Israeli airstrikes have hit several targets inside Yemen

Summary

Global News Podcast Summary
Episode Title: Israeli Airstrikes Have Hit Several Targets Inside Yemen
Release Date: December 27, 2024
Host: Nick Myers, BBC World Service

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1. Israeli Airstrikes Target Houthi Positions in Yemen

In the early hours of Friday, December 27, Israel launched a series of airstrikes against Houthi-controlled targets in Yemen. These strikes included an attack on Yemen’s main international airport in Sana'a, narrowly missing Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director General of the World Health Organization, who was en route to board a flight at the time (Nick Myers, [02:02]).

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated, “Israel will strike Houthis until the job is done” ([05:11]). This assertion underscores Israel’s commitment to dismantling the Houthi infrastructure, which Israel accuses of facilitating Iranian weapon smuggling and initiating drone and missile attacks against Israeli territory.

Shaima Khalil, the BBC correspondent in Jerusalem, provided on-the-ground insights:

“From footage inside Sana’a International Airport, you could see people running in a panic, rushing out of the building... The IDF targeted military sites used by the Iran-backed Houthis to smuggle weapons” ([02:51]).

The strikes have intensified Yemen’s already dire humanitarian crisis, exacerbating issues of malnutrition and restricted access to aid due to ongoing conflicts and control by various factions (Nicola Coughlan, [05:30]).

2. European Commission Threatens Sanctions Over Russian Cable Sabotage

The European Commission has issued warnings of further sanctions against Russia following the suspected sabotage of the Estlink 2 undersea cable in the Baltic Sea, which connects Finland and Estonia. Finnish authorities apprehended the vessel Eagle S, believed to be part of Russia’s "Shadow Fleet," for evidence suggesting deliberate cable damage (Nick Myers, [06:13]).

Finnish National Police Commissioner Ilka Koskimaki stated:

“We suspect that the anchor was used to cut the cable in two... The conditions for the preliminary investigations are excellent” ([06:52]).

Shashank Joshi, Defense Editor at the Economist, commented on the incident:

“Given the irregular routes and connections to Russia’s Shadow Fleet, there are strong grounds to suspect Russian involvement” ([07:22]).

The sabotage has raised concerns about the vulnerability of undersea cables, which are critical for electricity and data transmission. Joshi noted:

“If the UK is cut off, there are too many connections to other regions, but localized disruptions to power or data could be achieved” ([09:09]).

3. Passing of India's First Sikh Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh

India mourns the loss of Manmohan Singh, the country’s first Prime Minister from the Sikh faith, who died at age 92. During his tenure from 2004, Singh was instrumental in steering India through economic reforms and forging a pivotal nuclear agreement with the United States ([12:17]).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded Singh, stating:

“India mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished leaders” ([12:17]).

Jill McGivering highlighted Singh’s contributions:

“He was the driving force behind India's sweeping economic reforms, which led to years of high growth” ([15:53]).

Despite facing challenges, including major terrorist attacks during his administration, Singh is remembered for his integrity and dedication to combating poverty and fostering economic development.

4. Bald Eagle Officially Named United States’ National Bird

In a historic move, the bald eagle has been officially designated as the national bird of the United States, a status it unofficially held for centuries. Preston Cook, who campaigned for this recognition, expressed his joy:

“I'm absolutely excited. I'm ecstatic that finally, after 248 some odd years, that the bald eagle is now our national bird” ([16:51]).

Cook detailed his efforts:

“This started about 15 years ago when I was preparing a chronology for a book on the American eagle... I couldn’t find any official designation” ([17:08]).

The designation aims to raise awareness about the eagle’s ecological significance and ongoing conservation challenges, such as habitat loss and lead poisoning ([18:45]).

5. Post-Assad Syria: New Leadership Faces Security Challenges

Following the fall of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, Syria’s new administration has faced significant security challenges. Authorities have arrested Mohammed Kanjo Hassan, a senior military officer implicated in human rights abuses at the Sadnaya prison, where thousands were tortured or executed since the civil war began in 2011 ([21:11]).

Sebastian Asher, Middle East Regional Editor, reported:

“There are reports of attacks on Alawites in Damascus and elsewhere, reflecting ongoing tensions within the community” ([23:36]).

The new leadership under HTS (Hayat Tahrir al-Sham) is striving to stabilize the nation, engaging in operations against remnants of the former regime and seeking improved relations with neighboring countries like Lebanon and Iraq to ensure Syria’s future security ([21:54], [25:13]).

6. Breakthroughs in Healthcare: Obesity, Dementia, and Personalized Vaccines

Advancements in healthcare have made significant strides in treating obesity, dementia, and developing personalized cancer vaccines. Kate Bingham, Managing Partner at SV Health Investors and former Chair of the UK’s COVID Vaccine Task Force, discussed these innovations:

“We now have the potential for the first mRNA cancer vaccine to get approval at the end of next year... the first two drugs that alter the course of dementia have been approved” ([25:13]).

Bingham highlighted the accelerating pace of medical innovation, driven by technologies like AI, which help reduce drug failure rates in clinical trials:

“The pace of innovation is unquestionably picking up” ([27:10]).

She emphasized the need for early diagnosis and preventive measures to enhance treatment efficacy and reduce long-term healthcare costs ([27:38]).

7. China Lifts Lobster Import Ban from Australia

China has resumed imports of Australian lobsters, marking the end of a four-year trade ban that began amidst diplomatic tensions over COVID-19 inquiry demands. This development is particularly timely, coinciding with the Lunar New Year when lobster demand peaks in China ([28:48]).

Mickey Bristow reported:

“Beijing banned lobsters four years ago as part of broader sanctions against Australian products... The restriction on lobsters is the last to be removed” ([29:10]).

The lifting of the ban is expected to boost trade and improve bilateral relations between China and Australia, contributing positively to both economies.

8. India Emerges as a Hotspot for International Music Tours

India’s burgeoning middle class and its growing interest in Western pop music have positioned the country as a prime destination for international music tours. Davina Gupta covered the surge in concerts by global artists like Dua Lipa and Bryan Adams ([29:54]).

Tej Bharar, Head of Festivals at Nordvin Gaming, explained the economic impact:

“We estimate a push of around 400 to 420 US dollar million... major contributions from ticket sales, food and beverages, hotels, and transport” ([31:28]).

However, challenges remain regarding infrastructure to support large-scale concerts, as highlighted by local artists who call for improved facilities and streamlined licensing processes to meet the growing demand ([32:16], [32:31]).

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Conclusion

This episode of the Global News Podcast delves into significant geopolitical events, including Israel’s military actions in Yemen and tensions between Russia and Europe, alongside impactful regional developments such as Syria’s post-Assad landscape and India’s rising cultural influence. Additionally, advancements in healthcare and international trade highlight the dynamic intersections of politics, economy, and society shaping our world.

Notable Quotes:

• Benjamin Netanyahu ([05:11]): “Israel will strike Houthis until the job is done”.
• Preston Cook ([16:51]): “I'm absolutely excited. I'm ecstatic that finally, after 248 some odd years, that the bald eagle is now our national bird”.
• Kate Bingham ([25:13]): “We now have the potential for the first mRNA cancer vaccine to get approval at the end of next year”.

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This summary captures the key discussions, insights, and conclusions presented in the episode, providing an informative overview for those who have not listened to the podcast.

Transcript

[Unknown Announcer]

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK.

[Nicola Coughlan]

I'm Nicola Coughlan and for BBC Radio 4, this is History's Youngest Heroes. Rebellion, risk and the radical power of youth.

[Jill McGivering]

She thought, right, I'll just do it. She thought about others rather than herself.

[Nicola Coughlan]

Twelve stories of extraordinary young people from across history. There's a real sense of urgency in them. That resistance has to be mounted.

[Nick Myers]

It has to be mounted now.

[Nicola Coughlan]

Follow History's Youngest Heroes wherever you get your podcasts.

[Unknown Announcer]

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[Nick Myers]

This is the global news podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Nick Myers and in the early hours of Friday 27th December, these are our main stories. Israel has launched a wave of airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, including the main international airport where the attack narrowly missed the head of the World Health Organization. The European Commission has threatened further sanctions against Russia following the alleged sabotage of another cable under the Baltic Sea. India's first Sikh Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, has died at the age of 92. Also in this podcast, good news for the American bald eagle.

[Preston Cook]

I'm soaring with the eagles. I'm absolutely excited. I'm ecstatic that finally, after 248 some odd years, that the bald eagle is now our national bird.

[Nick Myers]

Israel will strike Houthis until the job is done. The words of the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after his defence forces said they'd launched strikes across Yemen. One of the places targeted was the international airport in the capital, Sanaa. Inside the departure lounge, there was panic as people tried to flee the building. Also there was the Director General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesis, who was about to board a flight Israel says it was attacking sites used by the Houthi armed group that controls part of Yemen. They're backed by Iran and they've repeatedly hit Israel with drones and missiles since the first months of the Gaza war. I asked our correspondent in Jerusalem, Shaima Khalil, how much damage the strikes on Yemen have caused.

[Nicola Coughlan]

What we do know from footage that has appeared was from inside Sana'a International Airport, you could see people running in a panic, rushing out, some with their trolleys, not really knowing where to go, and others rushing out of the building. Another showed from outside the airport showed smoke rising from the site. And we do know from the IDF that they did target the Sana'a airport and its surrounding area. They say they struck military targets used by the Iran backed Houthis to smuggle Iranian weapons into the region. We also know that the strikes happen not only in Sana'a, in different parts of the capital, but also in the port city of Hodeida. And it's not the first time that these two sites have been struck. This is the second Israeli strike on Yemen in less than a week. The last one was on Thursday. Now we understand from Houthi officials that several people were killed, others were injured, with the targets of power stations of several ports and port cities. And we heard from a Houthi official who said that the strikes were a crime against the people of Yemen.

[Nick Myers]

The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu has just said we will strike until the job is done. What is that job and is it achievable?

[Nicola Coughlan]

It's very interesting because these strikes are very much in line with what's been coming out from the Israeli leadership, whether it's the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and he did say this on more than one occasion, but also from the Israeli Defense Minister, Israel Katz. And one particular comment that he made earlier really is quite telling because he promised to decapitate the leadership of the Houthi movement the same way that Israel did with Hamas and Hezbollah. And it kind of tells you that these intensified attacks by the Houthis at the moment and this month has seen a significant rise in these attacks in the missile launches into Israeli territory, some of them, not intercepted, remember, is now being responded to in a more focused way. So if you ask what the job is, I think the job for the Israeli leadership at the moment and for the Israeli military is to stop these attacks from happening and to not only target military and energy infrastructure in Yemen, but they did mention the leadership as well.

[Nick Myers]

Shaima, it's worth mentioning, I said in the introduction that the head of the World Health Organization was at Sana'a airport when these attacks happened. It's worth mentioning the humanitarian situation in Yemen is and has been for many years horrendous, hasn't it? And it's not likely to get any better with these kind of attacks.

[Nicola Coughlan]

That's right. The humanitarian situation in Yemen has been dire for many years now because this country has been struggling and has been enthralled in a conflict for many years. Aid is very difficult to come by in Yemen. Many people have been struggling with malnutrition. There have been many warnings by the un, by other humanitarian agencies that morph food needs to get to Yemen. But the problem has been that there are different areas controlled by different groups in this country and that the access to aid has been very difficult. So in addition to these strikes that are happening now by Israeli forces, Yemen itself has been reeling from years and years of conflict and a very difficult humanitarian situation.

[Nick Myers]

Sharmikh Khalil the authorities in Finland have seized a ship believed to be linked to Russia because of suspicions that it severed an underwater cable in the Baltic Sea. The Estlink 2 carries electricity between Finland and Estonia, but stopped working on Wednesday. Finnish police who boarded the Eagle S, a vessel they suspect as being part of a Russian so called Shadow fleet, say they found evidence that the anchor had been used to cut the cable in two. The Finnish National Police Commissioner is Ilka Koskimaki.

[Mickey Bristow]

There is reason to suspect that the vessel registered in the Cook Islands has caused damage to the Essling power cable. But in addition, we also suspect that other cables have been damaged. These investigations are currently ongoing. We are in a very good situation as the authorities have detained the vessel and it's within Finnish territorial waters, meaning the conditions for the preliminary investigations are excellent.

[Nick Myers]

Evan Davis Heard more from the Economist's defence editor, Shashank Joshi.

[Shashank Joshi]

I must say there are accidental cable cuttings. There's, you know, it's 100 cable faults each year on average. Many of those are anchor draggings, fishing vessels. But what makes these cases more interesting is of course the year we've just had of continual Russian sabotage across Europe. The fact that these ships appear to be taking slightly irregular routes over these cables and of course the fact that in this particular case the ship in question, the Eagle S seems to have a connection to Russia's so called Shadow fleet of tankers. All of that together means I think there will be strong grounds to suspect a degree of Russian involvement here.

[Unknown Announcer]

Right. And the difference to the others that I've heard about is that this is first time I can remember following the news that one of the government's coast guard agencies or navies has got on board a suspect vessel.

[Shashank Joshi]

That's the other thing. Yeah, we did see a case a few weeks ago, the Yi Peng, the Chinese flagged ship which was taken into Swedish waters. There were investigators on board but they were highly constrained by what they could see, by the permission of the Chinese. They didn't give full permissions and they didn't board the ship in international waters in the way that's been done now. So this is a clearly more aggressive approach by Finland, which thinks, hang on a minute, the ship has clearly done something we need to investigate. The problem, of course, is you can get on board, you can talk to the crew. It's very, very difficult to prove malign intent. Unless you have some kind of other intelligence indicating what the instructions given to the captain were, it's very hard to prove that they dragged anchor on purpose to cut the cable rather than by accident.

[Unknown Announcer]

Can I ask about the uk in the most sort of unsensational way. And no one at the Economist wants to sensationalize this. The UK uses cables under the sea. Are ours any less or any more vulnerable?

[Shashank Joshi]

As vulnerable as others, of course, the Baltic cables lie in different depths, different geographies. Russia has maybe an easier time there, but if you look at our geography, we have many, many energy, power, electricity, data cables connecting us not only to the continent but also across the Atlantic. Russian submarines, particularly a unit of the Russian Ministry of Defence called gugi, a Deep Sea Water Activity unit, has been active in those areas as well, including with their submarines. It would be difficult to cut the UK off. You know, there's far too many data cables connecting us to too many different places, but you could cause localised disruption to power or data with, well, targeted action. And of course, that's the point of this kind of sabotage.

[Nick Myers]

That was the Economist defense editor Shashank Joshi. Russia and Kazakhstana are seeking to downplay speculation that Moscow was behind the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane on Wednesday, which killed 38 people. The Kremlin said it was wrong to speculate on the cause before the outcome of an investigation. The speaker of the Kazakh Senate said it wasn't possible to conclude from photographic evidence that the plane had been hit by a Russian missile. A number of military experts have accused Russia of shooting down on the plane, mistaking it for a Ukrainian drone. Jonathan Josephs has this report.

[Mickey Bristow]

Video released by Russia's government shows 9 of its citizens being stretchered onto a plane to be taken back to Moscow for further medical treatment. They are among 29 survivors of Wednesday's crash. The Azerbaijan Airlines plane was supposed to be flying from Baku to Grozny in southern Russia, but was diverted to Act 2 in Kazakhstan. The force of impact split the plane in two, with the front half destroyed by fire. The key Question is why? The military expert Justin Crump said suggestions that a bird strike caused the crash were unlikely. Evidence is still coming out, but the most likely hypothesis we see is that it was struck by an air defence missile in the area over Grozny where the plane was holding. Ukrainian drones were active at the time. And this is commensurate with everything we've seen in the pilot's communication with air traffic control. Currently, it's the only thing that fully fits the facts that we know. Unusual holes litter the rear part of the airplane, which survived largely intact. They will be closely examined by investigators. The Embraer E190 airplane that came down has a good safety record and the pilot should have been able to land it safely if there had been a bird strike. The Kremlin spokesman is Dmitry Peskov. The investigation is underway. Any aviation incident should be investigated by special aviation authorities, and until investigators make their conclusions, it would be incorrect to make any kind of hypothesis. So we cannot do it and nobody should do it. We must await the end of this investigation. Cars blared their horns in the Azeri capital, Baku, as people stopped to remember the victims. A day of national mourning also saw large crowds lay flowers at Baku's airport in memory of the dead.

[Nick Myers]

Jonathan Josephs. The death has been announced of India's former Prime Minister, Manmohan singh. He was 92. Mr. Singh was the first Prime Minister in India from the Sikh faith and was praised by many for boosting economic growth there. Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Singh, writing on social media that India mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished leaders. Jill McGivery looks back at his life.

[Jill McGivering]

In 2004, Manmohan Singh took office as Prime Minister. He was an unlikely choice.

[Nick Myers]

I, Manmohan Singh, do swear in the name of God that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India.

[Jill McGivering]

He was a small, mild mannered man, seen as a political outsider, even described as too honest to be a good operator. From the start, he appealed for political unity and said tackling poverty was a top priority.

[Nick Myers]

The war against poverty, ignorance and disease has to be carried on relentlessly and I pledge our government to remain steadfast in our commitment, in the words of Jawaharlal Nehru, to build an India free from the fear of war, want and exploitation. These are the priorities of our nation.

[Jill McGivering]

He promised an ambitious programme of social reform which aimed to help tens of millions of India's poor. In fact, many promises went unrealised, suffocated partly by coalition politics. He did succeed, though, in another controversial area, in forging a landmark deal on nuclear technology with the United States. That new strategic partnership with Washington saw India opening up civilian nuclear facilities to inspection in return for access to American technology. When then President George W Bush visited India in 2006, opposition to the deal was clear. The two leaders did reach agreement, though, the first step in a lengthy process. President Bush praised Mr. Singh for his political courage.

[Preston Cook]

We concluded a historic agreement on nuclear power. It's not an easy job for the Prime Minister to achieve this agreement. I understand it's not easy for the American President to achieve this agreement, but it's a necessary agreement.

[Jill McGivering]

While Mr. Singh was prime minister, India saw a string of major bomb attacks. One of the bloodiest came in November last year, the series of attacks on Mumbai. The government faced angry criticism from those who said it had failed to protect them. But Mr. Singh was praised for a calm and decisive response. In a special televised address, he condemned the violence and promised he would take the strongest possible measures to make sure nothing similar happened. Again, his allegations that Pakistan's establishment was complicit in the violence, something Pakistan denies, added to rising tension between the two neighbours after several years of relative harmony. Perhaps his greatest achievement had come much earlier, when he served as Finance Minister in the early 1990s. Then, he was the driving force behind India's programme of sweeping economic reform, which helped the country see years of high growth. In all, Mr. Singh will be remembered by many as a man of integrity who tried to tackle India's poverty and bureaucracy, but saw only limited success.

[Nick Myers]

Jill McGivering on the Life of India's former Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, who's died at the age of 92. Now, name this bird. Any idea? Here's another clue.

[Unknown Announcer]

Greetings as an American eagle.

[Nick Myers]

That is Sam the eagle from the American television puppet show the Muppets. The American, or bald eagle, has been the symbol of the United States for centuries, with its image across the country's coins and stamps. But it was only officially named the national bird earlier this week. Preston Cook spent years campaigning for this recognition and even penned a draft of the legislation that he sent to lawmakers on Capitol Hill. John Donison asked him for his reaction now that the bald eagle has been named as the national bird of the us.

[Preston Cook]

Well, I'm soaring with the eagles. I'm absolutely excited. I'm ecstatic that finally, after 248 some odd years, that the bald eagle is now our national bird.

[Nick Myers]

And why have you campaigned for so many years?

[Shashank Joshi]

To get it done.

[Preston Cook]

This started about 15 years ago when I was preparing a chronology for a book on the American eagle that I was writing. And I was looking for an entry that would designate the bald eagle as our national bird. And I couldn't find it. So I went back to the minutes of the meeting on June 20, 1782, and that was the date when America decided the bald eagle should be our national symbol on the Great Seal. And there was no mention whatsoever about it becoming a national bird. Of course, at that time, we had other things on our mind. They had a revolution to fight, so it was something that just they did not think about and they did not act on it.

[Shashank Joshi]

I have to say, though, as someone who's lived in America quite a long time, my partner is American. I just thought the bald eagle already.

[Nick Myers]

Was the national bird.

[Preston Cook]

Well, you and 100% of other Americans, everybody is startled by this, that we never had a national bird. And the bald eagle has never officially been designated either legislatively or by a proclamation of the President. You know, we do have a national mammal, and that's the bison, and we have a national tree, which is the oak, and we have a national flower, which is the rose. So now it's time for. And we do now have the bald eagle as our national bird. And that's after 248 years and 118 Congresses that no one ever took action on until now.

[Shashank Joshi]

How prevalent is the bald eagle in America?

[Nick Myers]

Is it under threat at all?

[Preston Cook]

Well, the bald eagle has had its ups and downs. We love the symbolism of the bird, as we have for 248 years, but it was not liked as a bird. They thought it was taking babies, and they thought I was taking fish, and they thought it was taking young animals. So they didn't like it and they shot it. They shot over 100,000 bald eagles up in Alaska from 1917 to 1953. And then DDT came along in the late 1940s, the chemical DDT. So in the 40s, we went from some 500,000 birds down to 400 and 12 birds, a nesting pair in the lower 48 states. And then when DDD was banned, the population came back, and now It's a healthy 300,000 or so. And now they're off the endangered species list and doing very well with some exceptions. You know, now we have loss of land for the eagle, so that's an issue. And we have lead poisoning, which is an issue. And now we have avian flu, which is an issue. So what this bill does, I think it raises the height of the bird and it raises the awareness, awareness of the bird and realizing that if the bird is healthy, then humans are healthy, but if the bird is not healthy, then, then we are not healthy.

[Nick Myers]

Preston Cook, who campaigned for the bald eagle to be recognized as America's national bird. Still to come, it's a kind of a nostalgia, right?

[Unknown Announcer]

If we can see him performing live, that's amazing.

[Jill McGivering]

I think it's a sign of Indian being.

[Tej Bharar]

The market for such things is what gives us the power.

[Nick Myers]

We look at a nation that's fast becoming a hotspot for international music tours.

[Nicola Coughlan]

I'm Nicola Coughlan and for BBC Radio 4, this is History's Youngest Heroes. Rebellion, risk and the radical power of youth.

[Jill McGivering]

She thought, right, I'll just do it. She thought about others rather than herself.

[Nicola Coughlan]

Twelve stories of extraordinary young people from across history. There's a real sense of urgency in them. That resistance has to be mounted.

[Nick Myers]

It has to be mounted now.

[Nicola Coughlan]

Follow History's Youngest Heroes wherever you get your podcasts.

[Nick Myers]

Next to Syria, the new administration in the country say they've arrested a senior military officer from the former Assad regime who is believed to have been involved in abuses at the notorious Sadnaya prison. Mohammed Kanjo Hassan was captured after clashes between forces from the new government and Assad loyalists. Thousands of people were tortured and executed at that prison since the Syrian civil war began in 2011. It's the first big test for the new leadership HTS, which says it will stamp out attempts to undermine Syria's security. On Wednesday, a number of HTs were killed in attacks. Our Middle east regional editor Sebastian Asher has more.

[Unknown Announcer]

What we're hearing from the HTS side, from the new authorities in Syria is that they've launched a big operation in Tartus after the killing of 14 police security officers on Wednesday. And they're saying that these are remnants of the Assad regime and they're hunting them down in the woods and the valleys of Tartuso, not just in the port city, but in the province as a whole. And from the other side, from the Alawite side, I mean, you know, one can only go by some of the protests that there have been, which suggest that there is at least still quite a hard core of, at best, people who are worried and unsettled by what's happened because obviously President Assad belonged to the Alawite community and his future and their future very much seemed to be bound up for years. I mean, the change very particularly is of this Islamist led government that is now in place. And whether it was self serving or not, that was what President Assad had said for years and years. He was acting as a bulwark against. And I, I am sure that many Alawites believe that. And we have had reports of attacks on Alawites in Damascus and elsewhere. We had big protests in Homs, there was a curfew that was put in place there. Again, that is seen specifically to be in relation to the Alawites and their concerns and their fears and potentially their anger and the violence that might come out on the streets.

[Nick Myers]

And Sebastian, there seems to be a realization from HTS that Syria's continued security in the future relies on sending out feelers to its neighbors as well. And we've seen that over the last day or so with regards to Iraq and Lebanon, haven't we?

[Unknown Announcer]

We have, yeah. And we've had a variety of officials from Lebanon, for example, becoming the veteran Druze leader Wali Jumblat was in Damascus just a few days ago. And, you know, the signals are we want a different relationship. This is from a new leadership in Syria. We want a relationship where we are not at odds, where we're not in conflict as far as Lebanon is concerned. What I'm hearing from a lot of people here, the events both of the fall of President Assad, but also what's happened with Hezbollah, all of these things kind of coming to a climax in the past few weeks of sort of a recognition amongst many people much more openly expressed than it had been that they feel that it's Syria that was at the root of so many of their problems. Yes, Israel launched these attacks. Yes, Israel has done that in the past. But I've heard from many people from different groups, different, I mean, not factions, but different communities, saying that it was Syria that did far worse to Lebanon as a country over the years in its influence than anyone else. So there's an appetite certainly here for a complete realignment and for Syria under its new leadership, not to get involved, not to interfere in Lebanese internal politics, which it did for many, many years.

[Nick Myers]

Sebastian Asher, throughout the year there have been reports of many advances and potential advances in health care, in the treatment of obesity, dementia and personalized vaccines for canc. So what can we expect as the new year beckons? Johnny diamond spoke to Kate Bingham, managing partner at SV Health Investors and the former chair of the UK government's COVID Vaccine Task Force. So what are her thoughts on the possible advances in such areas as obesity, dementia and those personalised vaccines?

[Kate Bingham]

These are innovations that weren't even contemplated really, 10 years ago. So that the fact that we've now vaccinated billions of people with MRNA vaccines during the pandemic, and now we have the potential for the first MRNA cancer vaccine to get approval at the end of next year, that is something that is just beyond what we would have ever contemplated. Second, on dementia, we've now seen the first two drugs get approved that actually alter the course of the disease. Now, the drugs aren't perfect, but they at least prove the concept that we can actually alter the course of these devastating diseases. And then you think about obesity. And again, 10 years ago, we weren't thinking about these GLP1 agonists, the weak.

[Mickey Bristow]

OVs and the Mount Gyla. Exactly.

[Kate Bingham]

And what we're seeing now with these drugs is it's not just about appetite suppression, but there are clear clinical benefits well beyond just obesity. So in terms of cardiovascular benefits, those are the data there is very strong. But actually what we haven't yet seen, again, is the potential benefits to dementia. And again, I would expect that these drugs will have a positive effect on the treatment of dementia.

[Mickey Bristow]

Does it feel to you that it is taking less time, that the pace of innovation is picking up, or is it impossible to tell?

[Kate Bingham]

No, unquestionably, the pace of innovation is picking up. 90% of drugs that go into clinical trials will fail. With the use of AI, you can reduce that failure rate.

[Nick Myers]

And is it your belief or faith that the new drugs about which people.

[Mickey Bristow]

Are concerned over cost, will relatively swiftly bring down associated costs of all these conditions and therefore pay for themselves, or do you think there's going to be a very difficult balancing act in the years to come?

[Kate Bingham]

Currently, our system is set up that you wait till people have severe symptoms, by and large, and then you start treating them with new medicines. What we need to do is to get diagnosed earlier and treat ahead of time before you start having the severe symptoms. So my expertise in vaccines is something that I'm very keen on continuing to push, because there is no question that preventative vaccines is ultimately where we need to get to. But supposing we all went into the chemistry in our 40s and we had a blood test in the same way as we get our cholesterol tested, and they say, we found a little bit of this cancer, if you could then take off the shelf a vaccine and say, right, we'll vaccinate you against that particular cancer type that we can find, that should help prime your immune system to say, when you see a cell that's expressing this, take it out, because we don't want any tumors to form. And then you would take that further and say, well, why can't we do that for Alzheimer's disease? Why can't we vaccinate ahead of time so you don't wait for neuronal damage and cognitive dysfunction? Why can't we intervene earlier and prevent that neuronal loss from even happening?

[Nick Myers]

Kate Bingham, managing partner of SV Health Investors now to a resolution of a row over crustaceans. China has again started allowing imports of lobsters from Australia, marking the end of a political argument that spilled over into trade. Our Asia Pacific editor Mickey Bristow reports.

[Jill McGivering]

Beijing banned lobsters four years ago along with other Australian products including coal and wine. That followed a diplomatic dispute between the two nations, partly over Canberra's call for an independent inquiry into the origins of COVID China has gradually lifted the sanctions following an improvement in relations. The restriction on lobsters is the last to be removed. It comes just a month before the Lunar New Year holiday when lobsters are in great demand in China.

[Nick Myers]

Mickey bristow, India is the world's most populous nation. There's a growing middle class with money to spend and more interest in Western pop music. So it is fast becoming a hot spot for international music tours. The BBC's Davina Gupta reports.

[Jill McGivering]

I've spent a fair bit of time in India.

[Tej Bharar]

From Dua Lipa to Brian Adams, international music icons have graced Indian stages, electrifying audiences in cities across the country. I'm in Gurgaon near the capital city, Delhi. It's evening and even though it's a bit cold outside, that hasn't dampened the spirits of people around me. They're walking towards a large open air sports ground where Bryan Adams is going to play shortly. It's a mix of crowd young and old. So is this your first concert?

[Unknown Announcer]

Yes. I'm 52. It's a kind of a nostalgia.

[Preston Cook]

Right.

[Jill McGivering]

We've come from Chandigarh.

[Tej Bharar]

Long journey, isn't it?

[Nicola Coughlan]

Six hours.

[Jill McGivering]

Yeah. We've grown up listening to him and we still dance to the tune.

[Mickey Bristow]

So we could not miss this chance of being here.

[Tej Bharar]

And they're paying big bucks for these moments. Tickets range from a hundred dollars to five hundred dollars, a sign of a shift in Indian consumers spending behavior. Our study is on the basis of the spending boost that it is going to put towards Indian economy. We estimate a push of around 400 to 420 US dollar million. That's economist Tipanita Mazumdar. The major chunk of it is going to come from the Ticket spending there is going to be a major push from food and beverages and hotels and transport, so demand is there. Tej Bharar, head of festivals at Nordvin Gaming, which organizes the popular and H7 weekender, agrees.

[J]

About 65% of the population is below the age of 35. Unlike the Chinese market, we have a very large population that speaks English. Already. We have about 600 million smartphone users right now. Now, what that means is that you're going to have India be a destination where you can have artists that are globally relevant right now, like Dua Lipa, who are breaking singles at the same time globally as they're breaking here in India. But then you're also going to have nostalgia. Artists like Bryan Adams have an opportunity to continue to visit India, but as.

[Tej Bharar]

This market grows, there's a shadow of concern. Does India have the infrastructure to keep up? Diljit Usanj, a prominent Punjabi musician on tour in India, recently expressed his disappointment during a concert in northern city of Chandigarh.

[Nick Myers]

I want to tell the authorities that we don't have a property infrastructure for live shows here, despite the fact that it's a big revenue stream with so.

[Kate Bingham]

Many people who get jobs, Tate says.

[Tej Bharar]

This is a real challenge, especially in smaller cities.

[J]

We still have to build everything from staging, bathrooms, parking. It's all very capital intensive upfront. Then, of course, there are uncertainties when it comes to licensing and permissions, which can complicate things at the 11th hour.

[Tej Bharar]

So while the authorities are promising to do better and fans hope for a seamless experience for now, as the music plays, India is definitely turning up the volume on the global concert map.

[Nick Myers]

That report was by Davina Gupta and that is 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.ukuk you can also find us on X@globalnewspot. This edition was mixed by Darcy O'Brie. The producer was Liam McSheffrey. The editor is Karen Martin. I'm Nick Miles. And until next time, Goodbye.

[Shashank Joshi]

Hello, I'm Katya Adler, host of the Global Story Podcast from the BBC. Each weekday we break down one big news story with with fresh perspectives from journalists around the world. From artificial intelligence to divisive politics tearing our societies apart from the movements of money and markets to the human stories that touch our lives, we bring you in depth insights from across the BBC and beyond. Listen to the Global Story wherever you get your BBC podcasts.