Six Secrets is now The Brief: Spy agencies brief people in power. We brief you. Each week we’ll bring you one story that matters, plus a few that don’t!
Your Brief for May 2, 2024: A poison tipped umbrella, ancient Roman puzzle locks, driverless race cars and more!
News
Ghana Gets Its Crown Jewels Back
Ghana is rejoicing in the return of 32 looted artifacts to the Asante Kingdom 150 years after they were taken by British colonizers. Thousands are visiting the Manhyia Palace Museum in Kumasi, the capital of the Asante region, to view the pieces on display. The deal to loan the items, which include a sword of state and gold peace pipe, came about thanks to an agreement between the Victoria & Albert Museum, the British Museum, and the Asante king. The goods have been returned for three years however Ghanaians want to see this extended. While UK law dictates that national museums are banned from permanently returning goods, loan deals like this are a means of wiggling around regulations.
Technology
Racing Into The Future
We may soon be watching driverless, ghost-like, vehicles battle it out on famous race tracks.
The first autonomous race of its kind recently took place on the Yas Marina Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Formula 1 track as part of the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League. The cars are kitted with all sorts of sensors, cameras and softwares which in theory will enable them to compete at high speeds without human intervention, however race day didn't turn out quite as planned…
As the cars shot off the line a rather chaotic scene of bumper cars unfolded. Some decided to spin in circles, others chose to drive headfirst into walls, and a few were overwhelmed and decided to pull off the track and take a break. Completing a lap of the famed F1 circuit turned out to be quite a feat for the autonomous vehicles in what was an unfortunate but amusing race day. It's clearly still early days for the sport, but successful races may be just around the corner!
True Spies
Behind The Bamboo Curtain
November 29th 1952, it’s the dead of night and a covert mission is underway. For the first time in weeks the CIA has had contact from an undercover agent embedded in the north east of mainland China. A promising message reveals he has documents and news to pass over, but how will they collect him from the hostile region of Manchuria? Fly in and pick him up without landing of course!
The plan? With a pickup location determined the plane will whisk the agent into the air using a wire and a hook! But as the pilots make their approach all hell breaks loose. Gunfire rains down on the aircraft… it's an ambush! Both pilots are shot and killed and the plane crash lands into the ground below.
But what of the two CIA officers in the back? Officers Richard (Dick) Fecteau and John (Jack) Downey have survived and are captured, caught red handed! Despite the worst possible ending to the mission, their story was only just beginning. What follows constitutes one of the most unbelievable episodes of US Espionage.
Join professor and historian of US-China affairs John Delury in this week's podcast selection ‘Behind The Bamboo Curtain’ and discover the thrilling story that unfolded following that fateful night.
Do you know the tale of Radioman? A mysterious actor who has appeared in more films shot in New York than anyone!
Craig Castaldo, better known as Radioman, is a film fanatic who spends every day traveling to shoot locations in the bustling city. Adored by filmmakers and stars alike, Radioman has become a New York legend, a friend to many in the industry, and a good luck charm on set.
Why the name Radioman? On any given day you can find Castaldo riding around Manhattan with a boombox radio hanging around his neck. Over the last couple decades he has amassed over 150 movie appearances, and not just any movies but blockbusters such as Spider Man and the Bourne Supremacy!
A heartwarming story, Castaldo got his lucky break thanks to Robin Williams who met him one day shooting in Central Park. Williams was instantly drawn to his passion for movie making, even more surprised by the fact he somewhat resembled himself in looks, and offered the then homeless man a role as an extra. Fast forward a few decades and thanks to the support of the film community and the likes of Hollywood elite, Radioman overcame homelessness and is an active member of the Screen Actors Guild.
Radioman, a documentary directed by Mary Kerr and released in 2012, tells the inspiring tale of Craig Castaldo. Friends and collaborators share their stories and love of Radioman; Tom Hanks, Jude Law, Helen Mirren, Meryl Streep, George Clooney, and Robin Williams to name a few! To this day Radioman can be spotted biking around the city doing what he loves. Have you seen him?
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Spy Objects
Poison Tipped Umbrella
Journey back to the morning of September 7th, 1978. Crowds of commuters hurry across London’s Waterloo Bridge during a seemingly normal rush hour… but things are about to take a deadly turn.
Among the chaos is a man by the name of Georgi Markov, a broadcaster for the Bulgarian desk of the BBC World Service. As he walks across the bridge he feels a sharp pinch in his thigh, looking up to find a bypasser with a foreign accent apologizing for having accidentally hit his leg with an umbrella. Not too phased by the encounter he continues his journey, unaware that he has just been poisoned by an assassin!
Who is Georgi Markov and what unfolded that fateful morning? At the end of the 1960s Markov fled Bulgaria for Italy, having been one of his country's most controversial novelists and a frequent victim of state censorship. Not long after arriving in Italy he denounced his nationality and moved to London, threatened with six years in Bulgarian prison for his defection. Fast forward to 1978 and Markov had built a reputation as a critic of the authoritarian regimes behind the Iron Curtain.
Join acclaimed designer Thomas Heatherwick as he tells the sad tale of the Bulgarians dissidents encounter with one of the most notorious tools of spycraft in ‘Poison-Tipped Umbrella’.
We take for granted how easy it is to transfer money in today's world of apps and wireless payments, but how did the ancient Romans safely move cash? Turns out they created secret puzzle locks often disguised as rings with which they would lock money pouches or safes before sending them to a recipient. Puzzle historian Jerry Slocum and colleague Dic Sonneveld researched the ancient devices and published Romano-Celtic Mask Puzzle Padlocks, describing the ancient locks and their uses.
A wide variety of puzzle locks have been discovered, all sharing distinctive features. Often made of bronze, the rings feature a keyhole at the top underneath a face plate. The face plates were often carved to depict a god and could be opened to reveal the hole hidden inside. The key would sometimes also be made into a ring, worn separately or given to a recipient so they could open the lock.
But wait, the ring’s have a trick up their sleeve and present another challenge to anyone trying to wrongfully access the lock! Simply having the key won’t gain you access to these clever devices. They feature a puzzle in the form of moveable plates and switches. Before you can unlock the device you have to correctly align the moveable parts of the puzzle.
Think you would have what it takes to discover the keyhole? Puzzle maker Gary Larson has prepared the crossword ‘In Disguise’ for you to test your solving abilities.
Who is Annie? You may be familiar with Michael Jackson's famed 1987 hit song Smooth Criminal from his iconic album Bad. The song is undeniably a dance-floor killer, but what story lies behind the mysterious Annie and why does Jackson repeatedly ask if she is ok? You may be surprised by the answer.
"Annie, are you okay? Are you okay, Annie?". You may have sung the line countless times, assuming Annie to be a lover or a friend, but her true identity lies in an unexpected place…
Ever completed a first aid course at school or work? If so you might remember practicing CPR on a mannequin or dummy to simulate emergencies. Turns out the most common training mannequin for resuscitation is called Resusci Anne, often abbreviated to Annie! Figured it out yet?
Jackson's famous lyrics have been lifted right out of first aid training. Instructors teach students to assess a dummy patient's condition by asking, "Annie, are you okay?" before beginning any medical interventions. It's the very first step in the process of administering first aid. A secret identity has been uncovered!
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