Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
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This is the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service.
I'm Alex Ritson, and at 16 hours GMT on Thursday 5th February, these are our main stories. Peace talks between Ukraine, Russia and the US come to an end in Abu Dhabi, but with no sign of an agreement on territory. Funding cuts endanger the UN Human Rights Office, and we have a special report on the struggle for healthcare for mothers and their newborns in Gaza.
Also in this podcast, Britain's embattled Prime Minister defends himself for appointing a now disgraced party grandee. The answers he gave were lies. He portrayed Epstein as someone he barely knew. Such deceit is incompatible with public service. We start in Ukraine.
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Chapter 2: What were the outcomes of the Ukraine peace talks?
She needs it to survive. We too have heard the reports about a ransom letter in the media. We need to know without a doubt that she is alive and that you have her. We want to hear from you and we are ready to listen.
With more, here's our Washington correspondent, Helena Humphrey.
This was an emotional video posted to Instagram in which we see one of the most recognisable faces on American television, Savannah Guthrie, flanked by her siblings, and she appears bereft. She delivers a message to any potential abductor of her mother saying that they need to know that their mother is alive. Now, authorities say that they believe that Nancy Guthrie was kidnapped.
She went missing overnight from her home in in Tucson, Arizona this past weekend. And those authorities say that they are now working with the FBI to authenticate a potential ransom note in this case. Now, Savannah Guthrie, speaking about her mother, says that she has limited mobility. that she requires daily medication in order to survive.
And we've since heard from President Trump, who says that he has spoken to the NBC presenter and he has directed federal law enforcement to deploy all the necessary resources to bring Nancy Guthrie back home.
Helena Humphrey. It's still dangerous to be a mother in Gaza. That's the message from NGOs which have investigated maternal and neonatal deaths in the Strip. They say that despite the ceasefire, preventable deaths are still taking place as mothers struggle to obtain adequate health care and nutrition for themselves and their newborns.
Israel has increased the flow of aid into the Palestinian territory since October, but medics are still delivering malnourished babies in need of more care. Shaima Khalil reports from Jerusalem. Before they took their first breath, the cruelty of this war had already battered their fragile bodies.
Here in the Al-Sahaba Maternity Hospital in Gaza City, families who've endured Israeli bombardment, displacement and hunger look at their premature babies through the incubators, hoping they'll survive. Dr Naeem Ayyub says his hospital has had to compensate for a collapsed health system across northern Gaza.
The flow of aid into the Strip has been scaled up in recent months following the ceasefire, but he sees a prevailing pattern.
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Chapter 3: What is the significance of the recent prisoner swap between Ukraine and Russia?
Essentially, the Russian economy has been propped up by and large by China during this war, and And so you can see why both countries would want to talk up their relations. Certainly they've become closer as a result of this war. And there was something very interesting from the Kremlin readout of that meeting.
Apparently, when Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping expressed views to one another about the United States, they practically matched one another. Now, when it came to a few hours later, Xi Jinping then picks up the phone again. This time he's speaking to Donald Trump. And according to Donald Trump, this went very well.
We often hear Donald Trump speaking about this great relationship he has with Xi Jinping. And in a funny way, you can see why the Chinese government would like his administration because the Trump administration thinks we've got our sphere of influence. Everyone else can bug out of here, but we can do whatever we like when it comes to Latin America and South America.
Well, China might say that's OK as long as we can do anything we like in Asia. It is unusual for him to call both men on the same day. Should we be reading something into this? Well, I mean, that was the thing that struck me. You think, bang, call one, then call the other. I've just come from the foreign ministry press briefing.
The spokesperson was asked about this, and they're saying, no, no, it's just a coincidence of the scheduling. I mean, I think many people would find that hard to believe, but possibly it is. Stephen McDonnell in Beijing. Keir Starmer has vowed that he will remain as British Prime Minister as he battles for his political future.
Elected less than two years ago, he's endured some damaging headlines, embarrassing climb-downs and plummeting poll ratings. He's now become embroiled in one of the most damaging scandals of recent times, the crimes of Jeffrey Epstein, the American financier, a child sex offender... had many influential friends.
One of them was Peter Mandelson, appointed by the UK Prime Minister to be Britain's ambassador in the United States. The latest batch of Epstein documents includes an email from 2009 with Peter Mandelson, then a government minister, asking him how they should celebrate his release from prison. A few hours ago, Keir Starmer said that he was misled by Lord Mandelson.
The information now available makes clear that the answers he gave were lies. He portrayed Epstein as someone he barely knew. Such deceit is incompatible with public service. The victims of Epstein have lived with trauma that most of us can barely comprehend. I am sorry. Sorry for what was done to you. Sorry that so many people with power failed you.
Sorry for having believed Mandelson's lies and appointed him. I asked our political correspondent, Rob Watson, what else the Prime Minister had said in his defence. He had two other defences. One was what might be called the decency argument, Alex, and that was he began by saying, look,
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Chapter 4: How is the UN Human Rights Office affected by funding cuts?
Paul Moss. And that's all from us for now. If you want to get in touch, you can email us at globalpodcast at bbc.co.uk. You can also find us on X at BBC World Service. Use the hashtag Global News Pod. And don't forget our sister podcast, The Global Story, which goes in-depth and beyond the headlines on one big story, available wherever you get your podcasts.
This edition of the Global News Podcast was mixed by Joe McCartney and the producer was Richard Hamilton. The editor is Karen Martin. I'm Alex Ritson. Until next time, goodbye. Kalatiskivuoro numero 15.
Nyt on meidƤn vuoro, Matti. TƤƤllƤ mulla on 15. MƤ ottaisin puoli kiloa merilohta.
Kiitos. TeillƤ on 115.
Nyt on 15. Nonni. LƤhetƤƤnkƶ laivalle? Let's party. Varaa vuorokausi hauskaa HelsingistƤ tai Turusta.
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