Shock result in first round of Romania's presidential election

Summary

Global News Podcast Summary
Episode: Shock result in first round of Romania's presidential election
Release Date: November 25, 2024
Host: Janet Jaleel, BBC World Service

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1. Romania's Presidential Election Shock Result

Overview:
In a surprising turn of events, Kalen Georgescu, a relatively unknown far-right and pro-Russian candidate, secured the highest number of votes in the first round of Romania's presidential election. This unexpected outcome has left the nation and political analysts stunned.

Key Points:

• Candidate Profile:
  Kalen Georgescu, a 62-year-old agriculture and sustainable development expert, campaigned mainly on TikTok as an independent candidate. Previously associated with the far-right Romanian Unity Party (AUR), he was expelled due to his radical views. Despite his limited public presence, Georgescu amassed over 2.1 million votes, accounting for 23% of the total.

• Political Implications:
  Georgescu's victory has endangered the incumbent pro-European Prime Minister Marcel Cholaku, who may be ousted by Elena Lasconi, a centre-right liberal from the Save Romania Union, in the upcoming runoff. Romania's longstanding support for Kyiv amidst the Ukraine-Russia conflict adds complexity to this political shift.

• Public Reaction:
  Adrian Hatos, a senator for the PNL party, expressed shock:

  "I have to admit that not only me, but a large part of the country is in shock after these results. ... Nobody expected him to make it to the finals."
  (Timestamp: 01:30)

Expert Insight:
Central Europe correspondent, Nick Thorpe, highlighted Georgescu's rapid rise:

"Mr. Georgescu has come from nowhere effectively ... this is a mammoth surprise in Romania."
(Timestamp: 02:03)

Concerns:
Amidst the victory, there is heightened anxiety over Russia's influence and the influx of Ukrainian refugees into Romania, which Georgescu leveraged to gain support.

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2. Political Turmoil and Protests in Georgia

Overview:
Georgia is experiencing significant unrest following disputed elections last month. Opposition parties boycotted the parliament, leading to mass protests and allegations of electoral fraud.

Key Points:

• Election Dispute:
  The ruling Georgian Dream Party's victory is contested, with protesters labeling the results as fraudulent. Demonstrations outside the parliament have turned violent, featuring chants of "Russians and slaves" and the use of eggs against government buildings.

• Protester Perspectives:
  Rehan Dimitri stood among the protesters, stating:

  "It's not the parliament what they are doing now, because it's not the choice of the Georgian people."
  (Timestamp: 05:17)

• Government Stance:
  Police are prepared to use force to disperse the demonstrators, with warnings of deploying water cannons if protests continue. However, protesters show no signs of relenting.

• International Commentary:
  Katya Adler reported on the persistent standoff:

  "There's no sign of these protesters leaving the area."
  (Timestamp: 06:46)

Conclusion:
The Constitutional Council faces a critical decision on whether to uphold the election results or call for new polls. President Felipe Nusi has called for unity among the presidential candidates to mitigate the crisis.

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3. Angela Merkel's Memoir and Legacy

Overview:
Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel discusses her tenure and legacy in her new memoir, "Freedom Our Europe," addressing key decisions and their long-term impacts.

Key Points:

• NATO and Ukraine:
  Merkel reflected on the pivotal moment in 2008 when Ukraine's NATO membership was blocked:

  "It was completely clear to me that President Putin would not have stood idly by if Ukraine joined NATO."
  (Timestamp: 07:15)

• Energy Policies and Criticism:
  Merkel admits to Germany's energy dependence on Russia, which has been a point of contention:

  "I was motivated by Germany's economic interest... to establish a relationship with Russia that would enable us to coexist peacefully."
  (Timestamp: 09:16)

• Advice to World Leaders:
  Regarding leaders like former President Trump, Merkel advises clear and forceful communication to foster mutual respect:

  "In negotiations with him, you have to express yourself clearly and forcefully and then you can find some kind of mutual respect."
  (Timestamp: 11:23)

Expert Commentary:
Adrian Hatos discussed the complexity of Merkel's legacy, noting her efforts to maintain peaceful relations with Russia despite rising tensions:

"One of the things she said she tried to do was get this peaceful cooperation with Russia. And yet weeks after she left, there was the full-scale invasion of Ukraine."
(Timestamp: 10:40)

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4. Fertility Scams Fueling Black Market Baby Trade in Nigeria

Overview:
A BBC investigation has uncovered widespread fertility scams in Nigeria, where women are deceived into believing they are pregnant through fraudulent treatments, leading to a burgeoning black market for babies.

Key Points:

• Modus Operandi:
  Scammers lure desperate women with promises of guaranteed conception through costly drugs. Women are then led to believe they are pregnant and compelled to comply with further demands, often resulting in the trade of their babies.

• Impact on Women:
  Women face severe legal repercussions, including up to seven years in prison for abortion-related offenses, heightening the desperation to seek such scams.

• Government Response:
  Ify Be Honourable, Anambra State's Commissioner for Women's Affairs, stated:

  "Crypto pregnancy cannot exist without child trafficking. Anybody that tells you you will have a child through crypto pregnancy is a liar."
  (Timestamp: 15:59)

• Personal Stories:
  One woman shared her harrowing experience:

  "I carried it. Nobody carried it for me."
  (Timestamp: 15:55)

Conclusion:
The investigation highlights the urgent need for stricter regulations and awareness to combat these fraudulent practices and protect vulnerable women from exploitation.

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5. Huawei Challenges Tech Giants with New Phone Launch

Overview:
Chinese tech giant Huawei is set to launch its Mate 70 smartphone, featuring Harmony OS next—a fully homegrown operating system aimed at rivaling the dominance of Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android.

Key Points:

• Technological Advancement:
  Harmony OS next represents Huawei's strategic move to establish itself as a third major mobile operating system, driven by U.S. sanctions that restricted its access to Western technologies.

• Market Impact:
  Despite U.S. efforts to curb Huawei's growth, the company continues to expand its hardware and software capabilities, particularly in Asia where its 5G network is widely adopted.

• Industry Expert Insight:
  Suranjana Tiwari noted:

  "It seems to be succeeding... perhaps there will be two separate ecosystems in the world, one led by America and one by China."
  (Timestamp: 20:10)

Conclusion:
Huawei's advancements may lead to a more fragmented global tech landscape, challenging the current duopoly of Apple and Google in the mobile operating system market.

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6. Violent Street Demonstrations in Mozambique Following Disputed Elections

Overview:
Mozambique has witnessed violent protests following last month's disputed presidential elections, resulting in over 50 deaths. Human rights organizations accuse the police of excessive force.

Key Points:

• Nature of Protests:
  Demonstrators demand the recognition of candidate Venanti Mundlane as the winner, asserting that the elections were neither free nor fair. Protests have included the use of children as shields, escalating tensions.

• Police Response:
  Governor Bernardino Rafael admitted injuries on both sides but denied intentional targeting:

  "Children should not be used because they are innocent... This is not a demonstration and it is not about the elections, but subversion and competition for terrorism in our country."
  (Timestamp: 22:56)

• Human Rights Perspective:
  Rehan Dimitri emphasized the innocence of child protesters:

  "Children, like adults, they have the right to protest... they are required to have extra protection from the authorities."
  (Timestamp: 22:14)

Conclusion:
With political uncertainty and rising violence, Mozambique stands at a crossroads as the Constitutional Council deliberates on the election results. President Felipe Nusi calls for unity to restore peace and justice.

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7. Global Plastic Pollution and UN Treaty Negotiations

Overview:
Plastic pollution remains a critical global issue, with millions of tonnes ending up in ecosystems annually. The United Nations is holding talks in South Korea to negotiate the first-ever global treaty aimed at curbing this environmental crisis.

Key Points:

• Environmental Impact:
  Microplastics have been detected from the highest mountains, such as Mount Everest, to the deepest ocean trenches, persisting in the environment despite their tiny size.

• UN Negotiations:
  Activists are pushing for a comprehensive treaty that restricts plastic production and waste. However, significant disagreements among countries, especially those reliant on fossil fuels for plastic production, hinder progress.

• Expert Commentary:
  Jonah Fisher reported:

  "Most plastic is made from fossil fuels... if you're a country with lots of oil, it would be bad for business."
  (Timestamp: 25:21)

• Call to Action:
  Richard Thompson, marine biology professor, stressed the urgency:

  "We need to take action now to prevent further accumulation of microplastics."
  (Timestamp: 24:38)

Conclusion:
While a robust global treaty remains elusive, initial agreements may lay the groundwork for more stringent future measures to address plastic pollution effectively.

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8. Lord Byron Museum Opens in Ravenna, Italy

Overview:
A new museum dedicated to the renowned British Romantic poet Lord Byron has opened in Ravenna, showcasing his passionate affair with Countess Teresa Guiccioli and his contributions to literature and Italian independence.

Key Points:

• Historical Significance:
  Byron's time in Italy was marked by his intense relationship with Teresa Guiccioli and his involvement with the Carbonari, a secret revolutionary society striving for Italian unification.

• Museum Highlights:
  Visitors can explore Palazzo Guiccioli, Byron’s residence, featuring personal artifacts such as letters, jewelry, and even locks of his hair. The museum also delves into the Risorgimento movement, emphasizing Byron's role in it.

• Cultural Impact:
  The museum not only commemorates Byron's literary achievements but also his political activism, blending personal history with broader historical narratives.

Conclusion:
The establishment of the Lord Byron Museum in Ravenna offers a unique glimpse into the poet's life, his literary masterpieces, and his enduring legacy in both literature and political history.

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9. Tribute to Barbara Taylor Bradford

Overview:
Renowned author Barbara Taylor Bradford, celebrated for her bestselling novel "A Woman of Substance," has passed away at the age of 91. Her literary legacy spans over decades, captivating millions of readers worldwide.

Key Points:

• Career Highlights:
  Taylor Bradford began her writing career early, becoming a columnist at London's Evening Standard by age 20. Her debut novel, "A Woman of Substance," published in 1979, sold over 30 million copies and was adapted into a hugely successful television series.

• Impact on Readers:
  Characters like Emma Hart resonated deeply with audiences, embodying the journey from humble beginnings to extraordinary success, mirroring the author's own life story.

• Legacy:
  Charlotte Gallagher reflected on Taylor Bradford's influence:

  "Every woman said that if she could do it, starting with nothing, I can."
  (Timestamp: 31:16)

Conclusion:
Barbara Taylor Bradford's storytelling prowess and her portrayal of strong, resilient women have left an indelible mark on the literary world, inspiring countless readers and aspiring writers alike.

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Closing Remarks:
This episode of the Global News Podcast covered a broad spectrum of international issues, from unexpected political shifts in Romania and Georgia to global challenges like plastic pollution and human rights abuses in Nigeria and Mozambique. Additionally, cultural highlights included the opening of a museum dedicated to Lord Byron and a heartfelt tribute to the late Barbara Taylor Bradford. For more updates, stay tuned to future episodes of the Global News Podcast.

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Attribution:
All quotes and timestamps are sourced directly from the podcast transcript provided. For further information or to share feedback, listeners can contact the BBC Global News Podcast team via email at globalpodcastbc.co.uk or through their X handle @globalnewspod.

Transcript

[Janet Jaleel]

This is the global news podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Janet Jaleel and at 13 hours GMT on Monday 25th November, these are our main stories. Shock in Romania as a little known hard right candidate wins the most votes in the first round of the presidential election. We hear about the fertility scam fuelling a black market trade in babies. In Nigeria, the Chinese tech firm Huawei launches a phone with its own apps challenging Apple and Google. Also in this podcast, the Italian Museum dedicated to the flamboyant British poet Byron. In Romania, a little known far right and pro Russia candidate has won the most votes in the first round of the presidential election. Kalen Georgescu stood as an independent and campaigned largely on the social media platform TikTok. In what could be another UN unexpected twist, the pro Europe prime minister Marcel Cholaku may be knocked out of the election by a centre right liberal, Elena Lasconi, who's competing with him for a place in next month's run off vote. Romania shares a long border with Ukraine and has been a staunch supporter of Kyiv during its war with Russia. Adrian Hatos, a senator for the PNL party, one of the two main parties in the governing coalition, gave this reaction.

[Adrian Hatos]

I have to admit that not only me, but a large part of the country is in shock after these results. Large number of votes which puts Kalini Georgesu in the front line was totally unexpected. He made his campaign under the radar, not even the exit polls. The sociologist predicted that he even can make it to the fourth place or something like that. Nobody expected him to make it to the finals.

[Janet Jaleel]

Our Central Europe correspondent Nick Thorpe told us more about this surprise result.

[Nick Thorpe]

Mr. Georgescu has come from nowhere effectively and on the day he managed to get 23% of the vote in this first round of the Romanian election that amounts to more than 2.1 million votes. With his the next candidate, Elena Lasconi, who's from the centre right. Candidate a liberal from the Save Romania union. She appears to have overtaken Marcel Cholacco. But we won't really know, I think for some time who will, because the second and third place is so close, who will actually face Mr. Georgescu. But certainly this is a mammoth event, a mammoth surprise in Romania.

[Janet Jaleel]

And tell us, who is Callen Georgescu?

[Nick Thorpe]

Well, you know, I think everyone in Romania and around the world, including me, is sort of struggling to find out more about him. What we know for sure, he's a 62 year old expert on agriculture, on sustainable development. He's not a total newcomer to Public life. He worked briefly in the Romanian Foreign Ministry, but in recent years, he was very close. He was the honorary president for a while of another far right party called aur, or gold, the Romanian Unity Party, which wanted to reunite Romania with Moldova further east on the borders with and parts indeed of Ukraine. So he was eventually pushed out of that party for the radicalism of his views. A lot of people are saying a lot of very fierce things about him in terms of what he says about himself. He says that the first thing is to restore the dignity of the Romanian nation. He was asked whether he's pro NATO or pro eu. He replied that he's pro the dignity of his country and that both, being in both organizations was all very well, but they had to be used to serve the deep national interest.

[Janet Jaleel]

There is a lot of fatigue with the war in Ukraine, the huge numbers of refugees coming over the border from Ukraine into Romania. But aren't Romanians worried about the threat from Russia?

[Nick Thorpe]

They are worried about the threat from Russia. And I think there has been something or what seemed to be a consensus about having NATO bases, about being strongly pro American, about buying F35 fighters. That's a recent decision of the Romanian Parliament, the Romanian government, and obviously there have been drones from Russian attacks on towns along the Danube delta, along the border between Romania and Ukraine. On the other hand, I think there is a resentment of the Ukrainian refugees coming into Romania and of them getting social benefits, especially the children. So that's been played on by Mr. Georgescu in his campaign.

[Janet Jaleel]

Nick Thorpe. On the other side of the Black Sea in Georgia, parliament has convened for the first time since disputed elections there last month, despite a boycott by opposition parties and protesters who have gathered outside. The demonstrators, many of whom support closer ties with the European Union, say the vote, which was won by the ruling Georgian Dream Party, was rigged. They shouted Russians and slaves at arriving deputies and threw eggs at the parliament building. This man said they would not give up.

[Rehan Dimitri]

It's not the parliament what they are doing now, because it's not the choice of the Georgian people.

[Adrian Hatos]

According to the Georgian Dream, every second.

[Rehan Dimitri]

Person in our country is voting Georgian Dream. That's ridiculous. That's not true.

[Janet Jaleel]

Our correspondent Rehan Dimitri is among the protesters outside the parliament building in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi.

[Katya Adler]

Everything is going ahead. Despite the protest and despite the opposition having refused to take up their mandates, and the president of this country declaring that this parliament is illegitimate. She's currently contesting in the country's Constitutional Court. She brought the lawsuit kind of contesting the illegitimacy of this parliament, and specifically talking about widespread allegations of voter fraud that happened on the 26th of October, on the election day. I can see a lot of protesters. It's raining. More protesters are coming through this particular road where I'm standing now. They're bringing raincoats. And there are tents outside the parliament. Two large tents and several smaller tents. Some people spend the night outside parliament and they remain out in the streets.

[Janet Jaleel]

And this is just the latest in a series of protests. As you say, protesters have set up camps. This standoff is likely to continue for some time. How do you think it could play out?

[Katya Adler]

Of course, I guess the biggest kind of fear is that the police, and there's a large number of police in the vicinity of the Parliament. And also in the main square, not far from the Parliament, they have their water cannons there. And there was a warning from the Ministry of Interior yesterday that they will resort to using special means to disperse the protesters if the protests continue. But there's no sign of these protesters leaving the area.

[Janet Jaleel]

Rehan Dimitri in Georgia. For much of the time that Angela Merkel led Germany, she was seen as the world's most powerful woman. During her 16 years as German chancellor, she dealt with the global financial crisis, Europe's migrant crisis, and Russia's initial invasion of Ukraine in 2014. It's a legacy she's now having to defend. In her new memoir, Freedom Our Europe, editor Katya Adler asked her, if she hadn't blocked Ukraine's NATO membership back in 2008, would there be a war there now? We would have seen military conflict even earlier. It was completely clear to me that President Putin would not have stood idly by and watched Ukraine join NATO. Other European countries were also opposed. And back then, Ukraine as a country would certainly not have been as prepared as it was in February 2020.

[Adrian Hatos]

You say in your memoirs that it became very clear to you that the biggest priority for Vladimir Putin was power and reducing Western influence in Europe that had gained after the Cold War. But despite that, you allowed Germany to become energy dependent on Russia. How do you respond to those who criticize you and say that you put German business interests before European security?

[Janet Jaleel]

I was motivated by two firstly, Germany's economic interest. Secondly, I believed that despite all the difficulties, we should do everything we can to establish a relationship with Russia that would enable us to coexist peacefully. I did try to curb the attacks in Ukraine through the Minsk Agreements. That worked to an extent, for a few years, though not brilliantly. Angela Merkel there, talking to our Europe Editor Katya Adler about the growing criticism she's faced since leaving office over how she dealt with the Russian president. I asked Katya what she made of the former German Chancellor's response.

[Adrian Hatos]

It was interesting because we spoke to former Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi after we'd spoken to Angela Merkel as well, because he worked alongside her for several years. And he said, you know, it's important to bear in mind the norms of the time. Because he said, you know, if you look back to 2005 to 2006, Europe in general and the United States wanted to get closer to Vladimir Putin and work and have a better working relationship. I think the real criticism comes later on in the day that the second gas pipeline that she signed off basically with Vladimir Putin was in 2014 after his initial invasion of Ukraine in the east, after his annexation of Crimea. And his good friend, her good friend Barack Obama, then US President, begged her not to open this gas pipeline. Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, said, you know, he described that cheap gas that Germany was getting from Russia as a geopolitical weapon of the Kremlin's, but she ignored that. Now she says she doesn't regret it, that she did listen to that, that in the end when President Biden came to office, she agreed that the gas pipeline wouldn't be used if gas was being weaponized. And of course, then came the full scale invasion. So gas did not flow from the second pipeline. So she defend herself. But yes, you're absolutely right, there's been a lot of criticism.

[Janet Jaleel]

So does she admit to any major regrets?

[Adrian Hatos]

It's a bit like Edith Piafchen regret. She's very, she defends very strongly her legacy. But it's interesting if you think about it, 16 years in office, I mean, repeatedly voted again and again, and I mean, it wasn't all the way through. For most part of the time she had popularity ratings that other leaders really did. They would have, I mean, I say this metaphorically killed for. You know, it's just, just really unusual. One of the things she said she tried to do was get this peaceful cooperation with Russia. And yet weeks after she left, there was the full scale invasion of Ukraine. So she does defend her policy, migration policy as well, all of the different things that she's now criticized for. But in the end she says, well, you know, I was voted by the.

[Janet Jaleel]

German people and at the time, as you say, she was widely admired. What is her advice to world leaders who now have to deal again with a President Trump?

[Adrian Hatos]

Yeah, I asked her if she had some words of advice and she said, I don't want to advise from the sidelines. She said it's very important to know that he doesn't believe in win win because she's very much about, let's everybody try and find a way forward. He believes there has to be one winner. So she said, in negotiations with him, you have to express yourself clearly and forcefully and then you can find some kind of mutual respect.

[Janet Jaleel]

Yes, because they're both leaders who in their different ways think a lot about the economics of their nation.

[Adrian Hatos]

Oh, he was furious in his first time in office with, particularly with Germany. He criticized Angela Merkel directly because of a trade deficit when it came to German imports to the United States, but also for lack of defense spending. And she admits Germany hasn't been spending enough on defence. He has the same gripes now with Europe when he comes to office. That's why it's quite interesting to listen to her about how she handled him.

[Janet Jaleel]

Katya Adler talking there about Angela Merkel. A BBC investigation has exposed a fertility scam fueling a black market trade in babies. In Nigeria, women who are desperate to be mothers pay hundreds of dollars for drugs that they're told will guarantee that they conceive. They're then duped into believing that they're pregnant. Yemisi Adegoke reports.

[Rehan Dimitri]

That's the sound of government officials raiding a building near Umunya, a town in Anambra, southeastern Nigeria. It's mobile phone footage from the state's Ministry of Health. We saw six young women with pregnant bellies stare blankly at the camera. How many pregnant girl women lose yet? It looks like an average health clinic, but it's a place where cryptic pregnancy scammers get their babies. Are you pregnant? Cryptic pregnancy is a medical term. It's when a woman is unaware she's pregnant until late in the pregnancy. It's a rare phenomenon, but here it refers to something completely different. A miracle fertility treatment. It's big business and it's a scam. The women are taken to a nearby hospital. One of them agreed to speak to us if we didn't use her real name and changed her voice. They said that after delivery they will give me money. How much money did they say they were giving? 800,000. 800,000 naira. She looks scared and confused. In her arms is a baby girl. Now, looking back, do you regret that decision? I am still confused. You're still confused?

[Janet Jaleel]

It's okay.

[Rehan Dimitri]

Abortion is a criminal offense in Nigeria. Women faced up to seven years in prison. It's only permitted if the mother's life is in danger. Some of these girls wouldn't want their parents to know. Then after giving birth, they will be given money. Ify or be honorable is Anambra state's Commissioner for Women's Affairs. Crypto pregnancy cannot exist without child trafficking. Anybody that tells you you will have a child through crypto pregnancy is a liar. You are going to be given another person's child, A trafficked child. My colleagues from the BBC in Lagos, Chiagozie and Abere find another so called Cryptic pregnancy clinic. This one is also in Anambra. A secret camera shows dozens of women waiting inside a small hotel. Cheers of joy come from the consultation room. Someone has been told she's pregnant. They meet a woman who calls herself Dr. Ruth. For $200, she hands over a bag of unlabeled drugs which she says will guarantee Ebere gets pregnant. When Ebere returns four weeks later, the miracle happens. She claims Ebere is pregnant, but it's a lie. Ebere did a pregnancy test at the hospital. It was negative. It's not like normal pregnancy. Dr. Ruth explains the baby can't be delivered until she's given another drug. This one costs around $1,000. We've heard numerous reports of how women do actually believe they've given birth. Some say they're given drugs and told to push. Others talk of waking up with a cesarean like incision.

[Yemisi Adegoke]

Miraculous.

[Rehan Dimitri]

Miraculous. Pregnant. I'm telling you.

[Janet Jaleel]

I'm telling you.

[Rehan Dimitri]

With my experience. Back at the Commissioner's office in Anambra, a baby is at the center of an extraordinary exchange. I'm the one that carried it. Nobody carried it for me. I knew what I passed through as a woman. This woman got her baby through the Cryptic Pregnancy clinic that was raided in February. Have you done any kind of TNF test? They said it's negative. It will take time. And you, you believe this cock and story? Are you not educated? All this story, that scam. Throughout all of this, I couldn't take my eyes away from the tiny baby. I'm a be. I don't know what the man is doing there. I went to hospital like others went to hospital. The commissioner makes the couple agree. If the biological parents come forward to claim the child, they would have to give him up. I don't know, maybe it's just me, but like, I still felt like empathy towards these parents. They believe that they went through this process and this is their child. There are still many women, knowingly or not, falling for the cryptic pregnancy scam in Nigeria fueling an underground trade in babies. The BBC asked Dr. Ruth to respond to the allegations made in this investigation but did not receive any response.

[Janet Jaleel]

That report by Yemisi Adegoke in Nigeria. Still to come in this podcast, can the world unite to deal with the plague of plastic pollution?

[Nick Thorpe]

We find them from the highest mountains, some of our studies near the top of Mount Everest right down to our deepest oceans. We find them from the poles to the equator.

[Janet Jaleel]

Talks to try to agree a global treaty resume in South Korea. You're listening to the Global News podcast. In yet another sign of how the technology relationship between the US And China is splintering as the world waits to see what a second Trump term will mean for trade between the world's two biggest economies, Huawei is launching a phone with its own software and apps, posing a challenge to the dominance of Apple and Google, the only two companies that currently run apps. Our business correspondent Suranjana Terwari told us.

[Suranjana Tiwari]

More it wasn't so long ago that Huawei was in the news very often. It is, of course, China's national technology champion fell out of favor with many governments around the world because the US Accused Huawei of trying to target the US national security network. Well, the company is now poised to launch its first Flag flagship phone that can run its own apps on a fully homegrown operating system. Now, this is no mean feat. There are only two major mobile operating systems in the world. Of course we will know them, Apple and Google. Huawei's Mate 70 smartphone will feature what's called Harmony OS next, which Huawei hopes to establish as the world's third major mobile operating system.

[Janet Jaleel]

And this is partly the result of US sanctions that were supposed to make the company weaker, but in fact have spurred it to try to develop its own systems so that it's not reliant on the us.

[Suranjana Tiwari]

This is the latest demonstration that the US sanctions, which were designed to hinder the company, have instead cemented Huawei's status as a technological juggernaut. And and this software launch builds on momentum in its hardware as well, from last year when the Group unveiled the Mate 60, which was powered by a self developed and domestically made processor capable of near 5G speeds. And that's something that Washington believed was not possible. And it could be being driven by the fear that the US could cut off everything from China in terms of advancement in these types of technologies.

[Janet Jaleel]

And how much of a threat is this to the dominance of Google and Apple?

[Suranjana Tiwari]

Obviously Apple and Google are very dominant in the market and what is interesting, especially here in Asia, is that Huawei is able to sell its products, its hardware and its software to Asian customers who might be using a Google or an Android phone. And despite all of the sanctions and all of the attempts to try and hinder its business and the development of its technology, it seems to be succeeding. For example, there's lots of places in Asia that rely on Huawei's 5G network. It has a very advanced 5G network, so it's not so much how much it will hinder Google and Apple, for example, but what we are seeing is a splintering. Perhaps there will be two separate ecosystems in the world, one sort of led by America and one led by Chinese. And it's anyone's guess as to where the customers in the end flock to.

[Janet Jaleel]

Suranjana Tiwari More than 50 people are reported to have been killed in violent street demonstrations in Mozambique following last month's disputed presidential election. Human rights watchers accused the police of using excessive force, including live bullets fired, to disperse demonstrators. Ian Wofula reports from one such protest in Mozambique's capital, Maputo.

[Ian Wafula]

This is a show of frustration like nothing I've ever seen before. People are banging pots and pans, blowing whistles, vehicles passing by and hooting. And the message is simple. They are saying that the recent elections were not free and fair, and they want their candidate, Venanti Mundlane, to be declared as winner. They're also saying that if they can't join the streets to go and protest, they will do it from the comfort of the host. And this is happening all across the country. As we're moving around the city, we came across this group of young people who are holding a vigil on behalf of one of them, who they say was shot by the police officers. Zainada Machado is a senior researcher at Human Rights Watch.

[Rehan Dimitri]

I wouldn't know what is the rationale behind killing children. There is no possible way of justifying that children are children, even if they are part of a protest. That should be one more reason why security forces should take extra precautions when handling those crowds. It's important also to remind Mozambique and security forces that children, like adults, they have the right to protest, to peacefully protest. And when they do so, they are required to have extra protection from the authorities that pledge to protect them.

[Ian Wafula]

Police say they're investigating cases of alleged police brutality, while also acknowledging losses within their own ranks. Here is Bernardino Rafael, the commander of police in Mozambique. We recorded 103 injured people and 69 of those were police officers. The demonstrators are using the children as a shield in front of them and they themselves are behind. Consequently, they don't pay the price. Children should not be used because they are innocent. This is not a demonstration and it is not about the elections, but it is about subversion and competition for terrorism in our country. Mozambique stands at crossroads amid political uncertainty and rising tensions. The Constitutional Council faces the critical task of deciding whether to uphold the contested election results or call for fresh polls, a process complicated by the lack of set timelines. President Felipe Nusi has urged unity, inviting the four presidential candidates, including Mondlane, to discuss the crisis, warning that the unrest is taking a toll on the nation's frag. Meanwhile, families like that of young Antonio Joachim, a casualty of violence, can only hope for a return to peace and the pursuit of justice.

[Janet Jaleel]

Ian Wafula in Maputo. Plastic pollution is a worldwide problem. Millions of tonnes of plastic waste are dumped into our oceans, rivers and lakes every year. Richard Thompson is a professor of marine biology at Plymouth University and says action on plastic pollution is is urgently needed.

[Nick Thorpe]

We find them from the highest mountains, some of our studies near the top of Mount Everest, right down to our deepest oceans. We find them from the poles to the equator. We need to be concerned because it will be incredibly difficult to remove microplastics from the environment. Once they've entered the environment, they're going to stay there and they're going to persist. What the science is telling us is that we need to take action now to prevent further accumulation of microplastics.

[Janet Jaleel]

Well, UN talks are taking place in South Korea to try to agree a global treaty on curbing plastic pollution. Activists are calling for an ambitious agreement that restricts production and waste. But as our environment correspondent Jonah Fisher reports, countries remain at loggerheads.

[Jonah Fisher]

Now, I'm sure we've all seen the horrible images of marine creatures, like turtles, getting caught up in pieces of plastic. Indeed, we've probably all seen bits of plastic washed up on our beaches. Well, the global figures from the United nations are pretty horrific. They estimate that about 20 million tonnes of plastic every year is ending up in our seas and oceans. That's roughly the equivalent of a very large rubbish truck dumping its load into the water every minute of every day and night. It's a lot of plastic. And the tiny pieces, the microplastics are getting everywhere, whether from our clothes, car tires, or just broken off from bigger pieces. Microplastics have been spotted just about everywhere, from the top of Everest to the snow in Antarctica, even inside the bodies of fish. And with all estimates suggesting that we're going to be producing even more plastic. Well, the idea of having a global treaty to tackle the problem was born. So for the last two years, negotiators have been looking at topics such as how to reduce or simplify plastic production and how to better reuse and recycle plastic so it's not just used once and thrown away. These talks are starting in Busan in South Korea and are supposed to finalize a first ever global treaty to tackle plastic pollution. But I'll let you into something of an open secret. Things have not been going well so far. It's looking very unlikely there'll be agreement on things like, like cutting plastic production. Most plastic is made from fossil fuels and in a very similar way to the climate talks. If you're a country with lots of oil, well, it would be bad for business. Those negotiators and observers that I've been speaking to say that the best we can hope for is some sort of agreement, however weak and vague. It can then act as a foundation for tougher commitments that really make a difference in the years to come.

[Janet Jaleel]

Jonah Fischer A museum dedicated to the flamboyant British Romantic poet Lord Byron is opening in the northern Italian city of Ravenna in Palazzo Guiccioli, where he had one of his most passionate affairs with the wife of an Italian aristocrat. His years in Italy in the early 19th century were some of the most productive of his short life. Vanessa Heaney reports.

[Yemisi Adegoke]

George Gordon Byron was one of the major figures of the Romantic movement, famous for his elegant prose as well as his scandalous lifestyle. In the early 1800s, he traveled widely across the Mediterranean. More than just a journey, his travels influenced his writing and his philosophy. He fled England in 1816 for Europe, leaving behind a trail of debt and love affairs. Italy offered freedom, inspiration and adventure. In Venice, he met Countess Teresa Guiccioli. She had only been married three days, but it was love at first sight and the pair began a passionate affair, one of the most important and enduring of his life. Byron followed Teresa to Ravenna, and despite the social scandal, he moved into her husband's house, Palazzo Guiccioli, where she became his museum. During this time, the poet wrote some of his most famous works, such as parts of Don Juan and Childe Harold's Pilgrimage. Visitors will be able to wander through the rooms of the palazzo where the affair took place. One of them contains love tokens kept by Byron's lover, including letters, jewelry, locks of his curly hair and slivers of his sunburned skin. The museum will also be partly dedicated to The Risorgimento, the 19th century Italian movement for unification. Teresa was instrumental in Byron's involvement with a secret revolutionary society fighting for Italian independence, known as the carbonari. In 1823, he left Italy for Greece to join insurgents fighting in the War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire. Byron died of a fever the following year, aged 36. During his life, he had several affairs, but Countess Teresa was his final great love.

[Janet Jaleel]

Vanessa Heaney, an author known as the grand dame of blockbusters, Barbara Taylor Bradford has died. She was 91. During her career, she sold more than 90 million books, including her debut novel, A Woman of Substance. Charlotte Gallagher looks back at her life. The documents must be irreversible, irrevocable, watertight.

[Rehan Dimitri]

I Must Be A Woman of Substance.

[Charlotte Gallagher]

Was and is a sensation. The novel has sold more than 30 million copies and the television adaptation pulled in record audiences. Its main character, Emma Hart, is a Yorkshire woman who rises from humble beginnings to become hugely successful. And in some ways, that mirrors the author's own life. Born In Leeds in 1933, Barbara Taylor Bradford knew from a young age that she wanted to be a writer. One of her classmates was another aspiring writer who would also become hugely successful. Alan Bennett. By the age of 15, Barbara Taylor Bradford had a job at a local paper. By 18, she was editing the women's pages and at just 20 years old, she became a columnist at London's Evening Standard paper. A Woman of Substance was published in 1979. That novel and all of Taylor Bradford's subsequent books are global best sellers. She told the BBC why A Woman of Substance had resonated so much with readers.

[Janet Jaleel]

People came to me at book signings.

[Adrian Hatos]

Or they wrote to me and it was always the same thing.

[Janet Jaleel]

She is my role model. Every woman said that if she could do it, starting with nothing, I can.

[Charlotte Gallagher]

Barbara Taylor Bradford once said that she wrote about mostly ordinary women who go on to achieve the extraordinary. A bit like the author herself, Charlotte.

[Janet Jaleel]

Gallagher, on the life and career of Barbara Taylor Bradford, who has died at the age of 91. 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, you can send us an email. The address is globalpodcastbc.co.uk you can also find us on xglobalnewspod. This edition was mixed by Sydney Dundon. The producer was Oliver Burlau. The editor is Karen Martin. I'm Jeanette Jaleel. Until next time. Goodbye.