Ukraine's future is focus of Munich Security Conference

Summary

Global News Podcast Summary BBC World Service – Episode: Ukraine's Future is Focus of Munich Security Conference Release Date: February 14, 2025

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Introduction

In this episode of the Global News Podcast, BBC World Service host Rachel Wright delves into the pressing international issues shaping our world today. From high-stakes geopolitical negotiations in Munich to groundbreaking scientific advancements and inspiring stories from the world of sports and literature, this episode provides a comprehensive overview of the day's major events.

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Munich Security Conference: The Future of Ukraine

Key Discussions: The Munich Security Conference has become the epicenter for discussions on the ongoing war in Ukraine and efforts to broker peace. US and EU leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, are present to chart the path forward, while Russia remains excluded from the negotiations.

Diverging US and European Perspectives: A significant point of contention at the conference is the disparity between US and European strategies regarding Ukraine. Frank Gardner, the BBC's security correspondent in Munich, explains:

"President Trump's team are impatient to end this war, some would say at whatever cost, even if it's to Ukraine's detriment. And Europe's view is we need to continue supporting Ukraine for as long as it takes." (03:05)

Victoria Owen Kunder adds that Ukraine insists on being a full participant in peace negotiations, emphasizing its sovereignty and the illegitimacy of Russian aggression:

"Ukraine has a legitimate government. So when they talk about negotiations right now, it's about a country that until now was really not present in the conversation. And this has to change." (02:30)

Concerns Over Potential Deals: There is apprehension among European leaders that any premature agreement might compromise Ukrainian interests and embolden Russia to reclaim more territory. Gardner highlights the fear that:

"Russia is going to simply come back and take the rest of Ukraine at a time of its choosing." (04:19)

US Pressure on European Defense Spending: The US is urging Europe to increase its defense spending, signaling a shift in the traditional burden-sharing dynamics within NATO. Gardner notes:

"America is sending the very clear signal that the US taxpayer is no longer going to be expected to shoulder the bulk of the defense burden... It's time for Europe to stand on its own two feet." (04:52)

Russian Perspective: Sergei Markov, a former spokesperson for President Putin, shares Russia's stance on the negotiations:

"Ukraine's sovereignty doesn't exist from 2000 because it's a country. It's a neo-colony country of the United States of America and of Great Britain." (08:24)

Markov downplays the idea of a humanitarian mission, framing Russia's actions as protective measures for Russian-speaking populations in Ukraine.

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Drone Attack on Chernobyl: Escalating Tensions

Ukraine has accused Russia of orchestrating a drone attack on the Chernobyl nuclear power station, resulting in significant damage. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that the fire was swiftly contained with no casualties and stable radiation levels. However, James Waterhouse, the BBC correspondent in Kiev, points out the historical context and ongoing vulnerabilities:

"Russia does attack nuclear infrastructure. It moved in from the south early in the invasion and seized the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which has six reactors." (09:23)

The attack on Chernobyl raises alarms due to the site's lingering radioactivity from the 1986 disaster, underlining the grave risks associated with military actions near nuclear facilities.

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Indonesia’s Strict Crackdown on Rhino Poaching

In a significant victory for wildlife conservation, Indonesian courts have handed down severe prison sentences to poachers responsible for the deaths of dozens of rare Javan rhinos. Jae Soong Lee reports:

"These sentences are the highest punishment possible for poaching in Indonesia... They've confessed to killing 26 rhinos over five years." (11:22)

Conservation Efforts: Javan rhinos, critically endangered with fewer than a hundred remaining in Ujung Kulon National Park, are targeted primarily for their valuable horns used in traditional Chinese medicine. Conservationists view these rulings as a deterrent and a step towards protecting these majestic creatures:

"They’re hoping the long sentences will have a deterrent effect on other poachers." (12:07)

Despite these measures, experts stress the need for continued and enhanced efforts to prevent poaching and ensure the survival of the species.

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Innovative Solutions to Pollution: Genetically Modified Organisms

Scientists in Australia have made strides in combating methylmercury pollution by genetically modifying zebrafish and fruit flies. Dr. Kate Capper of Macquarie University explains the breakthrough:

"We genetically modified these organisms by injecting them with bacteria that can munch on methylmercury and transform it into a harmless gas." (14:33)

Applications and Future Prospects: This technology holds promise for cleaning contaminated environments and aiding species conservation. Dr. Capper envisions future applications extending to industrial waste processing:

"You could engineer insects that industrially process organic waste... trapping and removing gaseous mercury completely from the biosphere." (15:11)

The research underscores the potential of biotechnology in addressing environmental challenges, offering sustainable solutions to mitigate pollution.

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Inspirational Athletic Feat: Egyptian Fencer Competes While Pregnant

Nada Hafez, an Egyptian fencer, has captured global attention by competing in the Paris Olympics while seven months pregnant. Despite facing backlash, Hafez stands as a role model, inspiring women worldwide with her determination. During an interview, she shared:

"Your body can surprise you, that we have strength, that you will never know about it. You just have to experience it." (00:47)

Facing Criticism: While many lauded her achievement, Hafez also addressed negative reactions:

"I didn't take anyone's place. Some people... don't want to see a successful woman." (24:05)

Her participation not only highlighted her personal resilience but also sparked conversations about women’s capabilities and the support systems needed for female athletes.

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Ancient Egyptian Mummies: A Sensory Exploration

A recent study has successfully captured and analyzed the scents of nine ancient Egyptian mummies, providing insights into their preservation and the mummification process. Cecilia Benbibre Jacobo, a lecturer at University College London, detailed the research methods:

"We extracted air from the sarcophagus using a very fine tube... and used gas chromatography to separate and identify the different smells." (26:35)

Findings and Public Engagement: The study identified odors related to embalming resins, historical pesticides, and biodeterioration, aiding conservators in preserving these artifacts. Additionally, the research team is reconstructing the scents for museum exhibits, allowing visitors to experience a facet of ancient Egyptian culture:

"We're reconstructing the smell to be presented in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo and in Slovenia." (28:29)

This innovative approach bridges scientific research with public education, enhancing the understanding of ancient preservation techniques.

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Celebrating PG Wodehouse: Five Decades Later

Marking 50 years since the death of Sir Pelham Grenville Woodhouse, widely known as PG Wodehouse, the podcast revisits his legacy as a master of early 20th-century comic literature. Alexander Armstrong, president of the P.G. Wodehouse Society, shares his admiration:

"His is the friendliest voice in all literature... his humor is wickedly, wickedly funny." (29:23)

Timeless Appeal: Through excerpts and discussions, Armstrong highlights Wodehouse's enduring charm and his ability to captivate readers with his nuanced characters and witty narratives. The episode celebrates Wodehouse's contribution to literature, emphasizing his universal appeal and the lasting impact of his works.

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Other Notable Stories

• Poaching Attack in Germany: A 24-year-old Afghan asylum seeker deliberately drove a car into a trade union rally in Munich, resulting in 36 injuries, including a two-year-old girl in critical condition. Authorities suspect an Islamist motivation but have found no links to extremist organizations nor any criminal record for the attacker.

• Hostage Negotiations in Gaza: Amid a fragile ceasefire, Hamas has released the names of three hostages scheduled for release in exchange for 360 Palestinian prisoners. Arab leaders, including those from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Israel, are actively engaged in mediating the situation, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio promoting President Trump's peace plan.

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Conclusion

This episode of the Global News Podcast offers a multifaceted exploration of current global affairs, blending in-depth geopolitical analysis with inspiring human stories and scientific innovations. From the high-stakes negotiations in Munich to the inspirational feats of athletes like Nada Hafez, the podcast provides listeners with a rich and engaging narrative of the world's most pressing issues and remarkable achievements.

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For more insights and updates, stay tuned to future episodes of the Global News Podcast by BBC World Service.

Transcript

[Rachel Wright]

This is the global news podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Rachel Wright. And at 14 hours GMT on Friday 14th February, these are our main stories. US and EU leaders meet in Munich, where the future of Ukraine is being discussed. We hear from our security correspondent and from Russia. Ukraine has accused Russia of launching a drone attack on the Chernobyl nuclear power station, causing significant damage. Also in this podcast, fruit flies and zebrafish have been genetically modified to eat a toxic pollutant. It's 50 years since the death of Sir Pelham Grenfell Woodhouse, commonly known as PG Wodehouse, creator of some of the most widely read comic works of the 20th century.

[Nada Hafez]

And you can do it. Your body can surprise you, that we have strength, that you will never know about it. You just have to experience it.

[Rachel Wright]

The Egyptian fencer who competed in the Olympics while seven months pregnant. But first, all eyes are now on the German city of Munich, which has become the focal point for the war in Ukraine, or perhaps efforts to end it, especially those coming from Washington. Lots of top US administration officials are attending the annual security conference, as is the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, but there is no Russian delegation. That's because Russians still aren't officially welcome in Western circles, despite the long phone call between President Trump and President Putin on Wednesday in which the two men discussed a face to face meeting. Speaking to journalists, President Zelensky has said that Ukraine must be a full participant in any negotiations towards a peace deal. Of course, it will be very strange if the policy of the United States.

[Christoph Heusken]

Will shift to Russia.

[Rachel Wright]

But I think this is very important moment for the new team. It's their decision, of course, but I think that the United States can stop any evil. And in this case they have to.

[Christoph Heusken]

Be on the side of us because.

[Rachel Wright]

They attacked us and occupied us.

[Christoph Heusken]

No compromises in this.

[Rachel Wright]

Christoph Heusken is the chairman of the Munich Conference.

[Frank Gardner]

It is very clear that Ukraine is not ready to give up its country.

[Victoria Owen Kunder]

It's not ready to cede territory. Ukraine has a legitimate government.

[Frank Gardner]

It has to be recognized.

[Victoria Owen Kunder]

So when they talk about negotiations right now, talk about a country that apparently until now is really not really present in the conversation. And this has to be changed. And for this to be changed, Europe and Ukraine have to stick together. Europe cannot just ask to be on the table.

[Frank Gardner]

Europe has to put something on the table.

[Rachel Wright]

Christoph Heusken was talking to our security correspondent Frank Gardner, who is also in Munich. And earlier I asked Frank what was the key issue separating the US and Europe over Ukraine, I think it's really.

[Frank Gardner]

About how much can be given away where there is common ground and where there isn't, there's no disguising it. There is a huge gap between Ukraine and its European allies on the one hand, and what the White House wants on the other. President Trump's team are impatient to end this war, some would say at whatever cost, even if it's to Ukraine's detriment. And Europe's view is we need to continue supporting Ukraine for as long as it takes. That those are the words of Keir Starmer, the British prime minister, this morning. That is not the view in Washington where they're saying, yeah, we still support Ukraine, but we want a deal, get it done. And we know what Russia's position is. They intend to not only hang on to the territory they've already taken, they want guarantees that Ukraine is not going to join NATO, there are going to be no NATO troops in Ukraine, and also they want more land. Now, the big fear here in Munich is that a deal is going to be done whether Europe and Ukraine like it or not, and that that is going to involve essentially selling out Ukrainian interests and allowing Russia to rebuild its army. And the fear is that Russia is going to simply come back and take the rest of Ukraine at a time of its choosing.

[Rachel Wright]

Well, Christoph Heuskin was saying that Europe needs a plan. Do we have any sense of what a plan would look like?

[Frank Gardner]

No, we don't. He said that in that interview to me about a couple of hours ago when we recorded it. And that's another one of the themes here at this conference, that Europe has not exactly dithered, you know, fiddled while Rome burned, but has been rather slow to get its act together when it comes to organizing enough money for defense. America is sending the very clear signal that the US Taxpayer is no longer going to be expected to shoulder the bulk of the defense burden in supporting Ukraine and in defending Europe. It's time for Europe to stand on its own two feet. That's extremely unwelcome here because in terms of percentage of national wealth countries spend on defence, the NATO mandate is it's meant to be 2%. Now, big countries like Spain and Italy are not even spending 2% on defense. Poland is, and the Baltic states are, because they're close to the action. Britain is agonizing over whether to raise it from 2.3 to 2.5. America is saying, you guys have got to spend 5% if you hope to be able to defend yourselves and stop relying on us to do it for you. So it's a tough message coming from Washington and something approaching panic, I think, on the behalf of Europe.

[Rachel Wright]

And it's not just over Ukraine that this new dynamic is between the US and Europe.

[Frank Gardner]

There's the whole issue about trade, tariffs, etc. And a future trade war. But I mean, look, it's no surprise, I think that Trump's attention is not really on Europe. Ultimately he's much more interested in things like trade, securing the southern border with Mexico and China. That's where his interests lie. The Chinese foreign minister is here in Munich. There are going to, we're going to be hearing from him in a while, but that's where U.S. attention is. So Europe is really feeling slightly left out in the cold.

[Rachel Wright]

Frank Gardner in Munich. So what's the Russian view? The BBC's Victoria Owen Kunder spoke to Sergei Markov, a former spokesperson and adviser to President Putin, to get his view on President Trump's talks with his boss about ending the war in Ukraine.

[Sergei Markov]

My first reaction was very positive and it's very good that United States now stop the strategy to talk with Russia by ultimatums, which had been continued before by Biden administration during all four years. It's a positive result. Same time the main reasons on the conflict that United States and Europe made not democracy in Ukraine, but in fact neo fascist terrorist regime. And this is still not recognized by Donald Trump. It's main obstacles for the peace to Ukraine. This is not on the table well yet. That's why we have not so much positive about the result of negotiation. It's very good that negotiations.

[Rachel Wright]

Mr. Markov, let me ask you something. You said that the reason for this.

[Nada Hafez]

War is partly because there is a.

[Victoria Owen Kunder]

Real threat to security to Ukraine and Russia. Yet it was Russia, your country that aggressed and invaded Ukraine.

[Sergei Markov]

No, no, no, no. Russian military operation as humanitarian operation to protect lives and security of the millions of people on Ukraine territory. Russian demands from Ukrainian government to respect Orthodox church, but we have political repression against Orthodox church in Ukraine. Russia demands to respect right of the people to speak their native language and Russian language is native for the about 70% of the population of Ukraine. This sharply violated.

[Rachel Wright]

You call it humanitarian operation. Let me ask you then, Mr. Markov.

[Christoph Heusken]

With this war that Russia waged against.

[Rachel Wright]

Ukraine, Ukraine, does Russia respect Ukraine's sovereignty?

[Sergei Markov]

Ukraine's sovereignty doesn't exist from 2000 because it's a country.

[Victoria Owen Kunder]

It's a country that is recognized by war.

[Sergei Markov]

It's neo colony country. It's neo colony of United States of America and of Great Britain. Deep state of United States. Deep state of Great Britain.

[Rachel Wright]

Sergei Markov, Meanwhile, Ukraine says a Russian drone attack overnight significantly damaged the radiation shelter over the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. The International Atomic Energy Agency said the fire was extinguished quickly, there were no casualties and radiation levels are stable. Russia has responded, saying it does not attack nuclear facilities. But of course, there are concerns as Chernobyl still contains lingering radiation from the explosion in 1986, which was the world's worst civil nuclear disaster. So what's been the reaction in Ukraine? James Waterhouse is our correspondent in Kiev.

[James Waterhouse]

President Zelensky, his office has said that radiation levels are normal. He talks about that protective casing being built by Ukraine and its allies in the years following that 1986 nuclear disaster. I remember before the full scale invasion, it was a popular tourist spot. I sort of planned to go myself when I first arrived in Ukraine in early 2022. And I put it off. And then, of course, when the full scale invasion happened, it was off limits. And then Russian soldiers, when they advanced on Kyiv, they arrived there and they dug trenches and disturbing radioactive soil, which is an illustration, really of why there is still an exclusion zone around the site. So it'll be a site well known to many. It was a disaster that sort of marked the beginning of the end when it came to the Soviet Union and how Ukrainians viewed Moscow in terms of its response to that disaster. So it's at the front of many people's minds, but thankfully, the damage seems to be relatively minimal. But we've seen this kind of toing and froing of accusations between Moscow and Kyiv when it comes to nuclear infrastructure being hit. But the fact is this, Russia does attack nuclear infrastructure. It moved in from the south early in the invasion and seized the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which has six reactors. And it has kept hold of it ever since a dam it occupies which provided water to cool those reactors, was destroyed. So it's a statement by the Kremlin that is demonstrably not true, given that it occupies the biggest nuclear power station in Europe in southern Ukraine.

[Rachel Wright]

James Waterhouse, In Kyiv, poachers who killed dozens of rare Javan rhinos have been given long prison sentences by a court in Indonesia. Conservationists say this ruling delivers a clear warning to those who threaten Indonesia's wildlife. Our reporter Jae Soong Lee is following the story.

[Jae Soong Lee]

These sentences are the highest punishment possible for poaching in Indonesia. These poachers who were found guilty were members of a criminal gang that was uncovered by authorities in 2023. Now, they've confessed to killing 26 rhinos over a five year period of time. And in this ruling, the court sentenced the leader of the group to 12 years in prison and his five conspirators to 11 years. They were also found around six. Now, as you mentioned briefly there, conservationists have praised this ruling, saying it sets a strong precedent and delivers a clear warning to those who threaten Indonesia's wildlife. They're hoping the long sentences will have a deterrent effect on other poachers trying to hunt these species down. But they said more need to be done to prevent poaching in Indonesia.

[Rachel Wright]

I have to admit I didn't know that there were rhinos in Java. Tell us why they're so significant and how many are there?

[Jae Soong Lee]

Well, these Java rhinos used to roam over the vast forests in Southeast Asia, but are now only found in Ujungkulon national park, which is in the westernmost tip of Indonesia's Java island, the most populous island in Indonesia. And this is thought to be their last stronghold. Now they're critically endangered, with fewer than less than hundred thought to remain as poachers, many of whom are driven by economic hardship, hunt these species down for their lucrative horns, which are sold on to dealers in China. That's because for centuries, rhino horns have been used in Chinese traditional medicine to treat various illnesses and medical conditions, such as fever, stop nosebleeds, and even, they say, prevent strokes. But scientists say, you know, these horns have no proven qualities, that it's all basically a myth. And conservationists say Javan rhinos also reproduce very slowly, making it even more challenging for authority to preserve them. But they're determined to keep the species alive, as they say Javan rhinos have been brought back from the brink of extinction before as well.

[Rachel Wright]

Jae Seung Lee Methylmercury is an extremely toxic compound and unfortunately is often present in the fish that we eat. It also threatens the neural and reproductive health of whales, dolphins and sharks. It gets into the food chain because of burning coal and industrial activities such as illegal gold mining. Scientists in Australia, though, have developed a method of removing it by genetically modifying zebrafish and fruit flies and injecting them with bacteria so they can munch on the mercury and transform it into a harmless gas. Dr. Kate Capper took part in the research and explained to the BBC's Victoria Owen Kunder about how it works.

[Dr. Kate Capper]

So we did a search into the literature and found these two enzymes from bacteria, E. Coli bacteria, and one of them, it cleaves off the methyl group off of that methylmercury compound. And then there's another enzyme that comes in and changes that charge of that mercury atom. So that mercury atom in the uncharged state has some really interesting chemistry in that it's highly volatile and so it's able to evaporate out of cells and out of the animal.

[Nada Hafez]

And so do you find or do.

[Rachel Wright]

You think that there is a danger in doing that in engineering animals in that way?

[Dr. Kate Capper]

I guess, like for biomediation, like using animal like biological agents to clean up pollution. For animals, there's really robust genetic biocontainment strategies. So for example, you can surgically sterilize fish to prevent them from interbreeding in the wild. And then for insects, we have some robust biocontainment strategies to make sure that they're not interbreeding in the wild.

[Rachel Wright]

And in your opinion, where could this kind of research then lead us into the future?

[Dr. Kate Capper]

So some applications for this could be for species conservation, as well as to clean up areas that might have high levels of mercury. And then another application that we're really excited about is that you could engineer insects that industrially process organic waste. So the insects, they can process organic waste that are commonly contaminated by mercury. And then in the enclosed facilities, the gaseous mercury can be trapped and then completely removed from the biosphere.

[Rachel Wright]

Dr. Kate Capper of Macquarie University in Australia. Still to come, have you ever wondered how ancient Egyptian mummies smell?

[Christoph Heusken]

You have there frankincense and this is myrrh. We're reconstructing the smell to be presented the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.

[Rachel Wright]

The fragile ceasefire in Gaza seems to be still holding after the latest crisis was averted with help from the regional mediators, Qatar and Egypt in particular. After days of uncertainty, Hamas has now released the names of the three hostages or dual nationals due to be freed on Saturday. Meanwhile, the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, who's due to visit the region on Saturday, has been speaking about President Trump's peace plan. Our Middle east correspondent, Yolande Nell, he.

[Victoria Owen Kunder]

Was talking to a conservative radio talk show before departing on his trip. He's supposed to be visiting Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Israel, having already met Egyptian and Jordanian officials in Washington. And according to his account, President Trump's controversial plan for Gaza was given in the absence of any other. He says if someone has a better plan, and we hope they do, if the Arab countries have a better plan, then that's great. And he said now's the time to present it now, you know, he also comes out with some quite provocative Comments for someone who's the top US diplomat, he does say all these countries say how much they care about the Palestinians, but none of them want to take any Palestinians. None of them have a history of doing anything for Gaza in that matter. And of course, Jordan being asked now to take in more Gaza refugees by the US already hosts 2 million Palestinian registered refugees, many from Gaza. Egypt says that just in the course of this war, it's taken more than 100,000 Gazans and it's coming up now. It's working on a plan, an alternative plan for Gaza that will see it reconstructed but not displacing the population. And Arab leaders are due to meet in the coming weeks and then attend a conference in Cairo on all this Yoland.

[Rachel Wright]

Now, as part of that Israeli hostage release deal, hundreds of Palestinian prisoners have also been set free. On Saturday, a further 360 Palestinians will be part of the exchange for the three Israeli hostages. Perhaps the most famous Palestinian of the many thousands detained is Marwan Bagouti, a man long tipped as a potential future Palestinian leader. He has spent more than two decades in an Israeli jail for murders committed during the second intifada, or uprising. His son, Arab Barghouti, is an activist in Ramallah in the West Bank. My colleague James Kumarasamy asked him how a new political leadership for the Palestinians should be decided.

[Sergei Markov]

We need to give the Palestinian people, and no other than the Palestinian people, the choice to choose our leadership. It's been almost two decades since we had our last elections. If you're a Palestinian and you're 35 years old or under, which is 70% of the Palestinian people, you have never voted before, let alone getting elected or getting into the parliament or something like that.

[Victoria Owen Kunder]

Is there a hunger for elections?

[Sergei Markov]

There is a big hunger for elections and for unity. I think a unified Palestinian people contributes greatly into the future of peace. We do need one umbrella that holds all Palestinian factions under it, that represents the whole of the Palestinian people as well. And we have young people who are very qualified to be in the political scene that we have never been able to get our voices heard.

[Victoria Owen Kunder]

Where does Hamas fit in?

[Sergei Markov]

I think that Hamas is a political party like any other party. I hope to see a unified Palestinian people which includes all Palestinian factions with no exceptions.

[Victoria Owen Kunder]

So Hamas could be part of the group of parties who rule the Gaza Strip.

[Sergei Markov]

Still, I think it's only the right of the Palestinian people to choose our leadership. Enough with Western governments to come and tell us who we can vote for and who we can't vote for. Who we can label a terrorist and who we can label a good guy, they're not qualified to do that.

[Victoria Owen Kunder]

So your father himself, he's still in prison. You don't know whether he's likely to be released under this ceasefire deal, is that correct?

[Sergei Markov]

We're not sure and we're not certain. But we're very positive and optimistic that he will be part of any future deal along with all Palestinian political prisoners.

[Victoria Owen Kunder]

Your father has long been spoken about as a potential leader of the Palestinians. Is that still how you see it? Is it how he sees it?

[Sergei Markov]

It's not how I see it or even he sees it. I think it has to do with what the Palestinian people want.

[Rachel Wright]

Arab Barghouti talking to James Kumarasamy Officials in Munich say the number of people injured in Thursday's attack has risen to 36. Two people, including a two year old girl, are in a critical condition. Eight people are seriously injured. Police say they believe the attacker who drove a car into a trade union rally, appears to have had a religious motivation. Our Germany correspondent Damian McGuinness has the latest.

[Victoria Owen Kunder]

Munich's chief state prosecutor has revealed that during questioning the 24 year old Afghan asylum seeker had admitted that he drove a car into the crowd intentionally. The prosecutor told reporters that she was cautious about making hasty judgments about why he had carried out this attack, but that based on what officials know so far, he may have had an Islamist motivation. There is no evidence though that he's linked to any extremist organization. Officials have also corrected previous statements and have now confirmed that he had no criminal record and has a work permit, so was legally in Germany.

[Rachel Wright]

Damian McGuinness now to the Egyptian sportswoman whose pregnancy during the Paris Olympics stunned the world. After her last 16 exit, fencer Nada Hafez revealed she had competed while seven months pregnant. She's been speaking speaking to BBC Sports Africa's Nishat Lada about some of the backlash she received, but also how she's proud to be a role model for women across the globe.

[Nada Hafez]

I'm a competitive person. What I was thinking about my baby, that I want to be the Olympian and my baby to be an Olympian and to do something different for my baby. So yeah, my baby motivated me for this.

[Victoria Owen Kunder]

27 year old Egyptian fencer, Nada Hafez is a clinical pathologist by trade and a new mum to four month old daughter Zaina. She'd already competed at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020. But the Paris Olympics were more than just participation. In the first round of her women's individual sabre. She pulled off a shock win against seventh seeded American Elizabeth Tchatkovsky.

[Nada Hafez]

I had this dream to not stop and to continue fencing and to continue and chase my dream. So when I did it, finally it was like, I can't believe it. And also I won a very difficult match. So this was the dream coming true for me.

[Victoria Owen Kunder]

Hafez lost her next match, but Reaching the last 16 was something special. And then came the Instagram post which made headline news the world over. Now the Latest from Paris 2024, where the Egyptian fencer Nada Hafez has revealed she competed at the Olympics while seven months pregnant.

[Nada Hafez]

Hafez I was just posting this on my personal account saying that I'm on top 16 in the world while pregnant and I didn't expect that this will go viral. I was very proud that an Egyptian Arab woman can tell the world that you can do it, your body can surprise you, that we have strength, that you will never know about it. You just have to experience it. I read all the messages from women and actually not only women, there are young girls. They told me you inspired us so much and we want to go to medical school. I want to continue in sports. When I get a message from anyone telling me that I'm an example, I'm a role model, it's really big. It set my heart on fire.

[Victoria Owen Kunder]

But not all the messages were so kind. Hafez put out another post to clarify she was fine to compete.

[Nada Hafez]

I didn't understand what people are talking about because some people, they think you can leave another place for another one to fend the and this is not an option because I'm qualified by my name. So I didn't take anyone's place. For example, people do just put a message and it's easy to put a comment on the post and run. You don't face me. Some people, they don't want to see a successful woman.

[Victoria Owen Kunder]

When she first discovered she was pregnant, Hafez was cautious but was encouraged by her husband, a cardiothoracic surgeon, to get medical advice.

[Nada Hafez]

When I told my husband, he told me, okay, we will go to the doctor to a specialist and what he's saying, we're going to do it. So I went to the doctor and I told him I'm an athlete and I want to participate in the next Olympics. And he was like, okay, why not? We will follow up and if you're okay with your pregnancy and everything goes normal, you can do whatever you want.

[Victoria Owen Kunder]

Hafez kept the news of her pregnancy very quiet.

[Nada Hafez]

I didn't have to tell anyone because it's not against law. I just told the people that they need to know that, like my doctor, my mental coach was thinking, I have to be not against any laws, not against any health conditions. So I told the people that they should know.

[Victoria Owen Kunder]

The Egyptian Olympic Committee confirmed to us that they have no problem with a pregnant woman competing as long as they're sure it's safe for her and her baby. Hafez has not yet decided whether she'll try to qualify for LA 2028. She's studying for a master's and using her platform to support women's rights in sport.

[Nada Hafez]

Sometimes you need to see an example in front of you to know that you can do it, because maybe a pregnant woman, she's just afraid to move, she's afraid to do anything. And now she just tells herself there's an Olympian woman, that she competes at the Olympics while pregnant. So I can do whatever it is. And I wanted to give a message for all women that you don't have a disease, you're just a normal woman and you're pregnant.

[Rachel Wright]

Olympian. And now mother. Nada Hafez, speaking to the BBC's Nishat Lada. A new study has captured and analyzed the scents of nine human mummies from ancient Egypt in an effort to understand how well preserved they are. Mummification was a preservation process that was believed to help the ancient Egyptian elite cross into the afterlife thousands of years ago. Cecilia Benbibre Jacobo, a lecturer in sustainable heritage at University College London, was one of the authors of the research. She explained how the samples were taken.

[Christoph Heusken]

We put a very fine tube inside the sarcophagus and extracted a quantity of air that we could then smell. So this is the air that would be around the mummified body. It's called headspace technique, and it's also used in perfumery. What I have here is a series of resins that would have been used in the mummification process. You have their frankincense, and this is myrrh. We did two things. We smelled the air that was around the mummified body, but we also took a sample and took it back to the laboratory. And we used a technique called gas chromatography, which separates all the different smells in the mix of the mummified body smell. And there we were able to smell moldy compounds, for example, and stale compounds. One of the findings of the study is that we were able to pinpoint four sources for the smell. And this is quite important because it helps us learn more about ancient Egypt and the mummified bodies. We found smells that had to do with the embalming process. We had smells that had to do with the synthetic pesticides that had been historically used to preserve these mummified bodies. We also found smells that had to do with the biodeterioration process. For example, the animal fats used in the embalming breaking down through through time. This is useful for scientists and also for conservators who care for this collection so we can ensure that it reaches future generations. On the other hand, we're also thinking of audiences and we want to share the experience we had smelling the mummified body. So we're reconstructing the smell to be presented in the museum, the Egyptian Museum in Cairo and in Slovenia as well in a museum so audiences can experience this important part of the significance of ancient mummified body.

[Rachel Wright]

Now we can all smell a mummy now to end. It's 50 years since the death of Sir Pelham Granful Woodhouse, aka PG Woodhouse, the creator of some of the most widely read comic tales of the 20th century. The Adventures of the feather brained Bertie Worcester and his wise Valet Jeeves. Here's PG Wodehouse himself speaking to the BBC in 1963.

[Frank Gardner]

It's difficult to say how one gets a character.

[Victoria Owen Kunder]

I think a character develops very much.

[Rachel Wright]

As you if you go on writing.

[Victoria Owen Kunder]

Book after book about it.

[Alexander Armstrong]

I think it was Guy Bolton used.

[Sergei Markov]

To say, get your love story right.

[Frank Gardner]

And the comedy will take care of itself.

[Rachel Wright]

The television host and comedian Alexander Armstrong is president of the P.G. wodehouse Society. My colleague Nick Robinson asked him why he's such a PG Wodehouse enthusiast.

[Alexander Armstrong]

His is the friendliest voice in all literature. I think everyone remembers the time they first if they have been lucky enough to pick up a PG Wodehouse book. And I'm always struck how young people are when they first fell in love with Woodhouse. Usually people who aged 10, 11, in their early teens and I think it's because they discover this warmth. There's such geniality behind him and that was so typically him in that little clip we heard so modest say, oh, the comedy takes care of itself. Nonsense. I mean his is an extraordinary clever. I mean he wears his learning incredibly lightly. But in the, in the narration voice of Bertie Worcester, that's all the Jeeves and Worcester stories are told as if by Bertie. Terrific erudition comes through. Although Bertie is apparently brainless. I beetled off with a fairish amount of restrained hauteur, for I was displeased with the man. On the previous afternoon, while sauntering along the Strand, I'd found myself wedged into one of those sort of alcove places where fellows with voices like foghorns stand all day selling things by auction. And though I was still vague as to how exactly it had happened, I had somehow become the possessor of a large china vase with crimson dragons on it. And not only dragons, but birds, dogs, snakes and a thing that looked like a leopard. This menagerie was now stationed on a bracket over the door of my sitting room. I liked the thing. It was bright and cheerful. It caught the eye. And that was why, when Jeeves, wincing a bit, had weighed in with some perfectly gratuitous art criticism, I ticked him off with no little vim, nay, suitor, ultra, whatever it is, I would have said to him if I'd thought of it.

[Rachel Wright]

Now, many people would glory in that.

[Alexander Armstrong]

But, you know, there are some maybe.

[Rachel Wright]

Of your children, my children's generation said, look at different worlds, all those posh people.

[Frank Gardner]

Why should I enjoy wood?

[Alexander Armstrong]

I think it's absolutely universal. There's something that just pulls you in by the lapels about his humor. I mean, it is wickedly, wickedly funny. I mean, there's a lovely. My favourite line is when he turns to his Aunt Agatha, whose demeanor was now rather like that of one who picking daisies on the railway has just caught the Down Express in the small of the back. Tell me that isn't universally hilarious, Alexander Armstrong.

[Rachel Wright]

And that's all from us for now, but there will be a new edition of the Global Newspaper podcast later. If you want to comment on this podcast or the topics covered in it, you can send us an email. The address is globalpodcastbc.co.uk you can also find us on X@ BBC World Service. This edition was mixed by Tom Bartlett and the producer was Marion Strawn. The editor is Karen Martin. I'm Rachel Wright. Until next time. Goodbye.