Israel strikes Lebanon as Hezbollah targets military

Summary

Global News Podcast Summary BBC World Service | Release Date: December 3, 2024

The December 3rd episode of the BBC World Service's Global News Podcast delves into a spectrum of pressing international issues, ranging from escalating conflicts in the Middle East to significant political developments in Europe and advancements in public health in Africa. Hosted by Nick Miles, the episode provides in-depth analysis, expert insights, and firsthand reports from correspondents around the globe.

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1. Israel Launches Airstrikes on Southern Lebanon in Response to Hezbollah Mortar Attack

Key Events: Israel initiated a series of airstrikes targeting southern Lebanon following Hezbollah's launch of two mortars at an Israeli army post in Lebanese territory. This marks the first attack by Hezbollah since a recent ceasefire was established.

Notable Developments:

• Ceasefire Fragility: John Donnaton, BBC's correspondent in Jerusalem, emphasized the precarious nature of the ceasefire, stating, "Given this ceasefire has only been in place for a matter of days, it's an indication of how fragile it is." (02:24)
• Political Repercussions within Israel: Far-right Minister Bezalel Smotrich has called for an end to the ceasefire, advocating for continued military operations against Hezbollah. Donnaton noted, "There are people within the government who think Israel should not have stepped back and should be continuing." (04:30)

International Reactions: Both the United States and France have echoed concerns regarding violations of the truce, highlighting the international community's apprehension about stability in the region.

2. Syria's Civil War Escalates as Rebels Seize Aleppo

Key Insights: The long-standing civil war in Syria sees renewed intensity as Syrian rebels capture the northern city of Aleppo in a swift offensive. This development underscores the ongoing volatility and the potential for wider regional destabilization.

Expert Analysis: Jeremy Bowen, BBC's international editor, discussed the implications of the escalation, noting, "The war in Syria has reignited. It could turn into a major escalation in the Middle East crisis." (05:23) He highlighted the challenges in diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions and the strain on Syria's allies, Russia and Iran.

HTS Offensive: Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group still designated as a terrorist organization by multiple international bodies, has made significant territorial gains. Mina Alami of BBC Monitoring observed HTS's attempts to rebrand as a nationalist movement, although skepticism remains regarding their long-term intentions.

3. France Faces Political Turmoil as Opposition Vows to Dismiss Barnier's Minority Government

Political Crisis: France's Prime Minister Michel Barnier faces imminent challenges as opposition parties from both the hard right and hard left prepare to vote no confidence in his minority government. This backlash follows Barnier's unilateral decision to pass a new Social Security budget without parliamentary approval.

Correspondent Report: Andrew Harding in Paris detailed the unfolding situation: "Marine Le Pen said her party would now vote to bring down the government, possibly as soon as Wednesday." (08:23) The move is seen as a response to France's significant budget deficit and disagreements over spending cuts.

Potential Outcomes: The no-confidence vote could precipitate Barnier's exit after just three months in office, plunging France into further political and economic uncertainty. Marine Le Pen's strategy appears aimed at consolidating power while deflecting blame onto President Emmanuel Macron.

4. Nigeria Commences Malaria Vaccination Campaign Amid High Mortality Rates

Public Health Advancement: In a landmark move, Nigeria has begun vaccinating its population against malaria using the R21/Matrix-M vaccine developed by Oxford University. This initiative targets the most vulnerable groups, including children aged five months to fifteen months in the hardest-hit states of Kebbi and Borno.

Reporter Insights: Will Ross, BBC's Africa regional editor, reported, "Nigeria received its first batch of over 800,000 doses of the vaccine in October." (10:02) He highlighted the vaccine as a significant breakthrough, although experts caution that it should complement existing malaria prevention methods rather than replace them.

Economic and Health Impact: With malaria accounting for nearly 200,000 deaths in Nigeria last year, the vaccination campaign is poised to address both the health crisis and its economic repercussions. The vaccine is priced affordably, at an estimated cost of $10 to $15 per person.

5. Rome City Council Implements Price Caps on Popular Pasta Dishes to Prevent Tourist Exploitation

Local Governance Measures: Rome's city council has introduced price limits on staple pasta dishes such as carbonara and amatriciana to curb the exploitation of tourists by overpriced restaurants. This initiative comes ahead of the city's anticipated influx of millions of visitors for the upcoming jubilee year.

Culinary Standards and Fair Pricing: Simon Dordet, owner of Osteria della Gensola in Rome, shared his perspective on traditional carbonara preparation, stating, "We just use eggs, the whole egg...guanciale, black pepper, and pecorino cheese. That's all." (01:20) He supports the price caps, advocating for honest pricing around €14 to €16 per dish to maintain culinary integrity and accessibility.

Tourism and Economic Balance: The policy aims to protect both tourists and local businesses from exploitative pricing practices, ensuring that Rome remains an attractive and fair destination for visitors seeking authentic Italian cuisine.

6. US President Joe Biden Defends Pardon of Son Hunter Biden Amid Political Fallout

Presidential Decision: President Joe Biden has issued a pardon for his son, Hunter Biden, over federal crimes, a move that has sparked significant controversy given Biden's prior assurances against such an action.

White House Defense: Biden's press secretary articulated the administration's stance, stating, "Mr. Biden wrestled with this decision." (15:17) She emphasized that Hunter had been unfairly targeted politically, suggesting the pardon was a corrective measure.

Political Reactions: Democratic Congress member Jasmine Crockett supported the pardon, arguing it rectifies what she describes as a "political prosecution." She asserted, "This is a father and a president that did what was right, not only by his son." (15:56) However, questions remain about the implications of perceived double standards and the timing of the pardon near the end of Biden's term.

7. Germany Reaffirms Support for Ukraine Amid Leadership Changes and Russian Tensions

International Relations: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy amidst uncertainties surrounding US military support for Ukraine as the Biden administration nears its end. Scholz reiterated Germany's commitment, stating, "I will not allow decisions to be made about Ukraine over the heads of Ukraine." (19:58)

Military Assistance: Germany remains Ukraine's largest European military supporter, providing approximately €28 billion in assistance, including air defense equipment. However, discussions about supplying Taurus missiles remain unresolved, as Scholz declined to commit during the meeting. Zelenskyy expressed a desire for European solidarity in these uncertain times.

Diplomatic Dynamics: The meeting underscored the strategic importance of Germany's continued support for Ukraine, especially with potential shifts in US policy under new administration leadership. Paul Adams, BBC's correspondent in Kyiv, highlighted the symbolic and practical significance of Germany's stance.

8. US Imposes Further Restrictions on Computer Chip Exports to China to Curb Military Advancements

Technological Sanctions: The United States announced enhanced restrictions on the export of advanced semiconductors to China, aiming to impede Beijing's military modernization efforts. These measures include controls on third-country exports and are part of the US's broader strategy to limit China's access to cutting-edge technology.

Reporter Analysis: Mickey Bristow explained, "These restrictions will make it harder for Chinese firms to develop artificial intelligence and target the tools used to make computer chips." (22:44) This move signifies a continued effort to stymie China's technological progression amidst escalating geopolitical tensions.

Economic Implications: China has been vigorously pursuing the development of its semiconductor industry in response to prolonged US technology restrictions. The new measures are likely to accelerate China's push for self-sufficiency in this critical sector.

9. Discovery of Massive Gold Deposit in Hunan, China Promises Future Economic Boost

Resource Discovery: A significant gold deposit has been uncovered in China's Hunan province, potentially the largest in the world with estimated reserves exceeding 1,000 tonnes at a depth of 2,000 meters. Valued at over $60 billion at current prices, this find could substantially impact global gold markets over the next decade.

Industry Expert Commentary: Rona O'Connell of Stonex noted, "It will take up to 10 years before that metal actually starts coming out of the ground." (23:03) The depth of the deposit presents challenges, making immediate extraction unlikely and positioning the discovery as a long-term asset for China's mining industry.

Market Impact: While the discovery is monumental, its effect on global gold supply will be gradual, contributing an estimated 3% increase to world mine production over a decade. The high extraction costs due to depth will likely limit short-term market fluctuations.

10. Games Workshop to Join FTSE 100 Amidst Soaring Success of Warhammer Brand

Corporate Milestone: British company Games Workshop, renowned for its Warhammer tabletop games, is set to enter the FTSE 100, marking its ascent to becoming one of the UK's most valuable public companies with a valuation exceeding £4.5 billion.

Founder Reflections: Sir Ian Livingstone, one of the company's founders, reminisced on its growth: "We ended up selling out in the early 90s, but standing now almost like proud parents watching this great British success story." (25:30)

Community and Commercial Success: Chris Valance highlighted the company's ability to foster a passionate community of gamers and collectors, which has been pivotal to its enduring success. The combination of hobbyist engagement and strategic retail practices has solidified Games Workshop's position in the market.

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Conclusion: This episode of the Global News Podcast provides a comprehensive overview of critical global events, blending on-the-ground reporting with expert analysis to inform listeners about the complexities shaping today's world. From the volatility in the Middle East and political upheavals in Europe to advancements in public health and significant economic developments, the podcast ensures a well-rounded understanding of current affairs.

Transcript

[Narrator]

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[Nick Miles]

This is the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Nick Miles and in the early hours of Tuesday 3rd December, these are our main stories. Israel has launched a wave of airstrikes on southern Lebanon after the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah fired two mortars at an Israeli army post in Lebanese territory. French opposition parties say they'll bring down Michel Barnier's minority government within days after he forced his Social Security budget through parliament without a vote. Nigeria, which accounts for a quarter of the world's malaria cases, has begun vaccinating people against the disease.

[Simon Dordet]

Also in this podcast, in the simplest way, we just use eggs, the whole egg. Then we use the guanciale, black pepper and pecorino cheese.

[Nick Miles]

That's all making the Italian classic carbonara. Now Rome City Council is calling for price limits for such favourites so tourists are not overcharged. Israel launched a wave of airstrikes on southern Lebanon on Monday evening, hours after the Lebanese militant group Hezbol fired two mortars at an Israeli army post in a part of Lebanon occupied by Israel. The attack was the first by the group since a ceasefire went into effect last week. Hezbollah said it was a warning to Israel for its repeated violations of the truce. The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, accused Hezbollah of what he called a grave violation of the deal. I heard more from John Donerson, our correspondent in Jerusalem.

[John Donnaton]

Given this ceasefire has only been in place for a matter of days, it's an indication of how fragile it is. Indeed, even if it is still in effect. So Israel says that two projectiles, as it put it, were fired towards one of its positions just across the border. They landed in open areas. It was about 5:00 local time, and Israel has said that it will respond with force. We've had the Defense Minister, Israel Katz, saying that Hezbollah will get a harsh response. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has just said something similar. Hezbollah, for its part, says that Israel had broken the ceasefire earlier today with the killing of two people in Lebanon. In Israeli air strikes and we've just had a note from the Israeli military saying that they are currently carrying out strikes inside Lebanon.

[Nick Miles]

Hezbollah says that Israel has constantly violated this ceasefire. It's not just them, is it? America and France are saying similar things.

[Narrator]

Yes.

[John Donnaton]

And I think, you know, there is concern and there was concern when this deal was put together that one of the things that was part of the deal was that Israel insisted that it had the right to carry out military operations if it thought they were necessary against Hezbollah. And it does seem that they are doing that. And given that that was part of the deal, it always seemed quite unlikely that it would be put under pressure pretty quickly. And it does seem that that's what's happening now.

[Nick Miles]

John, there were plenty of people in Israel, politicians who didn't want a ceasefire with Hezbollah in the first place. One imagines that their voices might become more prominent.

[John Donnaton]

That's right. We've had the far right Minister Bezalel Smotrich saying that the ceasefire should in effect end and that Israel should hit back hard against Hezbollah and continue the operation. So we've had these statements from the prime minister, from his ministers this evening who are close to him. But there are people within the government who think Israel should not have stepped back and should be continuing.

[Nick Miles]

John Donnaton, the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has called for concessions on all sides to end Syria's 13 year long civil war. That's after Syrian rebels seized the northern city of Aleppo in a lightning offensive last week. The Syrian military says its troops are fighting the rebels outside Hama. While Syrian and Russian warplanes have intensified airstrikes on rebel forces there and in Idlib and Aleppo provinces. This has slowed the rebels advance further south. Iran and Russia, Syria's main allies, have reassured President Bashar Al Assad of their support. The recent escalation of fighting in Syria could have wide reaching consequences for the whole region. With his view on the significance of the developments over recent days, here's our international editor, Jeremy Bowen.

[Narrator]

The war in Syria has reignited. It could turn into a major escalation in the Middle east crisis. Syria is at the center of the region's network of fault lines with strong links to neighboring countries and to the region's wars and via its ally Russia, to the war in Ukraine. Diplomats will struggle to find a way to de escalate what's happening. Years of war have already pulled in other powers. Turkey and the US have troops in Syria as well as Russia. A renewed Syrian war would also pour more fuel on the fire that is consuming the Middle East. President Assad only survived the first decade of the Syrian war because Russia, Iran and Lebanese Hezbollah intervened to save his regime. He will need his allies again, but they're all hard pressed elsewhere. Iran and Hezbollah have suffered serious damage in their war with Israel and Russia's straining all its military power in Ukraine. Assad is facing a coalition led by a group known as hts, short for Hayat Tahrir al Sham, which means the Organization for the Liberation of the Levant. Mina Alami, who follows jihadist media for BBC monitoring, has seen how HDS is trying to rebrand itself to make itself more attractive to Syrians. Repelled by religious extremism, cutting ties with Al Qaeda and presenting itself as a nationalist liberation movement. The separation with Al Qaeda seemed to be more than superficial and cosmetic. In the past year, they went strongly against Al Qaeda, against Hayas, imprisoned, killed some of their members. So they have been trying hard at least to give that impression that they have no lasting jihadist ambitions. But you know, they could be playing the long game to get support now, make political gains now and then, maybe at some point show their true colors. HTS is still regarded as a terrorist group by the UN Security Council, the us, Britain and the eu, among others. The HTS offensive has made sweeping gains, including the great prize of Aleppo. It will take a major effort by the weakened regime of Bashar Al Assad to destroy the offensive, but he's ruthless and has demonstrated in 13 years of war that he is prepared to break the country to save his regime.

[Nick Miles]

Jeremy Bowen Next to France and the country is facing a new political crisis as MPs prepare for a vote of no confidence in the minority government. The move is a reaction to the Prime Minister's decision on Monday to force through a new Social Security budget without the parliament's approval. Michel Barnier said he decided to use special constitutional powers to adopt the budget for the sake of stability. Parties on France's hard right and hard left now say they will vote to bring down the government later this week, a move which could see Mr. Barnier's exit from power after just three months. Our Paris correspondent Andrew Harding reports.

[Andrew Harding]

After days of increasingly tense haggling, France's Prime Minister Michel Barnier's patience finally snapped, telling Parliament here he would force through a new budget without a vote. MPs could either accept it or, he warned, risk pushing France into unknown territory. Moments later, Marine Le Pen, leader of what's now the country's biggest party, the Hard Right National Rally, made it clear that unknown territory was fine by her. Marine Le Pen said her party would now vote to bring down the government, possibly as soon as Wednesday. There are economic issues at play here. France has a huge budget deficit and there are disagreements about what spending to cut and when. But at heart, this is a political power struggle. This summer's surprise elections, called by President Emmanuel Macron, created an unworkable deadlock in Parliament. The hard right is now looking to flex its muscles. The hard left is also on the warpath. The question now is who will get the blame if the centrist government does fall and political and economic turmoil follow. Marine Le Pen is gambling that the French will blame President Macron. She wants his job, and his popularity is already crumbling. But the national rally leader also wants to prove that her party is pragmatic, a government in waiting. In other words, there are risks on all sides right now.

[Nick Miles]

Andrew Harding in France Nigeria has for the first time started vaccinating people against malaria, which officials say killed nearly 200,000 people in the country last year. The R21 Matrix M vaccine was developed at Oxford University in England and is the second to be approved by the World Health Organization. Nigeria received its first batch of over 800,000 doses of the vaccine in October. Our Africa regional editor Will Ross reports.

[Narrator]

The Nigerian government says malaria is a health, economic and development emergency. The country accounts for around a third of all global deaths from the disease. The first to be given the new vaccine were the most vulnerable, children aged between five months and 15 months in the worst affected states, Kebi and Bielsa. Health experts see it as a significant breakthrough, but say the four dose vaccine should not replace other malaria prevention tools such as mosquito nets and insecticides. The total cost per person is likely to be between 10 and $15.

[Nick Miles]

Will Ross next to Italy and in Rome, the city council has approved a motion calling for price limits for staple pasta dishes like carbonara, a dish with egg, cheese and crispy pork, or a matrociana with a tomato sauce and pork. That's because some Roman restaurants have become tourist traps, charging an exorbitant for often pretty dodgy versions of the dish. This is a particular worry as the city is expecting millions more tourists next year for what's called a jubileo, or jubilee year. It's hoped that those restaurants that accept the price limits for their pasta dishes will put a sticker in their window informing customers. Mark Lowen spoke to Simon Dordet, owner of a restaurant called Osteria della Gensola in Rome. He first asked him what makes A.

[Simon Dordet]

Good carbonara in the simplest way, we just use eggs, the whole egg, so the yellow, the yolk and the white part. Then we use the guanciale, which is crispy pork neck. Yes. And black pepper and pecorino cheese. That's all.

[Narrator]

So definitely no cream?

[Simon Dordet]

No, you will have the cream when you mix all these ingredients in the same bowl. It's not that cream that you imagine.

[Narrator]

Is it a culinary crime to put to add cream like we do in England and in other parts, you can.

[Simon Dordet]

Do it, but you cannot call it carbonara.

[Narrator]

Maybe it's as bad as putting pineapple on a pizza as far as an Italian is concerned. Simone, what should a good carbonara cost in a restaurant in Rome?

[Simon Dordet]

Well, in Rome. Rome, you know, is a huge city. You have the most important areas in Rome. The most popular area that are located, for example, near Colosseum or Piazza Venezia or Colleopia, you know, there are many places that to be there. A lot of rent. So you can even find some place that asks for carbonara 20, €30. But this depends by the rent that they paid. In my opinion, the proper price for it, a good Carbonara is around 14, €16. That's the honest price.

[Narrator]

How much do you charge for it at your restaurant?

[Simon Dordet]

For me it's 14.

[Narrator]

€14. So that's about $15, something like that. US dollars, yes.

[Nick Miles]

Simon Dordet from the Osteria della Genzole in Rome.

[Mickey Bristow]

Still to come, a thousand tons is substantial. It will take up to 10 years before that metal actually starts coming out of the ground.

[Nick Miles]

A new gold deposit has been discovered in the Chinese province of Hunan. And according to local authorities, it could be the largest in the world.

[Advertiser]

If you're hearing this, you're probably already listening to BBC's award winning news podcasts. But did you know that you can listen to them without ads? Get current affairs podcasts like Global News, AmericasT and the Global Story, plus other great BBC podcasts. From history to comedy to true crime, all ad free. Simply subscribe to BBC Podcast Premium on Apple Podcasts or listen to Amazon Music with a Prime membership. Spend less time on ads and more time with BBC podcasts.

[Nick Miles]

The White House has defended President Joe Biden's decision to pardon his son over federal crimes, despite having insisted for more than a year that he would not do so. Mr. Biden's press secretary said Mr. Biden believed Republicans would not let up on prosecuting his son. Jessica Parker reports.

[Mickey Bristow]

The White House is emphasizing that Joe Biden wrestled with this decision. Criticism that it sets a bad precedent or demonstrates double standards isn't just coming from Republicans, but also some figures within Joe Biden's own Democratic Party. Aboard the president's plane, Air Force One en route to Angola, reporters grilled Joe Biden's press secretary, who reiterated her boss claims that Hunter Biden had been unfairly singled out. She wouldn't confirm whether the president had discussed the plan with his son in advance.

[Nick Miles]

Jasmine Crockett is a Democratic member of Congress from Texas. She's backing Joe Biden over the pardon. Tim Franks asked her why?

[Jasmine Crockett]

The first part of this answer for me simply goes back to tracking this prosecution. As someone who serves on the Oversight Committee and saw what the Oversight Committee was doing, and the fact that they were really reeling against the president and his family in an attempt to make sure that they could set up the now newly elected president to be reelected, this was really nothing more than a political prosecution. As someone who has practiced criminal defense for almost two decades prior to entering Congress, I know what federal prosecutions as well as state prosecutions look like, and this isn't what it normally looks like. I'm sure we would be hard pressed to find one other person in the entire United States that has been prosecuted for what Hunter was prosecuted for and put through the wringer, especially after he agreed to enter a plea of guilty. So let me be clear. This is a father and a president that did what was right, not only by his son, but also did right to basically correct what I would consider to be a wrong right.

[Narrator]

I mean, in terms of what President Trump may have done and may now be about to do. I mean, that's a separate issue. We're talking about what President Biden is responsible for. I mean, firstly, he said he wasn't going to pardon his son. So, I mean, he. You'd be hard pressed to say that he wasn't guilty of double standards, presumably on this. I mean, why he has suddenly changed his mind.

[Jasmine Crockett]

You know what? I would, I would disagree. I mean, I can't say what was in his head at that moment, but.

[Narrator]

Well, it was unequivocal, wasn't it?

[Jasmine Crockett]

Well, I mean, if he said in that moment that he wasn't inclined to do it, then so be it. Right. But that was probably also at a time in which he was seeking reelection. He ultimately is not seeking re election. He is on his way out the door. And I'm sure that there have been plenty of conversations and there's probably been more information that has come to light since ultimately that prosecution took place. Mind you, the president was very hands off with Hunter's prosecution, but now that Hunter has gone through it, now that there had to be a trial, there's a lot more that I'm sure that he has learned throughout the trial process and even afterwards. And so I think that he's entitled to change his mind, especially since circumstances have changed.

[Narrator]

But why in that case, should he deserve a pardon? I know that you were making the point about, you know, this is a father acting on behalf of his son. This is not a power that is available to any other family in the United States.

[Jasmine Crockett]

So let me give you an example. When we look at the laws, there's a lot of laws that are on the books, that have been on the books for a very long time that haven't necessarily in practice been prosecuted. And so what I'm saying is that when I call this a political prosecution, and I am curious as you are interviewing people, especially as you start to interview Republicans, please ask them if they know of another case in which someone had been prosecuted for having a drug addiction at the time that they filled out an application to get a gun.

[Nick Miles]

Jasmine Crockett, Democratic member of Congress for Texas. It is a tense moment for Ukraine. American military support for its war with Russia looks increasingly in doubt, with President Biden on the way out of office and Mr. Trump on the way in. Another key backer of Ukraine is Germany, and its chancellor, Olaf Scholz, is also soon to be leaving office, but in an unexpected visit, he's met the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky. It comes weeks after Olaf Scholz was criticized for holding a telephone call with Vladimir Putin. But speaking from Kyiv, he insisted he is acting on behalf of Ukraine's interests.

[Narrator]

I will not allow decisions to be made about Ukraine over the heads of Ukraine. Russia cannot in a dictated peace on Ukraine.

[Nick Miles]

So what came out of the meeting for Ukraine? I asked our correspondent in Kyiv, Paul Adams.

[Paul Adams]

I think probably more than anything tangible, it is the notion that Germany is going to stand with Ukraine at what is, after all, an uncertain time. With a change of administration and likely change of strategy in Washington, I think any expressions of European solidarity at the moment is very welcome. Clearly, Germany is a very significant player when it comes to military assistance. In fact, the largest European provider of military assistance by a mile, something in the region of 28 billion euros worth. And Chancellor Scholz was bringing the latest tranche of that, including more air, defence equipment and other military kit with him. But I think it is more the notion that, you know, at this rather uncertain time President Zelenskyy feels that European leaders are rallying around.

[Nick Miles]

There was one area where Chancellor Scholz decided to duck an issue, wasn't there? It was over these Taurus weapons. How significant would their use be for Kyiv?

[Paul Adams]

Well, no single weapon is, you know, a game changer, but this is something that the Ukrainians have been asking for for a long time. They may have hoped that in the wake of the decisions by Washington and London to allow Ukraine to use long range weapons on targets in Russia, perhaps Germany might be persuaded to follow suit. That has not yet happened and Chancellor Scholz rather dodged that issue when it came up. During their joint news conference, President Zelenskyy said that discussions about those missiles and how they would be used were still going on. So it's possible, I suppose, that that could change sometime in the future.

[Nick Miles]

Clearly, Kyiv wants Moscow to be isolated diplomatically from Western leaders. And that wasn't something that happened last month when Chancellor Scholz had a conversation with Mr. Putin. That remains a real concern for Kyiv, doesn't it?

[Paul Adams]

Yeah. At the time, President Zelenskyy sounded fairly irritated. He said that Chancellor Scholz had opened a Pandora's box, arguing that essentially that nothing suited Vladimir Putin more than the ability to talk one on one with assorted Western leaders in the hope that he can kind of persuade them of Russia's case. But what the Chancellor said today was that he had talked very bluntly and clearly to Mr. Putin. He had stressed the importance of Ukraine's sovereignty and that there was nothing for Ukraine to be worried about. And I think for his part, Mr. Zelenskyy was quite diplomatic. He said that the two men agreed on more than they disagreed.

[Nick Miles]

Paul Adams in Ukraine. The United States has just announced further restrictions on the export of computer chip technology to China. Washington said the aim was to prevent Beijing using the most advanced semiconductors for its military modernization. Mickey Bristow reports these latest restrictions will.

[Mickey Bristow]

Make it harder for Chinese firms to develop artificial intelligence and target the tools used to make computer chips. They also place controls on third countries exporting to China. This is a parting shot from the outgoing US President Joe Biden, although Donald Trump is expected to be just as tough. China has faced restricted access to U.S. technology for several years and is desperately trying to develop its own semiconductor industry.

[Nick Miles]

Mickey Bristow, and staying with matters Chinese, A new gold deposit has been discovered in the Chinese province of Hunan, and according to local authorities, it could be the largest in the world. It's believed to store reserves of more than 1,000 tonnes at a depth of 2,000 metres, at current gold prices, they would be worth more than $60 billion. Will Bain heard more from Rona O'Connell, the head of market analysis at the trading platform Stonex?

[Mickey Bristow]

A thousand tonnes is substantial, but probably the significance of the depth is that in terms of lead times, generally speaking, if you've determined a level of reserve in a mine deposit, it will take up to 10 years before that metal actually starts coming out of the ground. So it's an exciting announcement, but it's not going to have any immediate impact. When it does, it will only actually be raising world mine production by something of the order of 3%, because if they've got 1,000 tonnes, they're probably not going to want to produce more than 100 a year because they want to have as long mine life they can.

[Narrator]

Yes, yeah. So is the depth potentially why it's not been struck upon before?

[Mickey Bristow]

Very probably. Two miles is a long way down. The deepest ones in South Africa are about three kilometres.

[Narrator]

Right. And so presumably it's going to be very expensive to get it outright at that depth as well.

[Mickey Bristow]

It will, but I suspect the Chinese government will find the farms from somewhere.

[Narrator]

Yeah, absolutely. What about that wider impact on the price, then, you think? Not. Not in the short term, but what about down the trail?

[Mickey Bristow]

Not really, no. If we were talking maybe about something like copper, then it could. Well. But the gold market is very, very deep. And just to give you a couple of numbers, put it into context. Mine production globally is about 3,600 tonnes. And if you look at the over the counter, that is not futures markets. But if you look at the over the counter spot market and then the London Bullion Market association, in the 12 months to the end of October, their spot turnover was 209,000 tonnes. So that's about 58 times world production.

[Nick Miles]

Rona O'Connell, finally, its pieces may be tiny, but its value is huge. The British company behind the miniature tabletop game Warhammer is in fact now so big it's expected to make it into the FTSE 100 this week, it'll mean Games Workshop will be among the 100 most valuable public companies in the UK. Our senior technology reporter Chris Valance has the story. If Games Workshop does storm the ramparts.

[Narrator]

Of the FTSE 100, it will be a remarkable journey now valued at over four and a half billion pounds. 50 years ago, it was a very different picture. Sir Ian Livingstone is one of its three original founders, along with John Peake and Steve Jackson. Well, when we started Gaines Workshop, Steve Jackson and I ended up having to live in a van because we went to the bank manager and he looked at us rather like dog watching television, have no understanding what we're talking about and asked us to leave, you know, we ended up selling out in the early 90s, but standing now almost like proud parents watching this great British success story kind of conquer the world and become one of the premier games IPS of all time. The firm's shops have become a familiar feature of the high street, but the.

[Nick Miles]

Company is keen to stress it's a.

[Narrator]

Manufacturing business, selling the sci fi and fantasy warriors who battle it out in tabletop war games. Katie Fode, aka Jinx from Tabletop Tactics, a YouTube channel about Warhammer. They are plastic and you build them.

[Mickey Bristow]

As part of a kit. You then paint them up and then you have these models that create an army to play on the tabletop. It's such a massive thing. There's so many aspects to it because you've got that hobby aspect, but you also have the gaming and playing. So it really is a community thing.

[Narrator]

But the real key to the business's success, according to Sirian, was tapping into the enthusiasm of players, realizing that hiring people who are effectively like us gamers were fantastic retailers because their passion, their knowledge, their understanding of the games was infectious. And even like Visigoths, they really resonated with the people. Came in Chris Valance.

[Nick Miles]

And that's all from us for now. But there will 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 co.uk you can also find us on xglobalnewspod. This edition was mixed by Caroline Driscoll. The producer was Lear McSheffrey. The editor is K. Martin. I'm Nick Miles and until next time. Goodbye.

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