Tributes pour in for former US President Jimmy Carter

Summary

Global News Podcast Summary BBC World Service – December 30, 2024

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1. Tributes Pour in for Former US President Jimmy Carter (00:00 – 07:18)

The podcast opens with Bernard Eccleston announcing the main stories of the day, prominently featuring the tributes flooding in for former US President Jimmy Carter, who passed away at the age of 100 on Sunday.

Key Highlights:

• Jimmy Carter's Legacy: Carter is lauded for brokering peace between Israel and Egypt during his presidency and his extensive humanitarian efforts, which earned him the Nobel Peace Prize. His work is expected to be remembered for over a century.

• Notable Tributes:

  • Joe Biden (Timestamp [01:15]): “Jimmy Carter lived not just a good life, but the good life. He is an extraordinary leader.”
  • Donald Trump (Timestamp [02:02]): Acknowledged Carter’s efforts to improve American lives, despite philosophical and political disagreements.
  • Barack Obama (Timestamp [02:02]): Described Carter as embodying “integrity, respect, and compassion.”

• Ambassador Stuart Eisenstadt ([01:41] - [07:18]):

  • Personal Reflections: Eisenstadt, who served as Carter’s chief White House domestic policy advisor for 55 years and authored "Jimmy the White House Years", offers an intimate perspective on Carter’s character and achievements.
  • Carter’s Early Life: Born in a modest environment without modern amenities, Carter’s upbringing in a racially divided county shaped his strong stance against racism and his dedication to civil rights.
  • Presidency vs. Post-Presidency: While Carter’s presidency faced challenges like the Iran hostage crisis and his defeat by Ronald Reagan in 1980, Eisenstadt emphasizes Carter’s post-presidential contributions, including the establishment of the Carter Center and his extensive humanitarian work.
  • Carter Center’s Achievements: Monitored over 100 elections globally and played a pivotal role in eradicating diseases like guinea worm and river blindness in Africa.

Conclusion: Jimmy Carter is celebrated not only for his presidential achievements but also for his enduring legacy in humanitarian efforts and global peace initiatives.

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2. WHO Calls for an End to Attacks on Hospitals in Gaza (07:18 – 11:06)

Bernard Eccleston transitions to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, highlighting the World Health Organization’s (WHO) urgent plea to halt attacks on medical facilities.

Key Points:

• WHO's Statement: Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO Director-General, condemned recent attacks on hospitals, labeling them as a violation of international protections for medical facilities and civilians.

• Eyewitness Accounts:

  • Sarah Davies, spokesperson for the International Committee of the Red Cross in Israel and the Occupied Territories, emphasizes the critical need for respecting medical and civilian protections during conflicts.
  • Eyewitness Testimony: A medical student at Al Wafa Hospital described the chaos during an airstrike, noting the presence of medical staff and patients at the time of the explosion.

• Impact on Gaza's Health System:

  • Multiple hospitals, including Kemal Odwan Hospital and Al Ahli Hospital, have been targeted, severely hampering healthcare services.
  • Medical facilities are operating under extreme pressure with limited equipment and resources, jeopardizing civilian lives.

Conclusion: The relentless attacks on Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure exacerbate the humanitarian crisis, underscoring the urgent need for international intervention to protect medical services and civilian lives.

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3. Uncertainty in Ukraine Over the Future of the War (11:06 – 19:18)

The podcast delves into the protracted conflict in Ukraine, with a focus on the uncertainty surrounding its future as 2025 approaches.

Key Insights:

• Current Battlefield Situation:

  • Jonathan Beale reports from Dnipro, highlighting ongoing fierce fighting near Kurakhova. Ukrainian forces are resisting Russian advances but are gradually being surrounded.

• Soldier Perspectives:

  • Members of the Black Patch mortar team express unwavering determination to continue the fight despite heavy casualties. One soldier remarks at [15:47]: “If we're losing, I'm still willing to fight because, at least I'll die trying to win instead of just lying.”

• Public Sentiment and Casualties:

  • Ukraine has sustained over 400,000 casualties, fueling public weariness and calls for an end to the conflict.
  • Civilians, especially the elderly and those displaced, advocate for negotiations, though frontline soldiers remain committed to fighting.

• Political Dynamics:

  • Donald Trump, the President-elect of the US, has pledged to finish the war, adding another layer of uncertainty to the conflict’s trajectory.

Conclusion: As Ukraine faces its fourth year of war, the resilience of its military and the growing fatigue among its population create a precarious situation, with the prospect of significant political shifts influencing the conflict's outcome.

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4. South Korea Mourns Deadly Plane Crash (19:18 – 22:16)

A tragic aviation incident marks South Korea as the nation enters a seven-day period of mourning following a catastrophic plane crash.

Details of the Incident:

• Flight Details: The crash resulted in 179 fatalities, making it the deadliest aviation disaster on South Korean soil.

• Government Response:

  • Acting President Choi Sang Mok prioritized victim identification, family support, and survivor treatment.
  • An emergency review of aviation safety procedures has been initiated by Transport Minister Yoo Kyung Soo.

• Investigation Findings:

  • Preliminary reports suggest a possible landing gear malfunction or a bird strike led to the crash. The aircraft attempted a belly landing, landing far down the runway at high speed, leaving insufficient time to halt.
  • The pilot had declared an emergency to the control tower, stating a bird strike as the reason for the malfunction.

• Emotional Impact:

  • Families are devastated, awaiting confirmation of their loved ones’ identities amidst a chaotic scene at Muon Airport. Emotional testimonies highlight the profound grief and desire for answers and accountability.

Conclusion: The South Korean plane crash has left the nation in mourning and seeking answers, with investigations ongoing to determine the precise causes behind the tragic loss of life.

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5. Serbian Prosecutors Indict Former Transport Minister over Railway Accident (22:16 – 28:05)

A high-profile legal case unfolds in Serbia following a deadly railway station accident that claimed 15 lives.

Key Information:

• Incident Details: The collapse of a concrete canopy at the renovated Novi Sad railway station resulted in 15 fatalities.

• Legal Proceedings:

  • Serbian prosecutors have indicted 13 individuals, including former Transport Minister Goran Vesic. Charges include causing general danger and offenses against general safety.
  • Additional charges target the designers and project managers involved in the station’s reconstruction, accused of irregular and improper execution of construction works.

• Public Outcry: The disaster has sparked significant public outrage, leading to large-scale protests, including a 15-minute silence observed across Serbia to honor the victims. The largest protest in Belgrade drew approximately 100,000 participants.

• Investigative Findings:

  • Reports from engineers involved revealed egregious construction practices, such as the use of empty concrete sacks, compromising the structural integrity of the canopy.

Conclusion: The indictment of high-ranking officials and project managers reflects a serious commitment to accountability in Serbia, addressing public anger and ensuring justice for the victims of the railway station collapse.

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6. Argentina Charges Five Individuals in Death of Liam Payne (28:05 – 30:51)

The podcast covers a high-profile case in Argentina involving the tragic death of British singer Liam Payne.

Case Overview:

• Incident: Liam Payne died in October after falling from a third-floor balcony in Buenos Aires.

• Legal Actions:

  • Five individuals have been charged in connection with Payne’s death:
    • Roger Norris, a friend of Payne.
    • Gilda Martin, a hotel manager.
    • Esteban Grassi, head of reception.
    • Ezekiel Perea, hotel staff.
    • Brian Paez, a waiter.

• Charges Specifics:

  • Manslaughter: Norris, Martin, and Grassi face charges for failing to ensure Payne’s safety despite his intoxicated state and drug use.
  • Drug-Related Offenses: Perea and Paez are accused of supplying Payne with drugs, with allegations that Payne purchased illicit substances from them prior to his fatal fall.

• Investigation Details:

  • The prosecutor’s office conducted an extensive investigation, including reviewing 800 hours of video footage, seizing and analyzing personal devices, and performing a post-mortem examination.

• Defendant Responses:

  • Brian Paez’s Lawyer has contested the charges, asserting that while Paez did possess drugs, he did not sell them to Payne.

Conclusion: The charges against five individuals in Argentina signify a thorough investigation into Liam Payne’s untimely death, reflecting the severity of the incident and the international attention it has garnered.

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7. Anticipation for Rare Celestial Event: T Corona Borealis (30:51 – 31:15)

The episode concludes with an uplifting segment on an upcoming rare celestial event.

Event Details:

• T Corona Borealis: A binary star system expected to dramatically increase in brightness, making it visible to the naked eye for a short period.

• Personal Story:

  • Michael Woodman, now 94, shares his experience witnessing a similar event in 1946, emphasizing the profound personal significance of such astronomical phenomena.

• Astronomical Insights:

  • Dr. Jennifer Millard explains that the event occurs approximately every 80 years, caused by interactions between a white dwarf and a red giant, leading to explosive brightness.

• Global Anticipation: Astronomers worldwide are eager to observe this event, with preparations underway to capture its fleeting brilliance.

Conclusion: The T Corona Borealis event serves as a reminder of the awe-inspiring wonders of the universe, bridging generations through shared celestial experiences.

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Final Notes: This episode of the Global News Podcast provides a comprehensive overview of significant global events, from heartfelt tributes to a former US president to pressing humanitarian crises and tragic accidents. The inclusion of personal anecdotes and expert testimonies enriches the narrative, offering listeners a nuanced understanding of each story.

For more updates and detailed analyses, tune into future episodes of the Global News Podcast.

Transcript

[Bernard Eccleston]

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the uk. This is the global news podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Bernard ECCHIO and at 1400 GMT on Monday 30th December, these are our main stories. Tributes pour in for the former US President Jimmy Carter, who died at the age of 100 on Sunday. The head of the World Health Organization has called for an end to attacks on hospitals in Gaza. Serbia indicts its former transport minister and others for a deadly accident which killed 15. Also in this podcast, uncertainty in Ukraine over what lies ahead in 2025. We report from the frontline in the East. If we're losing, I'm still willing to fight because like, at least I'll die trying to win instead of just lying.

[Ambassador Stuart Eisenstadt]

Down and taking it.

[Bernard Eccleston]

And five people are charged in Argentina in connection with the death of the One Direction star Liam Payne in October. World leaders and American politicians have been paying tribute to the former US President Jimmy Carter, who died at the age of 100 on Sunday. As president, he brokered peace between Israel and Egypt. He later received the Nobel Peace Prize for his humanitarian work. That organisation said his work would be remembered for another hundred years or more. Joe Biden was the first senator to endorse Carter for the presidency in 1976. He said Jimmy Carter lived not just a good life, but the good life. He described him as an extraordinary leader.

[Ambassador Stuart Eisenstadt]

Today, America and the world in my view, lost a remarkable leader. He was a statesman and humanitarian. Jimmy Carter lived a life measured not by words but by his deeds. He worked to eradicate disease not just at home, but around the world. He forged peace, advanced civil rights, human rights.

[Bernard Eccleston]

The incoming US President Donald Trump said Jimmy Carter did everything in his power to improve the lives of all Americans. Though Mr. Trump said he strongly disagreed with him philosophically and politically. Barack Obama said he embodied integrity, respect and compassion. Speaking in 2002, after winning the Nobel Peace Prize, he was asked by the BBC whether he regretted not winning a second term in office.

[Ambassador Stuart Eisenstadt]

I wouldn't want to change my life the way it's been. It was a very bitter disappointment to me when I was not re elected and I didn't have any idea what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. But Rosa and I decided to start the Carter center with very slight glimmer of hope about what it might be. But it has far exceeded our expectations and has given us a very fruitful and exciting and unpredictable and challenging and adventurous, I would say, and gratifying life. So I don't Think I would want to undo my life and change it substantially, even for a second term.

[Bernard Eccleston]

Ambassador Stuart Eisenstadt knew Jimmy Carter personally for 55 years. He was his chief White House domestic policy advisor and wrote the book Jimmy the White House Years. He spoke to my colleague Amal Rajan about Jimmy Carter's extraordinary life and began by talking about his modest beginnings.

[Ambassador Stuart Eisenstadt]

It was another era. His only connection to the outside world with he and his parents was a radio. They had no running water. They used to take their showers with a bucket filled with holes. He said that one of the most wonderful days of his life, except for marrying Rosalind, was when electricity came through the New Deal programs. But it also was an era of deep civil rights divisions. He grew up in a county that was 60% black. And interestingly, his playmates, not only allowed but encouraged by his mother, Ms. Lillian, were almost always black. He tried to get his church to accept allowing blacks to come in at least to worship. And yet when he was president, this southerner from the deepest part of the Deep south was a great civil rights champion.

[Bernard Eccleston]

And therefore, is it a source of frustration to you and others who knew him so well that the really abiding, that strong message that comes through in all of the obituaries that I've read overnight, perhaps a dozen of them, is this feeling that although he was an extraordinary post president, and we'll get to that, that in office he was a disappointment. And that partly is because of the Iran hostage affair and the famous helicopter crash, but also because of the manner of his defeat to the sunny optimism of Reagan in 1980. What's your assessment of whether or not that's a fair way for history to judge his presidency as opposed to his post presidency?

[Ambassador Stuart Eisenstadt]

Well, yes, he was obviously a great post president, but that he was the most consequential one term president we've had both with domestic affairs, human rights, which he applied to Latin America and the Soviet Union. Hard power. All the weapons systems that Ronald Reagan deployed against the Soviet Union started with Jimmy Carter. He normalized relations with China and then the Camp David Accords was the best, I think, act of presidential diplomacy in American history, bringing Egypt and Israel together. And it is frustrating, yes, absolutely frustrating that that is for.

[Bernard Eccleston]

And in terms of his post presidency, it's become a rather cliche to say that he's the best ex president or former president America has had. But he was in some sense a one man United nations, as some people have described him. He did commit himself really for nearly 50 years to doing extraordinary work in fighting poverty and disease and humanitarian causes.

[Ambassador Stuart Eisenstadt]

Yes. Let's remember that most presidents, after they leave office, whether after one or two terms, write their memoir and then they go on corporate boards. They get big speaking fees. He never took a dollar for a speaking fee. He never served on a corporate board. He wrote 32 books and he created the Carter Center. The Carter center was novel. Now it's being followed by other presidents like Clinton and Bush, but it was novel. What did the Carter center do? It wasn't just a presidential library. IT monitored over 100 elections around the world. It cured, and this is not an exaggeration, two African diseases, guine worm and river blinders. He was, in many ways, if I may put it this way, I'm using a British Shakespearean notion, but he was in many ways as close to a Renaissance man as we've had in the White House. Why do I say that? He was a Naval Academy graduate and a nuclear submarine officer. He was an engineer, a farmer, a preacher, a pastor, a poet, an author of 32 books, a master woodcutter. In fact, the giant cross in the church and plains he made, he was a fly fisherman. He did everything so well. And so that's why I say that he lived a life fully and I think he died at peace with himself of having done the best he could.

[Bernard Eccleston]

Ambassador Stuart Eisenstadt talking to Amal Rajan. Let's get more now on Jimmy Carter's work in Africa during his presidency between 1977 and 1981 and beyond. He's credited with helping what was then Rhodesia, a British colony, to become an independent Zimbabwe in 1980 by treating all sides, including its president, Robert Mugabe. With respect, Dr. John J Stremlow was the former Vice President for Peace Programmes at the Carter Centre between 2006 and 2011, he spoke to Krupa Padi about his work with the former president.

[Ambassador Stuart Eisenstadt]

I always wondered whether it was race or religion that shaped his life, but I think it was his opposition to racism. He always said that he spent more time in southern African issues in his presidency than he did on the Middle east, frankly. And so he was a great man and I always regard him as a mentor and as the professor.

[Bernard Eccleston]

With those foundations in mind, let's reflect on what he did, what he achieved in Africa, starting with Zimbabwe. Maybe.

[Ambassador Stuart Eisenstadt]

A close advisor to Mugabe once told me that if Carter had gotten a second term, the mess that has become Zimbabwe would not have occurred. This is highly speculative, obviously, but because Carter had indicated a willingness to fund willing buyer, willing seller on the Land issues. And the land issues really did complicate Zimbabwe. He also told me that he knew that from the first meeting with Mugabe that he was a Leninist and couldn't be trusted. And so he just pressed on and to get the Lancaster agreement. But also he really worked hard for on what became Namibia. And he had his staff devote an enormous amount of attention to Southern Africa. But he, the hard nut within the equation, which was apartheid South Africa, he didn't in this first term think he could address that. It was just too deeply entrenched. So it was important for him to work on the transformation of the neighboring states above all.

[Bernard Eccleston]

And interestingly, he said that Nelson Mandela was his hero.

[Ambassador Stuart Eisenstadt]

Yes, he was. He was. I'm tempted to compare Carter to Mandela, but Carter would be very deferential to Mandela. He was awestruck by Mandela's commitment to integration and to the constitutional democracy that has become South Africa.

[Bernard Eccleston]

In these few minutes, we've just spoken about his achievements on the African continent within his term as a president. But obviously he had this post presidential life on that. I want to talk about his work with the Carter center and the efforts he put into African public health as well.

[Ambassador Stuart Eisenstadt]

Well, African public health was absolutely rock solid throughout in the eradication of guinea worm and schistosomiasis and onchocerciasis. And so it really was a commitment to people being able to solve their own problems absent the diseases that afflict Africa and have stunted the growth of Africa. But again, it relates to his commitment to don't judge people by their outside color. Judge them by their integrity and character and soul and soul liberty. And his interpretation of Christianity was the most enlightened and most inspiring that I have ever met.

[Bernard Eccleston]

Dr. John J. Stremlow, speaking about Jimmy Carter's work in Africa. Israel is facing fresh criticism for attacking hospitals in the Gaza Strip as it continues its war against Hamas. Today, the head of the World Health Organization, the who, called for an end to such attacks. This as uncertainty continues to surround the fate of the doctor who was director of one of the hospitals most recently targeted by Israeli forces. Sarah Davies is the spokesperson for the International Committee of the Red Cross in Israel and the Occupied Territories. She shares the who's concerns. Right now, unfortunately, very few health facilities, medical facilities are able to operate. Medical facilities have protections and civilians have protections in situations of conflict. These need to be respected. And this is our constant call. More aid, more supplies need to be able to enter Gaza and be safely distributed. And civilians need to have safe access to those essential services. That they rely on to survive. Our correspondent Shaima Khalil in Jerusalem told me more about what the WHO chief Tedros Adhanam at Gabriel had been saying. He says that hospitals in Gaza have once again become battlegrounds and that the health system is under severe threat. And what he's referring to, Tedros Adhanon Ghebriya says, is that at least three hospitals from Friday up until the weekend have been targeted either by artillery fire or by airstrikes. If we start with the Kemal Odwan Hospital, which is the last functioning hospital in northern Gaza, besieged and under relentless bombardment since October because of Israel's renewed military operation against Hamas, when they say that they're regrouping there, we know that the Kamala Dwan Hospital has been forcibly evacuated. We know from the Gaza Health Ministry that medical staff and the director, Dr. Hossamaya, have been detained. Some who have been released were told by officials they reported beating. They reported being humiliated and being threatened. The whereabouts of Dr. Hossamabuh Safiyah are not known. We also know that the Al Wafa Hospital on Sunday was struck by an Israeli airstrike. Seven people are reported to have died. Some of those who were injured were taken to another hospital in Gaza City called Al Ahli Hospital or the Baptist Hospital. The Ahli Hospital itself earlier that day was targeted by artillery fire. We understand from the Israeli authorities that regarding Kamala Erdogan and Al Wafa Hospital, they said that they were operating and they were targeting Hamas command and control centers or Hamas stronghold. This has been denied by the Gaza health authorities, by Hamas. But I also spoke to an eyewitness, a student who was inside Al Wafa Hospital waiting to set an exam, a medical student, when the explosion happened. And she said when we fled the area after the explosion, she saw medical staff and saw patients inside that hospital. And again, I think whether it's the UN or the who, they have repeatedly said that attacks need to stop on hospital. People in Gaza need access to health care, especially in northern Gaza, where there's next to no aid. And health facilities who are barely standing have been working under extreme pressure with next to no facilities or equipment. And now we understand from health officials that these hospitals are just not functioning at the moment. Shaima khalil in Jerusalem. 2025 is likely to be a pivotal year for the war in Ukraine, while Russia continues to make advances on the battlefield. And with U.S. president elect Donald Trump promising to finish the war, it's a time of great uncertainty, with opinion polls suggesting that more Ukrainians may be looking for an end to the fighting. Jonathan Beale reports from Dnipro in eastern Ukraine on whether the country can endure a fourth year of war. It's where some of the fiercest fighting is taking place. Near Kurakhova on the eastern front. Recent drone footage shows Ukrainian forces still resisting, but they're slowly being surrounded. What? Nearby, this mortar team named the Black Patch have been trying to help slow the Russian advance. They're not your average soldiers. A group of non conformist friends. They call themselves anarchists. What did you do before you joined the army, Anakov?

[Ambassador Stuart Eisenstadt]

You're a cook?

[Bernard Eccleston]

Web developer. Yeah, artist. An artist. We meet at a safe house in a respite from the fighting. They know Donald Trump wants to bring an end to the war. The question, after nearly three years of fighting, can they really carry on? Would you prefer to start negotiating or would you prefer to keep fighting?

[Ambassador Stuart Eisenstadt]

I prefer to keep fighting.

[Bernard Eccleston]

We need just go on and try to do our best. Well, many in the west are now contemplating how to bring an end to this war. This unit isn't even thinking about it. And even when they're away from the front line, they continue their training because they say it keeps them motivated. Denis was living in Germany when Russia launched its full scale invasion.

[Ambassador Stuart Eisenstadt]

I just asked myself a question. Could I live in a world where Ukraine doesn't exist? And could I live in a world where my friends and family live under occupation?

[Bernard Eccleston]

And I told myself no.

[Ambassador Stuart Eisenstadt]

And so for me, it's like, if.

[Bernard Eccleston]

We'Re losing, I'm still willing to fight because, like, at least I'll die trying. There's a heavy price for that defiance. The numbers wounded and killed. Donald Trump's called that cost astronomical. At this one field hospital, yet more wounded arrive. One surgeon says it's a quiet night. Just in the last 20 minutes, half a dozen injured soldiers have come in. Some with minor injuries, broken arms, wounds on their legs, others more serious shrapnel wounds. Even Ukraine admits that it suffered more than 400,000 casualties. That includes killed and injured. And it's the scale of those casualties that's prompting more questions about how much longer this war can go on. There are signs, too, that the public are wool weary. In Dnipro, the air raid sirens are never quiet for long. There is no easy answer. A lot of our soldiers have been killed. They fought for something, for our territories. But I want the war to end. Unfortunately, there are fewer of us. We are getting some help, but it is not enough. That's why we have to sit down and Negotiate? No. Some of the strongest voices for a ceasefire come from those who've been forced to flee. These elderly women all want one. They're in temporary accommodation. Their homes are now in occupied territory. But Ukraine will have to sacrifice some of its land if there's to be an end to this war. Jonathan Beale reporting. Still to come, a 94 year old who spotted a rare celestial event when he was a teenager is hoping to catch another glimpse eight decades later.

[Ambassador Stuart Eisenstadt]

If I see it, however many other people have seen it, I will be the only one who's seen it twice. I gotta keep breathing.

[Bernard Eccleston]

South Korea has begun a seven day period of national mourning after one hundred and seventy nine people were killed in the worst ever plane crash on Korean soil. The acting president, Choi Sang Mok says the top priority now is identifying the victims, supporting their families and treating the two survivors. He's ordered an emergency review of the country's aviation safety procedures. South Korea's Transport Minister, Yoo Kyung Soo said they would examine why the plane landed without its wheels and whether a bird strike caused the crash. When the landing gear malfunctions, there are ways to deploy it either automatically or manually. The reasons for the malfunction will be identified through analysis of the flight recorder. Another flight from the same airline, Jeju Air, was forced to turn back to Seoul on Monday due to a presumed landing gear issue. Our correspondent Rupert Wingfield Hayes reports now from Muon Airport. The investigation into what happened has barely begun, but there are a few clues. We now know the pilot did declare an emergency and told the control tower the plane had suffered some sort of bird strike. But experts say that does not fully explain what happened next. Footage of the crash shows the plane was attempting a belly landing. Why were the wheels not down? It also landed far down the Runway at high speed, giving it no chance of stopping in time. Whatever the reasons, transport officials say it all happened very fast. If there had been more time, they could have requested preparation measures such as dispatching fire trucks to standby and preparing for an emergency landing. Typically in such cases, the pilot makes these requests and the control tower coordinates by placing firefighting teams on standby. All this is of no comfort to the scores of bereaved families now gathered at the airport. The feelings cannot be described. It cannot be compared with anything.

[Ambassador Stuart Eisenstadt]

I'm just waiting without an end.

[Bernard Eccleston]

Shin ki Ho is 64 years old. His son in law and two grandsons were on the flight from Thailand. The father took his two sons there to make happy memories. And then this happened. They were in the first and third year of high school. My son in law was in his 40s. The bodies were very badly damaged.

[Ambassador Stuart Eisenstadt]

If they were not, the family could.

[Bernard Eccleston]

Go to see them and confirm their identities. The bodies are scattered, so the authorities cannot show them to the family. Inside the terminal building here now is a huge tent encampment. There are hundreds and hundreds of relatives, many of them sitting stoically waiting for news. But others you can hear behind me here, the emotion is still overwhelming. You can hear the crying coming out of these tents as we walk past. It's very, very raw. And there's two things people want here. They want information. They want to know what happened. But there's something else. They want the bodies of their relatives back. This is very, very important for them. This was a flight that left Thailand full of holiday makers looking forward to getting home. And all the way back to South Korea, it looked like a totally normal flight. And then in the last few minutes, something or some series of things went terribly wrong. And the relatives here want to know what happened and who's responsible. Rupert Wingfield Hayes in Muan Serbian prosecutors have indicted 13 people in connection with last month's deadly accident at a railway station in Novi Sad. 15 people were killed when a concrete canopy at the recently renovated building collapsed. Our Balkans correspondent, Guy Delaunay told me about the charges. We've seen 13 people charged. Prominent among them is Serbia's former Transport Minister, Goran Vesic, and he's been accused of causing general danger and of offences against general safety. And this is in connection with the renovation of Novi Sad railway station. Also charges against the designers and project managers of the works at the station. They've been charged with irregular and improper execution of construction works. And if you're wondering what that means, I've been following this, obviously, since the disaster on 1 November, and there were some very striking comments made by an engineer who did work on the project at one point, and he said he'd seen some terrible practices during the reconstruction, including concrete sacks which were empty, being stuffed into places where there should have been concrete. Now, tell us about the factors that led up to this incident causing so much public outrage. Well, the reason that people are so upset, and as you mentioned, we've got this protest today in Novi Sad, which is a 15 minute silence. That's 15 minutes, one minute for every person who died when this concrete canopy at the station collapsed. This has become a regular event. Now at 11:52, usually in the morning, people will hold a 15 minute silence. And the largest one of these protests that we saw was in Belgrade earlier this month, which attracted around 100,000 people, which is very big protest by Belgrade standards. We're also expecting on New Year's eve for the 15 minute silence to start at 11.52pm so that Belgrade will go into the New year instead of being raucous and noisy, with a silence, at least at the place of the protest. Guy Delaunay. Five people have been charged in Argentina in connection with the death of the British singer Liam Payne. The One Direction star died in October after falling from a third floor balcony in Buenos Aires. Three people have been charged with manslaughter and two others who reportedly work at the hotel have been charged with supplying drugs. Our correspondent Tom Simons has more. It's a lengthy, detailed statement from the prosecutor's office in Buenos Aires. Having carried out a two or three month investigation involving 800 hours of video footage, everybody involved having their phones seized and forensically searched, a post mortem of Liam Payne's body, and what they've come back with is five charges against five individuals. I'll try to run through them quickly. Roger Norris is regarded as a friend of Liam Payne by the prosecutor, a hotel manager, Gilda Martin, and head of reception Esteban Grassi. All three of those are charged with effectively a form of manslaughter by failing to look after Liam Payne despite the fact he was intoxicated, having taken drugs. And two other individuals, Ezekiel Perea, who worked at the hotel, and Brian Paez, who a waiter who also worked at the hotel, are accused of selling the singer drugs. And in the case of Mr. Paes, it is said by the prosecutor that Liam Payne took a taxi to his home in Buenos Aires to buy drugs off him. The judge said that effectively the singer fell from this balcony on his third floor hotel room, thinking he was trying to leave the room. He left the room effectively by falling from the balcony and sadly died having hit his head against the cement support of an umbrella below. So have we had any word from any of these defendants? Not at all. And apart from a defense of Brian Pace, the waiter, by his lawyer, who said that he did take drugs, but he did not sell drugs. And I think it's clear that this is a major investigation in Buenos Aires. The case is being handled by a national court and clearly there's interest in this case because of the love for Liam Payne. Around the world. Tom Symons Astronomers are eagerly awaiting a celestial event that only happens about every 80 years. A star called T. Corbell, which you can't normally see with the naked eye is expected to suddenly become much brighter and visible in the night sky. Our science editor, Rebecca Morell has spoken to one man, hoping to catch it twice.

[Ambassador Stuart Eisenstadt]

I was keen on the stars, as I always had been. In fact, I had had a telescope, a very nice telescope too.

[Bernard Eccleston]

On a cold February night in 1946, Michael Woodman had something of a stargazer's dream come true.

[Ambassador Stuart Eisenstadt]

I looked out of my bedroom window and there was the constellation of the Corona borealis.

[Bernard Eccleston]

Michael, who's 94 now, was 15 at the time in the ring of the.

[Ambassador Stuart Eisenstadt]

Corona Borealis, thought the second star down was bright, very bright. Never seen that before. The following morning I thought, well, get in touch with the stolen Moyle and bless me if he didn't reply with the letter, of which I still got.

[Bernard Eccleston]

Michael had witnessed a rare celestial event that briefly lit up the night sky. A star system called T Corona Borealis, or T Core Bore for short, had exploded into brightness. And not only that, but the Astronomer Royal informed him that he was the first person in the country to have seen this.

[Ambassador Stuart Eisenstadt]

It did give me a certain amount of notoriety, at least to say he's the lad who saw the star.

[Bernard Eccleston]

So I've got the telescope pointed at Corona Borealis and that's the constellation that this star is in. Now a new generation of astronomers are hoping they'll get to see the light show too. Dr. Jennifer Millard is an astronomer for Fifth Star Labs. She's scanning the crystal clear skies of Banai Brackeniog, also known as the Brecon Beacons in Wales, is dim at the minute, so it's about magnitude 10, and that is well below what you can see with the naked eye. Astronomers think that every 80 years or so, Te cord bore is predicted to light up the sky, but not for long. It's only going to be visible to the naked eye for a couple of days. Of course, if you've got a small pair of binoculars or a small telescope, you'll be able to see it for a little bit longer. But I do think that its short stint in the sky makes it really special. T Corborbor is actually two stars orbiting each other. A small white dwarf, which is a dead star, and a much larger red giant. The white dwarf has an immense gravitational pull, so much so that it drags material away from the red giant. Over time, this material builds up until it eventually explodes, making Teacupore briefly much brighter. And this happens on repeat.

[Ambassador Stuart Eisenstadt]

Remember it like it was yesterday.

[Bernard Eccleston]

Michael Woodman certainly wants to see Tea Corbo Again, what would happen is that.

[Ambassador Stuart Eisenstadt]

Somebody amongst my acquaintance would see it and tell me and get me into a car and drive me out into the wild somewhere so I can have a decent look. That's what we are hoping for.

[Bernard Eccleston]

And if he catches another glimpse of the cosmic fireworks, he believes it will put him in a very exclusive club of just one.

[Ambassador Stuart Eisenstadt]

80 years later, we're all looking at the skies again. Not only me, but the whole world, apparently. But if I see it, however many other people have seen it, I will be the only one who's seen it twice. I gotta keep breathing.

[Bernard Eccleston]

That report by Rebecca Morell 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 X@global newspod. This edition was mixed by Duffy Evans and the producer was Marion Straughan. The editor is Karen Martin. I'm Bernazet Keough. Until next time. Goodbye. Yoga is more than just exercise. It's the spiritual practice that millions swear by. And in 2017, Miranda, a university tutor from London, joins a yoga school that promises profound transformation. It felt a really safe and welcoming space. After the yoga classes, I felt amazing. But soon that calm, welcoming atmosphere leads to something far darker. A journey that leads to allegations of grooming, trafficking and exploitation across international borders. I don't have my passport, I don't have my phone. I don't have my bank cards. I have nothing. The passport being taken, the being in a house and not feeling like they can leave. World of secrets is where untold stories are unveiled and hidden realities are exposed. In this new series, we're confronting the dark side of the wellness industry, where the hope of a spiritual breakthrough gives way to disturbing accusations. You just get sucked in so gradually and it's done so skillfully that you don't realize. And it's like this. The secret that's there. I wanted to believe that, you know, that whatever they were doing, even if it seemed gross to me, was for some spiritual reason that I couldn't yet understand. Revealing the hidden secrets of a global yoga network. I feel that I have no other choice. The only thing I can do is to speak about this and to put my reputation and everything else on the line. I want truth and justice and for other people to not be hurt, for things to be different in the future, to bring it into the light and almost alchemize some of that evil stuff that went on and take back the power world of Secrets Season 6 the Bad Guru Listen, wherever you get your podcasts.