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[00:00]
Paul Moss
This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK
[00:06]
Podcast Advertiser
Odoo providing tools for businesses across industries into one fully integrated platform. Whatever your business needs, Odoo is committed to providing it. Learn more@odoo.com Choiceology an original podcast from Charles Schwab is a show about the psychology and economics behind our decisions. Join host Katie Milkman and an award winning behavioral scientist and author of the best selling book how to Change as she shares true stories from Nobel laureates, authors, athletes and everyday people about why we make the choices we do and how to make better ones to help avoid costly mistakes. Listen to Choiceologywab.com podcast or wherever you listen.
[00:50]
Paul Moss
This is the Global News podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Paul Moss and in the early hours of Wednesday 12th August, these are our main stories. Sky watchers prepare for an eclipse of the sun with some set to be treated to that rare spectacle of a total solar blackout. And desperate efforts continue to rescue survivors of Colombia's earthquake as the number of dead rises. Also in this podcast, what to do with empty offices when so many now work from home and stick with me kid.
[01:27]
Podcast Host/Announcer
I'll show you around. Well, I'm planning on Merry Christmas, Jack.
[01:32]
Paul Moss
Oh, Merry Christmas, Lucy.
[01:33]
It's happy birthday to the happy ever after world of Hallmark tv. It's time for the daytime sky to go dark, the temperature to suddenly drop, and for millions of people to gaze up at the sky and marvel at that rare phenomen. A total eclipse. Across large parts of Europe, including Spain and Iceland, the sun will be completely blocked out by the moon. Here in the uk there'll be a partial eclipse and also in northwest Africa and parts of the US with Alaska seeing about a third of the sun cut off. A science correspondent Palab Ghosh is in the northern Spanish city of Burgos to witness the event.
[02:17]
Palab Ghosh
The cathedral bells of the picturesque medieval city of Burgos called the faithful to prayer. It's done so for centuries, but now it's a magnet for pilgrims of a different sort. Visitors are flocking here to witness a total solar eclipse.
[02:34]
Paul Moss
I've travelled from Canada to come see the eclipse. Last time there was an eclipse in Uruz, it was in 1905.
[02:39]
Alex Brandon
So we've been waiting for this for 121 years.
[02:42]
Paul Moss
Very excited to see it.
[02:43]
Podcast Host/Announcer
I've seen one.
[02:45]
Paul Moss
It was beautiful. It was amazing and I saw so happy to have the chance to see one again.
[02:53]
Palab Ghosh
In a total eclipse, the moon completely covers the sun's bright disk, revealing its shimmering atmosphere. It hangs in the sky Like a gigantic shimmering black pearl. For a few moments, day turns to night and reality into a dream as we witness the sun's hidden beauty.
[03:11]
Podcast Host/Announcer
It's quite magical. It's very otherworldly.
[03:14]
Palab Ghosh
Once people have seen one, many follow them all over the world, such as Paul and Julie Lee, who've travelled here from Henley on Thames in southern England.
[03:23]
Podcast Host/Announcer
This one is in a beautiful country in the middle of the summer. What's not to like? It's going to be a very different eclipse, I think, from the ones that I've seen before, because it's very low on the horizon.
[03:34]
Paul Moss
The shared experience part of it is truly remarkable. And I think people who don't get underneath the totality don't ever appreciate.
[03:40]
Palab Ghosh
Appreciate that eclipse glasses are essential when looking at the Sun. Dr. Martin Griffiths, an astronomer turned eclipse guide, briefs his party on the risks.
[03:50]
Paul Moss
It's so bright, so strong, that you could end up damaging your eyesight.
[03:54]
Palab Ghosh
But he tells me the glasses can be taken off once the moon completely covers the sun's bright disc.
[04:01]
Paul Moss
So wait until totality to look at it with a naked eye. But also remember that there are lots and lots of astronomical societies across Spain, across the uk, who are putting on shows so that people can come along and see things properly through properly filtered telescopes. And, of course, they'll all have eclipse glasses as well.
[04:20]
Palab Ghosh
The total eclipse begins over northern Siberia at sunrise, crosses the Arctic Ocean, Greenland, Iceland, and then sweeps across the North Atlantic and the northern half of Spain, clipping a corner of Portugal before ending near the Balearic Islands at sunset. But many others in Europe, including the uk, will see a partial eclipse, where the moon covers more than 90% of the sun, according to Dr. Tim Revell, who's executive editor of New Scientist.
[04:50]
Dr. Tim Revell
So with a partial eclipse, it begins with the moon slowly starting to move in front of the sun, and over the course of about an hour or so, it will take progressively bigger chunks out of the sun as it slowly moves across. And you'll notice the sky starts to get a bit darker, you start to see crescent shadows on the floor, and eventually it will reach the maximum. And then the same thing will happen in the reverse again. Over the course of an hour, you'll see the skies go darker, it might become a little bit colder, the birds might become a little bit quieter, and then that will be the kind of full experience of the partial eclipse.
[05:22]
Palab Ghosh
Those gathered here will witness one of the great natural wonders of the universe. Whether it's total or partial, it's a moment that moves us all, reminding us of the wonder of the universe and our place in it.
[05:38]
Paul Moss
Palab Ghosh with that report, a rescue worker in the Colombian city of Cali described the scene there succinctly. It is, he said, like the end of the world. And you could see what he meant, not just buildings collapsed around him with people buried alive, but the chaos which so often follows this kind of natural disaster. People trying desperately to retrieve survivors from the rubble when just reaching the afflicted areas is a challenge. Regional airports near the earthquake have been forced to close. Water and electricity supplies have been disrupted, meaning that coordination of the rescue effort becomes a logistical nightmare. The BBC's Jose Carlos Cueto Lopez has been on the ground in Cali.
[06:21]
Jose Carlos Cueto Lopez
Daybreak In Cali, one of the hardest areas hit by yesterday's 7.4 magnitude quake, residents and rescue teams are working together around the clock, searching collapsed buildings and flattened homes for survivors. Local resident Saul Paz spoke of the devastation that took place close to his home.
[06:42]
Paul Moss
This community was formed by several blocks of houses. This was blocky here. All houses were destroyed. This is a total loss. Thank God so many people managed to leave before the houses collapsed.
[06:58]
Jose Carlos Cueto Lopez
Children teaching faced falling debris as they made it down the stairwell of this school. Luckily, no one was badly hurt. Emergency workers made this dramatic rescue of a woman who was trapped on the rubble of a semi collapsed building, lifting her to safety. Behind me, there is a totally collapsed building with rescue teams hoping to find survivors. It's a picture familiar where I am, just south of Cali, which is one of the worst hit areas in this disaster. Colombia's new president, who has only been in the job since Friday, has declared a state of emergency. However, he now faces up to leading the country through its worst earthquake in a decade.
[07:39]
Paul Moss
Jose Carlos Cuito Lopez. It may be a challenge, but Colombia's new president has chosen to make it a personal one, announcing he was taking personal charge of the rescue. Ebolado de la Esprea has been to sea rescue efforts in one of the worst affected areas, Pereira. But according to Annie Correa, Latin America correspondent for the New York Times, the days ahead will be a challenge for a man with such limited experience of governing. As she told my colleague Paul Henley,
[08:08]
Annie Correa
he was a criminal justice lawyer working from Colombia and from Miami, and he ran businesses, launched brands, had a piano bar, had a gelato shop. Now he's at the helm of a very large country and of managing a disaster that has spanned a huge swath of that country. So I think he's going to be tested in the sense of his ability to manage the response. He has said that he is personally taking the lead. And he immediately flew to the worst hit areas to speak with people, to get an assessment of damage from local authorities. And he has actually made a tour of some of the cities that have seen the worst damage, just like going from one to the next. It almost seems like he's still campaigning as he visits these places. His wife has gone with him, and he really seems to be sending a message of confidence and competence that he has got this, that he's going to be able to do it.
[09:17]
Dr. Tim Revell
It's a big test, isn't it, of his diplomatic strategy.
[09:20]
Paul Moss
He does have a friend in President Trump, and that surely will prove useful.
[09:24]
Annie Correa
He has made inroads not just with President Trump, but with with the US State Department, with Pentagon officials. One of the main promises of Abelardo della Esprilla's campaign was to come down hard on criminals and on armed trafficking groups. So with that promise, it's music to Trump's ears. And the US is offering Colombia $1 billion in assistance for this security cooperation. And so when this disaster hit, Secretary of State Marco Rubio immediately voiced their support for Colombia. Today, $15 million in emergency disaster relief were added to that sum, and the US Said that it was going to send a special team to help with disaster response.
[10:16]
Paul Moss
Not necessarily an advantage when he's in
[10:18]
Dr. Tim Revell
areas controlled by militias and armed gangs,
[10:21]
Paul Moss
very briefly, that he's the sworn enemy
[10:23]
Dr. Tim Revell
of at the moment.
[10:24]
Podcast Host/Announcer
It's true.
[10:25]
Annie Correa
I think what's extraordinary is that while this disaster hit just yesterday morning, he continued with his plans, seemingly to come down on these groups, as he said, with the wrath of God.
[10:39]
Paul Moss
Annie Crail. Speaking to Paul Henley, President Trump has confirmed reports that he was taken off his official plane and transferred to another aircraft on his way home from a NATO summit in Turkey last month. A number of US Media outlets said it was because of fears that Air Force One might be attacked by Iran. Here's what the president had to say at a noisy air base in Maryland.
[11:03]
Well, it's only up to Secret Service. I just follow what they'd like to do. They wanted me to go on a different flight, a different plane. They wanted me to do it, so I do it. I do what they say.
[11:13]
The whole episode has left those who remained on board Air Force One rather angry, to put it mildly, wondering whether they were, in effect, acting as decoys. Alex Brandon is a photographer for Associated Press who is covering Mr. Trump's visit. As a veteran of presidential flights, he says he knew immediately Something odd was
[11:32]
Alex Brandon
going on as we arrive at Air Force One in the motorcade and I look up and I see those catering trucks. I've been covering the President in Washington for 20 years and presidents going back to Reagan for 20 years before that. I've never seen that before. I immediately started taking pictures, alerting my editors that this was unusual, that that's real unusual for Air Force One. We get to the plane, stop, get out, and the President has already exited the limousine and is already up the stairs and on the aircraft. That happens. We typically go underneath the wing of the aircraft and photograph. And sometimes the journalists will shout questions and try to get the President to come over and talk to us. So that wasn't unusual that he was already on the plane. And then we board the plane like normal. I get in my seat, which happens to be a window seat. I immediately lift the blind, which is shut. And a flight attendant, which is a U.S. air Force enlisted officer, comes over and says, blinds have to be kept down. And I say, why? And she said, secret Service says so? And so, of course, I shut my blind. We had been told that we were switching from the Qatar donated Air Force One to the legacy, original Air Force One. And so I thought maybe there was a little bit of enhanced security or something like that that they wanted to observe. That's the only indication I got whatsoever. One of my biggest concerns is if, God forbid, the plane that we are on is taken out of the sky and the President continues on, the world thinks that the President is dead. And in that moment, the world needs an independent journalist to say, hey, I'm here, I'm with the President, everything's fine. It is critically important to have that independent verification. And that's why we do what we do, so that the world knows that, yes, the President is safe in this moment.
[13:24]
Paul Moss
Alex, Brandon, he mentioned they're the Secret Service, the people responsible for US President's safety. Although despite the name, they're not completely secret, as you'll see them on just about every public appearance he makes, usually wearing dark glasses and glancing around nervously to spot any potential attackers. Paul Eclof served as a Secret Service agent and says the decision to swap the President's flight raises many concerns, not least that this strategy has now become public knowledge.
[13:53]
Paul Eclof
Everyone is fascinated by the airplane, the catering truck, the alleged deception, which I can neither confirm nor deny that it occurred. I'm more interested in who benefits from revealing how the Presidential Protection Division responds to a credible threat. Every disclosed detail potentially helps an adversary understand our capabilities contingencies and decision making. There are two limousines in the motorcade. You don't know which one he's in or if he's even in one of those. When the President travels to war zones, there are frequently tactics and techniques that are used to create doubt in an adversary of which aircraft or which movement he's going to make. What concerns me is if sensitive operational information and materials are disclosed by someone with privileged access. The Iranian threat may have ended a month ago when the President left Turkey. But the threat posed by someone willing to disclose how he protected him may have traveled home with him. Threats to Air Force One have been persistent. They even changed the call sign many years ago after Air Force One, when intelligence revealed that adversaries knew the call sign for Air Force One. If the reporting is accurate, those journalists weren't left sitting in an unprotected airplane somewhere. They were aboard Air Force One, one of the most sophisticated and protected aircraft in the world.
[15:06]
Paul Moss
Paul Eclof and we go from one flight story to another. This one involving what should have been a routine plane trip between the Canadian cities of Victoria and Toronto. But that wasn't how it worked out. Our reporter in Seattle, Max Matzer, told us more about what happened and why the flight was cancelled.
[15:24]
Max Matzer
This was a Porter Airlines flight. Their statement says that a young child was standing in their seat and would not secure their seatbelt. Attempts by the accompanying parent and crew to address this were unsuccessful. Aircraft could not take off in this unsafe condition, so the crew decided to turn around and actually cancel the flight. Because at that point it was after midnight and the Runway was about to close. So all of those passengers had to depart the plane and stay in hotels or go back home and come back to the airport the following day. Just this summer, there's been three viral Reddit posts about really similar circumstances, except in those cases the flights were only delayed. In this case, the flight was actually canceled, but that's because it got so late in the day and after the passengers had to be removed from the plane, at that point it had gotten too late. So this seems to be the only case that I could find of a flight actually being canceled because of a toddler refusing to sit. Mostly it's airline policy, according to the experts I talked to, that kids under 2 sit on their parents laps. The kid is not strapped in. It's not only a danger to the child, but it's also a danger to other passengers because that kid, who is not restrained in the event of turbulence or any other kind of incident, they could become a projectile that bashes into other people on the plane. Same reason why you have to secure your luggage for takeoff and departure. This expert I was talking to, she's adamant that no child should be unrestrained on a plane, that it's very unsafe. In her opinion, anyone under 7 years old should be in a car seat. If you use a car seat when you're in a car, you should use the same car seat when you're on a plane.
[17:00]
Paul Moss
Max Matzah still to come in this podcast.
[17:05]
Lady Luck / Jan Dodds
The ones outside the Coliseum, they're 12 meters, so you're kind of throwing it a lot closer to the target. What we call the house how the
[17:14]
Paul Moss
winter sport of curling is wowing fans in hot, sunny Rome.
[17:27]
Podcast Host/Announcer
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[17:57]
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[18:11]
Alex Brandon
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[18:16]
Paul Moss
Oh no.
[18:17]
Alex Brandon
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[18:44]
Lady Luck / Jan Dodds
Hey guys, lady Luck here.
[18:46]
Podcast Host/Announcer
Are you going on any road trips this summer? I know I'm going to be going
[18:49]
Lady Luck / Jan Dodds
on a bunch of road trips and
[18:51]
Podcast Host/Announcer
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[18:57]
Paul Moss
has all of my favorite slot games.
[18:59]
Podcast Host/Announcer
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[19:07]
Alex Brandon
Spinquest is a free to play social casino. Visit spinquest.com for more details.
[19:19]
Paul Moss
This is the global News podcast He was found guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity as Syria's ousted dictator Bashar Al Assad has been sentenced to death for these offenses committed during Syria's brutal civil war, which cost about half a million lives. It's the first conviction against Assad, who fled with his family to Russia after his regime was overthrown in 2024 and who remains there but in court for the verdict was his cousin who was also sentenced to death. Atif Najib was the head of political security in southern Syria's Derar province. Outside the courthouse, people chanted and celebrated the verdict. Celia Hatton got more reaction from Haber Offman, Damascus correspondent for the BBC's Arabic service.
[20:06]
Celia Hatton
I was outside the palace of justice in Damascus when the court issued a death sentence against of former Syrian regime, among them Bashar Al Assad and Maher Al Assad and Adif Najib, the material cousin of Charles Assad and the former head of the political Security branch in governorate outside the palace of justice in Damascus. I noticed a kind of joy and happiness among number of victims families who gathered to celebrate their verdicts. While some families were holding pictures of victims who died at the hands of the Security Branch personnel in Daraa governorate, the families of victims commented on the ruling as a new victory for the Syrian revolution and as a victory for the transitional justice here in Syria.
[20:59]
Podcast Host/Announcer
Heybar in the crowd was Nayef Abizaid who was detained by the Assad regime in 2011. He gave his reaction to the verdict.
[21:10]
Paul Moss
I was detained by the Assad regime. They took me from my school when I was 13 years old. Thank God Assad fell and his cousin Ataf Najib will be executed and God willing, it will be Bashar Al Assad's turn to be executed.
[21:28]
Podcast Host/Announcer
Heybar Bashar Al Assad fled to Russia in 2024. How will these sentences, the sentence against him and also his younger brother be implemented?
[21:39]
Celia Hatton
The court also issued an absentia death sentence against Bashar Al Assad and his brother on charges related to committing war crimes and the crimes against humanity. But I think this is something symbolic. I don't think that Moscow will hand over Bashar Al Assad to the new Syrian government. So this is something symbolic. They will only charge Atif Najib right now.
[22:04]
Podcast Host/Announcer
Should we expect more sentences to be handed out?
[22:08]
Celia Hatton
A death of sentence against Artif Najib and Bashar Al Assad and Mahal Assad and many people from the last Syrian regime. It's enough to ensure the stability in whole Syria during this month. Also the fourth court here in Damascus. They will continue the trial of Ahmed Hassoon, the last mufti of Syria. Also Wassim al Assad, the cousin of Bashar al Assad, the last Syrian president. So they will continue the charges against many of last former regime in this month.
[22:44]
Paul Moss
Heybar othman from the BBC's Arabic service in the Syrian capital, Damascus. New court documents show Donald Trump has amended his legal case against the BBC. The president is suing the corporation for $10 billion over a documentary which sliced together two parts of a speech he made on the day of the Capitol hill riots in 2021. Mr. Trump's amended lawsuit now focuses on the harm he claims he suffered personally. As our media editor Katie Razzle explains,
[23:14]
Podcast Host/Announcer
the Panorama programme was, according to this latest court filing, a brazen attempt to influence the outcome of the 2024 election. And the BBC caused overwhelming reputational harm to the president personally, it says. But his legal team has removed claims made in previous documents that his business and professional interests have also suffered direct harm. The BBC had sought access to Mr. Trump's financial records. It argued it needed evidence that his businesses and brands had suffered. But his team pushed back, saying disclosure would cause him harm. Now the president's team has removed that element of his case. Mr. Trump is still suing the BBC for at least $10 billion. The document suggests it's reasonably certain the program could have been viewed in Florida, where the president is bringing his case. The BBC has apologized for an editing error that it says gave the mistaken impression that President Trump had made a call for violent action. But it has previously said the programme didn't meet the legal criteria for defamation and wasn't made available on US Platforms. The next stage is for the BBC to respond to Donald Trump's latest legal filing, with the case due to come to court in February.
[24:29]
Paul Moss
Katie Razzle it's one of the more marked legacies of the COVID pandemic, people who were forced to work from home deciding they actually rather like avoiding the daily commute and have continued to stay away from the office. But that's left many offices partially or maybe largely empty. So what to do with all the unused space? Our reporter John Laurenson has been investigating.
[24:53]
John Laurenson
I'm standing in the middle of Europe's biggest business district, La Defense, just west of Paris. I'm here with Pierre Yves Guise, the head of Paris La Defense, the public company that runs the this district.
[25:06]
Paul Moss
The vacancy rate is around 1415% at the moment. Around 400,000 square meters of existing offices might have to be transformed in the next five to ten years into mostly housing, but also higher education facilities or entertainment facilities, shops, restaurants.
[25:24]
Palab Ghosh
So here you are in the office
[25:25]
Paul Moss
and there are desks and screens. Tomorrow you are in an apartment.
[25:30]
John Laurenson
Roland Cuban, deputy CEO of the Groupama real estate management company, shows me round La Tour diamond, the Diamond Tower, which has office space for 1,800 workers. He doesn't want it to disappear exactly, but he does want to convert it.
[25:48]
Paul Moss
Here there will be two bedrooms.
[25:50]
John Laurenson
One of the challenges when you're converting office blocks into flats is the width of the buildings. Generally they're much wider than residential ones, so you have a lot of windowless space in the middle that it's difficult to know what to do with.
[26:04]
Paul Moss
There won't be any rooms there, it's only the access.
[26:07]
John Laurenson
But even for the most suitable buildings, Roland Cuban says office to housing conversions are not going to happen at scale in France unless the authorities remove some obstacles.
[26:22]
Paul Moss
At the moment, as soon as you transform a building in a way that changes its function, it is classed not as an old building that been changed,
[26:30]
but as a new building.
[26:32]
With all the regulatory demands that go with new buildings regarding car parking spaces, wheelchair access, fire safety and so on,
[26:41]
John Laurenson
is it economically viable to convert offices into housing? Ludovic Deles is CEO of the French arm of the Canadian real estate services company Colliers. Yes, but in most cases only on
[26:56]
Paul Moss
the condition that the building can be acquired at a low price. It's often a better proposition economically to build hotels or student accommodation because you can be certain of the demand for
[27:07]
John Laurenson
office conversions at scale. The best examples are in the United States, in New York and also Washington, D.C. they found it's generally easier to convert steel frame buildings than concrete ones, although the structural problems uncovered during the conversion of New York's former Pfizer headquarters are a reminder that such projects can involve significant engineering challenges.
[27:30]
Paul Moss
John Laurenson. The winter sport of curling is one of those which tends to capture people's attention with the distinctive sight of competitors frantically scrubbing at the ice to make sure the stone, as it's called, glides as close as possible to its target. Now, curling is obviously associated with colder climates, but would you believe it's become popular in Rome, Though only by replacing the ice with a surface more suited to a city where temperatures regularly reach the mid-30s. Jan Dodds is a British medal winning curler. She explained to Nick Eardley that Italy's newfound affection for the sport stems from the national team winning a medal of its own at the last Winter Olympics.
[28:12]
Lady Luck / Jan Dodds
Italy obviously Hosted the Olympics and they got a bronze medal in the mixed doubles and obviously winning the gold in Beijing as well. So they've had a lot of success. And I think with success it breeds interest in the game. Curling is quite a long sport, so you can dip in and out of it as well. And it's always on the tv. So it's been really good for the sport, I think.
[28:32]
Paul Moss
Tell me a bit about the actual
[28:34]
Palab Ghosh
practicalities, though, because this isn't ice, it's a synthetic surface.
[28:39]
Paul Moss
It looks a bit like it's not proper curling.
[28:42]
Palab Ghosh
It's almost throwing mini stones in the
[28:45]
Paul Moss
hope that they land in the right place.
[28:48]
Lady Luck / Jan Dodds
Yeah, it's, let's say, a shortened game. So the ones outside the Coliseum, they're 12 meters. So you're kind of throwing it a lot closer to the target, what we call the house. It probably does make it a lot easier, if you can imagine. If you're trying to throw a ball at something, it's a lot easier when it's closer to you than further away. But they don't have sweepers or anything like that because it's synthetic. The sweeping, I suspect, doesn't really do much. You still need to have the feel. You still need to throw it into the rings, to the closest to the center. But I would say on ice it's still harder because you've got so many other things to think about. Obviously you need to keep your balance. You've got the sweeping and that affects the line of the curl as well. So I would say on ice is a lot harder, but I think it gives a really good insight to what we do on ice. It's kind of a good beginner step and I feel it can get people more interested in curling as well. And it's more accessible. So it's a really good beginner step, I would say.
[29:46]
Paul Moss
Jan Dodds, a career orientated woman from a big US city, visits a small hometown over Christmas and falls in love with a ruggedly handsome yet sensitive guy. That is the kind of tried and tested formula for Hallmark's TV movies, which have charmed audiences over the years. The American channel is celebrating its 25th anniversary. Here's a look back at some of its classic moments.
[30:11]
Podcast Host/Announcer
You were there for all those crazy early Christmases and you've been there ever since.
[30:18]
Paul Moss
And I always will be.
[30:20]
Alex Brandon
I'm going to show you that the story of the Christmas hat isn't over. It's kind of different ending.
[30:24]
Podcast Host/Announcer
I used to dream about a moment like this. You even asked for one, just like it for Christmas.
[30:30]
Paul Moss
Rule number 56, never let a mistletoe moment go to waste.
[30:35]
Podcast Host/Announcer
Stick with me, kid. I'll show you around.
[30:37]
Alex Brandon
Well, I'm planning on it.
[30:39]
Podcast Host/Announcer
Merry Christmas, Jack.
[30:40]
Paul Moss
Oh, Merry Christmas, Lucy.
[30:42]
Merry Christmas, Lucy. Happy ever after. Endings all round. But with such predictable conclusions, what explains Hallmark movies enduring appeal? Siobhan Sinnett is a film and television critic. She thinks she knows the answer.
[30:56]
Siobhan Sinnett
When modern life seems loud, chaotic, overloaded, I think people crave something soft, predictable and emotionally safe. In the Hallmark films, you know, there's not going to be any jump scares, there's not going to be any maniacs in In a Cupboard. There's no bleak twists, there's no existential dread. It's just gentle romance, small town charm and somebody trying to save a bakery. To be fair to Hallmark, they have evolved. And part of that evolution has been pushed on by streaming services. Hallmark's looked at Netflix and Prime Video and Disney, crowding out particularly the holiday space, and said, right, we're not competing on size, but we are competing on comfort. So there has been a strategic shift in Hallmark towards better cinematography, more polished sets, stronger casting, bigger location shoots. These films may still feel cozy, but they look less like they were shot in somebody's redecorated gift shop. And, and the storylines have also changed. I mean, yes, there is a lot of the templates are big city girl returning home or a royal romance with a prince in disguise. But we also see more LGBTQ storylines. We see more, more diversity in the storylines, you know, both racially and in terms of religion. I mean, it's definitely afternoon viewing, but they are, I think, more self aware now. In a world of endless choice, Hallmark strategy still works. Gives people something warm, gives people something familiar, gives people something that's easy to love.
[32:26]
Paul Moss
Siobhan Sinnot. That's all from us for now. If you want to get in touch, you can email us@globalpodcastbc.co.uk. that is exactly what John Hammar from Shediac in New Brunswick, Canada did, describing the Global News podcast as decisive, to the point, short and sweet. And his go to News Channel for the truth on world matters. John, thank you very much. You can also find us on X at BBC World Service. Use the hashtag globalnewspod. And don't forget our sister podcast, the Global Story, which goes in depth and beyond the headlines on one big story. This edition of the Global News podcast was mixed by Zabihulla Kourosh and the producer was Emma Joseph. The editor is Karen Martin. I'm Paul Moss. Until next time. Goodbye.
[33:25]
Podcast Host/Announcer
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Summary6 min read

Global News Podcast — Episode Summary

Episode: Getting ready for solar eclipse
Date: August 12, 2026
Host: Paul Moss, BBC World Service

Overview of the Episode

This episode of the Global News Podcast covers a range of top international headlines with a particular focus on the anticipation and science behind the rare total solar eclipse set to be visible across large swathes of Europe and other parts of the world. Other major segments include updates on the earthquake in Colombia, political and legal developments concerning Donald Trump, the transformation of empty office spaces in the post-pandemic world, a look at curling’s surprising popularity in Rome, and the enduring appeal of Hallmark holiday movies.

Main Theme: Solar Eclipse 2026

Segment start: [01:33]

Event: A total solar eclipse will be seen across parts of Europe—including Spain and Iceland. The UK, northwest Africa, and parts of the US (including Alaska) will witness a partial eclipse.
Location Spotlight: Burgos, Spain, a gathering hotspot for eclipse chasers.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Science and Experience of a Total Eclipse

Palab Ghosh (Science Correspondent) reports from Burgos:
“The cathedral bells of the picturesque medieval city of Burgos called the faithful to prayer... now it's a magnet for pilgrims of a different sort. Visitors are flocking here to witness a total solar eclipse.” ([02:16])
Visitor's anticipation:
“I've traveled from Canada to come see the eclipse. Last time there was an eclipse in Uruz, it was in 1905.” ([02:33])
Emotional resonance:
“I've seen one. It was beautiful. It was amazing and I was so happy to have the chance to see one again.” ([02:45])

Safety and Viewing Guidance

Dr. Martin Griffiths, eclipse guide:
“It's so bright, so strong, that you could end up damaging your eyesight.” ([03:49])
Only remove eclipse glasses during the brief period of totality.

The Path and Experience of the Eclipse

Palab Ghosh describes:
“The total eclipse begins over northern Siberia at sunrise, crosses the Arctic Ocean, Greenland, Iceland, and then sweeps across the North Atlantic and the northern half of Spain, clipping a corner of Portugal before ending near the Balearic Islands at sunset.” ([04:19])
Dr. Tim Revell (New Scientist):
Partial eclipse dynamics—“You’ll notice the sky starts to get a bit darker, you start to see crescent shadows on the floor... it might become a little bit colder, the birds might become a little bit quieter.” ([04:49])

The Wonder of Eclipses

Palab Ghosh:
“Those gathered here will witness one of the great natural wonders of the universe. Whether it's total or partial, it's a moment that moves us all, reminding us of the wonder of the universe and our place in it.” ([05:22])

Notable Quotes

“It hangs in the sky like a gigantic shimmering black pearl. For a few moments, day turns to night and reality into a dream as we witness the sun's hidden beauty.” – Palab Ghosh ([02:52])
“The shared experience part of it is truly remarkable. And I think people who don't get underneath the totality don't ever appreciate that.” – Eclipse chaser ([03:33])

International Headlines & Deep Dives

Earthquake in Colombia

Segment start: [06:20]

Devastation in Cali:
“This was blocky here. All houses were destroyed. This is a total loss. Thank God so many people managed to leave before the houses collapsed.” – Local resident Saul Paz ([06:42])
Emergency response:
Colombia's new president personally leads rescue efforts; state of emergency declared.
Political test:
“He has said that he is personally taking the lead... It almost seems like he's still campaigning as he visits these places.” – Annie Correa, NYT Latin America correspondent ([08:07])
US aid and security dynamics:
The US pledges $1 billion in security aid, plus $15 million in disaster relief.
“One of the main promises of Abelardo della Esprilla's campaign was to come down hard on criminals and on armed trafficking groups. So with that promise, it's music to Trump's ears.” – Annie Correa ([09:24])

US Politics: Trump’s Security & Legal Battles

Air Force One Security Swap

Segment start: [11:02]

President Trump was switched to another aircraft due to security concerns over potential Iranian attack.
Alex Brandon, AP photographer:
“I've been covering the President in Washington for 20 years... I've never seen that before.” ([11:32])
“One of my biggest concerns is if... the world thinks that the President is dead. And in that moment, the world needs an independent journalist to say, hey, I'm here, I'm with the President, everything's fine.” ([12:41])
Paul Eclof, former Secret Service agent:
“Every disclosed detail potentially helps an adversary understand our capabilities... What concerns me is if sensitive operational information and materials are disclosed by someone with privileged access.” ([13:53])

Trump Lawsuit Against BBC

Segment start: [22:44]

Lawsuit over BBC Panorama program editing President Trump’s speech from January 6 riot.
Key point: Trump’s revised legal claim focuses on personal reputation harm, not business damages.
BBC response: Disputes the defamation claim and notes the program wasn’t aired on US platforms.

Global Affairs & Society

Syria: Assad Sentenced to Death

Segment start: [19:18]

Syria’s former leader Bashar al-Assad and his cousin Atif Najib sentenced to death for war crimes.
On the scene:
“I noticed a kind of joy and happiness among number of victims' families who gathered to celebrate their verdicts.” – Haber Offman, BBC Arabic ([20:05])
Symbolic justice:
“The court also issued an absentia death sentence against Bashar Al Assad and his brother... But I think this is something symbolic.” – Celia Hatton, BBC ([21:39])

Post-Pandemic Cities: The Problem of Empty Offices

Segment start: [24:52]

La Défense, Paris – office vacancy at 14-15%, prompting conversion plans.
Challenges:
- Office blocks often too wide for conversion.
- Regulatory hurdles: transformed offices are classified as new buildings with stricter requirements.
- More viable to convert to hotels or student housing unless acquisition costs are low.
Reference to North America:
- Conversions more successful with steel-frame buildings, as in New York and D.C.
- “Such projects can involve significant engineering challenges.” – John Laurenson ([27:07])

Curling in Rome: Sport in Hot Climates

Segment start: [28:11]

Curling now popular in Rome after Italy’s recent Olympic success.
Adaptations:
- Played on a 12-meter synthetic surface near the Colosseum.
Jan Dodds, British curler:
“It's kind of a good beginner step... it's more accessible. So it's a really good beginner step, I would say.” ([29:20])

Hallmark Movies: 25 Years of Comfort TV

Segment start: [30:11]

Classic formula: “A career orientated woman from a big US city, visits a small hometown over Christmas and falls in love with a ruggedly handsome yet sensitive guy...”
Why do they endure?
Siobhan Sinnett, film critic:
“When modern life seems loud, chaotic, overloaded, I think people crave something soft, predictable and emotionally safe... To be fair to Hallmark, they have evolved... we also see more LGBTQ storylines, more diversity.” ([30:56])

Memorable Quotes & Moments

On the solar eclipse:
“It's quite magical. It's very otherworldly.” ([03:11])
On office space conversion challenges:
“Generally [office buildings] are much wider than residential ones, so you have a lot of windowless space in the middle that it's difficult to know what to do with.” – John Laurenson ([25:50])
On the comfort of Hallmark:
“In a world of endless choice, Hallmark strategy still works. Gives people something warm, gives people something familiar, gives people something that's easy to love.” – Siobhan Sinnett ([32:26])

Timestamps for Key Segments

Solar Eclipse Feature: [01:33] – [05:38]
Colombia Earthquake Coverage: [06:20] – [10:39]
US Presidential Security Incident: [11:02] – [13:53]
Trump vs. BBC Lawsuit Update: [22:44] – [24:28]
Empty Office Space Solutions: [24:52] – [27:29]
Curling in Rome: [28:11] – [29:45]
Hallmark Movie Retrospective: [30:11] – [32:26]

Tone and Style

The episode balances scientific wonder, emotional resonance, hard investigative journalism, and light-hearted pop culture analysis—mirroring the diverse, global, and accessible tone listeners expect from the BBC World Service.

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

This summary guides you through the episode’s most insightful news and feature segments, preserving the original flavor and giving you the takeaways, memorable lines, and context you need—whether you’re excited about the celestial spectacle, concerned about world affairs, or simply looking for a break with a Hallmark-style happy ending.

Loading summary

Transcript110 lines

[00:00]
Paul Moss
This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK
[00:06]
Podcast Advertiser
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[00:50]
Paul Moss
This is the Global News podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Paul Moss and in the early hours of Wednesday 12th August, these are our main stories. Sky watchers prepare for an eclipse of the sun with some set to be treated to that rare spectacle of a total solar blackout. And desperate efforts continue to rescue survivors of Colombia's earthquake as the number of dead rises. Also in this podcast, what to do with empty offices when so many now work from home and stick with me kid.
[01:27]
Podcast Host/Announcer
I'll show you around. Well, I'm planning on Merry Christmas, Jack.
[01:32]
Paul Moss
Oh, Merry Christmas, Lucy.
[01:33]
It's happy birthday to the happy ever after world of Hallmark tv. It's time for the daytime sky to go dark, the temperature to suddenly drop, and for millions of people to gaze up at the sky and marvel at that rare phenomen. A total eclipse. Across large parts of Europe, including Spain and Iceland, the sun will be completely blocked out by the moon. Here in the uk there'll be a partial eclipse and also in northwest Africa and parts of the US with Alaska seeing about a third of the sun cut off. A science correspondent Palab Ghosh is in the northern Spanish city of Burgos to witness the event.
[02:17]
Palab Ghosh
The cathedral bells of the picturesque medieval city of Burgos called the faithful to prayer. It's done so for centuries, but now it's a magnet for pilgrims of a different sort. Visitors are flocking here to witness a total solar eclipse.
[02:34]
Paul Moss
I've travelled from Canada to come see the eclipse. Last time there was an eclipse in Uruz, it was in 1905.
[02:39]
Alex Brandon
So we've been waiting for this for 121 years.
[02:42]
Paul Moss
Very excited to see it.
[02:43]
Podcast Host/Announcer
I've seen one.
[02:45]
Paul Moss
It was beautiful. It was amazing and I saw so happy to have the chance to see one again.
[02:53]
Palab Ghosh
In a total eclipse, the moon completely covers the sun's bright disk, revealing its shimmering atmosphere. It hangs in the sky Like a gigantic shimmering black pearl. For a few moments, day turns to night and reality into a dream as we witness the sun's hidden beauty.
[03:11]
Podcast Host/Announcer
It's quite magical. It's very otherworldly.
[03:14]
Palab Ghosh
Once people have seen one, many follow them all over the world, such as Paul and Julie Lee, who've travelled here from Henley on Thames in southern England.
[03:23]
Podcast Host/Announcer
This one is in a beautiful country in the middle of the summer. What's not to like? It's going to be a very different eclipse, I think, from the ones that I've seen before, because it's very low on the horizon.
[03:34]
Paul Moss
The shared experience part of it is truly remarkable. And I think people who don't get underneath the totality don't ever appreciate.
[03:40]
Palab Ghosh
Appreciate that eclipse glasses are essential when looking at the Sun. Dr. Martin Griffiths, an astronomer turned eclipse guide, briefs his party on the risks.
[03:50]
Paul Moss
It's so bright, so strong, that you could end up damaging your eyesight.
[03:54]
Palab Ghosh
But he tells me the glasses can be taken off once the moon completely covers the sun's bright disc.
[04:01]
Paul Moss
So wait until totality to look at it with a naked eye. But also remember that there are lots and lots of astronomical societies across Spain, across the uk, who are putting on shows so that people can come along and see things properly through properly filtered telescopes. And, of course, they'll all have eclipse glasses as well.
[04:20]
Palab Ghosh
The total eclipse begins over northern Siberia at sunrise, crosses the Arctic Ocean, Greenland, Iceland, and then sweeps across the North Atlantic and the northern half of Spain, clipping a corner of Portugal before ending near the Balearic Islands at sunset. But many others in Europe, including the uk, will see a partial eclipse, where the moon covers more than 90% of the sun, according to Dr. Tim Revell, who's executive editor of New Scientist.
[04:50]
Dr. Tim Revell
So with a partial eclipse, it begins with the moon slowly starting to move in front of the sun, and over the course of about an hour or so, it will take progressively bigger chunks out of the sun as it slowly moves across. And you'll notice the sky starts to get a bit darker, you start to see crescent shadows on the floor, and eventually it will reach the maximum. And then the same thing will happen in the reverse again. Over the course of an hour, you'll see the skies go darker, it might become a little bit colder, the birds might become a little bit quieter, and then that will be the kind of full experience of the partial eclipse.
[05:22]
Palab Ghosh
Those gathered here will witness one of the great natural wonders of the universe. Whether it's total or partial, it's a moment that moves us all, reminding us of the wonder of the universe and our place in it.
[05:38]
Paul Moss
Palab Ghosh with that report, a rescue worker in the Colombian city of Cali described the scene there succinctly. It is, he said, like the end of the world. And you could see what he meant, not just buildings collapsed around him with people buried alive, but the chaos which so often follows this kind of natural disaster. People trying desperately to retrieve survivors from the rubble when just reaching the afflicted areas is a challenge. Regional airports near the earthquake have been forced to close. Water and electricity supplies have been disrupted, meaning that coordination of the rescue effort becomes a logistical nightmare. The BBC's Jose Carlos Cueto Lopez has been on the ground in Cali.
[06:21]
Jose Carlos Cueto Lopez
Daybreak In Cali, one of the hardest areas hit by yesterday's 7.4 magnitude quake, residents and rescue teams are working together around the clock, searching collapsed buildings and flattened homes for survivors. Local resident Saul Paz spoke of the devastation that took place close to his home.
[06:42]
Paul Moss
This community was formed by several blocks of houses. This was blocky here. All houses were destroyed. This is a total loss. Thank God so many people managed to leave before the houses collapsed.
[06:58]
Jose Carlos Cueto Lopez
Children teaching faced falling debris as they made it down the stairwell of this school. Luckily, no one was badly hurt. Emergency workers made this dramatic rescue of a woman who was trapped on the rubble of a semi collapsed building, lifting her to safety. Behind me, there is a totally collapsed building with rescue teams hoping to find survivors. It's a picture familiar where I am, just south of Cali, which is one of the worst hit areas in this disaster. Colombia's new president, who has only been in the job since Friday, has declared a state of emergency. However, he now faces up to leading the country through its worst earthquake in a decade.
[07:39]
Paul Moss
Jose Carlos Cuito Lopez. It may be a challenge, but Colombia's new president has chosen to make it a personal one, announcing he was taking personal charge of the rescue. Ebolado de la Esprea has been to sea rescue efforts in one of the worst affected areas, Pereira. But according to Annie Correa, Latin America correspondent for the New York Times, the days ahead will be a challenge for a man with such limited experience of governing. As she told my colleague Paul Henley,
[08:08]
Annie Correa
he was a criminal justice lawyer working from Colombia and from Miami, and he ran businesses, launched brands, had a piano bar, had a gelato shop. Now he's at the helm of a very large country and of managing a disaster that has spanned a huge swath of that country. So I think he's going to be tested in the sense of his ability to manage the response. He has said that he is personally taking the lead. And he immediately flew to the worst hit areas to speak with people, to get an assessment of damage from local authorities. And he has actually made a tour of some of the cities that have seen the worst damage, just like going from one to the next. It almost seems like he's still campaigning as he visits these places. His wife has gone with him, and he really seems to be sending a message of confidence and competence that he has got this, that he's going to be able to do it.
[09:17]
Dr. Tim Revell
It's a big test, isn't it, of his diplomatic strategy.
[09:20]
Paul Moss
He does have a friend in President Trump, and that surely will prove useful.
[09:24]
Annie Correa
He has made inroads not just with President Trump, but with with the US State Department, with Pentagon officials. One of the main promises of Abelardo della Esprilla's campaign was to come down hard on criminals and on armed trafficking groups. So with that promise, it's music to Trump's ears. And the US is offering Colombia $1 billion in assistance for this security cooperation. And so when this disaster hit, Secretary of State Marco Rubio immediately voiced their support for Colombia. Today, $15 million in emergency disaster relief were added to that sum, and the US Said that it was going to send a special team to help with disaster response.
[10:16]
Paul Moss
Not necessarily an advantage when he's in
[10:18]
Dr. Tim Revell
areas controlled by militias and armed gangs,
[10:21]
Paul Moss
very briefly, that he's the sworn enemy
[10:23]
Dr. Tim Revell
of at the moment.
[10:24]
Podcast Host/Announcer
It's true.
[10:25]
Annie Correa
I think what's extraordinary is that while this disaster hit just yesterday morning, he continued with his plans, seemingly to come down on these groups, as he said, with the wrath of God.
[10:39]
Paul Moss
Annie Crail. Speaking to Paul Henley, President Trump has confirmed reports that he was taken off his official plane and transferred to another aircraft on his way home from a NATO summit in Turkey last month. A number of US Media outlets said it was because of fears that Air Force One might be attacked by Iran. Here's what the president had to say at a noisy air base in Maryland.
[11:03]
Well, it's only up to Secret Service. I just follow what they'd like to do. They wanted me to go on a different flight, a different plane. They wanted me to do it, so I do it. I do what they say.
[11:13]
The whole episode has left those who remained on board Air Force One rather angry, to put it mildly, wondering whether they were, in effect, acting as decoys. Alex Brandon is a photographer for Associated Press who is covering Mr. Trump's visit. As a veteran of presidential flights, he says he knew immediately Something odd was
[11:32]
Alex Brandon
going on as we arrive at Air Force One in the motorcade and I look up and I see those catering trucks. I've been covering the President in Washington for 20 years and presidents going back to Reagan for 20 years before that. I've never seen that before. I immediately started taking pictures, alerting my editors that this was unusual, that that's real unusual for Air Force One. We get to the plane, stop, get out, and the President has already exited the limousine and is already up the stairs and on the aircraft. That happens. We typically go underneath the wing of the aircraft and photograph. And sometimes the journalists will shout questions and try to get the President to come over and talk to us. So that wasn't unusual that he was already on the plane. And then we board the plane like normal. I get in my seat, which happens to be a window seat. I immediately lift the blind, which is shut. And a flight attendant, which is a U.S. air Force enlisted officer, comes over and says, blinds have to be kept down. And I say, why? And she said, secret Service says so? And so, of course, I shut my blind. We had been told that we were switching from the Qatar donated Air Force One to the legacy, original Air Force One. And so I thought maybe there was a little bit of enhanced security or something like that that they wanted to observe. That's the only indication I got whatsoever. One of my biggest concerns is if, God forbid, the plane that we are on is taken out of the sky and the President continues on, the world thinks that the President is dead. And in that moment, the world needs an independent journalist to say, hey, I'm here, I'm with the President, everything's fine. It is critically important to have that independent verification. And that's why we do what we do, so that the world knows that, yes, the President is safe in this moment.
[13:24]
Paul Moss
Alex, Brandon, he mentioned they're the Secret Service, the people responsible for US President's safety. Although despite the name, they're not completely secret, as you'll see them on just about every public appearance he makes, usually wearing dark glasses and glancing around nervously to spot any potential attackers. Paul Eclof served as a Secret Service agent and says the decision to swap the President's flight raises many concerns, not least that this strategy has now become public knowledge.
[13:53]
Paul Eclof
Everyone is fascinated by the airplane, the catering truck, the alleged deception, which I can neither confirm nor deny that it occurred. I'm more interested in who benefits from revealing how the Presidential Protection Division responds to a credible threat. Every disclosed detail potentially helps an adversary understand our capabilities contingencies and decision making. There are two limousines in the motorcade. You don't know which one he's in or if he's even in one of those. When the President travels to war zones, there are frequently tactics and techniques that are used to create doubt in an adversary of which aircraft or which movement he's going to make. What concerns me is if sensitive operational information and materials are disclosed by someone with privileged access. The Iranian threat may have ended a month ago when the President left Turkey. But the threat posed by someone willing to disclose how he protected him may have traveled home with him. Threats to Air Force One have been persistent. They even changed the call sign many years ago after Air Force One, when intelligence revealed that adversaries knew the call sign for Air Force One. If the reporting is accurate, those journalists weren't left sitting in an unprotected airplane somewhere. They were aboard Air Force One, one of the most sophisticated and protected aircraft in the world.
[15:06]
Paul Moss
Paul Eclof and we go from one flight story to another. This one involving what should have been a routine plane trip between the Canadian cities of Victoria and Toronto. But that wasn't how it worked out. Our reporter in Seattle, Max Matzer, told us more about what happened and why the flight was cancelled.
[15:24]
Max Matzer
This was a Porter Airlines flight. Their statement says that a young child was standing in their seat and would not secure their seatbelt. Attempts by the accompanying parent and crew to address this were unsuccessful. Aircraft could not take off in this unsafe condition, so the crew decided to turn around and actually cancel the flight. Because at that point it was after midnight and the Runway was about to close. So all of those passengers had to depart the plane and stay in hotels or go back home and come back to the airport the following day. Just this summer, there's been three viral Reddit posts about really similar circumstances, except in those cases the flights were only delayed. In this case, the flight was actually canceled, but that's because it got so late in the day and after the passengers had to be removed from the plane, at that point it had gotten too late. So this seems to be the only case that I could find of a flight actually being canceled because of a toddler refusing to sit. Mostly it's airline policy, according to the experts I talked to, that kids under 2 sit on their parents laps. The kid is not strapped in. It's not only a danger to the child, but it's also a danger to other passengers because that kid, who is not restrained in the event of turbulence or any other kind of incident, they could become a projectile that bashes into other people on the plane. Same reason why you have to secure your luggage for takeoff and departure. This expert I was talking to, she's adamant that no child should be unrestrained on a plane, that it's very unsafe. In her opinion, anyone under 7 years old should be in a car seat. If you use a car seat when you're in a car, you should use the same car seat when you're on a plane.
[17:00]
Paul Moss
Max Matzah still to come in this podcast.
[17:05]
Lady Luck / Jan Dodds
The ones outside the Coliseum, they're 12 meters, so you're kind of throwing it a lot closer to the target. What we call the house how the
[17:14]
Paul Moss
winter sport of curling is wowing fans in hot, sunny Rome.
[17:27]
Podcast Host/Announcer
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[17:57]
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[18:11]
Alex Brandon
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[18:16]
Paul Moss
Oh no.
[18:17]
Alex Brandon
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[18:44]
Lady Luck / Jan Dodds
Hey guys, lady Luck here.
[18:46]
Podcast Host/Announcer
Are you going on any road trips this summer? I know I'm going to be going
[18:49]
Lady Luck / Jan Dodds
on a bunch of road trips and
[18:51]
Podcast Host/Announcer
being that I'm going to be Passenger Princess, I Love playing on Spinquest.com Spinquest
[18:57]
Paul Moss
has all of my favorite slot games.
[18:59]
Podcast Host/Announcer
Live Blackjack, live craps. Head over to Spinquest right now and get yourself a 30 coin pack for just 10 bucks.
[19:07]
Alex Brandon
Spinquest is a free to play social casino. Visit spinquest.com for more details.
[19:19]
Paul Moss
This is the global News podcast He was found guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity as Syria's ousted dictator Bashar Al Assad has been sentenced to death for these offenses committed during Syria's brutal civil war, which cost about half a million lives. It's the first conviction against Assad, who fled with his family to Russia after his regime was overthrown in 2024 and who remains there but in court for the verdict was his cousin who was also sentenced to death. Atif Najib was the head of political security in southern Syria's Derar province. Outside the courthouse, people chanted and celebrated the verdict. Celia Hatton got more reaction from Haber Offman, Damascus correspondent for the BBC's Arabic service.
[20:06]
Celia Hatton
I was outside the palace of justice in Damascus when the court issued a death sentence against of former Syrian regime, among them Bashar Al Assad and Maher Al Assad and Adif Najib, the material cousin of Charles Assad and the former head of the political Security branch in governorate outside the palace of justice in Damascus. I noticed a kind of joy and happiness among number of victims families who gathered to celebrate their verdicts. While some families were holding pictures of victims who died at the hands of the Security Branch personnel in Daraa governorate, the families of victims commented on the ruling as a new victory for the Syrian revolution and as a victory for the transitional justice here in Syria.
[20:59]
Podcast Host/Announcer
Heybar in the crowd was Nayef Abizaid who was detained by the Assad regime in 2011. He gave his reaction to the verdict.
[21:10]
Paul Moss
I was detained by the Assad regime. They took me from my school when I was 13 years old. Thank God Assad fell and his cousin Ataf Najib will be executed and God willing, it will be Bashar Al Assad's turn to be executed.
[21:28]
Podcast Host/Announcer
Heybar Bashar Al Assad fled to Russia in 2024. How will these sentences, the sentence against him and also his younger brother be implemented?
[21:39]
Celia Hatton
The court also issued an absentia death sentence against Bashar Al Assad and his brother on charges related to committing war crimes and the crimes against humanity. But I think this is something symbolic. I don't think that Moscow will hand over Bashar Al Assad to the new Syrian government. So this is something symbolic. They will only charge Atif Najib right now.
[22:04]
Podcast Host/Announcer
Should we expect more sentences to be handed out?
[22:08]
Celia Hatton
A death of sentence against Artif Najib and Bashar Al Assad and Mahal Assad and many people from the last Syrian regime. It's enough to ensure the stability in whole Syria during this month. Also the fourth court here in Damascus. They will continue the trial of Ahmed Hassoon, the last mufti of Syria. Also Wassim al Assad, the cousin of Bashar al Assad, the last Syrian president. So they will continue the charges against many of last former regime in this month.
[22:44]
Paul Moss
Heybar othman from the BBC's Arabic service in the Syrian capital, Damascus. New court documents show Donald Trump has amended his legal case against the BBC. The president is suing the corporation for $10 billion over a documentary which sliced together two parts of a speech he made on the day of the Capitol hill riots in 2021. Mr. Trump's amended lawsuit now focuses on the harm he claims he suffered personally. As our media editor Katie Razzle explains,
[23:14]
Podcast Host/Announcer
the Panorama programme was, according to this latest court filing, a brazen attempt to influence the outcome of the 2024 election. And the BBC caused overwhelming reputational harm to the president personally, it says. But his legal team has removed claims made in previous documents that his business and professional interests have also suffered direct harm. The BBC had sought access to Mr. Trump's financial records. It argued it needed evidence that his businesses and brands had suffered. But his team pushed back, saying disclosure would cause him harm. Now the president's team has removed that element of his case. Mr. Trump is still suing the BBC for at least $10 billion. The document suggests it's reasonably certain the program could have been viewed in Florida, where the president is bringing his case. The BBC has apologized for an editing error that it says gave the mistaken impression that President Trump had made a call for violent action. But it has previously said the programme didn't meet the legal criteria for defamation and wasn't made available on US Platforms. The next stage is for the BBC to respond to Donald Trump's latest legal filing, with the case due to come to court in February.
[24:29]
Paul Moss
Katie Razzle it's one of the more marked legacies of the COVID pandemic, people who were forced to work from home deciding they actually rather like avoiding the daily commute and have continued to stay away from the office. But that's left many offices partially or maybe largely empty. So what to do with all the unused space? Our reporter John Laurenson has been investigating.
[24:53]
John Laurenson
I'm standing in the middle of Europe's biggest business district, La Defense, just west of Paris. I'm here with Pierre Yves Guise, the head of Paris La Defense, the public company that runs the this district.
[25:06]
Paul Moss
The vacancy rate is around 1415% at the moment. Around 400,000 square meters of existing offices might have to be transformed in the next five to ten years into mostly housing, but also higher education facilities or entertainment facilities, shops, restaurants.
[25:24]
Palab Ghosh
So here you are in the office
[25:25]
Paul Moss
and there are desks and screens. Tomorrow you are in an apartment.
[25:30]
John Laurenson
Roland Cuban, deputy CEO of the Groupama real estate management company, shows me round La Tour diamond, the Diamond Tower, which has office space for 1,800 workers. He doesn't want it to disappear exactly, but he does want to convert it.
[25:48]
Paul Moss
Here there will be two bedrooms.
[25:50]
John Laurenson
One of the challenges when you're converting office blocks into flats is the width of the buildings. Generally they're much wider than residential ones, so you have a lot of windowless space in the middle that it's difficult to know what to do with.
[26:04]
Paul Moss
There won't be any rooms there, it's only the access.
[26:07]
John Laurenson
But even for the most suitable buildings, Roland Cuban says office to housing conversions are not going to happen at scale in France unless the authorities remove some obstacles.
[26:22]
Paul Moss
At the moment, as soon as you transform a building in a way that changes its function, it is classed not as an old building that been changed,
[26:30]
but as a new building.
[26:32]
With all the regulatory demands that go with new buildings regarding car parking spaces, wheelchair access, fire safety and so on,
[26:41]
John Laurenson
is it economically viable to convert offices into housing? Ludovic Deles is CEO of the French arm of the Canadian real estate services company Colliers. Yes, but in most cases only on
[26:56]
Paul Moss
the condition that the building can be acquired at a low price. It's often a better proposition economically to build hotels or student accommodation because you can be certain of the demand for
[27:07]
John Laurenson
office conversions at scale. The best examples are in the United States, in New York and also Washington, D.C. they found it's generally easier to convert steel frame buildings than concrete ones, although the structural problems uncovered during the conversion of New York's former Pfizer headquarters are a reminder that such projects can involve significant engineering challenges.
[27:30]
Paul Moss
John Laurenson. The winter sport of curling is one of those which tends to capture people's attention with the distinctive sight of competitors frantically scrubbing at the ice to make sure the stone, as it's called, glides as close as possible to its target. Now, curling is obviously associated with colder climates, but would you believe it's become popular in Rome, Though only by replacing the ice with a surface more suited to a city where temperatures regularly reach the mid-30s. Jan Dodds is a British medal winning curler. She explained to Nick Eardley that Italy's newfound affection for the sport stems from the national team winning a medal of its own at the last Winter Olympics.
[28:12]
Lady Luck / Jan Dodds
Italy obviously Hosted the Olympics and they got a bronze medal in the mixed doubles and obviously winning the gold in Beijing as well. So they've had a lot of success. And I think with success it breeds interest in the game. Curling is quite a long sport, so you can dip in and out of it as well. And it's always on the tv. So it's been really good for the sport, I think.
[28:32]
Paul Moss
Tell me a bit about the actual
[28:34]
Palab Ghosh
practicalities, though, because this isn't ice, it's a synthetic surface.
[28:39]
Paul Moss
It looks a bit like it's not proper curling.
[28:42]
Palab Ghosh
It's almost throwing mini stones in the
[28:45]
Paul Moss
hope that they land in the right place.
[28:48]
Lady Luck / Jan Dodds
Yeah, it's, let's say, a shortened game. So the ones outside the Coliseum, they're 12 meters. So you're kind of throwing it a lot closer to the target, what we call the house. It probably does make it a lot easier, if you can imagine. If you're trying to throw a ball at something, it's a lot easier when it's closer to you than further away. But they don't have sweepers or anything like that because it's synthetic. The sweeping, I suspect, doesn't really do much. You still need to have the feel. You still need to throw it into the rings, to the closest to the center. But I would say on ice it's still harder because you've got so many other things to think about. Obviously you need to keep your balance. You've got the sweeping and that affects the line of the curl as well. So I would say on ice is a lot harder, but I think it gives a really good insight to what we do on ice. It's kind of a good beginner step and I feel it can get people more interested in curling as well. And it's more accessible. So it's a really good beginner step, I would say.
[29:46]
Paul Moss
Jan Dodds, a career orientated woman from a big US city, visits a small hometown over Christmas and falls in love with a ruggedly handsome yet sensitive guy. That is the kind of tried and tested formula for Hallmark's TV movies, which have charmed audiences over the years. The American channel is celebrating its 25th anniversary. Here's a look back at some of its classic moments.
[30:11]
Podcast Host/Announcer
You were there for all those crazy early Christmases and you've been there ever since.
[30:18]
Paul Moss
And I always will be.
[30:20]
Alex Brandon
I'm going to show you that the story of the Christmas hat isn't over. It's kind of different ending.
[30:24]
Podcast Host/Announcer
I used to dream about a moment like this. You even asked for one, just like it for Christmas.
[30:30]
Paul Moss
Rule number 56, never let a mistletoe moment go to waste.
[30:35]
Podcast Host/Announcer
Stick with me, kid. I'll show you around.
[30:37]
Alex Brandon
Well, I'm planning on it.
[30:39]
Podcast Host/Announcer
Merry Christmas, Jack.
[30:40]
Paul Moss
Oh, Merry Christmas, Lucy.
[30:42]
Merry Christmas, Lucy. Happy ever after. Endings all round. But with such predictable conclusions, what explains Hallmark movies enduring appeal? Siobhan Sinnett is a film and television critic. She thinks she knows the answer.
[30:56]
Siobhan Sinnett
When modern life seems loud, chaotic, overloaded, I think people crave something soft, predictable and emotionally safe. In the Hallmark films, you know, there's not going to be any jump scares, there's not going to be any maniacs in In a Cupboard. There's no bleak twists, there's no existential dread. It's just gentle romance, small town charm and somebody trying to save a bakery. To be fair to Hallmark, they have evolved. And part of that evolution has been pushed on by streaming services. Hallmark's looked at Netflix and Prime Video and Disney, crowding out particularly the holiday space, and said, right, we're not competing on size, but we are competing on comfort. So there has been a strategic shift in Hallmark towards better cinematography, more polished sets, stronger casting, bigger location shoots. These films may still feel cozy, but they look less like they were shot in somebody's redecorated gift shop. And, and the storylines have also changed. I mean, yes, there is a lot of the templates are big city girl returning home or a royal romance with a prince in disguise. But we also see more LGBTQ storylines. We see more, more diversity in the storylines, you know, both racially and in terms of religion. I mean, it's definitely afternoon viewing, but they are, I think, more self aware now. In a world of endless choice, Hallmark strategy still works. Gives people something warm, gives people something familiar, gives people something that's easy to love.
[32:26]
Paul Moss
Siobhan Sinnot. That's all from us for now. If you want to get in touch, you can email us@globalpodcastbc.co.uk. that is exactly what John Hammar from Shediac in New Brunswick, Canada did, describing the Global News podcast as decisive, to the point, short and sweet. And his go to News Channel for the truth on world matters. John, thank you very much. You can also find us on X at BBC World Service. Use the hashtag globalnewspod. And don't forget our sister podcast, the Global Story, which goes in depth and beyond the headlines on one big story. This edition of the Global News podcast was mixed by Zabihulla Kourosh and the producer was Emma Joseph. The editor is Karen Martin. I'm Paul Moss. Until next time. Goodbye.
[33:25]
Podcast Host/Announcer
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