Syrians attempt to free political prisoners

Summary

Global News Podcast Summary: Episode on Syrians Attempting to Free Political Prisoners Released on December 9, 2024 by BBC World Service

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1. Syria’s Post-Assad Transition and Liberation Efforts

Collapse of the Assad Regime: The podcast opens with the monumental fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime after 54 years, sparking a mix of jubilation and uncertainty among Syrians. Diplomatic circles worldwide are grappling with the swift regime collapse and the implications for Syria’s future governance.

Rebel Group HTS Takes Control: Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the dominant rebel faction, swiftly assumed control of Damascus. An overnight curfew in the capital has been lifted, with normal activities resuming as shops reopen and public transportation resumes operations. HTS has pledged to establish a transitional government, though this process may extend over days or weeks.

Liberation of Political Prisoners: A significant development involves HTS entering Assad’s Sednaya Prison in Damascus, where tens of thousands of political prisoners were held and tortured. Rebel forces have reportedly freed over 3,500 prisoners. Barbara Pledarsha's report highlights the intense efforts by civil defense workers to locate and release detainees, as narrated by former inmates.

On-the-Ground Perspectives: Lina Sinjab provides an intimate glimpse into Damascus post-regime collapse. At [03:32], she describes the city's bustling streets and the celebratory mood in Umayyad Square:

"The main duty was to liberate the country from Assad. Now we need to protect its properties, because this belongs to all people." ([03:32])

She expresses cautious optimism but underscores prevalent concerns about stability and the rebels' capacity to maintain order:

"I think everyone has questions about stability. Are the rebels able to provide this for the country?" ([04:46])

Movement of Syrians Across Borders: Rami Rahaim reports from the Masnar crossing on Syria’s border with Lebanon, detailing the surge of Syrians returning home and those hesitant to re-enter due to uncertainties. He notes:

"They didn’t say we are afraid of the rebels or of their rule. On the contrary, they have been receiving reassurances." ([06:58])

Analysis of HTS’s Potential Governance: Frank Gardner discusses HTS’s efforts to transition from a jihadist group to a governing body. He highlights HTS leader Ahmed Al Shara’s attempts to present an inclusive government image, which has led some, including former MI6 chief Sir John Sors, to consider reclassifying HTS’s status.

International Perspectives: Jeremy Bowen assesses the delicate balance Syria faces between emerging stability and the potential for renewed chaos. He emphasizes the challenges of national reconciliation amidst diverse armed groups and the historical fragmentation of the Syrian opposition.

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2. Escalating Violence in Haiti

Massacre Linked to Witchcraft Accusations: The podcast sheds light on a tragic escalation in Haiti, where over 180 elderly individuals were massacred by gangs allegedly motivated by witchcraft beliefs. Vanessa Bushluta reports that gang leader Monel Felix, known as Mikano, orchestrated the killings after accusing elderly community members of causing his child's death through witchcraft.

She explains:

"There's a belief that especially elderly people can turn into loup garous shapeshifters who then attack children." ([15:41])

Impact on Security and Aid Efforts: Violence, previously concentrated in slum areas like Cite Soleil, has spread to more affluent regions, disrupting international aid operations. This shift has forced organizations like Doctors Without Borders to withdraw, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.

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3. Rise in Antisemitism and Terrorism Concerns

Attack on Melbourne Synagogue: In Australia, a synagogue in Melbourne was set ablaze during morning prayers, deemed a likely terrorist act by authorities. Katie Watson details the investigation:

"Police say three suspects are being investigated... it was likely a terrorism incident." ([18:13])

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the attack as anti-Semitic:

"It's a callous and horrific attack." ([18:30])

Community and Government Response: In response, increased policing and heightened security measures have been implemented around places of worship and Jewish communities. The incident underscores the broader rise in antisemitism, with authorities vigilant against potential future threats.

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4. MeToo Case in French Cinema: Christophe Rougia’s Trial

Allegations Against a Film Director: Christophe Rougia faces severe accusations of sexually abusing actress Adele Enel when she was a minor. Paul Moss reports on the trial, highlighting Enel's claims of inappropriate behavior beginning when she was 12 years old on the set of "The Devils" in 2001.

Enel, now a prominent figure in the MeToo movement in France, states:

"He told me, 'You're like a woman stuck in a girl's body.'" ([19:24])

Rougia denies the allegations but acknowledges making errors, leaving the court to determine the veracity of the claims.

Broader Impact on French Cinema: Enel's case has sparked wider scrutiny of the French film industry, with additional allegations emerging against other directors, challenging the industry's culture and prompting calls for systemic change.

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5. Political Crisis in South Korea

President Yoon Suk Yeol Banned from Leaving the Country: South Korea faces deepening political turmoil as President Yoon Suk Yeol is prohibited from leaving the nation amidst investigations into his decision to impose martial law briefly last week. Katie Watson reports the unprecedented move:

"Banning a sitting president from leaving the country is a major development." ([22:38])

The South Korean Ministry of Defence maintains that Yoon retains his role as commander-in-chief, despite his party’s declaration that power has shifted to the prime minister. Opposition leaders argue the situation is unconstitutional and are pushing forward with impeachment efforts.

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6. Taylor Swift’s Record-Breaking Eras World Tour Concludes

Tour Achievements and Economic Impact: Taylor Swift’s "Eras World Tour" has concluded in Vancouver after nearly two years, breaking records with almost $2 billion in ticket sales and performances across five continents. Katie Watson highlights the tour’s global economic benefits and massive fan engagement.

Fan Community and Legacy: Fans celebrated collectively, exchanging friendship bracelets and sharing memorable moments. Rami Rahaim notes the tour’s profound impact on local economies and fan communities:

"Taylor Swift has traversed the United States, Australia, Singapore, Europe, she has brought along many economic booms." ([25:30])

Future Prospects: As the tour ends, questions arise about Taylor Swift’s next ventures, with speculation about a potential documentary and the anticipated re-recording of her album "Reputation." Katie Watson captures Taylor’s sentiments:

"The tour was the most exhausting, all-encompassing, but most wonderful thing that had ever happened in her life." ([26:05])

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Conclusion

This episode of the Global News Podcast provides an in-depth exploration of significant global events, from the transformative shifts in Syria and violent upheavals in Haiti to rising antisemitism and high-profile MeToo cases. Additionally, it covers political instability in South Korea and cultural phenomena like Taylor Swift’s monumental tour. Through expert analysis and firsthand accounts, the podcast offers listeners a comprehensive understanding of these complex issues shaping our world.

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For more detailed discussions and updates, listen to the full episode here.

Transcript

[Nick Miles]

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK. This is the global news podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Nick Miles and at 14 hours GMT on Monday 9th December, these are our main stories. Syrians are celebrating the end of the Assad regime after 54 years, but there is also great concern about what happens now. We'll hear from people on the ground and our international editor about what they're expecting. And civil defence workers are trying to reach underground cells to release some of the nation's tens of thousands of political prisoners. Also in this podcast, a new low in Haiti's escalating violence as more than 180 mostly elderly people are killed by gangs accused of witchcraft and antisemitism is a major threat. And anti Semitism has been on the rise. And we have seen incidents that have been targeted at the Jewish community. Police in Australia say a fire at a synagogue looks likely to have been an act of terrorism. We begin this podcast in Syria as the country begins its post Assad future. Such was the speed with which the regime fell that diplomats and politicians around the world are still trying to work out what will happen next. In Syria itself, there are many emotions swirling around at the moment, joy from many that after 54 years, a brutal political dynasty is no more. But there is also great concern about what happens now. An overnight curfew was imposed by the rebel group HTS in the capital, Damascus. Now, though, people are out on the streets, shops are open and even some public buses are running. The rebels now in charge have promised to transfer power to a transitional government, but that is likely likely to take days, if not weeks, to happen. In the meantime, they've been taking action as they move forward. They entered some of Assad's prisons, where tens of thousands of political dissidents have been held and tortured over the last few decades. That is some of the rebels freeing the prisoners at Sednaya Prison in Damascus, saying, you're safe, you're safe, get out. The rebels say they freed more than 3,500 prisoners from Sadnaya. Our correspondent Barbara Pledarsha has been there and sent this report. Thousands of opposition supporters are said to have been tortured and killed in Sadnaya by the Assad regime. When we arrived, there were hundreds of people climbing the steep hill to the prison and crowding around its entrance. Inside, investigators were pounding the ground in a cellar apparently used for storing fuel, searching for an entrance to underground cells. A member of the White Helmets told us there was no floor plan to indicate prisoners were trapped Underground only accounts from former inmates. Dozens of men sifted through mounds of documents scattered on the floor, looking for clues to the hidden cells or the whereabouts of their loved ones. For many, the fate of prisoners still missing is the most pressing issue now that the regime has fallen. Lina Sinjab had to leave Syria under the Assad regime, but has now been back in Damascus for the last day or so. She told my colleague Lucy Gray about what's happening now.

[Lina Sinjab]

As the day started, it was slowly picking up, but then by midday, the city has been busy. Lots of people are out and about in the streets. The main square, Umayyad Square, is still a celebratory mood, with some rebels gathering around many civilians, shooting in the air, singing revolutionary songs. HTS fighters deployed to protect several government buildings. I've seen them outside the central command of the Ba'ath party, outside the military base of the air forces, and certainly as well in the main square in Damascus. Sahat Harness, it's called, where Central bank is located. I've managed to talk to the fighter there, and he said our main duty was to liberate the country from Assad. Now we need to protect its properties, because this belongs to all people speaking to ordinary people. Bakeries are back opening, some restaurants, some food shops are opening. And it seems that people are regaining trust and slowly coming out and to practice their daily life.

[Nick Miles]

And how are people feeling? Are they feeling nervous? I mean, obviously we saw the joy, didn't we? But how are they feeling generally now? The sort of news is settling in.

[Lina Sinjab]

You know, I think everyone have the question about stability. The are the rebels able to provide this for the country? Are they going to provide the rule of law? Are they going to impose Islamic rule on people? When should we come back? But I have to say, so far the situation looks to be under control. I've spoken to some of the Christian community here in Damascus in Babtuma neighborhood, and it seems that they had a meeting yesterday with a delegation from HTS to reassure them in protecting the neighborhoods from thieves, from thugs, from mobs who are taking the opportunity of the situation and breaking into public areas. So there are signs of goodwill and good practices. The test is really on the reality, how they're going to implement it, leading towards finding a new government to be in charge.

[Nick Miles]

Lina Sinjap jubilation comes in many forms. And while many in Syria are celebrating on the ground, as we've heard after the fall of Bashar al Assad, many who'd left Syria are celebrating by returning or hoping to return to the country they were exiled from. So how exactly are those feelings being expressed? Let's hear from our correspondent Rami Rahaim on the Masnar crossing on Lebanon's border with Syria.

[Rami Rahaim]

The first thing we saw yesterday, immediately after the fall of the regime was celebrations and people trying to get into Syria. They couldn't wait after they got the news. And this has continued, this movement into Syria, we don't have exact numbers. We're trying to get some from the Lebanese authorities of how many people have left Lebanon over the last couple of days. But also on the other side, there are also some Syrians who are trying to come into Lebanon. So some people have worries about the situation and they would like to wait outside of Syria as they get a clearer idea of where things are going. So we see that as well. And now the Lebanese army has sent actually reinforcements to this point because there's quite some pressure from the large number of people trying to get in.

[Nick Miles]

And Rami, what about is there any concern amongst the Syrians who want to go back to Syria about the exact nature of the rebel group there?

[Rami Rahaim]

I haven't heard anything of the sort. And actually even the people who are trying to get in from Syria into Lebanon because of their concerns, their concerns, at least the ones who have spoken to us, they didn't say we are afraid of the rebels or of their rule. On the contrary, they said that so far nothing has happened that is scary from the rebels and also that they have been receiving reassurances and those of them with jobs, especially in the government, have been receiving calls to return to their jobs, even with promises of raises so that the institutions in Syria keep running smoothly. However, they say what we are worried about are individual acts of vengeance. Some of the people we spoke to were in the army. One man said, I didn't kill anyone, but I was in the army and I'm afraid because I was in the army. So they are afraid of individual acts of vengeance and also of the kind of disorder and chaos that might occur because of the sudden collapse of the regime.

[Nick Miles]

Rami Ruhaim, let's hear more now about the rebel group that seems to be in control of Damascus. HTS well, under Abu Mohammed Al Golani, the group has largely run Idlib province in the northwest of the country for some time. Many countries list HTS as a terror organ, and the United States currently has a $10 million bounty on the head of its leader. Salam Al Dairy is a supervisor with the landmine clearance organization, the Halo Trust, who's in Idlib he says he's been able to live a normal life under their leadership. I have been living here for seven.

[Rami Rahaim]

Years and nothing to be afraid about.

[Nick Miles]

It, in my opinion.

[Rami Rahaim]

The situation, I guess, will be better.

[Nick Miles]

Than before because the people will return to their homes, the shelling will stop, the airstrike will stop, the situation will.

[Rami Rahaim]

Be more stable, as well as release of prisoners.

[Nick Miles]

And for me and for the whole Syrian people, there is a sense of hope. This Syrian woman, though, is not sure the situation will be better. Unfortunately, as a woman, I'm not sure whether I will be able to continue living as I want to. I'm not sure whether I will have my freedom. Let me tell you why. When they got power and they were in Idlib, I saw that the. The style of living is not my style. I'm not so sure that corruption will end and dictatorship will end because they didn't give us a good example when they were in the opposition. Well, inside Syria, the rebel coalition and regime officials say they are working towards a transitional government and the building of a new Syria together. Mr. Assad's prime minister, Mohammad Ghazi Al Jalali, said he was willing to meet the Islamist rebel leader Abu Mohammed Al Jawlani to assist with the transfer of power. So very early days. But is an orderly transition a possibility for hts? A question for our security correspondent, Frank Gardner.

[Frank Gardner]

They have governed, as you heard there in Idlib province in the northwest for quite some time. They withstood air attacks from the Russian air force and they have established rule of law there. They have been criticized by some for lack of respect for human rights. But their leader, who has been going by the name of Abu Mohammed Al Jolani, he's now ditched that nom de guerre because he's trying to distance himself from his jihadist pass. So he's gone back to his original name, which is Ahmed Al Shara. He's going to great lengths to try to reassure people that the government that they will be ushering in is one that represents all Syrians, that it'll be inclusive. And that, I think, is prompting some people, including Pat McFadden, the UK cabinet minister, to suggest that the UK, amongst others, was looking at, reviewing whether there was a need to maintain the terrorist nomenclature, the terrorist proscription. For hts, it does have jihadist roots. It was linked to Al Qaeda until it split in 2016. And there were links with the hideous butcher and rapist Abu Bakr al Baghdadi, who was the founder of isis, as it were, the kind of main leader of it until he was killed in an airstrike. But that was a long time ago. And some people, including the former MI6 chief, Sir John Sors, are arguing that it's time to move on and that in his words, it would be ridiculous if the UK government didn't do business with the new Syrian government. So I think the signs at the moment are pretty good. I think the big challenge, or one of the many challenges for the new government, and particularly for Upmarsharra, AKA Jalani, is going to be finding the right balance between establishing proper rule of law and establishing discipline within his own ranks to make sure that there isn't looting, there isn't score settling, there isn't arbitrary executions and justice and revenge killings. And at the same time being democratic enough that he gets the new Syrian government to be internationally acceptable in a way that the Taliban have completely failed to do in Afghanistan.

[Nick Miles]

Our international editor, Jeremy Bowen, also gave his assessment.

[Jeremy Bowen]

There is an argument that Syria won't fall into chaos because they've had chaos of the war, the killing, the half the pre war population either displaced inside the country or refugees abroad. I mean, I've driven through. I haven't had a visa for Syria under the regime since 2018, but for that I spent a lot of time there. And there is village after village, town after town that's absolutely destroyed. So maybe they have learned their lesson about working together. Let's hope so. The argument against that is that after dictatorships go, there's often a vacuum. There's desire for revenge, there are weapons everywhere in Syria. There are dozens of armed groups with various forms of funding. In the south, there are tribal based militias. Will they work with the Islamist groups that have come down from the north? Hts, the lead group in all of this, have rebranded themselves and plenty of analysts say they have genuinely moved away from being jihadist extremists into an Islamist nationalist form of potential government. But you know, there are other Islamist jihadist groups in Syria who definitely have not changed. How do you start a political process, national reconciliation after all of that? And one more thing as well as people come back into the country. For years after 2011, Western countries, including the UK, tried really hard to encourage an effective external political opposition from political exiles. They argued between themselves the whole time and it never became coherent.

[Nick Miles]

Jeremy Bowen. Still to come on this podcast, we've seen as Taylor Swift has traversed the.

[Rami Rahaim]

United States, Australia, Singapore, Europe, she has.

[Nick Miles]

Brought along many economic booms. Yeah, after almost two years and $2 billion in ticket sales, the end of an era for the Queen of Pop.

[Katie Watson]

World of Secrets is where untold stories are exposed. And in this new series, we investigate the dark side of the wellness industry, following the story of a woman who joined a yoga school only to uncover a world she never expected.

[Paul Moss]

I feel that I have no other choice.

[Nick Miles]

The only thing I can do is.

[Katie Watson]

To speak about this where the hope of spiritual breakthroughs leaves people vulnerable to exploitation. You just get sucked in so gradually, and it's done so skillfully that you don't realize World of Secrets the Bad Guru Listen, wherever you get your BBC podcasts.

[Nick Miles]

Now to what appears to be a new low in the gang violence that's gripped Haiti. There are reports that over the weekend around 180 people, many of them elderly, have been killed after a witch doctor told a gang leader that they were responsible for his child's death. Speaking at a news conference in Geneva, the United Nations High Commissioner, Volker Turk said there had been a shocking number of killings in Haiti this past weekend. At least 184 people were killed in violence or catch rated by the leader of a powerful gang in the Haitian capital, Port au Prince in the Cite Soleil area. These latest killings bring the death toll just this year in Haiti to a staggering 5,000 people. Our online Latin America editor, Vanessa Bushluta told me more.

[Vanessa Bushluta]

The details of this latest massacre are still relatively hazy. What we know is what the National Human Rights Defense Network, a human rights group which has proven very reliable, has told us, and that is that at least 110 elderly people were killed on the orders of a gang leader named Monel Felix, also known as Mikano. And as you mentioned there in your introduction, what seems to have triggered this massacre is that Mykano's son fell ill and he was told that witchcraft was behind this. Now, this goes back to folklore in Haiti, where there's a belief that especially elderly people can turn into loup garous shapeshifters who then attack children. And so that's why elderly people were targeted in this horrific event.

[Nick Miles]

Now, this appears to have taken place in City Soleil, which is a notorious slum area of the capital. And yet elsewhere there are still huge security problems, even though the more affluent parts of the capital as well.

[Vanessa Bushluta]

That's right. I mean, there was a lull in the violence between May and September when there was an uneasy truce between the gangs that now hold swathe over much of Haiti, really. And then that truce was broken at the beginning of October when there was a massacre. So far the worst massacre, with 115people killed in the antibonit region. So outside of the capital where so far most of the violence had been concentrated, that was on the 3rd of October. And as you mentioned there, there has also been a shift of the violence towards the more affluent areas, the places where there's still embassies and where aid groups have been having their headquarters and where there was relative security. And as you can imagine, that's also prompted many international aid groups to finally leave Haiti in the face of this violence, including a group called Doctors Without Borders, which had been providing medical aid to many Haitians.

[Nick Miles]

Vanessa buschlutter, In Australia, police now say a fire at a synagogue in Melbourne on Friday looks likely to have been an act of terrorism. The building was set alight while members inside were at morning prayers. The local police commissioner described it as a callous and horrific attack. Our Australia correspondent Katie Watson has more.

[Katie Watson]

Police say three suspects are being investigated in connection with Friday's arson attack on the Addas Israel synagogue in southeast Melbourne. Chief Commissioner Shane Patton from Victoria police said he'd met with federal officers and Australia's intelligence service who all determined that it was likely a terrorism incident.

[Nick Miles]

We have ensured that we have increased policing the areas, increased visibility and making sure we're out and about at synagogues, at other places of worship, at places of significance to the Jewish community. And the investigation will now take its course and will follow where the evidence takes us.

[Katie Watson]

The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, though, condemned the attack immediately, calling it anti Semitic and an outrage.

[Nick Miles]

Antisemitism is a major threat and antisemitism has been on the rise and we have seen incidents such as this that have been targeted specifically at the Jewish community.

[Katie Watson]

The police have said that there's no evidence to suggest further attacks, but they aren't ruling anything out.

[Nick Miles]

Katie Watson, the French film director Christophe Rougia is on trial today, facing charges of sexually abusing the actress Adele Enel when she was underage in in one of the first MeToo cases to emerge from French cinema. Ms. Enel has accused him of repeatedly touching her inappropriately after they met working on the movie The Devils in 2001 when she was 12 and he was 36. He denies the charges. Paul Moss has been following the story.

[Paul Moss]

He is looking at very serious charges. I mean, he's a 59 year old film director. He's not one of the most famous in France, but he has had some success. He made that film you referred to the Devils, also a film called Children of the Shantytown, which got a few awards. But yes, he said that While he was working on the Devils, he's been accused of beginning a sexually abusive relationship with Adele Enel. She says he used to kiss her on the neck. There was sexual touching, and that this then went on for three years. She says he told her, you're like a woman stuck in a girl's body. Now, when people started investigating, investigators started looking at these claims. They say that members of the film crew themselves came forward and said they had felt uneasy about what was going on and said they looked like a couple, which just wasn't right now. Adelinel then went on to become far more successful. She starred in a film called Portrait of a Lady on Fire, which won lots and lots of awards all over the world. And it was while the spotlight was on her that she decided to tell the story of what she says Christophe Roger had done to her. I should say he denies the allegations. He says Adelinelli's just out for revenge because he didn't cast her in any other films. But he does admit that what he says errors were made, that he made errors. What that means, I guess we will find out hopefully during this trial.

[Nick Miles]

And Paul, Adele Anel has become a bit of a figurehead for the MeToo movement in France, hasn't she?

[Paul Moss]

Very much. I mean, as you alluded to, this all happened While the American MeToo movement was developing, with cases like Harvey Weinstein going to court. She said all along she was not the only case, that there was an attitude of France, a sort of boys will be boys attitude, that this thing was often ignored. Bear in mind, she was speaking when France's most famous contemporary film star, Gerard Depardieu, was being investigated. He's set to go on trial next year, accused of two cases of sexual assault. He's also been charged with rape. And after Adele Enel started campaigning, other women also came forward. Two more directors were accused of sexually abusing members of their cast. She then really hit the headlines when Roman Polanski was invited to the Cannes Film Festival. A man who's been already convicted in America of sexual intercourse with a minor. She stormed out saying, well done, pedophile. That means that this case coming up is going to get a lot of attention for the case itself, but also because it is seen as just the first, perhaps of a whole series that are putting not just individuals but the French film industry on trial.

[Nick Miles]

Now to South Korea, where the country's Justice Department has banned the president, Yoon Suk Yeol, from leaving the country, deepening the nation's political crisis. Mr. Yun is under investigation for briefly imposing martial law last week. Our Asia Pacific editor, Mickey Bristow reports.

[Katie Watson]

Banning a sitting president from leaving the.

[Nick Miles]

Country he's supposed to be governing is a major movement and raises questions about what control Mr. Yoon now has over the government. On Sunday, his party said power had been handed over to the prime minister. But on Monday, South Korea's Ministry of Defence said Mr. Yoon still had at least one role, commander in chief of the armed forces. Opposition politicians said the current chaos was unconstitutional and are again planning to try to impeach the president. Mickey Bristow Taylor Swift has wrapped up her record Breaking Eras World Tour in the Canadian city of Vancouver, ending on her hit song Karma. It has been a global tour lasting almost two years and generating $2 billion from tickets, the first tour to do so. Stephanie Prentice has this report.

[Katie Watson]

Okay, I want to do this one more time on this tour, one last time. We get to sing together. It's been almost two years, 149 shows and five continents and now the record breaking Eras tour has finally come to an end.

[Nick Miles]

I love her and thank you so much for empowering young women.

[Katie Watson]

Fans in Vancouver, Canada, gathered outside the venue to meet each other, compare custom made outfits and of course trade friendship bracelets, a tradition that's now become a key part of each show.

[Nick Miles]

We took the friendship bracelet theme really literally and we thought it would be really cute to pick our favorite songs and put them into a bracelet. I think like the sense of community is something that really is amazing. Walking down the street today, I saw so many people just like come up to us and like just wanted to trade bracelets and just like speak with one another.

[Katie Watson]

The tour was famously difficult to get tickets to, at one point even triggering the US Congress to step in to debate the ticketing industry. But the high prices didn't stop fans flying anywhere in the world they could get tickets, and the final date of the tour was no exception.

[Nick Miles]

I went to la, I went to.

[Katie Watson]

Mexico City and well, I want to.

[Lina Sinjab]

Go to the last shows of the Era tour.

[Nick Miles]

I've been a fancy since I was I think 10. Right now I'm 30.

[Lina Sinjab]

It's like a lot of my life.

[Katie Watson]

As well as breaking attendance records, the tour has boosted economies globally, becoming the highest grossing concerts of all time. Brian west is the Taylor Swift reporter for the USA Today Network.

[Rami Rahaim]

What's been so fascinating to follow this over the past two years is the fact that not only do fans log.

[Frank Gardner]

On and watch every single minute of.

[Rami Rahaim]

This three hour show, but also the.

[Nick Miles]

Added benefits that have come along with.

[Rami Rahaim]

It, we've seen as Taylor Swift has traversed the United States, Australia, Singapore, Europe, she has brought along many economic booms.

[Katie Watson]

As well as economic booms. A performance in Edinburgh, Scotland caused seismic activity due to fans dancing, earning it the name Quake It Off. Speaking on stage in Vancouver, Taylor Swift praised her fans and the community they create at the shows. In return, the audience delivered on a social media plan to sing Happy Birthday to her. She'll be turning 35 in a few days.

[Nick Miles]

Happy Birthday to you.

[Katie Watson]

The big question now is what's next? Fans had been anticipating a re record of her sixth album reputation, and many on social media noted full film crews on stage at the gig speculating she could have been shooting a documentary. Taylor herself ended the night by describing the tour as the most exhausting, all encompassing, but most wonderful thing that had ever happened in her life. So she may be forgiven for taking a final bow. For now.

[Nick Miles]

That report was by Stephanie Prentiss 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 xglobalnewspod. This edition was mixed by Charlotte Hadroy Tzimska and the producer was Anna Murphy. The editor is Karen Martin. I'm Nick Miles. Thanks for listening. Bye.