Dozens killed while at prayer in Sudan

Summary

Global News Podcast – Dozens Killed While at Prayer in Sudan
BBC World Service | Host: Valerie Sanderson | Date: September 19, 2025

---

Episode Overview

This episode presents breaking international stories, with a primary focus on the devastating attack on a mosque in Darfur, Sudan, amid intensifying conflict, and a UN warning about the increasing ethnically motivated violence. Other major stories include new restrictions on women in Afghanistan, the release of a detained British couple by the Taliban, UK intelligence launching a recruitment campaign via the dark web, the controversial death of an African elephant in Delhi Zoo, the recruitment of foreign nationals to fight for Russia, a BBC investigation into Premier League ticket resales, and the whimsical yet thought-provoking Ig Nobel Prizes.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Sudan Conflict: Strike on Mosque in Darfur

• Incident Summary:

  • At least 75 people reportedly killed in a drone strike on a mosque in Al Fashr, Western Darfur, during early morning prayers. (03:23)
  • The strike also killed local leadership from Abu Shuk displacement camp, who sought refuge in the mosque following attacks earlier in the week.
  • Verified footage confirms a significant number of casualties.

• Context & Analysis:

  • The city of Al Fashr, last army stronghold in Darfur, has been besieged for over a year by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
  • Civilians face a dire dilemma: risk bombardment and atrocities by staying, or attempt escape and face execution, sexual violence, or abduction.
  • RSF appears to be making key territorial gains, notably entering and possibly controlling UN compounds and displacement camps, placing vital army locations within RSF firing range.

• UN Findings:

  • Nearly 4,000 civilian deaths in the first half of 2024, accounting for 80% of the year’s deaths, indicating escalating violence.
  • Reported trends: Increase in ethnically motivated assaults, pervasive sexual violence, indiscriminate attacks, and use of drones on civilian infrastructure, spreading the conflict to previously unaffected regions.

• Notable Quote:

  • “There are no safe exit routes out of the city and civilians are trapped in a situation of impossible choice.”
    — UN Human Rights Rep, Lee Fung (03:03)

2. Afghanistan: Restrictions on Women and Tale of Detention

• New Bans in Afghanistan:

  • Ban on books by women and on subjects relating to women's rights, sociology, and religious history in universities; 18 subjects dropped entirely.
  • Female students already barred from education; practical impact is further entrenchment of restrictions.

• Impact on Aid & Women’s Lives:

  • Recent earthquake response hampered by lack of female health care workers, with women unable to access local medical aid.
  • Widespread despair: women restricted to household chores and face severe difficulty even in childbirth due to no female assistance.
  • Emotional account of a widow: Barred from working, required to have a male chaperone—a near impossibility.

• Notable Quote:

  • “I cannot think of anything that a woman can do apart from being at home... Even giving birth to a child is faced with lots of problems because they cannot access female health workers.”
    — Shakiba Habib (08:09)

3. British Couple Freed by Taliban After Eight Months

• Details:

  • Barbie and Peter Reynolds, aged 76 and 80, detained for nearly eight months, reportedly for breaking Afghan laws (exact charges undisclosed).
  • Release facilitated by Qatari mediation; emotional family reunion in Doha.
  • Family thanks Qatari and British governments for diplomatic efforts.

• Family Reflections:

  • Son Jonathan Reynolds and daughter Sarah Entwistle emphasize gratitude and relief, highlighting the importance of international cooperation.

• Notable Quotes:

  • “We’re just so massively overwhelmed, really, with... gratitude, just relief to know they're home or they're on the way.”
    — Jonathan Reynolds (10:50)
  • “This experience has reminded us of the power of diplomacy, empathy and international cooperation.”
    — Sarah Entwistle (12:14)

4. UK’s MI6 Modernizes Spy Recruitment via Dark Web

• Initiative:

  • MI6 launches secure dark web portal 'Silent Courier,' aiming to recruit informants globally without risky physical encounters (especially targeting Russia).
  • Outgoing MI6 head Richard Moore and BBC’s Frank Gardner discuss the evolving nature of covert operations, necessitated by advanced surveillance and biometric technologies.

• Risks & Challenges:

  • Vulnerability to double agents (“dangle”) and historical precedent of compromised US networks in China.
  • The role of ‘Q Branch’ (MI6’s tech division) in developing tools like the new portal; efforts to outpace adversary countermeasures.

• Notable Quote:

  • “The days of being able to whack on a false moustache and glasses... are long gone... So they've had to come up with innovative ways.”
    — Frank Gardner (13:41)

5. Death of African Elephant at Delhi Zoo

• Background:

  • Elephant Shankar, gifted to India by Zimbabwe in 1998, kept alone after companion’s death despite bans and international concern.
  • Multiple failed attempts to acquire a new companion; Delhi Zoo’s practices questioned, with activists citing neglect and apathy.

• Public Outcry:

  • Elephant died at age 29 (well below expected lifespan); sparked discussions about animal welfare and diplomatic accountability.

• Notable Quote:

  • “There's this great sadness because he was only 29 years old and African elephants can live up to 70, so his life really has been cut short.”
    — Camilla Mills (20:19)

6. Kenyan Athlete Recruited to Fight for Russia, Captured in Ukraine

• Events:

  • Evans Kibbet, a Kenyan athlete, reportedly duped into military service in Russia; ended up escaping to Ukrainian forces after brief training.
  • Family shocked, appeals to Kenyan government for intervention.
  • No official comment yet from Russian or Kenyan authorities.

• Notable Quote:

  • “We are pleading with the government of Kenya to intervene... so that as a family we get back to the unity and union of our brother.”
    — Isaac Kipiego Masai, brother (22:56)

7. BBC Investigation: Illegal Premier League Ticket Resales

• Findings:

  • BBC reporters uncovered over 33,000 Premier League tickets for sale on unauthorized (foreign-based) resale sites, often at triple the standard price.
  • Security risks: Away fans in home sections, undermining segregation and fan safety.
  • Ticket touting estimated to be worth £200-300 million/year.

• Expert Insight:

  • Reg Walker calls it a “massive problem... at every level on Premier League clubs.” (24:14)
  • Discussion on the need for enhanced regulation and law changes.

8. Ig Nobel Prizes: Laugh & Then Think

• Highlights from Awards Ceremony:

  • Satirical prizes for quirky scientific research, including:
    • Teflon-laced food to reduce calorie intake
    • Lizards’ preference for four-cheese pizza
    • Fruit bats under the influence of alcohol and accident risk
    • Demonstration that moderate alcohol can improve foreign language pronunciation
    • Cows painted like zebras suffered fewer insect bites
    • A decades-long study of toenail growth
  • Peace Prize: “Drinking alcohol sometimes improves a person’s ability to speak in a foreign language.” (27:04)

• Notable Quote from Scientist:

  • “It’s not like people were transformed into perfect Dutch speakers after a single drink.”
    — Prof. Matt Fields (27:14)

---

Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes

• “There are no safe exit routes out of the city and civilians are trapped in a situation of impossible choice.”
  — Lee Fung, UN Human Rights (03:03)
• “I cannot think of anything that a woman can do apart from being at home... Even giving birth to a child is faced with lots of problems.”
  — Shakiba Habib, BBC Afghan (08:09)
• “We’re just so massively overwhelmed, really, with gratitude, just relief to know they're home or they're on the way.”
  — Jonathan Reynolds (10:50)
• “The days of being able to whack on a false moustache and glasses... are long gone.”
  — Frank Gardner (13:41)
• “There's this great sadness because he was only 29 years old and African elephants can live up to 70, so his life really has been cut short.”
  — Camilla Mills (20:19)
• “Drinking alcohol sometimes improves a person’s ability to speak in a foreign language.”
  — Ig Nobel Peace Prize citation (27:04)

---

Key Timestamps

• 01:35 – Headlines: Sudan strike, Taliban detentions, elephant death, MI6 recruitment
• 03:03 – Sudan: UN Human Rights on trapped civilians
• 03:34 – Eyewitness account: Drone hit mosque during prayers
• 04:13 – Analysis: RSF advances and urban siege
• 05:25 – UN on escalation, ethnic violence, civilian tolls
• 06:44 – Afghanistan: Taliban bans women’s books
• 07:20 – Earthquake aid denied to women
• 09:22 – Afghan British detainee release, family reactions
• 13:10 – MI6 dark web recruitment campaign
• 13:41 – Frank Gardner on the security evolution for spies
• 18:24 – Shankar the elephant's death in Delhi Zoo, global reactions
• 21:03 – Kenyan athlete tricked into Russian army, family plea
• 24:14 – Premier League ticket resale investigation & dangers
• 25:59 – Ig Nobel Prizes: Spotlight on unusual science

---

Conclusion

This episode offers a compelling, globe-spanning mix of urgent news, in-depth analysis, and uniquely human stories, with a particularly strong focus on the consequences of conflict in Sudan and Afghanistan. There is also a recurring thread about the risks faced by vulnerable groups—be they civilians under fire, women denied liberty, captives of the Taliban, or even an elephant held in solitary. Lighter moments bookend the episode with the Ig Nobel Prizes, underscoring the podcast’s ability to balance gravity with wit and warmth.

Transcript

[BBC News Presenter]

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the uk.

[Mary Harris]

This is the story of the One. As head of maintenance at a concert hall, he knows the show must always go on. That's why he works behind the scenes, ensuring every light is working, the H Vac is humming, and his facility shines with Grainger's supplies and solutions for every challenge he faces. Plus 24. 7 customer support his venue needs. Never misses a beat. Call quitgranger.com or just stop by Granger for the ones who get it done. Hi, I'm Susan Glaser. I'm Jane Mayer. And I'm Evan Osmos. And we host the Washington Roundtable from the New Yorker's Political Scene podcast. For me, this is the water cooler. This is a wonderful chance to sit down with two of the smartest colleagues in the country and, you know, just kind of compare notes. Now that's so true. Cause first of all, we are actually friends in real life. But I can't wait till Fridays to hear what you guys think. Everybody sees the headlines, but you guys fill in the gaps. I also think, though, occasionally we get somebody to come on, and I'm always smarter for it. If you get a great historian who can tell you about a presidential election 50, 60 years ago, often it can help you understand about what's happening today. So if you're looking for weekly insights into what's going on inside the Beltway, please join us every Friday on the Washington Roundtable, part of the New Yorker's Political Scene podcast.

[Valerie Sanderson]

This is the global News podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Valerie Sanderson and at 1700 hours GMT on Friday 19th September, these are our main stories. A strike on a mosque in Darfur kills dozens of people. As the UN warns the conflict in Sudan is intensifying. The Taliban in Afghanistan release an elderly British couple who'd been detained since February. Officials in India investigate the death of an African elephant, which was kept alone for much of its life in a zoo, also in this podcast. So if you have access to sensitive information relating to global instability or hostile intelligence activity, you can now contact MI6.

[BBC Reporter]

And share this securely using silent courier.

[Valerie Sanderson]

Britain launches a port portal on the Dark Web to recruit spies from abroad. In Sudan, civilians are increasingly suffering in the ongoing civil war which began more than two years ago. A UN report says there's been a significant increase in the first half of this year in ethnically motivated killings. The situation is especially bad in the city of El Fhasha, the army's last stronghold in the western Darfur state. It's been besieged for more than a year by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. Lee Fung is the UN Human Rights representative in Sudan.

[BBC Reporter]

There are no safe exit routes out of the city and civilians are trapped in a situation of impossible choice. Either stay in El Fasha and risk bombardment, starvation and atrocities if the RSF overrun the city, or flee and face the risk of summary execution, sexual violence and abduction.

[Valerie Sanderson]

In the latest incident in El fha, a drone strike is reported to have killed at least 75 people. I find out more details from our Africa correspondent, Barbara Pletasr.

[Mary Harris]

What we have been hearing from residents of Al Fashr is that the drone hit a mosque early in the morning. In fact, right in the middle of early morning prayers, and that there are significant casualties. Video posted online, which the BBC has verified, do show a significant number of bodies. There's also been a statement put out by local activists in emergency response room. They are the ones that look after the displacement camp, Abu Shuk. They say that some of the local leadership of that camp was killed at the mosque. They were in attendance. They've been displaced from the camp because there've been a lot of attacks there this week, but they were attending the mosque and have been killed as well. So it seems like quite a significant attack.

[Valerie Sanderson]

Is the RSF gaining ground around El FHA because they've been besieging it for months?

[Mary Harris]

All evidence and reports point in that direction. They conducted a very fierce attack early this week, and then the army said it had repelled that attack. But they do seem to be continuing, continuing to advance, in particular in two areas. They have entered the headquarters of armed groups that are allied to the Sudanese military. It's a former UN compound, considered to be a critical line of defense. So we have verified video showing RSF fighters in this compound, although it's not clear whether they have seized full control. The war monitor, which is the Yale Humanitarian Research Lab, suggests also that they have taken control of this headquarters and that they now control much of this camp. I mentioned the Abu Shuk displacement camp. If that is the case, that the RSF is in control of these areas, that would place key parts of the city, the airport as well as the army's division headquarters, both within direct RSF firing range. So it does look as if they are making significant advances.

[Valerie Sanderson]

And meanwhile, the UN is warning that the situation for civilians is getting increasingly desperate.

[Shakiba Habib]

Yes.

[Mary Harris]

They put a report out today saying that nearly 4,000 civilians had been killed or died in the first six months of this year. And that is a Figure that represents about 80% of the total deaths in 2024. So they're saying that the conflict is intensifying, especially the suffering of civilians. They mentioned several trends that were continuing, that is the continued pervasiveness of sexual violence, indiscriminate attacks, and especially the widespread use of retaliation against civilians by both sides on ethnic basis. So that is the RSF and the army both target individuals belonging to different ethnic groups that they accuse of collaborating with opposing parties. And we have heard accounts about this happening on both sides. So that is something they say is particularly troubling and that it increases the ethnicization of the conflict. The other trend they mention is the increased use of drones, especially in attacks on civilian infrastructure and in the north and the east of the country, which up until now have largely been spared by the war.

[Valerie Sanderson]

Barbara Platasher in Nairobi in Kenya, the Taliban rulers in Afghanistan have imposed yet another restriction on women's rights and livelihoods. Women and girls have very limited access to work and education. And now books written by women have been removed from universities. Shakiba Habib from BBC Afghan told me more.

[Shakiba Habib]

If you look at the books that they are banned, it's mostly books related to women rights, women, sociology, and also issues related to women. And also beside this, there are other books that include, for example, history of religions. The Taliban has mentioned that because they want the curriculum for the universities to be Islamic. And also they are banning these books because they think this is against the Sharia law. And they have also banned teaching of 18 subjects at universities. However, there are no female students at universities at the moment. But they have issued these bans recently.

[Valerie Sanderson]

And the recent earthquake highlighted, didn't it, how hard it is for women to get access to all kinds of aid.

[Shakiba Habib]

Earthquake struck obviously soon after that. There were mobile health centers in entrance to each valley that was affected by the earthquake. However, in these mobile health centers there was no female health worker. So those female who were injured and obviously they were in need, so they couldn't access those health centers. So they had to be transported to the city of Jellalabad in Nangarhar. So it actually took a while for them to reach there. So that's why they were not able to access those primary health care there and then.

[Valerie Sanderson]

So it sounds like life is getting increasingly desperate and restricted for women in Afghanistan.

[Shakiba Habib]

I cannot think of anything that a woman can do apart from being at home, like doing the house chores or giving birth to a child. Even giving birth to a child is faced with lots of problems because they cannot access Female health workers. And obviously we have seen the reports recently back from Afghanistan. The situation is really, really d and aid is actually stopped and people in there are living in really, really catastrophic situation. Banning female from working and also from education has made it even worse. I spoke to many women because I recently returned back from Afghanistan. One example I can give you, there's a widow who was responsible for looking after three children. And she said, I had a job and I was working and I was earning some money to feed my children, but at the moment I don't have no means of income. And also they have asked me. She was talking about authorities, that she was asked that even if she gets a job, she has to have a male chaperon to take her there. And she only had three little children and their son was going to school. So she said, it's actually really, really impossible for me to take my child out of school to take me to work.

[Valerie Sanderson]

Shakiba Habib and staying in Afghanistan, a British couple who'd been held in detention for almost eight months have been released following mediation by Qatar Barbie and Peter Reynolds, who are 76 and 80 years old, respectively. Do that bit again. Barbie and Peter Reynolds, who are 76 and 80 years old, respectively, had lived in Afghanistan for 18 years. The Taliban said the pair had broken Afghan laws and were released after judicial proceedings, but have never disclosed the reason for their detention. Landing in Doha en route to the uk, there was an emotional reunion for the couple with their daughter. As our World affairs correspondent Jo Inwood.

[BBC News Presenter]

Reports, astonishingly emotional scenes. And I think it's made even more emotional because of the concerns there had been about their safety. I mean, we'd heard over the last kind of few weeks and months of their deteriorating health. It was suggested, or thought that one of them had had a stroke, a mini stroke in hospital that Peter had. And there's, you know, they were held in a very, very secure central Kabul prison. Their son Jonathan had said before they were chained to rapists and murderers, so there was a real concern about their welfare. In fact, the woman, Fay hall, who was an American they were arrested alongside, had previously said that she didn't know whether they would survive this. So obviously, joy from the families, delight from the families. And in the last few hours, their son Jonathan spoke to the BBC to talk of the family's relief at what's happened.

[Jonathan Reynolds]

We're just so massively overwhelmed, really, with.

[Valerie Sanderson]

Gratitude, just relief to know their home or they're on the way, anyway, I.

[Jonathan Reynolds]

Should say so, yeah, they're on the way.

[Valerie Sanderson]

Home and really excited about that and just heartfelt appreciation to His Highness, the Amir of Qatar and their compassion. I think it's amazing. I understand they're behind a lot of these tough situations in the Middle east and just.

[Jonathan Reynolds]

Yeah, there's doctors on board on the.

[Valerie Sanderson]

Plane, which are just massively appreciate that as well, for health care for my parents and. And then obviously the British government for their commitment to all of the complexities of this and having to navigate it through with. And for my parents, just the deep appreciation for all who are involved.

[BBC News Presenter]

So that was their son, Jonathan Reynolds, and he wanted to emphasise, as you could hear there, the role of the Qataris and of the British government as well. I think it is worth sort of emphasizing the Qataris have been involved not just in this, they've got a really broad sort of diplomatic footprint and role now and they evidently were central to this. It's understood that they were trying to provide, or they helped to provide kind of consular assistance to the Reynolds while they were in prison in Kabul and have been performing a lot of the sort of the diplomatic help. And that was something that their daughter, Sarah Entwistle, who we saw greeting her parents off the plane, that was something that she was really keen to emphasise when she spoke earlier as well.

[Valerie Sanderson]

I'm overwhelmed with gratitude and relief that we have our parents back after their incomprehensible detention by the Taliban. This is a moment of immense joy for our family and we are deeply thankful to everyone who played a role in securing their release. This experience has reminded us of the power of diplomacy, empathy and international cooperation. We are forever grateful to the Qatari and British governments for standing with us during this difficult time. Thank you for giving us our family back. The couple's daughter, Sarah Entwistle, ending that report. Britain's Secret Intelligence Service, MI6 has put out a recruitment call aimed at those around the world who might want to act on the agency's behalf, offering information without the risk of meeting in person. So if you have access to sensitive information relating to global instability or hostile.

[Camilla Mills]

Intelligence activity, you can now contact MI6.

[BBC Reporter]

And share this securely using silent courier.

[Valerie Sanderson]

Well, that's part of the Probo advert made by MI6. The organization's outgoing head, Richard Moore, was in Turkey to announce plans to use the Dark Web to recruit informants and gather secret information from countries like Russia. Listening was the BBC's defence and security correspondent, Frank Gardner. And Tim Franks asked him if this is an attempt to get around increasing methods of surveillance.

[Frank Gardner]

Absolutely. It's A challenge for any covert intelligence agency, whether it's the North Koreans, the Russians, the Chinese, the Americans or the Brits, to get their agents, and indeed the people who run them in and out of countries undetected. Because the days of being able to whack on a false moustache and glasses and pretend you're Professor Higgins, you know, from this and that university, are long gone. I mean, they're not completely gone, but it's very hard to do that undetected because of biometric identification, CCTV camera surveillance cameras that do gate recognition, facial recognition, iris recognition. So they've had to come up with innovative ways to getting around that. And interestingly, the woman who's about to take over running Mi6, Blaise Metroele, has come from something called Q Branch, which is a part of MI6 that deals with the tech. They come up with gadgets to give to their agents to be able to communicate in secret. Now, I have no idea how those work, but the one thing that has come out in public is this dark web portal called Silent Courier, which they hope will be a safe, secure way for potential new agents to contact them.

[BBC News Presenter]

Although presumably they will also have to.

[Jonathan Reynolds]

Take take some sort of measures to ensure that they're not simply getting that.

[BBC News Presenter]

Gateway inundated with a whole lot of.

[Jonathan Reynolds]

Useless slurry from other actors who want to gum up its works.

[Frank Gardner]

Yep, that is one possibility. Another one is the dangle, as it's known in espionage terms, where a hostile target intelligence agency deliberately feeds one of their own people into your system, having trained them in pretending that they genuinely want to come across, but actually they are literally a double agent. So Russia, for example, there could be a disaffected Russian who's got a little bit of information, just enough to get MI6 interested, but they're going to have to be on the alert that this isn't somebody who is actually all along working for the SVR or the GRU or the fsb, whichever Russian agency it is. And I think their main target with all of this is Russia, because when the full scale invasion of Ukraine kicked in in February 22, ever since then, MI6 has been reaching out, trying to encourage disaffected Russians to come and spy for them. And this is an extension of that. But, you know, there is an inherent vulnerability with the Dark web, which is that not that long ago, the CIA tried to run its agents in China using a kind of central node in the Dark Web, which their agents would log into. Well, China's Ministry of State Security, the MSS cracked that portal, got into it and they were able to then wrap up America's pretty much their entire network of agents inside China. So I have challenged them when it came to a bit of Q A as to sort of, how are you going to stop that happening? They insist that they've moved on and they're aware of the pitfalls.

[Valerie Sanderson]

The BBC's defence and security correspondent Frank Gardner speaking to us from Istanbul. Still to come on this podcast, the awards for the latest scientific findings that make you laugh and then think drinking alcohol sometimes improves a person's ability to speak in a foreign language.

[Mary Harris]

You won't see the engineer that slams the Nissan Rogue's door 13,920 times, or the corrosive chamber that simulates 15 years of life in five months, or the rogue heat baked for over 300 combined hours. What you will see is a vehicle that can, can take punch after punch and keep rolling. Nissan number one in new vehicle quality among mainstream brands by JD Power. We put it through the worst so you get its best.

[Valerie Sanderson]

For J.D.

[Mary Harris]

Power 2025 U.S. initial Quality Study Award information, visit J.D. power.com Awards Awards space on 2025 model year and your models may be shown. The election has come and gone. Now we're in a new era. It can be easy to get discouraged, frustrated, but you can't afford not to pay attention. You need trustworthy, independent journalism to cut through the noise and hold power to account. I'm Mary Harris, host of What Next from Slate.com we are a daily news podcast with a kind of transparent, smart, yet tongue in cheek analysis you can only find at Slate. Follow and listen to what Next wherever you get your podcasts.

[Valerie Sanderson]

An inquiry is underway into the death of an African elephant which was presented to India as a gift and kept in Delhi Zoo. Shankar had spent much of his life in isolation despite concerns over his welfare. Our global news reporter Camilla Mills told me more.

[Camilla Mills]

So the elephant Shrunka, he was given to India by Zimbabwe as a diplomatic gift, which often happens between countries. And that was back in 1998. And he arrived at Delhi Zoo with another elephant companion, another African elephant, and they lived there together for a number of years and then his companion died. Following that, the zoo say that they tried to house it with other elephants, but they're Asian elephants and they didn't get on and there was some fighting and there was some conflict between them. So he essentially was put into solitary confinement and he was put into an enclosure on his own. This is despite a federal ban in India on keeping elephants alone for more than six months. So there's been a real outcry about this elephant being on his own for so long. And this dates back years. Animal activists have said that it's wrong. And also last year, the World association of Zoos and Aquariums, they suspended Delhi Zoo's membership over concerns about Shunka's living conditions. And just recently, following his death, which happened on Wednesday, activists have said his death reflects years of institutional apathy and neglect and systematic failure. So Delhi Zoo say that they have launched an investigation into the death. They said that he had stopped eating food and he just collapsed and died on Wednesday evening.

[Valerie Sanderson]

Had they tried to get him a companion elephant from outside the country?

[Mary Harris]

Yes.

[Camilla Mills]

So they made an appeal. And it was also advised by the governing body of zoos that they investigate this. And both Botswana and Zimbabwe, where he originally came from, they said that they would be able to offer a companion, either a male or a female, from Africa.

[Valerie Sanderson]

I mean, this is becoming a bit of an international incident, isn't it? It is.

[Camilla Mills]

I think there's this great sadness because he was only 29 years old and African elephants can live up to 70, so his life really has been cut short. And they're animal rights activists and just people generally on social media voicing their concern and raising questions about the living conditions and why he died. Was it neglect? Was it loneliness? Was it just, you know, being completely and utterly ostracized?

[Valerie Sanderson]

And we should say this is Delhi Zoo, who would presumably have access to the top specialists and elephants around the world?

[Camilla Mills]

You would hope so. And like I say, there's a governing body that oversees zoos, and they were referred to this governing body. They went and investigated the conditions and they made a number of referrals, one of those being that he really did need a companion.

[Valerie Sanderson]

Camilla Mills, the family and friends of an athlete from Kenya say they're shocked to find out that he was captured in Ukraine after reportedly being recruited to fight for Russia. In a video released by the Ukrainian military, Evans Kibbet says he was tricked into joining the war while visiting St. Petersburg. He said his passport and phone were taken and he was made to sign documents in Russian, not realizing he was enlisting as a soldier. In the video, he pleads not to be sent back to Russia, saying he fears for his life. There's been no comment yet from Moscow. BBC's Akisa Wandera is following the story.

[BBC Reporter]

Evans says he traveled to Russia as a tourist, but by the end of the trip, he'd been offered a way to stay in Russia. And maybe get a well paying job by the sports agent who sent him there. That's how he ended up signing documents he couldn't understand and found himself in the war zone, was taken for a one week military training where he says it was just basic training of how to use, you know, an assault rifle, then sent out into war. Evans in the video claims that he never participated in the war, instead escaped the Russian army, hid in the forest for two days in the northeastern part of Ukraine, just about 5 km from the Russian border, and then was rescued by the Ukrainian forces. And now he's pleading that he should not, not be returned to Russia. That's what we have so far on what Evans is saying and we've also been trying to get hold of his family. Many of the family and friends that I've spoken to are really still reeling from watching that video, some of whom were not even aware that he'd gone to Russia. And those who are aware say that they knew it was a usual trip where he would be participating in the race. And the family now says that they really would like to see the government intervening and up in speaking to his younger brother, Isaac Kipiego Masai.

[Valerie Sanderson]

As a family we are shocked about the information that we received concerning our brother, whom we know has never been involved in such cases or scenarios. We are pleading with the government of Kenya to intervene with the issue so that as a family we get back to the unity and union of our brother. So we are really missing him and we are hoping that one day we will be back to the family and continue with daily activities. I hope so that very soon things will be okay.

[BBC Reporter]

There really hasn't been any reaction or official statement from the government. The video only just started doing rounds yesterday. But we did reach out to the Foreign Affairs Ministry and are still waiting for for a response from their end.

[Valerie Sanderson]

Akisa Wandera. A BBC investigation has uncovered tens of thousands of Premier League tickets listed on unauthorised resale websites. Selling football tickets on an unofficial online platform is illegal here in the uk but BBC reporters were able to buy tickets for four Top Flight matches last weekend using sites that are based abroad. Reg Walker is a football ticket security expert.

[Frank Gardner]

The ticket towing problem involving the Premier League is absolutely massive. It's probably worth somewhere between 2 and 300 million pounds a year. We are seeing attacks at every level on Premier League clubs. You're ending up with significant amounts of away supporters in the home end and home supporters in the away end.

[Valerie Sanderson]

The findings raise fresh concerns over ticket access and fan safety. As our sports editor Dan Roan reports.

[BBC News Presenter]

BBC Sport discovered almost 33,000 tickets were listed on overseas websites for the four top flight games. We purchased tickets for almost all priced well above face value. That included the Manchester Derby, a match officially sold out weeks ago, but we were able to buy a ticket just days before the game at three times the standard price. The seat was also in the home end, highlighting the risk of infiltration by a wayfound undermining segregation intended to keep supporters safe. The Football Supporters association says the BBC's findings are very concerning while some clubs insist they're taking the issue seriously, but some also want a change in the law in order to tackle sites that seem to be making it harder than ever for regular fans to go and watch their teams.

[Valerie Sanderson]

Dan Rowan Every year since 1991, the Ig Nobel prizes have been awarded at a ceremony in Massachusetts in the usa. They're a deliberate spoof of the serious Nobel Prizes, and they celebrate research that makes people laugh and then think. Richard Hamilton has been watching some of the highlights from Thursday night's ceremony at Boston University.

[Jonathan Reynolds]

Organized by the humorous scientific magazines the Annals of Improbable Research, the IG Nobel Prizes are presented by previous Nobel laureates and the winners receive a solitary banknote for 10 trillion Zimbabwean dollars, a collector's item worth less than half a US Dollar. Among the lucky winners was a plan to reduce people's calorie intake by putting Teflon into food in the hope it would satiate people's hunger before quietly sliding out. Another food related study found that lizards preferred four cheese pizza. The aviation prize went to researchers who plied Egyptian fruit bats with ethanol. They concluded the bats, which binged on fermented fruit, may be at higher risk of colliding with obstacles and alcohol. Also featured in another prize.

[Frank Gardner]

The IG Nobel Peace Prize is awarded to Fritz Renner, Inge Kurzbergen, Matt Field and Jessica Werthman for showing that drinking.

[Valerie Sanderson]

Alcohol sometimes improves a person's ability to.

[Frank Gardner]

Speak in a foreign language.

[Jonathan Reynolds]

In his acceptance speech, Dr. Fritz Renner said German spoke Dutch with a better accent after a small sip of vodka, as it seemed to boost confidence without making the words fall apart. But his co researcher, Professor Matt Fields, cautioned that the improvement wasn't huge. It's not like people were transformed into perfect Dutch speakers after a single drink, he added. Other unusual findings were that cows disguised as zebras suffered fewer insect bites and that people became more narcissistic after being told they were more intelligent than most, even when they weren't and finally, the Ig Nobel Prize for Literature went posthumously to the late Dr. William Bean from the University of Iowa, who documented the growth of his toenails over the course of 35 years.

[Valerie Sanderson]

That must have been a labour of love. Richard Hamilton reporting. And that's it from us for now. But there'll be a new edition of the Global News Podcast later. If you want to comment on this, this podcast or the topics covered in it, send us an email. The address is globalpodcastbc.co.uk. you can also find us on X@BBC World Service. Use the hashtag global newspod. This edition was mixed by Kai Perry. The editor is Karen Martin. I'm Valerie Sanderson. Until next time, bye bye.

[Mary Harris]

The election has come and gone. Now we're in a new era. It can be easy to get discouraged, frustrated, but you can't afford not to pay attention. You need trustworthy, independent journalism to cut through the noise and hold power to account. I'm Mary Harris, host of what next from slate.com. we are a Daily news podcast with a kind of transparent, smart yet tongue in cheek analysis. You can only find its Slate follow and listen to what Next. Wherever you get your podcasts.