
His earlier anti-vaccine stance has been questioned
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Katya Adler
This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the uk. Hello, I'm Katya Adler, host of the Global Story podcast from the BBC. Each weekday we break down one big news story with fresh perspectives from journalists around the world. From artificial intelligence to divisive politics tearing our societies apart from the movements of money and markets to the human stories that touch our lives, we bring you in depth insights from across the BBC and beyond. Listen to the Global Story wherever you get your BBC podcasts.
Janat Jalil
This is the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Janat Jalil and in the early hours of Thursday, 30 January, these are our main stories. US Senators have been questioning President Trump's pick to lead the Department of Health. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. At a heated confirmation hearing, Rwandan backed Ms. 123 rebels are reported to be continuing their advance after capturing most of the key city of Goma in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Israel says it's received a list from Hamas of eight hostages due to be freed from Gaza on Thursday. Also in this podcast, scientists say samples collected from an asteroid have given them new clues as to how life began here on planet Earth.
Katya Adler
It enables us to answer these really, really big questions about where life began and who doesn't want to know about how life started.
Janat Jalil
President Trump's controversial choice to be the new U.S. health Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Faced hostile questioning from Senate Democrats at his confirmation hearing. One Democrat on the panel, Rob Wyden, accused him of embracing, quote, conspiracy theories, quacks and charlatan because of his past strident anti vaccine statements. Another, Michael Bennett, asked him a series of questions about his views. Did you say that COVID 19 was a genetically engineered bioweapon that targets black and white people but spared Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese people?
Katya Adler
I didn't say it was deliberately targeted. I just quoted an NIH study that showed that.
Janat Jalil
I'll take that as I have to move on. Did you say that Lyme disease is highly likely a materially engineered bioweapon?
Katya Adler
I probably did say that.
Janat Jalil
Did you say that?
Katya Adler
That's what the developer of the.
Janat Jalil
I want all of our colleagues to hear it, Mr. Kennedy. I want them to hear it. You said yes. Did you say that exposure to pesticides causes children to become transgender?
Katya Adler
No, I never said that.
Janat Jalil
Okay. I have the record that I'll give to the chairman and he can make his judgment about what you said. Mr. Kennedy, whose raspy voice is the result of a medical condition, was interrupted by protesters as he tried to convince senators that he was not against vaccines. Despite his past statements, news reports have.
Katya Adler
Claimed that I am anti vaccine or any industry. I am neither. I am pro safety. Please proceed, Mr. Kennedy. I am pro safety. I worked for years to raise awareness about the mercury and toxic chemicals in fish, and nobody called me any fish. And I believe that vaccines play a critical role in health care. All of my kids are vaccinated. I've written many books on vaccines. My first book in 2014, the first line of it is, I am not anti vaccine. And the last line is, I am not anti vaccine.
Janat Jalil
Ahead of the hearing, his cousin, Caroline Kennedy, who is the daughter of the assassinated President John F. Kennedy, made a rare intervention, urging senators to reject him as unfit to serve in such an important role. Our correspondent in Washington, Nomir Iqbal, is following the hearing.
Katya Adler
I think there's a lot of skepticism, certainly by Democrat senators on the way. Mr. Kennedy seems to have done a U turn. It's worth remembering that he has a pretty big, big following in this country because of his anti vaccine views. And he says that news reports have me down as anti vaccine. Well, the senators were, you know, saying to him, look, here's the transcript from podcasts from shows that you've spoken on in which you've been anti vaccine. So they really did bring evidence, you know, when they were questioning him. On the other side, you have conservatives who aren't quite sure about him because they're suspicious in terms of his abortion stances. He was pro abortion before, then he changed his mind on that. And bear in mind, he did run to be a Democratic presidential candidate, but dropped out last year and fully endorsed Donald Trump. This is just one of two hearings he's facing. He'll face another one.
Janat Jalil
And there were protesters who also heckled him because this post is very, very important. It's a matter of life and death. And given the past views he's expressed, a lot of people are very worried about what he could do if he is confirmed as health secretary.
Katya Adler
Oh, completely. You know, he could oversee a life and death corner of the federal government. He would be overseeing health care for millions and millions of Americans. And in fact, just to quote Senator Bennett, he said, unlike other jobs that were confirming here, this one is about life and death. So this is why it's a really, really important hearing. And out of all the picks that Donald Trump has made for his cabinet, this is arguably the most controversial, provocative one, due to the fact that Mr. Kennedy is seen as someone who has dabbled in conspiracy theories, someone who has flip flopped on a lot of issues. And the key thing is, are there enough Republicans to go against him? If all the Democrats vote against rfk, it would only take four Republican senators to sink the nomination.
Janat Jalil
Nomi Iqbal, the man who's been chosen to be Britain's next Ambassador to the United States, has rode back on his previous criticism of Donald Trump. Peter Mandelson, a veteran politician who served under the British Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, had called Mr. Trump a danger to the world and little short of a white nationalist. But now, speaking to Fox News, Peter Mandelson said he had fresh respect for the recently re elected US president and that he was confident Mr. Trump would not block his appointment.
Katya Adler
I consider my remarks about President Trump as ill judged and wrong. And I think that her times and attitudes towards the president have changed since then.
Janat Jalil
Our British affairs correspondent Rob Watson told us more about Peter Mandelson.
Rob Watson
Quite an abrupt change, isn't it, that you heard from his previous position? So who is he? As you were saying, he's a. I guess you'd describe him as an elder statesman within the governing Labour Party. I suppose some would say he was a bit of a Svengali figure, someone who just seems to be incredibly good at the dark art of politics. Someone who's very clever, very charming and as you said, has worked for both Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and now of course, Sikhir Starmer.
Janat Jalil
And you say he's very charming. It's crucial for the UK to have an ambassador who can win over the US president. But given his past criticism of Mr. Trump, why was he chosen for this pivotal role?
Rob Watson
Yes, I mean, not only describing him as a danger of the world, reckless, a bully, but also the fact that Peter Manelson had previously been a member of the European Union Commission, that EU commission. And we all know how Donald Trump dislikes the eu. So why chosen? I think just because he is regarded by secure Starmer as an incredibly skillful operator. And if anybody can talk the talk themselves out of the hole he was he dug himself six years ago by describing the president in that way, then Peter Manelson is the man. And I guess part of his selling point as well is that unlike a regular diplomat in that role, he'd be able to say, look, I really do have the ear of the British Prime Minister.
Janat Jalil
And he's chosen One of Mr. Trump's favorite TV channels to make these new statements to go back on what he said in the past to ensure that he does get this key posting.
Rob Watson
Yes, absolutely. And he seems pretty confident.
Janat Jalil
Mr. Manson Just the latest person, politician to carry out such an abrupt U turn when it comes to Donald Trump.
Rob Watson
He is indeed. I mean, I was thinking about just before him, his boss, David Lammy, Britain's Foreign Secretary, had previously described Donald Trump as a neo Nazi sympathizing sociopath. But he's now funny, friendly and warm with incredible grace, according to David Lammy. And yeah, we've seen this pattern in the UK all over the world and of course in the United States itself. Jeanette with the sort of titans of tech who've now changed their tune. I suppose the big question for everybody, everybody listening and maybe for Donald Trump is, you know, with all these people, whether it's Peter Mandelson, David Lammy or whoever, were they being sincere then or are they being sincere now? That's the question, isn't it?
Janat Jalil
Rob Watson Next to the Democratic Republic of Congo, there are reports that Rwandan backed rebels are seizing more territory in the east of the country after capturing most of the key city of Goma. Witnesses say the M23 rebels have advanced south towards the city of Bukavu despite growing international calls for them to withdraw. The Congolese army, supported by local militia, UN peacekeepers and foreign mercenaries lost control of Goma on Tuesday. At least 500,000 people are estimated to have fled their homes in eastern DRC this month as a result of the rebel offensive. James Menendez spoke to the deputy head of the UN Stabilization Mission in the drc, Vivian Van Der Pere, who's in Goma. He asked her if she could confirm that the M23 rebel group is now in charge there.
Vivian van der Per
They control the city, they have roadblocks everywhere, but there are pockets of resistance and fighting and there's many elements still roaming. So I wouldn't call it complete control, but they definitely have established themselves in Goma.
Katya Adler
And what about the airport?
Rob Watson
Is that in M23 hands too, do you know?
Vivian van der Per
It is my understanding that the airport is in M23 hands right now, but I have not been able to go there. So I have not independently verified that. But from the troops that we have around the airport, the M23 seems to be controlling the airport.
Rob Watson
And if that is the case, what.
Katya Adler
Are the implications for delivery of humanitarian.
Rob Watson
Aid in the days to come?
Vivian van der Per
That is a big hindrance indeed. So we need the airport to be reopened as soon as possible by whoever controls it so that we can establish air bridges with the outside world in order to get humanitarian aid that is desperately needed into this region.
Katya Adler
Well, I was going to ask you.
Rob Watson
How bad is the situation. What do people need right now?
Vivian van der Per
They need absolutely everything. First of all, they need safety and security. We've had a couple of days of heavy fighting between M23 and the government and its allies. Fortunately, that has largely calmed down now. But the M23, as I understand it, is trying to establish themselves here as the, if I can call it de facto authorities. And they would be, since they are in control at the moment and it's just a reality, they would be responsible for establishing safety and security. Secondly, humanitarian needs are tremendous. The population is suffering tremendously. They need food, water, medical care, everything. The electricity has been down, the WI fi has been down. Water is in very short supply. Even our own troops in Minusco, we are running low on supplies and some bases have run out because many of the population have been coming to seek refuge in our bases.
Katya Adler
Have you had any direct contact yourself with the rebels necessarily?
Vivian van der Per
We need to coordinate on certain very urgent issues, such as our freedom of movement. We are doing our utmost to play a role in the protection of civilians. So yes, I have coordinated with them on our freedom of movement and we are trying to establish some kind of working relationship right now. They claim that they want the best for the population. So if I take them on their word, then I am going to use that to make sure that Monusco is allowed to go out and to help the population where it can.
Janat Jalil
Vivian van der Per, the deputy head of Monusko. The UN Stabilization Mission in the DRC Israel says it's received a list from Hamas of eight hostages due to be freed from Gaza on Thursday. Five of the eight are Thai nationals who were not part of the original ceasefire agreement. More than 100 Palestinian prisoners, some of them children, will be released from Israeli jails in return. Weira Davis reports from Jerusalem as the.
Katya Adler
Fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas continues to hold. The latest hostages due to be released include 29 year old Arbel Yehud, who was abducted from kibbutz near Oz on October 7th, and Agam Berger, a 20 year old military observer. They're believed to be the last two female hostages still alive. An 80 year old man, Gadi Moses, is also on the list to be handed over as are five unnamed Thai nationals, agricultural workers who were abducted from the kibbutzes where they worked in exchange for the Israeli hostages. 110 Palestinians are being released from Israeli jails. Their names have not been made public, but it's thought they include at least 30 women and children while they will return to their homes in either occupied East Jerusalem or the occupied West Bank. Israeli media reports say that several others, those sentenced to life terms for more serious offenses, will be exiled to Egypt or other neighboring Arab countries.
Janat Jalil
Wooma Davis Also on Thursday, as we record this podcast, Israel is set to outlaw the main UN agency for Palestinian refugees. Despite warnings that this could undermine critical aid deliveries in Gaza. Israeli officials have not spelt out how the new legislation will be enforced there and in the occupied West Bank. The UN Relief and Works Agency, or UNWA, supports some 6 million Palestinians across the Middle East. Already, Israel has ordered it to close its schools and clinics serving tens of thousands of people in Israeli annexed East Jerusalem. Here's our Middle east correspondent, Yoland Nell.
Katya Adler
Vast crowds of displaced people in Gaza on the move this week returning to the north. Most remain homeless, but even before this war, the majority of Gazans were classed as refugees cared for by the U.N. relief and Works Agency, or UNRUA. Now spokeswoman Julia Toomer says it's under threat. It would be a catastrophe if this ban comes into place. What it will mean is that it will deepen and further the suffering of the Palestinian people who rely on the agency for their survival, for the education of their children, for their health care. Recently, the Nasir family has been living in an UNRWA school turned shelter in central Gaza. As the descendants of Palestinians, Palestinians forced from their land when Israel was created in 1948, they've always had UNRWA food aid. Now they fear losing it and 16 year old Malak worries she won't be able to go back to school.
Philippa Roxby
Everyone in Gaza has a specific dream.
Katya Adler
And a bright future if they learn. If you ask any child what they want to be when they grow up, they'll say a doctor or an engineer. If education is stopped, then there will be no dreams for Gazan children. Israel has long criticized UNWRA schools, saying they promote the idea of Palestinians returning to their historic homes. But tensions have risen since the 7 October attacks. A UN investigation found that nine UNRWA workers out of some 13,000 employed in Gaza may have joined the deadly assault and fired them. The agency insists it's impartial, but Israel's Deputy Foreign Minister Sharon Haskell claims it's a security threat. Israel actually gave more than a year.
Janat Jalil
To the international community to clean out.
Katya Adler
This organization from the infiltration of Hamas, but it didn't. So after a year, this was the only step, the logic step that we.
Vivian van der Per
Could do in making sure that this organization will not harm Israeli citizens.
Katya Adler
The new laws prohibit Israeli officials from any contact with UNRWA but there's uncertainty over exactly how they'll work. Top UN figures worry that they're coming into force just as a fragile ceasefire is taking hold in Gaza. And warn they could also have an impact on the long term chances of peace.
Janat Jalil
That report by Yoland Nell Samples scooped up by a NASA spacecraft from an asteroid hurtling through space are revealing more about the origins of life on our planet. The asteroid, named Bennu, is as wide as nearly eight football pitches. It was found to contain the building blocks of DNA in what scientists have described as an exciting outcome. Their findings were published in the journal Nature. Professor Sara Russell is one of the authors.
Katya Adler
We're not saying that there was life on Bennu. See any evidence for that? But what we are saying is that we see this whole array of really.
Janat Jalil
Complex, useful for life.
Katya Adler
Organic molecules plus water plus these salts would have provided lots of bioessential elements. And we imagine in the early solar system, asteroids like Bennu may have been raining down on the early Earth would have provided this sort of package of.
Janat Jalil
All of these nutrients that the Earth.
Katya Adler
Needs to eventually become habit.
Janat Jalil
Our science editor Rebecca Morell told me more about the sample from Bennu and how it was collected.
Rebecca Morell
This was one of what I think is NASA's most audacious missions where it flew a spacecraft to an asteroid called Bennu, this 500 meter sort of pile of rocks and rubble. And this spacecraft basically unfurled a robotic arm, grabbed a bit of asteroid, packed it into a capsule and sent it back to Earth and it landed in the Utah desert in 2023. So about 100 grams was collected, which doesn't sound like very much at all. But every grain is a treasure trove and it's been shared out with scientists around the world who've been studying it very intensely. And they've now completed their first analysis.
Janat Jalil
Of it and they're very excited by their findings.
Rebecca Morell
Yeah, I mean, when you look at the asteroid, it kind of looks dark and barren with not much going on, but actually when you start looking closely, it contains so much. So they found thousands of organic molecules. And these include some really important ones like amino acids, which are the molecules that make proteins. It's found nucleobases, which are ring shaped molecules that are the fundamental components of DNA. They've also found minerals suggesting that the asteroid had water on it. And they found ammonia too, which is really important for biochemical reactions. So you start thinking DNA, amino acids. Does this mean Bennu had life on it? And the answer is no. I mean, that would be an amazing find. But scientists do think that asteroids like Bennu, that contained this rich array of minerals and organic molecules, they think asteroids were really important for delivering these sort of ingredients to Earth. And that would have been through asteroid impacts really early on.
Janat Jalil
Like the one that killed the dinosaurs.
Rebecca Morell
Exactly, but way before that. So the solar system was formed about 4 1/2 billion years ago. It's this great big swirling cloud of gas and dust. And around this time, after the planets were formed, there were loads of these asteroids basically whizzing about all over the place. And lots of them were bombarding the Earth. So there ample opportunity for these ingredients to be carried to us.
Janat Jalil
In that case, there could be other planets in which the same thing has happened.
Rebecca Morell
Yeah, that's right. So, you know, Earth wasn't the only place being bombarded with asteroids. These asteroids were striking planets all over the place. And this offers up a really interesting question. You know, is there something really unique about the Earth and this particular set of circumstances which sparked life, you know, when life began, or did life happen? Did it begin on other planets, moons of planets perhaps too, and then fizzled out, or is it still there and we just don't know about it? So it's really a very intriguing finding and there's so much research still to do on Bennu. They've only just literally been sort of touching the, the surface of these grains. There's loads more to understand, but also loads of places to visit too, to kind of see what's happening there.
Janat Jalil
Rebecca Morell, still to come.
Philippa Roxby
These are small patches that are developed into heart tissues. Stem cells are very special cells which can take on the form of any other cells in the human body.
Janat Jalil
We hear about new research on how to patch up failing hearts by using stem cell foreign.
Katya Adler
Adler, host of the Global Story podcast from the BBC. Each weekday we break down one big news story with fresh perspectives from journalists around the world. From artificial intelligence to divisive politics tearing our societies apart from the movements of money and markets to the human stories that touch our lives, we bring you in depth insights from across the BBC and beyond. Listen to the Global Story wherever you get your BBC podcasts.
Janat Jalil
The frontrunner to be Germany's next leader has been accused of breaking the country's long standing political consensus against cooperating with the far right. Friedrich Mertz narrowly pushed through a motion in Parliament calling for tougher border rules with votes from the Alternativa for Deutschland party. Political rivals said he'd smashed a taboo in the heat of the moment. The AfD said the so called firewall was an anti democratic cartel agreement. Here's our Berlin correspondent, Jessica Parker.
Katya Adler
What has happened is that Friedrich Mertz, leading the cdu running right up to an election, has chosen, even though he says he sort of done it reluctantly, to push through this call for tougher border rules with votes from Alternativa for Deutschland. And he's going to table actual legislation on Friday. So there's the possibility that he could lean on those votes again to actually try and push through legislation. Although the election's so near, I think many people regard that as highly unlikely that it could go through. But I think number one significance is this crack in the firewall. He's under a huge amount of criticism for it. The AfD, who consider the firewall as completely undemocratic, are celebrating. They feel they have even more momentum now. They're already polling second in the polls. And I think as well, Friedrich Mertz, some people are saying he will have lost trust with possible coalition partners moving forward because he said he won't go into coalition with the AfD. So then you're looking at the Green Party or the Social Democrats and they are putting big question marks over his name after this move that he has made.
Janat Jalil
Jessica Parker There was a time when you could fly from New York to London at twice the speed of sound on the elegant and iconic Concorde passenger jet. Now, more than 20 years after Concorde's last flight, could a new era of supersonic flights be about to take off? A test plane broke the sound barrier over the Mojave Desert in California this week. Now the company that made it boom Supersonic wants to bring back commercial passenger jets in the next few years. Guy Grattan is an associate professor of aviation at Cranfield University in Southern England. He's been telling James Menendez what he makes of the XB1 jet.
Katya Adler
It's very significant because it's actually the first time we've ever had a supersonic flight by a completely privately funded airplane. And it's certainly the first time we've had anything looking like a civilian airliner go supersonic. So it could well be a step into, into a return to supersonic air travel, at least for a few people. It's smaller, isn't it, than a commercial jet would need to be to carry lots of passengers. So has the technology got a bit of a way to go? It has the XB1, which did its test flight. It's basically a single seat aeroplane there to learn how to do it. This is leading to an airplane that will be about half the size of Concorde, called the Overture, and will be a bit slower than Concorde at about Mach 1.7 compared to Concorde's 2.1. But development programs work like this. You start small, you start with prototypes that let you learn a lot of the key lessons and you work upwards. And so that's the way Concorde was developed. And I think they going about it the right way.
Janat Jalil
Guy Grattan from Cranfield University. New technology could mean that failing hearts are patched up and kept pumping using small pieces of heart muscle developed from stem cells. Scientists in Germany are hopeful that their research could give patients with advanced heart failure more of a chance. Based on promising tests in monkeys and early results from a small trial on humans, our health and science correspondent Philippa Roxby told us more.
Philippa Roxby
These are small patches that are developed into heart tissues. Stem cells are very special cells which can take on the form of any other cells in the human body. So they created these in the lab, little tiny patches of heart muscle and used them on primates that had heart failure. And that's something that's very common in people. After they've had a heart attack, their heart doesn't work quite as well as it did and heart failure develops. And so these heart patches can be sewn onto the damaged heart. And the researchers found that actually they could help, they could strengthen the heart muscle and help support its, its pumping and its beating and go some way to repairing it.
Janat Jalil
And these stem cells, do they have to come from the patient with the heart problem, or can they just be a supply of stem cells that the scientists can tap into?
Philippa Roxby
Interestingly, they're just off the shelf stem cells which have already been developed and in the lab, because it takes some that. So if you use the patient's own stem cells, that would take too long. So they're sort of off the shelf. They've already been developed and engineered into different parts of tissue from the human body. So they take a tiny sample of those and then create them into this pink sort of coloured patch which they then stitch onto the heart.
Janat Jalil
It's still early days in the trial for humans, but already it looks quite promising.
Philippa Roxby
Yes, it is. Very early days. We're only just with this team of German scientists into a small study in people. So clearly much larger studies are needed in more people to find out exactly what these patches can do. At the moment, they think they've got the potential to help repair the heart. And charities, heart charities today were saying, well, if all these other steps in the future are positive, then the potential could be huge for new treatments for heart failure. At the moment, there are very few options. People can have pumps put into their body, but those are sometimes costly and complicated and problematic. Heart transplants are hardly ever an option. They're only an option for a tiny number of people. So really there's a real need for a different kind of treatment, but it could take some time to arrive. For most people, we're talking years. We're definitely talking years. Years and years. Research is never quick in this area because it's painstaking, but. But this is. This is a promising start to something that could go on for some time.
Janat Jalil
Philippa Roxby Mongolia has announced the resumption of spring horse racing seven years after it was banned because of concerns about the use of child jockeys. At least 30 children have been killed over the past two decades in what the UN has called one of the worst forms of child labour. Elektra Naismith reports. Horse racing is a national sport in Mongolia, going back centuries, but it's different to racing in other countries. The routes are straight and need more speed and endurance.
Katya Adler
That means light jockeys, and the lightest.
Janat Jalil
Are always young children, some aged just six or seven. The lack of saddles and helmets make it hazardous work, but it offers prestige.
Katya Adler
And vital income to poor families.
Janat Jalil
The government says new rules will protect child jockeys, who should now be at least 12. Public opinion is divided, but Mongolia's Bar Associ says better laws are needed to ensure children's rights. Elektra Naismith Hundreds of millions of people across Asia and the world are celebrating the Lunar New Year, bidding farewell to the Year of the Dragon and ushering in the Year of the Snake. These people visited the Lama Temple in the Chinese capital, Beijing.
Katya Adler
We want to get rid of all the bad things and physical diseases from the last year and embrace the start of the New year.
Janat Jalil
Generally speaking, the past year was a.
Katya Adler
Very busy one for me because I.
Janat Jalil
Had to take care of both my.
Katya Adler
Kid and my work, which is quite different from earlier years.
Janat Jalil
In the Year of the Snake, I wish my kid will grow healthily and.
Katya Adler
My work can remain stable. Then I can be happy enough. We want to seek good omens on.
Janat Jalil
The first day of the New year. In the past year, people experienced a lot of things and we hope our.
Katya Adler
Lives can get better in the coming days. We are Chinese and we are influenced by thousands of years of history and culture. Our cultures just exist in our blood, both tangible and intangible. It's New Year's Day and I brought my children here to experience the atmosphere. Because the New Year atmosphere in society is fading. Here we can still feel the celebration. Children like mine don't have much of an idea of what New Year is like in Beijing, but here we can still see some of that.
Janat Jalil
And to everyone who's celebrating, Happy New Year. 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, you can send us an email. The address is globalpodcastbc. You can also find us on X@global newspod. This edition was mixed by Tom Bartlett. The producer was Liam McSheffrey. The editor is Karen Martin. I'm Janak Jalil. Until next time. Goodbye.
Katya Adler
Hello, I'm Katya Adler, host of the Global Story podcast from the BBC. Each weekday we break down one big news story with fresh perspectives from journalists around the world. From artificial intelligence to divisive politics tearing our societies apart from the movements of money and markets to the human stories that touch our lives, we bring you in depth insights from across the BBC and beyond. Listen to the Global Story wherever you get your BBC podcasts.
Global News Podcast Summary: US Senators Question Robert F Kennedy Jr. and Other Key Stories
Release Date: January 30, 2025
Host: Janat Jalil
Produced by: BBC World Service
Overview: In a highly contentious confirmation hearing, Robert F Kennedy Jr., President Donald Trump's nominee for the U.S. Secretary of Health, faced intense scrutiny from Senate Democrats. Kennedy, known for his controversial stance on vaccines, attempted to defend his record amidst a barrage of tough questions and protests.
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Notable Quotes:
Overview: Peter Mandelson, a seasoned British politician previously critical of Donald Trump, has been appointed as Britain's next Ambassador to the United States. This marks a significant shift in his stance toward the US President, raising questions about its sincerity and impact.
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Overview: The M23 rebel group, backed by Rwanda, has captured the strategic city of Goma in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), intensifying the ongoing conflict and leading to significant civilian displacement.
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Overview: Israel has been presented with a list of eight hostages from Hamas, which is part of a fragile ceasefire agreement. The exchange includes both Israeli citizens and Palestinian prisoners.
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Overview: NASA’s mission to asteroid Bennu has yielded groundbreaking samples containing organic molecules, providing new insights into the building blocks of life on Earth.
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Overview: The recent supersonic test flight of the XB1 plane marks a potential renaissance in commercial supersonic travel, reminiscent of the iconic Concorde era.
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Overview: German scientists have made strides in using stem cell-derived heart patches to repair failing hearts, potentially revolutionizing treatments for advanced heart failure.
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Overview: After a seven-year hiatus due to the hazardous involvement of child jockeys, Mongolia has reinstated spring horse racing with new regulations to protect minors.
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Overview: Friedrich Mertz, a leading candidate to become Germany's next leader, faces accusations of breaking the longstanding political consensus against collaborating with the far-right Alternative for Deutschland (AfD) party.
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Overview: The podcast concludes with coverage of Lunar New Year celebrations, highlighting cultural traditions and personal reflections from participants in Beijing.
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Conclusion: This episode of the Global News Podcast provided an extensive overview of significant global events, from high-stakes political hearings in the U.S. and diplomatic shifts in the UK, to regional conflicts in Africa, scientific breakthroughs, and cultural celebrations. Notable interviews and expert analyses offered listeners in-depth insights into each story's implications and future developments.
For more detailed coverage, listen to the full episode of the Global News Podcast available on BBC platforms.