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- [00:04]
UBS Narrator
Craft matters in small ways like how a coffee is brewed, and in not so small ways like how your money is cared for. Which is why for 160 years, UBS has elevated banking to a craft, tailoring unique strategies that combine human expertise with the latest technologies, all happening across 24 time zones and and 12 key financial hubs. With you at the heart of it all, UBS advice is our craft.
- [00:38]
Georgina Godwin
You're listening to the Globalist, first broadcast on 23rd December 2025 on Monocle Radio. The Globalist in association with Up. Hello, this is the Globalist broadcasting to you live from Midori House in London for a brisk 30 minutes today. I'm Georgina Godwin.
- [01:17]
Petri Birtsoff
On the show ahead, the pharmaceutical companies.
- [01:19]
Chris Chermack
Were difficult, but they also love our country. They knew it was unfair.
- [01:23]
Georgina Godwin
We'll hear the reaction from Zurich on the pharmaceutical deal affecting Switzerland's drug makers. We'll have a rustle through today's front pages and get a roundup of news from Africa.
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Santa Claus
And then this is the only place where I live and that's in Rovaniemi.
- [01:38]
Georgina Godwin
Our Christmas correspondent heads off to Finnish Lapland to meet the red suited man with the beard at his busiest time of the year. All that right here on the Globalist with me, Georgina Godwin. The White House has now finalized drug pricing agreements with several pharmaceutical groups, including Swiss giants Novartis and Roche. The deals commit companies to lower prices on some medicines in the US Mainly for Medicaid and direct sales, in exchange for a three year reprieve from threatened tariffs. Pharmaceuticals are Switzerland's biggest export industry and drug companies are at the heart of the country's economic relationship with the United States. Well, joining me to discuss this from our Zurich studio is Fabienne Kinzelman, whose Swiss business reporter at Bloomberg. Fabienne, many thanks for coming on the show. What exactly has been signed?
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Fabienne Kinzelman
Hey, good morning, Georgina. So it has been signed that the drug companies commit to lower prescription drug prices for Americans so that they would be in line with the lowest prices paid by other developed nations. And they agreed to selling them through a special platform named Trump X. And they also agreed to invest more in the US but we don't know what exactly is in the deals as they are secret.
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Georgina Godwin
And do we know which drugs are affected and how limited the price cuts are?
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Fabienne Kinzelman
Yes, so we know that to a certain extent. So we know, for example, that mainly costly and chronic conditions are affected by the price cuts. So, for example, like type 2 diabetes drugs, drugs for MS, hepatitis and certain cancers.
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Georgina Godwin
Right. Why is tariff relief so valuable that Swiss companies have agreed to this.
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Fabienne Kinzelman
Yeah, if it would only be about tariff relief. It's not only about that, actually. So Trump has threatened the drug makers to use like, every weapon in his arsenal. So that could also mean, for example, FDA approvals. So like, it could be like, we don't know what exactly is in the, in the, in the deals, but it could be, for example, that he agreed to like, speed up FDA approvals for the companies who made deals to lower the approval time for the companies who did not make a deal.
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Georgina Godwin
So is US Manufacturing investment also part of the agreement?
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Fabienne Kinzelman
Yes, it is. That was already quite clear before. Even before Trump threatened the drug makers, it was clear that he would demand from companies in the US to invest more in the US So they speed up on that pretty early on.
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Georgina Godwin
Right. So in revenue terms then, how big is the US Market for Swiss drug makers?
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Fabienne Kinzelman
Yeah, it's very big. I mean, the US Market is the most attractive market for drug makers everywhere in the world. And in revenue terms, it's like, so Roche and Novartis both make around half of the revenue in the US and.
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Georgina Godwin
How'S the reaction been to this in Zurich and the rest of Switzerland?
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Fabienne Kinzelman
Yeah, it didn't come as a surprise and the reaction was, as expected, quite mixed. So Roche's CEO, for example, gave an interview where he said drug prices have to be higher in Switzerland land in the future in order to not be like a reference to lower truck prices in the U.S. but that was already. That's something he's saying for months and there are like, parties and politicians who support that and others who don't.
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Georgina Godwin
So I wonder if this is going to then increase pressure on European prices down the line.
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Fabienne Kinzelman
Yeah, this is exactly the right question to ask. And that will probably happen, especially because the US Introduced a new model in November to actually make that happen. It's kind of like a reference price basket they would use so they would compare with certain European countries and among them Switzerland, to like to nail down the prices in the U.S. so do.
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Georgina Godwin
You think that this ultimately stabilizes Swiss U.S. trade, or does it give perhaps more leverage to Washington?
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Fabienne Kinzelman
Yeah, that's an excellent question. Yes and no. So what everyone says, who's making deals with Trump? A deal with Trump is never finished because he's always looking for the next deal. Right. And like, as long as, like, something is not signed, finalized, and even then it could, like. So, for example, with the, with the tariff deal Switzerland closed in on in, in November with, with the US they now have like, it was only like an agreement to negotiate a further deal and then they now got a three month deadline to do that.
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Georgina Godwin
So I mean, this doesn't end Trump's tariff threats.
- [06:27]
Fabienne Kinzelman
Exactly.
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Georgina Godwin
Yeah. So do you think this problem is going to reoccur down the line?
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Fabienne Kinzelman
Yeah, it will for sure. Like be, be up for further discussion also because not all drugs are in the deal probably. So yeah, the discussion will continue and other European countries and other developed countries have to step up the game.
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Georgina Godwin
So tell us a little bit more about Trump's ongoing tariff threats. What could still happen and how likely is it?
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Fabienne Kinzelman
Well, I don't want to speculate on that, but it's pretty clear that something he's laying a focus on, especially with the midterms next year ahead. So he's looking probably for very quick, very fast results. And that's also why he was probably why he was so eager to close in on the deals with the truck makers before year end so that the price cuts could kick in before he's like actually having to campaign for the midterms next November.
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Georgina Godwin
Yeah, because of course this is largely about, I mean, his domestic look.
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Fabienne Kinzelman
Oh, definitely. Yeah.
- [07:29]
Georgina Godwin
Yeah, that's great. Thank you so much. Indeed. Fabian, thanks for coming on. That's Fabiane Kinzelman, a Swiss business reporter at Bloomberg who was joining us from our Zurich studio. This is the globalist.
- [07:46]
UBS Narrator
Craft is a matter of perspective, a unique outlook, an obsessive attention to detail. With UBS's Chief Investment Office Houseview, we're focused on identifying the latest investment opportunities and market risks to help you achieve your financial goals so you get the big picture broken down into thought provoking insights delivered daily and curated by over 200 globally connected, locally active analysts. UBS banking is our craft.
- [08:22]
Georgina Godwin
Now here's what else we're keeping an eye on today. Donald Trump says the United States needs Greenland for national security and has appointed Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as a special envoy to pursue the idea. Denmark and Greenland have flatly rejected the move, calling it unacceptable and insisting the island's future belongs solely to Greenlanders. Russia has intensified missile and drone strikes on Ukraine's Odesa region and launched fresh air attacks on Kyiv despite recent U. S led peace talks. Ukrainian officials say the strikes are aimed at cutting off access to the Black Sea with at least eight people killed and widespread power outages reported. And France will ask lawmakers to approve a stopgap law to keep the state running into January after talks on the 2026 budget collapsed. With the Eurozone's largest defic and Political gridlock in Parliament. Investors are watching closely as the government scrambles to avoid a shutdown. This is the Globalist. Stay tuned. Well, let's continue now with today's newspapers. And joining me in the studio is Chris Chermack, Monocle's senior news editor. Good morning to you, Chris.
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Chris Chermack
Good morning, Georgina. Good to be here.
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Georgina Godwin
You're looking surprisingly bright eyed and happy.
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Chris Chermack
I mean, that's what we have to do, don't we? When we do a show at 7am we try our best. We look as bright and happy as we can.
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Georgina Godwin
Well, and I think in your case, I suspect it's genuine.
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Chris Chermack
I try. You know, it's a holiday week and all of that stuff. I'm going to be flying off to Vienna tonight to spend with my family. So I mean.
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Georgina Godwin
Oh, that's lovely.
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Chris Chermack
How can you not be happy?
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Georgina Godwin
Yeah. Well, I tell you who isn't happy, people in Greenland.
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Chris Chermack
They are not happy. No. Although they probably don't know what to make of the ongoing threats from Donald Trump, in this case, the story from, I mean, lots of different websites. I have one here from Politico. President Trump has appointed a special envoy to Greenland and he's appointed Louisiana's governor, which is also just a bizarre choice. Jeff Landry, who basically, yes, will be the special envoy to Greenland, although he himself, in sort of recognizing this role said it would be voluntary. So he is still going to also be the governor of Louisiana. But he has underlined exactly what Donald Trump wants, which is Greenland. He wants Greenland to become part of the US And Landry said this was an honor to get this position and he would work to make Greenland a part of the United States. Obviously you can imagine what kind of reaction that caused within Greenland. Who said, who kind of urged his citizens to maintain calm. The prime minister of Greenland, rather Nielsen, saying we shape our own future. Greenland is ours and our borders will be respective. The Danish foreign minister is outraged, deeply outraged and says they will summon the US Ambassador to Denmark, Ken Howery. As you can imagine, European Commission also backing Denmark on this. It's one of these things, Right. We don't know what the actual impact is. So he's named somebody. It's not even, it's a volunteer position. It's not like he's sending troops. But this constant focus on Greenland, saying that it is essential to American national security has really become a thing this term.
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Georgina Godwin
I mean, and it started as a sort of joke. I mean he sort of, it was an off the cuff remark and it's just gained so much traction now.
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Chris Chermack
Well, I think it's one of these interesting cases where certain things that maybe in say, the first term, Donald Trump started things as a joke. Now he believes he can actually do them, or at least he wants to test the boundaries. And I do think Greenland is one of those cases. He seems to really have become convinced of this, talking about, in his own truth, social, about how essential Greenland is to American national security. So he seems to believe this now. He is fixated on it. And I think it's part of this sort of element of Donald Trump in his second term that he can really.
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Georgina Godwin
Do whatever he wants, including naming almost everything after himself. I mean, so we had the Kennedy center the other day, which is now the Trump Kennedy center, pushing for him.
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Chris Chermack
To keep Kennedy's name on it though, wasn't it? I mean, it's the Trump Kennedy, not just the Trump center, but I mean.
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Georgina Godwin
The whole row about that, that only Congress can change that name.
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Chris Chermack
Of course. Exactly. I mean, this is. But he has named himself also the director of the Kennedy Center. So that is an example of just how far he will go. And there's another example today from the Washington Post and so many others that he has announced the naming of a new Navy battleship class, the Trump class. And so, yes, this is the next step, if you will, in the naming. And it also goes similar to the Kennedy Center. It's not just about the fact that he is naming a Trump class of warships. He wants two new warships to start to be built. But it's also the fact that he says he will be involved in the design of these warships and he wants to go back to this grand old age of World War II battle class warships. And this is what's interesting as well about so much of what Donald Trump does. When you look behind the scenes, when you speak to people in military circles, including these articles, they say we don't really want this kind of massive warship that he is planning to build. The Navy has been going for smaller, more nimble. You know, you look at the war in Ukraine, it's all about drones, it's about nimble, you know, things like that. But Donald Trump wants a show of force. This is what he has been about. And so this, aside from the fact that he wants it named for himself, and it would be the first time a sitting president gets a name Chip. You have lots of former presidents who have name Chip. The Gerald R. Ford is currently in Venezuela. And I know you talked about that on yesterday's show. So this, this is something that happens. But of course, the Fact that it's his name while he is present. And he wants to be so involved in this show of force to China, whether it actually is something the Navy wants or not.
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Georgina Godwin
He wants 25 these ships. Eventually. The Naval Secretary says this is just one piece of the President's Golden Fleet, that we're going to build the Golden Fleet.
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Chris Chermack
Exactly. And there's a lot of, when you, when you, when you read in this article as well from sort of military experts, there are a lot of doubts about whether these will even be able to be built again. Also, Congress has to be involved, similar to, as you said, with the Kennedy Center. So there are a lot of questions around this. But yes, he wants two for now, 25 going forward for his Golden Fleet.
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Georgina Godwin
But I mean, we're seeing this provoke real divisions within the movement because of course, he came to power on America first and the fact that he was going to stop all kind of foreign intervention. And in fact, now everybody's extreme. Well, not some people are extremely upset that he is focusing on foreign policy.
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Chris Chermack
Very good point. You've seen a lot of divides over the last few days, even at conferences of MAGA and the conservative movement, including Charlie Kirk's former movement. You're seeing a split here. There is clearly Donald Trump has focus on foreign policy also, of course, wanting to end wars. Strikes in Venezuela, strikes in Syria, for that matter. Matter as well over the weekend. And yes, this is testing his loyalty with the maga. Right. Who of course was actually more isolationist. And so, yes, he hasn't put boots on the ground anywhere, which is a key element, I think, to sort of divide. When you look at his perspective on this, he strikes from afar, but he doesn't necessarily put boots on the ground. Although that of course could change with Venezuela as well.
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Georgina Godwin
Absolutely. Let's turn our glance now to Europe and Germany's AfD party because the far right group has been accused of gathering information for the Kremlin.
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Chris Chermack
Yeah, I found this a really fascinating story. It actually begins back in November. Spiegel in Germany revealed this sort of big report. They went into parliamentary inquiries. And so it's something that sounds very boring on its face. It's basically about what, like any country parliament, parliamentarians can inquire for information from ministers. In the US you have, say, freedom Information Acts for journalists, things like that. But what they found was that the alternative for Germany has asked for about 7,000 security relevant questions from ministries since 2020. And POLITICO has the story as well. It's caused a lot of consternation because there is taken together, taking all of these together what many who oppose the AfD and security groups in Germany believe that this paints a picture of what Germany is doing to support Ukraine. And that's why this is so critical. It's absolute. Asking about, say in Turingia, one member, Ringo Millman, has asked what information does the state government have about the extent of military transit transports through Turingia since 2022? So these are detailed questions about military transports, about drones, about humanitarian aid passing through eastern Germany on its way to Ukraine. Which has led many in Germany, including security experts, security politicians of other parties, to say this might be something that is helping Russia. Because taken alone, one bit of information about a military transport doesn't paint much of a picture. But you put it all together and it suggests that whatever has to be released by the ministries might help Russia understand what is going to Ukraine from Germany.
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Georgina Godwin
Yeah, a Trojan horse if you like.
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Chris Chermack
Exactly. And that's the worry. Of course the AFD has denied it. They say these are valid questions. They're just trying to paint a picture of what's happening in their states and they deserve to know military movements in the states where they have representation. But it is causing a lot of questions from opposition groups.
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Georgina Godwin
Let's go to Australia now because there is bitter partisanship now after this awful Hanukkah attack at Bondi Beach.
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Chris Chermack
Yeah, I just found this a really interesting story because it was from the New York Times and it kind of related this to the United States because I think most of the time when you have an attack as horrific as this, a country will come together. And when it came to the Bondi beach attack in Sydney, that is something that initially started out there was a bipartisan respons. Full and unconditional support was offered by the conservative opposition. But that has now gone over a week later you're seeing a lot of divisions. It frankly started also with Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel accusing Anthony Albanese of the Prime Minister of Australia of this being linked to his declaration of a Palestinian state or acceptance of a Palestinian state. What you've seen within Australia is the conservative opposition also jumping on this idea that. But Albanese has not done enough to prevent to root out antisemitism in Australia. Even things like gun laws which are now being tightened. That is the news of the last 24 hours or so from Australia. Opposition is accusing Albanese of using that to distract from his failure to root out antisemitism. He was not able to go to a funeral for a Bondi beach over the weekend because he feared the reaction that he would get. So this is really testing Anthony Albanese at a time where you would expect. Expect a country to come together and find some sort of common solutions. The New York Times, interestingly, sort of links this to the US and the fact that, you know, abroad we tend to have a bit more unity in the US when there's a shooting. Very sadly, this is quite commonplace.
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Georgina Godwin
And I mean, the awful footage of. Of him. Of Albanese being booed.
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Chris Chermack
Exactly. Being booed. When he did attend a sort of memorial at Bondi beach as well. So you're just really seeing fracturing of Australian society around this now.
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Georgina Godwin
There's one song that every station plays at Christmas time, it's Driving Home for Christmas.
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Chris Chermack
It is.
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Georgina Godwin
And sadly, the artist behind that has died at the age of 74.
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Chris Chermack
We did want to give an ode to Chris Rea. He is a British musician and, yes, I saw the story. I mean, obviously it's been around, but I picked out this story from the BBC about it because it linked this song with his own interests and inspirations. The car enthusiast whose love of driving inspired his song. So Driving Home For Christmas, which is such a staple around Christmas time, was written apparently in 1978 after he lost a record deal and his record label, or former record label, wouldn't even buy him a ticket to get home from London to Middlesbrough, so his wife had to come pick him up. And while he was sitting in traffic on the way back to Middlesbrough, he started sort of humming this tune as they were stuck and watching the other cars. Driving home for Christmas.
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Georgina Godwin
No. And there's a lovely story about how in, during his driving test, he took it in one of his dad's ice cream vans. He had to do an emergency stop. The examiner fell off the box he was sitting on and cut his leg and he said, I had to take him to the hospital, but he still passed me.
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Chris Chermack
That's a very nice driving test guy, isn't it? I mean, to do that. But, yes, he apparently was going to be an ice cream magnate, if you will, until he became a musician instead. This is what his father's hopes were for him and that's why he passed his driving test in an ice cream.
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Georgina Godwin
Van and then went on to have this huge, huge hit. He will be sorely missed at very young age. To go, Chris, thank you very much indeed.
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Chris Chermack
Happy holidays.
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Georgina Godwin
That's Chris Chermack there. You're listening to the Globalist on Monocle Radio.
- [21:43]
UBS Narrator
Iq, EQ and AI. Three components key to the craft of Innovation at ubs. Because to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving age, you need a partner with decades of experience, endless passion for the work, and a finger on the pulse of leading technologies. Bridging human expertise with artificial intelligence. All to elevate you. UBS banking is our craft.
- [22:21]
Georgina Godwin
You're back with a glitch Globalist on Monocle Radio. And it's time for a roundup of news from Africa. And for that, I'm joined by Naveena Kotor, Monocle's Nairobi correspondent. Good morning to you, Naveena.
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Naveena Kotor
Good morning, Georgina.
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Georgina Godwin
Is it all Christmassy there?
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Naveena Kotor
Well, it's Christmassy in, you know, Kenyan terms. It's very sunny with beautiful weather here, unlike in Europe. I think it's quite cold there. So, yeah, it's a different type of Christmas.
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Georgina Godwin
Yeah, absolutely. It always struck me when I had Christmas in Zimbabwe how incongruous it was to have, you know, pictures of snow and robins and other things never found there. Right, let's dive straight into the papers because big story here about the US recalling its envoys from 29 countries. Those are mostly African countries. What's behind this?
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Naveena Kotor
Yes, exactly. The Union representing US diplomats is, is deeply concerned by this process. They are concerned that it politicizes the foreign service even further. I think it's interesting that this reshuffle has not been publicly announced and has rather been leaked by State Department employees who've been compiling lists of those who have received a recall order. From what we understand about 15 diplomats will be recalled just from the African continent, including from Niger, Uganda, Senegal, Somalia were Mauritius, Nigeria, Gabon, Congo, Burundi, Cameroon and Rwanda. And the concern, I think, really is that it sort of pushes diplomats towards a more kind of, you know, America first trade and business focused dealing. And we're getting a lot of criticism from inside the State Department about this decision.
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Georgina Godwin
So does that mean that the embassies themselves will close down completely or just key personnel are being moved up?
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Naveena Kotor
No, the embassies, from what we understand, will not be closed down, but the ambassadors or the special envoys will be recalled. I know it is fairly usual for US Governments to send people who have donated to the campaign. People are close to the president abroad. But it is apparently unusual. This is, according to the union, to recall people in the middle of the service. And that's, I think, the main concern that people have, that ambassadors who've served for a year or two years are now being recalled.
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Georgina Godwin
Let's move on to another story about health now because there's a $2.5 billion health cooperation agreement between Washington and Nairobi. But people are not happy about this. Why?
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Naveena Kotor
No, people are not happy about this. Let's remember the year on the continent started with massive cuts by the US government to its USAID budget. Staff was relocated, programs were closed. Now Kenya is actually the first country to have signed this $2.5 billion health cooperation with the government in Washington. But the Kenyan court has stopped this. There were two separate challenges to this agreement, one by a local senator and one by a consumer federation lobby group. And what the court said is that this agreement provides or facilitates a transfer and sharing of medical and sensitive personal health data even after any agreement has been term. So this is the key sticking point now as to whether this deal can go ahead and whether a Kenyan court will allow it even if they amend the health care. Even if they amend the deal.
- [26:03]
Georgina Godwin
So it's all about data privacy.
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Naveena Kotor
Yes, it's very much about data privacy and the question whether the US government should gain really extensive access to Kenyan health management systems and electronical medical records. And there, I think, real concerns here about data protection and whether the US government will ever be obliged to confirm with local laws.
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Georgina Godwin
Let's move on now to this very disturbing story about some South Africans who were really duped into fighting for Russia.
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Naveena Kotor
Yes, I have to say it is quite a story. From what we understand, on the 8th of July of this year, a group of at least 17 young men from South Africa left Johannesburg on a few flight to Russia. They had been offered training as bodyguards for former President Jacob Zuma's party. But then very soon it became clear that the training education they were promised was never going to be and instead they had to sign contracts. IN RUSSIAN LANGUAGE they say they did not understand and they've been sent to the front lines in Russia. From what we understand, they're now stuck. And the South African government has been saying in November it's trying to negotiate that these citizens who are trapped in Donbass, in the Donbass region of Ukraine, can return. This is obviously, as you know, proving to be very, very difficult. And I think the other thing that is really railing South Africans and is causing a lot of debate is the fact that it now seems that one of the daughters of Jacob Zuma, the former president of South Africa, has been involved in the recruitment. There's now a police investigation underway to see, to see what kind of role she played. And this criminal complaint was filed by her other, by another of Jacob Zuma's sisters, by her older half sister.
- [27:59]
Georgina Godwin
And the allegation is of course human Trafficking, which is extremely serious.
- [28:03]
Naveena Kotor
Yes, it is extremely serious. And this daughter had to resign from her position in parliament. She was representing her father's party there. But it is thought that there might be even more people stuck there. And the South African government is saying it's very difficult to negotiate these releases because they have to negotiate with both of these governments who are at war with each other.
- [28:29]
Georgina Godwin
Let's end with a feel good story, shall we? And this is about K pop and African music, particularly South African music teaming up together.
- [28:39]
Naveena Kotor
Yes, the. You know, the Korean entertainment company Hybe is making a big push into Africa. It's starting with a big star in South Africa called Thailand. She has won the Grammys. But it's all part of a big expansion of hype into the towards Africa, but also towards other continents. Tyler is the first local signing in Africa and the company is hoping to push into a market where just if we just look at the streaming industry, it is worth $500 million. It was worth $500 million in 2020, 2025. So I think the combination of Afrobeats being a big, big success, the Grammy Awards having now its own African music performance category, means that big companies and big, you know, entertainment companies like Hybe, we've reported this in the past about companies like Netflix are now pushing into the African market.
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Georgina Godwin
Naveena, thank you very much indeed. That's Naveena Couture in Nairobi. You're listening to the Globalist on Monica Ray Video. Finnish Lapland has built a global tourism industry around one very familiar figure, Santa Claus. Our correspondent Petri Birtsoff traveled to Rova Nemi, a town that's made a convincing case for being Santa's official home. He went underground, met a few elves, and most importantly, sat down with the man himself to ask some pressing questions. Petri brings us this report.
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Petri Birtsoff
The temperature has dropped far below zero and the ground is covered in a thick layer of powdery snow. Just outside the center of Rovaniemi in Finnish Lapland, perched on a forested hill, a set of doors leads deep underground into Santa's grotto. This is Santa Park, a subterranean attraction where visitors wander through tunnels lined with workshops, bakeries and classrooms, all staffed by Santa's elves. They train year round in toy making, gingerbread baking and elf etiquette, while choirs rehearse Christmas songs for December's peak season. Although Santa is not the only reason tourism is, Lapland is booming. There are the northern lights, reliable snow for almost half the year, and an abundance of winter activities. It's clear that the Region has branded itself as Santa's homeland in a remarkably convincing way. But rather than rely on marketing slogans, I went straight to the source. First of all, Santa, thank you for welcoming me here. Maybe we can start with if you can tell our listeners about this place, place where we are. Is this your home?
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Santa Claus
Yes, this is my city home in Rovaniemi. And of course I have even my real home in the very, very deep forest, but that's a top secret. So here is the city home and here I will even welcome all the visitors that come here to see me in Rovaniemi.
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Petri Birtsoff
And now to all the people around the world who are listening to this radio show, what do they need to do to meet the real Finnish Santa?
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Santa Claus
Oh, that's very easy. They can take a hike with my sledge under Rudolph bus. Perhaps it's easier to come by. They can come by an airplane here or by train from Helsinki. I have an own train, it's called Santa's Express, and it goes straight from Helsinki here to Rovaniemi.
- [32:24]
Petri Birtsoff
Now that I had a first hand source at my trip disposal, I asked Santa to settle a long running geographical dispute. There has been some dispute about where Santa lives because some people believe that he lives on the North Pole. And I have even heard some people say in Sweden, mostly they think that he lives in Sweden. But can you just set the record straight here?
- [32:46]
Santa Claus
Yeah, I will tell you, this is the only place where I live and that's in Rovaniemi. But I understand that they perhaps think that this is so far away in the north. So it's very close to the North Pole. But Rovaniemi is the right name of the place where I live. So I really understand that people will be a little bit confused. But it's very far north, but the place is Rovaniemi. So here they can come and see me from the whole world. And I have daily visitors from the whole world from more than 25, 30 countries. For example, today it has been from Singapore, from Ukraine, from Great Britain, from the States, from Australia or from Sweden.
- [33:30]
Petri Birtsoff
Children around the world write letters to Santa, but meeting him in person comes with its own set of expectations.
- [33:37]
Santa Claus
Oh, at first they ask if they are on the very nice list. And then of course, they ask for all kind of wishes. You know, sometimes they ask for a lot of good health. They ask for all kind of toys. Someone asked me for a Lamborghini. And then one guy asked me one day, I know that my dad will prefer to have a great big Aston Martin Formula one car, but it's perhaps so heavy and big to take in the sledge. So I offered them a smaller one.
- [34:17]
Petri Birtsoff
Okay, okay. So you cannot always get what you wish for. You have to be very, very nice that year, you understand?
- [34:24]
Santa Claus
They ask for some very technical stuff. I'm not so sure that my elf can make any iPads and iPhones and something like that. It's also very difficult, you know, this human magic machine.
- [34:37]
Petri Birtsoff
And for those inspired to pay Santa a visit in Lapland, be warned, it may come with a long term commitment.
- [34:43]
Santa Claus
At the same time, when they are visiting me, they have to make the elf school here. I have a very good school, unfortunately, so it takes a little bit time, about 99 years, but it's a very, very good school. So they normally make the elf school before they're flying back home. And if they are making a very good job in the elf school, so perhaps they can stay here, here and became an elfair.
- [35:06]
Petri Birtsoff
It's only a few days until Santa departs on his annual journey to deliver presents to children around the world. After what will undoubtedly be a long day of singing, dancing and navigating air traffic control with flying reindeer, what does Santa do when the last present is delivered?
- [35:23]
Santa Claus
Oh, I tell you what, then I sit down at the table and then I have a very big plate of Christmas porridge, a very big one made by Ms. Klaus. And then after that I will have a short nap for about two, three, four hours. And then again I have a very big plate of Christmas porridge.
- [35:46]
Petri Birtsoff
Finally, Santa had a message for Monocle Radio listeners around the world. Now that you have the attention of all the Monocle Radio listeners, listeners all around the world, what do the listeners need to do to make sure that Santa delivers nice presents for them this year?
- [36:02]
Santa Claus
They have to be very nice and very kind to each other. At first that's very nice and then very helpful to each other. That's the best deal to have some nice Christmas gifts. And of course I always even ask for some favors from, from the people that come here to see me to keep the chimney clean and no fire in the fireplace and because it's so healthy for my stomach. So I really would like to have some nice mince pies and chocolate cookies that's perfect for me as well. And no Santa traps in the garden. Merry Christmas and all the best to all of you in the whole world. Merry Christmas.
- [36:50]
Petri Birtsoff
For Monaco Radio in Santa's home in Lapland, I'm Petri Burtsov.
- [36:58]
Georgina Godwin
Many thanks there to Petri. And you can hear part two of his report from Santa's hometown on the Briefing at midday today. And that's all for this edition of the Globalist. Thanks to our producers, Hassan Anderson, Chris Chermak and Desiree Bandley. Our studio manager was Steph Chungu, with editing assistance from Mariella Bevan. And there's more music on the way. And the Briefing will be live at midday. The Globalist will return at the same time tomorrow with a special look at the year 2025 in geopolitics. I'm Georgina Godwin. Goodbye, and thanks for listening. And here to play us out the late Chris Re.
- [37:40]
Chris Chermack
Take a look at the driver next to me he's just the same. He's driving home, driving home, driving home for Christmas.
- [38:06]
UBS Narrator
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