US to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany

Summary

Global News Podcast — US to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany
BBC World Service — May 2, 2026
Host: Charlotte Gallagher

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Episode Overview

This edition of the Global News Podcast unpacks the US decision to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany amidst escalating tensions between the US and Germany over the ongoing war in Iran. The episode explores the political and security implications of this move, the deepening US-EU trade disputes, new US sanctions on Cuba, the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and a lighthearted update on France’s bread laws and the flat pack furniture world championships. Key correspondents and experts provide on-the-ground insights and direct commentary throughout.

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Key Discussion Points & Segments

1. US Withdrawing Troops from Germany

[01:03–06:45]

• Background:
  President Trump orders 5,000 US troops to be pulled out of Germany after a public spat with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who criticized the US’s alleged lack of strategy and effectiveness in the Iran conflict.

• Pentagon Statement (voiced):
  “The Secretary of War has ordered the withdrawal of approximately 5,000 troops from Germany. This decision follows a thorough review of the department's force posture in Europe...” — [02:43]

• Analysis by Peter Bowes (North America Correspondent):

  • The withdrawal is “more symbolic than strategic, although symbolism matters” and could raise doubts among allies about “Washington's long term commitment to NATO” and deterrence against Russia. — [04:11]
  • “Germany is a key logistics hub, and a reduction in forces could risk slowing response times if there’s a crisis.” — [04:40]
  • Trump faces potential domestic backlash but “his core supporters are likely, I think, to back this move as part of what is seen as the America First approach.” — [04:56]

• Trump’s Rhetoric on Iran:

  • “Do we want to go and just blast the hell out of him and finish him forever, or do we want to try and make a deal? I mean, those are the options. Do you want to go blast the hell out of him? I'd prefer not.” — President Trump parody/clip [05:47]

• Future Uncertain:
  “He is keeping his options open, all of his options … He could try to intensify the economic stranglehold on Iran … but Donald Trump doesn’t have a lot of time to end this war if he is not going to risk the consequences at the polls in November.” — Peter Bowes [06:02–06:45]

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2. US–European Union Trade Tensions

[06:45–09:02]

• Trump announced increased tariffs on European cars (from 15% to 25%), citing alleged noncompliance with last summer’s trade deal.

• The European Commission responds that it is “implementing the deal in line with standard practice.”

• Business Analysis (Michelle Fleury):

  • Awaiting the formal mechanism for new tariffs; possible legal complications as some blanket tariffs were “ruled illegal by the Supreme Court.” — [08:02]
  • Details of the previous trade deals “were headlines, but they didn’t have much time to figure out the details,” causing the present “ratcheting up of tensions.” — [08:45]

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3. US Sanctions & Crisis in Cuba

[09:02–12:40]

• Cuba describes new US sanctions as “collective punishment,” further exacerbating its major economic and fuel crisis due to the existing oil blockade.

• Mass anti-imperialist rallies held nationwide in Cuba against US policies.

• Will Grant (Cuba Correspondent):

  • New sanctions target any “foreign person operating in energy, defence, … financial services or security sector of the Cuban economy” — [10:06]
  • “This will be focused at squeezing the Cuban economy further … making it more uncomfortable for any entity [to] do business with the Cuban government.” — [10:48]
  • Russian oil shipment recently provided short-term relief, but “no long term solution at all. … People are very, very tired at this situation” — [11:15]
  • Collapse in tourism is directly hitting the island’s vital source of foreign currency. — [12:10]

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4. Gaza’s Public Health Catastrophe

[18:24–22:33]

• Context:
  After two years of war and displacement, Gaza’s population faces a surge in diseases spread by rats, fleas, and other vermin, with 80% of displacement sites reporting rodent infestations.

• Voices from Gaza:

  • “While we are sleeping, they walk over our clothes, they walk over our food and even water. We have little water as well.” — Displaced Palestinian, voiced by Charlotte Gallagher [19:19]

  • Samah Adabla, mother of a child bitten by a weasel:
    “When my husband turned on the torch, the weasel ran away. I looked at her hand and it was all blood. Everything was bloody.” — [20:06]

• UNICEF & WHO Perspective:

  • Etty Higgins (UNICEF):
    “What is needed is a very large scale campaign to be able to deal with the waste and rubble problems across Gaza. … Pipes have been destroyed and treatment facilities have been destroyed.” — [20:56]
  • Over 110,000 cases of skin diseases this year, placing immense strain on healthcare. — [20:12]

• Structural Barriers:
  “Many areas of the Strip previously used for landfill are now under full Israeli control, leaving huge rubbish piles in populated areas, another breeding ground for rodents.” — [21:14]

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5. France’s May Day Bakery Law Confusion

[22:33–26:00]

• Background:
  French law bars most commercial operations on Labor Day (May 1st), with an exception for family-run bakeries. Recent government attempts to change the rule led to confusion.

• On the Ground (Ed Butler with Patricia Oli, bakery worker):

  • “They said that the bakery could be open, but just the family could work.” — Patricia Oli [23:19]
  • “We want the law change and that we can open and we can let others work. Pay double.” — Patricia Oli [25:05]
  • Tourists flocked to the only open bakery, workers overwhelmed.

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6. Discovery: Anne Boleyn's True Likeness?

[26:00–28:04]

• UK scientists believe they've found a sketch of Anne Boleyn using facial recognition technology in Holbein’s collection.

• Expert View (Dr. Charlotte Boland):

  • “Her reign wasn't necessarily long enough for a kind of established iconography. And there is this … suggestion that perhaps some of her images might have been deliberately destroyed.” — [26:34]

• Historical Debate:
  The facial recognition methodology is contested: “You can’t treat works of art as if they’re modern photographs.” — [27:55]

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7. The Flat Pack World Championships

[28:04–29:48]

• In London, the world’s fastest flat pack assemblers competed for the Golden Hex Key Medal.
• Champion’s Highlight (Hayley McAuley):
  • Built a bedside table in 8 minutes and 20 seconds, “shaving almost a minute from her time in last year’s final” — [29:32]
  • “Her cabinet also had to pass a sit test, which speaks for itself. And crucially, she had no rogue screws left over.” — Mark Ashdown [29:47]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Peter Bowes on symbolism of troop withdrawal:
  “The withdrawal of 5,000 US troops from Germany probably is more symbolic than strategic, although symbolism matters, of course.” — [04:12]

• President Trump on European tariffs (parody/clip):
  “I’m going to put a 250% tariff on all wines and champagnes that you ship into our country. And he said, ‘Donald, Donald, how dare you? You should not do that.’” — [07:22]

• Will Grant on Cuban resilience:
  “People are very, very tired at this situation. They don't want to be in a constant and hostile footing with the United States.” — [11:23]

• Yoland Nel from Gaza:
  “Gaza hospitals are also seeing a surge in skin diseases caused by fleas, mites, lice and bedbugs. … putting further strain on the broken health care system.” — [20:12]

• Patricia Oli, Paris baker:
  “We want the law change and that we can open and we can let others work. Pay double.” — [25:05]

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Additional Segments

• Missing Oscar retrieved:
  After Academy Award-winning director Pavel Tlenkin’s statue went missing in transit, it was dramatically recovered during a live BBC interview.
  “Lufthansa has apologized to Mr. Tolenkin for the inconvenience. The team behind the film said it was relieved after what it called a big kerfuffle.” — Joe Inwood [14:15]

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Timestamps Guide

| Topic | Start | Highlights | |-------|-------|------------| | US-Germany troops | 01:03 | Announcement, analysis, political implications | | Iran War Decisions | 05:32 | Trump’s stance, strategic ambiguity | | US-EU Trade Dispute | 06:45 | Tariff increase, business impact | | US Sanctions on Cuba | 09:02 | Economic effects, expert insight | | Gaza Health Crisis | 18:24 | Firsthand accounts, humanitarian impact | | French Bakery Rule | 22:33 | Worker’s testimony, law change debate | | Anne Boleyn Sketch | 26:00 | Historical debate, technology in art | | Flat Pack Championships | 28:04 | Fastest builder, community spirit |

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This podcast episode offers a comprehensive snapshot of a world in flux—covering geopolitics, economy, public health, culture, and even competitive furniture assembly—engaging expert voices to illuminate the headlines behind the headlines.

Transcript

[Narrator/Announcer]

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[Charlotte Gallagher (BBC Global News Podcast Host)]

This is the global news podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Charlotte Gallagher and in the early hours of Saturday, 2nd May, these are our main stories. 5,000 US troops will be ordered home from Germany following a spat between the two countries leaders and are we any closer to an Iran deal? We'll hear from President Trump.

[Dale (Framing Contractor)]

We want to go and just blast the hell out of him and finish him forever. Or do we want to try and make a deal? I mean, those are the options. Do you want to go blast the hell out of him? I'd prefer not.

[Charlotte Gallagher (BBC Global News Podcast Host)]

Also, Cuba says new sanctions imposed by the US amount to collective punishment. In Gaza, rats and fleas are spreading diseases among displaced Palestinians. Also in this podcast.

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It's been quite an ordeal and I'm

[Danielle Robay]

sure that no Hollywood star, and really it doesn't sound like any other person who has ever traveled with an Oscar,

[Grainger Advertiser]

has ever had to deal with this.

[Charlotte Gallagher (BBC Global News Podcast Host)]

The Hollywood ending for a missing Oscar. President Trump has been threatening to punish some European countries for refusing to help with the war in Iran. And and when the German Chancellor Friedrich Merz commented that the US Was being humiliated by Tehran, it seemed to have hit a nerve. Earlier this week, Mr. Trump hinted he might pull thousands of US troops out of Germany. And on Friday, the chief Pentagon spokesman, Sean Parnell, confirmed this in a statement. It's been voiced by one of our producers.

[Narrator/Announcer]

The Secretary of War has ordered the withdrawal of approximately 5,000 troops from Germany. This decision follows a thorough review of the department's force posture in Europe and is in recognition of theatre requirements and conditions on the ground. We expect the withdrawal to be completed over the next six to 12 months.

[Charlotte Gallagher (BBC Global News Podcast Host)]

I asked our North America correspondent, Peter Bowes if this was about Mr. Trump being offended by the German Chancellor.

[Peter Bowes (North America Correspondent)]

Well, the Pentagon statement that we've just heard suggests a wider review of troop requirements, but we can't ignore the spot between Donald Trump and Friedrich Merz over the war in Iran. Tesla's reservations about the conflict are well known. They have been for a long time, from the beginning of the war two months ago. He actually met with Donald Trump at the White House in March. This was just days after the conflict started. And he expressed concern that an extended war could do great damage to the global economy. In recent days, he has been more critical, saying that the US Was being humiliated by the Iranian leadership. He also criticized Washington's lack of strategy. Mr. Trump responded to that, saying that the German Chancellor didn't know what he was talking about. And it was then just a couple of days ago that he threatened to reduce the number of US Troops stationed in Germany, saying that a decision would be made fairly soon. It has been Fairly soon, just 48 hours now. The Pentagon has confirmed that move.

[Charlotte Gallagher (BBC Global News Podcast Host)]

And what could be the impact on security not just in Europe, but also

[Peter Bowes (North America Correspondent)]

the U.S. well, the withdrawal of 5,000 U.S. troops from Germany probably is more symbolic than strategic, although symbolism matters, of course. It is likely, I think, to raise more questions amongst allies about Washington's long term commitment to NATO. And it could be seen as weakening deterrence against Russia. At the same time, the other argument is that the Pentagon may say, well, it's all about flexibility, shifting forces to where they're most needed. That's certainly what their statement seems to imply. But Germany is a key logistics hub, and a reduction in forces could risk slowing response times if there's a crisis.

[Charlotte Gallagher (BBC Global News Podcast Host)]

And do you think Mr. Trump will face any backlash in the US over this withdrawal?

[Peter Bowes (North America Correspondent)]

Well, politically, I think he may face criticism from both parties for potentially undermining alliances. And these alliances go back for some considerable time. But his core supporters are likely, I think, to back this move as part of what is seen as the America first approach. Although the President has been criticized quite a lot in recent weeks for veering away from that America first approach by reducing overseas commitments, though he would be appealing to his base unless it leads to very clear security setbacks. It's unlikely to become, I think, a major domestic political issue.

[Charlotte Gallagher (BBC Global News Podcast Host)]

And you mentioned there, Peter, overseas commitments. And the biggest one now is obviously Iran. And President Trump is under pressure to decide what to do. He said in a letter to the US Congress that hostilities are terminated. But he's also told journalists the war could start up again.

[Dale (Framing Contractor)]

Do we want to go and just blast the hell out of him and finish him forever, or do we want to try and make a deal? I mean, those are the options. Do you want to go blast the hell out of him? I'd prefer not.

[Charlotte Gallagher (BBC Global News Podcast Host)]

So not totally clear where Mr. Trump is going to go from here, Peter.

[Peter Bowes (North America Correspondent)]

And you know, I'm tempted to say to that, well, probably only he knows what he's going to do next. Whenever he is asked if he is going to resume the bombing, he says to reporters, why should I tell you? And I think that is a response that emphasizes that he is keeping his options open, all of his options. He could try to intensify the economic stranglehold on Iran through the blockade of its ports. He could try to move to open up the Strait of Hormuz or partially open it through US Intervention there. Both options could involve playing the long game. But I think the reality is, with domestic politics in mind, Donald Trump doesn't have a lot of time to end this war if he is not going to risk the consequences at the polls in November.

[Charlotte Gallagher (BBC Global News Podcast Host)]

Peter Bose Tensions are also ramping up between the US and the EU over trade. President Trump has announced he'll be increasing tariffs on imported European vehicles to 25%. The tax is currently set at 15%. But Mr. Trump claims the bloc is not complying with the terms of a trade deal struck last summer. The European Commission has responded, saying it's implementing the deal in line with standard practice. The US Trade war with the EU has been one of the big issues of the Trump administration. And in Florida on Friday, Mr. Trump took aim at his French counterpart.

[Dale (Framing Contractor)]

So I'd call up, like as an example, France. I spoke with Macron, Emmanuel, your drug prices are a tiny fraction of ours. We can't have that. We're going to have to raise it. No, no, no, Donald, I will not do that. I'm going to put a 250% tariff on all wines and champagnes that you ship into our country. And he said, donald, Donald, how dare you? You should not do that. You cannot do that. And I said, no, I'm going to do it. Okay, you have a deal with more

[Charlotte Gallagher (BBC Global News Podcast Host)]

on the US tariffs on European vehicles. Here's our business correspondent, Michelle Fleury.

[Yoland Nel (Middle East Correspondent)]

Obviously, we have this signal of intent from the president with this post on Truth Social, but we still have to wait for the official document from the Department of Commerce and others that kind of formally announces the mechanism under which such trade tariffs would be implemented. A lot of them were, or at least this idea of blanket tariffs was ruled illegal by the Supreme Court. That being said, there are sectoral tariffs that are currently being explored by the administration. So whether it would fall under that, we just, at this point don't know. And I think that's where, as ever, the fine print matters. And talking about fine print, a lot of this has to do with the fact that when you think back over the summer, all of those kind of trade deals that were announced a huge fanfare, a lot of them were headlines, but they didn't have much time to kind of figure out the details. And I think it is differences of opinion on those details that has led to this ratcheting up of tensions that we're seeing right now.

[Charlotte Gallagher (BBC Global News Podcast Host)]

Michelle Fleury, Cuba has described a new round of sanctions imposed by the United States as collective punishment. Cuba is already in the throes of a major economic and fuel crisis exacerbated by the US's oil blockade of the island. The announcement came as a large May Day celebration took place in Havana where Cubans vowed to defend their homeland against American aggression.

[Mark Ashdown (Flat Pack World Championships Reporter)]

President Trump has no right to do anything against Cuba. As for me, I'm Cuban American, and with all the failures of the United States in Iran, in Gaza, in Venezuela, for all those crimes they commit, I had to do something.

[Charlotte Gallagher (BBC Global News Podcast Host)]

The response has been very strong right in front of the United States Embassy, millions of Cubans across the entire country and here hundreds of thousands in their anti imperialist stand. So who will be the target of the new US sanctions? Our Cuba correspondent is Will Grant.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Well, it's pretty interesting in the sense that it is very generalized. I mean, the wording says to any foreign person operating in the energy, defence, related material, metals and mining, financial services or security sector of the Cuban economy or any other sector of the Cuban, Cuban economy, huge amount of movement and wiggle room there in the interpretation of what that could mean. So that led, I think, to the foreign minister saying they obviously rejected those new measures, calling them unilateral, coercive measures and collective punishment against the Cuban people. I think the truth is that this will be focused at squeezing the Cuban economy further by forcing sanctions against anybody who does dealings, particularly with Those areas, mining, financial services and so on, and simply making it more uncomfortable for any entity, any individual who intends to do business with the Cuban government, which of course remains the main player in the economy on the island.

[Charlotte Gallagher (BBC Global News Podcast Host)]

And of course, normal Cubans are suffering. I remember you were there and you were reporting on hospitals and people giving birth in darkness because there were power outages. Is it still like that now in Cuba?

[Narrator/Announcer]

Yeah, it remains very, very bad. There's been a bit of easing with the arrival of a Russian oil tanker last month which was carrying somewhere in the region of 730,000 barrels of oil of crude. And that has helped things in the very short term. But of course, it's no long term solution at all. Very interesting, of course, that the Trump administration imposes these new measures on the May Day celebrations. And we heard in the people's voices there on the streets that they were turning out in support of the government of that. But of course, people are very, very tired at this situation. They don't want to be in a constant and hostile footing with the United States. They feel like that their own government has failed to invest in time with the crumbling infrastructure and so on, particularly in the energy sector. And yes, it remains extremely bleak on the island.

[Charlotte Gallagher (BBC Global News Podcast Host)]

And I suppose as well, it's stopping tourists going and that is going to lose the island a lot of money.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Absolutely. I mean, tourism is the mainstay of the economy. It's the driving force. It's the main economic motor. It brings in foreign currency. You know, it props up lots of small business businesses with such a drop off, particularly since COVID But beyond there too, it's just getting harder and harder to bring in that foreign currency reserves with which they import foodstuffs, medicines and so on. So it's all related. But yeah, the tourism sector being hit very hard does have a direct impact on the well being of the rest of the Cuban economy.

[Charlotte Gallagher (BBC Global News Podcast Host)]

That was Will Grant. Now to the curious case of the missing Oscar. It disappeared after Pavel Tlenkin, the director of the Academy award winning documentary Mr. Noble Nobody Against Putin, was forced to put the statue into a plane's hold in case he used it as a weapon. And then the airline Lufthansa said they couldn't find it. Our World News correspondent Joe Inwood has the details.

[Joe Inwood (World News Correspondent)]

It is an extraordinary portrayal of one schoolteacher's fight against the Russian propaganda machine. Mr. Nobody against Putin was recognised with the Oscar for best documentary amongst other awards. But security at New York's JFK Airport decided Pavel Terlankin's 13.5 inch 4 kilo Golden Academy Award could be used as a weapon and so made him put it in the hold of his Lufthansa flight. When he landed in Germany, the statue had vanished. The airline said it was looking for it, but the film's executive producer Robin Hessman criticised Mr. Tolenkin's treatment, saying this wouldn't have happened to Leonardo DiCaprio. But a few hours later, this moment on the BBC News Channel,

[Narrator/Announcer]

breaking news. Lufthansa has just told the BBC it's been recovered.

[Joe Inwood (World News Correspondent)]

The film's co director David Borenstein was being interviewed at the time.

[Charlotte Gallagher (BBC Global News Podcast Host)]

It definitely is a relief. I'm looking right now at the message from Linda from Lufthansa. So it's really good news.

[Joe Inwood (World News Correspondent)]

Lufthansa has apologized to Mr. Tolenkin for the inconvenience. The team behind the film said it was relieved after what it called a big kerfuffle.

[Charlotte Gallagher (BBC Global News Podcast Host)]

That was Jo Inward reporting. Still to come in this podcast of

[Dr. Charlotte Boland (National Portrait Gallery Expert)]

the many mysteries that surround Anne Boleyn, her reign wasn't necessarily long enough for a kind of established iconography. And there is this tantalizing suggestion that perhaps some of her images might have been deliberately destroyed.

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Scientists say they've used new technology to identify a previously unknown scientist sketch of the Tudor Queen Anne Boleyn.

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[Charlotte Gallagher (BBC Global News Podcast Host)]

This is the Global News Podcast In Gaza, rats, fleas and other pests are increasingly spreading diseases among displaced Palestinians. After two years of war, most of the 2 million people living in the Strip are now in makeshift camps with poor hygiene and sanitation. A recent survey by international aid groups found rodents were frequently seen in 80% of displacement sites. Here's our Middle east correspondent, Yoland Nel. Here you see all the sewage that comes from all the area of Gaza.

[Yoland Nel (Middle East Correspondent, repeated)]

Imwadiya is a mother of three. Cutting through the beachside tent camp where her family now lives is a stinking stream of Raw sewage, the ideal habitat for Gaza's growing population of rodents.

[Charlotte Gallagher (BBC Global News Podcast Host)]

While we are sleeping, they walk over our clothes, they walk over our food and even water. We have little water as well.

[Yoland Nel (Middle East Correspondent, repeated)]

In social media videos, Palestinians in the war torn territory show the new daily battles they're facing against rats, weasels and other pests. There have been attacks on the sick, elderly and children.

[Charlotte Gallagher (BBC Global News Podcast Host)]

We woke up to her screaming at

[Yoland Nel (Middle East Correspondent, repeated)]

2am Samah Adabla, who's also displaced in Gaza City, recalls the night her four year old daughter Mayassine was bitten.

[Charlotte Gallagher (BBC Global News Podcast Host)]

When my husband turned on the torch, the weasel ran away. I looked at her hand and it was all blood. Everything was bloody.

[Yoland Nel (Middle East Correspondent, repeated)]

After the girl came back from the hospital, she developed a fever and vomiting. Samah and her husband now stay awake in shifts to keep watch over their two children. Gaza hospitals are also seeing a surge in skin diseases caused by fleas, mites, lice and bedbugs. According to the World Health Organization, they've treated over 110,000 cases this year, putting further strain on the broken health care system. Pest control options are limited. Some local councils have been dousing tents with bug sprays. But Etty Higgins from UNICEF says the route cause of the infestations must be urgently addressed.

[Charlotte Gallagher (BBC Global News Podcast Host)]

What is needed is a very large scale campaign to be able to deal with the waste and rubble problems across Gaza. Pipes have been destroyed and treatment facilities have been destroyed. So we are trying to scale up our support to manage the wastewater and sewage.

[Yoland Nel (Middle East Correspondent, repeated)]

More than six months into a shaky ceasefire, Gazans are continuing to suffer. Citing security concerns, Israel restricts some supplies needed for repairs, such as pipes and bulldozers. But cogat, the military agency that controls access to Gaza, tells the BBC it's working with the UN and others in the fields of sanitation and essential infrastructure. Many areas of the Strip previously used for landfill are now under full Israeli control, leaving huge rubbish piles in populated areas, another breeding ground for rodents. Small fires.1 dump in Gaza City. Right next to it, Rizak Abulela and his four children, including an eight year old with cancer, live in a tent. They can see and hear the rats and weasels.

[Yoland Nel (Middle East Correspondent)]

We can't sleep.

[Charlotte Gallagher (BBC Global News Podcast Host)]

They go down into the rubbish dump and fight because there are so many of them. I swear we can't endure it.

[Yoland Nel (Middle East Correspondent, repeated)]

Now with summer approaching, pest infestations and the public health crisis look set to get worse. And Gazans worn down by two years of war say that the situation is becoming intolerable.

[Charlotte Gallagher (BBC Global News Podcast Host)]

Yoland now, now. If you think that buying a crusty, freshly baked baguette is One of the most fresh, famous daily rituals for people in France. You might be disappointed, at least on days like May 1st. It was international Labor Day, a significant national public holiday in France. And by law, only essential services such as hospitals and hotels may open. But is that a bit outdated? The government thinks so. It's embarked on a rule change allowing bakeries to remain open. However, there seems to have been a bit of a turnaround, leaving a lot of bakeries confused about who can actually serve customers. Ed Butler has been speaking to Patricia Oli, an employee of the Maison Colet bakery in central Paris.

[Patricia Oli (Bakery Employee)]

They said that the bakery could be open, but just the family could work.

[Ed Butler (Interviewer)]

Okay, so the boss is allowed to work on May 1st, but you're not as a member of staff.

[Patricia Oli (Bakery Employee)]

Yeah, but me, I'm on his family. I'm his stepdaughter.

[Ed Butler (Interviewer)]

You're the stepdaughter. So you can work, but other people can't work?

[Patricia Oli (Bakery Employee)]

No.

[Ed Butler (Interviewer)]

Right. So now they're going to change the rules.

[Patricia Oli (Bakery Employee)]

They said that they changed the rules and everyone can work. But at the last minutes, they sent a mail to say that we can't, we can't open and we can't work. We shouldn't.

[Ed Butler (Interviewer)]

I think you shouldn't make your workers come in. Is that what you're saying?

[Patricia Oli (Bakery Employee)]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I will check. Yeah. Only. Only family.

[Ed Butler (Interviewer)]

Only the family was allowed to work.

[Patricia Oli (Bakery Employee)]

So, yeah.

[Ed Butler (Interviewer)]

Was it incredibly busy and very hard?

[Patricia Oli (Bakery Employee)]

The bus, it wasn't happy. It was stressed. Stressed because he didn't know what doing.

[Ed Butler (Interviewer)]

Yeah. How were your customers? Were they annoyed?

[Patricia Oli (Bakery Employee)]

Today we have a lot, lot, lot of tourists because all bakeries in the street are closed. So we are only the one open in the street. We were only four people to work and there is a lot of people who are running from here and here and here and here. It was difficult.

[Ed Butler (Interviewer)]

So tell me, I mean, what would you like to see happen? Because the unions say they don't want to change the rules. The government now says it does want to change the rules. What do you think should happen?

[Patricia Oli (Bakery Employee)]

We want the law change and that we can open and we can let others work. Pay double.

[Ed Butler (Interviewer)]

You would happily pay them twice the normal rate just so they can open on May 1st?

[Patricia Oli (Bakery Employee)]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. We are ready to pay them double to work. We asked our employees yesterday if you want to work, everything want to work and pay double.

[Ed Butler (Interviewer)]

They were all delighted. But they're not allowed.

[Patricia Oli (Bakery Employee)]

We want to change this law and let them work. There is a lot of tourists. They want to try. They want to ask. They Want to see and all shops are closed, so it's a pleasure to have different nationalities here asking bread, asking if we are opening. We are, so it's difficult for us.

[Charlotte Gallagher (BBC Global News Podcast Host)]

That was Patricia Orly. A team of scientists in the UK say they've identified a previously unknown sketch of the Tudor queen Anne Boleyn using facial recognition technology. The team from the University of Bradford believe the image of Henry VIII's second wife has been hiding in plain sight for hundreds of years. In a collection of drawings by the famous artist Hans holbein. The younger Dr. Charlotte Boland, an expert at the National Portrait Gallery in London, told us about the enduring mystery of what Anne Boleyn looked like.

[Dr. Charlotte Boland (National Portrait Gallery Expert)]

Anne Boleyn is one of the most famous figures from English history. So she is Henry VIII's second wife. After only three years, court conspired against her. Her own mistakes, her own actions, and she ended up being executed. Of the many mysteries that surround Anne Boleyn, her reign wasn't necessarily long enough for a kind of established iconography. And there is this kind of tantalizing suggestion that perhaps some of her images might have been deliberately destroyed.

[Charlotte Gallagher (BBC Global News Podcast Host)]

Harriet Bradshaw has been telling us more.

[Harriet Bradshaw (Reporter)]

Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII and mother of Elizabeth I, was arrested on this day in 1536. Accused of incest, adultery and treason. She was beheaded just over two weeks later. The circumstances of her marriage and death made her an important figure in the English Reformation. But mystery surrounds what she looked like, as only a handful of contested contemporary lifelike depictions of her survive, including a preparatory sketch in a collection of drawings by Holbein. Scientists used facial recognition software to compare the faces in all the drawings with contemporary depictions of the Queen's cousins and daughter to see if, without human bias, she could be identified. The team concluded a sketch labelled as Anne Boleyn was actually her mother, while a portrait currently known as an unidentified woman was most likely her. But their methodology is also contested. One art historian arguing, you can't treat works of art as if they're modern photographs.

[Charlotte Gallagher (BBC Global News Podcast Host)]

Harriet Bradshaw. And finally, a struggle that will unite many of us putting together flat pack furniture. We've all been there. It might take us several hours and involve the some swearing or a lot of swearing, but believe it or not, constructing cost effective furniture can be done in minutes by some people. On Friday, the fastest of them took part in the flat pack World Championships in London. Mark Ashdown was watching from rows over

[Mark Ashdown (Flat Pack World Championships Reporter)]

dowels and brackets to lost instructions. Building flat pack furniture can be a test for even the strongest relationship the world's best professionals have taken it to the next level, facing off at Excel London to determine the best of the best. In front of a live audience, two groups of four finalists were tasked with building a Billy Bookcase, an icon of the Ikea range, with the fastest four progressing to an ultimate showdown. Constructing a bedside table. There was tension, there was drama and plenty of head scratching. The winner of the coveted Golden Hex key Medal, Hayley McAuley from Wigan, who was delighted to retain her title. She'd won the first ever flat packed championship last year.

[Charlotte Gallagher (BBC Global News Podcast Host)]

Oh, I'm buzzing.

[Patricia Oli (Bakery Employee)]

I could cry.

[Charlotte Gallagher (BBC Global News Podcast Host)]

Keep my time as well.

[Yoland Nel (Middle East Correspondent, repeated)]

So I'm absolutely over the moon.

[Charlotte Gallagher (BBC Global News Podcast Host)]

Back next year? Absolutely. Watch out, I'm coming for it again.

[Mark Ashdown (Flat Pack World Championships Reporter)]

Hayley managed her bedside table build in 8 minutes and 20 seconds, shaving almost a minute from her time in last year's final. Her cabinet also had to pass a sit test, which speaks for itself. And crucially, she had no rogue screws left over.

[Charlotte Gallagher (BBC Global News Podcast Host)]

Well done, Hayley. And that was Mark Ashdown reporting. And that's all from us for now. If you want to get in touch, you can email [e-mail] you can also find us on XBCWorldService. Use the hashtag globalnewspod. Don't forget our sister podcast, the Global Story. This edition of the Global News Podcast was mixed by Darcy o' Brie and the producer was Steven Jensen. The editor is Karen Martin. I'm Charlotte Gallagher. Until next time. Goodbye.

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