Syria rebels burn tomb of Bashar al-Assad's father

Summary

Global News Podcast: December 12, 2024

The BBC World Service’s Global News Podcast for December 12, 2024, delivers a comprehensive overview of significant global events, ranging from geopolitical upheavals in Syria to groundbreaking astronomical discoveries. Hosted by Alex Ritson, the episode delves into the aftermath of the Assad regime's fall, international sports decisions, militant activities in Africa, pivotal developments in U.S. politics, humanitarian rescues, and scientific advancements. Below is a detailed summary of the key discussions, insights, and conclusions presented in the episode.

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1. Rebel Forces Destroy Assad’s Father’s Tomb in Syria

In a symbolic act marking the end of the Assad dynasty's influence, rebel fighters in northwestern Syria have desecrated the tomb of Hafez al Assad, the father of the ousted President Bashar al Assad. This event underscores the deep-seated resentment and desire for retribution among the Syrian opposition.

Local Perspective: Mohammad Nasif, a resident, shared his emotions witnessing the destruction:

“We are at the tomb of Hafez al Assad. We came and saw it burnt and destroyed by the people of his village because he starved them, because they hated him, and because he destroyed us, he displaced them and displaced us.” [02:13]

On-the-Ground Report: BBC’s chief international correspondent, Lise Doucet, provided an update from Damascus:

“The nighttime curfew here in Damascus has been lifted, a sign that the new leadership believes that it is getting the situation under control.” [02:38]

Doucet elaborated on the fragile stability, noting the formation of a caretaker government dominated by Islamists, which aims to restore order while addressing past war crimes:

“Rebels are seeing the need to hold those responsible for multiple war crimes. But the new caretaker government wants to send a message of calm to Syrians, saying that they understand the need for stability.” [02:38]

Potential Public Execution: Jeremy Bowen reported on a tense situation in the Tadamon district of Damascus, where thousands demanded the execution of Abu Muntuza, alleged perpetrator of a 2013 massacre:

“They want to see him die, not just because of his crimes, but because he's a symbol of the regime and the total cruelty of so many years of Assad rule.” [05:53]

Although the execution did not occur, Bowen highlighted the volatile atmosphere following the regime's collapse:

“When the weight of dictatorship is lifted, powerful forces are unleashed. How they're dealt with shapes what comes next.” [05:53-06:15]

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2. Saudi Arabia Selected as Host for 2034 FIFA World Cup

In a controversial decision, Saudi Arabia has been officially chosen to host the 2034 Men's Football World Cup. The announcement has sparked significant criticism from human rights organizations and environmental activists concerned about Saudi Arabia's records in these areas.

Official Announcement: Saudi Minister of Sports, Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Saud, celebrated the selection:

“It's a historic day. It's a day of pride, a day of honor.” [09:57]

FIFA President Gianni Infantino echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the event’s significance:

“This World Cup will be exceptional and impressive for everyone.” [10:24]

Criticism and Concerns: BBC Sport’s Ollie Foster addressed the backlash:

“Human rights organizations are concerned about Saudi Arabia's abysmal human rights record, including the repression of women, criminalization of homosexuality, restriction of free speech, and the treatment of migrant workers.” [11:28]

Foster further explained the skepticism surrounding Saudi Arabia's promises of reform:

“Saudi Arabia will be under the spotlight like never before over the next 10 years to see if they can deliver on their promises of sustainability and human rights.” [12:33]

The decision is also seen as part of Saudi Arabia’s broader Vision 2030 initiative to diversify its economy away from oil dependency through investments in tourism and sports, a strategy often criticized as "sports washing."

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3. Jihadist Attacks in Niger Claim Dozens of Lives

Suspected Islamist militants have orchestrated deadly attacks in Niger, resulting in the deaths of dozens of soldiers and civilians. The attacks occurred in the Tilaberi region, a hotspot plagued by jihadist insurgencies.

Incident Details: Chris Iwaka reported on the simultaneous assaults in Chathumani village:

“Gunmen, believed to be allied with the Islamic State group in the Sahel, launched two attacks disguised as civilians, targeting soldiers and patrols in the weekly markets.” [08:39]

The Tilaberi region, situated between Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, remains under military rule in all three countries, struggling to contain persistent attacks by armed jihadist groups.

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4. U.S. Politics: FBI Director Resignation and Trump's Replacement Plans

In a significant development within U.S. politics, FBI Director Christopher Wray announced his resignation, effective at the end of President Biden’s term. This resignation paves the way for former President Donald Trump to appoint his preferred successor, Kash Patel.

Resignation and Implications: Christopher Wray, who described Trump as having “impeccable credentials” upon his appointment in 2017, now faces early departure amidst escalating tensions:

“All too often, people in today's world regard what's fair in terms of the justice system based on whether they like the result or whether their side won or lost.” [16:58]

Gary O’Donohue, the Washington correspondent, provided further analysis:

“Donald Trump believes the FBI was weaponized by the justice department. With Kash Patel, a staunch ally, poised to take over, there are concerns about potential retribution against Trump’s opponents.” [17:03-18:05]

Patel’s appointment is expected to face Senate approval, and his tenure may significantly impact the FBI’s operations, especially concerning past investigations involving Trump.

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5. International Reactions to Syria’s Transition of Power

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addressed the global community regarding Syria's transition post-Assad:

“The UN is totally committed to supporting a smooth transition of power with an inclusive political process in which the rights of all minorities will be fully respected.” [06:40]

Guterres emphasized the aim for a united and sovereign Syria with its territorial integrity restored.

Regional Responses: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei blamed Israel and the U.S. for orchestrating the rebel offensive that toppled Assad:

“Israel and the US have plotted to overthrow President Assad.” [07:13]

Russia criticized Israeli strikes on Syrian military installations, warning of further destabilization:

“These actions will only further destabilize the country.” [07:13]

Conversely, Qatar welcomed the change, announcing plans to reopen its embassy in Damascus after more than a decade:

“Nabruk to everyone.” [09:51]

This divergence in regional responses highlights the complex geopolitical dynamics at play in Syria’s post-Assad landscape.

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6. Assassination of Afghan Refugee Minister Khalil Haqqani by Islamic State

In a brazen attack, the Islamic State claimed responsibility for the assassination of Khalil Haqqani, Afghanistan's refugee minister. Haqqani, a high-ranking official in the Taliban government, was killed in Kabul, marking a significant loss for the Taliban's administration.

Attack Details: Bilal Sawari, an Afghan journalist, reported:

“Daesh has carried out the assassination, which is a brazen security failure.” [18:40]

Background and Implications: Antonio Guterres provided context on Haqqani’s role and his relationship with the Taliban:

“Khalil was a father figure after the elder Haqqani died. He was involved in many conflicts, including the Russian invasion of Afghanistan.” [19:55]

The assassination underscores internal tensions within the Taliban, hinting at possible factional conflicts:

“Sirajiddin Haqqani has been castigating, and the Haqqani family has been losing many members, which is a significant blow.” [21:00-21:41]

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7. Rescue of 11-Year-Old Girl in the Mediterranean

A harrowing rescue operation in the Mediterranean saw an 11-year-old girl saved after surviving for hours on tire inner tubes amidst stormy conditions. The ordeal highlights the ongoing humanitarian crisis faced by migrants attempting to reach Europe.

Rescue Operation: Rachel Wright reported on the successful rescue by the charity Compass Collective:

“The girl, from Sierra Leone, was suspended in the water for at least 12 hours before being found and brought to the Italian island of Lampedusa.” [22:02]

Despite searches, no other survivors or remains have been located, emphasizing the perilous journey many undertake in hopes of a better future.

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8. NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope Captures Early Galaxy Image

In a remarkable scientific achievement, NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has imaged a galaxy from just 600 million years after the Big Bang, providing unprecedented insights into galaxy formation.

Astronomical Discovery: Professor Katherine Haymans, Astrophysicist and Astronomer Royal for Scotland, expressed her awe:

“I just love this sparkle galaxy with its Christmas light shining as it was when the universe was just 600 million years old.” [24:07]

Scientific Insights: Palab Ghosh, BBC Science Correspondent, explained the significance:

“The James Webb Telescope is observing a galaxy akin to our Milky Way in its nascent stages, offering a glimpse into how galaxies like ours were formed.” [24:21]

The image, dubbed "Firefly Sparkle," was made visible thanks to gravitational lensing, where intervening galaxies magnify distant celestial objects. This discovery not only enhances our understanding of the universe’s early history but also validates theories of galaxy formation.

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Conclusion

The December 12, 2024 episode of the Global News Podcast provides an in-depth exploration of critical global events, reflecting ongoing conflicts, political shifts, humanitarian efforts, and scientific breakthroughs. From the symbolic destruction in Syria to transformative decisions in international sports and groundbreaking discoveries in astronomy, the podcast offers listeners a comprehensive overview of the current state of the world.

For further comments or discussions on the topics covered, listeners are encouraged to reach out via email at globalpodcastbc.co.uk or connect through the podcast's social media channels.

This summary was compiled based on the transcript provided and reflects the key points discussed in the episode.

Transcript

[Alex Ritson]

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the uk.

[Stephen Coates]

Available now on the documentary from the BBC World Service. Stephen Coates takes you to the Morse Code World Championships in an Internet connected world.

[Alex Ritson]

Morse code, the Alphabet of dots and dashes might now feel from a different era. I'm meeting some of the people who are keeping the code alive.

[Stephen Coates]

Morse code ready to transmit. Listen now by searching the documentary wherever you get your BBC Podcasts.

[Alex Ritson]

This is the Global News podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Alex Ritson and in the early hours of Thursday 12th December, these are our main stories. Fighters have destroyed the tomb of the late Syrian leader Hafez Al Assad, father of the ousted president Bashar al Assad. Saudi Arabia has officially been chosen to host the 2034 Men's Football World cup despite criticism of its record on human rights and the environment. Dozens of soldiers and civilians are reported to have been killed in attacks by jihadists in Niger. Also in this podcast, I just love this sparkle galaxy with its Christmas light shining as it was when the universe was just 600 million years old. NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has captured an image of a galaxy so far away that it offers an insight into the formation of the univers. We begin in northwestern Syria in the town of Kadahar, at the tomb of Hafez al Assad, the father of deposed Syrian president Bashar Al Assad. Between them, the two men ruled the country for more than 50 years. In the town, rebel fighters broke into the mausoleum and set pots on fire. Images show three starred flags, the symbol of Syria's opposition, displayed next to a smoldering coffin. A local resident, Mohammad Nasif, described what he saw.

[Mohammad Nasif]

We are at the tomb of Hafez al Assad. We came and saw it burnt and destroyed by the people of his village because he starved them, because they hated him, and because he destroyed us, he displaced them and displaced us.

[Alex Ritson]

350Km south of the town of Kadahar lies the Syrian capital, Damascus. From there, our chief international correspondent Lise Doucet reports.

[Lise Doucet]

The third day of these momentous times draws to a close. The nighttime curfew here in Damascus has been lifted, a sign that the new leadership believes that it is getting the situation under control. But these are still very heady times and very conflicting signals coming from the new leadership. Rebels have now been able to enter the mausoleum, which is the burial place not just of Bashar al Assad's father, Hafiz al Assad, but also his mother Anisa, and his brother Bassel we were able to visit that mausoleum in Karaha several years ago. It took a long time to get permission because they held the place in such reverence that they were very careful about who could go and visit. Now today it is going up in smoke. Rebels we're seeing are still fired up by the need, they believe, to hold those responsible for multiple war crimes. But there are the signals too, from the new caretaker government. They want to send a message of calm to Syrians, saying that they understand the need for stability. A cabinet meeting was held today, chaired by the new caretaker prime minister, but it is still a cabinet dominated by Islamists, a temporary government, they say, And Syrians are daring to hope that this is truly a new chapter and that promises will be kept that this will be a government for all Syrians in this very diverse society.

[Alex Ritson]

Lis Doucette. And as Lis was just saying, there are still some tensions after the new Islamist authorities said they'll hunt down anyone who tortured or killed detainees under the previous Assad regime. Earlier in the day, our international editor Jeremy Bowen sent this report from Damascus. As a crowd gathered in one part of the city.

[Jeremy Bowen]

We come to a poor district of Damascus called Tadamon. There is a crowd that is big and getting bigger. When we arrived, it was, I don't know, maybe a couple of thousand. I mean, they're double trebled in size. They're here for what they hope is going to be the public execution of a man called Abu Muntuza. He is believed to be one of the perpetrators of a massacre in April 2013 in this part of Damascus which left at least 40 dead in a ditch. And now I see them waving flags. I can feel here a real sense of expectation, of excitement, of anger. They want to see this man dead and they want to see it being done. They want to see him die, not just, I think, because of his crimes, crimes they're convinced he's committed, but because he's a symbol of the regime and the total cruelty of so many years of Assad rule. Any friends of yours killed?

[Alex Ritson]

And my family? No. My friend. Yes. My friend too.

[Jeremy Bowen]

And so today, Abu Muntajab. Do you want them to kill him today?

[Alex Ritson]

Yes.

[Jeremy Bowen]

Yes. In the end, there was no execution, at least not yet. It was probably a rumor, but thousands wanted it to be true. When the weight of dictatorship is lifted, powerful forces are unleashed. How they're dealt with shapes. What comes next?

[Alex Ritson]

Jeremy Bowen in Damascus. In a separate development, the United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres has said the world is witnessing the reshaping of the Middle East. Speaking in South Africa, he said there were signs of hope in Syria with the end of what he called the dictatorship after President Assad was overthrown. At the weekend, Mr. Guterres said the UN would help ensure a seamless transfer of power.

[Antonio Guterres]

The UN is totally committed to supporting a smooth transition of power with an.

[Alex Ritson]

Inclusive political process in which the rights of all minorities will be fully respected.

[Antonio Guterres]

And paving the way towards a united, sovereign Syria with its territory integrity fully reestablished.

[Alex Ritson]

Antonio Guterres Iran has blamed Israel and the US for the rebel offensive which toppled the Assad government. Russia has criticized Israeli strikes on Syrian military installations. Our correspondent Barbara Platasher reports.

[Stephen Coates]

Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has responded to the downfall of a key ally for the first time. He accused Israel and the US of plotting to overthrow President Assad along with an unnamed neighboring state, an apparent reference to Turkey, analysts say. Of the three, Turkey almost certainly had a hand in at least approving the rebel offensive. It backed some of the groups involved and was frustrated with Mr. Assad's refusal to negotiate with them. The US seems to have been caught by surprise. It has a $10 million bounty on the Islamist rebel leader because he's been designated a terrorist and is working out how to deal with the new government. Since the fall of the regime, Israel has destroyed Syria's military infrastructure to prevent hostile forces from taking it over, it says. Regional powers and Mr. Assad's other main ally, Russia, have responded with dismay. They say this will only further destabilize the country. One of the first states to react positively to the change in Damascus was Qatar, announcing that it planned to reopen its embassy there more than 10 years after the building was stormed by supporters of President Assad.

[Alex Ritson]

Barbara Plardusha in Syria now to other news and attacks by suspected Islamist militants in Niger have left dozens of soldiers and civilians dead. Local sources said the gunman launched two simultaneous attacks in the Tilaberi region in the west of the country. The BBC's Chris Iwaka reports.

[Antonio Guterres]

Multiple sources, including security blogs, said the gunmen, believed to be allied to the Islamic State group in the Sahel, launched two simultaneous attacks in Chathumani village. In one of the attacks, they are reported to have disguised themselves as civilians and opened fire at soldiers and patrol in the weekly markets. Chatumani village is in the restive Triborda region between Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. All three countries are currently under military rule but continue to face persistent attacks by armed jihadist groups.

[Alex Ritson]

Chris Iwaka, the host country of the 2034 Football World cup for Men has been officially announced. The president of FIFA is Gianni Infantino. It is a great pleasure that I can confirm that the host of the FIFA World Cup 2034 will be Saudi Arabia. Madruq Madruk to our friends, Henriad.

[Antonio Guterres]

Nabruk to everyone.

[Alex Ritson]

Speaking after the announcement, the Saudi Minister of Sports, Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Saud, said it was a historic day. It's a day of pride, a day of honor, a historic day.

[Jeremy Bowen]

Thank you to the whole world and to football lovers.

[Alex Ritson]

As we promised when we announced our.

[Jeremy Bowen]

Intention to submit our candidacy, and I.

[Alex Ritson]

Reiterate it today, this edition of the.

[Jeremy Bowen]

World cup will be exceptional and impressive for everyone.

[Alex Ritson]

But the Saudi selection has been fiercely criticized by human rights groups and environmental campaigners. Ollie Foster is from BBC Sport. And tell me more about the decision.

[Ollie Foster]

FIFA say they did everything by the book and they went to great pains at their extraordinary congress which was held virtually today with over 200 of their member associations from around the world dialing in. They say it was all part of their rotation between confederations, the continental rotation, which means that a continent can't have a World cup less than every 12 years. And Saudi Arabia was the only bidding nation for 2034. So FIFA say, well, this is the one we had to go for. So they didn't really have a vote today. They had this acclamation, this spectacle of all those member associations sort of giving a round of applause with how FIFA had arrived at this decision. But there have been some dissenting voices. They said, look, you've engineered this to make it Saudi Arabia in 10 years time.

[Alex Ritson]

Yeah, because there are plenty of people who aren't happy with the outcome. You mentioned human rights campaigners, also environmentalists and even football clubs and some players.

[Ollie Foster]

Absolutely. Remember, this is going to be a bumper World cup because it's being expanded at the next World cup to 48 teams. And there's going to be needed a lot of infrastructure to be built to get up to the 15 stadium. Another 11 stadiums are going to have to be built. And with that, human rights organizations looking at the examples and the cautionary tales that they had from the last World cup in Qatar, well, they say that this is a great moment of danger because of what they say is Saudi Arabia's abysmal human rights record. They say that there's the repression of women, criminalization of homosexuality, restriction of free speech, employment law and the treatment of migrant workers, alleged abuses and deaths already. And that's even before they start this huge infrastructure project in Saudi Arabia to get ready over the next 10 years for what is a huge global event.

[Alex Ritson]

Saudi Arabia, though will say, well, this is something that we're trying to do in order to move away from being an oil based economy.

[Ollie Foster]

Yeah, it's all part of their Vision 2030 that they brought in a good 10, 15 years ago and that's they're trying to diversify their economy and modernize it. You're right. To move away from the oil based economy. Tourism and sport has become a cornerstone of that. It's been called sports washing, of taking all these sports to just to try and gloss over what's actually going on within the kingdom. And they say, look, this can be a catalyst for change, just as Qatar said that hosting the last World cup would be a catalyst for change. But since then, with all the reports and the reviews since then, the legacy promises that have been broken there, well, Saudi Arabia will be under the spotlight like never before over the next 10 years to see if they can deliver on their promises of sustainability and human rights and see exactly whether it will be a catalyst for reforms within the country.

[Alex Ritson]

Ollie Foster.

[Rachel Wright]

Still to come, a rescue vessel run by the charity Compass Collective was heading to an emergency in the early hours of Wednesday morning when they heard calls in the darkness.

[Alex Ritson]

An 11 year old girl has been rescued after clinging to tire inner tubes for many hours in stormy weather in the Mediterranean.

[Stephen Coates]

Available now on the documentary from the BBC World Service, Stephen Coates takes you to the Morse Code World Championships in.

[Alex Ritson]

An Internet connected world. Morse code, the Alphabet of dots and dashes, might now feel from a different era. I'm meeting some of the people who are keeping the code alive.

[Stephen Coates]

Morse code ready to transmit. Listen now by searching the documentary wherever you get your BBC podcasts.

[Alex Ritson]

In the United States, the director of the law enforcement agency, the FBI has announced he'll resign next month. Christopher Wray told staff he'll leave the role at the end of President Biden's term. Donald Trump has already said he intends to replace Mr. Wray on his return to the White House. Mr. Trump's preferred choice for taking over the job is Kash Patel, a staunch ally who's vowed to sack the agency's leadership. Ben Brown got the latest from our Washington correspondent Gary O'Donohue.

[Gary O'Donohue]

I mean, I think this is the most high profile casualty, if you like, so far of Donald Trump's victory. This is one of the big consequences. We thought this would happen. Nevertheless, for an FBI director to leave before the end of their term is a big deal. And the reason it's a big deal is that they are meant to serve for 10 years. And this came in after the Watergate scandals in the 70s, designed really to put them above the political fray, to put them above the sort of the goodwill or otherwise of presidents. And here we've got one going a couple of years early, one who was actually appointed by Donald Trump back in 2017, who described him at this time as having impeccable credentials.

[Alex Ritson]

Yeah.

[Ollie Foster]

But now, no love lost between them.

[Alex Ritson]

I mean, what's the reason for that?

[Gary O'Donohue]

I think it's pretty clear. I mean, Donald Trump doesn't hide his animosity towards Christopher Wray and the FBI. He believes the FBI was weaponized by the justice, or the injustice department, as he puts it. Of course, there were two federal criminal investigations against Donald Trump. They searched his house at Mar a Lago, didn't they? In August of 2022, when he was accused of hiding secret government documents, mishandling secret government documents. He called it a raid. It was a legal search. And so today, Donald Trump, when he heard this news, said it was a great day for America. His statement was, it was interesting. He kind of said, you know, I don't know what's come over him. I don't know what happened to him. But Christopher Wray, he addressed his staff today, sort of his final speech, and he said, and I think you don't need to be a clairvoyant to understand what he's pointing to. He said, unfortunately, all too often, people in today's world, they regard what's fair in terms of the justice system on whether they like the result or whether their side won or lost. And I don't think you need to look too far to wondering who he's talking about there.

[Alex Ritson]

Right.

[Gary O'Donohue]

And I mentioned Cache Patel as a potential successor.

[Alex Ritson]

Is that right?

[Gary O'Donohue]

Yeah. I mean, he's the one. Donald Trump has said publicly he wants to be the nominee. He does have to be approved by the Senate. Don't forget, he's been working the senators on the Hill to make sure he gets through that vote. And he has been pretty clear about his desire to go after some of those people who were Donald Trump's opponents. Retribution is the word that's been used, as you say, dismantle parts of the law and order. Law and order establishment. He's a hardliner, there's no question about that. We'll see what happens when he gets into office. One thing we do know, Donald Trump did threaten to ask his FBI and his Justice Department in particular to come up with a special counsel to investigate Joe Biden. He says he's now not going to do that, but other people will, I think, be more worried that they may have a rather litigious future in front of them because of Kash Patel heading for the directorship of the FBI.

[Alex Ritson]

Gary O'Donohue in Washington. Next to Afghanistan, the Islamic State group says it was behind the suicide bombing that killed the country's refugee minister. Khalil Haqqani was blown up as he left his office in Kabul on Wednesday. Several other people are reported to have been killed in the blast. Mr. Haqqani was designated a global terrorist by the United States. He was the most senior member of the Taliban government to die in an attack since the group took power three years ago. James Menendez heard more from the Afghan journalist Bilal Sawari.

[Antonio Guterres]

Daesh has said it was their work that they had carried out the assassination, which is a brazen security failure. There are quite credible reports that the attacker posed as someone who had a broken arm and that he was detected at a scanner with some sort of metal being detected in his head, that he just simply wanted to greet the minister. The irony here is that the Haqqani network introduced suicide attacks in Afghanistan along with Al Qaeda. With the group, they have a generational, historical and ideological relationship, and today they are the victim of that tactic. However, there's a history of quite a lot of differences between Mr. Khalil Haqqani and Mullah Beradar, who's a senior figure from the Kandahari faction. There was a famous fist fight. There was gunfire and thermoses and teacups were thrown at each other. When the Taliban first came into power, after a verbal clash turned into physical fight inside the Taliban cabinet meeting at.

[Mohammad Nasif]

The time, how did Khalil Haqqani fit.

[Alex Ritson]

Into that Haqqani family or network?

[Antonio Guterres]

Well, to Sir Ajuddin Haqqani, who is the interior minister and leader of the Haqqani network, Khalil was a father figure after the elder Haqqani died. This is a figure who was involved for quite a bit in many different wars and conflicts starting from the Russian invasion of Afghanistan. And he was quite a colorful character as well. I mean, there are reports that he was a heavy drinker and he always carried his pistol and never hidden his love for M4American rifle, which he carried. So the irony is that a minister who was so well protected came from a very powerful faction of the Taliban. Always carried a gun, could not actually, you know, protect his own life. And this goes against the very popular narrative that the Taliban would like everyone to believe that there's no security threat, that everything is safe in Afghanistan, is perfectly secure.

[Alex Ritson]

But just briefly, I mean, is it possible then that this was sort of factional fighting within the Taliban?

[Antonio Guterres]

Well, one cannot rule that element, especially when Sirajiddin Haqqani has been castigating. And it is hardly a that Hybatola in Kandahar has limited the Aqqani's power and influence. And one also has to mention that two cabinet positions were offered to the Haqqanis. One was taken by his nephew as the interior minister and the second was taken by him. So Sirajuddin preferred his uncle rather than many of his brothers. And that kind of shows you what a big blow that is to the Haqqani family because they have been losing a lot of their family members as well.

[Alex Ritson]

Bilal Sawari, now to a story of survival against the odds. An 11 year old girl has been rescued after clinging to tire inner tubes for many hours in stormy weather in the Mediterranean. Rescuers think she's the sole survivor of a migrant boat which sank off the coast of the Italian island of Lampedusa.

[Rachel Wright]

Rachel Wright reports a rescue vessel run by the charity Compass Collective was heading to an emergency in the early hours of Wednesday morning when they heard calls in the darkness. They were coming from an 11 year old girl floating in the sea, clinging to inner tire tubes, filmed with air and wearing a simple life jacket. A doctor who examined her said the girl, who's from Sierra Leone, was probably floating in the water for at least 12 hours. The girl told her rescuers that she'd set off three days earlier from the town of Sfax in Tunisia with 44 other people. She said the metal boat she was in had been hit by strong winds and high waves and had sun. Italian media said the Coast Guard and police boats are searching the area but have found no other survivors or any traces of clothing. The charity said the girl, who had no drinking water or food, was hypothermic and very tired. They said she was now recovering in hospital on the Italian island of Lampedusa after her ordeal. An estimated 1600 people have died this year trying to cross the Mediterranean to reach Europe.

[Alex Ritson]

Rachel Wright, NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has obtained the first image of what our galaxy, the Milky Way, may have looked like just as it was forming after the Big Bang. The image shows 10 balls of stars of different colors appearing Like Christmas tree baubles hanging in the cosmos, or a cluster of multicolored fireflies, hence the name scientists have given it. Firefly sparkle. The light from the galaxy has taken more than 13 billion years to reach us. One of those celebrating was astrophysicist and Astronomer Royal for Scotland, Professor Katherine Haymans. I just love this sparkle galaxy with its Christmas light shining as it was when the universe was just 600 million years old. And I find that amazing that humans now have built a telescope that allow us to peer so far back in time that we can see this very, very. This nascent phase of the galaxies forming in such a beautifully festive way. Our science correspondent, Palab Ghosh. Tell me more.

[Mohammad Nasif]

The further you look in space, the further back in time you see, because it takes so long for the light to get to us. So what the James Webb Telescope, which is the most powerful space observatory ever built, is seeing, is a galaxy that is like our own, in the very early stages of formation that started to be created 600 million years after the Big Bang. That seems like a long time, but it's actually a blink of an eye in terms of the creation of the universe, which is 13.7 billion years old. So right at the beginning of space and time, we see something like the Milky Way, and it is absolutely stunningly beautiful. And the most extraordinary thing is that even with the most powerful observatory ever built, it should be too small and too far away for even James Webb to see. But because of an amazing cosmic coincidence, it was magnified by galaxies between James Webb and Firefly Sparkle that acted like a gigantic magnifying glass blowing it up, enabling us to see things that we had no right to see.

[Alex Ritson]

And so, presumably, given just how far away it is and how long ago it was, we're looking at something that may well not even exist now.

[Mohammad Nasif]

Indeed. So who knows what happened, whether it did go on to form a galaxy like ours or not. But just in terms of, what if we turn the clock backwards on the formation of our own Milky Way? Astronomers think that what they're seeing with this galaxy, which they have called Firefly sparkle because it looks like a swarm of fireflies, that is what our own galaxy looked like at its beginning stages of formation.

[Alex Ritson]

And how could this be useful in, well, learning about what's going to happen to us in the future?

[Mohammad Nasif]

So there are lots of theories of how galaxies form, but just to be handed, because of this amazing coincidence, details of what it actually looked like, and boosted by the magnification of, they call it gravitational lensing. So to be able to see inside these star clusters, see the stars actually in the process of forming, will enable us to see how our own galaxy was formed brick by brick.

[Alex Ritson]

Palab Ghosh and that's all from us for now. But there'll 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 xglobalnewspod. This edition was mixed by Chris Lovelock. The producer was Liam McSheffery. The editor is Karen Martin. I'm Alex Ritzen. Until next time, goodbye.

[Stephen Coates]

Available now on the documentary from the BBC World Service, Stephen Coates takes you to the Morse Code World Championships in.

[Alex Ritson]

An Internet connected world Morse code, the Alphabet of dots and dashes might now feel from a different era. I'm meeting some of the people who are keeping the code alive.

[Stephen Coates]

Morse code ready to transmit. Listen now by searching the documentary wherever you get your BBC podcasts.