Archbishop of Canterbury resigns over abuse scandal

Summary

Global News Podcast Summary: "Archbishop of Canterbury Resigns Over Abuse Scandal"

Published: Wednesday, 13th November

The latest episode of the Global News Podcast by the BBC World Service delves into a range of pivotal global issues. From significant religious leadership changes to cybersecurity threats and international political appointments, the episode provides comprehensive coverage of events shaping our world. Below is a detailed summary of the key segments discussed.

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1. Archbishop of Canterbury’s Resignation Amid Child Abuse Scandal

The episode opens with the resignation of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, marking a significant moment for the Church of England and the broader Anglican Communion, which boasts 85 million followers worldwide.

• Background of the Scandal: Archbishop Welby stepped down following revelations surrounding his handling of the child abuse case involving John Smyth, a prolific abuser who operated between the UK, Zimbabwe, and South Africa during the 1970s and 80s. Smyth died in 2018 without facing legal consequences.

• Victim Testimony: Andrew, one of Smyth’s victims, shared his harrowing experience:

  “On my 21st birthday, John Smyth told me that I was still sinning and that that required what he called a special beating... I decided that I would take my own life.”
  (02:29)

• Church’s Response: Initially, Welby refused to resign, believing an appropriate resolution would follow after notifying the police in 2013. However, mounting pressure, including a petition signed by over 14,000 church members and condemnation from senior bishops, led to his resignation.

  “I must take personal and institutional responsibility for the long and re-traumatizing period...”
  (04:15)

• Implications for the Anglican Communion: Tom Bateman elaborated on the broader impact:

  “The Archbishop of Canterbury is not just the head of the Church of England but also a figurehead for the global Anglican Communion... this is a significant development.”
  (05:09)

  The search for Welby’s successor is expected to be lengthy and contentious, with debates on whether the next Archbishop should hail from within the Church of England or elsewhere, and discussions around gender representation within church leadership.

---

2. Donald Trump’s Strategic Foreign Policy Appointments

Transitioning to international politics, the podcast highlights Donald Trump’s methodical approach in filling his administration with key foreign policy positions.

• Key Appointments:

  • Mike Huckabee: Nominated as U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Huckabee is known for his strong pro-Israel stance.
  • Mike Waltz: Appointed as U.S. National Security Adviser, recognized for his hawkish views on China.
  • Marco Rubio: Anticipated to become Secretary of State, another China hawk, though his appointment remains tentative.

• Implications: Jessica Parker discusses the potential impact of these appointments:

  “Mike Waltz takes a tough line on China... Marco Rubio has praised Ukraine's bravery but also echoed Trump’s language on concluding the war.”
  (07:53)

  These appointments suggest a continuation of assertive U.S. foreign policies, particularly concerning China and Israel, with possible shifts in aid strategies towards Ukraine.

• Pro-Israel Sentiment: Huckabee’s nomination underscores the strong evangelical Christian support for Israel in America. Trump’s alignment with Israeli leaders like Benjamin Netanyahu demonstrates a commitment to bolstering U.S.-Israel relations.

---

3. Cybersecurity Alert: Hijacked Google Search Term

Cybercriminals have exploited a niche Google search term to potentially compromise users’ data. The term in question is:

“Are Bengal cats legal in Australia?”
(10:58)

Zoe Kleinman, BBC’s technology editor, explains the modus operandi:

“People set up fake websites that look legitimate to trick users into downloading malware or entering sensitive information... though it's niche, it only takes one victim to exploit.”
(11:24)

Recommendations:

• Safe Browsing Practices: Always verify the authenticity of websites, especially when prompted by search results.
• Use Secure Search Settings: Enable safe search features on search engines to filter out malicious links.

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4. Innovative Shark Deterrent Research in Australia

Marine biologist Dr. Laura Ryan from Macquarie University has pioneered a method to protect surfers from great white sharks without harming the marine predators.

• Research Approach: Dr. Ryan’s team used decoys mimicking seal silhouettes, which are typical prey for great whites. They incorporated horizontal LED stripes to distort the decoys’ outlines, making them less recognizable to sharks.

  “The sharks still saw the fake seals, but they didn't attack them.”
  (16:05)

• Future Prospects: The team is developing a prototype device to implement this deterrent widely, aiming to reduce shark attacks on surfers while preserving shark populations.

---

5. Investigative Report: International Drug Smuggling Plot “Finding Mr. Fox”

In a gripping narrative, Jessica Parker explores an international drug smuggling operation centered around the mysterious figure, Mr. Fox.

• Case Overview:

  • Job Advertisement: A yacht owner’s advert seeking crew members for transporting a renovated boat from Brazil to Europe initiated the investigation.
  • Discovery: Police raids uncovered hidden cocaine beneath the yacht’s beds.
  • Suspect Pursuit: The primary suspect, identified as a British national named Fox, remains evasive.

• Personal Impact: Andrew, a crew member, reflects on the ordeal:

  “For me, it was going to be a great adventure and an opportunity to gain a lot of experience... But when police raided the vessel and discovered drugs...”
  (18:43)

The segment underscores the complexities and dangers of international smuggling operations and the challenges in apprehending key figures.

---

6. Gaza Humanitarian Aid Crisis and U.S. Support

The podcast addresses the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, amidst Israel’s military actions and the U.S. stance on aid.

• U.S. Position: The U.S. State Department maintains that Israel has not violated laws regarding humanitarian aid entry into Gaza, despite critiques from aid agencies and international bodies.

  “The US government says Israel has taken steps to address demands to surge supplies into Gaza...”
  (20:02)

• On-the-Ground Realities: Contradicting official statements, evidence suggests that aid delivery is significantly below the required levels, exacerbating civilian suffering.

  “Before the war started, 500 trucks were going in per day... now it's just a few dozen.”
  (22:23)

• Israeli Response: Shimon Friedman of Kogat asserts efforts to facilitate aid through multiple crossings, though challenges persist in scaling up assistance.

  “We're facilitating the entry of humanitarian aid through all crossings... working to increase capacity.”
  (23:07)

The segment highlights the tension between political narratives and the grim humanitarian outcomes on the ground.

---

7. Controversial Legal Amendments in Iraq: Lowering Age of Consent

A coalition of Shia conservative MPs in Iraq has proposed amendments to the personal status law, aiming to reduce the legal age of consent.

• Proposed Changes:

  • Age of Consent: Lowering from 18 to 9 years for girls and 15 for boys.
  • Additional Legal Implications: Altering women's rights related to inheritance, divorce, and child custody.

• Human Rights Concerns: Dr. Laura Ryan from Macquarie University emphasizes the severity of these amendments:

  “It establishes a parallel sectarian judicial authority that makes women or children, Iraqi women and children, unequal before the law.”
  (26:23)

• Cultural and Legal Impact: The move threatens decades of progress in women’s rights and aligns with a broader trend of undermining civil liberties under the guise of religious orthodoxy.

  “It's a devastating blow to years of women's rights and human rights... totally unchanged from outside influences.”
  (26:46)

This development raises alarm among international human rights organizations and advocates for gender equality.

---

8. Cultural Reflection: The Decline of Figgy Pudding

In a lighter segment, food historian Penn Vogler explores the evolving tradition of figgy pudding, a quintessential English Christmas dessert.

• Historical Context: Once a staple of yuletide celebrations, figgy pudding has seen declining popularity, with over half of British adults no longer considering it essential to Christmas festivities.

  “It wasn't actually called Christmas pudding until Dickens anchored it with 'A Christmas Carol'.”
  (27:57)

• Culinary Evolution: The dish has transformed from medieval potages with expensive ingredients to the modern, time-consuming dessert known today.

• Future of Figgy Pudding: Possibilities of revival through modern twists or media influence, though its prominence in Christmas celebrations remains waning.

---

9. The Magic Circle’s Quest to Apologize to Sophie Lloyd

The podcast recounts the story of Sophie Lloyd, a female magician who infiltrated the male-dominated Magic Circle society under the guise of a man named Raymond.

• Sophie’s Deception: For 18 months, Sophie convincingly maintained her male identity, challenging the organization’s gender exclusivity.

  “Female magicians were not allowed, as it was thought women couldn't keep secrets.”
  (30:11)

• Aftermath: Upon revealing her true identity post the admission of women into the Magic Circle in 1991, Sophie was expelled. The society, now led by its first female chair, seeks to locate and apologize to her, but Sophie has since vanished.

• Current Efforts: The Magic Circle is actively working to increase female membership, currently holding only 5% women members, and aims to rectify past exclusions.

---

Conclusion

This episode of the Global News Podcast offers a comprehensive overview of significant global events, blending hard-hitting news with cultural insights. From the resignation of a major religious figure and strategic political appointments to cybersecurity threats and human rights issues, the podcast ensures listeners are well-informed on matters of international importance.

---

For more detailed information and updates, listeners are encouraged to tune into the Global News Podcast available through various BBC platforms.

Transcript

[Oliver Conway]

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK.

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[Jessica Parker]

A search for the truth behind an international drug smuggling plot. How are we going to unravel this all from the BBC World Service this is World of Secrets season 5 finding Mr. Fox search for World of Secrets Wherever you get your BBC podcasts.

[Harry Farley]

You'Re listening to the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service. Hello, I'm Oliver Conway. This edition is published in the early hours of Wednesday 13th November. The leader of the Anglican Church, the Archbishop of Canterbury, has resigned over a child abuse scandal. In his latest set of appointments, US President elect Donald Trump has picked a China hawk and a pro Israeli Christian and the six word Google search that can leave you open to hacking. Also in this podcast she finally revealed.

[Jessica Parker]

Her true identity only to be expelled for deliberate deception.

[Harry Farley]

The search for a female magician who pulled off a disappearing act from the all male magic circle. The Church of England and the 85 million strong worldwide Anglican Communion are looking for a new spiritual head after Justin Welby announced he would resign as the 105th Archbishop of Canterbury. The former oil executive had been under pressure over his failure to report the prolific child abuser John Smythe to the police in 2013. Smythe abused dozens of boys in the UK in the 1970s and 80s and then more in Zimbabwe and South Africa. He died in 2018 without being brought to justice. One of his victims, Andrew, spoke to.

[Andrew]

The BBC on my 21st birthday, John Smyth told me that I was still sinning and that that required what he called a special beating. That was beatings of hundreds of lashes of a cane and I realized that I couldn't take things any longer. I firstly wrote a couple of anonymous letters to Christian leaders and to John Smyth, but when those had no effect I decided that I would take my own life. And I remember lying on my hospital bed after my suicide attempt thinking that I was free, that it was over, that I would never see him again, and that I had a whole new life to live. But the mental anguish that the beatings had brought about over the years began to play on my mind fairly quickly.

[Harry Farley]

Andrew there. Well, Justin Welby apologized after the report into John Smyth's abuse was published, but he said he wouldn't resign. However, his departure looked inevitable once a senior bishop called for him to go. A petition started by three members of the church's General Synod was signed by more than 14,000 people. Our reporter, Harry Farley, has been covering the scandal.

[Tom Bateman]

The particular criticism for Justin Welby is that he knew about John Smyth's abuse in 2013, but he did not, in the words of the report, he did not do enough to make sure that those allegations were investigated at the time. And John Smyth continued to abuse boys in Zimbabwe and South Africa up until his death five years later in 2018. And he died without facing justice. It's worth saying that he is not the only one that was heavily criticised in a report that was published last week. But he said in his statement when he announced his resignation that he says that when I was informed in 2013 and told that police had been notified, I believed, wrongly, that an appropriate resolution would follow. And he goes on to say that I must take personal and institutional responsibility for the long and re. Traumatizing period between 2013, which is when he knew and the modern day.

[Harry Farley]

Yeah. And he did try to avoid having to resign, but in the end the pressure told.

[Tom Bateman]

Exactly. There was sort of growing pressure, I suppose, over the last few days, bishops being asked whether they had confidence in Justin Welby and sort of ducking those questions. And eventually yesterday, the Bishop of Newcastle, a senior figure in the Church of England, saying that she thought that Justin Welby's position was untenable. And I suppose that was really the key moment in the Prime Minister today as well, saying that, you know, while it was a matter for the Church, he thought that the victims had been failed very, very badly. And I suppose there was a growing sense over the last few days, in particular, that this was inevitable, that Justin Welby would be forced to resign early than he had intended.

[Harry Farley]

Yeah. I mean, what will be the impacts of his departure on the Church of England and also on the wider Anglican community with its 85 million believers?

[Tom Bateman]

Well, exactly. A very significant one, because, as you say, the Archbishop of Canterbury is not just the head of the Church of England, they have a constitutional role here in the UK, but they also lead that 85 million strong Anglican Communion that stretches right around the world. And The Archbishop of Canterbury, seen by many as a figurehead to that communion. So this is a significant development, not just here in the uk, but right around the world. The process now begins for choosing his successor. That will not be a quick process. It will be expected to last many months. And there will be questions over whether Justin Welby's successor comes from the Church of England. They don't. Archbishops of Canterbury don't have to come from the Church of England. They could come from further afield. And whether, of course, we might see the first ever woman as Archbishop of Canterbury.

[Harry Farley]

And whoever takes over will have to try and heal the divisions within the communion between liberal churches, say in North America and Britain and those perhaps in Africa.

[Tom Bateman]

Yes, exactly. I mean, those divisions are deep within the different parts of the Anglican Communion. Those questions, particularly, I suppose, the divisions on sexuality, different stances around the world as to whether same sex couples should be allowed to marry in churches in different places around the world. Deep disagreements across the Anglican Communion. Those have not gone away and they will not go away with Justin Welby's departure. One of the strengths, I suppose one of the things he wanted to emphasize in his tenure was holding the Anglican Communion together. And, and that will be a big question for whether his successor can continue to do that.

[Harry Farley]

Harry Farley. In contrast to the chaos when he was first elected US President, Donald Trump has been working methodically to fill his administration. Former presidential candidate and pro Israeli Evangelical Christian Mike Huckabee has been nominated as Ambassador to Israel. Congressman Mike Waltz will be the US National Security Adviser. And Florida Senator Marco Rubio is widely expected to be chosen as Secretary of State, meaning two foreign policy posts are going to China Hawks. Jessica Parker has been reporting from outside Mr. Trump's home in Florida. I asked her what these picks say about his possible foreign policy plans.

[Jessica Parker]

Well, as you say, we've had the formal announcement that Mike Waltz will be the National Security Adviser for Donald Trump. And we know Mike Waltz. He's a, you know, he's a veteran. He takes a tough line on China. He said things like, the US needs to do more to prepare for conflict in the Pacific. And then you look at this potential pick for Secretary of state, the US's top diplomat, Marco Rubio, also a China hawk. So there's definitely a pattern there. But of course, Mr. Rubio's appointment or pick has not been confirmed. And it's also being reported alongside his name that Donald Trump could change his mind. So we'll have to see how that one develops. But on Ukraine as well. He would hold Marco Rubio a key role there if he were to become Secretary of State. And his remarks recently on that have been quite interesting. I mean, he's praised Ukraine's bravery on the battlefield resisting the Russian invasion, but also actually sort of been echoing Donald Trump's language around this as well, saying that the war needs to be concluded. And he described US Funding as basically funding a stalemate on the battlefields. And, of course, there are fears that under a Donald Trump administration, the US could curtail aid to Kiev. It's never been quite clear how Donald Trump would bring the war to an end, as he says he would do, or has claimed he would do, quickly. But so obviously, these, these foreign policy picks, whether they're confirmed, whether they're kind of being floated, do have huge implications far beyond the US shores and certainly far beyond the shores of Mar a Lago, where I've been now.

[Harry Farley]

Many evangelical Christians in America are staunchly pro Israel. What does the choice of Mike Huckabee as ambassador to Israel mean?

[Jessica Parker]

Yeah, so as you say, Mike Huckabee, former Arkansas governor, he's going to be nominated to be the U.S. ambassador to Israel. In a statement, Donald Trump said that Mr. Huckabee loves Israel, the people of Israel, and likewise, he said the people of Israel love him. Another staunch Israel ally, Elise Stefanik, she's heading to the UN as the US Ambassador to the United Nations. And you might remember she made her name grilling university presidents about their handling of campus protests. So clearly, two staunch Israel backers there heading into those key positions. And Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, was one of the first to congratulate the president elect. Trump saying, congratulations on history's greatest comeback, he said. But we also know Trump has been urging Israel to finish the war in Gaza quickly. And he has put a big emphasis during the campaign on ending conflicts. Now, people will, of course, be watching whether and what he can deliver on that, whether that's in Ukraine or indeed in the Middle East.

[Harry Farley]

Jessica Parker in Florida. Cybercriminals are getting ever more inventive in their attempts to steal our data. Experts have discovered a search term that's been hijacked by hackers to gain access to computers. Typing the words Are Bengal cats legal in Australia? Into Google delivers search results that are potentially disastrous for users. Evan Davis asked our technology editor, Zoe Kleinman to explain.

[Zoe Kleinman]

This is a really interesting example of an old trick, which is people setting up a fake website that looks like it's something else and then trying to get you to either download some malware off it, which then gets into your computer and infects it and is able to access everything you have on it, or convinces you to fill in some form, preferably with your bank details on it. It is a very common malware trick. What is interesting about this particular example is how niche it is. It's a very, very specific phrase that I'm imagining really would nich not be Googled by very many people. And for that reason I'm slightly sceptical about it because it doesn't seem to have any victims that we're aware of. And it has come from a company which sells security software, so there are those elements to it. That said, it is definitely always a good idea to beware of the links that you click on.

[Tom Bateman]

So if I put in the search, are Bengal cats legal in Australia that on its own can't infect my computer?

[Zoe Kleinman]

No, don't panic. Just writing the words into Google or any other search engine will not infect your computer. What would come up would be a list of links to try to answer your question, I suppose. And the suggestion is that somebody has put a load of advertising behind one that is a false one, designed to get people to click on it and then to either download some malware as they're clicking on it or to share their information. The fact that it happens shows that there are things that slip through the net. I also think Google and the other big search engine companies, like Microsoft, which runs Bing, for example, they monitor these things very closely and they don't tend to last for very long. But the thing is, this is something that doesn't really need a lot of people to fall for it. You know, you only need one person's bank account and you've potentially got hold of quite a lot of money. You only need to infect one computer and you've got access to quite a lot of personal data. So that is the law, if you like, of cybercrime and scamming. You have to push this out a lot and there won't be many people that will fall for it, but some people will. Personally, I would be more concerned about checking the link to your bank and making sure that it's spelled correctly, making sure that the link isn't a slightly different version to what the official link is. It might look the same. If you're looking for the BBC website and you get bcb, for example, don't click on that. That's probably not us. And that's kind of basic cyber hygiene, isn't it? That I think we should all be aware of. I would worry more about the everyday sites that you use all the time than something as specific as Bengal cats. Unless, of course, you are a member of the Bengal cat community and you're particularly interested in Australia.

[Tom Bateman]

Is there a way I can click on something, a setting on any of these big search engines and I get safe search?

[Zoe Kleinman]

It's always a game of whack a mole. You know, these sites spring up and then they disappear. There are some stories that I perennially do. For example, if you're applying for a visa to go and visit another country, there are loads of websites that come up, often before the official ones, which offer to do it for you for a hugely inflated amount of money. And every now and then I report them and then they disappear, but they always pop up again. So despite all of the safety tools that are out there, it is slightly a case of you having to take responsibility and try to be aware yourself.

[Harry Farley]

The BBC technology editor, Zoe Kleinman. The great white shark is the ocean's top predator, around six metres long and able to swim at 25 kilometres an hour. While attacks on humans are rare, they can be fatal. And surfers can be at risk because their silhouette is similar to that of a seal, the great white's favourite prey. But researchers in Australia have found a way to deter sharks from attacking surfers. As Sophie Sophie Smith reports.

[Sophie Smith]

No surfer wants to see a large grey fin sliding its way through the water towards them, especially if it belongs to a great white shark. And there's not a lot you can do to defend yourself. While more shark attacks happen in California, it's the Australians who are the most likely to be killed while on the water. So it's no surprise that marine biologist and keen surfer Dr. Laura Ryan from Macquarie University in Sydney has been looking for a way to deter great whites from attacking her and her fellow waveriders. She and her colleagues towed decoys shaped like seals and made of foam on a line behind a boat to bait the sharks while testing methods to discourage them from biting.

[Dr. Laura Ryan]

And we've been using lights on the.

[Jessica Parker]

Bottom of these decoys, stripes being horizontal, which, if we imagine on a seal, from one shoulder to the other seems.

[Dr. Laura Ryan]

To be most effective.

[Sophie Smith]

The sharks still saw the fake seals, but they didn't attack them.

[Harry Farley]

So what we're doing is we're changing.

[Dr. Laura Ryan]

The shape of the silhouette and when.

[Harry Farley]

We'Re not covering the entire decoy LEDs and just doing these horizontal stripes.

[Dr. Laura Ryan]

This remaining section looks more like multiple small objects.

[Sophie Smith]

The dissected foam seal looks less tasty to a hungry great white and more like random pieces floating on the water. The lights do have to be horizontal though. They can't be longitudinal going down from the top to the bottom like that, the shark can still make out the silhouette of the steel and it will still bite. Dr. Ryan and her team hope the discovery can be used to create a device to protect surfers from shark bites without impacting marine animals like the sharks themselves. So is she ready to jump in and replace the fake seal?

[Harry Farley]

I don't think.

[Dr. Laura Ryan]

I still wouldn't paddle a surfboard through.

[Jessica Parker]

The seal colonies, but we're sort of working on building a prototype at the moment.

[Sophie Smith]

This could well be the future for shark free surfing, but until the technology is up and running, it's probably best to be cautious and stay near enough to the shore you don't want to meet a massive hungry pair of jaws.

[Harry Farley]

Sophie Smith and still to come, bring.

[Oliver Conway]

Us some figgy pudding or bring us some figgy pudding or bring us some figures.

[Harry Farley]

But apparently Christmas pudding has fallen out of favor.

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[Oliver Conway]

When we left, there was this wonderful feeling, but it was only the beginning of a nightmare.

[Jessica Parker]

This is a story that started with a job advert, a yacht owner looking for a crew to sell his recently renovated boat from Brazil to Europe.

[Harry Farley]

For me, it was going to be a great adventure and an opportunity to.

[Andrew]

Gain a lot of experience.

[Jessica Parker]

But when police raided the vessel and discovered drugs, cocaine hidden under one of.

[Oliver Conway]

The beds, it can't be.

[Jessica Parker]

A key suspect was miles away.

[Dr. Laura Ryan]

Everything revolved around him.

[Oliver Conway]

Who's the boss? A British guy. Fox.

[Jessica Parker]

Fox this is World of secrets from the BBC World Service Season 5 finding Mr. Fox. Search for World of Secrets wherever you get your BBC podcasts.

[Harry Farley]

In our earlier podcast, we heard from aid agencies in Gaza saying conditions there remain awful, largely because of a lack of supplies. The Biden administration had set Tuesday as a deadline for Israel to improve the desperate humanitarian situation, with the implication that if it didn't happen, the US might stop military aid to Israel. However, the US State Department has said it is not going to reduce military assistance for the time being, adding that Israel had not violated US law on allowing aid into Gaza. More details from our State Department correspondent Tom Bateman.

[Tom Bateman]

The US government says Israel has taken a number of steps to address its demands to surge supplies into Gaza, and therefore it doesn't assess Israel to be in violation of US laws about blocking humanitarian aid. The finding essentially means Washington will continue its weapons supply to its ally uninterrupted, despite the growing urgency of warnings from aid groups about the rate civilians are being killed and displaced by Israel's assault on the north, where the Israeli military says it has been routing a Hamas resurgence.

[Harry Farley]

Tom Bateman reporting. Britain has condemned what it said were Israeli restrictions on aid, while the acting head of the UN's humanitarian agency has said that acts reminiscent of the gravest international crimes are being committed by Israel in Gaza. The branch of the Israeli military responsible for coordinating aid deliveries is called Kogat. Its international spokesman is Shimon Friedman. What is his response to the criticism of Israel?

[Andrew]

Obviously, the situation in Gaza is very difficult, and I'm not here to say that the situation is amazing. It's not. Israel has worked since the beginning of the war, and Kogat specifically has worked to facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid, to increase the access to medical care, to bring in food, water, medical supplies, and shelter equipment. And we work together with the international organizations to facilitate the entry of this aid.

[Oliver Conway]

That doesn't really tally with reality, though, does it? Because, I mean, before the war started, 500 trucks were going in per day. The US has said a minimum of 350 is needed right now. It's a matter of a few dozen at most that are going in. So, I mean, it's all very well to say that you're sort of facilitating and you're doing all that you can, but you've got senior UN officials saying that it is not a place for humans to survive. It seems as if the way you are seeing what's happening in Gaza and what the reality is is two different things.

[Andrew]

First, I just want to address this number of 500 trucks that you mentioned from before the war. The 500 trucks coming in before the war were not humanitarian aid. They included food, but they included other things as well, goods, commodities, lots of different things that were coming into the Gaza Strip. That's not what we're talking about right now. We're talking about four Main categories, food, water, medical supplies and shelter equipment, which.

[Oliver Conway]

The US still says you need 350 trucks a day and you're nowhere near that.

[Andrew]

And also the numbers that you mentioned in terms of dozens are incorrect. And we release those numbers and you can find those on our website as well. It's close to around 50 trucks in northern Gaza a day and between 100 and 150 trucks in southern Gaza. Those numbers, we're working to increase them. The issue right now, the main obstacle in getting much larger numbers of aid into the Gaza Strip are with the international organizations, because if we were to bring in additional, those would just be. Not that there's room right now on the Gazan side of Kerem Shalom because there are so many trucks waiting there.

[Oliver Conway]

Kerem Shalom is just one of the many crossing points there could be into Gaza. That is part of the problem is that you have decided that you are going to only allow very limited access points. And you have also decided that inside Gaza. Absolutely. It is a war, but it is a war zone in which the Israelis are not doing all that they could in order to facilitate the humanitarian organizations to get to these places.

[Andrew]

You're right. Kerem Shalom is only one crossing. There are five crossings right now. There is Kerem Shalom, there is Kistofim, which opens today, crossing 96, Erez west and Erez East. These crossings are operational and we are delivering that. We are facilitating the entry of humanitarian aid through all of them. So the reason I keep bringing up Kareem Shalom is because that is the crossing that has the largest capacity. But we are absolutely using the other crossings as well. And we've gone to great lengths in order to increase our capacity there.

[Harry Farley]

Shimon Friedman of Kogat talking to Tim Franks. Is the Iraqi parliament about to lower the age of consent from 18 to just 9 years old? That is what Shia conservative groups are hoping for. They've proposed an amendment to the personal status law which could also see changes to a woman's right to inheritance, divorce and even the custody of her own children. Exactly who is proposing these changes and why? A question Rebecca Kesby asked Amnesty International's Razo Salhi.

[Dr. Laura Ryan]

They're proposed by a coalition of MPs which are from one of the Shia parties. And they have previously proposed laws that have been restrictive in terms of gender related rights or sexual orientation rights. It is part of this campaign over the past two years that we've seen in Iraq to really what we like to call swapping bullets on the streets for laws in Parliament to restrict civil society, restrict freedoms guaranteed already under law. And it's really an exertion of power.

[Harry Farley]

So at the moment, in Iraq, like in most countries actually around the world, the legal marriage age is 18, and that's been in place, I think, since the 1950s.

[Jessica Parker]

This was under secular law.

[Harry Farley]

And so how would this change?

[Dr. Laura Ryan]

Yes, absolutely. So actually, it's worth mentioning that Iraq has one of the most progressive personal status laws in the region in the Middle east, in that the personal status law encompasses every person of every religion in the country. So it's for all Iraqis. What this would do is open the door for religious clerics of the Shia sect and the Sunni sect and their respective religious authorities to put down codes that may allow those as young as nine to get married. And the fear of that stems from the fact that the amendment explicitly recognizes the Ja'afari school of thought for the Shia sect and those who interpreted that dogmatic ways could allow girls as young as nine to get married and boys as young as 15 to be married, which is a complete disaster. And Allah really opens or exposes girls to sexual violence and other types of violence, and notwithstanding the fact that they'll be excluded from education and any type of meaningful ways of building a life.

[Harry Farley]

So, I mean, just to be clear, is this law. This would be coexisting alongside the secular law, would it? So this would be a branch of religious law that families could choose to adopt.

[Dr. Laura Ryan]

Yes, exactly. So what it does is it establishes a parallel sectarian judicial authority that essentially makes women or children, Iraqi women and children, unequal before the law. It allows for men to shop around for the best situation, be it in marriage or be it in divorce settlements, be it inheritance settlements and even custody of children.

[Harry Farley]

And this really would be a break with what we've seen in Iraq legally over decades.

[Dr. Laura Ryan]

Absolutely. It is a devastating blow to years of women's rights, NGOs of progress and human rights. And I have to mention, those pushing this law have demonized the opposing voices in parliament and outside parliament. They have called them Western influences as well as morality that is not in line with Iraq's moral standards. That is completely untrue. That are coming from the streets of Iraq. They are not coming from outside at all.

[Harry Farley]

Razo Salhi from Amnesty International. Now, it's a bit early, but have a listen to this.

[Oliver Conway]

Or bring us some figgy pudding. Or bring us some figgy pudding. Or bring us some figgy pudding and bring it out here.

[Harry Farley]

Well, figgy or Christmas pudding is a traditional yuletide dessert in English speaking countries. But. But here in Britain, a survey has found that more than half of adults who celebrate Christmas say it is not an essential feature of their celebrations. The food historian Penn Vogler told us how the pudding has evolved through time.

[Penn Vogler]

It wasn't actually called Christmas pudding until Dickens anchored it for the day with A Christmas Carol. So we thought about it as plum pudding and it was festive, something you gave somebody as a kind of special treat. But it wasn't always the thing that we had at Christmas. It has quite a history from medieval times when we didn't have puddings, but they would kind of posh up their potage, as they called it at the time, or porridge with expensive fruits and nuts and spices if they could afford it. And then some genius invented a way of kind of turning that into a pudding by kind of sticking it in a pudding cloth. And so, yes, it was given as charity. So if you wanted to kind of show your beneficence to a whole group of people, you'd give them roast beef and plum pudding. And it was quite a sort of big kind of symbolic thing, a nice gift and treat, but yes, quite a palaver.

[Jessica Parker]

I mean, even the reheating, it is hours long.

[Penn Vogler]

Yes, but as Fanny Braddock says, and as Dickens said, people were so used to doing that they'd been boiling up their clothes in the copper for a few hours on wash day. Anyway, yes, boiling a pudding was quite a normal thing.

[Jessica Parker]

Just a quick thought. Is it the kind of thing that could come back in? Someone will come in, I don't know, put an orange in the middle and suddenly it's back in favor.

[Penn Vogler]

Things go in and out of fashion and I've just been thinking about pumpkins and squash and a few years ago we'd not been eating them at all. And Halloween has brought them back onto our plate. I think the Christmas pudding will come in and out, maybe thanks to the Muppets and the Christmas Carol. Bring it all back to us again.

[Harry Farley]

Food historian Pen Vogler talking to Sarah Montagu. The Magic Circle is the world's most famous society for magicians, escapologists and illusionists. But a few decades ago, when it was still male, only the organization was itself fooled when a woman called Sophie Lloyd joined, disguised as a man called Raymond. When she eventually revealed her identity, she was kicked out. Now the society wants to track her down and apologise, but in true magician fashion, she seems to have disappeared. Will Vernon takes up the story.

[Oliver Conway]

For most of the Magic Circle's 109 year.

[Zoe Kleinman]

History.

[Oliver Conway]

History. Women were little more than glamorous assistants. See if you can spot the way he does it. Female magicians were not allowed, as it was thought women couldn't keep secrets. But they were finally admitted in 1991 when the rules were changed. That's when it emerged that a young actress, Sophie Lloyd, had pulled off perhaps the greatest deception of all. For a year and a half, she had been masquerading as Raymond Lloyd, a bespectacled male magician fooling the entire society. She chose to reveal herself only after the female ban was lifted.

[Harry Farley]

The expertly executed trick led to Ms.

[Oliver Conway]

Lloyd being expelled from the Magic Circle, with the honorary secretary, Christopher Pratt, refusing.

[Harry Farley]

To see the funny side.

[Oliver Conway]

Now the first ever female chair of.

[Harry Farley]

The Magic Circle, Laura London, has launched.

[Oliver Conway]

An appeal to find Ms. Lloyd and readmit her.

[Harry Farley]

Things, of course, have changed since then. We are an inclusive and diverse club.

[Zoe Kleinman]

So now we would just love to track Sophie down and hopefully invite her back if she's willing.

[Oliver Conway]

The Magic Circle has been trying to conjure up more female members in recent years. Today, just 5% of its magicians are women.

[Harry Farley]

As for Sophie Lloyd, the last known mention of the COVID conjurer was in a local newspaper in 1997, after which she appears to have vanished into thin air. Will Vernon. And that is all from us for now, but the global News podcast will be back very soon. This edition was mixed by Caroline Driscoll and produced by Alison Davis. Our editor's Karen Martin. I'm Oliver Conway. Until next time. Goodbye.

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[Oliver Conway]

Left, there was this wonderful feeling, but it was only the beginning of a nightmare.

[Jessica Parker]

This is a story that started with a job advert, a yacht owner looking for a crew to sell his recently renovated boat from Brazil to Europe.

[Harry Farley]

For me, it was going to be a great adventure and an opportunity to.

[Andrew]

Gain a lot of experience.

[Jessica Parker]

But when police raided the vessel and discovered drugs, cocaine, hidden under one of the beds.

[Oliver Conway]

It can't be.

[Jessica Parker]

A key suspect was miles away.

[Dr. Laura Ryan]

Everything revolved around him.

[Oliver Conway]

Who's the boss? A British guy. Fox.

[Jessica Parker]

Fox. This is World of secrets from the BBC World Service. Season five, Finding Mr.

[Andrew]

Box.

[Jessica Parker]

Search for World of Secrets wherever you get your BBC podcasts.