Nvidia shares sink as Chinese AI app spooks markets

Summary

Global News Podcast Summary
BBC World Service – January 28, 2025
Episode: Nvidia Shares Sink as Chinese AI App Spooks Markets

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1. Big Tech and AI: The AI Arms Race Intensifies

The episode opens with a deep dive into the escalating competition between the United States and China in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector, highlighting a significant market reaction triggered by a new Chinese AI application.

Market Impact:
Shares of Western tech giants plummeted, with Nvidia experiencing a dramatic loss of half a trillion dollars in value. This sharp decline was precipitated by the success of Deepseek, a Chinese startup that launched a low-cost AI chatbot rivaling offerings like OpenAI's ChatGPT. Despite the U.S. imposing restrictions on the sale of advanced AI chip technology to China, Deepseek's application quickly became the top-rated free app on Apple's App Store in the United States within its first month.

Expert Insights:
Stephanie Hare, a technology author, provides an analysis of the situation:

"There's been a lot of discussion about the huge amount of investment in the AI space in the last few years... Deep Seek are saying that it's cost them $6 million to train and develop its model." [03:10]

Hare questions the credibility of Deepseek's claims, noting skepticism among industry experts regarding the $6 million development cost. She explains that the Chinese company may have leveraged existing Nvidia GPUs and lower-powered chips, collaborating with engineers to develop an AI model at a fraction of the cost of its Western counterparts.

Global Implications:
Lando Norris emphasizes the broader significance of this AI competition:

"Whoever wins the race for AI will define the technology of the 21st century... it matters for companies, productivity, and growth." [02:30]

Stephanie Hare adds:

"The received wisdom of how much it costs to develop and run AI now has to be completely rethought." [04:53]

This development challenges the prevailing assumptions about the financial barriers to AI innovation, suggesting a potential shift in the global tech landscape.

2. Escalating Conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo

The podcast shifts focus to the volatile situation in Goma, the largest city in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where heavy fighting has erupted between government forces and the M23 rebel group.

Current Situation:
Mark Cieslak reports:

"Rebels from the Rwandan-backed M23 group say they're now in control of Goma... But the Congolese army says it still has control of key sites including the airport." [05:44]

On-the-Ground Reports:
Emre Makumeno details the chaos:

"There's gunshots all over the city, everywhere." [06:18]

Lucy Williamson adds a personal touch from within Kinshasa:

"We’re hearing, even nearby our houses, some of our soldiers riding on motorbikes with guns... The water has been cut off, electricity has been cut off, banks have closed. It's difficult to move around." [06:21, 07:37]

Political Dynamics:
The involvement of Rwandan troops is a contentious issue. The DRC government alleges significant Rwandan support for the M23 rebels, a claim Rwanda denies. International pressure is mounting, leading to Kenya facilitating a forthcoming summit between the Congolese and Rwandan presidents.

"DRC Engagement, dialogue, consultations is the only viable way out of the situation in DRC." [07:18]

3. Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza: Displacement and Return

The podcast covers the ongoing conflict in Gaza, focusing on the return of over 300,000 displaced Palestinians to the region following a recent ceasefire brokered between Israel and Hamas.

Return Under Conditions:
Hamas has allowed the return of these displaced individuals conditionally, hinging on the release of civilian hostage Abel Yehud. Despite the return, the area remains devastated, with 75% of Gaza City's infrastructure damaged or destroyed.

Personal Stories:
Jewish Community Centre reporter Jessica Parker shares poignant narratives:

"The war made nomads of Gaza's people. Today, they began the journey home, hundreds of thousands walking north with bags, blankets, and children." [09:58]

One survivor, Tova Friedman, recounts her harrowing experiences:

"I stood and watched helplessly as little girls from the nearby barrack were marched away crying to the gas chamber... I silently wondered, 'Is my barrack next?'" [10:33]

Future Challenges:
Paul Adams discusses the long road ahead for reconstruction and governance in Gaza:

"For displaced Gazans returning to the north looking to rebuild their lives, the future is full of uncertainty... Aid agencies are bracing themselves for a series of monumental challenges." [12:00]

Eddie Hammerman, a brand expert, elaborates on the complexities of rebuilding:

"With the very fabric of life in Gaza turned upside down... it's hard to see how this tiny, overcrowded place can be rehabilitated anytime soon." [12:54]

4. Public Outcry in Serbia: Protests Over Tragic Train Station Collapse

The episode highlights significant student-led protests in Serbia, sparked by the deadly collapse of a train station roof in Novi Sad two months prior, which resulted in 15 fatalities.

Protest Demands:
Students are demanding transparency and accountability, insisting on the release of all related documents and the prosecution of officials deemed responsible for the disaster.

"The students are now demanding the release of all documents as well as criminal prosecution of officials who they believe might be responsible for the disaster." [15:53]

Government Response:
President Alexander Vučić has responded by pledging a comprehensive government overhaul, including replacing about 50% of ministers and pardoning students and professors charged during the protests.

"I'm ready to go through reconstruction of the government and replace about 50% of ministers..." [16:51]

Public Sentiment:
Despite government concessions, frustration persists among the populace, with widespread daily protests across major cities commemorating the victims.

"The protests which started in Novi Sad... have spread not only to the capital but also to all major cities in Serbia." [17:09]

5. Corporate Accountability: Coca-Cola's European Product Recall

Coca-Cola has initiated a recall of certain canned and bottled beverages across several European countries—including Belgium, Britain, France, Germany, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands—due to elevated levels of chlorate, a pesticide byproduct.

Health and Safety Concerns:
Chlorate is prohibited as a pesticide in the European Union but can appear in drinking water from chlorine disinfectants used in water treatment and food processing.

Brand Impact:
Eddie Hammerman assesses the potential repercussions for Coca-Cola:

"They will have some reputational damage... they need to really rebuild that consumer confidence." [24:15]

Hammerman emphasizes the importance of prompt and transparent communication to mitigate reputational harm:

"Make sure that the issue is fixed... clear comms. That needs to be open, transparent, clear." [26:38]

6. Royal Navy's Submarine Renaming Sparks Controversy

In a move to avoid offending France, the British Royal Navy has renamed one of its new nuclear submarines from HMS Agincourt to HMS Achilles. The original name commemorated a historic English victory over the French at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415.

Reason for Change:
While the name HMS Agincourt honors a significant military triumph, concerns arose that it might be offensive to France, a key NATO ally. The Royal Navy, with approval from King Charles, decided to adopt a less contentious name.

"The Navy announced a change of name. HMS Agincourt would instead be known as HMS Achilles... naming a submarine after a key ally's humiliating loss might offend." [26:38]

Political Reactions:
Former Defence Secretary Grant Shapps criticized the decision as "sacrilege and woke nonsense," highlighting the tensions between traditional military honors and modern diplomatic sensitivities.

7. Remembering Auschwitz: 80th Anniversary of Liberation

The podcast pays tribute to Holocaust survivors who commemorated the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz Birkenau, one of the most notorious Nazi death camps.

Survivor Testimonies:
Survivors like 86-year-old Tova Friedman shared harrowing accounts of their experiences, emphasizing the enduring pain and the importance of remembrance.

"I hope this will never be forgotten by anyone." [21:07]

Commemorative Events:
The event was marked by music and personal stories, with dignitaries including King Charles attending. Survivor Mala Tribić stressed the critical role of these commemorations in shaping a better future.

"The responsibility of remembrance rests far heavier on our shoulders and on those of generations yet unborn." [21:19]

Historical Context:
Andrew Peach provides a poignant reminder of the atrocities committed at Auschwitz:

"Prisoners were starved and worked to death through slave labour... Medical experiments were carried out on children and the gas chambers at one point were killing 12,000 people a day." [21:30]

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Conclusion

The Global News Podcast episode from January 28, 2025, covers a diverse range of pressing global issues, from the high-stakes AI competition between superpowers and conflicts in the Congo and Gaza, to significant societal upheavals in Serbia and corporate accountability challenges faced by Coca-Cola. The episode also honors historical remembrance with the Auschwitz liberation anniversary and navigates diplomatic sensitivities with the Royal Navy's submarine renaming. Through expert analysis, on-the-ground reporting, and personal testimonies, the podcast provides listeners with a comprehensive overview of the day's most critical stories.

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Notable Quotes:

• Lando Norris [02:30]: "Whoever wins the race for AI will define the technology of the 21st century."
• Stephanie Hare [04:53]: "The received wisdom of how much it costs to develop and run AI now has to be completely rethought."
• Lucy Williamson [07:37]: "Life has been very difficult because people haven't gone out. So there is no water, there is no electricity."
• Jessica Parker [09:58]: "The war made nomads of Gaza's people. Today, they began the journey home."
• Eddie Hammerman [24:15]: "They need to really rebuild that consumer confidence."
• Mark Cieslak: Various attributions throughout the episode.

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This summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and conclusions of the episode, providing a clear and comprehensive overview for those who have not listened to the podcast.

Transcript

[Janat Jalil]

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the uk.

[Lando Norris]

What does it take to go racing in the fastest cars in the world? Oscar Piastri.

[Mark Cieslak]

Your head's trying to get roofed one.

[Lando Norris]

Way, your body's trying to go another. Let's roll.

[Emre Makumeno]

It's very extreme in the sense of how close you're racing. Wheel to wheel.

[Lando Norris]

We've been given unprecedented access to two of the most famous names in Formula One, McLaren and Aston Martin. I'm Landon Arts. They build a beautiful bit of machinery that I get to then go and have fun in. They open the doors for their factories as the 2024 season reached its peak. I'm Josh Hartnett. This is F1 back at base. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

[Mark Cieslak]

This is the global News podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Janat Jalil and in the early hours of Tuesday 28th January, these are our main stories. US tech shares have fallen sharply on Wall street in response to Chinese advances in AI threatening the dominance of big American firms. The United nations says there's no doubt Rwandan troops are supporting M23 rebels who are seizing the Congolese city of Goma. Holocaust survivors have marked the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi death camp at Auschwitz.

[Janat Jalil]

Also in this podcast, HMS Agincourt would instead be known as HMS Achilles.

[Mark Cieslak]

We'll tell you why the changing of the name of a British submarine has caused an outcry. We begin in the world of big tech and artificial intelligence, where the emergence of what's said to be a low cost AI Chinese chatbot has caused shockwaves. Shares in Western tech giants fell sharply in value on Monday with the AI chip maker Nvidia, one of the hardest hit. Half a trillion dollars was wiped off its value after a Chinese startup, Deepseek, stunned its American competitors with the success of its AI app, reportedly made at a fraction of the cost of rivals like ChatGPT. Despite only being launched this month, it's become the top rated free application on Apple's App Store in the United States. This is despite the US restricting the sale to China of the advanced chip technology that powers AI. Stephanie Hare is a technology author and and explains why this matters to all of us.

[Lando Norris]

Right now we've got really a competition between the two global superpowers, the United States and China for what is being arguably pitched as the battle for the technology of the 21st century. So it will matter for companies, it will matter for productivity, it will matter for growth. So even if you're in the United Kingdom Or I'm talking to you from Germany tonight. You might be thinking, what does that have to do with me? Well, these are low growth countries so everybody is looking for the next big thing that's going to get them some economic growth so that we can pay for everything that we need, education, healthcare, et cetera. Whoever wins the race for AI will define that.

[Mark Cieslak]

Well, our AI correspondent Mark Cieslak told us more about this new app.

[Stephanie Hare]

There's been a lot of discussion about the huge amount of investment in the AI space in the last few years. Microsoft has said that it's going to spend $80 billion on AI infrastructure and Meta, that's the company that owns Facebook and Instagram. They're saying they're going to spend between 60 and 65 billion on a infrastructure. Now that's on things like data centers. These are, these are what's required for AI operations to make the tech actually work. Now Deep Seek are saying that it's cost them $6 million to train million. Six billion, yeah, $6 million to train and develop its model.

[Mark Cieslak]

But can we trust this claim from Deep Seek? And if so, is, is it surprising given that the Biden administration introduced export controls to try to stop advanced technology been sold to Chinese companies?

[Stephanie Hare]

There's a lot of industry experts who are skeptical about that $6 million number. That being said, this looks like at face value, this looks like, you know, necessity being the mother of invention. It looks like a Chinese hedge fund, a hedge fund high flyer has been running this, this, this project, this Deep Seat project almost as a weekend project, a side project. He had access to a large number of Nvidia GPUs before this ban came in. And he's make use of these chips as well as lower powered chips. And working with a number of engineers, they've managed to create an AI model which does very much the same thing as OpenAI's AI models, for instance, but at a much, much reduced cost.

[Mark Cieslak]

But the big question is, what does this all mean for American companies that thought they were leading in the AI race?

[Stephanie Hare]

The received wisdom, if you like, of how much it costs to develop and run AI now has to be completely rethought. Or on the surface it looks like it has to be rethought because there's a lot of this that's still unknown. We need to spend a lot more time interrogating this software. We need to spend a lot more time figuring out how useful this particular software is because for instance, so far all the reporting is saying that it's really, really good at doing particular tasks. It's really good with maths problems, it's really good with science problems. But if you start asking it about issues, if you ask its chatbot about issues that the Chinese government is uncomfortable with, it will either not respond or it'll very quickly try to change the subject. So that's a big question mark over how useful a thing is if it's shot through a lens, which is beneficial to one particular government in the world.

[Mark Cieslak]

Mark Cieslak Heavy artillery and gunfire were heard throughout the day on Monday in parts of Goma, the biggest city in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Rebels from The Rwandan backed M23 group say they're now in control of Goma, which is a vital trading and transport hub and home to up to 2 million people. But the Congolese army says it still has control of key sites including the airport. Thousands of inmates are reported to have escaped from the main prison in Goma and there is panic among residents who are trapped in their homes.

[Emre Makumeno]

There's gunshots all over the city, everywhere.

[Lucy Williamson]

We'Re hearing, even nearby our houses, I could see through my window some of our soldiers riding on motorbikes with guns. This means that the rebels are not.

[Emre Makumeno]

Controlling the whole city.

[Stephanie Hare]

The water has been cut off, electricity has been cut off, banks have closed. So it is difficult to move around.

[Mark Cieslak]

There have been anti Rwandan protests in another eastern city, Bukavu and the Congolese capital Kinshasa. With international pressure mounting to end the fighting, Kenya has announced that the Congolese and Rwandan presidents have have agreed to attend a summit in the next couple of days. The Kenyan president William Bhutto gave this update at a news conference from where.

[Emre Makumeno]

I sit, a possibility of a military solution to the challenges that faced eastern.

[Lucy Williamson]

DRC Engagement, dialogue, consultations is the only.

[Emre Makumeno]

Viable way out of the situation in drc.

[Mark Cieslak]

Our reporter in Kinshasa, Emre Makumeno told me more about what he's been hearing about the situation in Goma on the ground.

[Lucy Williamson]

The government first of all here in Kinshasa where I am, has confirmed the presence of m tentative in Goma. They've said that to avoid any bloodsheding, they have asked the population to stay indoor and avoid looting. And in Goma it's been very difficult to talk to people because as we speak the Internet has been shut down and as you heard there in various parts of the city, you have still soldiers roaming the streets and gunshots here and there. So what we know is that the rebels have not seized all of the Goma you still have pockets of resistance from the patriots, the wasalindo, that's how they are called, who are resisting the complete fall of Goma. Life has been very difficult because people haven't gone out. So there is no water, there is no electricity. There is an Internet blackout as of this afternoon. So the situation is still very, very volatile.

[Mark Cieslak]

And are we talking about rebels or are Rwandan government troops involved, as has been alleged by Congo in the past?

[Lucy Williamson]

The Congolese government says that the M23 is heavily supported by the Rwandan government backing them with ammunition with between 3 to 4,000 troops. That has been corroborated by the group of experts from the un But Rwanda has vehemently been rejecting those allegations. So it's not very clear, but the M23, these are Congolese from Tuchy origin. They've been claiming some discriminations against them. Even that claim has been rejected by the Congolese government.

[Mark Cieslak]

Emery Makumeno in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Hamas says more than 300,000 displaced Palestinians have returned to the devastated northern part of Gaza since Monday morning. Streams of people, many of them families, clutching all their belongings, have been making the journey from the south on foot. The Israeli government made their return conditional on the release of a civilian hostage, Abel Yehud. Hamas says she's due to be freed. This week, our Middle east correspondent, Lucy Williamson in Jerusalem heard from some of the Palestinians who've returned to northern Gaza.

[Jessica Parker]

The war made nomads of Gaza's people. Today. They began the journey home, hundreds of thousands walking north with bags, blankets and children. Whole lives piled, teetering on carts and lorries. For 15 months, home was a place Gazans carried inside them whatever else they carried, whatever they lost. Rezek Al Kasas was walking home slowly, at his infant granddaughter's pace. Survivors old and young.

[Lucy Williamson]

I collected her father in pieces from Khan Younis. Thank God I'm crying from happiness. I don't want anything except to enter my land, even if I only eat mud.

[Jessica Parker]

More than half a million people were displaced from northern Gaza during the war, blocked from returning by Israeli forces positioned along a strip of land dividing Gaza in two. Today, after Israel and Hamas agreed an additional prisoner exchange, those forces withdrew. In their place, familiar faces manned the crossing point, welcoming friends and relatives home. But the home many returned to was rubble, a vast concrete desert burying shops, businesses and homes. My feeling is indescribable. We will see the same destruction that.

[Paul Adams]

We have seen here.

[Andrew Peach]

There is no alternative.

[Jessica Parker]

We're going from emptiness to emptiness. Satellite images suggest three quarters of Gaza City's buildings have been damaged or destroyed. Hamas officials have called for 130,000 emergency tents to shelter people Gaza's displaced, still homeless even after coming home. This truce is slowly taking hold, but talks on extending it into a permanent ceasefire haven't yet begun. The road back home is open for Gazans, but the path ahead is unclear.

[Mark Cieslak]

Lucy Williamson reporting. Well, our diplomatic correspondent Paul Adams has been assessing the long road back to the reconstruction and governance of Gaza.

[Eddie Hammerman]

For displaced Gazans returning to the north looking to rebuild their lives, the future is full of uncertainty. If their houses still stand, the chances are they'll be occupied by relatives, friends, or even strangers. Those without homes will do what they've done for the past 15 months, live in tents or among the ruins. Aid agencies are bracing themselves for a series of monumental challenges. Sam Rose works for unrwa, the UN Agency responsible for Palestinian refugees.

[Stephanie Hare]

With the advent of the ceasefire and the hostage deal, aid is flowing at.

[Emre Makumeno]

Levels we've not seen since the start of the conflict. So we're able to meet the bare minimums in terms of food, water, blankets, hygiene items.

[Stephanie Hare]

But beyond that, this is a long, long road.

[Eddie Hammerman]

With the very fabric of life in Gaza turned upside down. Schools, hospitals and other institutions reduced to rubble and entire neighborhoods obliterated, it's hard to see how this tiny, overcrowded place can be rehabilitated anytime soon. Donald Trump has suggested that Jordan and Egypt take in refugees temporarily or permanently, an idea swiftly rejected by the countries in question. But even if Gaza is not reoccupied as Israeli hardliners would like, what future does this ravaged strip of land have? If physical and political reconstruction don't begin soon, giving Gazans a glimpse of a better future, then some of those who can afford it will go, leaving the poorest and most vulnerable to fend for themselves in a blighted, ungovernable place.

[Mark Cieslak]

Paul Adams well, so far since the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, seven women have been freed this month. Up until Monday, it wasn't clear how many of the remaining hostages due to be released in this first phase were still alive. But Israel says it's now received confirmation from Hamas. As another one of our correspondents in Jerusalem, Nick Beek, explains the Israeli government.

[Emre Makumeno]

Today they gave an update. They said that of the 26 hostages due to be released in the rest of this first initial phase, 18 of of them are surviving and eight of them have died. Now, that is a figure that has been in the Israeli media for a fair few weeks now. So this was the expectation the Israeli government saying they're in contact with all of the families. So this is the bleak reality of the situation that people are looking at. And in the next couple of days, if this ceasefire holds, it is precarious, but it does seem, seem to be holding for now. Three more hostages will be released on Thursday, another three at the weekend. And of course, at the same time, there will be this exchange of Palestinian prisoners currently in Israeli jail.

[Mark Cieslak]

Nick Beak Next to Serbia as we record this podcast, Thousands of students are spending the night on the streets of the capital Belgrade as part of their latest protest over the deadly collapse of a train station roof in November. On Monday, the students blockaded one of the main traffic junctions in the city, saying they intended to stay there for 24 hours. The Ruth collapse in the city of Novisad two months ago killed 15 people, and the protesters blame rampant government corruption, which they say led to poor construction. President Alexander Vucic has accused protest leaders of being funded by foreign powers to destabilize his government. Yovana Georgievsky from the BBC Serbian Service was at the scene of the blockade and she told me what the protesters were demanding from the government.

[Paul Adams]

The students are now demanding the release of all documents as well as criminal prosecution of officials who they believe might be responsible for the disaster. And so far, several people, including some government officials, have been arrested. But the government denies corruption allegations and the blame for loss of lives. However, in today's address, the president of Serbia, Alexander Vucic, said that he's ready to go through reconstruction of the government and, as he said, replace about 50% of ministers hoping to meet the request. One of the request is also pardoning students and professors who've been charged during the course of the protest. They've been shaking Serbia for the past three months. And in today's address, the president of Serbia said that he's all ready to meet that request.

[Mark Cieslak]

So it seems that these protests, which have been going on for months now, have had some effect, that the government is bowing to pressure. And there have been a number of arrests, haven't there? But clearly the students feel that this is not enough. And is there frustrations shared by the wider population.

[Paul Adams]

The protests which started in Novi Sad, a city in the north of Serbia where the canopy collapse have spread not only to the capital but also to all major cities in Serbia, as well as to a dozen of towns. There are daily protest actions that are supported by ordinary citizens. So every day there are protests all over Serbia for 15 minutes at 11:55, which is the time when the canopy collapsed in honor to the 15 victims.

[Mark Cieslak]

Jovana Georgievsky in Belgrade. Still to come, we'll tell you why Coca Cola has recalled some of its canned and bottled drinks from a number of European countries.

[Lando Norris]

What does it take to go racing in the fastest cars in the world? Oscar piastri.

[Mark Cieslak]

Your head's trying to get ripped one way, your body's trying to go another.

[Lando Norris]

Let's roll.

[Emre Makumeno]

It's very extreme in the sense of how close you're racing, wheel to wheel.

[Lando Norris]

We've been given unprecedented access to two of the most famous names in Formula One, McLaren and Aston Martin. I'm London Arts. They build a beautiful bit of machinery that I get to then go and have fun. They opened the doors for their factories as the 2024 season reached its peak. I'm Josh Hartnett. This is F1 back at base. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

[Mark Cieslak]

80 years after they were freed from the Nazi death camp Auschwitz Birkenau, some of the few remaining survivors returned there on Monday to mark Holocaust Memorial Day. The 50 survivors, some of them wearing blue and white striped scarves reminiscent of the uniforms they were once forced to wear, braved freezing temperatures to attend the commemorations. In southern Poland, more than 6 million Jews were systematically murdered by the Nazis, along with more than 3 million Soviet prisoners of war, nearly 2 million non Jewish Poles, hundreds of thousands of Roma Serbs, disabled people and many thousands of others, including members of the LGBT community. Jessica Parker sent this report from Auschwitz, which contains distressing details.

[Andrew Peach]

Music composed by people who died or survived Auschwitz today echoed through a vast tent erected over the main gate into Auschwitz. But Birkenau, the same gates where decades ago men, women and children were taken to their death. And with the music were the personal stories. 86 year old Tova Friedman was born in Poland and transported to Auschwitz with her mother in 1944 when she was just five years old.

[Jessica Parker]

I stood and watched helplessly as little girls from the nearby barrack were marched away crying to the gas chamber. They were very young. As I was six or seven, they too became ashes. Is my barrack next? I silently wondered.

[Andrew Peach]

The Holocaust led to millions of lives being cut brutally short because of a racist ideological mission to wipe out Europe's Jewish population and other groups deemed inferior or undesirable by the Nazis. Members of the Polish resistance and Roma community, as well as Soviet prisoners of war, also died at Auschwitz. In the audience were presidents, prime ministers and royalty, among them, King Charles. Earlier, he spoke at the Jewish Community Centre in Krakow.

[Mark Cieslak]

As the number of Holocaust survivors regrettably.

[Emre Makumeno]

Diminishes with the passage of time, the responsibility of remembrance rests far heavier on our shoulders and on those of generations yet unborn.

[Janat Jalil]

The act of remembering the evils of.

[Emre Makumeno]

The past remains a vital task and in so doing we inform our presence.

[Mark Cieslak]

And shape our future.

[Andrew Peach]

Prisoners were starved and worked to death through slave labour. Disease from tuberculosis to dysentery were allowed to rage. Medical experiments were carried out on children and the gas chambers at one point were killing 12,000 people a day. 94 year old Mala Tribic came to today's event. A Polish born British survivor who was liberated from another camp, Camp Bergen Belsen, by the British.

[Paul Adams]

It's very important for me that this big commemoration is taking place and that and well, I hope this will never be forgotten by anyone.

[Andrew Peach]

Liberation for Auschwitz came when the Red army approached from the east as the Nazis plans for European expansion crumbled. About 7,000 prisoners remained. Tens of thousands of others had already been forcibly evacuated by the Nazis out of Auschwitz on brutal death marches. Now, 80 years on, there is still a commitment by a dwindling number of survivors to keep their own memories alive and as best they can, the stories of those who never lived to tell them that.

[Mark Cieslak]

Report from Auschwitz by Jessica Parker. India says it's agreed with China to resume direct flights between the two countries. They stopped during the pandemic and never restarted after their troops clashed on a disputed part of their border. Here's our Asia Pacific editor, Mickey Bristow. It seems extraordinary that for five years there have been no direct flights between the world's two most populous nations. With a combined population of nearly 3 billion. There used to be around 500amonth. They stopped in 2020 when Covid led to grounded planes everywhere. A deadly clash between Chinese and Indian soldiers on their border that same year complicated diplomatic ties and flights didn't restart. Travellers had to go through a third country. Warmer tides means direct air links will now resume. Mickey Bristow. Coca Cola has recalled some of its canned and bottled drinks in a number of European countries after high levels of chlorate were found. The recall was issued in Belgium, Britain, France, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. It concerns the brands Coke, Sprite, Fanta and some of the company's other beverages. The use of chlorate as a pesticide is no longer allowed in the European Union, but it can be found in drinking water as a byproduct of chlorine disinfectants used in water treatment and food processing. Andrew Peach spoke to Eddie Hammerman, brand expert and managing director of the 10 group and asked him How a crisis like this could impact such a big brand.

[Emre Makumeno]

It sounds like in this case they discovered the issue, which I think they're in a better position because they're in more control of the narrative and they can therefore be on the front foot. There are other cases where they could be alerted by a third party. And in that case, if the news gets out before they have a considered response, then that could be more of an issue. But they will have a plan in place for things like this. I would say that brands globally, product recalls happen all the time. In most cases, they are not damaging to the customer, but sometimes they are. In this case, Coca Cola says it doesn't sound like there's a serious health issue, but clearly it's not a good thing for them. And there will be some reputational damage. But there are certain things that brands can do in cases like this where they can minimize the reputational damage. They need to really rebuild that consumer confidence, and they could ultimately emerge stronger if they do it right. So this is really interesting. So, first of all, it might be that the issue is picked up by the company's own processes, which seems to have happened here. It might be that it's flagged by a consumer, which is more difficult. What does the machinery of an enormous organization like Coca Cola then do before it starts thinking about its reputation? What does it do to actually identify exactly where the issue is and how to stop it getting any worse? So I think in many different cases, but I think you've highlighted the fact that the first step is make sure that the issue is fixed. The first thing you need to do before, even before you go out, is highlight to the regulators. There'll be a regulatory process, but also then clear comms. And that needs to be open, transparent, clear, which it sounds like they're doing now. And it's not easy. I mean, I'm looking at the. They've issued a batch codes. I don't know if, as a consumer, you've ever looked at the codes on a product of a can of anything or food, then usually not, but I suppose they're there. No. And exactly, they're there for a reason. But most consumers don't have a look at the batch codes. I imagine if it went to a distributor, they would know what to look for and they could highlight them. But for most consumers, it's not easy. They might not even know they're consuming the product. What they will have to do next is prioritize the consumer safety. That's the first thing they would do. Regulatory there's an issue, but also they'll lose trust if they don't and they need to prove that the issue is fixed.

[Mark Cieslak]

Brand expert Eddie Hammerman. The British Navy has announced its changing the name of one of its new nuclear submarines from HMS Agincourt to HMS Achilles. There were reported concerns that the original name might offend France, a key NATO ally, but also a historic rival. Agincourt was a famous English military victory over the French 600 years ago. The British Navy said the change had been discussed for more than a year and was approved by King Charles. Here's our defence correspondent, Jonathan Beale.

[Janat Jalil]

Ostensibly, it's the Royal Navy's ships names and badging committee which decides what a vessel's called, then approved by the monarch. But politicians have intervened in the past. It was the former Defence Secretary, Gavin Williamson, who first announced that the seventh Astute class submarine now under construction will be named HMS Agincourt, recalling the famous battle in 1415 in which Henry V's army, outnumbered but including the much feared longbowmen, defeated the French. A victory immortalized by Shakespeare's words and on film.

[Mark Cieslak]

Once more onto the breach, dear friends.

[Janat Jalil]

Sir Gavin might not have been worried about ruffling a few French feathers, but others were. The Navy announced a change of name. HMS Agincourt would instead be known as HMS Achilles, a change that followed newspaper reports of concerns within the MOD that naming a submarine after a key ally's humiliating loss might offend, even though earlier naval vessels have borne the same name. Another former Conservative Defence Secretary, Grant Shapps, has called the U turn sacrilege and woke nonsense. Renaming a vessel is rare, but not unprecedented. Superstitious sailors sometimes view changing a name unlucky Jonathan Beale.

[Mark Cieslak]

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, you can send us an email. The address is globalpodcastbc.co.uk. this edition was mixed by Caroline Driscoll. The producer was Liam McSheffrey. The editor is Karen Martin. I'm Janet Jalil. Until next time. Goodbye.

[Lando Norris]

What does it take to go racing in the fastest cars in the world? Oscar Piastri.

[Mark Cieslak]

Your head's trying to get ripped one way, your body's trying to another.

[Lando Norris]

Let's stroll.

[Emre Makumeno]

It's very extreme in the sense of how close you're racing. Wheel to wheel.

[Lando Norris]

We've been given unprecedented access to two of the most famous names in Formula One, McLaren and Aston Martin. I'm London Arts they build a beautiful.

[Mark Cieslak]

Bit of machinery that I get to.

[Lando Norris]

Then go and have fun in. They open the doors to their factories. As the 2024 season reached its peak. I'm Josh Hartnett. This is F1 back at base. Listen, wherever you get your podcasts.