Man detained after Russian general's assassination

Summary

Global News Podcast Summary Episode: Man Detained After Russian General's Assassination
Release Date: December 18, 2024
Host: Victoria Gill, BBC World Service

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1. Assassination of Russian General Igor Kirilov

Overview:
A senior Russian general, Colonel Igor Kirilov, was assassinated in Moscow, prompting a significant security response. The Federal Security Service (FSB) of Russia has detained a 29-year-old Uzbek national accused of orchestrating the killing under Ukrainian instructions.

Details:
On Tuesday, a bomb detonated outside General Kirilov's apartment, killing him and his assistant. Kirilov was responsible for overseeing Russia's nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons and had been previously accused of employing chemical weapons in the Ukraine conflict.

Notable Quotes:

• Svetlana Petrenko, Spokeswoman for the Investigative Committee (00:54):
  "We have statements from both the Investigative Committee and the Russian Federal Security Service that confirm the Uzbek man acted on behalf of Ukrainian special services."
  (02:27)

• Vitaly Shevchenko, BBC Monitoring’s Russia Editor (02:33):
  "The Uzbek suspect was promised $100,000 for the assassination and the opportunity to move to the EU, though the veracity of this claim remains uncertain."
  (02:33)

Analysis:
The timing of the assassination is significant, occurring just a day after Ukraine's secret service charged General Kirilov in absentia for the use of banned chemical weapons. This incident underscores the escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine, with Russia attributing the attack directly to Ukrainian agents. Ukraine remains officially silent on the matter but signals through media channels that it possesses the capability to execute such high-profile operations.

2. United Nations Raises Alarm Over Syrian Refugee Return

Overview:
Following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria, there is an urgent discussion about the potential large-scale return of refugees. The United Nations warns that without substantial humanitarian assistance, repatriating refugees could further destabilize the already fragile nation.

Details:
Syria, devastated by over a decade of civil war, economic turmoil, and a recent earthquake, faces immense challenges in rebuilding. Nearly 6 million Syrians have been displaced, with many residing in precarious conditions in neighboring countries like Turkey and Lebanon. The new interim government, led by Ahmed Al Shara, requires international support to facilitate the safe return of refugees, including lifting sanctions imposed by the US and EU that hinder economic recovery and reconstruction efforts.

Notable Quotes:

• Amy Pope, Head of the UN's International Organization for Migration (06:46):
  "Sending people back without humanitarian assistance would only further destabilize Syria."
  (06:46)

• Leena Sinjab, Correspondent in Damascus (07:08):
  "Our concern is not about people going home, but that large numbers coming back early could undermine the fledgling government and create pressures for them to leave again."
  (07:17)

Analysis:
The potential influx of refugees back into Syria presents a double-edged sword. While repatriation symbolizes hope and the restoration of family units, it poses severe risks if the infrastructure and governance mechanisms are not adequately restored. The international community's role is pivotal in providing the necessary aid and lifting economic sanctions to ensure a stable and sustainable return process.

3. Nissan and Honda Explore Merger Amidst EV Competition

Overview:
Japan's leading automobile manufacturers, Nissan and Honda, are in preliminary merger discussions to strengthen their position against the burgeoning electric vehicle (EV) market dominated by Chinese manufacturers and Tesla.

Details:
The talks, first reported by Japan's Nikkei newspaper, are in their nascent stages with no official confirmation yet. A successful merger could establish the world's third-largest automotive group by vehicle sales, trailing only Toyota and Volkswagen. This strategic move aims to enhance investment capabilities, reduce operational costs, and foster innovation to compete effectively in the rapidly evolving EV landscape.

Notable Quotes:

• Surjana Tewari, Business Reporter (17:19):
  "This is the clearest sign yet of some sort of reorganization in Japan's auto industry in the face of immense challenges posed by carmakers like Tesla and particularly Chinese manufacturers of electric vehicles."
  (17:19)

• Leena Sinjab, Analyst (18:26):
  "Some analysts describe this potential merger as rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic, given the multitude of challenges both companies face."
  (19:48)

Market Reaction:
The stock market has shown a positive response, with Nissan's shares surging over 20% prior to being suspended, while Honda's shares dipped by 1.6%. This mixed reaction reflects optimism about Nissan's prospects in a merger, although concerns linger about whether the consolidation can mitigate broader economic headwinds affecting the global automotive industry.

Analysis:
The potential merger between Nissan and Honda signals a strategic pivot to bolster competitiveness in the EV sector. By pooling resources and expertise, the merged entity could accelerate innovation, achieve economies of scale, and better navigate the complexities of the global automotive market. However, the success of such a merger hinges on effective integration and the ability to address existing financial and operational challenges.

4. Polish Former Deputy Justice Minister Faces Europe-Wide Arrest Warrant

Overview:
Marcin Romanowski, a former Deputy Justice Minister of Poland, has become the subject of a Europe-wide arrest warrant following allegations of misusing state funds.

Details:
Romanowski is accused of diverting up to $40 million from the Justice Fund, intended to support crime victims and prisoner reintegration, to politically favored projects. An audit revealed that only 40% of the funds were appropriately allocated. After missing a court hearing scheduled for the 7th of December, Romanowski has disappeared, leading prosecutors to issue a European arrest warrant.

Notable Quotes:

• Adam Easton, Correspondent (21:43):
  "Romanowski is reported not to have used his phones since December 6th and was last seen in what appeared to be a hospital, though his whereabouts remain unknown."
  (22:55)

• Opposition Party Member (22:55):
  "Party members express confusion and concern over his disappearance, with some suggesting he may have fled to Hungary."
  (22:55)

Analysis:
This case highlights issues of corruption and accountability within Poland's political landscape. The issuance of a European arrest warrant underscores the seriousness of the allegations and Poland's commitment to upholding justice. However, the situation is complicated by political tensions, with supporters defending Romanowski and alleging political persecution.

5. Australian Tourists Die from Suspected Methanol Poisoning in Laos

Overview:
Tragically, two 19-year-old Australians, Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones, lost their lives in Laos after consuming alcohol suspected to be laced with methanol.

Details:
The friends were among six tourists who died at a hostel in Laos. Holly’s father, Sean Bowles, is actively seeking accountability, urging travelers to be cautious about the risks of methanol poisoning. Authorities in Laos have arrested eight individuals associated with the hostel, but Bowles expresses frustration over the perceived lack of cooperation from local authorities.

Notable Quotes:

• Sean Bowles, Father of Holly Bowles (09:43):
  "When you lose your daughter at such a young age, it's something you wouldn't wish upon anybody."
  (09:43)

• Sean Bowles (10:29):
  "We absolutely want whoever is responsible to be brought to justice and we will do everything we can to ensure that happens."
  (10:29)

Analysis:
This incident underscores the dangers of unregulated alcohol consumption in travel destinations. While initial arrests have been made, Bowles emphasizes the need for thorough investigations and international cooperation to prevent such tragedies. The Australian Federal Police’s involvement highlights the complexities of cross-border legal proceedings in ensuring justice for the victims.

6. Climate Change Threatens Polar Bears in Churchill, Canada

Overview:
Melting sea ice due to climate change is forcing polar bears closer to human populations in Churchill, Manitoba, increasing the risk of dangerous interactions.

Details:
Ian Van Nest, a ranger with the Polar Bear Alert program, details how polar bears, deprived of their natural hunting grounds on sea ice, are spending more time onshore. This shift not only endangers the bears but also poses risks to the local community as bears search for alternative food sources, sometimes targeting humans.

Notable Quotes:

• Sean Bowles, Ranger (12:55):
  "I caught one of the bears trying to get in. It's hungry. All bears are hungry right now."
  (12:55)

• Jeff York, Polar Bears International (14:48):
  "The longer bears are on shore, the more opportunity they have to interact with people and search for alternative food sources, sometimes putting us at risk."
  (14:48)

Scientific Insights:
Studies indicate that the ice-free summer period has extended by approximately one month since the 1980s, leading to a 50% decline in the polar bear population in the region. Researchers at the new Churchill Marine Observatory are monitoring these changes, projecting that Hudson Bay may become an open ocean year-round in the coming decades, which would irrevocably alter the habitat of polar bears.

Analysis:
The plight of polar bears in Churchill serves as a stark indicator of the broader impacts of climate change on Arctic ecosystems. As sea ice continues to diminish, conservation efforts must balance the protection of polar bear populations with the safety and economic considerations of the local human communities. Immediate and long-term strategies are essential to mitigate these challenges.

7. Swedish Christmas Goat Tradition Targeted by Arsonists and AI Hoaxes

Overview:
The annual erection of a giant straw goat in Jevla, Sweden, a beloved Christmas tradition, has become a target for arsonists. Additionally, a recent AI-generated video falsely depicted the goat being burned, causing public concern before being debunked.

Details:
The Straw Goat, standing 13 meters tall and weighing 3 tons, requires approximately 1,000 hours to construct. Since its inception in 1966, the goat has been regularly destroyed by vandals using burning arrows, despite enhanced security measures like double fencing, CCTV, and 24/7 monitoring. Recently, a fabricated video claiming the goat was set ablaze circulated on social media but was later identified as an AI creation from a fake website, leading to the prompt removal of the false content.

Notable Quotes:

• Maria Valberg, Jevle Council (16:30):
  "The goat is a genuine work of art made by hand, symbolizing our rich cultural heritage rooted in pagan traditions and Nordic mythology."
  (16:30)

• Stephanie Zakrisson, AI Reporter (26:22):
  "The artificial intelligence used to create the fake video demonstrates how easily misinformation can disrupt beloved traditions and public trust."
  (26:22)

Community Response:
Despite repeated acts of vandalism, the Jevla community continues to uphold the tradition, viewing each destruction as a reaffirmation of the goat’s cultural significance. The recent AI hoax has prompted increased vigilance against digital misinformation, ensuring the community remains unified and informed.

Analysis:
The repeated targeting of the Swedish Straw Goat highlights the tensions between preserving cultural traditions and combating vandalism. The emergence of AI-generated misinformation further complicates these efforts, emphasizing the need for robust digital literacy and swift response mechanisms to protect cultural heritage.

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Conclusion:
This episode of the Global News Podcast covered a diverse range of impactful stories, from high-stakes international assassinations and geopolitical tensions to environmental challenges and cultural preservation. Each segment provided in-depth analysis and firsthand accounts, offering listeners a comprehensive understanding of the global issues shaping our world.

For further information or to share your thoughts on this episode, you can contact the BBC Global News Podcast team via email at [e-mail].

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This summary was compiled using the transcript provided and is intended to offer a comprehensive overview of the podcast episode for those who have not listened to it.

Transcript

[Janatulil]

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK.

[Victoria Gill]

This is the global news podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Janatulil and at 14 hours GMT on Wednesday 18th December, these are our main stories. Russia has detained an Uzbek man accused of assassinating a senior general in Moscow on behalf of Ukraine. The United nations expresses concerns about the expected large scale return of refugees to Syria. Two of Japan's biggest carmakers, Nissan and Honda, are considering merger talks because of increased competition from Chinese electric vehicle makers. Also in this podcast, Polish prosecutors seek a Europe wide arrest warrant for a former deputy Justice Minister accused of misusing state funds.

[Sean Bowles]

And the bear was up on this.

[Victoria Gill]

Deck here testing the door. What did you do? You used your vehicle horns and you.

[Suranjana Tewari]

Chase them in a desirable direction, which in this case would be away from town.

[Victoria Gill]

How melting sea ice has drawn polar bears closer to people. A day after a senior Russian general was assassinated in the heart of Moscow, Russia's security service, the FSB says it has detained a 29 year old man from Uzbekistan over the killing, saying he acted under instructions from Ukraine. Colonel Igor Kirilov died alongside his assistant when a bomb went off outside his apartment on Tuesday. He was in charge of the force protecting Russia's nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and had been accused of using chemical weapons in Russia's war in Ukraine. Svetlana Petrenko is a spokeswoman for the Investigative Committee which looks into major crimes in Russia.

[Amy Pope]

During interrogation he explained that he was recruited by the Ukraine Ukrainian special Services. On their instructions, he arrived in Moscow and received a homemade explosive device. He placed it on an electric scooter which he parked at the entrance of the residential building where Igor Kirilov lived. To monitor servicemen's home, he rented a car sharing vehicle in which he installed a video surveillance camera.

[Victoria Gill]

BBC Monitoring's Russia editor Vitaly Shevchenko told us more about the arrest of the Uzbek suspect.

[Suranjana Tewari]

We have got statements from both the Investigative Committee and also the Russian Federal Security Service and also a video published by the Security Service showing the apparent perpetrator, the man himself. And all of them are basically saying the same thing, that this man, a citizen of Uzbekistan, bought a scooter. Then several months later, and this operation apparently took several months, he received parts for the bomb which he assembled, then parked the scooter outside General Kirillov's house, set up a camera which was live streaming to the usbeckman's alleged handlers from the Ukrainian Security Service. So when on Tuesday morning they saw General Krylov emerge from his house. The Uzbek suspect pressed a button, detonating the bomb that killed the general. According to the man we can see in that video published by the Russian security service, he was allegedly promised $100,000 for killing the general and also a chance to move to the EU and settle in the eu. Whether any of that is true is, of course, another matter. But it's very significant that the Russian security services are saying that Ukrainian agents have been able to organize the killing of a senior and very important figure. Ukrainians, they are reluctant to go on the record officially and issue official statements via named representatives saying, we did it. But what they do and what they've done in the case of General Krylov as well various unnamed sources in the Ukrainian security services, they speak to the media and say that this is, this is that, yes, we did it. But officially, Ukraine tries to maintain a certain distance, but it's very significant that Russia is now pointing the finger of blame at Ukraine.

[Victoria Gill]

Ukraine, of course, would argue, if it was to argue, would say that it's defending itself in response to the Russian invasion. And it is interesting that this killing came just a day after Ukraine's secret service charged the general in absentia.

[Suranjana Tewari]

Well, the timing is really interesting. On Monday, the Ukrainian security service, the sbu, said that General Kryla was responsible for the use of banned chemical weapons against Ukrainian forces. For example, hand grenades containing CN and CS tear gas dropped from Russian drones into Ukrainian trenches. That's according to the sbu. So clearly Ukraine is interested in eliminating people like General Kyrylo and also would be interested in sending out a message to other figures in the Russian military saying, we can get you wherever we want. We are lethal. We can get you right in the heart of Moscow. Be afraid and look over your shoulder.

[Victoria Gill]

Vitaly Shevchenko. The sudden collapse of Bashar Al Assad's regime in Syria earlier this month led to scenes of rejoicing in Damascus and other cities and the return of homesick Syrians longing For an end 13 years of civil war. It also prompted a number of European countries to suspend asylum claims from Syrians, even as great uncertainty remains about how the Islamist rebels who overthrew Mr. Assad will govern the country now. A senior United nations official on a visit to Damascus has warned that Syria is not stable enough for the large scale return of refugees. Amy Pope, who's head of the UN's International Organization for Migration, told the BBC that without humanitarian assistance, sending people back would further destabilize Syria. We know that their people have been.

[Leena Sinjab]

Longing for home for years, and this.

[Victoria Gill]

Is an important opportunity for them.

[Leena Sinjab]

At the same time, because of the significant humanitarian needs, because of the destruction to infrastructure, to health care, to schools, to houses, because of the number of.

[Victoria Gill]

Unexplored exploded ordinances around the country, an.

[Leena Sinjab]

Influx of people coming in in large.

[Victoria Gill]

Large numbers at this moment in time.

[Leena Sinjab]

Could actually destabilize the country at a moment where they're trying to get their feet. So our concern is not about people going home.

[Victoria Gill]

Our concern is that if people come home in large numbers early on, it.

[Leena Sinjab]

Could actually undermine the very fledgling new.

[Victoria Gill]

Government that exists and could create pressures for people to leave again. Our correspondent in Damascus, Leena Sinjab, says in a nation shattered by years of war, economic crisis and last year's devastating earthquake, the scale of the challenge is immense. There are nearly 6 million Syrians who have been forced to leave due to Assad atrocities over the course of the last decade. And most of those wanting to return, especially those in Turkey, in Lebanon, who are living in difficult conditions, many of whom are living in tents, especially in Lebanon. But for them to come back, they need their homes back, they need the economy, they need jobs to work in. And that's for the new interim government and the de facto leader, Ahmed Al Shara. They won't be able to deliver on their own. They need international support, they need the international community. And first of all, they need the sanctions imposed by the US and the EU to be lifted. Those sanctions were tailored against the government of Bashar Al Assad because of atrocities against Assad. There are other designated sanctions that are headed to members of the regime, but there are sanctions on the country that blocked the money coming in, blocked aid to rebuild the country coming in. And that's a priority for the government and for Syrians and those refugees who want to come back. First, Leena Sinjab and following the rapid developments in Syria, the BBC World Service has launched a news and information service for people in Syria and neighbouring countries. It will be broadcast mainly in Arabic, but there will also be some programs in English. The Service is on FM on 93 MHz and on Medium Wave on 730 and 639 kHz. Last month, Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones From Australia, both 19, traveled to southeast Asia to celebrate their graduation. What should have been the trip of a lifetime for the best friends ended in tragedy. They were among six tourists who died after drinking alcohol thought to have been laced with methanol at a hostel in Laos. Holly's father, Sean Bowles, wants to make other travelers aware of the risks of methanol poisoning. He's been speaking to my colleague Emma Barnett.

[Sean Bowles]

It's something that you wouldn't wish upon anybody. What we're going through at the moment, it's just horrendous. You know, when you lose your, your daughter at such a young age, it's. I don't think there's anything worse. They were having an unbelievable time. They were just having so much fun and doing what two 19 year old girls should be doing. It was just horrendous for to end the way that it did.

[Amy Pope]

If I look at accountability, people have been arrested in total, I believe eight people working where they were staying. The Lao government say it's conducting investigations to find causes of the incidents and will bring perpetrators to justice. What is your view of that process and how much confidence do you have?

[Sean Bowles]

We absolutely want whoever is responsible to bought to account and brought to justice. And we're going to do everything that we can to make sure that is the case. Because someone somewhere has done the wrong thing and they need to be held to account. So we will put as much energy, when the time is right into doing that. As far as how confident I am. We've got the Australian Federal Police who've been with us from the start, who have been outstanding. They are still in contact with us. I know that they've offered their assistance to the Lao police, which I don't believe to date has been accepted, but we certainly hope that they do.

[Amy Pope]

Have you had any contact from the Lao authorities? Have you had any support in your mission to try and raise awareness or any feedback on that front?

[Sean Bowles]

Not from the Lao authorities, no. We've. They reached out through the Australian Federal Police and offered their condolences, but that's as much as we've got from them today.

[Amy Pope]

I'm sure you've gone over this a million times in your mind. There's very little that your, your girls, your daughters could have done differently. You know, they're in a bar, they're having a great time, we imagine.

[Sean Bowles]

Yeah. Look, they were doing what hundreds and thousands of other travelers and I've done it.

[Amy Pope]

I'm sure you've done it, you know.

[Sean Bowles]

Absolutely. Yeah, I've done it. I was in Thailand with, with Bianca's father 25 years ago.

[Victoria Gill]

Really?

[Amy Pope]

Gosh, I didn't realize that you, you had that connection, that you traveled together as the dads and your daughters had followed suit. Well, I'm sure you're both trying to.

[Sean Bowles]

Hold each other up when we're Together, there's, there's some comfort. It's just bizarre to be going through the same thing with, with your best friends. But we are, and, and just being together and just talking just, just helps us get through the days.

[Victoria Gill]

Sean Bowles, the father of teenager Holly Bowles, who died from suspected alcohol poisoning. It's a town known as the polar bear capital of the world. Churchill in northern Canada. Climate change is a danger to both the bears and the people living there. Melting sea ice is forcing the dwindling and often hungry bear population to spend more time on shore closer to humans. Our science correspondent Victoria Gill went to Churchill with a team of polar bear researchers. We're coming up to the cabin here.

[Sean Bowles]

I caught one of the bears trying to get in.

[Jeff York]

Oh, really?

[Sean Bowles]

It's hungry. All bears are hungry right now.

[Jeff York]

Ian Van Nest is a ranger for the Polar Bear Alert program in Churchill, Manitoba. It's his job to move bears away from the town and from people.

[Victoria Gill]

The bear was up on this deck.

[Sean Bowles]

Here testing the door.

[Victoria Gill]

What did you do? You haze them, right? You use your vehicle horns, Crocker shells.

[Sean Bowles]

And you chase them in a desirable.

[Suranjana Tewari]

Direction, which in this case would be.

[Sean Bowles]

Away from town, right?

[Jeff York]

In a warming Arctic, living alongside polar bears is becoming even more complicated. So while Ian and his colleagues keep bears and people apart, conservation scientists head to Churchill every year. Because as the sea ice forms here at the start of winter, the bears gather, waiting.

[Victoria Gill]

For polar bears, sea ice means food.

[Jeff York]

Alyssa McCall is from the organization Polar Bears International.

[Victoria Gill]

It gives them access to their main prey seals. And polar bears need a ridiculous amount of calories to function out there on the Arctic sea ice. And they can only get that amount of calories from seal blubber.

[Jeff York]

The ice free summer period when bears aren't able to hunt is now about a month longer than it was in the 1980s. And in that time, this area has lost about half its polar bears.

[Victoria Gill]

This was the first area where we could link the loss of sea ice to changes in polar bear populations.

[Jeff York]

Monitoring and studying polar bears here is a research team that we're tagging along with on the subarctic tundra. A few miles from Churchill, about an hour into our trip, a young male bear approaches. There's a polar bear under a tundra buggy right now.

[Victoria Gill]

He's very curious about us.

[Jeff York]

My heart's really beating.

[Janatulil]

I mean, they're intensely curious about anything new in their environment.

[Suranjana Tewari]

They want to check it out.

[Jeff York]

That's Polar Bears International's Jeff York. Bears are spending more time on land. Does that mean there's more of a period where they're like to be closer to people.

[Janatulil]

It definitely increases the probability.

[Victoria Gill]

So the longer bears are on shore.

[Janatulil]

The more opportunity they have to interact with people and the longer they might.

[Victoria Gill]

Need to start looking for alternative sources.

[Janatulil]

Of energy and food. And sometimes those sources are us.

[Jeff York]

So for now, Churchill has to deal with hungry polar bears waiting for longer on shore. But in the long term, the sea ice that brings the polar bears and thousands of tourists here every year is melting away.

[Suranjana Tewari]

What I've seen is that the weather.

[Amy Pope]

Has become very unpredictable.

[Suranjana Tewari]

You don't know what you're going to get.

[Jeff York]

Dave Daly runs Wapusk Adventures and he's raced sled dogs across the Arctic.

[Victoria Gill]

We've adapted.

[Suranjana Tewari]

I have my sleds that I designed to go on the snow, and then I built four carts that mimic the sleighs but on wheels.

[Jeff York]

The disappearance of the sea ice here could transform this environment. That's why a new research facility that opened just this year is pumping cold water from the Hudson Bay into the laboratory to study it. Professor Feiyu Wang is a senior researcher at the new Churchill Marine Observatory.

[Suranjana Tewari]

We're projecting the next few decades the bay will be open ocean all year round. But in the meantime, it also opens.

[Sean Bowles]

Up opportunities for shipping, for other development.

[Jeff York]

Because essentially that seaway has been blocked by the ice and that ice is retreating. This is a town preparing for a less icy future. But the fate of its polar bears depends on us and whether we can rein in rising temperatures and preserve that sea ice that they depend on.

[Victoria Gill]

That report by Victoria Gill. Still to come.

[Amy Pope]

The goat was erected for the first time in 1966. It's 13 meters tall, 7 meters long and weighs 3 tons. And it's a genuine work of art.

[Victoria Gill]

The peculiar Swedish Christmas tradition that's become the target of arsonists podcasts. You're listening to the global news podcast. Two major Japanese carmakers, Honda and Nissan, have been holding talks, including on a possible merger, on how to better compete against fast growing electric vehicle manufacturers, particularly Chinese ones and Tesla. If Nissan and Honda did merge, they could create the world's third biggest auto group by vehicle sales, after Toyota and Volkswagen. The talks come at a time of concern about what Donald Trump's return as US President would mean for the global car industry. Our business reporter Suranjana Tewari told us more about what's being discussed.

[Leena Sinjab]

These discussions were between the two auto giants were first reported by Japan's Nikkei newspaper. They're understood to be in the very early stages and there's no guarantee that a deal will be struck. But really, this is the clearest sign yet of some sort of reorganization in Japan's auto industry in the face of immense challenges posed by carmakers like Tesla, but also Chinese manufacturers of electric vehicles in particular. And this isn't the first time that the two manufacturers have collaborated. In fact, they agreed to collaborate on some aspects of making electric vehicles with that announcement coming back in March. But these talks seem to be around deepening those ties. The two carmakers are Japan's number two and number three automakers. And this would create a formidable domestic rival to Toyota, which is, of course, Japan's largest automaker.

[Victoria Gill]

And this would also help Nissan and Honda, if they were to merge, to make investments that would allow them to compete against electric car makers.

[Leena Sinjab]

That's right. I mean, some analysts that we spoke to today did say this is very good news because both companies are facing significant challenges. And we saw on the stock market that there was a great deal of optimism around a potential merger. Again, it's not confirmed it is a potential merger. Shares in Nissan surged more than 20% in Tokyo trade before having to be suspended, whereas Honda's shares were actually down 1.6%. And that gives us some indication about the optimism around the smaller company, which is Nissan, and how a potential merger might actually change things for Nissan. As you mentioned, a merger would allow them to make some more and perhaps better investments. It would also reduce costs. But of course, there are always issues like having to make job cuts in these situations as well. And most of all, aside from the competition, the state of the global economy is also a real concern. Borrowing costs have been high for both these carmakers and demand has been down in both Europe and the us and one analyst we spoke to said that even if a merger comes through, these companies are facing so many challenges it might be a little too late. He described it as just rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.

[Victoria Gill]

Suranjana Teowari. Now, another story involving one of the world's most recognizable car brands. The BBC has seen evidence the multinational corporation which owns Jaguar Land Rover arranged for a whistleblower to be sacked for publishing concerns about the safety of electric cars it helped to design. Confidential emails between executives at companies owned by Tata Group reveal they retaliated against the engineer involved. He'd posted on the social media site Reddit that lives were being put at risk. Jaguar Land Rover and Tata Group have declined to comment. His our Financial Investigations correspondent Andy Verity.

[Suranjana Tewari]

Hazar Denley, who's a mechanical engineer, first raised concerns internally while working for Tata Group's global engineering consultancy, Tatar Technologies, in test driving electric cars designed by Tata for the new Vietnamese carmaker Vinfast. He says he identified poor components in the car's suspension and steering, some of which were snapping off or otherwise failing. He proposed solutions, but says they were rejected, so he resigned. Then in May this year, when he'd been separately hired by Jaguar Land Rover, he decided to speak out and post his concerns on Reddit after a Vinfast car in California veered off a road and crashed, killing a family of four. Confidential emails reveal that after seeing those posts, Tatar executives contacted Jaguar bosses and his contract was terminated. He was then blacklisted. Vinfast said it didn't interfere in Tata Group's HR activities.

[Victoria Gill]

Andy Verity In Poland, a former deputy justice minister seems to have disappeared. Why? Well, state prosecutors accuse Marcin Romanowski of misusing millions of state funds. Last week, a warrant for his arrest was issued in the country, but the search has now widened. As I heard from our correspondent Adam.

[Janatulil]

Easton in Warsaw, today's news has taken on an international dimension because they've asked the court to issue a European arrest warrant for Mr. Rommel, who's an opposition MP, after he's just basically fallen off the radar. For the past week and a half, he failed to turn up to a court hearing more than a week ago, which ruled that he should be remanded in custody for three months to await trial on 11 charges of fraud. He was responsible when he was Deputy justice minister between 2019 and 2023 for what it was called here, a justice fund. That's money meant to help crime victims and reintegrate prisoners back into society. And he is accused of basically using all that money, up to $40 million, to fund projects that he liked politically or were close to his heart. An audit found that only 40% of money from that justice fund was actually used to help crime victims.

[Victoria Gill]

And he's reported not to have used his phones for a while.

[Janatulil]

Yeah, he hasn't allegedly used the phones that are registered to him since December 6th. He was supposed to turn up at that court hearing on the 7th. And on social media, there was a picture of him in what appeared to be a hospital bed. No idea where that was. But his political supporters were saying, oh, what are you doing hounding this man? He's had a serious operation. This is ridiculous. But as I say, he's not been seen at all since more than a week and a half. In the country, party members of the now opposition Law and Justice Party, which was in government when he was the deputy justice minister. Today, they have no idea where he is, but one governing party MP says he thinks he may have fled to Hungary, where he may be seeking refuge.

[Victoria Gill]

Adam Easton Finally, a peculiar Swedish Christmas tradition. Every winter, the town of Jevla erects a giant straw goat to celebrate the holidays. But it's become a favorite target for arsonists. And now artificial intelligence Stephanie Zakrisson takes up the story.

[Amy Pope]

You might think that the Swedish holiday season is all about meatballs, ski slopes and northern lights. But another highlight of the festive period is Jevlebokian, a giant effigy made of straw that's been part of the Christmas celebrations for almost six decades. As Maria Valberg from Jevle Council explains, the goat was erected for the first time in 1966. It's 13 meters tall, 7 meters long and weighs 3 tons. And it's a genuine work of art made by by hand. The goat symbol has origins in pagan traditions and Nordic mythology. Up to the 1800s, it was actually a quite scary looking goat man who brought presents during the festive season in Sweden. Today, the goat is a common Christmas decoration. I've got one myself. Although it's much smaller than the one on display in Javle. The effigy takes about 1,000 hours to make. But that effort has perhaps felt like a bit of a waste for the workers involved, since the goat has regularly met eight fiery fate. Even in its first years, it didn't last longer than New Year's Eve, setting a tradition for decades to come once it was burned down by vandals who used burning arrows to set it alight. Over the last couple of years, the council has upped its budget and put in a range of protections. Double fencing, CCTV, security guards and 247 monitoring all failed to deter the arsonists. Many Swedes follow the council's livestream to check in on the celebrity, with some betting on how long it will last this holiday season. This past weekend, video footage began spreading on social media, suggesting the goat had once again met its match. A clip showed the goat doing what it does best, going up in flames. And it seemed like this year's display was done for. But it turned out the clip originated from a fake website, javlebokken.com which imitated the council's live stream. And Swedish TV is reporting that the video was created using artificial intelligence. The council reported the website and it has now been taken down on the real live feed. The goat appears to be doing fine where it stands on the square with A sprinkle of snow on the ground. As for now, it's still standing.

[Victoria Gill]

And that report was by Stephanie Sacrason. 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 topics covered, you can send us an email. The address is globalpodcastbc.co.uk. this edition was mixed by Craig Kingham, the producer of Chantal Hartle. The editor is Karen Martin. I'm Janat Jalil. Until next time, Goodbye.

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