Hundreds, possibly thousands, feared dead in Mayotte cyclone

Summary

Global News Podcast Summary

Episode: Hundreds, Possibly Thousands, Feared Dead in Mayotte Cyclone
Release Date: December 16, 2024
Host: Alex Ritson, BBC World Service

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1. Cyclone Chedo Devastates Mayotte

In the early hours of December 16, Cyclone Chedo unleashed unprecedented destruction on Mayotte, a French overseas territory in the Indian Ocean. Initially, reports indicated four fatalities, but authorities now warn that the death toll could escalate to the hundreds or even thousands.

Impact on Mayotte:

• Destruction: Homes, boats, schools, and the capital’s hospital were obliterated.
• Survivor Struggles: Residents in Mamoudzou face shortages of food and water.

“We've got nothing left. The wind's taken it all away.” (03:06)

UNICEF Concerns: Guy Taylor, UNICEF spokesperson in Mozambique, highlighted the immediate and long-term repercussions:

“Children potentially being cut off from learning for weeks on end, people unable to get access to healthcare...” (04:13)

Relief Efforts: Richard Kagoi, BBC correspondent in Nairobi, detailed the ongoing rescue operations:

“About 100,000 of them don't even have a shelter... Access to clean drinking water, food, medicine, this is really going to be a major challenge going forward.” (05:17)

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2. Cyclone Chedo Hits Mozambique

Cyclone Chedo continued its destructive path, making landfall in northern Mozambique. Reports from Cabo Delgado indicate significant damage to homes, hospitals, and schools in Pemba City. The cyclone's movement towards Nampula Province and potentially southern Malawi raises concerns about further devastation.

“We're trying to get the bare minimum to live on because we don't know when the water will come back.” (05:11)

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3. Israeli Settlements and Syria Tensions

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans to expand Israeli settlements in the Golan Heights, a move criticized by former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

Netanyahu’s Stance:

• Defense: Claims expansion is essential for bolstering Israel’s northeastern defenses amid Syria's instability.

“We are committed to preventing the rearming of Hezbollah as well.” (07:56)

Olmert’s Opposition:

• Critique: Questions the necessity of settlement expansion, emphasizing existing challenges.

“I don't see any reason to do it... We have enough problems to deal with.” (08:06)

UN’s Position: UN envoy Gir Pedishun urges the swift removal of sanctions to aid Syria’s economic recovery, promoting justice over revenge.

“I think we need, as I said, an orderly process.” (09:47)

Syria’s Perspective: Sally Nabil, BBC correspondent in Damascus, reports on the local impact of sanctions and the potential conditions for lifting them:

“It's as if it's shackling the economy... A lot of people are suffering.” (10:32)

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4. Maasai Olympics: A Conservation Success

In East Africa, the Maasai community has transitioned from traditional lion hunting to celebrating their youth’s athleticism through the Maasai Olympics. This biannual event not only preserves cultural heritage but also aids in lion conservation.

Cultural Shift:

• Traditional Practices: Historically, lion hunting was a rite of passage.
• Modern Transition: Introduction of athletic events like running races and javelin throwing.

“This is a tribute to the idumu, a jumping dance often performed during the initiation of young Maasai men into adulthood.” (14:29)

Empowering Women: The inclusion of female athletes has empowered Maasai women, challenging traditional gender roles.

“After notice their talent, they'll go to work hard for it and it will help them.” (15:08)

Conservation Outcome: Lion populations have rebounded, with current numbers at 250 in the greater Amboseli region.

“The Games have emerged as a powerful alternative to ritualized lion hunting...” (15:31)

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5. Unexplained Drone Sightings in the United States

A surge in drone sightings across New Jersey and other northeastern states has raised security concerns. While two individuals were arrested near Boston’s Logan Airport, authorities suspect a broader, unexplained phenomenon.

Arrests and Investigations: Rowan Bridge, BBC correspondent in Washington, details the arrests of Robert Duffy and Jeremy Falcic for drone-related offenses near the airport.

“Flying a drone in restricted airspace is an offense and clearly that is extremely dangerous.” (17:12)

FBI’s Response: The FBI received over 5,000 tips, with fewer than 100 deemed actionable. Officials advise against panic, noting the lack of evidence linking the drones to national security threats.

“Nobody is suggesting that these drones aren't out there and it's not clear who is behind them and what are they doing.” (18:20)

Public Perception: Conspiracy theories have flourished on social media, but authorities emphasize a rational investigation approach.

“The authorities are trying to balance... a responsible approach of trying to find out what is behind these things.” (19:05)

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6. Bali Nine Prisoners Released After Nearly Two Decades

The five remaining members of the Bali Nine, Australian nationals convicted of drug trafficking in Indonesia, have been released and returned home after nearly 20 years in prison.

Background:

• Arrest: In 2005, the Bali Nine were arrested for attempting to smuggle 8kg of heroin.
• Sentences: Included executions and life imprisonment for severe drug offenses.

“Australia thanked Indonesia for allowing them to return home on humanitarian grounds.” (20:38)

Current Status: The five men served life sentences, while others faced execution or had their sentences commuted.

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7. Harrowing Stories of Women in Iran’s Evin Prison

The BBC has uncovered the brutal realities faced by women in Iran’s Evin prison following the 2022 Women Life Freedom Movement protests. Despite facing torture, threats, and overcrowded conditions, the inmates continue to resist and protest for their rights.

Personal Accounts:

• Naseem: A hairdresser turned protester, endured solitary confinement and abuse.

  “I'm interrogated 10 to 12 hours every day... Men molest you here and no one cares.” (23:05)

• Vida: A journalist who uses painting as a coping mechanism amidst severe restrictions.

  “I painted crumbling bricks and a beautiful forest beyond... They sprayed over the painting at night.” (24:19)

Ongoing Protests: Inmates organize weekly demonstrations, hunger strikes, and artistic expressions to maintain their fight for freedom and rights.

“We joke, saying, why bother dyeing your hair anymore? You're going to be executed.” (25:04)

International Response: Despite the prisoners’ resilience, the Iranian government denies any human rights violations, claiming compliance with necessary standards.

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8. The World's Largest Iceberg A23A Begins Its Journey

Iceberg A23A, the largest known iceberg measuring twice the size of Greater London, has resumed its northward drift after being trapped in a Southern Ocean vortex for over a year.

Iceberg Details:

• Origin: Broke off from the Ronny Eyeshof iceberg in the Weddell Sea in 1986.
• Movement: Released from the Taylor Column vortex in April and now heading towards South Georgia Island.

“They have to go a lot further and expend a lot more energy, which is typically bad news for their pups and chicks ashore.” (28:19)

Environmental Impact: While not directly a climate change story, the increased rate of iceberg calving aligns with broader environmental shifts.

“The rate at which we see [icebergs] is definitely going up.” (27:40)

Wildlife Concerns: The iceberg poses potential threats to marine life, including penguins and seals on South Georgia Island, by disrupting their natural migration and feeding patterns.

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Conclusion

This episode of the Global News Podcast by BBC World Service provides a comprehensive overview of critical global events, from natural disasters and geopolitical tensions to conservation successes and human rights struggles. Through vivid reporting and poignant personal accounts, listeners gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and resilience exhibited worldwide.

For more insights and updates, listeners are encouraged to engage with the podcast via email at globalpodcastbc or follow them on X.

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This summary was compiled based on the transcript provided and structured to highlight key discussions, insights, and conclusions from the podcast episode.

Transcript

[Alex Ritson]

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the uk.

[Graham Isidore]

My name is Graham Isidore. I have a progressive eye disease called Keratoconus. Admitting I'm losing my vision has been hard, but explaining it to other people has been harder. Lately, I've been trying to talk about it. Short Sighted is an attempt to explain what vision loss feels like by exploring how it sounds. By sharing my story, we get into all the things you don't see about hidden disabilities. Shortsighted from cbc Personally available now.

[Celia Hatton]

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[Alex Ritson]

This is the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Alex Ritson and in the early hours of Monday 16th December, these are our main stories. Hundreds, possibly as many as a few thousand people are feared dead in cyclone hit Mayotte where survivors say they're facing drastic conditions. The UN envoy for Syria has called for a swift end to sanctions. On his first visit to Damascus since the rebel takeover, a former Israeli prime minister says Benjamin Netanyahu's plans to expand settlements in the occupied Golan Heights are an unnecessary confrontation with post Assad Syria. Also in this podcast, I'm interrogated 10 to 12 hours every day. The jailer would knock on the cell door and say, do you hear that? They're beating them. Be ready.

[Unknown]

You're next.

[Alex Ritson]

Men molest you here and no one cares. The previously unheard stories of women inside Iran's notorious Evin prison. Let's begin in the French overseas territory of Mayotte, just a tiny collection of dots in the Indian Ocean between Madagascar and Mozambique. It's home to around 300,000 people who've just endured one of the worst storms on the archipelago in nearly 100 years. In our earlier podcast, we quoted French media reports from soon after the cyclone made landfall on Saturday stating that four people had been found dead. Now, as we record this podcast, authorities in Mayotte are warning that the death toll from Cyclone Chedo will be in the hundreds, if not the thousands. The storm spared no one and nothing. Homes, boats and schools were all destroyed, even the capital's hospital. These people in the main city of Mamudzu were queuing for Food and water.

[Celia Hatton]

We've come to get something to eat.

[Alex Ritson]

For the kids, for us adults, for everything. We've got nothing left. The wind's taken it all away. We had stocked up but the wind took it all away. We've had no water for three days now. We're trying to get the bare minimum to live on because we don't know when the water will come back. Chido then moved on to hit northern Mozambique with videos on social media showing flooding and uprooted trees near the port city of Pemba. The UNICEF spokesperson in Mozambique, Guy Taylor, is there. UNICEF is concerned about the immediate impacts of this cyclone. The loss of life, the damage to schools, to people's homes, to healthcare facilities. We're also worried about the longer term impacts. Children potentially being cut off from learning for weeks on end, people unable to get access to healthcare, and the potential spread of water borne diseases like cholera and malaria. Getting hold of anyone on Mayotte is proving almost impossible. Phone lines and the Internet are down. The BBC's Richard Kagoi, who's in Nairobi, has been piecing together what's happened.

[Richard Kagoi]

What we're hearing right now is that emergency responders are currently trying to reach most places, trying to clear so then they can be able to access much of the debris which has covered warehouse that majority of the people in the island once lived.

[Alex Ritson]

What is the latest on the relief operation?

[Richard Kagoi]

So far we have 110 French soldiers who had been deployed just before the cyclone struck. And today the first aircraft are carrying aid, specifically medical supplies, blood for transfusions and 17 medical staff. Touchdown in the airport which was significantly damaged. We're expecting two more aircrafts to come as well. And when the French interior minister will be traveling to the island, he'll be coming along with 160 other soldiers plus firefighters who are now going to assist with rescue and clearing operations.

[Alex Ritson]

And presumably we're going to have big problems going forward with just basic things like food and medicine.

[Richard Kagoi]

Yeah, it is a very poor island. In fact, actually it's the poorest of all the French territories. What's happened right now is because of the devastation, the destruction that has been caused, you'd have lots of people who have been displaced. About 300,000 people lived in this island, so preliminary estimates are put it at about 100,000 of them don't even have a shelter. So first of all, access to clean drinking water, which was a huge challenge even before the cyclone, having access to food, to medicine, this is really going to be a major challenge going forward.

[Alex Ritson]

And Richard Chido has now made landfall in Mozambique. What word are we getting about its impact there?

[Richard Kagoi]

Yes, so far the reports that I have from Cabo Delgado where the cyclone landed, is that homes, especially within several neighborhoods in Pemba City, have been damaged. Hospitals and schools as well. We can't quite ascertain the extent of the damage because even communication has been cut off as well as electricity. And the storm has moved inward now to Nampula Province. And there's a possibility that despite the fact that it's going to weaken, might reach even the southern tips of Malawi. So that's basically the situation at the moment in Mozambique.

[Alex Ritson]

Richard Kagoe Israel has said it plans to expand its settlements on the Golan Heights, which it captured from Syria in 1967. The Israeli occupation is considered illegal under international law. It's currently home to about 20,000 Israeli settlers, as well as a similar number of Syrians, mostly Druze Arabs. Announcing the new plans, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the aim was to double the population. Since the fall of the Assad regime, Israeli forces have already moved further into Syria beyond the the UN monitored buffer zone. The UN says that's a clear violation of Syria's sovereignty. They've also carried out hundreds of airstrikes on military targets linked to the old regime. Here's Mr. Netanyahu speaking earlier.

[Celia Hatton]

We have no interest in confronting Syria. We will determine Israel's policy towards Syria according to the emerging reality on the ground. I remind you that for decades Syria was an active enemy state to Israel. It attacked us again and again. It allowed others to attack us from its territory. It allowed Iran to arm Hezbollah through its territory. However, I would like to both clarify and warn.

[Alex Ritson]

We are committed to preventing the rearming.

[Celia Hatton]

Of Hezbollah as well.

[Alex Ritson]

The expansion of settlements in the Golan Heights is a move which is firmly opposed by the former Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert.

[Ehud Olmert]

I don't see any reason to do it. Prime Minister said that we are not interested in expanding the confrontation with Syria and we hope that we will not need to fight against the new rebels that presently are taking over Syria. So why do we do precisely the opposite? I mean, I don't see any reason. We have enough problems to deal with. He has to stop the war in Gaza immediately. We have to try and bring back the Israeli hostages from Gaza and we don't need any unnecessary confrontations with a new regime in Syria, particularly after they announced that they are not interested in confronting us. So if they are not interested in confronting us, why do we have to do something which may cause the opposite.

[Alex Ritson]

The government says it's about shoring up Israel's defenses along its northeastern border while the situation is so fluid in Syria. I mean, do you accept that at all?

[Ehud Olmert]

I don't think that expanding the Israeli settlements in the Golan Heights has to do with security at all. There is a problem. We don't know yet precisely who these new guys are and what are their objectives and what are they going to do? Are they going to continue their belligerency against the State of Israel or not? Syria has not been friendly to us. We did have problems with Syria and border problems, but as of late, I think we didn't need to fight in Syria, and I hope that we will not have to do it with the new regime. And I don't see any contribution to security by building Israeli, new Israeli settlements.

[Alex Ritson]

Ehud Olmert speaking to James Menendez on his first visit to Damascus since the toppling of the Assad regime. The UN envoy for Syria, Gir Pedishun, has called for a swift end to sanctions to help the country's economy recover. Mr. Paderson also urged justice, not revenge. I think we need, as I said, an orderly process. And I'm very much looking forward to continue my discussions with the Syrian, the K government and the authorities are. I and my team and the UN family. We have been contacted by a wide range of Syrians. Our correspondent, Sally Nabil, is in Damascus. She told me how ordinary Syrians are affected by the sanctions.

[Sally Nabil]

It's as if it's shackling the economy. So a lot of people are hoping that at some point in the near future, Syria will come out of this international isolation. I was visiting a very old market here in Damascus, talking to a shopkeeper who owns a shop for musical instruments. And he said that before the war broke out, he used to have customers queuing up in front of his store. Now he barely makes $10 a day because of the international sanctions. He can't make any bank transfers, he can't import any material. So a lot of people are suffering.

[Alex Ritson]

In fact, there is talk, Sally, of lifting sanctions, but what conditions are going to have to be met for that and also for HTS to no longer be on the list of terrorist organizations?

[Sally Nabil]

Yeah, I believe they both go hand in hand. They have to prove that they can adopt a comprehensive political process. And the question is, will they be able or willing to do that? HTS used to be part of Jabhat al Nusra and part of Al Qaeda, an extremist movement, and they broke away from them years ago and now they are trying to prove that they are adopting a new approach. Will they be able to go as far as forming a comprehensive government that represents all Syrians? That's the big question.

[Alex Ritson]

Now. They're making the right noises though, aren't they? And the leader of HTS expressed that he's in no mood for further confrontation.

[Sally Nabil]

He said that we will follow diplomacy, we are not up to more military confrontations. And he was referring to Israel and somehow Iran when he was talking about that. He criticized the Israeli continuous airstrikes on Damascus and various parts of the Syrian territory. And he said this is totally unacceptable and that the international community has to step and resolve this issue. As for Iran, he said that we are on good terms with the Iranian people. But he did not talk about the Iranian political elite who were one of the biggest backers of the former president Bashar Al Assad. So far he's been adopting a reconciliatory tone when it comes to politics, when it comes to how he treats the minorities. But how long this is going to last, whether or not this, these words will be materialized into actions, that's the big question.

[Alex Ritson]

Salih Nabil for conservationists in East Africa, protecting the region's lion population remains a constant challenge. Traditional practices like lion hunting among communities such as the Maasai have historically contributed to the problem. But change is underway. Every two years, in the shadow of Mount Kilimanjaro, the Maasai celebrate their warrior like athleticism with their own Olympic Games. Ella Bicknell reports.

[Celia Hatton]

For the Maasai people, lions aren't just majestic animals, they're like them, strong, brave, strategic and formidable. In the past, to kill a lion was the ultimate display of maturity and widely celebrated. But by the early 2000s, when the Amboseli lion population dropped to fewer than 20, it became clear that this cultural rite of passage was no longer sustainable. The Maasai needed a new way to celebrate the athleticism of their youth. And with the Big Life foundation, they started the Maasai Olympics, a biannual sporting event bringing together hundreds of their best athletes. The Games include traditional hunting skills like throwing rungus, wooden clubs traditionally used by the community for defence against an attacking lion. There are also running races and javelin throwing, and of course, the high jump. This is a tribute to the idumu, a jumping dance often performed during the initiation of young Maasai men into adulthood. One of this year's competitors, Stephen Masinde, who won the 5,000 meter contest.

[Alex Ritson]

It's important for me because everyone is Looking to come here and compete. When they see others running, they want.

[Unknown]

To come to Kring.

[Alex Ritson]

Yeah, they become champions.

[Celia Hatton]

This year a quarter of participants are female. Samuel Kanke is the game's chief coordinator. He says their inclusion is paramount.

[Richard Kagoi]

They are Maasai warriors. Most of the time when they kill lions, they have to bring back to home to make sure they dance to attract girlfriends. So we need also Gulf to participate in this. So we started to include them with two events, 100 meters and 1500 meters.

[Celia Hatton]

And one of this year's female competitors was 19 year old Valentine Nysemoy.

[Richard Kagoi]

Most of the ladies, they find themselves.

[Alex Ritson]

That they are just there to be married, bring cows to the family being more dowry. But some events like this are enjoyable because the girls will notice their talent.

[Richard Kagoi]

After notice their talent, they'll go to.

[Alex Ritson]

Work hard for it and it will help them.

[Celia Hatton]

The Games have emerged as a powerful alternative to ritualized lion hunting, offering the Maasai a way to celebrate their cultural heritage and athletic prowess without endangering the local wildlife. And 12 years on since the first games, the line population is stronger than ever. 250 now prowl the greater Amboseli Ella Bicknell.

[Andrew Myers]

Still to come, it will head north eastwards and on the way it will encounter the beautiful island of South Georgia on which there's many millions of penguins and seals. It does pose a potential threat to them.

[Alex Ritson]

Twice the size of Greater London, the world's biggest iceberg is on the move again.

[Graham Isidore]

My name is Graham Isidore. I have a progressive eye disease called Keratoconus. Admitting I'm losing my vision has been hard, but explaining it to other people has been harder. Lately I've been trying to talk about it. Short sighted is an attempt to explain what vision loss feels like by exploring how it sounds. By sharing my story, we get into all the things you don't see about hidden disabilities. Short sighted from CBC's Personally Available. Now.

[Alex Ritson]

Mystery continues to swirl after nearly a month of unexplained drone sightings over New Jersey and other US states, alarming some residents. But now a potential development. Two people have been arrested for flying drones near Boston's Logan Airport. I heard more from our Washington correspondent Rowan Bridge.

[Rowan Bridge]

So this is 42 year old Robert Duffy and 32 year old Jeremy Falcic who were arrested by Boston police after Boston police detected what they called a device dangerously close to Boston airport. Effectively, they were then arrested on a nearby island. Boston's got a sort of bunch of islands that are just off its coast. They were arrested on one of those. And police found a drone in a backpack carried by Robert Duffy, one of those two men. They are due to appear in court on charges of trespassing, but police say they might face further charges because flying a drone in restricted airspace is an offence and clearly that is extremely dangerous. You know, if it hits an aircraft, that can cause significant problems, or a helicopter, or equally just causing pilots to have to veer off course, that can cause problems in itself. So their activities, if they were indeed flying a drone near an airport, could be extremely serious. But I think it's unlikely that those are linked to the broader issue that we're talking about, about drones that have been spotted around the northeast of the United States.

[Alex Ritson]

Yeah, because you say that their drone in a backpack, but the other drones that we're talking about, some of them seemingly in whole fleets, some of them are described as being the size of small cars.

[Rowan Bridge]

Yeah, I mean, it's interesting the FBI set up a tip line because there were so many calls coming into the emergency services about these things. You know, I was reading a briefing that was given by the FBI. They said they'd had 5,000 calls into their tip line, 5,000 leads that they received. Of those, less than 100 they said have been actionable. And someone said, you know, do you think panic is set in here? And the FBI person said, I think there's been a slight overreaction. You know, if you talk to the White House, they say they've no evidence that these drones pose any sort of national security or public safety threat, nor indeed that they're work of any sort of foreign malicious actor. Having said that, there is clearly something going on. Nobody is suggesting that these drones aren't out there and it's not clear who is behind them and what are they doing. But I think the fact that you've got those visuals also just makes a compelling visual story. And that means television gets interested in it, and that means it has really risen to the top of the political and media agenda.

[Alex Ritson]

Do people think the White House, the Pentagon, et cetera, really do know what's going on?

[Rowan Bridge]

Yeah, I mean, if you go out there onto social media and onto TikTok or Facebook, you will see plenty of people who will be full of conspiracy theories about what's going on here. You know, probably watch two many episodes of the X Files. Nobody I've seen seriously suggests that these are being done Run From Outer Space. But I think, you know, this story has developed a momentum of its own. It develops a sort of energy of its own. And so you can sort of see that the authorities are trying to balance here a responsible approach of trying to find out what is behind these things. Two of them have been spotted, confirmed by the Department of Defense near military installations. Having said all of that, the authorities are worried about this thing almost developing a sort of level of panic beyond what it really and at the one hand, they're trying to balance like a genuine and understandable level of concern with a risk that this thing is sort of developing a momentum where people are almost reaching panic levels around it. The sort of frenzy that has developed around the story.

[Alex Ritson]

Rowan Bridge the last five Australians convicted of drug offences in Indonesia as part of what became known as the Bali Nine have returned home after nearly 20 years in jail. Celia Hatton reports.

[Celia Hatton]

The Bali Nine were arrested in 2005 and were soon found guilty of attempting to smuggle 8kg of heroin from Indonesia's famous Holiday Island. The case attracted huge media attention to Indonesia's strict drug laws. The accused ringleaders were executed by firing squad in spite of Australia's pleas for clemency. One other man died of cancer in prison and the only woman had her sentence commuted several years ago. The remaining five men were serving life sentences. Australia thanked Indonesia for allowing them to return home on humanitarian grounds.

[Alex Ritson]

Celia Hatton the BBC has gained rare access to the unheard stories of women inside Iran's notorious Evin prison, including accounts of torture and threats of execution. Thousands of women in Iran were arrested after the Women Life freedom Movement in 2022. From multiple reliable sources, BBC 100 Women has built a detailed picture of life inside the prison walls, revealing the stories of women who continued to protest for their rights despite the risks. Golnoosh Golshani reports and a warning Some listeners may find some of what follows DIST.

[Unknown]

When nationwide protests broke out In Iran in 2022, Naseem's life changed. Until then, she had been working as a hairdresser. She loved rap music and makeup. But when 22 year old Mahsa Amini died in police custody, Nassim and her friends decided to take to the streets in protest against the compulsory hijab. Like thousands of other women, she was arrested. Nassim was taken to the notorious Evin prison, where around 70 women are currently held as political prisoners. The BBC has obtained rare accounts of their daily life. Their words are spoken by actresses. There's no sound here, no trees. And it just smells like poison, a.

[Alex Ritson]

Poison that doesn't kill insects.

[Unknown]

For four months, Nassim was kept in solitary confinement in a Tiny, windowless cell. She had no access to a lawyer, family or friends.

[Alex Ritson]

I'm interrogated 10 to 12 hours every day. The jailer would knock on the cell door and say, do you hear that? They're beating them. Be ready. You're next. Men molest you here and no one cares.

[Unknown]

Eventually, she was moved to an overcrowded wing with up to 20 women in one cell. Iranian authorities crushed the demonstrations, arresting tens of thousands of people and executing at least 10. But they couldn't break the spirit of the women in Evin prison. They've kept their protests alive. Every Tuesday, they hold demonstrations against executions, chanting in prison yard, refusing to move all night and staging hunger strikes. One of the inmates organizing the protests is Naigas Mohammadi, a human rights activist and a Nobel Peace Prize winner. The campaign has spread through jails across Iran, gaining international support.

[Alex Ritson]

I painted the corridor like the ocean. It was like falling deep under the sea.

[Unknown]

Vida was arrested for her work as a journalist. In prison, she keeps herself busy, painting on anything she can, from walls to bed sheets.

[Alex Ritson]

I painted crumbling bricks and a beautiful forest beyond. Nagis joked that she would run and jump into the painting, but always hit the wall instead.

[Rowan Bridge]

They sprayed over the painting at night.

[Unknown]

She also does portraits of the women here. One, which was smuggled out of Evin is of Kurdish activist Pahshan Aziz. She's been sentenced to death and there is great concern this may be carried out soon. Other women in prison are also facing execution. Vida says they often joke about it, trying to fight the dread with dark humor.

[Alex Ritson]

We joke, saying, why bother dyeing your hair anymore? You're going to be executed. We laugh because we don't want to believe it, but deep down we're afraid.

[Unknown]

More than 800 people were executed for various crimes in Iran last year, the highest number in eight years, according to Amnesty International. The harsh living conditions in prison and the difficulty accessing healthcare are having a lasting impact on many of the inmates. But the Iranian government denies allegations of human rights violations. It claims conditions inside Evin prison meet all necessary standards and that prisoners are not mistreated.

[Andrew Myers]

Hello.

[Unknown]

Vida went on hunger strike demanding medical treatment for Nagesta, who suffers from life threatening heart and lung conditions. Earlier this month, Nages was granted temporary release on medical grounds. As she's taken out of the ambulance on a stretcher, with her curly black hair uncovered and her fist raised in the air, she yells, freedom is our right.

[Alex Ritson]

That report by Golnoosh Golshani. It's 400 metres thick and larger than many countries and for most of the past year, it's been stuck in a vortex in the Southern Ocean. But now the world's biggest iceberg, known prosaically as A23A, is on the move again. So what might this mean and where might it head next? To find out, I talked to Andrew Myers of the British Antarctic survey.

[Andrew Myers]

This iceberg, A23, broke off from the Ronny Eyeshof. So that's the very southern point of the Weddell Sea, which is sort of at the very bottom part of the Atlantic. And it broke off back in 1986, but very quickly just got stuck until in 2020 when it broke loose and then started drifting northwards. We actually encountered it just as it was moving into the ocean that circles around Antarctica. It went north in what's called Iceberg Alley, where icebergs usually go to die. But then it encountered an unusual oceanographic feature called a Taylor Column. It's basically a SW wall of water that moves around and around over a subterranean mountain. And a 23 was stuck there since April this year, just going in circles. But just in the last two weeks, we've been monitoring it with satellites and it has broken loose and it's heading north again, out into the open ocean.

[Alex Ritson]

And because this isn't a climate change story, unusually for this kind of thing, why should we worry about this?

[Andrew Myers]

So it's not a climate change story per se?

[Alex Ritson]

No.

[Andrew Myers]

So icebergs breaking off from the Antarctic ice shelf is completely normal with what ice shelves do, they basically sl Antarctic continent until they encounter the ocean and then break off and float away. But what is relevant here is that this has been happening at a greater rate. So it's sort of like the wildfire stories. Wildfires are completely normal, but their rates at which they happen are increasing across the world. And it's the same with icebergs and iceberg carving. So you can't say any individual carving or any individual iceberg is climate change, but the rate at which we see them is definitely going up.

[Alex Ritson]

And does it pose a threat to people? I mean, I guess it's so big, ships are going to know where it is.

[Andrew Myers]

Yeah, it's about twice the size of Greater London, so it's the sort of thing you should be able to see coming. And the ocean around Antarctica is not massively populated, and the people who are there really know their business, so this shouldn't sneak up on anyone.

[Alex Ritson]

So what happens next? Where do you expect it to go? And assuming it does melt and go into the sea, does that in itself cause us a problem.

[Andrew Myers]

So I mentioned before, iceberg alley.

[Alex Ritson]

So.

[Andrew Myers]

So it's this sort of pathway that comes out of the Weddell Sea, sort of northwards across the Antarctic Circumpolar current, and that's the direction we figure that this iceberg will take. It will head north eastwards, sort of towards Africa, and on the way it will encounter the beautiful island of South Georgia on which there's many millions of penguins and seals. So it does pose a potential threat to them in that it may run aground near the island and basically get in their way. They have a very specific path they take from their breeding colonies on the beaches out into their feeding grounds. And having a huge iceberg in the way, I mean, they have to go a lot further and expend a lot more energy, which is typically bad news for their pups and chicks ashore.

[Alex Ritson]

Andrew Myers of the British Antarctic Survey. And that's all from us for now. But there'll be a new edition of the Global News Podcast later. If you want to comment on this podcast or the topics covered in it, you can send us an email. The address is globalpodcastbc. You can also find us on X at Global News Pod. This edition was mixed by Pat Sissons and the producer was Alison Davis. The editor is Karen Martin. I'm Alex Ritzen. Until next time. Goodbye.

[Graham Isidore]

My name is Graham Isidore. I have a progressive eye disease called Keratoconus and being I'm losing my vision has been hard, but explaining it to other people has been harder. Lately, I've been trying to talk about it. Short Sighted is an attempt to explain what vision loss feels like by exploring how it sounds. By sharing my story, we get into all the things you don't see about hidden disabilities. Short sighted from CBC's personally available now.