Zelensky says Trump row was ‘regrettable’ and Ukraine ready for peace talks

Summary

Global News Podcast - Episode: "Zelensky says Trump row was ‘regrettable’ and Ukraine ready for peace talks"
Release Date: March 4, 2025
Host: BBC World Service

The March 4, 2025, episode of the BBC World Service's Global News Podcast delivers a comprehensive overview of pressing international issues. Hosted by Nick Miles and featuring insightful reports from correspondents Jonathan Beale, Liz Doucet, and Anselm Gibbs, the episode navigates through geopolitical tensions, humanitarian crises, cultural discoveries, technological disputes, and environmental initiatives. Below is a detailed summary capturing all key discussions, insights, and conclusions from the episode.

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1. Ukraine and the Suspension of US Military Aid

The episode opens with an in-depth analysis of the recent suspension of US military aid to Ukraine by the Trump administration, a pivotal development in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Jonathan Beale outlines the situation:

"Ukraine's President Zelensky says he's prepared to work under Donald Trump to secure a lasting peace. But will it work?" [00:37]

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine's President, addresses the diplomatic strain in his evening speech:

“We will always be grateful to America for all the support that has been and continues to be provided.” [02:25]

He emphasizes the significance of US support not just for Ukraine but for European security:

“It’s essential to preserving Europe's already fragile security foundations. This is not just about our country.” [02:27]

Nick Miles highlights the regretful nature of the suspension:

“What happened at the White House instead is regrettable, but we must find the strength to move forward.” [02:43]

Steve Rosenberg, BBC's Russia editor, provides insight into Russia's perspective:

“The Russians are quite pleased with how things have been developing... They are increasingly confident that if there is going to be a conclusion to this war, it will be on Russia's terms.” [09:15]

Key Points:

• The Trump administration's decision to halt military aid has significant implications for Ukraine's defense capabilities.
• Zelenskyy's attempts to mend relations with the US, emphasizing gratitude and the importance of continued support.
• Russia perceives the suspension as advantageous, potentially boosting its strategic position in the conflict.
• Uncertainties remain about the depth and long-term impact of the aid suspension, particularly regarding advanced weaponry and strategic intelligence.

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2. Arab-Led Plan for the Future of Gaza

The podcast transitions to the Middle East, discussing the Arab League's response to former President Trump's controversial proposal regarding Gaza.

Liz Doucet reports from Cairo:

“Ahmed Abul Gayd said there are two purposes of this [summit]: to reject Trump’s shocking idea and to advocate for an Egyptian-led plan to rebuild Gaza within five years without relocating Palestinians.” [11:34]

The Arab League emphasizes sustainable reconstruction and governance without displacing Gaza's residents. They propose a technocratic committee for administration, excluding Hamas, and call for international peacekeepers.

Key Points:

• Strong rejection of Trump's suggestion to US take over Gaza and relocate Palestinians.
• Adoption of an Egyptian-led plan focused on rebuilding Gaza sustainably within five years.
• Emphasis on a two-state solution and parallel political processes addressing broader regional issues like Jerusalem's status.

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3. Humanitarian Crisis in Sudan's Civil War

The episode sheds light on the severe humanitarian crisis in Sudan, particularly focusing on the plight of children amid ongoing conflict.

Liz Doucet introduces the topic:

“UNICEF has issued an urgent call for international intervention to protect and support children in Sudan following widespread rape and sexual assault by armed men.” [18:38]

Tess Ingram from UNICEF elaborates:

“We found data and stories that really were beyond our worst expectations... 221 children have been raped in Sudan since early 2024.” [20:06]

She underscores the compounded trauma faced by survivors due to limited access to medical services and pervasive social stigma.

Key Points:

• The Sudanese civil war has displaced millions, leaving children vulnerable to extreme violence.
• UNICEF's report highlights the widespread and horrific abuse of children, signaling a dire need for global intervention.
• Survivors face ongoing trauma, lack of medical support, and societal stigma, exacerbating their suffering.

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4. Technological Disputes: Apple vs. UK Government

The podcast delves into the escalating conflict between Apple and the UK government over data privacy and security.

Zoe Kleinman reports:

“Apple announced it is taking legal action to overturn the UK Home Office’s demand to access encrypted data from its most secure cloud storage systems.” [24:07]

Apple's response includes removing its Advanced Data Protection feature from the UK, citing security concerns. This move has drawn criticism from the US administration, with President Trump likening the situation to tensions with China.

Key Points:

• Apple's legal challenge against the UK government's demand for encrypted data access.
• Removal of Advanced Data Protection in the UK, while maintaining it in other regions.
• Diplomatic tensions arise, reflecting broader issues of technology and national security.

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5. Cultural Discovery: Altered Shakespeare Sonnet

A fascinating cultural discovery surfaces with the unearthing of a modified Shakespearean sonnet at Oxford University.

Francis Reid reports:

“A handwritten copy of one of Shakespeare's most famous sonnets was found with alterations that initially caused it to go unnoticed.” [25:37]

Dr. Leo Veronese speculates that changes made during the English Civil War might have been intended as a political statement, offering new perspectives on Shakespeare's work and its historical context.

Key Points:

• Discovery of an altered version of Shakespeare’s Sonnet 116 at the Bodleian Library.
• The manuscript’s modifications suggest possible political motivations during the English Civil War.
• The finding provides fresh insights into the Bard’s enduring influence and the historical reception of his work.

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6. Space Exploration: Blue Origin's All-Female Mission

The podcast highlights a groundbreaking space mission by Blue Origin, focusing on diversity and scientific research.

Aisha Bowe, a rocket scientist on the mission, shares her excitement:

“I'm absolutely thrilled. It's really like every day I'm going to space, I'm going to space.” [14:49]

Her mission will study plant genetics in microgravity, aiming to enhance food security and optimize plant growth both in space and on Earth.

Key Points:

• Blue Origin's upcoming mission features an all-female crew, promoting diversity in space exploration.
• The mission's scientific focus on plant genetics seeks to improve agricultural practices and food security.
• Representation aims to inspire women and girls globally to pursue STEM and space-related careers.

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7. Environmental Sustainability: Trinidad's Carnival

Addressing environmental concerns, the podcast examines efforts to make Trinidad's Carnival more sustainable amidst its extravagant celebrations.

Anselm Gibbs explores sustainability initiatives:

“Carnival produces three and a half tons of waste every year... initiatives like Carnacycle and Second Closet are working to recycle and reduce this environmental impact.” [27:39]

These initiatives focus on costume recycling, reducing single-use plastics, and promoting reusable materials at events.

Key Points:

• Trinidad's Carnival generates significant waste and CO2 emissions, prompting sustainability efforts.
• Social enterprises like Carnacycle recycle unused and used costumes, repurposing materials like feathers and beads.
• Events like Fet with the Saints implement practices to minimize plastic use and encourage reusable items, aiming to shift the cultural approach to environmental responsibility.

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8. Political Turmoil: Serbian Parliament Chaos

The podcast reports on the recent turmoil within Serbia's national assembly, highlighting political instability and public unrest.

Slobodan Marić provides on-the-ground coverage:

“The Serbian parliament session descended into chaos with MPs throwing tear gas and eggs in support of anti-corruption protests.” [23:07]

These protests follow a tragic train station collapse in Novi Sad, leading to demands for accountability and responsibility from the ruling party.

Key Points:

• Physical confrontations in Serbia’s parliament reflect the nation's largest political crisis since 2012.
• Student-led anti-corruption protests demand accountability for the Novi Sad train station tragedy that killed 15 people.
• The ruling Serbian Progressive Party faces increasing pressure from civil society for transparent governance and justice.

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Conclusion

The Global News Podcast episode from March 4, 2025, provides a multifaceted exploration of significant global issues. From geopolitical tensions in Ukraine and humanitarian crises in Sudan to cultural discoveries and technological disputes, the podcast offers listeners a thorough understanding of the world's current landscape. Additionally, inspiring stories of diversity in space exploration and environmental sustainability efforts highlight the resilience and innovation driving positive change amidst complex challenges.

For more detailed insights and updates, listeners are encouraged to subscribe to the BBC World Service's Global News Podcast.

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This summary is intended to provide a comprehensive overview of the podcast episode for those who have not listened to it, capturing all key discussions, notable quotes with timestamps, and maintaining a natural flow across various topics.

Transcript

[Nick Miles]

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the uk.

[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.

[Jonathan Beale]

This is the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Nick Miles and in the early hours of Wednesday 5th March, these are our main stories. Ukraine's President Zelensky says he's prepared to work under Donald Trump to to secure a lasting peace. But will it work? We hear about reaction to an Arab led plan for the future of Gaza, the dark and hidden cost for children in Sudan's civil war, and also in.

[Unknown Speaker]

This let me not to the marriage of true minds admit impediments. Love is not love which alters when it alteration finds.

[Jonathan Beale]

A reimagining of one of Shakespeare's most famous sonnets is uncovered at an English university. And we're beginning with a conflict that appears to be running at two different paces on the battlefield. The war between Russia and Ukraine has for a time now appeared to be slow and grinding. On the diplomatic and strategic level, though things are developing at a breathless pace. Overnight in Washington into Tuesday, there was the latest move from the Trump administration, an announcement that it was suspending US Military aid to Ukraine. Then on Tuesday afternoon, the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, tried via the social media platform X to repair some of the diplomatic damage from the Oval Office confrontation last Friday, saying none of us wants an endless war. Then in his evening address, Mr. Zelenskyy repeated his gratitude to America and Mr. Trump for military support to K. Ukraine will always be grateful to America for all the support that has been and.

[Nick Miles]

Continues to be provided, support that is.

[Jonathan Beale]

Now essential to preserving Europe's already fragile security foundations. This is not just about our country.

[Nick Miles]

It'S about all of Europe. We seek constructive cooperation, true partnership.

[Jonathan Beale]

What happened at the White House instead.

[Nick Miles]

Of our negotiations is regrettable, but we.

[Jonathan Beale]

Must find the strength to move forward.

[Nick Miles]

To respect each other just as we.

[Jonathan Beale]

Have always respected America, Europe and all our partners. Well, as we record this podcast, there hasn't yet been any reaction from President Trump's administration to the statement, but he's due to address both houses of Congress shortly. Jonathan Beale is the BBC's defense correspondent. He's been looking at how this could play out and spoke to Tim Franks.

[Nick Miles]

And we're talking about equipment, ammunition, which the U.S. has supplied to Ukraine in large amounts. Now, I think at the beginning of the war Ukraine was not completely, but mainly reliant on US military support. Since then, Europe has stepped up, for example, its production of 155 artillery shells. It's producing more than a million shells a year. But it's essentially that hardware is not going through the border. That's according to Polish authorities. They have noticed that the flow of ammunition, flow of weapons from the US has now slowed down. We're never clear about the Trump administration, whether it was continuing to supply weapons. I think we know the answer was yes now, but they never went into detail about what they were supplying beyond what President Biden had supplied. But we know what Ukraine has been very, very reliant on. And that is what one Western official calls the cream of Western weaponry, which is Patriot batteries, air defence systems which have been protecting Ukraine cities and which are one of the few air defence systems that can take down ballistic missiles. And then the long range weaponry such as Himars atacms which Ukraine has been using to hit high value targets inside Russian occupied territory of Ukraine.

[Jonathan Beale]

There has been beyond that discussion as to whether strategic intelligence could be affected and also whether it's not directly out of the Pentagon, but the satellite communications system that's delivered by Elon Musk's company Starlink, whether that could be affected. Have there been any. I mean, you said it's sometimes difficult to get all this information, but any rumblings on that?

[Nick Miles]

So we don't know how far, how deep it is and what exactly it applies to in the sense of when it comes to that military to military relationship that exists between. And to be honest, which is probably pretty close, I would imagine that it will be hard to break up that military to military relationship. And if you are a senior military officer providing information to Ukraine at the moment, you will not probably stop unless you are specifically told to. So we do not know whether the Trump administration has asked that to be stopped. What we do know is that that Starlink, as you mention, which they use not just to communicate with each other on the front line to their families back home, but also for targeting of drones and artillery, that they have been essential. And we do know the Pentagon, after Elon Musk had a wobble, he did provide Starlink dishes at the start of the war. His position on the war has changed gradually. He's now of course part of a Trump administration, which appears to be very hostile to President Zelenskyy. We do know the Pentagon did fund that for a while, and one would assume that if they did fund it and if they are pausing military aid to Ukraine, that that might be effective. But we don't know for sure.

[Jonathan Beale]

Lots of people are saying that, you know, if this pause extends and, you know, Europe has said there's been lots of proclamations today that, you know, Europe will do all it can to step into the breach. That will take time. Could a workaround potentially be if Europe can somehow get the money together for Europe to purchase this US Weaponry and send it to Ukraine itself?

[Nick Miles]

I mean, Trump is a transactional politician. And if Europe is willing to spend money inside America, it would be odd for Donald Trump to say no. But we don't know whether that the pause affects European nations buying American kit, essentially. We do know that when European nations wanted to give Ukraine F16 jets from their air force, that the US did have to approve that. We don't know the detail of how deep this pause is and how much it affects. We know it affects hardware, ammunition, the stuff that you can touch and feel. We're not so sure about the stuff that goes under the radar, if you like.

[Jonathan Beale]

Jonathan Beale. Well, Donald Trump's decision to halt military aid to Kyiv and Mr. Zelenskyy's latest attempt to heal the rift with the US are of being watched closely by Moscow. But as yet, there has been no word from the Kremlin about the latest turn in the Trump Zelensky relationship. So is President Putin content to just watch on from afar? A question I put to Steve Rosenberg, our Russia editor.

[Steve Rosenberg]

I think that's true to a large extent. I mean, we haven't even heard any comment yet from Vladimir Putin to that drama that played out in the Oval Office on Friday. And the Russians are quite happy, I think, with how things have been developing. You know, they can see public arguments between Ukraine and its ally, United States. They saw Donald Trump picking fights with his traditional allies like Canada and Europe. And the Russians are very pleased with how things are going. At the same time, they have been rebuilding their relationship with Washington. We've had two rounds of talks between Moscow and Washington and Saudi Arabia. And in Turkey, you know, there's talk of a summit between Putin and Trump possibly soon. Talk about lucrative joint projects. So, you know, the Russians are quite confident. They're confident on the battlefield, too. They're making some gains in eastern Ukraine, and they're confident because they know that there's a man in the White House, in the Oval Office, Donald Trump, who apparently has embraced Russian narratives on the war in Ukraine and spreads those narratives, and a US President who has been fiercely critical in public of Volodymyr Zelenskyy, but avoids any public criticism of Vladimir Putin.

[Jonathan Beale]

And there has been reaction from Moscow on that decision late on Monday from Donald Trump over military aid for Ukraine, hasn't there?

[Steve Rosenberg]

Absolutely, there has been reaction and the Russians are very pleased. There's a sense of satisfaction here. So that's because they understand how important that US Military aid is to Ukraine. So when President Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, gave his daily conference call, he said that that decision by Washington was the best contribution to the cause of peace. Now, I think to critics of the Kremlin, it looks more like the best contribution to the cause of Russia. But, you know, you haven't heard the Russian authorities saying that today. And certainly Russian state television was getting very excited about the news. So there's a daily political talk show and it kicked off with the host very excitedly saying, this is an incredible sensation. I don't know how incredible it is when you consider, you know, just how positive Donald Trump has been in relation to Vladimir Putin in recent weeks, but still the Russians consider it very good news. And I think they are increasingly confident that if there is going to be a conclusion to this war, it will be on Russia's terms.

[Jonathan Beale]

Steve Rosenberg, and if you've got any questions about the fast moving situation with Ukraine, Russia and the involvement of President Trump and European leaders, we would love to hear from you and get some answers from our correspondents. Send us an email globalpodcastbc.co.uk. now to another international conflict with the US President orbiting its center after Donald Trump suggested his Riviera of the Middle east plan for Gaza, it would entail the US taking over Gaza and the nearly 2 million Palestinians living there leaving, possibly for good. Well, faced with international outrage and fierce opposition From Arab leaders, Mr. Trump has since said he would not force his proposal proposal on anyone. Egypt, meanwhile, has been leading Arab efforts to come up with a viable alternative future for Gaza. And a plan has now been approved at an emergency summit in Cairo. Our chief international correspondent, Liz Doucet was at the meeting in the Egyptian capital.

[Liz Doucet]

We've heard from the Secretary General of the Arab League, Ahmed Abul Gayd, who was absolutely categorical in speaking for the Arab leaders who were present. And bear in mind that there were also senior European officials. The UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres is also here in Cairo for this gathering. And Ahmed Abul Gates said there were two purposes of this. One is that they want to reject without saying was President Trump's idea, but an idea that he expressed that shocked the Arab world. And beyond that, he would, in his words, take over the Gaza Strip, move out the Palestinians and develop a Riviera of the Middle East. This consensus from this summit is that there is the Egyptian plan, which they now say is an Arab plan, that they believe they can rebuild Gaza within five years, not the 10 to 15 years that President Trump talked about. And crucially, it can be done without having to move Palestinians away from Gaza. They will be housed in containers. They may have to move around as different sections are rebuilt, but they are not going anywhere. They also tackled the issue of, well, who's going to run Gaza? They have proposed, not the first time, but they've put a little bit more detail into it. A technocratic committee, not that big, about 20 in all, qualified technocrats, with oversight by the Palestinian Authority. What they didn't spell out was that Hamas would not play any role in this governance structure. They've also, interestingly enough, called for the Security Council to deploy international peacekeepers. That's the verse that we've heard officially like that. And they've also emphasized this was very much one of the main points made by the Egyptian President El Sisi in his opening remark, that this plan to rebuild Gaza has to unfold in parallel with a political process which deals with issues like the status of Jerusalem and movement towards what the Arab states and their allies in many capitals around the world believe is the only way forward. And that is a two state solution.

[Nick Miles]

Wow.

[Jonathan Beale]

So many moving parts to all this, so many potential stumbling blocks. What are the next steps?

[Liz Doucet]

So the next steps is money, a lot of money. There's going to be an international conference shortly where they hope to raise money from major donors. There is an expectation that wealthy Arab states, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the Emirates, will put in quite a bit of the cash. But of course, no one is going to do that. If they believe that it will only be a matter of time where rebuilt buildings will come crashing down again in yet another war.

[Jonathan Beale]

Les Doucet. In the next few weeks, the US private space venture Blue Origin, which is owned by the billionaire founder of Amazon, Jeff Bezos, will launch its next mission, this time with an all female crew, including a film producer, a news broadcaster, a civil rights activist and even a global pop icon. Also on board is Aisha Bowe, an African American rocket scientist who was formerly with NASA. She Told Victoria Unkunda More about the mission.

[Aisha Bowe]

I'm absolutely thrilled. It's really like every day I'm going to space, I'm going to space. And so I have to try to remind myself to calm down. I've got to focus on planning and preparation. But it's just such an exciting moment to be a part of.

[Unknown Speaker]

Do you know what you'll be doing up there then, Aisha?

[Aisha Bowe]

For my mission, I'm focusing on a couple different elements. The first is scientific research. I partnered with a historically black college and institution in the United States called Winston Salem. And we're going to be looking at plant genetics. That's right, plants in space. What we're particularly interested in is how plants respond to microgravity on the molecular level. Because the more we understand about how plants grow in space, the better we can optimize them to grow here on Earth. And this has implications globally for food security. Even growing plants in hospitable environments.

[Unknown Speaker]

You are part of quite a group. You've got Gayle King, the legendary broadcaster.

[Jonathan Beale]

You've got Lauren Sanchez, You've got singer Katy Perry. Quite a group to be part of it, isn't it?

[Aisha Bowe]

It's absolutely incredible. I'm so inspired by the women that are on this flight. Not only are they incredible explorers, but they really represent so many different facets of not only women, but of people. Right. And when we think about space and when I think about the future, it takes everybody. We have an Emmy Award winning journalist who's also a helicopter pilot on the flight. We have a storyteller and Gayle King, who's going to be able to bring the experience of flying to people who may never have even seen anything that had to do with space. We have an international superstar, Katy Perry, who I don't know about you, but I've definitely sung a number for Songs Into a Hairbrush. Her songs have been a soundtrack for many exciting moments in my life. And now she in person will be bringing her dream of going to space to our crew. We have a civil rights activist in Amanda Wynne and a filmmaker in Carrie Anne Flynn. I mean, these women are incredible and they are a reflection of who we are here on Earth that we'll be able to see in the sky. This means to me that there will be women and girls all over the planet who are going to see themselves in this mission. Studies have shown that women can decide at middle school to not pursue space or STEM fields because they don't see themselves represented in them. This mission is not only going to do that, but it's going to inspire all people to reach higher.

[Jonathan Beale]

Aisha Bowe talking to the BBC's Victoria Uenkunde. Still to come in this podcast.

[Anselm Gibbs]

The.

[Jonathan Beale]

Work that goes into, like creating these costumes, I'm like, people cannot get rid of this. You have to reuse it. An annual festival of extravagance turns its gaze in a new direction.

[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 story 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.

[Jonathan Beale]

We're going to turn now to a corner of the world we often struggle to cover because of access or lack of it and a warning that some listeners may find this story disturbing. The UN children's charity UNICEF has issued an urgent call for international intervention to protect and support children in Sudan. After collating data which suggests the widespread rape and sexual assault of children by armed men. The country has been destabilized by the civil war which erupted in April 2023. Millions of people have been displaced, leaving many children vulnerable. In September, the BBC's Barbara Plata show was in the country.

[Liz Doucet]

Just outside the capital city is a crossing between the warring parties. These women have come out of RSF territory. They carry bags to buy food. And also tales of horror.

[Unknown Speaker]

There are women here who have been raped, but they don't talk about it.

[Jonathan Beale]

They hide it.

[Unknown Speaker]

What difference would it make if they speak? What can we do?

[Jonathan Beale]

Tell me, what can we do?

[Unknown Speaker]

I asked them why they didn't leave.

[Liz Doucet]

We're too poor, they told me. We have nowhere else to go.

[Jonathan Beale]

My colleague Rebecca Kesby spoke to Tess Ingram from unicef who was involved in compiling the report. And once again, a warning. What she describes may be distressing to some of you.

[Tess Ingram]

We found data and stories that really were beyond our worst expectations. We knew that there was somewhat hidden sexual violence crisis in Sudan with children really among the among the survivors there. And the data that we've now released today tells us that there are 221 children who have been raped in Sudan since the beginning of 2024. Two thirds girls and one third boys. And the youngest survivors. I think among the most startling findings of this research, there are 16 children under the age of five, including four one year olds in cohort. They're recorded in nine states from north to south to east to west of Sudan. So this is a widespread issue that is affecting children of all ages. And I think it should ring alarm bells across the world today to try and drive action to protect these children from this ongoing violence.

[Unknown Speaker]

As you say, the. The country's been in chaos, hasn't it, for, for years, and various armed groups, as well as the two main warring parties, so has possible to get any support through to these children and helping them deal with the trauma they must continue to suffer.

[Tess Ingram]

They do. And this was one of the things that I heard when I spoke to these children in Sudan when I was there meeting with them in December, that after experiencing the horrors of rape or sexual harassment, the suffering doesn't end. And for many reasons in Sudan, one, as you say, because access to services include incredibly difficult in the world's largest humanitarian crisis where hospitals have been decimated and medical staff are again operating under threats for their own life. But also because of social stigma, people are afraid to come forward and talk about what had happened to them. Like we heard Barbara reporting on there. Because in Sudan, like in many other contexts, it's the survivors, not the perpetrators, who carry that cultural burden of shame and stigma for the rape. So it's been very brave for the families that we spoke to, including these children, to come forward and speak about what has happened to them.

[Unknown Speaker]

And I suppose it means that there could be even more victims than you managed to find, briefly.

[Tess Ingram]

That's right. We think that this is the tip of the iceberg, unfortunately.

[Jonathan Beale]

That was Tess Ingram from unicef. Police are investigating at Serbia's national assembly following a day of chaos in the debating chamber at the opening of a new session of the Parliament, members of the opposition threw tear gas canisters and smoke, smoke grenades. Two lawmakers were injured, one was said to have suffered a stroke. The demonstration in the chamber was said to be in support of ongoing student led anti corruption protests. These follow the fatal collapse of a train station roof last year. The BBC's Slobodan Mari was at the Serbian Parliament.

[Anselm Gibbs]

First regular session of the Serbian parliament in 2025 started with the national anthem, but quickly descended into chaos with physical conflict between the MPs, smoke bombs and eggs being thrown. MPs could be seen running out of the national assembly hall coughing with swollen and red eyes from something that seemed like a tear gas or a pepper spray. That is just one of the many protests and incidents in the last four months that many are calling the biggest political crisis in Serbia since 2012. When the ruling Serbian Progressive Party and President Aleksandr Vucic came to power on November 1st. Recently reconstructed canopy at train station in novi Sad, the second biggest city in Serbia, collapsed and killed 15 people. Immediately, a number of mass protests started which are now being led by students of the several Serbian universities that are under a blockade. Students have several demands which can be summed up by two accountability and responsibility for the death of 15 people at the Novi Sad tragedy.

[Jonathan Beale]

Slobodan Maricic, reporting from the Serbian Parliament in Belgrade. Now to a battle between Apple and the UK government over data. The tech giant has announced it's taking legal action to try to overturn the government's demand to view customers private data held in Apple's most secure cloud storage systems. Our technology editor Zoe Kleiman reports.

[Unknown Speaker]

Apple's legal challenge is the latest development in an unprecedented row between one of the world's biggest tech firms and the UK government over data privacy. In January, the firm was issued with a secret order by the Home Office. It was instructed to be prepared to share encrypted data belonging to Apple users around the world with UK law enforcement in the event of a potential national security risk. But Apple said it would not compromise its security features and rather than comply, it suddenly removed its toughest privacy tool, Advanced Data Protection, from the uk. It's still available in other countries. The instruction angered the US Administration. President Donald Trump described it as like something that you hear about with China. The Home Office has refused to confirm or deny the existence of the notice.

[Jonathan Beale]

Zoe Kleinman A rare handwritten copy of one of Shakespeare's most famous love poems has been discovered after hundreds of years with a few little tweaks. The sonnet was tucked away in a 17th century poetry collection at the University of Oxford in England. It's thought the handwriting is not Shakespeare's but that of an unknown scribe. Francis Reid reports.

[Unknown Speaker]

The well known start of Shakespeare's Sonnet 116 Let me not to the marriage of true minds admit impediments. Love is not love which alters when it alteration finds Dr. Leo Veronese, a university lecturer, had been leafing through an old collection of poems at the Bodleian Library when she made the discovery of the handwritten poem. But on this manuscript the beginning has been changed to self blinding error sees all those minds who with false appellations call that love which alters when it alterations finds it's thought the changed first line and the lack of mention of Shakespeare on the script were the reasons why the poem had gone unnoticed as a copy of Shakespeare's sonnet for so long. Dr. Veronese believes the sonnet may have been changed during the English Civil War, possibly to make a political statement. The university said it was an exciting discovery which would help researchers understand the Bard's popularity not long after his death.

[Jonathan Beale]

Francis Reed. It has been carnival season in many parts of the world, with dancers and attendees wearing bright costumes made of feathers, sequins and glitter. Of course, some of the most extravagant looks can be found on the Caribbean island of Trinidad, where the carnival is often dubbed the greatest show on earth. But in recent years, the ecological impact of the festivities has come under the spotlight and companies are looking for new ways to make the celebrations more sustainable. Our reporter in Trinidad, Anselm Gibbs, has been looking into this.

[Unknown Speaker]

Carnival is filled with tens of thousands of people dressed in these brightly colored costumes, you know, covered in feathers, beads. Researchers found that it produces three and a half tons of waste every year. Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago. And also just to produce and transport one carnival costume bra. It can generate approximately over 37 kg of CO2 emissions. So picture all these tens of thousands of costumes times that amount of emissions. You know, it's really a lot and a cause for concern.

[Jonathan Beale]

So altom, what's being done about this?

[Unknown Speaker]

There a number of people are picking up what you call side hustles to try to have find ways to help make Carnival more sustainable. One group is called Carnacycle. They're a social enterprise and they've started a costume recycling program where they collect thousands of unused carnival costumes for masquerade bands and also used costumes. And then they take those costumes, strip them down, get the raw materials like feathers and beads, and then they resell this, these materials. Then there was a group called Second Closet, which is a thrift shop, a pop up thrift shop to resell clothing. But they started offering tips on social media, tips about reworking your clothes to get more use out of them. And then they said, well, hey, we can apply this to carnival costumes as well. So we have. Aliyah Clark will tell us more about what they have been doing at Second Closet.

[Jonathan Beale]

From seeing the work that goes into like creating these costumes, I'm like, people cannot get rid of this.

[Anselm Gibbs]

You have to reuse it.

[Aisha Bowe]

So that's why I was like, okay.

[Jonathan Beale]

After I finish up my costume, I would rip it apart to the, literally the wire, down to the wire and figure out how to make this into something else, you know, to wear outside of Carnival, paired with other things in my closet. So Anselm, that's how costumes are being recycled. What about other ways waste is being reduced?

[Unknown Speaker]

Well, I mean, apart from the parade, Nick parties are a big part of carnival. There are probably hundreds of thousands of parties every year.

[Jonathan Beale]

Now.

[Unknown Speaker]

There's one specific event called Fet with the Saints and they've been really doing a lot to recycle and help the environment over the past three years. All of the delicious food is served with cutlery that's made out of wood. They give you one cup, a reusable cup, and they say that over the past three years prevented over 1 million single use plastics from entering the landfill. The hope is that organizers from around the world, especially here in the Americas, that they would learn from some of the current practices in terms of using more sustainable products, paying attention to packaging. And it's about trying to change the overall culture of not just the revelers and the masqueraders, but also, of course, those who are organizing the events.

[Jonathan Beale]

Anson Gibbs reporting. And that's all from us for now. But there will be a new edition of the Global News Podcast late. 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 at bcworldservice. Use the hashtag globalnewspod. This edition was mixed by Caroline Driscoll and the producer was Stephanie Prentice. The editor is Karen Martin. I'm Nick Miles. And until next time, goodbye 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.