In this episode of Battle Lines, Middle East Correspondent Nataliya Vasilyeva joins us from Israel to give us this week's update on the fighting, the diplomacy, and the unprecedented events in the Red Sea as Houthi rebels target international shipping. 
Then we stay with Nataliya for a special dispatch from Jerusalem, as she interviews the only licensed Santa in the city, ahead of a Christmas full of worry for the region's Christian population. 
Contributors: David Knowles (Host). @djknowles22 on X. Nataliya Vasilyeva (Middle East Correspondent). @Nat_Vasilyeva on X.
Read: Jerusalem’s only accredited Santa Claus vows to keep entertaining children despite war, by Nataliya Vasilyeva
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'The children ask me, Santa, are you coming, despite the war?'

Across the world, from Europe to Asia, the Americas to the Middle East, tensions are rising between nation states. Traditional alliances and alignments are constantly evolving in the 21st century. An understanding of defence and security policy and the tides of political, social and economic changes is crucial for any informed understanding of our world.
2024 sees war in Europe and Israel, and elections in major economies, including the US, the UK, Taiwan, South Africa, and many others. Insurgencies flare in Yemen and Burma, tensions escalate in East Africa, and all around the world the international security architecture buckles under increasing pressure.&nbsp;
With expert and experienced reporting on the ground from across the globe, Battle Lines combines on the ground reporting with analytical expertise to aid listeners to better understand the course of world politics and wars as the fault lines of global history grind and slip in an increasingly dangerous,&nbsp;and confusing, multipolar world.&nbsp;
Battle Lines is the best of The Telegraph’s defence, security, and foreign reporting in one place. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

News

News Commentary

On today's episode, we chat with Defence Editor Danielle Sheridan, who tells us how Labour and the Conservatives differ in their views on defence spending. Then we speak to Paul Nuki, editor of Global Health and Security, who gives us the latest on the dire situation in Rafah as Israeli airstrikes kill dozens. Finally, we speak to Ben Farmer, our South Africa correspondent, about the elections there this week.
Contributors Venetia Rainey (Host) @venetiarainey on X Danielle Sheridan (Defence Editor) @sheridandani on X Paul Nuki (Global Health and Security Editor) @paulnuki on X Ben Farmer (South Africa crrespondent) @benfarmerDT on x
For 3 months access to The Telegraph for just £1: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/audio | Email: battlelines@telegraph.co.uk 
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Labour's defence spending, devastating attacks in Rafah, South Africa goes to the polls

On today's episode of Battle Lines we speak to The Telegraph's Paris correspondent Henry Samuel about the unlikely link between Azerbaijan and pro independence riots in France's Pacific island of New Caledonia. Then, Africa correspondent Ben Farmer describes the dire humanitarian situation in the besieged Sudanese city of El Fashir. Finally, we speak to Energy Editor Jonathan Leake about how the discovery of oil near Antarctica could spark a rush for resources at the South Pole.
Contributors Roland Oliphant (Senior Foreign Correspondent) @RolandOliphant on X Henry Samuel (Paris Correspondent) @H_E_Samuel on X Ben Farmar (Africa Correspondent) @benfarmerdt on X Jonathan Leake (Energy Editor) @jonathan__leake on x
Read Russia finds vast oil and gas reserves in British Antarctic territory by Jonathan Leake Macron flying to New Caledonia in bid to end violent insurrection by Henry Samuel

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Anti-colonial riots in New Caledonia, humanitarian crisis in Sudan, oil rush in the South Pole

In this episode of Battle Lines, we speak to Europe editor James Crisp about the attempted assassination of Slovakian PM Robert Fico. Then we speak to Gia Japaridze, a former Georgian diplomat who was beaten up in what he believes was punishment for his opposition to a controversial foreign agent's law. And finally, we speak to Robin Forestier Walker, a British filmmaker who lives in Tbilisi, about how protesters have reacted to the law.  
Contributors Roland Oliphant (Senior foreign correspondent) @rolandoliphant on X James Crisp (Europe Editor) @JamesCrisp6 on X Gia Japaridze @giajapar on X Robin Forestier Walker @robinfwalker on X
For 3 months access to The Telegraph for just £1: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/audio | Email: battlelines@telegraph.co.uk 
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Assassination attempt on Slovakia's PM, Georgia protests controversial 'foreign agent' law

On today's episode, we speak to senior foreign correspondent Roland Oliphant, who recently saw the film Civil War, directed by Andrew Garland. Roland, as a war reporter, had some thoughts on the film and he shares them with us.
Contributors David Knowles (Host) @djknowles22 on X. Roland Oliphant (Host, Senior Foreign Correspondent) @rolandoliphant on X Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A war reporter reacts to the film 'Civil War'

On today's episode, we speak to our Middle East correspondent Natalia Vasilyeva in Jerusalem on Israel's impending assault on Rafa and Biden's threats to halt weapons supplies to Israel. Then, we hear from Jumana Shahin, a Gaza resident who's fled to Egypt to protect herself and her young daughter. Then, we speak to our economics reporter Melissa Lawford on the dire state of Iran's economy. And finally, I talk to senior foreign correspondent Roland Oliphant, who recently saw the film Civil War, directed by Andrew Garland. Roland, as a war reporter, had some thoughts on the film and he shares them with us.
Contributors David Knowles (Host) @djknowles22 on X. Nataliya Vasilyeva (Middle East Correspondent) @Nat_Vasilyeva on X. Jumana Shahin @jumana.shahin on Instagram Melissa Lawford (Economics Reporter) @Melissalawford on X Roland Oliphant (Host, Senior Foreign Correspondent) @rolandoliphant on X
Read ‘Iran is broke’: How clerics crippled the Islamic Republic by Melissa Lawford
For 3 months access to The Telegraph for just £1: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/audio | Email: battlelines@telegraph.co.uk 
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'The children ask me, Santa, are you coming, despite the war?'

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