Yemen's Houthis launch missile attack on Israel

Summary

Global News Podcast (BBC World Service)

Episode: Yemen’s Houthis launch missile attack on Israel

Date: March 29, 2026
Host: Pete Ross

---

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the rapidly evolving conflict in the Middle East, with a focus on the Houthis’ missile attacks on Israel and the broader geopolitical consequences. The discussion extends to repercussions for global oil supply, unrest in Lebanon, diplomatic mediation attempts, and fuel shortages in Africa. The podcast also covers noteworthy global news: mass protests across the US, a major chocolate heist in Europe, the impact of beauty marketing on children, and Norwegian cinema’s landmark Oscar win.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

I. Middle East Conflict: Houthis Target Israel

(Start – 07:16)

• Houthis’ Missile Barrage:
  Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels launched multiple missiles and drones at Israel, with all intercepted so far. This marks their first direct involvement since the US-Israel war with Iran began.

  • (02:10) Pete Ross: “The Houthis in Yemen have warned they'll keep targeting Israel… after launching their first attack since the war in the Middle East began a month ago.”
  • (03:39) Joe Inwood (Correspondent): “The Houthis are long-standing allies of, backed by, the Iranians...they have chosen now, this weekend, as their point [to attack Israel]… it really could be quite a significant moment.”

• Strategic Significance & Economic Threat:

  • New war front introduced—possible escalation to targeting vital Red Sea shipping routes, especially the Bab el-Mandab Strait.
  • This could choke Saudi oil exports to Asia and spike global oil prices.
  • (04:19) Joe Inwood: “If they... blockade the Bab el-Mandeb Strait... Saudi Arabia will lose a huge amount of its capacity to export oil to Asia... with huge economic consequences.”

• Regional Responses and Diplomacy:

  • Saudi Arabia’s military options are limited given past failures to fully quell the Houthis.
  • The US previously conducted airstrikes on Houthi positions to keep shipping lanes open.
  • Diplomatic efforts stalled—Tehran feels its leverage rises as the conflict drags on.
  • (05:48) Joe Inwood: “The longer [the war] goes on, the stronger [Iran’s] hand gets. Every day that goes by, the impact they’re having on the global economy increases significantly.”

---

II. Lebanon Under Fire: Israeli Airstrikes Intensify

(07:16 – 09:23)

• Civilian Toll:
  • Repeated Israeli strikes in Lebanon, including the fatal bombing of a home, killing an 11-year-old boy, his cousin, and uncle.
  • More than 120 children killed in Lebanon since the war started (UN figures).
  • (07:47) Hugo Meshega (Correspondent): “This war is destroying not only Lebanon's present, it is also taking away part of its future. This was the funeral for Jawad Yunis, killed...as he played football with his cousins. He was 11.”
  • (08:10) Malak (Mother of Jawad Yunis): “My son is gentle and pure...He wanted to resist the enemy, Israel, who killed him.”
  • Human rights groups suggest attacks on healthcare workers could constitute war crimes.

---

III. Wider Regional Dynamics & Mediation Efforts

(09:23 – 12:17)

• Russia & Iran Alliance Claims:

  • (09:23) Pete Ross & Vitaly Shevchenko: Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy alleges Russia is providing intelligence to Iran for attacks on Western interests, leveraging satellites for reconnaissance.

• Pakistan’s Mediation Role:

  • (11:16) Pakistan invites foreign ministers from Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt to convene in Islamabad to discuss de-escalation, attempting to broker US-Iran dialogue amid “a fraught moment.”
  • (11:16) Caroline Davis (Correspondent): “Pakistan is positioning itself as a key mediator... passing messages between those two countries.”

---

IV. Global Economic Repercussions: African Fuel Crisis

(12:17 – 13:22)

• Fuel Shortage in Ethiopia & Beyond:
  • Ethiopia mandates nonessential staff go on leave as fuel imports dwindle due to disrupted Middle East supply.
  • Knock-on effects: price surges and panic buying reported in Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria, and Somalia; Egypt enforces commercial curfews to conserve energy.
  • (12:45) Richard Kagoi (Reporter): “Long queues of vehicles are forming at fuel stations, many running low on supplies... rising prices have triggered panic buying in Kenya and South Africa.”

---

V. US Politics: No Kings Protest Movement

(15:52 – 18:51)

• Mass Protests Against the Trump Administration:
  • Massive “No Kings” demonstrations nationwide, opposing President Trump’s policies, especially regarding Iran, immigration, and economic hardship.
  • Notably, protests spread into rural Republican states.
  • (16:37) Simi Jila Oso (Washington Correspondent): “The No Kings is a grassroots movement... their message is simply that the US is a democracy, a country of laws, and not of kings, so no one person should have absolute power.”
  • (18:30) Simi Jila Oso: “These anti-Trump protests... haven't just taken place in America. We've seen these No Kings protests in European cities like Amsterdam, Madrid, and even Rome.”

---

VI. Beauty Industry Under Scrutiny: Marketing to Children

(18:51 – 21:42)

• Investigations into Sephora and Benefit Cosmetics:
  • Accusations of targeting girls as young as 10 with anti-aging products via social media influencers, potentially encouraging “cosmetic orexia.”
  • Legal and health concerns about licensing potent ingredients to minors.
  • (19:46) Sally Hughes (Guardian): “I don't think any of us want to think about very young people thinking about preventing signs of aging... ingredients like retinoids... can cause temporary inflammation, irritation and so on and make your skin more sun sensitive.”
  • Industry term “Sephora Kids” describes trend of children shopping for beauty products for self-improvement, intensified by social media and post-COVID obsessions.

---

VII. International Crime: The Great KitKat Heist

(21:42 – 26:10)

• Massive Chocolate Theft:
  • A truck with over 400,000 KitKat bars (12 tonnes) disappeared en route between Italy and Poland, as Nestlé reports rising cargo thefts.
  • (22:39) Adam Levy (The Chocolate Professor): “They can't find the truck, they can't find the supplies. It's quite shocking actually.”
  • Discussion on how rising cocoa prices due to climate change have made chocolate an attractive target for organized crime.
  • (23:40) Adam Levy: “This value of this truck is like $60,000 to $90,000 at wholesale value... This is going to be moved by organized crime... to mom and pops and say, 'Here’s a case of Kit Kats, don’t scan it.'”
  • Brief history of major chocolate heists, including the 2014 Lindt robbery ($8 million).

---

VIII. Culture: Norwegian Film Makes Oscar History

(26:10 – 29:57)

• ‘Sentimental Value’ Wins Best International Feature:
  • Norway enjoys its first Oscar win; Stellan Skarsgård’s performance praised.
  • (27:35) Stellan Skarsgård: “It’s an important voice. It’s a weak voice. It’s someone whispering when everybody else is screaming. And that’s worth listening to... when you scream... you’ve got something to hide.”
  • Actor’s philosophy on longevity: (29:31) “I’ve never had any ambition, number one, because ambition is very dangerous... I do what I want to do right now, not what I should do.”

---

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Economic Threats in the Middle East:

  • Joe Inwood (04:19): “If they... blockade the Bab el-Mandeb Strait... Saudi Arabia will lose a huge amount of its capacity to export oil to Asia... that will have huge economic consequences.”

• On the Human Cost in Lebanon:

  • Hugo Meshega (07:47): “This war is destroying not only Lebanon's present, it is also taking away part of its future.”

• On the Psychology of Protest:

  • Simi Jila Oso (16:37): “The US is a democracy, a country of laws, and not of kings, so no one person should have absolute power.”

• On Child-Focused Skincare Marketing:

  • Sally Hughes (19:46): “I don't think any of us want to think about very young people thinking about preventing signs of aging...”

• On Chocolate Heists:

  • Adam Levy (23:40): “This is going to be moved by organized crime... to mom and pops and say, 'Here’s a case of Kit Kats, don’t scan it.'”

• On Cinema and Modern Discourse:

  • Stellan Skarsgård (27:35): “It’s a weak voice. It’s someone whispering when everybody else is screaming... more truthful because when you scream, you get the suspicion you’ve got something to hide.”

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00 – 02:00: Headlines—Houthis attack Israel; US protests; Africa’s fuel crisis
• 02:10 – 07:16: Middle East: Houthis attack overview and implications (with expert Joe Inwood)
• 07:16 – 09:23: Lebanon: Israeli strikes and civilian casualties (with Hugo Meshega)
• 09:23 – 12:17: Russia-Iran ties and Pakistan mediation efforts
• 12:17 – 13:22: Fuel shortages across Africa
• 15:52 – 18:51: US ‘No Kings’ protests (with Simi Jila Oso)
• 18:51 – 21:42: Beauty industry probe into child-targeted marketing (with Sally Hughes)
• 21:42 – 26:10: The KitKat theft—global chocolate crime
• 26:10 – 29:57: Norway’s Oscar triumph—Stellan Skarsgård interview

---

Conclusion

This episode provides a sweeping view of the global ripple effects from the Middle East conflict, examining both economic and human dimensions. It weaves in lively coverage of protests in the US, consumer trends with ethical twists, and unique reporting—from a missing truckload of chocolate to cinematic breakthroughs—delivering a comprehensive update with the BBC’s signature clarity and international outlook.

Transcript

[Pete Ross]

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the uk.

[Venmo Advertiser]

Rewards programs are a lot like pop culture. They can be hard to keep up with. But with Venmo's new rewards program, Venmo Stash, rewards are so easy because the more you do, the more you get and you choose the bundle of brands you get cash back at. It's giving fiscal queen, it's giving star. It's giving up to 5% cash back at your favorite brands. Just pick a bundle of your go to spots to shop with your Venmo debit card and earn cash back at them. Do more get more with Venmo stash. The Venmo MasterCard is issued by the Bancorp Bank NA Venmo Stash Bundle. Terms and exclusions apply. Max 100 cash back per month. See Terms at Venmo Me Terms the

[Global Gaming League Announcer]

Global Gaming League is presented by Atlas Earth, the fun cashback app. Hey, it's Howie Mandel and I am inviting you to witness history as me and my How We Do It Gaming team take on Gilly The King and Wallow 2,67 million doll gaming in an epic Global Gaming League video game showdown plus a halftime performance by multi platinum artist Travy McCoy. Watch all the action and see who wins and advances to the championship match right [e-mail] that's globalgamingleague.com in partnership with Level Up Expo.

[Pete Ross]

This is the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Pete Ross and in the early hours of Sunday 29th March, these are our main stories. The Houthis in Yemen have warned they'll keep targeting Israel in the coming days after launching their first attack since the war in the Middle east began a month ago. Large protests have taken place across the United States against the Trump administration. In Ethiopia, some non essential government workers have been put on leave as the country struggles with a fuel shortage linked to supply disruptions caused by the conflict in the Middle East.

[Adam Levy]

Also in this podcast, there's no transponder, no rfid. They can't find the truck, they can't find the supplies. It's quite shocking actually.

[Pete Ross]

Food giant Nestle say a truck carrying more than 400,000 KitKat bars has gone missing. We begin the podcast in the Middle east where Yemen's Houthi rebels have launched a second missile attack on Israel less than a day after it entered the conflict. Conflict On Saturday, the Iranian backed group launched its first attack since the beginning of the war. Emergency sirens and an explosion were heard in the southern coastal city of Elliyat as a drone suspected to be from Yemen was intercepted by the Israel Defense Forces. Israel says that all the strikes launched so far have been intercepted. Brigadier General Yahya Sari is a Houthi military spokesman. With God's help and reliance upon Allah, our armed forces carried out the second military operation in the Holy Jihad battle with a barrage of cruise missiles and drones targeting several vital and military sites belonging to the Zionist enemy in the southern occupied Palestine. The Houthis have warned the strikes will continue and the escalation represents a dangerous spread of the war and brings threat of even more damage to the the global economy. I spoke to our correspondent Joe Inwood and began by asking him why the Houthis decided to attack Israel now.

[Joe Inwood]

So the Houthis are long standing allies of, backed by the Iranians. They are, they're a militia group in Yemen. They're involved in the long running civil war there. And they were essentially some say, proxies for. Some say allies, for you can choose your terminology, but they are aligned with the Iranians. Now some people might say it's surprising they haven't got involved to this point. We saw Hezbollah, of course, another Iranian ally. They got involved very quickly once the supreme leader Al Aullah Ali Khamenei was killed. The Houthis haven't, but they have chosen now this weekend as their point to do it. And it really could be quite a significant moment.

[Pete Ross]

Just tell us about the significance of these attacks today.

[Joe Inwood]

This is a new front within the war. And of course I don't want to downplay the significance of those missile attacks. But what really is going to be crucial here is, is whether the Houthis, and this is something they've said they might do, decide not to attack Israel, but to attack shipping going through the Red Sea, specifically something called the Bab Al Mandab Strait. Now this matters because of the massive economic consequences this war is having, especially on global oil supply. Just to give you the bigger picture, Saudi Arabia normally exports its oil through the Strait of Hormuz that has been shut by the Iranians. We've talked about that a lot. To counter that, they've started pumping their oil in a pipeline across the country and exporting it down through the Red Sea, sending it to Asia. That way the Houthis have the capability, and they've done it before, they did it during the war in Gaza to effectively shut or to try and blockade the Bab El Mandeb Strait. Now if they do that, Saudi Arabia will lose a huge amount of its capacity to Export oil to Asia, to the Far east. And that will have huge economic consequences. It might make what we're seeing so far, which is very serious, look, you know, pale into insignificance. I don't want to overstate this, but it could be potentially very serious if they decide to take that action.

[Pete Ross]

Now you say there's been precedents for this before. We haven't had any reaction from Saudi yet. What might they do? What options are open to them?

[Joe Inwood]

So the Saudis obviously waged a long war against the Houthis and evidence is that the Houthis are still there holding part of the country. So I think the military option for them is going to be difficult. So when the Houthis tried to shut the Bab El Mandab Strait last time, the Americans did carry out airstrikes and I think those did have a significant impact. So we don't quite know what the military capabilities are. I think they probably will be trying to work out some way to persuade them not to do this. But the problem we've got in this conflict is that the wider diplomacy doesn't seem, seem to be going anywhere at the moment. We have the Americans talking about talks and saying the Iranians are desperate for a deal, but there's no real evidence of that. Tehran is not making any sounds like they want to compromise. And from their point of view, from the Iranian point of view, the longer this goes on, the stronger their hand gets. We have a situation where the Americans and the Israelis obviously started off with an overwhelming military power. But every day that goes by, their list of targets decreases. The impact they can have with each strike decreases. For the Iranians, every day that goes by, the impact they're having on the global economy increases exponentially or certainly very significantly. So from the Iranian point of view, they basically, the longer they sit this out, the more it looks like the kind of strategic balance is in their favor. And that's why I think we're not going to be seeing them rushing to the negotiating table anytime soon, whatever the Americans are saying.

[Pete Ross]

Joe Inwood to Lebanon now where Israeli strikes show no sign of relenting. State run media says Israeli warplanes flew over Beirut skies on Saturday night with reports that some broke the sound barrier several times. Israel says it is targeting the Iran backed group Hezbollah. Our Middle east correspondent Hugo Meshega is in the Lebanese town of Siksakiyah where he attended the funerals of five people killed in Israeli airstrikes on Friday.

[Hugo Meshega]

This war is destroying not only Lebanon's present, it is also taking away part of its future. This was the funeral for Jawad Yunis, killed in an Israeli airstrike as he played football with his cousins. He was 11. His mother, Malak, was devastated.

[Malak (Mother of Jawad Yunis)]

My son is gentle and pure. He loved the idea of martyrdom. And when he grew up, he wanted to be with the resistance. He wanted to resist the enemy, Israel, who killed him.

[Hugo Meshega]

Also killed were Jawad's cousin Sajid, who was seven, and his uncle Rahab, an interior designer, who was also buried today, his body wrapped in a Hezbollah flag. He was 41. I'm looking at the house that has been hit in this airstrike, and the scale of the destruction here gives us an idea of the power of the attack. The entire house has been destroyed. The Israeli military has yet to explain why it attacked this building. Across Lebanon, more than 120 children have been killed in Israeli airstrikes In this war, with hundreds more wounded. Israel says it is targeting Hezbollah, which has continued to fire missiles across the border in recent days. And in Lebanon, the Israeli attacks give no respite. Also in the south, in the town of Zaatar, an airstrike killed at least five paramedics. Human rights groups say Israel's repeated attacks on health care workers in Lebanon could amount to war crimes.

[Pete Ross]

Hugo Boshega in Lebanon, Ukraine's President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has accused Russia of helping Iran launch an attack on the base, which is shared by the US and UK on the island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. Speaking to journalists on a from Qatar, he said Russian satellites had also spied on US military bases in the Middle east, with intelligence passed on to Tehran. Mr. Zelenskyy is currently on a tour of the Gulf, where he signed deals on defense cooperation. Our correspondent Vitaly Shevchenko sent this report from Kyiv.

[Vitaly Shevchenko]

During a zoom call with journalists, President Zelenskyy read from his phone what he described as an intelligence report from this morning. He said a Russian satellite had filmed the Diego Garcia base, which four days ago, and that in separate similar incidents, Russian satellites had filmed US military bases in the Middle East, a Turkish air base, and oil installations across the Gulf. He did not share any detailed evidence to back up the claim. President Zelenskyy also appeared to criticize the US for easing sanctions on Russia's oil industry. This, he said, essentially meant helping your own adversaries at a time of war. Speaking about his tour of the Gulf, the Ukrainian President said the visit had focused on long term defense and energy cooperation, particularly offering Ukraine's technology and expertise he also said he was working to ensure that Ukraine's ability to fight Russia was unaffected by the global energy crisis. President Zelenskyy told the BBC that the Ukrainian army had enough fuel for now.

[Pete Ross]

Vitaly Shevchenko reporting from Kyiv. Pakistan is leading efforts to get Iran and the US Engaged in peace talks, inviting the foreign ministers of Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Egypt for talks on how to de escalate the tensions in the Middle east. As Islamabad positions itself as a potential intermediary between te and Washington. Our correspondent Caroline Davis sent this report from the Pakistani capital.

[Caroline Davis]

While there is still no confirmation that there will be talks between Iran and the US Pakistan has announced different talks that will be happening from tomorrow Sunday here in Islamabad, the capital. They will be the foreign ministries of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey. And the discussion will of course be about de escalation in the Middle East. Now this will be again seen as Pakistan positioning itself as a key mediator between the US And Iran. Now we already know that Pakistan has been passing messages between those two countries, but we also know that Pakistan's Foreign Ministry has been talking about the number of phone calls that Pakistan has been having with its senior officials and senior officials in other countries. Not least a conversation that was had between President Donald Trump and Assim Munir, Field Marshal Asim Munir, who's the head of the armed services here in Pakistan just under a week ago. The big question of course, with these discussions is will any of these four countries be able to put something on the table, be able to find a way through for de escalation at such a fraught moment?

[Pete Ross]

Caroline Davis in Islamabad. Ethiopia has told public institutions and state owned companies to send non essential staff on leave to reduce pressure on transport and fuel. The move comes as the country struggles with a diesel shortage linked to supply disruptions caused by the U S Israeli war on Iran. Nearly half of Ethiopia's fuel imports come from the Middle East. Our global affairs reporter Richard Kagoi has the details.

[Richard Kagoi]

Long queues of vehicles are forming at fuel stations, many of them running low on supplies. Police say they have broken up a network accused of smuggling and hoarding fuel, calling it economic sabotage. Authorities have already ordered suppliers to prioritize security services, manufacturing and transport. But the impact is being felt across Africa. Rising prices have triggered panic buying in Kenya and South Africa. Fuel costs have jumped by more than 30% in Nigeria and Somalia since the war began. Egypt has ordered most businesses to close by 9pm from Saturday in a month long effort to cut energy use and ease rising costs.

[Pete Ross]

Richard Kigoi. Still to come in this podcast, this

[Sean Ley]

is the first time, as far as I know, we've talked about hitting the courts.

[Pete Ross]

Beauty retailer Sephora and Benefit Cosmetics are under investigation for marketing anti aging products to children.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway. Cold weather can wreak havoc on your skin. You don't want to miss out on this month's great savings on all your favorite skincare essentials. Now through March 31, earn four times points when you purchase participating skincare items like Dove Soap, Dove Body Wash, Dove Beauty Bar, Soft Soap Body Wash and Irish Spring Body Wash. Points can be redeemed later for discounts on groceries or gas. Offer ends March 31. Restrictions apply. Promotions may vary. Visit albertsons or safeway.com for more details.

[Global Gaming League Announcer]

The Global Gaming League is presented by Atlas Earth, the fun cashback app. Hey, it's Howie Mandel and I am inviting you to witness history as me and my How We do it gaming team take on Gilly the King and Wallow $267 million gaming in an epic Global Gaming League video video game showdown plus a halftime performance by multi platinum artist Travy McCoy. Watch all the action and see who wins and advances to the championship match right [e-mail] that's globalgamingleague.com in partnership with Level Up Expo.

[Grainger Advertiser 1]

If you work in university maintenance, Granger considers you an MVP because your playbook ensures your arena is always ready for tip off. And Granger is your trusted partner, offering the products you need all in one place, from H Vac and plumbing supplies to lighting and more. And all delivered with plenty. Plenty of time left on the clock so your team always gets the win. Call 1-800-GRAINGER visit grainger.com or just stop by grainger for the ones who get it done.

[Grainger Advertiser 2]

When you manage procurement for multiple facilities, every order matters. But when it's for a hospital system, they matter even more. Grainger gets it and knows there's no time for managing multiple suppliers and no room for shipping delays. That's why Grainger offers millions of products in fast, dependable delivery so you can keep your facility stocked, safe and running smoothly. Call 1-800-GRAINGER click granger.com or just stop by Granger for the ones who get it done.

[Pete Ross]

Let's turn now to the United States.

[No Kings Protest Organizer]

No Kings no Kings

[Pete Ross]

Large protests against the Trump administration are taking place in cities across the U.S. marking the third iteration of no Kings rallies that have previously drawn crowds into the millions. Organizers say they're protesting against policies imposed by President Donald Trump, including the war in Iran, federal immigration enforcement and the rising cost of living. A White House spokesperson called the protests Trump derangement therapy sessions and said the only people who care are the reporters who are paid to cover them. What exactly, though, does no Kings mean? Our Washington correspondent Simi Jila Oso told

[Simi Jila Oso]

me the no Kings is a grassroots movement and they say their message is simply that the US Is a democracy, a country of laws, and not of kings, so no one person should have absolute power. These protests have taken place in cities including Boston, Los Angeles, Washington, Chicago and Atlanta. But it's quite interesting that this year the organizers say they have seen a surge in a number of people organizing no King protests in rural areas of deeply Republican states like Idaho, Wyoming and Montana. So that's quite interesting that that's happening this year, especially with the midterm elections coming up in November. The no Kings protests and the movement was actually launched on President Trump's birthday last year. And this is the third one. The last one took place in October in which they focused on President Trump's policies around illegal immigration, which is also a theme they've been protesting against this year. We don't have a confirmed number yet, but the last no Kings protest drew crowds of nearly 7 million people across America, and organizers are expecting this one to have drawn crowds of more than that. And they are also protesting against the war in Iran. So we've seen large crowds chanting, some people holding up effigies of President Trump and the vice president, J.D. vance. We've heard from Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders. We've seen actors Robert De Niro and even actress Jane Fonda.

[Pete Ross]

You mentioned the war in Iran there. I mean, the timing of these protests is pretty significant, right? The White House has a lot on its place at the moment, not least the war in Iran. Do you think that has had any impact on the numbers of people attending

[Simi Jila Oso]

the war in Iran? Definitely has a part to play in how many people have turned up. And also the fact that these anti Trump protesters, as some have called it, haven't just taken place in America. We've seen these noking protests in European cities like Amsterdam, Madrid and even Rome, where up to 20,000 people showed up.

[Pete Ross]

Simigela Oso, the multinational beauty retailer Sephora and the US Company Benefit Cosmetics are under investigation amid claims the company's promoted skin care products, including anti aging creams, to girls as young as 10, using online influencers to reach them. The Italian competition and market authority says the marketing may have encouraged what's being called cosmetic Orexia, described as a culturally reinforced obsession with having flawless skin. Sally Hughes is from the Guardian Weekend magazine here in the UK and she says this is the first time European countries have tried to tackle this issue. She's been speaking to Sean Ley.

[Sean Ley]

There has been much talk of this across Europe in the past, I would say two to three years about the sort of pitfalls of potentially marketing at young people, people and their response to that. But this is the first time, as far as I know, we've talked about hitting the courts.

[Sally Hughes]

What is the potential risk of using products like anti aging creams at such a young age, if indeed that is what has resulted from this?

[Sean Ley]

Well, I think there are two problems. There is a moral problem. I don't think any of us want to think about very young people thinking about preventing signs of aging in their skin or even being that preoccupied of with how they look, full stop. So there is that aspect to it. But the other is whether these ingredients in those sorts of creams have the potential to cause lasting or even temporary damage to kids. So ingredients like retinoids, for example, in a young person would only ever be prescribed by a doctor for things like acne during teenage years. But all over the counter, retinoids pretty much are there for the purpose of preventing or reversing signs of aging in skin. And they're potent, you know, they're potent, ancient active ingredients that can cause temporary inflammation, irritation and so on and make your skin more sun sensitive. So these are obviously things we would never want to see in a young person.

[Sally Hughes]

There's something I think called Sephora Kids. What's that?

[Sean Ley]

Well, Sephora Kids is a sort of slang term used by people in the industry to describe this possibly sort of disturbing phenomena of kids going into Sephora and other stores like it and spending their pocket money on things to improve their skin. I use the term improve subjectively. Improve, improve their skin and their appearance and how lots of adults complain certainly that when they enter those sorts of stores that they are full of kids spending their pocket money. And on a more sort of sinister level, what is being done to monetize, to maximize the profit from this phenomena that really started in Covid. I think young people became obsessed, particularly obsessed with skincare during COVID and since then the situation has only become more extreme.

[Pete Ross]

Sally Hughes from the Guardian Weekend magazine, in a statement, the parent company of Sephora and Benefit LVMH perfumes and cosmetics said that they operate in strict compliance with the applicable regulations and will fully cooperate with the authorities. Authorities here in Europe say they're on the hunt for a missing truck carrying 12 tonnes of the Kit Kat chocolate bars that apparently vanished en route between Italy and Poland. The giant Swiss food company Nestle says almost 414,000 bars were on board when it disappeared. In a statement, they said that whilst we appreciate the criminal's exceptional taste, the fact remains that cargo theft is an escalating issue for businesses of all sizes. With Easter limming, the company added that some consumers in Europe may struggle to find KitKats ahead of Easter. Adam Levy runs a website called the Chocolate professor in New York City and has been closely following this story.

[Adam Levy]

Basically, a truck was stolen, which surprises me that there's no transponder, no rfid. They can't find the truck, they can't find the supplies. It's quite shocking, actually.

[Sally Hughes]

It is shocking and I suppose it comes at a time, not only an incredibly busy time for the chocolate industry, certainly for manufacturers to get their products to the shelves in time for Easter, but also a time when the actual value of chocolate has reached quite a high.

[Adam Levy]

Yes, chocolate's been increasing, especially the last two years because of climate change and other costs involved with that. The coca costs have gone up dramatically in the last couple years and it's definitely affecting whether it's the high end bean to bar people, the 70%, the gourmet stuff, as well as the KitKats and M&M's. All chocolate prices have gone up in the last two, three years.

[Sally Hughes]

I suppose that would make it potentially a very attractive load or 12 tons worth of chocolate to get your hands on. But disposing of it, how easy would that be?

[Adam Levy]

Well, you know, I'm estimating and I'm not the professional, I think this value of this truck is like 60 to $90,000 at wholesale value.

[Sally Hughes]

Wow.

[Adam Levy]

Now you're not going to be able to take this truck and go to your Mark and Spencer or Aldi or some other large supermarkets, say, hey, I got a truck for you. You know, there are certain rules, they scan certain things, they're going to say, oh, this is stolen. So this is going to be moved by organized crime, just like they move everything else, whether it's liquor or cheese or anything else, they're going to go to the mom and Pops and say, hey, you know, pennies on a dollar, here's a case of Kit Kats. You know, don't scan it or scan it internally.

[Sally Hughes]

Yeah, what you in the States called Mom and Pop stores are the sort of the little corner shop, the Independent business. The kind of place that maybe you might persuade an owner that actually not to ask too many questions. Nonetheless, presumably these, this chocolate has got a limited shelf life, so they've got to, they've got to get rid of it. Pret.

[Adam Levy]

Well, the commercial produced Kit Kats like this will last at least a year on the shelf. They got time to move it and you know it. This is a thing you can easily move. We're not talking, you know, a couple cars with RFID chips and everything else. And you can move KitKats, you know, you know, you can go to that corner store, whatever is that, you know, here's the special case, here's special pricing. Just like stolen cigarettes, you know, or untaxed cigarettes. You know, there's a, there's a network out there to move things like that. That's small, cash, movable. Yes.

[Sally Hughes]

So if somebody comes up to you, do you want to buy some chocolate? You might be wise to be a little bit cautious, especially if they produce it from an unmarked bag or from under their raincoat. And more seriously, have we had this kind of heist involving chocolate before?

[Adam Levy]

Oh, there have been some great heists. I mean, it's not great heists, but there's some interesting heists in the past, you know, know another great Heist back in 2014, Lindt Chocolate, the big, another big Swiss, big chocolate market company, you know, they had over 287,000 tons of chocolate stolen by an Italian mafia gang back in 2014. That I think was valued almost $8 million. That was 2014, probably. It's almost double by now the value. You've had people in locally in the uk, yet someone try to steal a container of Cadbury creme eggs in 2023. You've had people steal chocolates, you know, in Austria and other places. So, yeah, chocolate is something you can move and it's a skin. It's an affordable luxury, so people will buy it.

[Pete Ross]

Adam Levy talking to Sean Lee. Almost two weeks since the Oscars, some film lovers in Scandinavian countries are probably still basking in the glory of the film's sentimental value, becoming the first Norwegian movie ever to win best international feature at the Academy Awards. The film has also become Norway's biggest ever global hit, leading some to declare it a new era for Norwegian film exports. Much of the credit for its success has gone to Stellan Skarsgard, one of Sweden's greatest living actors who has a major role in the picture. Tom Brook went to meet him.

[Stellan Skarsgard]

Just waiting for a cup of coffee.

[Tom Brook]

I know I Like caffeine, don't you? I interviewed this Swedish actor in New York a few weeks ago. From the moment we met, I could tell we were going to get along. He is a class act, very easy to talk to, not at all intimidating. He immediately got on my good side, telling me he watches BBC News every morning from Stockholm.

[Stellan Skarsgard]

And I watch you frequently.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Oh, good.

[Richard Kagoi]

Okay.

[Tom Brook]

I hope that's. Do you feel morally uplifted after you watch me?

[Stellan Skarsgard]

Yeah, I feel like if he can do it, I can do it too, right?

[Tom Brook]

Sentimental Value was one of my favorite Oscar nominated films. It was a beautifully crafted story of estrangement within a family. What do you hope your film Sentimental Value can give audiences right now in the midst of this very tumultuous time in which we live?

[Stellan Skarsgard]

It's an important voice. It's a weak voice. It's someone whispering when everybody else is screaming. And that's. That's worth listening to and thus more. More truthful because when you scream, you get the suspicion when you hear all the screaming that you've got something to hide. You wouldn't scream that much if you did. And you wouldn't promote something so hard if it wasn't fake.

[Tom Brook]

Stellan Skarsgrd has had a long and varied career in theatre, television and film. He can move between big franchise projects and small budget European films as well as experimental cinema. He is without doubt one of Sweden's greatest actors. One of the things that I find very interesting watching you is you have a lot of presence on screen and you appear to do things which seem very authentic and very subtle in conveying nuances of your character. Is that something that you're doing consciously?

[Stellan Skarsgard]

I'm doing it very conscious. I sort of do my own narrative in a way, the character's narrative, and it's an emotional narrative and it varies and it sometimes it's instantly I invent it, but it's what interests me is what is going on underneath, what is going on between the lines, what goes on in the pauses. And I love having scenes where I'm just listening to someone. It's not just laziness he may not

[Tom Brook]

have won the Oscar for Best Supporting actor, but the movie in which he stars Sentimental Value made history by becoming the first Norwegian picture ever to win for best International Feature. Stellan Skarsgrd's performance definitely contributed to that success. You've had an incredible career. What is it, do you think, that has enabled you to have such longevity?

[Stellan Skarsgard]

I've never had any ambition, number one, because ambition is very dangerous. To you. I've had the ambition of being a good actor and I make sure that I have fun all the time. As you see, my CV is rather eclectic and it is because I do what I want to do right now, not what I should do.

[Pete Ross]

Stellan Skarsgard speaking to Tom Brook. And that's all from us for now. If you want to get in touch, you can email [e-mail] you can also find us on X@BBC World Service. Use the hashtag globalnewspod. And don't forget our sister podcast, the Global Story, which goes in depth and beyond the headlines on one big story. This edition of the Global News Podcast was mixed by Xabi Hula Karoosh and the producers are Carl La Conti and Ariane Kochi. The editor is Karen Martin. I'm Pete Ross. Until the next time. Goodbye.

[Adam Levy]

Foreign.

[Global Gaming League Announcer]

The Global Gaming League is presented by Atlas Earth, the fun cashback app. Hey, it's Howie Mandel and I am inviting you to witness history as me and my How We Do It Gaming team take on Gilly the King and Wallow267's million dollars gaming in an epic Global Gaming League video game showdown. Plus a halftime performance by multi platinum artists Travy McCoy. Watch all the action and see who wins and advances to the championship match right [e-mail] that's globalgamingleague.com in partnership with Level Up Expo.