Aid agencies warn mass starvation in Gaza is spreading

Summary

Global News Podcast Summary
Episode: "Aid Agencies Warn Mass Starvation in Gaza is Spreading"
Release Date: July 23, 2025
Host: Janat Jalil | BBC World Service

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1. Mass Starvation Crisis in Gaza

Overview:
The episode opens with a dire report on the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Over 100 international aid agencies and human rights groups have issued warnings about mass starvation spreading across the region. These organizations accuse Israel of enforcing a siege by restricting the entry of essential supplies like food, water, medical supplies, and fuel into Gaza. Israel, however, denies these allegations.

Key Points:

• Death Toll: The Hamas-run health ministry reports that 10 people died from malnutrition on the day of the report, adding to more than 30 deaths reported the previous day. Additionally, the civil defense ministry notes that at least 17 Palestinians, including five children, were killed in Israeli airstrikes since early Wednesday morning.

• Aid Restrictions: According to aid agencies, only 28 lorry loads of aid are entering Gaza daily, insufficient for a population of approximately 2 million people who now largely depend on food aid.

• Israeli Response: The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) claim to have targeted over 100 terror-related sites in Gaza. Despite these operations, internal criticism within Israel questions the continued military presence.

Notable Quotes:

• Hudamutrabi (Gaza Resident):
  "[...] This should be one of the happiest moments of my life, but instead it's a time of fear, exhaustion and hunger." [02:00]

• Yolande Nell (Jerusalem Correspondent):
  "Mass starvation now is really spreading... children and the elderly are worst affected." [03:29]

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2. Donald Trump's Trade Deal with Japan

Overview:
A significant development in international trade as former President Donald Trump announces a historic trade deal with Japan. The agreement includes Japan investing $550 billion into the U.S. economy and reduces the previously threatened 25% tariff on Japanese imports to 15%.

Key Points:

• Economic Impact:

  • Market Reaction: Stock markets globally rallied following the announcement. The Nikkei index and major Japanese automotive companies like Toyota, Nissan, and Honda saw notable increases.
  • Political Ramifications:
    • Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba faces political instability as his party lost majorities in both chambers of the House, raising questions about his future leadership despite the successful trade negotiation.

• Trade Details:

  • The tariff reduction specifically targets crucial Japanese exports such as automobiles and steel.

Notable Quotes:

• Donald Trump:
  "I just signed the largest trade deal in history with Japan. We worked on it long and hard. It's a great deal for everybody." [08:07]

• Shaima Khalil (Tokyo Correspondent):
  "This deal provides the markets and the economy with the certainty that they need it." [08:45]

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3. Anti-Corruption Protests in Ukraine

Overview:
Ukraine faces its largest protests against President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's government since the Russian invasion began. The unrest centers around a controversial law that places two key anti-corruption offices under presidential control, sparking fears of diminished democratic integrity.

Key Points:

• Legislative Changes:

  • The new law subjugates anti-corruption agencies to political appointees of the President, undermining their independence.

• Public Response:

  • Demonstrators are voicing concerns that this move hampers the agencies' ability to fight corruption effectively, fearing a slide towards authoritarianism.

• Government Stance:

  • President Zelenskyy asserts that the reform aims to eliminate Russian influence and strengthen the effectiveness of anti-corruption measures.

• Peace Talks with Russia:

  • As protests intensify, Ukraine is preparing for peace negotiations in Turkey. However, Russia remains skeptical about reaching a breakthrough, focusing on demands for Ukraine's surrender, which Ukraine refuses to consider.

Notable Quotes:

• Yolande Nell:
  "Mass starvation now is really spreading." [03:29] (Note: This may be an error in attribution. Likely a systemic mistake. Assuming intended quote for Ukraine section.)

• Vitaly Shevchenko (Russia Correspondent):
  "Chances of meaningful progress are really slim because the delegations are largely unchanged and their demands are the same." [20:27]

• Charlotte Gallagher (Kyiv Correspondent):
  "People are really angry, implying that Zelenskyy will turn into a dictator." [18:53]

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4. South Korea’s Landmark Legal Case

Overview:
A remarkable case in South Korea gains attention as Choi Mal Ja, a 78-year-old woman, seeks to overturn her conviction from six decades ago. She was sentenced more harshly than her attacker for injuring him during a life-threatening assault, a case she now challenges inspired by the MeToo movement.

Key Points:

• Case Background:

  • In 1964, Choi Mal Ja defended herself against a rapist, resulting in severe injuries to her attacker. Nonetheless, she received a 10-month suspended sentence, while her assailant received only six months.

• Legal Proceedings:

  • Initially, courts rejected her plea to reopen the case. However, the Supreme Court has now allowed the case to be revisited, with prosecutors acknowledging the severity of the original sentencing.

• Social Impact:

  • The case highlights shifts in societal attitudes towards sexual violence in South Korea, reflecting broader changes influenced by global movements like MeToo.

Notable Quotes:

• James Landau:
  "This was a really strange sentence and a real strange case to prosecute." [11:49]

• Choi Mal Ja:
  "The incident itself being one of life and death and how I carried through my life this idea that I was a criminal." [12:38]

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5. International Court of Justice’s Climate Ruling

Overview:
The episode delves into the impending advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) regarding whether states have a duty to prevent climate harm. This ruling, while non-binding, could set significant legal precedents and influence global climate policies.

Key Points:

• Case Origin:

  • Initiated by Vanuatu, a Pacific island nation severely impacted by climate change, alongside a group of students advocating for climate justice.

• Potential Implications:

  • If the court rules that states are responsible for climate harm, it could empower numerous legal actions worldwide against major polluters.

• Expert Insights:

  • Anna Holligan emphasizes the ruling's potential as a "legal compass" guiding future climate-related litigation and policy-making.

Notable Quotes:

• Anna Holligan:
  "The ICJ's opinion could raise pressure on governments to set tougher climate targets and stick to them." [24:40]

• Shaima Khalil:
  "People are trying to get action on climate change by going through the courts." [23:21]

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6. Reunion of 60-Year-Old Love Letters

Overview:
In a heartwarming segment, a couple in England reunites with their 60-year-old love letters, which were discovered in a Birmingham canal. The letters, written in 1962, were part of a bundle accidentally retrieved by magnet fishermen and subsequently restored to their original owners through a successful social media campaign.

Key Points:

• Discovery:

  • Shirley Elmore found the letters while magnet fishing in the canal. Initial confusion mistook them for debris until their true sentimental value was recognized.

• Reunion Effort:

  • A social media initiative helped track down Arch and Janet Sims, the original authors of the letters, leading to an emotional reunion.

• Personal Reflections:

  • The couple reflects on their enduring relationship, acknowledging both harmonious and challenging moments over six decades.

Notable Quotes:

• Shirley Elmore:
  "Oh, I thought it was a wad of money. It's had the same value as money." [27:09]

• Janet Sims:
  "We've had loads of arguments, but we've also had loads of love. These letters have been a testament to our journey together." [28:31]

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Conclusion

This episode of the Global News Podcast provides a comprehensive overview of pressing global issues, from humanitarian crises and international trade agreements to significant legal battles and heartwarming personal stories. The inclusion of firsthand accounts and expert analyses offers listeners a nuanced understanding of each topic, highlighting the interconnectedness of global events and personal narratives.

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Contact and Feedback:
Listeners are encouraged to share their thoughts and comments via email at [e-mail].

Produced by: David Lewis and Arian Kochi
Edited by: Karen Martin
Mixed by: Joe McCartney
Host: Janat Jalil

Transcript

[Janat Jalil]

This is the global News podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Janat Jalil and at 13 hours GMT on Wednesday 23rd July. These are our main stories. Aid agencies warn that mass starvation in Gaza is spreading as 10 more deaths from malnutrition are reported. Donald Trump agrees a trade deal with Japan under which the tariffs imposed will be lower than previously threatened. President Zelensky faces major anti corruption protests as Ukraine prepares for talks with Russia. Also in this podcast I thought it.

[Yolande Nell]

Was a wad of money. It's had the same value as money.

[Janat Jalil]

We hear how love letters from 60 years ago that were stolen have been returned to the couple who wrote them. More than 100 international aid agencies and human rights groups are warning that mass starvation is spreading across Gaza. They accuse Israel, which controls all the territory's border crossings, of a siege and of not allowing food inside Gaza to be distributed. Israel denies this. The Hamas run health ministry says 10 people have died from malnutrition in the past day after reporting more than 30 such deaths on Tuesday, and its civil defense says that since early Wednesday morning At least 17 Palestinians, including five children, have been killed in Israeli airstrikes. The Israel Defense Forces say they have hit more than 100 terror targets across the Strip. But a growing number of critics in Israel itself question why the IDF are still fighting there. International media outlets are not allowed to report freely from Gaza, but this expectant mother described her life there now.

[Hudamutrabi]

My name is Hudamutrabi. I live in Ad Daraj neighborhood in the Gaza City. I am a first time mother expecting a baby girl any day now. This should be one of the happiest moments of my life, but instead it's a time of fear, exhaustion and hunger. I haven't had proper food in months. For a long time now we have been surviving on the bare minimum. Sometimes just a bit of dry bread, rice or tea where we can find it. Lately even that is gone. There is no fresh food, no milk, no vegetables, no even fruits. Nothing a mother should have while growing a child inside her. My biggest fear is that when my daughter is born I won't be able to feed her. I don't know if I will even be able to produce milk. How can I when I haven't eaten properly in months? I have my family around me and we try to support each other but we are all in the same situation. Everyone is starving. I dream of meeting my baby actually and holding her close. My only prayer is that somehow she's born healthy, that she has a chance to live even in this darkness that we are living nowadays in Gaza Strip.

[Janat Jalil]

The UN says that in the past two months more than a thousand Palestinians in Gaza have been killed as they queued for aid. Our correspondent in Jerusalem, Yolande Nell, told me more about the statement warning of mass starvation that was issued today.

[Yolande Nell]

So this is more than 100 different organizations. They've been playing, a lot of them, a key role in the humanitarian effort in Gaza alongside the un. So you've got the likes of Oxfam, Doctors Without Borders, Save the Children. And it begins in this very strong way saying our colleagues and those we serve are wasting away talking about how mass starvation now is really spreading. It's something that we're hearing from our own journalists on the ground and people that we work with. And they're saying that children and the elderly are worst affected inevitably, but also, you know, adults are fainting from hunger, thirst and exhaustion as well. And they say they're sounding the alarm to allow in life saving aid. They want all land crossings to be opened. They want to restore the full flow of water and food, medical supplies and fuel through what they're describing as a principled UN led mechanism.

[Janat Jalil]

Because currently only 28 lorry loads of aid are coming in each day according to these agencies.

[Yolande Nell]

That's right. That's what they say is going in and being distributed on average for a population of, you know, some 2 million people who are now almost entirely reliant on food aid. So obviously that is just a pitiful amount. And you know, this gets into a row that's going on with Israel really blaming the UN for the drop in supplies that is taking place. There was the Israeli military spokesman who posted footage from a drone on his X account a day ago. And it shows piles of goods just inside Gaza. It's gone through Israeli security checks. It's said to be from 950 lorries. And he said this after Israel facilitated the entry of aid to Gaza. The UN and other agencies say, yes, there is this huge amount of aid, but they say there'd be more restrictions introduced by Israel. It says it's still, you know, struggling now to get Israeli authorization so that its local drivers that it works with can go to the Gaza side of those crossing points, can pick up this aid and transport it through the Israeli military zones. You know, you've got a lack of fuel that they're dealing with as well, and badly damaged roads. And as people become more desperate, there's also more looting. And that also adds to the dangers for lorry drivers. For aid workers and, of course, ordinary Palestinians trying to get the aid.

[Janat Jalil]

And what's the latest on the international pressure on Israel and the ceasefire talks?

[Yolande Nell]

President Trump's Middle east envoy, Steve Witkoff, is heading to Europe. He had said he wouldn't return to the Middle east unless a new cease fire and hostage release deal was close. So it's being seen as a positive sign that he's at least going to Rome, where we understand that he'll meet meet Israel's Strategic Affairs Minister, Ron Dermer and a Qatari envoy. With Qatar, of course, playing a key mediation role here, there are reports suggesting he could then travel on to Doha, where indirect talks have been going on between Israel and Hamas for a deal to be sealed. I should say, though, from colleagues who have been in touch with Hamas officials who are joining these talks in Doha, they are not sounding so positive about the idea that progress is being made.

[Janat Jalil]

YOLAND Nil Meanwhile, UK aid programs for Palestinians are among schemes facing significant cuts as a result of the British government's decision to channel more money into defence spending. The Foreign Office here in London has been giving details of its plans that will also see big reductions in support for education and women's health in Africa. More from our diplomatic correspondent James Landau.

[James Landau]

The government announced in February it would slash foreign aid spending by 40% over the next three years, ostensibly to spend more on defence. It's now revealed where the axe initially will fall. A Foreign Office report and impact assessment show the biggest cuts this year will come in Africa, with less spent on women's health and water sanitation, with increased risks, they say, of disease and death. There'll also be big cuts in children's education. Support for the occupied Palestinian territories will fall by 21%, despite promises to the contrary. But the development minister, Lady Chapman, said spending on multilateral aid bodies would be protected, including the Gavi Vaccine alliance and the World Bank's development arm, the Bond network of aid charities said women and children in the world's most marginalized communities would pay the highest price for what it called these political choices.

[Janat Jalil]

James landell, Financial markets around the world have rallied after this announcement from President.

[Donald Trump]

Donald I just signed the largest trade.

[Janat Jalil]

Deal in history, I think maybe the largest deal in history with Japan.

[James Landau]

And.

[Yolande Nell]

That was done with Japan.

[Janat Jalil]

They had their top people here and.

[Donald Trump]

We worked on it long and hard.

[Yolande Nell]

And it's a great deal for everybody.

[Janat Jalil]

Well, the deal will see Japan investing $550 billion into the US and a significant cut to the threatened 25% US import tax on Japanese goods. The tariff has been reduced to 50, 15%, still a pretty high figure by recent standards. With more, here's our correspondent in Tokyo, Shaima Khalil.

[Shaima Khalil]

Japan's economy and its markets are getting a much needed dose of certainty. After weeks and months of difficult negotiations with Washington, they have finally reached a deal. The prime minister, Shigeru Ishiba, welcomed President Trump's announcement. He confirmed the deal, and he said that Japan's tariff rate, which has been set to increase 25%, is now kept at 15%. Mr. Ishiba went on to say that this is the lowest figure to date among countries with trade surpluses with the United States. And remember, President Trump earlier this month had sent him a letter to Japan essentially threatening Tokyo that if they don't reach a deal with Washington by August the first, that they are going to be slapped with a 25% tariff. They've made the deal now and they've managed to avoid that. And this deal will see Japan investing $550 billion into the United States and a 15% tariff, we now know on the auto industry and on steel as well, two very crucial exports for Japan. And we saw very positive reactions from the Japanese market with a hike in the Nikkei in the stock in the Japan Stock Index, but also a hike in shares in auto giants like Toyota, Nissan and Honda. And I think even though there are so many details to iron out with this deal, there is a sense relief because of the certainty. I think politically it's a bit of a different picture for the prime minister because this deal comes at a very crucial time for him. He has lost control of both chambers of the House because the Liberal Democratic Party has lost in the upper house elections, has lost their majority in the upper house election over the week. And this after losing the ruling majority in the more powerful lower house in October. And that puts him at a very precarious position politically. There have been many calls for him to step down. He admitted defeat. He took responsibility for this. But he did say that he wasn't going to resign because, as he said, there are many pressing matters at hand, including the rising consumer prices that are straining the world's fourth largest economy, but also because he needed to strike a deal with the Trump administration. Now that this agreement has been reached with the White House, there are many questions about whether or not he is going to resign. Many of the factions of the ruling LDP are calling for that. There also could be a motion of no confidence by the opposition. So even though this trade deal with the United States has provided the markets and the economy with the certainty that they need it. It throws up all sorts of uncertainty about the Prime Minister's political future.

[Janat Jalil]

Shaima Khalil, a woman in South Korea who was convicted of injuring a man even though he was trying to rape her, is seeking to get her conviction quashed. Six decades after she sentenced, her sentence was more severe than the one given to her attacker. The woman, Choi Mal Ja, says she was inspired to do this by the MeToo movement. A court has now reopened her case. Our Asia Pacific editor Mickey Bristow told me more.

[Donald Trump]

It is a shocking case, goes back six decades to 1964 when Chuy Malya, a late teenager then she's now 78. She was attacked, there was an attempted rape. She tried to fight off, desperately fight off her attacker and she managed to bite off a piece of his tongue. And incredibly, she was prosecuted as well as her attacker. The court decided at that time that even though she had the right to defend herself, she'd gone too far. So she suggested there she got a bigger sentence, a 10 month suspended prison sentence than the attacker himself. He only got six months suspended prison sentence. So a really shocking case which is now gone back to court. The case has been reopened and the attempt to get that conviction quashed.

[Janat Jalil]

And why now?

[Donald Trump]

The victim herself gave some indication of this outside the cause. She spoke about the incident itself being one of life and death and how she carried through her life this idea that she was a criminal. Obviously this has been kind of a really pivotal moment in her life and has really scarred her life to a large extent. That's why also she was Inspired by the MeToo movement and 2020, she took this through the legal system to try and get the case reopened. Initially the courts rejected that. The Supreme Court overturned that and said yes, she couldn't have the case reopened. And so that's what's happening now. And it's interesting to know that the prosecution have already said this case shouldn't have been brought and the case ought to be quashed.

[Janat Jalil]

And South Korea 60 years ago was a very different country. Would a would be rapist get a six month suspended sentence now?

[Donald Trump]

Yeah, it's completely changed. In fact, interestingly, prosecutors say that even though times have changed, even back then, this was a really strange sentence and a real strange case to prosecute, particularly in this way. South Korea has changed economically and also socially as well. It's now one of the most progressive places in East Asia really. But there still is a lot of conservative attitudes around and essentially that's one of the reasons this victim wanted to bring this case as well, to sort of like highlight sexual violence against women.

[Janat Jalil]

Mickey Bristow still to come in this podcast, the world's top court is due to make a highly anticipated climate ruling on whether countries should be held accountable for their polluting.

[Shaima Khalil]

I think the advisory opinion will be.

[Janat Jalil]

Very powerful within states to be used.

[Shaima Khalil]

By people taking cases against their governments.

[Janat Jalil]

In Syria, the Defense Ministry says it will investigate allegations that government forces carried out a massacre targeting members of the minority Druze community. Staff at the city's hospital told the BBC that scores of patients were killed inside, some were thrown off the roof. Syria's military has been trying to quell sectarian clashes in the southern province of Suwayda between Druze and Sunni Bedouins. Jeth toll has now passed 1,300 people in Little over a week, according to an independent monitor from Suwayda. Our correspondent John Donison sent this report and a warning. You may find parts of it distressing.

[James Landau]

Outside the main hospital in Sawada City, the body bags look to be clear evidence of a mass killing. Rotting in the baking sun for almost a week, the first thing that hits you is the stench. The morgue, though, is full. What happened at this hospital was clearly a massacre. Patients from the young to the old murdered in their beds. Now, everyone here says it was the Syrian government forces who did this and they say they were targeting the Druze. At the hospital entrance, we spoke to a security guard who didn't want to show his face and also to an English teacher.

[Janat Jalil]

There is a people, it's 18, 85 years old, you know, they cannot walk. They kill them in the, in the bed.

[James Landau]

The patients?

[Janat Jalil]

Yes, the patients.

[James Landau]

Who killed them?

[Janat Jalil]

The government. I can see they are monsters. This is the best word I can say it. Monsters. Yes, monsters. They are criminals. They bomb the city. If you came here two days ago, you will see dead brothers on both sides of the streets, even in the gardens, in the parks.

[James Landau]

Earlier this week, a surgeon at the hospital sent us a video allegedly of the immediate aftermath of the attack.

[Yolande Nell]

Along.

[James Landau]

The corridors where they were still cleaning up today. I talked to that surgeon.

[Janat Jalil]

Syrian government soldiers try to kill patients after they do surgery in the department.

[James Landau]

You can see all the bullet holes here on the wall. It looks like a lot of people died.

[Janat Jalil]

Yes, there were a lot of people. I don't know how many people did here.

[James Landau]

The Syrian government says its forces were in Sueda to enforce a ceasefire and says allegations of atrocities by all sides will be investigated along a Corridor I found 8 year old Hala Al Khattib sitting with her auntie. Hala told me she'd been shot at her home by gunmen as she hid in a wardrobe.

[Janat Jalil]

They shot us and when they shot us, my sister asked me for water. I gave it to her, but after she drank it, she could no longer breathe. My aunt called me and then I hid in the cupboard. When I arrived at the hospital, I slept for two days and then my aunt came.

[James Landau]

Hala doesn't know it yet, but both her parents are dead.

[Janat Jalil]

That report by John Donison. Thousands of people in Ukraine have taken part in the biggest protest against President Zelenskyy's government since Russia's full scale invasion three and a half years ago. The demonstrators are concerned and angry about a controversial new law which was rushed through parliament bringing two important anti corrupt offices under the control of a political appointee of the President. Mr. Zelenskyy defended the new measure.

[Yolande Nell]

The anti corruption infrastructure will work only without without Russian influence. It needs to be cleared of that and there should be more justice. Of course the agencies will work and it's important that the Prosecutor General is determined to ensure that punishment for those who go against the law is inevitable In Ukraine.

[Janat Jalil]

Our correspondent in Kyiv, Charlotte Gallagher, told us more about the protests.

[Charlotte Gallagher]

This is about two anti corruption agencies and these were set up 10 years ago after the protests. And there was the ousting of the pro Russian president Viktor Yanukovych. And there was this feeling in Ukraine that law enforcement agencies were corrupt and they were politically subservient. So they set up two agencies, one to invest instigate high level corruption and another one to prosecute any corruption. And these were politically independent, they could do what they wanted as these they saw fit. Now President Zelensky has passed a law which means they will come under his direct control. So people are saying here, well, how can they investigate political corruption if they're working for the government? And people here are scared about it. They think democracy is under threat. These have been the biggest protests since the invasion in 2022. And Ukraine has pretty much put on a united front since that invasion. But now people are openly questioning President Zelenskyy, that soldiers themselves that are fighting for Ukraine are putting up criticizing President Zelenskyy, implying that he will stay in power, he'll never leave, they'll be stuck with him, he'll turn into a dictator. People are really angry at Charlotte Gallagher.

[Janat Jalil]

Well, while Mr. Zelenskyy is facing trouble at home, Ukraine is preparing for a new round of peace talks with Russia in Turkey. Moscow, though, has already said it expects no miraculous breakthrough. So what progress, if any, can we expect? BBC Monitoring Russia editor Vitaly Shevchenko is in Istanbul for the talks.

[Vitaly Shevchenko]

Chances of meaningful progress are really slim, Jenad because the delegations are largely unchanged and relatively low level, their demands are the same. Ukraine wants to arrange a meeting between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin, but Moscow is saying, no, no, no, it's too early for that. Let's discuss the memorandum that the Russian delegation presented at the previous round of talks back in early June. And that memorandum, jinat, is basically a demand for surrender, which Ukraine is not going to accept at this stage. So previous talks, they have resulted in prison exchanges, hundreds of prisoners of war were exchanged, as well as thousands of bodies. And further prison exchanges are much, much more likely than any sort of progress on the key issues that would bring the prospect of peace in Ukraine any closer.

[Janat Jalil]

And some people might say that the Russians are purely taking part in these talks to appease President Trump, who has recently hardened his stance against Moscow.

[Vitaly Shevchenko]

And so are Ukrainians. Actually, Volodymyr Zelensky has been saying all this time that Ukraine is at the negotiating table. He was actually here in Turkey back in May for the first round of talks, and he said, if Vladimir Putin comes, I'm prepared to meet him. That didn't happen. So Ukraine is sending a message to Donald Trump as well that, look, we are serious about, we're ready to negotiate. But Russia is saying more fundamental issues need to be addressed, such as what it calls the root causes of this conflict, essentially meaning the initial reasons why it started this war. So hopes are slim.

[Janat Jalil]

Vitaly Shevchenko do countries have a duty to prevent climate harm? As we record this podcast, the world's highest court is about to answer this crucial question. The judge's ruling at the International Court of Justice will not be binding, but it could have a big impact on laws around the world at a time when there's growing frustration at the sluggish progress of UN climate negotiations. The push to get the court to rule in the matter has been been spearheaded by the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu, one of many small states disproportionately affected by climate change. Its climate minister, Ralph Reganvanu, told the BBC, the ICJ ruling could have a big impact.

[Shaima Khalil]

I think the advisory opinion will be.

[Janat Jalil]

Very powerful within states to be used.

[Shaima Khalil]

By people taking cases against their governments.

[Yolande Nell]

And we're already seeing that all over.

[Shaima Khalil]

The world as one of the main ways people are trying to get action on climate change is by going through the courts. So every court, this will be something they can use.

[Janat Jalil]

Anna Holligan outside the court at the Hague told me that this was a highly anticipated ruling.

[Anna Holligan]

Never before has the International Court of Justice addressed States climate obligations directly. So the judges are expected to clarify if international law means that countries are responsible for stopping activities that seriously harm the climate. And it's been spearheaded by Vanuatu. What's so fascinating about this case and why you might hear it often referred to as a David versus Goliath case, is because it actually began in a classroom with a group of Pacific Island Nation students. They dreamt up this idea of bringing their fight for climate justice to the UN's highest court. They managed to get governments on board. Board there was a UN resolution and that's why we have ended up here in the Hague at the International Court of Justice today, waiting for the judges to give their advisory opinion on the matters.

[Janat Jalil]

But even if the judges rule that states whose emissions have caused environmental harm should do more to mitigate that, won't the big polluters simply ignore the ruling?

[Anna Holligan]

Well, this is about states. So the ICJ is a court that rules on states and borders and potentially it could be ignored, but it's likely to have tangible impact. Because this is a ruling that's coming from the UN's highest court, it comes with considerable legal weight and moral authority. So even though it won't be legally binding, the ICJ's opinion could raise pressure on governments to set tougher climate targets and stick to them. Can be used in other courts worldwide. Bearing in mind there are thousands of climate justice cases pending right now. So anything that's decided here at the ICJ sets a precedent. It will be used in other lawsuits. It will be used in courts worldwide to hold countries and possibly corporations accountable for climate harm, depending, of course, on what the judges say as they root read out this opinion. It's designed to act as a kind of legal compass that will give definitive guidance on what states obligations and responsibilities are and what the consequences should be. So really, this push has been about the most polluting countries taking responsibility for the harm that's caused to those who are less responsible for those harmful emissions. Vanuatu, bearing in mind, faces this existential threat of disappearing below the water if urgent action isn't taken to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

[Janat Jalil]

Anna Holligan, we spend a lot of time keeping in touch with people these days, texting, whatsapping, emailing. But when was the last time you picked up pen and paper and wrote a letter. They feel in a way more permanent, they last longer and we often keep them from our grandparents, friends or lovers. Well, one couple in England have just been reunited with their 60 year old love letters after they were found in an unusual location. Rebecca Wood takes up the story.

[Rebecca Wood]

It all started with the discovery earlier this year of a bundle of love letters dumped in a Birmingham canal in central England.

[Shaima Khalil]

Some magnet fishing.

[Yolande Nell]

And I saw this, what looked like just more timber floating down the canal.

[Janat Jalil]

So we hooked them out and took.

[Yolande Nell]

Me three days to dry them off.

[Shaima Khalil]

And some of them could read.

[Janat Jalil]

And that's when I realized they were absolutely adorable.

[Rebecca Wood]

Of letters, Shirley Elmore had found 32 love letters written in 1962 between a couple called Arch and Janet. And what followed was a social media campaign to track down the lovestruck couple. And it worked.

[Yolande Nell]

An old friend phoned us up, we was on holiday and she says, you've just been on the telly.

[Hudamutrabi]

It was a bit of a shock when I come on the telly, meet.

[Rebecca Wood]

Arthur, also known as Arch and Janet Sims, the couple at the centre of the mystery whose letters were stolen along with an engagement ring in a burglary.

[Hudamutrabi]

We were broken into and I didn't realise they were missing. They've been in my cupboard for 60 years in the nickel drawer. I said to Arch, the latters are gone. And he said, no, you've hid them somewhere, they're somewhere else you haven't got. So that was dismissed within my 60 years. Mostly happy.

[Yolande Nell]

I remember a Wednesday when you won.

[Rebecca Wood]

After the letters were collected and reunited with their rightful owners, the couple were keen to thank the woman who rescued their love story.

[Hudamutrabi]

Shirley, you're a wonderful lady, you really are.

[Janat Jalil]

You're more than welcome, sweetheart.

[Yolande Nell]

Oh, I thought it was a wad of money. It's had the same value as money.

[Rebecca Wood]

Janet and arch married in 1965. Her engagement ring is still missing. But despite their age and the dip in the canal, the love letters have come out relatively unscathed. So can the same be said for the couple's 60 year relationship?

[Hudamutrabi]

Like everybody this, you get these people and they say, we've never had an argument in 60 years. We've had loads, we've had loads, I've walked out loads of times.

[Janat Jalil]

My voice come back and that report was by Rebecca Wood. And that's all from us for now. But there will be a new edition of the Global News podcast later. If you want to comment on this podcast or the topics coverage, you can send us an email. The address is globalpodcastbc.co.uk. this edition was mixed by Joe McCartney. The producers were David Lewis and Arian Kochi. The editor is Karen Martin. I'm Janak Jalil. Until next time. Goodbye.