Rachel Wright

It's a measure usually reserved for cases of alleged espionage. But that's what happened to Ibrahim Rasool, who until two weeks ago was South Africa's ambassador to the United States. The U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio posted on X that he was being sent packing from Washington for being a race-baiting politician. It follows comments that Mr Rasool made during an online forum.

During the discussion, he said President Trump was mobilising a supremacism and trying to project white victimhood as a dog whistle. Here's some of what he said.

During the discussion, he said President Trump was mobilising a supremacism and trying to project white victimhood as a dog whistle. Here's some of what he said.

Those comments came against the background of already badly damaged relations between the U.S. and South Africa over South Africa's case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, over the Trump administration's cancellation of HIV AIDS programs in South Africa and

Those comments came against the background of already badly damaged relations between the U.S. and South Africa over South Africa's case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, over the Trump administration's cancellation of HIV AIDS programs in South Africa and

and over accusations from Elon Musk, who grew up in South Africa, that the government in Pretoria was racist towards the country's white Afrikaner minority. Well, Ibrahim Rasool flew back home to Cape Town this week. When my colleague James Menendez spoke to him a little earlier, he asked him whether he still stands by what he said.

and over accusations from Elon Musk, who grew up in South Africa, that the government in Pretoria was racist towards the country's white Afrikaner minority. Well, Ibrahim Rasool flew back home to Cape Town this week. When my colleague James Menendez spoke to him a little earlier, he asked him whether he still stands by what he said.

The former South African ambassador to the United States. Europe's star-mapping Gaia Space Observatory has entered its final orbit after gathering cosmic data for more than a decade. The spacecraft's control team at the European Space Agency switched off Gaia's subsystems on Thursday and sent it into a safe retirement orbit around the sun.

The former South African ambassador to the United States. Europe's star-mapping Gaia Space Observatory has entered its final orbit after gathering cosmic data for more than a decade. The spacecraft's control team at the European Space Agency switched off Gaia's subsystems on Thursday and sent it into a safe retirement orbit around the sun.

The manoeuvre should minimise the chances that the craft gets within 10 million kilometres of Earth for at least the next century. It will eventually burn up into dust. The craft's retirement has moved some of the project's scientists to lyricism. Here are a few of the adieus read by our producers.

The manoeuvre should minimise the chances that the craft gets within 10 million kilometres of Earth for at least the next century. It will eventually burn up into dust. The craft's retirement has moved some of the project's scientists to lyricism. Here are a few of the adieus read by our producers.

Stefan Jordan worked on the Gaia mission for 20 years. So what is its legacy?

Stefan Jordan worked on the Gaia mission for 20 years. So what is its legacy?

Stefan Jordan from the Centre for Astronomy in Heidelberg. The world of medicine has certainly changed since medieval times when doctors here in England would confidently prescribe cures like burying nail clippings under elder trees to prevent toothache.

Stefan Jordan from the Centre for Astronomy in Heidelberg. The world of medicine has certainly changed since medieval times when doctors here in England would confidently prescribe cures like burying nail clippings under elder trees to prevent toothache.

Now a new exhibition at Cambridge University is going back in time to take visitors inside the minds of such medics and reveal the method behind what can sometimes seem like madness. Stephanie Prentice has this report.

Now a new exhibition at Cambridge University is going back in time to take visitors inside the minds of such medics and reveal the method behind what can sometimes seem like madness. Stephanie Prentice has this report.

Stephanie Prentice with her curious concoctions. And that's all from us for now. But before we go, we have another special Q&A podcast with our colleagues from Ukrainecast coming up soon. So if you've got any questions, please send an email to globalpodcast at bbc.co.uk. And if possible, please record your question as a voice note. There will be a new edition of the Global News podcast later.

Stephanie Prentice with her curious concoctions. And that's all from us for now. But before we go, we have another special Q&A podcast with our colleagues from Ukrainecast coming up soon. So if you've got any questions, please send an email to globalpodcast at bbc.co.uk. And if possible, please record your question as a voice note. There will be a new edition of the Global News podcast later.

This edition was mixed by Kai Perry and the producer was Rebecca Wood. The editor is Karen Martin. I'm Rachel Wright. Until next time, goodbye.