event:

  • Operation Dudula activists are blocking undocumented African migrants from clinics, prompting a constitutional and ethical debate.

• Community Impact:

  • Migrants denied care if lacking proper ID:

    • “They said they don't take passports. They want IDs only.” — Strelogu Le Moyo [18:09]

  • Some approve, citing shorter lines, but at odds with constitutional rights.

• Official Response:

  • Deputy Health Minister Joe Phaahla: “We don’t agree with that approach because health is a human right. … You don’t organize it through bullying kind of methods.” [19:19]

• Escalation:

  • Operation Dudula expands pressure to public schools; several arrests made. Opposition parties condemn the campaign.

---

5. Mass Protest and Political Unrest in Peru

[20:24 – 23:12]

• Recent Unrest:

  • Lima sees violent escalation of youth-led protests over corruption, extortion, gang crime, and political disillusionment after removal of Dina Boluarte.

• Protestor Sentiment:

  • “Even after they removed Dina Boluarte, everything is the same. Extortion continues. Contract killings continue. The police do nothing. We're fed up with the political class.” — Unnamed protester [20:24]

• Expert Analysis:

  • Mimi Swaby explains protests were triggered by pension reform and joined by a broad cross-section of society, including transport workers. Gangs accused of infiltrating demonstrations to exacerbate violence.

---

6. Virginia Giuffre’s Posthumous Memoir – Allegations against Prince Andrew

[23:12 – 25:38]

• New Revelations:

  • Extracts from Virginia Giuffre's memoir (published six months after her death) implicate Prince Andrew and offer insight into the circle around Jeffrey Epstein.

• Notable Quotes:

  • “[Prince Andrew] was friendly enough but still entitled, as if he believed having sex with me was his birthright. Afterward, he said thank you in his clipped British accent.” — Virginia Giuffre's book [23:32]

  • Prince Andrew’s 2019 denial rebroadcast:

    • “I can absolutely categorically tell you it never happened.” — Prince Andrew [24:37]

• Context:

  • Out-of-court settlement in 2022, with no admission of guilt. Giuffre’s family pledges to continue her fight for justice.

---

7. Remembering Kancha Sherpa, Last of the 1953 Everest Pioneers

[25:38 – 28:56]

• Legacy:

  • Kancha Sherpa, part of the first successful Everest expedition in 1953, has died at 92, marking the end of an era.

• Role of Sherpas:

  • “These porters play a very important role. Without these Sherpas, the mountain guides, it's not possible for many mountaineers.” — Ambarasan Etarajan [27:54]
  • Sherpas’ knowledge and labor remain under-celebrated compared to Western climbers.

---

8. Tibetan Firework Display Backlash

[28:56 – 31:03]

• Event:

  • Clothing brand Arteryx’s firework spectacle in Tibet goes viral for negative reasons, prompting environmental outrage and firings.

• Consequences:

  • Four officials dismissed, organizer apologies, Arteryx posts public apology.

• Analysis:

  • “It's precisely what makes it look so beautiful. The fact it's happening in the mountains of Tibet. That caused a near instant and some would say predictable backlash from environmental campaigners.” — Will Chalk [29:13]

---

Notable Quotes

| Speaker | Quote | Timestamp | |------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------| | Sebastian Usher | "These two senior advisers ... tried to forestall any momentum towards a sense that the ceasefire is beginning to break down." | 02:20 | | Ella Hamey | "It's very hard days. We're very tense. ... Hamas doesn't do everything he can." | 06:10 | | Ahmed (Sudanese boy) | "Ever since the war began, I've been sure that I am destined to die. I've stopped thinking about my future." | 14:10 | | Strelogu Le Moyo | "They said they don't take passports. They want IDs only." | 18:09 | | Protester (Peru) | "Even after they removed Dina Boluarte, everything is the same. Extortion continues." | 20:24 | | Virginia Giuffre | "He believed having sex with me was his birthright. Afterward, he said thank you in his clipped British accent." | 23:32 | | Ambarasan Etarajan | "These porters play a very important role. Without these Sherpas, the mountain guides, it's not possible for many mountaineers." | 27:54 | | Will Chalk | "It's precisely what makes it look so beautiful ... caused a near instant and ... predictable backlash from environmental campaigners." | 29:13 |

---

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Israel-Hamas/US Diplomacy: 00:38 – 08:37
• France’s Political Crisis: 08:37 – 11:48
• Sudan’s Crisis (Children): 11:48 – 15:34
• South Africa Healthcare Row: 16:40 – 20:24
• Peru’s Protests & Instability: 20:24 – 23:12
• Virginia Giuffre Book/Prince Andrew: 23:12 – 25:38
• Kancha Sherpa Obituary: 25:38 – 28:56
• Tibet Firework PR Disaster: 28:56 – 31:03

---

Tone and Style

The episode maintains the BBC’s trademark clarity, objectivity, and calm urgency, blending expert analysis with firsthand accounts and field reporting. The tone is direct yet empathetic, especially in personal interviews and stories from conflict zones.

---

Conclusion

This episode provides a panoramic view of pressing global issues, with particularly poignant insight into the ongoing repercussions of war, political upheaval, and social justice movements. By balancing expert commentary, personal narrative, and timely reporting, it offers valuable context and takes listeners behind the headlines.

Transcript

[Charlotte Gallagher]

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the uk.

[Asma Khalid]

America is changing and so is the world.

[Tristan Redman]

But what's happening in America isn't just the cause of global upheaval. It's also a symptom of disruption that's happening everywhere.

[Charlotte Gallagher]

I'm Asma Khalid in Washington, dc.

[Tristan Redman]

I'm Tristan Redman in London and this is the Global Story.

[Charlotte Gallagher]

Every weekday we'll bring you a story from this intersection where the world and America meet.

[Tristan Redman]

Listen on BBC.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Charlotte Gallagher]

This is the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Charlotte Gallagher and at 16 hours GMT on Thursday 16th October, these are our main stories. Israel's prime minister has warned the struggle for Gaza is not over after US Officials played down concerns about the ceasefire falling apart. The latest on France's political crisis after a dramatic day in Parliament. Also in this podcast, the children in Sudan caught up in its bloody civil war. The firework display, which was a spectacular.

[Will Chalk]

Disaster, it's precisely what makes it look so beautiful. The fact it's happening in the mountains of Tibet. That caused a near instant and some would say predictable backlash from environmental campaigners.

[Charlotte Gallagher]

And we look back on the life of a legendary Nepalese Sherpa. Washington has downplayed claims Hamas is violating the ceasefire deal, stressing the complexity of the operation to recover all the dead bodies of Israeli hostages. The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu has said he remains determined that all dead Israeli hostages in Gaza are returned and has warned the war in Gaza is not over. A key part of the ceasefire deal was that all living and deceased hostages had to be returned to Israel. But 19 bodies are still unaccounted for. Many are believed to be under the rubble of buildings bombed by Israel. Our Middle east analyst Sebastian Usher told me more about what Washington has been doing.

[Tristan Redman]

I think that these two senior advisers to President Trump stepped in to give this briefing to try to forestall any momentum towards a sense that the ceasefire is beginning to break down because of this issue. I mean, we're still going to be hearing voices in Israel, in the Israeli government, some of the far right voices there. Mr. Netanyahu himself, the Israeli prime minister, you know, saying that the war isn't over and that part of that is the fact that not all the bodies have been returned. President Trump himself has said some quite strong words in his latest comments yesterday, saying that he would essentially give the green light to the Israeli government to resume its battle against Hamas in Gaza if Hamas didn't fulfill its commitments. But I think that's more about the disarmament than the bodies, as you're saying. I think there is a recognition that the issue of the bodies, of votes, absolutely central emotionally to Israel, and it's the thing that kind of unites people there, Whether they support Mr. Netanyahu or not, but that it's something that will take time. I mean, there is still a sense perhaps that Hamas, its armed wing, said that it's delivered all the bodies that it has that it can find so far. I think there's a sense amongst some in Israel, Israel who feel that the war hasn't accomplished its objectives, that Hamas may be trying to string things out a bit, because the next stage, after all those hostages have been delivered and also all the Palestinian corpses, the Palestinian bodies have been returned as part of the deal, is that you then go to the disarmament of Hamas, you go to the governance of Gaza, and those are issues which are going to be far more difficult, I think, for Hamas to stomach.

[Charlotte Gallagher]

And we've talked previously about not just the Israeli hostages going back, but also the return of Palestinian bodies into the Gaza Strip. And you said previously that a lot of them can't be identified. They don't know who these people are because they need to do testing on them. What's the latest that?

[Tristan Redman]

Well, 30 more have been delivered. It's now 120. 15 bodies are returned every time the body of a dead hostage is returned to Israel. So that exchange mechanism is being kept up. I mean, we've been hearing reports. We haven't, I think, been able to back them up ourselves with BBC, but hearing some quite gruesome reports of a kind of state that some of these bodies are in that might show torture, that might show that they've been shot. As I say, this hasn't been substantiated independently, but again, it just adds to this sense of a horror that is still there and could bubble up from the surface if things aren't nailed down and move towards a much clearer resolution as soon as possible.

[Charlotte Gallagher]

And on the ground in Gaza, what's the latest?

[Tristan Redman]

I mean, aid is still not going in to anything like the degree that aid agencies say that they need at least 600 trucks to go in, as they were during the ceasefire, that there was earlier this year, maybe 300 at most. The Rafah crossing in the south hasn't been opened and will only be opened for. Not for aid, but the people to come and go. But there are trucks that are waiting. I mean, I'm sure people have seen these Trucks waiting at Rafah, they go through another crossing, the Kerem Shalom crossing. So there's nothing to stop those trucks going in, really. But once they're in Gaza, the state of the roads, the breakdown of security, means that it's difficult to get to the places they need to.

[Charlotte Gallagher]

Well, as Sebastian mentioned there, the Israeli government says it expects Hamas to return all the remaining bodies of those captured on October 7th. One of those Israelis still waiting on the return of her husband is Ella Hamey. James Copnell asked how she was coping with the uncertainty.

[Ella Hamey]

It's very hard days. We're very tense. I know that the Israeli army, the idf, they have assumption where are the bodies and that they give the Hamas information. But the Hamas doesn't do everything he can and he doesn't have the passion enough to bring all the rest of the hostages.

[James Copnell]

Yeah, that must be incredibly frustrating for you. And we can discuss that more in a little bit.

[Mimi Swaby]

But I wonder perhaps if we could.

[James Copnell]

Think first of all about, about your husband, what you would like the world to know about Tal, the man you knew and married.

[Ella Hamey]

Yeah. I want you to know that we were such a simple family, regular family. Tal was a mechanical engineering. He worked in a factory. He was a manager there. And he was very involved father. He liked to be with the kids a lot of time, and he did homework with them and making dinner and sandwiches for school and reading books before sleeping. And I miss him so much. And I know that one of the hardest parts for me is the baby, because I know that Tal didn't meet him. And also the baby didn't meet and will never meet Tal. And he waited for the baby. It was just the beginning of the pregnancy, but he so waited for him.

[James Copnell]

When Hamas says that it simply is having difficulty identifying the locations of some of the bodies. Do you believe that? Do you accept that?

[Ella Hamey]

Yeah, I'm accepted. And also I've been prepared for it because our officer from the IDF who told us it's going to be hard and complicated because of the physical situation, and there are probably some of them are buried down there in a tunnel that may be destroyed during the time. But on the other end, I know that they have the location, Hamas have the location. They just need to work hard and look for them, but they don't have the passion like they had with the twenties. This is why it takes so long.

[Charlotte Gallagher]

That was Ella Hamey speaking to James Koppnell in France. The government has survived two no confidence votes, one of which was only relatively narrowly defeated on Tuesday. The Prime Minister Sebastian Locornou had made a major concession to the Socialist Party when he agreed to freeze President Macron's recent pension reform, raising the retirement age to 64. He made this call to MPs before the vote.

[Hugh Schofield]

The reality is we either engage in debate or we enter once and for all into a political crisis. MPs of France Unbowed, along with MPs of the National Rally. This clearly is the moment of truth. Do we want republican order with debates taking place in the national assembly, or do we want disorder? Do we want the slowing down of the country?

[Charlotte Gallagher]

Let's get more on this now with our correspondent in Paris, Hugh Schofield.

[Hugh Schofield]

Well, as you say, the votes have failed, which was what we predicted. But it was close. There were two motions. Only one motion had any real chance of working. That was the motion table by the far left. Reason for that is that that motion was also voted for by the far right. In other words, the far right said the ends justify the means, that they joined with the far left even though they hate each other. But the far left was never going to vote for the far right. So the second motion had no chance of working. The first motion, though, did, and it came in at 271 votes. Now that is a lot, but it was 18 short of what is needed to bring down the government. They needed a majority plus one. You know, they needed half of all MPs plus one in order to bring the government down. And they, and they fell short by a small margin. It all came down to individuals. Could there be enough rebels in the ranks of different parties to make a difference?

[James Copnell]

In the end?

[Hugh Schofield]

It didn't. There were a few rebels, few rebel socialists who did vote for the censure motion against the advice of their leadership, but it wasn't enough. And so the government and Lecount limps on.

[Charlotte Gallagher]

I mean, he's not out of trouble, is he, yet, Hugh? Because he's got to try and pass a budget, which has proved pretty impossible so far. And then also delaying this pension reform is going to be really expensive.

[Hugh Schofield]

Yes, I mean, that's another issue, I mean, which is a huge one. But that's not, you know, we're very much here in France involved in the day to day survival of a government. And of course there are all sorts of issues about the long term problems of the French economy which are, you know, are just looming and getting bigger and bigger. But in the, in the short tactical term, he's managed to buy himself a little bit of time. But all that means is that the Time is now available before him to start pushing the budget through the National Assembly. But as we know, the national assembly is not minded to support this budget. And the national assembly consists of a majority of people on the left, on the far left and the far right, who, if they come together, can at any time bring this government down over the budget. So, yes, we can foresee that there will be many more occasions in the weeks ahead where we will be on tenterhooks to see whether the government can survive.

[Charlotte Gallagher]

After two years of brutal civil war, Sudan is in the depths of a deepening humanitarian crisis. Thousands have been killed, millions displaced, and many more are facing famine. And children have paid the highest price. Nawal Al Magafi has been on a rare trip to Sudan's capital, Khartoum, one of the key battlegrounds between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary group the Rapid Support Forces, to see how this war has impacted the most vulner children. And a warning. Some of you may find details in this report upsetting.

[Asma Khalid]

On the edge of the River Nile, where the White and Blue Niles merge, there's another meeting point. A group of young boys gather. They fling themselves off the dark, muddy river banks into the even darker, murky water of the Nile. They seem carefree. But for two years, their lives had been plagued by Sudan's brutal civil war.

[Tristan Redman]

It was really bad, says a dripping.

[Asma Khalid]

Wet, 17 year old Ali.

[Tristan Redman]

There was shelling, drone attacks.

[Hugh Schofield]

There was no food.

[Asma Khalid]

Earlier this year, the Sudanese army recaptured Khartoum from the paramilitary group the Rapid Support forces. The capital has been at relative peace since then. I asked Ali where he finds happiness.

[Hugh Schofield]

Just the river. Nowhere else. It's everything.

[Asma Khalid]

Despite the diseases that lurk in the water, children keep coming back here to play. It's one of the last places of refuge, of innocence. Unlike a playground we come across on the other side of the river. This is a playground. It's meant to be for children to come have fun and enjoy themselves. But it's all completely destroyed. I've never seen this level of destruction.

[Charlotte Gallagher]

Anywhere in the world.

[Asma Khalid]

In the far corner of the playground, we spot a young boy sweeping in the rubble and undergrowth.

[Ambarasan Etarajan]

I used to come here with my brothers. We would play and laugh all day.

[Asma Khalid]

Ahmed is 16. He now lives and works here, working 30 continuous days for just $50.

[Mimi Swaby]

Ever since the war began, I've been sure that I am destined to die. I've stopped thinking about my future.

[Asma Khalid]

While working, he's found the remains of 15 people. He shows me some of the bones, one he holds innocently beside his own leg and says.

[Ambarasan Etarajan]

It'S a leg bone.

[Mimi Swaby]

Like mine.

[Asma Khalid]

Across Sudan, children are paying the heaviest price. Millions are out of school, and 3 million children under 5 are facing starvation. And in Sudan's hospitals, the consequences of that are clear. We're in a malnutrition ward in one of the last functioning hospital hospitals.

[Charlotte Gallagher]

Here in the front door.

[James Copnell]

It is.

[Asma Khalid]

A room full of mothers comforting each other as they stand and watch helplessly. Back at the River Nile, a different sound. Children swimming in the water, finding light in the bleakest of times, a reminder of how resilient children can can be. Even in the shadows of war, they hold on to the possibility of tomorrow.

[Charlotte Gallagher]

Nawal Al McGaffey reporting from Khartoum. Still to come on this podcast, frustration in Peru among young people spills onto the streets again, even after they removed Dina Boluate. Everything is the same, except extortion continues. Contract killings continue. The police do nothing.

[Asma Khalid]

America is changing, and so is the world.

[Tristan Redman]

But what's happening in America isn't just a cause of global upheaval. It's also a symptom of disruption that's happening everywhere.

[Charlotte Gallagher]

I'm Asma Khalid in Washington, D.C. hi.

[Tristan Redman]

I'm Tristan Redman in London, and this is the Global story.

[Charlotte Gallagher]

Every weekday, we'll bring you a story from this intersection where the world and America meet.

[Tristan Redman]

Listen on BBC.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Charlotte Gallagher]

Now to a question that confronts governments around the world. Should undocumented foreign nationals be allowed to access public health facilities? Well, in South Africa, a group called Operation Dadoola has been blocking black migrants from using local government clinics. They argue the country's healthcare system is overburdened and should prioritize its own citizens. South Africa is home to over 2 million migrants. According to official figures. Most of them are from neighboring states, including Lesotho, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Journalist Empo Lacaze sent this report.

[Mimi Swaby]

Mothers with children tied to their backs, fathers, students, the elderly. Everyone outside this clinic in Diepsloot, north of Johannesburg, is patiently waiting to find out if they will be allowed in. A group of people in white shirts written Operation Dudula are guarding the entrance, checking everyone's nationality.

[Simon Jones]

I came to the clinic because I.

[Asma Khalid]

Have an appointment to take tablets. But then when I got here, I was asked to produce my id.

[Mimi Swaby]

Zimbabwean national Strelogu Le Moyo, who's been in South Africa since 2006, is among dozens who've been turned away.

[Asma Khalid]

Then I said, I have passport.

[Charlotte Gallagher]

They said, they don't take passports.

[Asma Khalid]

They want IDs only.

[Mimi Swaby]

It's a development that has been welcomed by some South Africans using the same clinic.

[Ambarasan Etarajan]

It is a positive change. The previous time while I was here, the queue was very long. But this time around, it only took me a couple of minutes to get.

[Charlotte Gallagher]

My stuff and get out. Stay Dudula must stay because Dudula is helping a lot.

[Mimi Swaby]

Operation Dudula leader Zandile Dabula insists her organization's campaign is necessary because South Africa's public health care system is strained.

[Charlotte Gallagher]

Our own people need to be prioritized.

[Ella Hamey]

You have an old lady that will wake up about 4am to go and.

[Charlotte Gallagher]

Queue at a specific clinic because she.

[Ella Hamey]

Knows that if she doesn't get there on time, it's either she will not.

[Charlotte Gallagher]

Get medication or she will be turned.

[Ella Hamey]

Back home to come the next day because the queues are long. By the time you get to the doctor or you get to the nurse, the medication is finished.

[Mimi Swaby]

But what Operation Dudula is doing here in Johannesburg and other parts of the country contradicts South Africa's constitution. It guarantees the right to health care access for everyone within the Republic, regardless of their nationality or immigration status. Deputy Health Minister Joe Pasa says what's been happening is quite unfortunate. We don't agree with that approach because health is a human right. And as much as we understand the fact that the provision of services must be properly organized, you don't organize it through bullying, kind of, you know, methods. Several Operation Dudula members have been arrested in recent weeks for blocking the entrances of the country's public health facilities. But this doesn't appear to have discouraged the group. They have now taken their campaign to public schools, claiming to be fighting illegal immigration, a move that's been criticised by several opposition parties.

[Charlotte Gallagher]

That was Mho Lacaze reporting from South Africa. Violence at a youth led protest in Peru's capital Lima has left one man dead and more than 100 injured. The new interim president, Jose Hera, announced the man's death on X. Hundreds of people were trying to reach the Congress building when the police used tear gas to try to disperse the crowds. It's the first large scale protest after the former president Dina Boluate was removed from office six days ago. Here's one of the demonstrators. Even after they removed Dina Boluate, everything is the same. Extortion continues. Contract killings continue. The police do nothing. We're fed up with the political class. We're sick of them trying to take us for fools because they've installed a figure who's basically a coalition of all those parties from the 90s and they're corrupt. We're fed up with this. We're demanding that absolutely all of them go. Our global affairs reporter Mimi Swaby told me that the demonstrators were frustrated by what they say is lawlessness and government corruption.

[Simon Jones]

This started as a peaceful protest in Peru's capital Lima, but it ended in violence and chaos with demonstrators really angry about corruption and increasing crime in the country. However, these protests were bigger than expected and the proven president Jose Harry has suggested that gangs had infiltrated these demonstrations. The latest demonstrations which erupted in late September with the aim of stoking violence. They came not to express their concerns and frustrations, but only to agitate an already very volatile situation.

[Charlotte Gallagher]

And these demonstrations are being led by students, aren't they? But they do represent a wider section of society as well in Peru.

[Simon Jones]

Definitely these Gen Z protests were actually triggered by a pension reform which affects young people. But they really quickly escalated with crowds expressing increasing anger over corruption scandals as well as growing insecurity. And this includes extortion, petty crime as well as gang related violence. These protests were joined by transport workers who said the government isn't doing enough to combat extortion. We've heard lots of taxi drivers and bus drivers say that gangs, including the Venezuelan gang trend has basically threatened them into paying protection money. Dina Boluarte was ousted only less than a week ago after being impeached on grounds of moral incapacity. Her approval rates were dwindling about 3%. But many Peruvians are really angry. Peruvians across the board are really angry that despite this new president and potential government change, that nothing has actually changed in the country and that crime and instability is affecting all levels of Peruvian society.

[Charlotte Gallagher]

Mimi Swaby, an extract from a new book written by the late Virginia Giuffre, who accused Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein of sexually abusing her, has been published in the Guardian newspaper. And in it she wrote, Prince Andrew viewed having sex with her as his birthright. Prince Andrew has always denied the allegations. Simon Jones reports.

[Simon Jones]

And I won't stop fighting.

[Charlotte Gallagher]

I will never be silenced.

[James Copnell]

Virginia Giuffre's book is being published almost six months after she took her own life. She said the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein and his sex trafficker girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell introduced her to Prince Andrew, who she alleged sexually abused her on three occasions. The first time in London in 2001 when she was 17. In an extract from her book Nobody's Girl, published in the Guardian, Ms. Giuffre in the years since I'VE thought a lot about how he behaved. He was friendly enough but still entitled, as if he believed having sex with me was his birthright. Afterward, he said thank you in his clipped British accent. In an interview with Newsnight in 2019, the duke said he had no recollection of ever meeting Ms. Giuffre or Ms. Roberts as she was then.

[Asma Khalid]

You can say categorically that you don't recall meeting Virginia Roberts, dining with her, dancing with her at Tramp, or going.

[Charlotte Gallagher]

On to have sex with her in.

[Asma Khalid]

A bedroom in a house in Belgravia.

[Mimi Swaby]

I can absolutely categorically tell you it never happened.

[Asma Khalid]

Do you recall any kind of sexual contact with Virginia Roberts then any other time?

[Hugh Schofield]

None whatsoever.

[James Copnell]

Prince Andrew reached an out of court settlement with Ms. Giuffre in 2022 which contained no admission of liability or apology. He has always denied all her claims against him. Ms. Giuffre in her book described Epstein as a master manipulator who trafficked her to a succession of wealthy and powerful men. Don't be fooled by those in Epstein's circle who say they didn't know what he was doing. Epstein not only didn't hide what was happening, he took a certain glee in making people watch. They watched and they didn't care. Her posthumous memoir is being published with the blessing of her family.

[Ella Hamey]

Her story is not over. We will continue her legacy and we.

[Mimi Swaby]

Will not back down until justice is.

[Ambarasan Etarajan]

Served for her and for her survivor.

[Ella Hamey]

Sisters and for all the victims out there.

[Charlotte Gallagher]

Sky Roberts, Virginia Giuffre's brother, ending that report by Simon Jones and Prince Andrew's office has been approached for comment about Mr. Giuffre's book. Not many of us can claim to have been part of A true world first, but Kancha Sherpa who's died at the age of 92 definitely could. Back in 1953 as a 19 year old he was part of the first ever scaling of Mount Everest. His death means no members of that expedition are left alive. Our reporter Ambaran Esharajan told me more about him.

[Ambarasan Etarajan]

He was a legend in the Sherpa community and he had this privilege of one of the few members of this world famous expedition team, the 35 member team along with Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgi who reached the summit of the world's highest mountain. This was considered, you know, unattainable, unreachable target. But it was a fight against nature, the cold, the climate. And these Sherpas, they play a very crucial role. Now as a 19 year old teenager he was picked up by Tenzing Norgay to work for him. And then he was carrying all this heavy equipment, despite having no mountain climbing experience. And he just followed them and all the way, taking equipment like tents and food and other stuff to the base camp. And from there they had to find this route. Usually the Sherpas clear the route for the mountaineers to follow. So Even among the 35 member team, finally three Sherpas went beyond the 8,000 meters carrying the stuff. It was real battle against nature. No, he always say that we look at the mountain like a goddess. We treat them with respect. And he reached the final point where he reached all these important gadgets for the other two to reach the summit.

[Charlotte Gallagher]

I mean, anyone climbing Everest is obviously a huge achievement. But, you know, do Sherpas get the recognition they deserve? Because they're doing. They're essentially doing the heavy lifting. They're carrying the kit and they're sometimes even pulling up mountaineers to get them to the summit. I mean, is that an issue that Sherpas just don't get the recognition that they deserve? And, you know, we know the names of often these Western mountaineers that go up the mountain, but we don't get to know the names of the people that help them get there.

[Ambarasan Etarajan]

These porters play a very important role. Without these Sherpas, the mountain guides, it's not possible for many mountaineers. Of course, there are some who try to reach solo, so they cannot only, you know, they have this abundant knowledge about the mountain. They guide you, they save you, they protect your lives and tell you what exactly to do. Especially now when it became so commercial. If you have two good Sherpas, you can go up to Everest with a bit of mountaining experience.

[Tristan Redman]

I'm not sure I could, but it is.

[Ambarasan Etarajan]

I mean, of course, with the practice and then you have the. Provided you have the good physical condition. But some of them are reached like 20 times, 25 times, but we hardly know about them. Whereas Western mountaineers or foreign mountaineers who climb even 10 times, they get world famous. They get invited to so many places for talks. But for the Sherpa community, it is their life. But it has changed the lives of the Sherpa community or the mountain climbing since 1953. And he was Kancha. Sherpa was one of the pioneers in that transformation.

[Charlotte Gallagher]

That was Ambarasan Etarajan. The idea was to put on the ultimate firework display which would go viral and promote the clothing brand arteryx. Well, it did go viral, but for all the wrong reasons. The brand quickly apologized and now four people have lost their jobs. Will Chalk is here to explain.

[Will Chalk]

Well, firstly, I should say that purely on the scale of a physical spectacle, you can see why organisers thought this might be a good idea. This was a firework display last month in the Shigatsi region of Tibet and it's snaking up the side of a mountain. You've got a multicolored blue, green, yellow and red dragon that appears as the fireworks go off. And if you're trying to grab attention online, you know it's incredibly visually impressive. It's just the type of thing that would work. But it's precisely what makes it look so beautiful. The fact it's happening in the mountains of Tibet. That caused a near instant and some would say predictable backlash from environmental campaigners. So it's estimated it affected a big swathe of grassland, around 74 acres, and that the remnants of the fireworks, the plastic, etcetera, they weren't properly cleaned up. And then there is, of course, the noise. And in an area like this, you know, with so many wild animals, such important nature, natural features, it's clear to see why that might have been a problem too.

[Charlotte Gallagher]

So basically a PR disaster and it's led to consequences for those people that were involved in this.

[Will Chalk]

Yeah. Four Chinese officials have now been dismissed from their jobs. Then you've got the organizers. So the designer Kai Gung is actually a hugely well respected artist, organized the fireworks for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He's had to apologize. Arteryx deleted the video from their social media after putting it up. So an incredibly expensive mistake for them. They replaced it with a statement saying they're deeply disappointed and that they apologize full stop. According to this latest update, all the organizers are now going to be expected to have to provide compensation too. So all in all, yet another warning here that going viral isn't always worth the effort.

[Charlotte Gallagher]

That was Will Chalk reporting and that's all from us for now. But there will be a new edition of the Global News podcast later. If you want to comment on this podcast or the topics covered in it, you can send us an email. The address is globalpodcastbc.co.uk you can also find us on X@BBC World Service. Use the hashtag globalnewspod. This edition was mixed by Mark Pickett and the producer was Alice Adderley. The editor is Karen Martin. I'm Charlotte Gallagher. Until next time. Goodbye.

[Asma Khalid]

America is changing and so is the world.

[Tristan Redman]

But what's happening in America isn't just a cause of Global upheaval. It's also a symptom of disruption that's happening everywhere.

[Charlotte Gallagher]

I'm Asma Khalid in Washington, D.C. i'm.

[Tristan Redman]

Tristan Redman in London, and this is the Global Story.

[Charlotte Gallagher]

Every weekday, we'll bring you a story from this intersection where the world and America meet.

[Tristan Redman]

Listen on BBC.com or wherever you get your podcasts.