French ministers arrive in Mayotte after devastating cyclone

Summary

Global News Podcast Summary
Episode: French Ministers Arrive in Mayotte After Devastating Cyclone
Release Date: December 16, 2024
Host: Oliver Conway
BBC World Service

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1. Devastating Cyclone Strikes Mayotte

Cyclone Cheeto's Impact Two days after Cyclone Cheeto ravaged the French overseas territory of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean, French ministers have arrived on the island to oversee relief efforts. The cyclone, the most destructive in Mayotte in 90 years, brought winds exceeding 225 km/h, resulting in extensive damage and loss of life.

Humanitarian Crisis Local officials report that hundreds, possibly over a thousand, may have perished. Senator statements highlight emerging deaths due to thirst and hunger, exacerbated by the cyclone's destruction. With three-quarters of Mayotte's population living below the poverty line and many residing in shanty towns, the cyclone has disproportionately affected the most vulnerable communities.

Notable Update from Red Cross

• Eric Samvar, Deputy Head of the Red Cross in Mayotte (01:33):
  "The situation is chaotic. Damages are massive. Most of the concrete buildings have been partially or totally damaged, and all the smaller constructions have been totally destroyed. The telecommunications are still very complicated and difficult. So the information is coming up very slowly to us."

Response and Challenges The arrival of the French ministers underscores the complexity of delivering aid, with damaged infrastructure impeding efforts. Rescuers face significant obstacles due to destroyed roads and communication systems, hindering access to isolated areas. Approximately 800 support rescuers are expected to deploy, focusing on restoring critical services like communication, electricity, and water.

Expert Commentary

• Stephen Turton, Professor of Environmental Geography (02:09):
  "I think this is benign neglect by the French government, to be quite honest, for one of their overseas territories. It's happened now, and I hope they learn from this and do something to make sure the people are safe next time, because there will be next time for sure."

Broader Regional Impact Cyclone Cheeto, after striking Mayotte, made landfall in Mozambique and continues to pose threats to Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe with potential heavy rains and flooding.

• Shingai Nyoka, Correspondent in Zimbabwe (02:58):
  "The cyclone Chido hit largely the poorest areas. Rescuers are working to find survivors, but infrastructure destruction has made access incredibly difficult. The death toll could rise to several hundreds and even thousands as suggested by local authorities."

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2. Humanitarian Crisis in Sudan

Ongoing Conflict and Sexual Violence Sudan continues to grapple with a severe humanitarian crisis following 20 months of civil war. With nearly 12 million displaced, famine looms as the UN fact-finding mission reports staggering levels of sexual violence perpetrated by paramilitary rapid support forces.

Calls for International Intervention

• Belkis Ville, Spokeswoman for Human Rights Watch (06:21):
  "There's actually no UN mission dedicated to Sudan. This would require real leadership from the UN Security Council, from the African Union to decide to put their foot down... to provide protection for women and girls who are being raped and held as sex slaves."

Victims' Plight Sudanese women and children are subjected to systematic sexual violence, used as tools of war to instill fear and control populations.

• Hala Al Kharib, Sudanese Women's Rights Campaigner (07:13):
  "Sexual violence is central to this war. It's being used systematically as a tool of terror and to control populations, in a very intentional way."

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3. Western Engagement with Syria's New Rulers

Post-Assad Syria Following the fall of President Bashar al-Assad, Western powers, including the US and Britain, have initiated contact with Damascus' new Islamist-led authorities. Despite concerns over the jihadist origins of the new rulers, there is a push towards stabilization and rebuilding.

Israeli Response Israel remains cautious, conducting hundreds of airstrikes against Hayat Tahrir Al Sham, the Islamist rebel group now in control, to safeguard its interests.

Insights from Jeremy Bowen, International Editor (08:32):

• "The Israelis are determined to bomb Islamist military infrastructure to safeguard the country, while others believe in engaging with Syria to stabilize it. The future remains uncertain, especially given the immense destruction and the need for billions in rebuilding efforts."

Assad's Departure and Russia's Role President Assad's sudden flight to Russia amidst the chaos has raised questions about Russia's influence and future involvement in Syria.

• Steve Rosenberg, Russia Editor (10:37):
  "Assad's recent statement attempts to justify his actions and deny abandoning Syria. However, inconsistencies with Russian accounts and the lack of a public response from President Putin suggest complexities in Russia's stance."

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4. Surveillance Accusations in Serbia

Amnesty International's Report Amnesty International has accused Serbian authorities of deploying multiple spyware tools to monitor journalists, activists, and protesters, highlighting a broader pattern of societal repression.

Details of the Surveillance The spyware includes locally developed applications and the internationally recognized Pegasus software. The tools bypass phone security to install surveillance capabilities covertly.

• Guy Delaunay, Balkans Correspondent (13:56):
  "Authorities have been using spyware to harass journalists and civil society activists without legitimate reasons, turning it into a campaign of harassment."

Government Response The Serbian intelligence agency, BIA, dismissed Amnesty's claims as sensationalism and accused the organization of bias.

• Guy Delaunay (15:35):
  "Regarding the Amnesty report, we can only state that the trivial sensationalism of its content indicates the purpose of Amnesty International, which is working for the interests of individual agencies and pressure groups."

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5. Archaeological Revelation in Bronze Age Britain

Massacre Evidence Archaeologists have discovered bone fragments at Charterhouse Warren in southwest England, revealing a massacre involving at least 37 individuals who were killed, dismembered, and possibly cannibalized around 4,000 years ago.

Scientific Insights Analysis indicates blunt trauma injuries, puncture wounds, and signs of butchery and consumption, suggesting a violent and possibly ritualistic attack.

• Professor Rick Schulting, Oxford University (17:23):
  "The level of violence and the treatment of victims at Charterhouse Warren is truly surprising and indicates an exceptionally bloody attack."

Potential Motives While theories are speculative, possible motives include revenge, extreme anger, or accusations of witchcraft within the community, rather than self-defense or resource scarcity.

• Georgina Ranard, Science Reporter (17:46):
  "The evidence points towards a desire for revenge and a ritualistic element in the violence, rather than hunger or self-defense."

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6. Political Turmoil in Georgia

Disputed Elections and Protests Georgia faces significant political unrest following disputed elections in October, where the pro-Russian Georgian Dream party won amid allegations of ballot stuffing and intimidation.

Election Aftermath The parliament's recent vote to install former footballer Mikhail Kavelashvili as president has been contested by opposition figures claiming illegitimacy.

• Belkis Ville, MP for Georgian Dream (20:51):
  "Calling our party pro-Russian is a mistake propagated by our radical opponents. Our party was chosen by the Georgian people with clear messages of respect for Europe and aspirations to join the EU."

Opposition Claims Opposition leaders accuse the ruling party of election fraud and constitutional violations, leading to clashes and injuries during protests.

• Nino Silosani, Georgian Dream MP (22:03):
  "Outgoing president Zurich Peshvili claims the new president is illegitimate due to rigged elections and constitutional breaches."

Future Implications With widespread support for EU accession conflicting with the government's stance, Georgia teeters on the brink of a constitutional crisis.

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7. Impeachment of South Korean President Yoon Seung Yeol

Martial Law Controversy South Korean President Yoon Seung Yeol faces impeachment proceedings after declaring martial law, which led to his suspension. The Constitutional Court will review the case over the next six months.

Legal Proceedings and Public Pressure Yoon has been accused of insurrection and treason, with authorities seeking his appearance for questioning. His refusal to comply has resulted in travel bans and ongoing investigations into his actions.

• Gene McKenzie, Seoul Correspondent (25:34):
  "President Yoon remains defiant, defending his martial law decision and pledging to fight the impeachment and investigations. The Constitutional Court faces pressure to expedite its ruling to quell political uncertainty."

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8. Passing of Renowned Musician Zakir Hussain

Legacy of a Tabla Virtuoso Zakir Hussain, a four-time Grammy Award winner and revered tabla player, passed away at 73 in San Francisco. Celebrated for popularizing the tabla globally, Hussain's contributions to music spanned decades, including notable collaborations and fusion projects.

Tributes and Impact Indian leaders and international artists mourn his loss, recognizing him as a rhythmic genius who bridged cultural divides through music.

• Jeremy Bowen (27:29):
  "Ustad Zakir Hussain was one of the greatest tabla players, introducing the instrument to global audiences and leaving an indelible mark on the music world."

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9. Investigative Series: World of Secrets

Exposing the Dark Side of Wellness The podcast introduces a new series titled "World of Secrets," delving into troubling allegations within the yoga industry, including grooming, trafficking, and exploitation. Former practitioner Georgina Ranard shares her harrowing experiences, highlighting the thin line between spiritual pursuit and manipulation.

• Georgina Ranard (29:36):
  "I felt safe after yoga class, but soon realized that calm was a facade masking something far darker."

• Jeremy Bowen (30:16):
  "You just get sucked in so gradually, and it's done so skillfully that you don't realize."

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Conclusion
This episode of the Global News Podcast covered a wide array of critical issues, from natural disasters and political upheavals to archaeological discoveries and the legacy of a musical legend. Each segment provided in-depth analysis and poignant quotes, offering listeners comprehensive insights into global events shaping our world.

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For more detailed coverage and updates, tune into future episodes of the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service.

Transcript

[Oliver Conway]

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the uk. You're listening to the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service. Hello, I'm Oliver Conway. We're recording this at 14 hours GMT. On Monday 16th December, two days after a devastating cyclone, French ministers arrive in the Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte. Western powers step up their engagement with the new rulers of Syria. And the government of Serbia is accused of spying on journalists and activists. Also in this podcast, the level of.

[Jeremy Bowen]

Violence, both in terms of the number of people that seem to have been killed and also how they were treated afterwards, that's really the surprising thing.

[Oliver Conway]

Evidence of possible cannibalism in Bronze Age Britain. It has taken them two days to get there, but three ministers from France have now arrived in Mayotte, the French overseas territory in the Indian Ocean that was hit by Cyclone Cheeto on Saturday. Local officials say hundreds of people may be dead, possibly even a thousand or more. In the past couple of hours, a senator has told journalists that people are starting to die of thirst and hunger. Three quarters of people on the islands live below the poverty line, at least a third in shanty towns where homes were flattened. The storm was the most destructive in Mayotte for 90 years, with winds of at least 225km an hour. The deputy head of the Red Cross in the region, Eric Samvar, gave us an update on the devastation.

[Jeremy Bowen]

The information we have from the field is that the situation is chaotic. Damages are massive. Most of the concrete buildings have been partially or totally damaged, and all the smaller construction have been totally destroyed. The telecommunications is still very complicated and difficult. So the information is coming up very slowly to us.

[Oliver Conway]

Mayotte is poorer than any other region of France, and questions are being asked about whether the French government could have done more to protect people there from extreme weather. Stephen Turton is a professor of environmental geography at Central Queensland University in Australia.

[Jeremy Bowen]

I would have thought that there should have been some tropical cyclone shelters provided on the islands so people could go somewhere. And it turns out even some places that were seen as being safe, like schools, actually lost their roofs. Those shanties had no. They had no chance at all of winds of that kind of speed. And I just think this is benign neglect by the French government, to be quite honest, for one of their overseas territories. It's happened now, and I hope they learn from this and do something to make sure the people are safe next time, because there will be next time for sure.

[Oliver Conway]

After hitting Mayotte, Cyclone Chido made landfall in Mozambique. It has now weakened, but could bring heavy rain to Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Our correspondent in Zimbabwe, Shingai Nyoka, is monitoring the situation on mayot.

[Shingai Nyoka]

From what we understand, rescuers are racing against time, working under really difficult conditions to try get to some of those places that have been cut off in the wake of the devastation. The cyclone Chilo, we understand, hit largely the poorest areas. So these were shanty towns that were built on the hillside, built with very flimsy material like corrugated sheeting. And so the rescuers are working to try to find survivors. But people were swept away. They were buried under the rubble. Trees were uprooted, buildings were destroyed. And so the infrastructure has also been destroyed. The roads were damaged. So it's made it incredibly difficult to try to access some of those places. And so we've heard that so far the death toll is in the dozens, but as you mentioned there, it could rise to several hundreds and even several thousands as suggested by local authorities.

[Oliver Conway]

The three French ministers who flew in landed at an airport with a control tower damage. It's taken them two to get there. A sign of how difficult it will be to get supplies into Mayotte.

[Shingai Nyoka]

Yes, it is. And they've arrived there with support. They've brought firefighters as well as soldiers. We understand that there's a lot of help that is still trying to get to Mayotte via ship and via air. Hundreds of supporter rescuers are on the ground, and there's an expectation that up to 800 will be deployed to that area. But it's under really difficult conditions. As you point out there, the airport equipment was destroyed. And so the primary focus right now is not just to provide medical assistance, shelter and food, but also to restore some of those critical services, including communication, electricity and water.

[Oliver Conway]

Yes, services which were not great at the best of times. I understand there were water shortages not too long ago.

[Shingai Nyoka]

It's a territory which had a lot of challenges. One might say it is actually the poorest overseas territory under France. But it also was plagued by a lot of problems. There's a lot of illegal immigration. It's a small population, about 300,000 people, and there are about 100,000 illegal immigrants. There was a lot of gang violence. There was also a lot of social unrest. It's a territory that's very reliant on support and assistance from France. And so even under the best of conditions, it was a territory that was struggling.

[Oliver Conway]

And the wider region. The storm went on to hit Mozambique. And now heading to where you are?

[Shingai Nyoka]

Yes, it is, and it's weakening, thankfully for a lot of people as it's moved westwards it made landfall in Mozambique, caused a lot of flash floods, uprooted trees, destroyed buildings and is now making its way towards southern Malawi and Zimbabwe, where we're really bracing for a lot of flooding.

[Oliver Conway]

Shingoka in Harare. After 20 months of civil war, Sudan is suffering a humanitarian crisis. Nearly 12 million people have fled their homes. Famine is looming. And in October, a UN fact finding mission said the scale of sexual violence there was staggering. Now the campaign group Human Rights Watch is calling on the UN and African Union to step in to protect women and girls, accusing the paramilitary rapid support forces of widespread rapes. Here's spokeswoman Bis Ville.

[Belkis Ville]

There's actually no UN mission dedicated to Sudan. There was one formally, but that was shut down as a result. You really have no institution inside of Sudan that is there to protect civilians. This would require real leadership from the UN Security Council, from the African Union to decide to put their foot down, that this level of abuse against civilians is enough and that something needs to be done to stop it. And that really is people entering Sudan on the ground, from the un, from the African Union setting up a mission to provide a protection to civilians and particular to provide protection for women and girls who are being raped in this way and being held as sex slaves.

[Oliver Conway]

Belkis Ville from Human Rights Watch. Sudanese women's rights campaigner Hala Al Kharib told us more about the problem.

[Belkis Ville]

Sexual violence is central in this world and other forms of violence against women and children and women and children's bodies have been used as war tools in Sudan. Terrible campaign of atrocities. It's extremely rampant. It happens all over the country. Dangerous issue about Arabic support forces is that they are using sexual violence systematically. Other war strategy, it's being used for population evictions out of land. It's being used as a tool of terror and to implant fear and control. And it's used in such a structural way, very intentional way.

[Oliver Conway]

Sudanese women's rights campaigner Hala Al Kharib. A week on from the fall of President Assad, Western powers have been stepping up engagement with the new rulers of Syria. Despite their jihadist origins, officials from the US and Britain have made contact with the authorities in Damascus, while an EU envoy is also heading there. Syria's neighbour Israel is more wary of the Islamist rebel group Hayat Tahrir Al Sham, which is now in charge. The Israelis have carried out hundreds of airstrikes on military targets across Syria in the past week. As we heard from our international editor.

[Jeremy Bowen]

Jeremy Bowen, the Israelis essentially think that the Western countries are deluding Themselves, these people are, well, they're certainly Islamists. They may well be jihadists. They come from that background. Don't take any risks, bomb them to blazes, bomb away their military infrastructure and safeguard the country that way. On the other hand, there are those who believe in Western countries it's necessary to deal with Syria and try to make it into a stable country. Now, the new rulers of this country say that they are Islamists, but they want to have a pluralistic, diverse society. Of course, it's only a week, so it's a bit too early to say the way that it will go. Syrians lost agency as individuals to the regime for half a century. The country itself ceased to be the arbiter of its own affairs during the war, when a lot of foreign countries intervened in what was going on, not least the neighbors. And I think that one of the big questions for the future of Syria and a lot of Syrians have said to me, look, for goodness sake, the rest of the world, just leave us alone. This country is really large areas are absolutely destroyed. Over the years, I've traveled extensively around it, and really, wherever you go, I mean, there are some areas, say north of Hama, every village, every town is rubble. Large parts of the suburbs of Damascus are rubble. So how on earth. I mean, to rebuild would be billions and billions and billions. So if the Gulf oil states got involved with the Saudis or the Emiratis, well, they wouldn't want to just give them money. They would want something in return for that. So I think perhaps it is a bit of a pipe dream to hope that Syria will be left alone. The question is whether countries want to use it, if you like, as a boxing ring for their own quarrels with other countries, or whether they do try to make this into a stable, better place.

[Oliver Conway]

Jeremy Bowen in Damascus and shortly before we recorded this podcast, Bashar al Assad broke his silence about the events of last weekend when he fled Syria and was given asylum in Russia. Our Russia editor, Steve Rosenberg, told us more.

[Steve Rosenberg]

First of all, this is a statement released on the Telegram channel of the presidency of the Syrian Arab Republic, purported to be Assad's first comment since he had to flee Syria just over a week ago. So the statement basically amounts to an attempt by Assad to justify his actions in those last few hours and to deny that he abandoned Syria. So, for example, he claims that he remained in Damascus until the early hours of Sunday, 8th December, but then moved to the Russian air base, the Khmeimim air base in Latakia to oversee combat operations. But it became clear, he says in the statement, that the last positions of the Syrian army had fallen. And then he claims that the Russian military base itself came under intensified attack by drone strikes. Interestingly, Russia hasn't mentioned anything about that up till now anyway. According to the statement, Moscow then requested that the commanders of the base arranged an immediate evacuation to Russia on the evening of Sunday, the 8th of Dec, and he flew to Moscow. He adds in the statement that at no point during these events did I consider stepping down or seeking refuge. And he adds that he hopes that Syria will once again be free and independent.

[Oliver Conway]

And how does all this square with what we heard from the Russians as President Assad and his family went to Moscow?

[Steve Rosenberg]

Well, we had very little information from the Russians, but I remember going back to Sunday 8th December, the Russians said that Assad had agreed to stepped down. A Kremlin source said he had come to Moscow. There was no talk about the Russian air base coming under attack. And actually Russia had denied at the time taking part in negotiations before Assad's departure. So there are various things in this statement that have come out today which don't quite square with what Russia has said. Interestingly, Vladimir Putin has said absolutely nothing publicly about the fall of Assad or events in Syria. What we're now more than a week after those dramatic events. Nothing from the Kremlin leader, even though earlier today President Putin addressed a meeting of senior military leaders which was shown live on television, an event I expected him to make some reference to Syria at. There was nothing at all. He spoke mostly about Russia's war in Ukraine, about the alleged threat from NATO, nothing at all about Syria. And there could be a couple of reasons for that. For one thing, what has happened in Syria is a major embarrassment for the Kremlin when you consider that for nine years the Russians poured resources into trying to make sure that Assad stayed in power. He was the Kremlin's main man. He was the closest ally for the Kremlin in the Middle East. But also, you know, some reports suggest that the Russians are in talks with the new Syrian leadership to try to retain their military bases, the two main Russian military bases in Syria.

[Oliver Conway]

Steve Rosenberg in Moscow. The Serbian authorities have been using surveillance software to spy on journalists and activists. That is the accusation from pressure group Amnesty International, which says it's part of a wider repression in Serb society. I heard more from our Balkans correspondent, Guy Delaunay.

[Guy Delaunay]

So Amnesty International says it's uncovered the use of multiple different kinds of spyware by the Serbian authorities. And this spyware is targeting phones, specifically phones belonging to journalists, to civil society activists, to people involved in protests. And the really interesting aspect, if you follow your spyware news, is that one of the apps that they've discovered was developed locally in Serbia, and it gets onto your phone and if the phone is able to be cracked and then it can start spying on you. There's also been detections of the, the already internationally notorious spyware Pegasus as well.

[Oliver Conway]

I mean, is this a surprising claim?

[Guy Delaunay]

Well, I mean, Pegasus is, in essence, it's available to governments to use around the world. There have been scandals involving it. Another tool that the Serbian authorities were found to have been using by Amnesty International was developed by an Israeli company called Celebrite that enables law enforcement officers to unlock phones which are otherwise locked. And then the accusation from Amnesty is that while the phones were unlocked, the authorities got busy installing spyware. But yes, I mean, authorities have been known around the world to do this to various people for various reasons, and the software has been developed for that very reason. It's the way in which Serbia is using it, which Amnesty is highlighting, saying that it's in essence a campaign of harassment against journalists and civil society activists who are just legitimately going about their business and have no reason to be the target of this sort of law enforcement activity.

[Oliver Conway]

And have the Serbian authority said anything about this?

[Guy Delaunay]

The intelligence agency known as the BIA has responded because they were specifically accused by Amnesty International of being involved in installing the spyware. And they said that regarding the Amnesty International report, which they put in inverted commerce, they say that they can only state the trivial sensationalism of its content indicates the purpose of Amnesty International, which is reflected in its working for the interests of individual agencies and pressure groups. So it's not even able to comment on the meaningless statements in their text, just as we do not otherwise comment on similar content. So in other words, they're saying that Amnesty is working for the opposition groups which it says are being hacked. It's, it's, it's a fairly predictable response, but it doesn't perhaps make people feel any better about what's going on with.

[Oliver Conway]

Regarding the Serbian authorities, our Balkans correspondent, Guy Delaunay. And still to come on the global news podcast, when I was 2 days.

[Guy Delaunay]

Old and brought home from the hospital.

[Oliver Conway]

The usual thing is to take your.

[Jeremy Bowen]

Son in your arms and say prayers in his ear. My father instead, instead of doing that recited rhythms in my ear, we look.

[Oliver Conway]

Back at the life of one of India's best loved Musicians. Bronze Age Britain was not thought to have been particularly violent, with no evidence that communities needed fortifications or weapons like swords to protect themselves. However, archaeologists have uncovered the remains of a massacre that took place in southwest England about 4,000 years ago. Analysis of bones found in a shaft at Charterhouse Warren suggests that at least 37 men, women and children were killed, dismembered, and possibly cannibalized. Professor Rick Schulting is from Oxford University.

[Jeremy Bowen]

The really surprising thing about Charterhouse Warren is the level of violence, both in terms of the number of people that seem to have been killed and also how they were treated afterwards. And that's really the surprising thing. We know that this would have resonated through time and space and it would have been talked about through generations.

[Oliver Conway]

Now science reporter Georgina Ranard told us more.

[Georgina Ranard]

This is one of those cases when someone found a pile of bones by accident and they lay in storage for years until scientists finally took a look. And then what this team have found from almost 3,000 bone fragments is that it was an incredibly violent attack on what they think was a whole village of people, men, women and children were found in these remains. And there's evidence of injuries from blunt trauma. One skull saw the picture of has a puncture wound. It' been fractured into pieces. So the experts think the victims were taken by surprise. And it's very gruesome that they found evidence that the remains were also butchered and they think possibly even consumed or eaten. They found scrap and cut marks on the bones caused by stones as well, even as bite marks. And so it really looks at this exceptionally bloody, violent attack that they think can only have been caused by something.

[Oliver Conway]

Going incredibly wrong, as they put it, going incredibly wrong. So what might have been the motives for this?

[Georgina Ranard]

So there's obviously limited evidence so far. All the archaeologists have are these bone fragments. So these are just theories, but they think it was something driven by a desire for revenge, motivated by extreme anger and rage. They suspect that someone in the community that was attacked perhaps had done something wrong that merited this. But it may even have been linked to accusations of something like witchcraft. The professors talked about a cycle of anger were perhaps building up over time and leading to this. There wasn't a lot of migration into England at the time, and as you said at the beginning, there wasn't a history of fortification, so they don't think it was self defense. And they also think that the cannibalistic element was ritualistic. So a desire to dehumanize the victims. They don't think it was down to hunger or a shortage of food because they also found animal bones. So that suggests there was enough food to go around. But as the professor said, something that would have been remembered for generations, probably embedded in storytelling, those stor being shared around the fire and down through those communities.

[Guy Delaunay]

Yeah.

[Oliver Conway]

I wonder if it was a one off incident or we now need to rethink what we know about Bronze Age Britain.

[Georgina Ranard]

Absolutely. So as you said, it was a time considered quite peaceful. People lived in small villages, there was the growth of agriculture and farming at the time. They do think it probably was a one off because there isn't a lot of other evidence from the period. This is a really unique finding. But they think that probably within that community there would have been ramifications down over the years, but at some point probably would have calmed down.

[Oliver Conway]

Georgina Rana there, our science reporter. EU foreign ministers are expected to discuss the political turmoil in Georgia today. The former Soviet republic has been in turmoil since the pro Russia Georgian dream won disputed elections in October. Protests intensified last month when the government announced it was putting EU accession negotiations on hold. On Saturday, parliament voted in the far right candidate, former professional footballer Mikhail Kaveleshvili as president. The BBC's Rob Young spoke to Nino Silosani, an MP for Georgian Dream.

[Belkis Ville]

Calling my party, the ruling party, the party who was chosen by the Georgian people as a pro Russian, it's a huge mistake and this is especially done from our opponents, very radical ones. And calling the government pro Russian, it's a specific tactic that I do not want to be repeated in very objective and very high scale media sources. On 26th of October in Georgia rally was held where my political team Georgian Dream won the elections with clear messages, respect for Europe that Georgia will enter European Union and become a member of European Union with dignity, peace and prosperity. After this we had very important dates. A few days ago we elected a new president, Michael Avalashvili, who was a member of our political team for three convocations and he was one of the very vocal person fighting against Saakashvili regime. He is a really real patriot of his country.

[Nino Silosani]

I would like to say outgoing president Zurich Peshvili says that the new president is illegitimate because the parliament which has chosen him is illegitimate because the election was rigged.

[Belkis Ville]

She herself is not legitimate and she's anti constitutional subject because the Constitutional court declared her that she violated the constitution.

[Nino Silosani]

She was legitimately elected as president though.

[Belkis Ville]

Yes, but you have to mention that she was elected by the Georgian dream waters. She was an independent candidate and she was just elected because she was Supported by Georgian Dream. When we voted to make her presidential term to end, she stayed there because of the support of the opposition. Now she fully present National Movement and all these radical groups because she do not have any support of Georgian Dream voters.

[Nino Silosani]

Well, there were videos just after the election which appeared to show ballot stuffing taking place. And also people reported intimidation at polling stations. But it does appear where the country is heading towards if it is not already in a constitutional crisis, with an outgoing president saying their successor is illegitimate and saying they want to remain in post. And an awful lot of people clearly opposing the government, saying that your party stole the election. And then a majority of people, according to opinion polling, wanting Georgia to join the European Union. Yet your party is saying that talks on that have been postponed for a number of years. Georgia is in a real mess at the moment and your party is in government. So what are you going to do about it? What are you going to do to try to bring Georgians together?

[Belkis Ville]

I would say that and I will calm down all those who have some fears about this. No real crisis happens here. There is a crisis in the walls of the opposition and with the Salama Zoro Bishvili, who has no evidence, who has no rights.

[Nino Silosani]

You're saying that everything is the fault of somebody else, not your party. Yet your party is claiming to be in government.

[Belkis Ville]

Actually, why are your police tear gassing.

[Nino Silosani]

People who are peacefully protesting outside the Parliament?

[Belkis Ville]

Really? Have you seen the protesters who are firing towards the policemen who are making the fire and attacking the parliament? If you like this kind of demonstrations to be held in your own country? Because I'm not sure whether any democratic or sustainable country will bear that the Protestants are attacking parliament.

[Nino Silosani]

What about the opposition leaders who were unarmed, who were dragged from their offices and put into the back of police cars?

[Belkis Ville]

Actually, they admitted supported this kind of riots. They admitted that all these fireworks which were used as guns against the police officers. I would say that more than 150 police workers are injured in all this. So you should provide very objective information to the people who is listening to you. So I guess that everyone saw the scenes of war in the streets of Georgia.

[Oliver Conway]

Nino Silosani, an MP for Georgian Dream, South Korea's Constitutional Court has begun trial proceedings for the impeachment of President Yoon Seung Yeol. He has been suspended for declaring martial law. Earlier this month, MPs voted to impeach him on Saturday. Gene McKenzie is in the South Korean capital, Seoul.

[Gene McKenzie]

The Constitutional Court is now reviewing this case and it has six months to decide. So in. In the interim the Prime Minister has taken over from the President. The President was immediately suspended from his duties on Saturday. But there is a lot of pressure on the court actually to decide more quickly than six months to end some of the political uncertainty that we have seen here. And it is not just this impeachment ruling of course. Mr. Yoon is also being investigated by police and by prosecutors for insurrection, for treason. His opponents arguing that he just had no right under the constitution to impose martial law, to suspend parliament, to bring in the army as he did now. They summoned him to appear over the weekend for questioning but he didn't show up. They have tried again to deliver summons to the Presidential office and to his home, but they neither have been received. The police separately they are asking him to come in for questioning on Wednesday. Now if he continues not to show up, it is very likely that they might move to a arrest him and bring him in for questioning. That way he is currently banned from leaving the country. Also, police have been trying to search the Presidential office for key pieces of evidence, but so far the presidential staff at the office have not given them access. Mr. Yoon all along has been defiant throughout this. He's come out and defended his decision to impose martial law. And even after his impeachment on Saturday night he came out and said he was going to fight this until the end. And it seems that this is going to apply not just to these impeachment proceedings in the courts, but also to these investigations that are mounting against him.

[Oliver Conway]

Gene McKenzie insol. Finally, one of India's best loved musicians, Zakir Hussain has died at the age of 73. A four time Grammy Award winner, he is credited with turning the tabla drums into an instrument loved around the world. He died in San Francisco surrounded by close family and Marasan. ETI Rajan looks back at his life. When I was two days old and.

[Guy Delaunay]

Brought home from the hospital, the usual.

[Jeremy Bowen]

Thing is to take your son in your arms and sing prayers in his ear. Say prayers in his ear. My father instead of doing that, recited.

[Guy Delaunay]

Rhythms in my ear.

[Jeremy Bowen]

That was Ustad Zakir Hussain, one of the greatest ever players of the tabla, an Indian percussion instrument. Talking to the BBC years ago on how he was introduced to music at an early age by his father Allah Raqa, another great tabla player. Hussain had been a dominant figure in the music scene both in India and overseas for decades. In 1973 he worked on a musical project with the English guitarist John McLaughlin and other Indian artists in a fusion of jazz and Indian classical music. The New York Times described him a fearsome technician, but also a whimsical inventor devoted to exuberant play. Hussain worked with many international artists and won five Grammy awards, including three earlier this year. Several Indian leaders have paid tribute, saying he was a rhythmic genius who brought the soul of India to global stages, and his death was an irreparable loss to the country.

[Oliver Conway]

The drumming of Zakir Hussain, who's died at the age of 73. That report by Anbarajan. And that is all from us for now, but the global news podcast will be back very soon. This edition was mixed by Vladimir Mozecka. The producer was Richard Hamilton. Our editor's Karen Martin. I'm Oliver Conway. Until next time. Goodbye. Yoga is more than just exercise. It's the spiritual practice that millions swear by. And in 2017, Miranda, a university tutor from London, joins a yoga school that promises profound transformation.

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