Pope calls for peace on Turkey visit

Summary

Global News Podcast – Pope calls for peace on Turkey visit

Host: Celia Hatton (BBC World Service)
Date: November 27, 2025
Main Theme:
This episode centers on Pope Leo XIV's first international visit since becoming pontiff, as he travels to Turkey and calls for peace amid rising global tensions. The podcast also covers key world events: an attack on National Guard officers in Washington, U.S.-Venezuela airline disputes, a high-profile cyberattack on Japan's Asahi brewery, legal troubles over plane-spotting in South Korea, and Australian teens challenging a social media ban.

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1. Pope Leo XIV’s Visit to Turkey: A Call for Peace

Segment: [01:06] – [07:47]

Overview

• Pope Leo XIV arrives in Turkey on his first foreign trip with the aim to foster peace and interfaith dialogue.
• Turkey, a Muslim-majority nation with a small Christian population, welcomes the Pope in Ankara with full ceremonial honors.
• The Pope praises Turkey’s historic role as a bridge between peoples and calls for regional stability, referencing Turkey’s mediation in the Gaza war.

Key Discussion Points

• Papal Speech:
  • “Centuries of conflict... the world around us is still destabilized by ambitions and choices that trample on justice and peace... May Turkey be a source of stability and rapprochement between peoples.” – Pope Leo XIV, translated by Jake Kwon ([02:46])
• President Erdogan’s Response:
  • Erdogan expresses gratitude for the Pope's attention to the Palestinian issue and reaffirms support for a two-state solution based on 1967 borders.
  • “As the large family of humanity, our greatest debt to the Palestinian people is justice... implement without delay the two-state solution vision based on 1967 borders.” – President Erdogan, via Vanessa Bushleuter ([03:28])
• Purpose & Itinerary:
  • Hilken Boren (BBC Turkish): The visit emphasizes both peace in the Middle East and unity within Christianity.
  • The Pope will visit significant Christian sites, attend a commemoration in Iznik (Nicaea), and meet religious leaders across denominations ([04:06]–[05:22]).
• Local Reaction in Turkey:
  • Low public awareness, logistical disruptions in Istanbul, and shopkeeper concerns over security closures.
  • Locals in Iznik mostly see the visit as boosting tourism rather than religious significance ([06:01]).
• Political Context:
  • The visit occurs during political tensions in Turkey, with opposition leaders facing government repression.
  • “The international response to these political moves has been muted... Presidents visiting Erdogan tread carefully, given Ankara’s role as mediator in global crises.” – Hilken Boren ([07:11])

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2. Attack on National Guard Officers in Washington, D.C.

Segment: [07:47] – [10:22]

Key Details

• Two National Guard officers were shot in a targeted ambush. The suspect, Ramanullah Leckenwal, is an Afghan who entered the US under "Operation Allies Welcome."
• Both officers, Sarah Beckstrom (20) and Andrew Wolf (24), are in critical condition.
• The suspect allegedly traveled from Washington state specifically to carry out the attack.

Notable Quote

• “Two uniformed guardsmen were ambushed in a brazen and targeted attack... Armed with a .357 Smith & Wesson revolver... He drove across the country with the intended target of coming to our nation’s capital.” – Jeanine Pirro, D.C. Attorney General ([08:32])

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3. Ongoing Tensions: Gaza Ceasefire and Israel-Hamas Confrontations

Segment: [10:22] – [12:25]

Key Discussion Points

• A “Yellow Line” now divides Hamas-controlled and Israeli-occupied zones in Gaza as part of a fragile ceasefire.
• Dozens of Hamas fighters remain trapped behind Israeli lines in tunnels.
• Israeli forces have killed several fighters as they emerge, with the situation threatening to derail the ceasefire.

Notable Quote

• “Israel is not willing to compromise on this... Even though these fighters pose a danger to its troops, surrender has not been permitted.” – Yolande Nell, Jerusalem ([10:54])

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4. Venezuela’s Airline Ban: Tensions with the U.S.

Segment: [12:25] – [15:52]

Key Discussion Points

• Six major international airlines banned from Venezuela after failing to resume flights within a 48-hour ultimatum.
• The ban follows U.S. warnings about military activity near Caracas, seen by Venezuela as political maneuvering.
• Background: U.S. accuses President Maduro of drug trafficking and regime illegitimacy; Venezuela views airline suspensions as siding with the U.S.

Notable Quote

• “It is a punishment... Many people said that was a bit like cutting off your nose to spite your face.” – Vanessa Bushleuter ([12:56])
• “U.S. military operations are so big, they look more like an attempt at regime change.” – Vanessa Bushleuter ([14:47])

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5. Release of Tunisian Activist Sonia Damani

Segment: [18:00] – [19:26]

Key Details

• Prominent lawyer and activist Sonia Damani freed after 18 months’ detention under Tunisia’s cybercrime law, following criticism of government policy toward migrants.
• Damani is a notable critic of President Kais Saied's increasingly authoritarian rule.

Notable Quote

• “She has been one of the people who has really stood out against this [one-man rule].” – Sebastian Usher ([18:36])

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6. South Korea Charges Chinese Teens with Espionage over Plane Spotting

Segment: [19:26] – [22:36]

Key Discussion Points

• Two Chinese teenagers arrested and charged with “aiding the enemy” for photographing jet fighters near military bases, facing potential life sentences.
• Found with telephoto lenses and walkie talkies, evidence of repeated visits to airfields.
• The arrest exacerbates already rising anti-China sentiment in South Korea, with the Chinese ambassador warning against generalizing negative views.

Notable Quotes

• “They have been charged with a crime called aiding the enemy... carries a penalty of minimum three years and up to a life in prison.” – Jake Kwon ([19:46])
• “The anti-China sentiment is being exploited to peddle these conspiracy theories about how Chinese are... to displace South Koreans and stealing elections.” – Jake Kwon ([21:27])

---

7. Japan’s Asahi Beer Hit by Massive Cyber Attack

Segment: [22:36] – [26:06]

Key Discussion Points

• Ransomware attack in late September halts production, causes Super Dry beer shortages, and leaks personal details of 1.5 million customers and employees.
• The attack disrupts Asahi’s ability to publish financial results and forces staff to use outdated methods (pen, paper, fax).

Notable Quotes

• “They spent the best part of two months trying to contain the attack... Staff were using pen and paper and fax machines just to process the orders.” – Nick Marsh ([23:25])
• “Asahi supplies 40% of all of Japan’s beer domestically... this is a really big company.” – Nick Marsh ([25:16])

---

8. Australian Teens Challenge Social Media Ban

Segment: [26:06] – [29:50]

Key Discussion Points

• Australian government set to ban under-16s from certain social media platforms (e.g., TikTok, YouTube), citing child safety.
• Teens Macy Nayland and Noah Jones begin legal action, claiming the ban infringes their constitutional right to participate in public debate.

Notable Quotes

• “This case is emphasising the constitutional rights of young Australians to discuss politics. And this ban... removes an entire age group from engaging in our modern way of communicating.” – Macy Nayland ([26:50])
• “It’s basically making us invisible and we won’t be able to share our opinions or views.” – Noah Jones ([27:29])
• “Kids are going to find ways around it... That’s just going to put them in a more risky position later on.” – Noah Jones ([29:14])

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Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes

• Pope Leo XIV: “May Turkey be a source of stability and rapprochement between peoples.” ([02:56])
• President Erdogan: “Our greatest debt to the Palestinian people is justice... the way to repay this debt is to implement without delay the two-state solution.” ([03:28])
• On social media ban: “This ban... completely removes an entire age group from engaging in our modern way of communicating politically.” – Macy Nayland ([26:50])
• On cyberattacks: “Staff were using pen and paper and fax machines just to process the orders.” – Nick Marsh ([23:25])
• On South Korea’s anti-China sentiment: “It doesn’t matter where you stand on the politics... anti-China sentiment is quite broad here.” – Jake Kwon ([21:27])

---

Timestamps: Key Segments

• Pope in Turkey – Call for Peace: [01:06]–[07:47]
• DC National Guard Attack: [07:47]–[10:22]
• Gaza Ceasefire Challenges: [10:22]–[12:25]
• Venezuela Airline Ban: [12:25]–[15:52]
• Release of Tunisian Activist: [18:00]–[19:26]
• South Korea Charges Chinese Teens: [19:26]–[22:36]
• Asahi Cyber Attack: [22:36]–[26:06]
• Australian Social Media Ban Challenge: [26:06]–[29:50]

---

This summary covers the episode’s core discussions and provides contextual insights and notable soundbites, maintaining the reportage clarity and tone of the BBC Global News Podcast.

Transcript

[Hilken Boren]

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK.

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[Celia Hatton]

This is the Global News podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Celia Hatton and at 1600 GMT on Thursday 27th November, these are our main stories. Pope Leo warns about rising levels of conflict in the world on a visit to Turkey, his first foreign trip. The CIA director says the man suspected of shooting two National Guard officers in Washington is an Afghan who worked with U.S. forces. Venezuela bans six major airlines as tensions escalate with the U.S. also in this podcast, one of the world's biggest beer companies is hit by a cyber attack and why taking photos of planes has two Chinese teenagers facing prison time in South Korea. Lets begin in Turkey, where Pope Leo XIV has received a grand welcome on his first foreign trip as the leader of the Roman Catholic Church. The Pope was greeted with a brass band and gun salute as he met President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the capital Ankara. Turkey is a Muslim majority country. Less than 1% of the population is Christian, but there is hope that the Pope's visit will help build bridges between religions. What's more, Turkey has positioned itself as a mediator in the war in Gaza and conflicts across the Middle East, a role Pope Leo referenced in his speech at the Presidential complex.

[Hilken Boren]

It is true that human history has.

[Jake Kwon]

Centuries of conflict behind it and that.

[Hilken Boren]

The world around us is still destabilized.

[Jake Kwon]

By ambitions and choices and that trample on justice and peace at the same time. When faced with challenges, being a people with such a great past is both a gift and a responsibility. Mr. President, may Turkey be a source of stability and rapprochement between peoples.

[Celia Hatton]

Speaking through a translator, President Erdogan thanked the Pope for his commitment to peace.

[Vanessa Bushleuter]

I would like to make it clear that we have always deeply appreciated the steadfast stones of our esteemed guest and of his predecessors, particularly on the Palestinian issue, as the large family of humanity. Our greatest debt to the Palestinian people is justice. And the way to repay this debt is to implement without delay the two state solution vision based on the 1967 borders.

[Celia Hatton]

For more on the papal visit, I spoke with Hilken Boren from the BBC's Turkish service in Istanbul.

[Hilken Boren]

Right now I'm in front of two historical landmarks. One is Hagia Sophia and the other one is the Blue Mosque, the Sultan Ahmet Mosque. And the Pope's visit could not come at a better time to emphasize the importance of these bridges. Right now it's just seagulls and tourists eating the famous Turkish bagel known as simit. But on Saturday, the Pope himself will be visiting this square and the Sultan Ahmed Mosque in a show of interfaith dialogue. And this visit was actually originally planned by the late Pope Francis on the invitation of the Turkish president. But Pope Leo announced that he would go ahead with it after being elected. So there are two aspects, two very crucial points of it. One is a message of peace for the region and the wider world by the Pope. And to that end, he will be talking with President Erdogan and other politicians and diplomats. The other aspect is a message of unity for the faith, for Christianity. And this is also really crucial because the Pope and other religious leaders will have been giving messages of unity as they're emphasizing the importance of a ceremony, a commemoration ceremony that is going to take place on Friday in Iznik, what was once known as Nicaea.

[Celia Hatton]

Hilken, you paint a very vivid picture of the scene. I mean, can you take us through some of the key points of the Pope over the next few days and what's expected?

[Hilken Boren]

Yes, he will be in the capital for the most part, and then he will fly to Istanbul later on. And then tomorrow, on Friday, he will be visiting the historic city of Iznik, Nicaea, where over 1700 years ago, the First Council of Nicaea convened. This was a turning point in Christian history where the clergy resolved theological disputes on the divinity of Jesus Christ and other important matters. He will also have the time to visit Armenian and Syriac Orthodox churches and meet the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartolomeo of Constantinople, who is the spiritual leader of of Eastern Orthodox Christians. And another highlight of his trip will be leading a Mass in Istanbul before he leaves for Beirut.

[Celia Hatton]

I'd mentioned that less than 1% of the population identifies as being Christian. So how is this being seen by Turks?

[Hilken Boren]

We've had the chance to talk to some shopkeepers here and also locals of Iznik on a previous visit we had there. And what we've been hearing from them is most of them did not even know that the Pope was coming. And the shopkeepers in Sultanahmet were especially worried because of the security measures. And some of them have said that this might mean they wouldn't be able to open their shops and stalls as the Pope was visiting. As for the natives, they being approaching this on a cultural and touristic manner, saying that they hope it generates income and helps elevate the image of their town as a touristic destination. But all in all, right now, this is not making headlines in Turkish media. Not all the people are aware of it, but more people will be here because most of the main arteries will be closed for the next four days and life will be disrupted in this huge city of more than 15 million people.

[Celia Hatton]

And just briefly, Halk, I mean, this is coming at a politically sensitive time in Turkey as President Erdogan continues to target the opposition.

[Hilken Boren]

Yes, President Erdogan's main rival, former Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoli, remains locked in jail since March. There are also court cases against the main opposition party and senior opposition figures. But the international response to these political moves and crises have been muted, to say the least. World leaders visiting President Erdogan have been very, very careful with their approach to this issue, especially given Ankara's role as a mediator or facilitator in multiple conflicts across the world. So it would not be unrealistic to expect a similar approach by the Pope. But certainly this trip presents a chance for him to display his skills as a head of state, with the whole world watching.

[Celia Hatton]

Hilken Boren in Istanbul. We have some more details now on a story we covered in our earlier edition, the shooting of two National Guard officers in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday. The director of the CIA, John Ratcliffe, says the suspect is an Afghan who worked with US Forces in Afghanistan. It's reported that he led a team of Afghan troops. The two National Guard officers have now been named. They're Sarah Beckstrom, who's 20, and Andrew Wolf, who's 24. They're both in critical condition. The attorney general for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro, told reporters it's believed the suspect lived on the west coast coast and traveled to Washington, D.C. to carry out the attack.

[Jeanine Pirro]

Two uniformed guardsmen were ambushed in a brazen and targeted attack A lone gunman opened fire without provocation, ambush style, armed with a.357 Smith & Wesson revolver. One guardsman is struck, goes down, and then the shooter leans over and strikes the guardsman again. Another guardsman is struck several times. Fellow guardsmen who were there responded immediately, engaging the suspect, neutralizing the threat and subduing him at the scene. He was transported to a local hospital where he remains, as we speak under heavy guard. Thanks to the swift and coordinated response of the National Guard and the Metropolitan Police Department, no additional victims were harmed and the scene was secured within minutes. The suspect, he has been identified as Ramanullah Leckenwal, a 29 year old Afghan who entered the United States under Biden's Operation Allies Welcome, a program following the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. He resided in Bellingham, Washington with his wife and we believe five children. And we're working very closely with our federal partners, especially DHS and the FBI, to review his immigration history and the vetting process itself. What we know about him is that he drove his vehicle across country from the state of Washington with the intended target of coming to our nation's capital.

[Celia Hatton]

DC's Attorney General, Jeanine Pirro. A key part of the Gaza ceasefire was the creation of the so called Yellow Line, a demarcation point separating the parts of Gaza controlled by Hamas from the parts surrounding it, still occupied by Israeli forces. But dozens of Hamas fighters are still in tunnels behind Israel's Yellow Line. And yesterday Hamas issued a press release accusing Israel of attacking those men. Our correspondent in Jerusalem, Yolan Nell, has the details.

[Yolan Nell]

We knew about the presence of these Hamas fighters stranded in the tunnels behind Israeli lines. Really since early on in the ceasefire, Israel's talked about it. Also the US special envoy, Steve Witkoff, he spoke earlier this month about 200 fighters who are trapped in Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip. The numbers we hear vary between 100 to 200. And the Americans have seemed to suggest that their surrender, that handing in their weapons could be a kind of pilot for Hamas to decide arm and a test for both sides in the cease fire. But the message that's been coming out from Israel is that it's not willing to compromise on this, to give these Hamas operatives safe passage to the part of Gaza it's pulled out from. That's even though we saw, you know, just a week into the cease fire, that these fighters pose a real danger to its troops on the ground. That was when they killed two soldiers and Israel retaliated. And at the time it really looked like that could derail the ceasefire early on. Hamas said it lost contact with these cells months ago. There's been another message put out on social media by Hamas armed wing saying that it never surrenders. And this press release says that Hamas has been making what it describes as great efforts with various political leaders and mediators to resolve the issue of the fighters to let them return home. It says it's presented specific ideas and mechanisms, but Israel has undermined all these efforts. And at least twice in the past few days we have heard of Israeli troops killing fighters, you know, five or six each time as they've emerged from tunnels. And so it looks like that could be how Israel plans to deal with the problem.

[Celia Hatton]

Yolandnell in Jerusalem with tensions increasing between Venezuela and the United States in recent months and President Trump warning of heightened military activity in the area, some international airlines suspended flights there. Now they're being punished for it. Six major carriers have been banned from landing in the country after missing Venezuela's 48 hour deadline to resume their schedules. Our website's America's editor Vanessa Bushleuter told me more.

[Vanessa Bushleuter]

I think your description there was spot on. It is a punishment. But let me go back to Friday to get you up to speed to how this all unfolded. So On Friday, the U.S. federal Aviation Administration issued what is called a notice to air missions. It's like a warning of dangers or risks that may be happening in a certain area. And they warned of heightened military activity around Maiketia, which is where the international airport is located, which serves Caracas, the capital of Venezuela. And in the days afterwards, a number of airlines decided to act on that because they have a responsibility to their passengers for safety and also to their insurers. And they thought that this risk of military activity was heightened and decided to suspend their flights in and out of Caracas for at least some days, in some cases a week. Now, Venezuela did not take this very kindly. They saw this as a political move. They thought that these airlines were siding with the United States. As you know, the United States has been strident in its criticism of the Venezuelan government, saying that the president is a drug trafficker, which he denies. And so they saw these airlines as taking sides and then decided to give them 48 hours to resume these flights. Of course, many people said that that was a bit like cutting off your nose to spite your face, because now that these airlines didn't resume the flights within 48 hours, Venezuela is left with a situation where six major airlines aren't flying into the country anymore.

[Celia Hatton]

Now, you and I have both touched on this. But let's just delve in a little bit more. I mean, what is the backdrop to these tensions between the United States, Donald Trump and Venezuela and their leader, Nicolas Maduro?

[Vanessa Bushleuter]

Last year in July, there was a presidential election in Venezuela and the opposition and many countries viewed that election as rigged. They say that the re election of President Maduro was illegitimate. And that's what is at the base of this tension. And of course, when then Donald Trump was reelected, he decided to turn the screws on Nicolas Maduro, who not only does he say is a legitimate president, but he also accuses him of being the head of a drug trafficking cartel. Now, there are doubts as to whether that is accurate because there's very little evidence to link the president himself to drug trafficking. But there's little doubt about the fact that people in the military in Venezuela have engaged in that drug trafficking. And so the US has stepped up its pressure on Venezuela and with the stated aim of combating drug trafficking. But many say that its military operations are so big, they look more like an attempt at regime change.

[Celia Hatton]

Vanessa Bush, Luther still to come in.

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This podcast, this case is emphasising the constitutional rights of young Australians to discuss politics. And this ban removes an entire age group from our modern way of communicating politically.

[Celia Hatton]

The Australian teenagers fighting for under 16s to stay on social media.

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[Hilken Boren]

Well, she is a lawyer and a human rights activist who has appeared a lot of times on Tunisian TV talking about various issues about migration. For example, that was what she got into trouble for last year. That's this particular case that saw her in prison for the past 18 months or so when she criticized the way that migrants from sub Saharan Africa are treated. But she's talked about the conditions in prisons before in a more general context. She's a very strong critic of the president, Kaya Said, one of the best known, one of her most prominent after being democratically elected back in 2019, a couple of years later, he essentially took over the country. It's been pretty much one man rule since then. And she has been one of the people who has really stood out against this.

[Celia Hatton]

Sebastian, thank you. Sebastian Usher, Two Chinese teenagers have been accused of crimes in South Korea that if found guilty, could see them serving life sentences. They were arrested and then charged for allegedly taking photos outside a military air base. We heard from our correspondent in Seoul, Jake Kwon.

[Jake Kwon]

Back in March, the police apprehended these two high school students outside a military base in Suwon, about an hour and a half south from where I am in Seoul. And what they found is that they filmed these jet fighters taking off and landing at the military air base. And in their possession were these telephoto lenses, which are these camera lenses that people use to take photo, very sharp images of something that is far away as well as a walkie talkie. And then later the police discover hundreds of photos in their possession which show that they have been traveling to multiple military air bases as well as civilian airports, filming jet fighters that has been taken up and down. So they have been charged with A crime called aiding the enemy. This is as close as you get to an espionage charge in South Korea, and it carries a penalty of minimum three years and up to a life in prison. And this is not the first or the last time a Chinese national were caught filming outside a military base.

[Celia Hatton]

So what's been the reaction to this case both in South Korea but also in China?

[Jake Kwon]

Well, we don't know whether there is some undercurrent conversation happening behind the scene, but openly, the reaction has been quite mum. South Koreans are of course, alarmed by these series of events, but the Chinese ambassador has commented recently saying that there are tens of thousands of Chinese students as well as many, many more tourists in Korea, and there's bound to be very few extreme cases like that. So that Korean people should not be alarmed by these very few cases and try to generalize the entire Chinese population.

[Celia Hatton]

Though this all takes place amid rising anti China sentiment inside South Korea.

[Jake Kwon]

Yes, and that is exactly what the Chinese ambassador in Seoul was trying to aim at. He was really warning South Korean people against this. What he sees as a sharpening of anti China sentiment in South Korea. And it doesn't matter where you stand on the politics in South Korea, the anti China sentiment is quite broad here. I mean, it is a very strong and powerful country that is, you know, direct neighbor of South Korea with a very different political system. You know, there's bound to be some friction there. And now we're seeing these anti China protests with very sharp language taking place every Saturday where these protesters, usually from the far right wing of the South Korean politics, yelling at people on the street saying, let's deport the Chinese. They will even talk to people on the street trying to see their ID to ask if they're South Korean or Chinese national. And what is most concerning is that this anti China sentiment is being exploited to peddle these conspiracy theories about how Chinese are coming to dispute, displace South Koreans and stealing elections and they're bringing crime and they really become the target to blame all the ills of South Korean society.

[Celia Hatton]

Jae Kwon. Now the Japanese brewing giant Asahi says its production won't be back on track until February next year after a cyber attack in late September brought many of its exports to a halt. It led to shortages of the best selling super dry beer. Asahi Group CEO Atsushi Katsuki told reporters in Tokyo that the company had not directly received any demands or threats and had not made any payments to hackers, but that it estimated more than one and a half million customer details had been leaked. The company's also been forced to delay publishing its financial results. Our correspondent in Singapore, Nick Marsh, told me about the scale of the attack.

[Nick Marsh]

According to Asahi, this was a big ransomware attack which took place at the end of September. So a ransomware attack is basically when hackers break into an organization's systems and they demand a ransom. So money, basically. We don't have that many details in terms of whether payments were made or anything like that, who the exact victims were. We also don't really know who was behind it. That's not being confirmed. There was a group called Qilin that claimed responsibility. They've been behind previous attacks. What we do know though, is that this caused absolute havoc for. For Asahi. So they spent the best part of two months trying to contain the attack. They had to stop production at certain factories. And there was. There's actually shortages of Super Dry, which is the most famous lager that Asahi produces. Probably the most famous beer to come out of Japan. I think you could argue production did resume fairly quickly. But Celia, for weeks afterwards, staff were using pen and paper and fax machines just to process the orders. So it's been really disruptive for one of Japan's real giant companies. Wow.

[Celia Hatton]

So they really went back in time, I guess. And Asahi has also said that the hackers might have millions of its customers. Details.

[Nick Marsh]

Yes. One and a half million people affected. The majority of them were people who had contacted Asahi's customer service centers. But there's also the details, potentially leaked, of employees. Not just current ones, former ones, and the families of those employees as well. So Asahi says it's been in touch with all of these affected people. But that is an awful lot of people to be affected from one cyber attack.

[Celia Hatton]

Nick, you mentioned that Asahi is a big brand. Can you tell us a little bit more about the reaction to this cyber attack in Japan and beyond?

[Nick Marsh]

Well, apart from the obvious fears around potential beer shortages, you're absolutely right. This was a. This is a really big company. Asahi supplies 40% of all of Japan's beer domestically. But not just that. I mean, if you've been to Japan, you'll see it everywhere, Right? They do soft drinks, they do food, you name it. Over in Europe, they even own beer brands like Peroni. And on the financial side of things, there's been disruption there too. So at the end of the year, Sahi's supposed to produce its financial results. The chief executive of the company has already come out and said, look, we're not going to be able to hit that deadline. You've got about 45, 50 days after the financial year ends to publish those results. They're not going to be able to do it on time precisely because of this disruption. And he says that a short term impact is unavoidable and you can understand why.

[Celia Hatton]

Nick Marsh now to finish the story of two Australian teenagers, 15 year olds Macy Nayland and Noah Jones, who've launched a legal action challenging their government's decision to ban some social media sites for under 16s. The ban on platforms such as TikTok and YouTube is due to come into effect next month. Its rollout is being closely watched across the world. The Australian government says it's trying to protect youngsters from harmful material. But the teenagers, backed by a campaign group, say it's an infringement on their rights. They spoke to my colleague Tim Franks. Macy began by explaining why she decided to take action.

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I am against this ban because I do strongly believe that there are problems with social media, gaming and screen time in general. However, there is also so much good, you know, education, socialising and rather than a blanket ban, I think it's beneficial if we set implications as this case that we are fighting for is emphasising the constitutional rights of young Australians to discuss politics. And this ban, however, completely removes an entire age group from engaging in our modern way of communicating politically.

[Hilken Boren]

Noah, do you feel similarly?

[Noah Jones]

Yes, I do. I feel that it's just isolating us from the world and the community around us. It's basically making us invisible and we won't be able to share our opinions or views and we won't be able to hear opinions or views.

[Hilken Boren]

And Noah, just give me a sense of how you use social media at the moment to do that.

[Noah Jones]

I use Snapchat for, I'd say more communication with my friends but I use Instagram for politic updates, news and I find it quite helpful to make like decisions and it's making me think about who I'll be voting for in the future or what I think about, say the social media ban. It just helps me build my views on things.

[Hilken Boren]

Macy, I'm sure you're aware that along with the good side of social media that you've talked about and you've mentioned in particular political engagement, I mean there is a downside to social media, there are real harms associated with it and harms that can be particularly pernicious with young people. What's your response to that argument?

[Ulta Beauty/Shopify Advertiser]

I completely agree there should be restrictions on social media, for example, time limits, age appropriate content and emphasis on these apps to remove all harmful content.

[Hilken Boren]

Do you have any faith in the social media companies that they might actually do that if they're told to do that?

[Ulta Beauty/Shopify Advertiser]

Yes, 100%.

[Hilken Boren]

And Noah, what about you? I mean, do you think that there should be any age limit on social media?

[Noah Jones]

I don't. And I also think that you said that there's bad sides to social media, which I definitely agree with. But if you think about it, kids are gonna find ways around it and they're gonna find a different platform that's probably more unsafe. And then when kids are secretive about things, that's when it becomes even more risky. If they can't tell police or parents about something they're doing because they weren't supposed to be on the platforms in the first place, you know teenagers, they're going to get around it, they're going to try not do what they're told, but that's just going to put them in a more risky position later on.

[Celia Hatton]

15 year olds. Macy Nayland and Noah Jones on Australia's incoming social media ban for under 16s. And that's all from us for now. But there will be a new edition of the Global News Podcast later. If you want to comment on this podcast or the topics covered in it, you can send us an email. The address is globalpodcastbc.co.uk you can also find us on XBC World Service. Use the hashtag globalnewspod. This edition was produced by Peter Goffin. It was mixed by Nick Rendell. The editor is Karen Martin. I'm Celia Hatton. Until next time. Goodbye.

[Ulta Beauty/Shopify Advertiser]

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