South Korea stand-off outside presidential office

Summary

Global News Podcast - December 11, 2024

Host: Nick Miles
Producer: Judy Frankel
Editor: Karen Martin
Mixed by: Pat Sissons

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1. South Korea Presidential Office Standoff

Timestamp: [00:38] – [06:15]

A tense standoff unfolded in Seoul as South Korean police clashed with security officers at President Yoon Suk Yol's office. The police aimed to search the presidential building for minutes of meetings surrounding the recent declaration of martial law, following widespread protests demanding the president's arrest.

Key Points:

• Protests and Opposition: Thousands gathered outside the National Assembly, demanding President Yoon's resignation and the dismantling of the People Power Party. Opposition spokesperson Jo Song Lai accused the president and his aides of legal violations.
• Police Raid Attempt: Police attempted to raid the presidential office but were blocked by security, resulting in an eight-hour standoff. Limited information was retrieved, with the presidential office claiming no such meeting minutes exist.
• Legal Proceedings: The opposition has launched multiple investigations into President Yoon, intensifying calls for impeachment. A previous impeachment motion failed due to a ruling party boycott, but a new motion is scheduled for a vote on Saturday.

Notable Quotes:

• Celia Hatton: “The office of the President and the Secret Service are protecting right now is not a head of state, but an insurgent.” [02:18]
• Gene McKenzie: “The ruling party is in total disarray... There is no agreed position on what to do next.” [04:49]

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2. Developments in Syria's Leadership

Timestamp: [06:15] – [10:00]

Following the fall of the Assad regime, Syria's new Prime Minister Mohammed Al Bashir has pledged to uphold the rights of all religious groups and encourage refugees to return. However, public sentiment remains mixed as concerns about potential Islamist influences in the interim government surface.

Key Points:

• Public Optimism vs. Concern: While many Syrians celebrate the end of oppression, others fear the rise of Islamist agendas and the exclusion of diverse political groups in governance.
• Community Sentiments: Restaurant owners express hope for a safe and just Syria, while others remain uneasy about the new leadership's inclusivity.
• Incidents Highlighting Tensions: Reports of HTS soldiers enforcing dress codes raise alarms about the actual implementation of promised freedoms.

Notable Quotes:

• Lina Sinjab: “I just need the things to quiet down. The children are afraid from all those arms, bullets in the air.” [07:03]
• Celia Hatton: “Things will matter at the end... leadership is saying they won't be forcing anyone about any different dress code.” [09:18]

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3. Record Dengue Fever Outbreak in the Americas

Timestamp: [10:00] – [13:34]

Central and South America are grappling with a record surge in dengue fever cases, with the Pan American Health Organization reporting 12.6 million infections and nearly 8,000 deaths this year. Experts cite climate change and urbanization as primary drivers of the outbreak.

Key Points:

• Impact on Health: Dengue can cause severe muscle and joint pain, with a small percentage developing hemorrhagic disease leading to death.
• Control Challenges: Current control relies heavily on mosquito management, as vaccines remain experimental. Innovative methods like genetically modified mosquitoes are being explored.
• Climate Factors: Warmer climates and deforestation are expanding mosquito habitats, increasing human-mosquito interactions.

Notable Quotes:

• Professor Peter Hotez: “Climate change is a big factor because mosquitoes, of course, like a warm climate and faster virus development.” [10:32]
• Celia Hatton: “It's a very unpleasant infection to have... it's terrifying.” [11:18]

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4. Record Migration of a Male Humpback Whale

Timestamp: [13:34] – [15:03]

A male humpback whale has completed an unprecedented 13,000-kilometer migration from Colombia to Zanzibar, marking one of the longest and most unusual journeys ever recorded. Researchers are investigating whether climate change or mating behaviors influenced this epic voyage.

Key Points:

• Migration Details: The whale's journey spanned multiple years and ocean basins, prompting questions about environmental and biological motivations.
• Research Efforts: Utilizing citizen science and artificial intelligence, scientists are analyzing whale tail patterns to track movements and understand migration triggers.

Notable Quotes:

• Celia Hatton: “I was shocked. I started to cry and begged her to let me go.” [14:57]
• Lina Sinjab: “I had to sleep with my makeup on.” [15:01]

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5. Amsterdam Trial Over Israeli Football Violence

Timestamp: [15:39] – [19:18]

In Amsterdam, seven men stand trial accused of orchestrating violent attacks against Israeli football fans during a match between Ajax and Maccabee Tel Aviv. The incidents have sparked international outcry and heightened tensions surrounding antisemitism in the Netherlands.

Key Points:

• Nature of Attacks: The perpetrators conducted hit-and-run assaults, primarily using scooters, targeting Israeli fans as retaliation for previous violence by Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters.
• Legal Proceedings: The first five suspects have appeared in court, facing charges ranging from violent disorder to possession of illegal fireworks. Sentences range from suspended terms to potential multi-year incarcerations.
• Government Response: Both Israeli officials and the Dutch government have called for classifying these attacks as terrorism, though prosecutors argue insufficient evidence for such a designation.

Notable Quotes:

• Celia Hatton: “These targeted attacks ... ignited this international outcry and accusations of antisemitism.” [16:29]
• Prosecutors: “There wasn't enough evidence that the perpetrators had intended to instill fear within the Jewish community.” [Not directly quoted, inferred from context]

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6. Antisemitic Attacks in Australia

Timestamp: [19:18] – [19:55]

Australia faces a troubling rise in antisemitic incidents, with recent attacks including graffiti and arson targeting Jewish communities in Sydney and Melbourne. Authorities condemn these acts as hate crimes and seek swift justice.

Key Points:

• Incident Details: In early December, two vehicles and several structures in Sydney’s Wlara were vandalized with anti-Israel graffiti, with one vehicle set ablaze. Additionally, a synagogue in Melbourne was targeted in a suspected arson attack.
• Government Response: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese denounced the attacks, emphasizing that antisemitism has no place in Australian society and calling for the perpetrators to be held accountable.

Notable Quotes:

• Prime Minister Anthony Albanese: “This is quite horrific. It is something that is... completely unacceptable.” [19:55]
• Celia Hatton: “People who are the perpetrators of these crimes need to be brought to justice.” [18:28]

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7. Human Trafficking Rescues in Europe

Timestamp: [19:55] – [23:08]

Human trafficking remains a pervasive issue in Europe, with traffickers exploiting chaos and instability to forcibly move women and girls into sexual exploitation. Elite police units are actively combating these networks, rescuing victims, and supporting their recovery.

Key Points:

• Victim Experiences: Traffickers lure victims with false promises, only to trap them in environments devoid of freedom and safety. Victims endure severe conditions, including forced prostitution and constant fear.
• Law Enforcement Efforts: Specialized teams, primarily composed of female detectives, execute raids and dismantle trafficking rings, often working under challenging and distressing conditions.
• Recovery and Support: Rescued individuals receive assistance to rebuild their lives, though the trauma of exploitation leaves lasting impacts.

Notable Quotes:

• Victoria (Trafficking Survivor): “I go out on the street and breathe and I say, my God, thank you. I'm alive, I feel free.” [22:43]
• Cristina (Detective): “It's minutes, seconds even before you can enter the property, but it feels like an eternity.” [21:33]

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8. Google’s Quantum Computing Breakthrough

Timestamp: [23:08] – [26:32]

Google has unveiled its latest quantum computing chip, Willow, claiming it can perform computations in five minutes that would take traditional supercomputers an inconceivable 10 septillion years. However, experts remain skeptical about its immediate practical applications.

Key Points:

• Technical Achievement: Willow boasts 105 qubits and leverages advancements in quantum error correction, pushing the boundaries of what quantum processors can theoretically achieve.
• Expert Analysis: Professor John Preskill notes that while the device demonstrates significant potential, it currently lacks practical applications and requires substantial advancement to become commercially viable.
• Future Prospects: Predictions suggest it may take around 20 years for quantum computing to have substantial commercial impact, contingent on continued investment and technological breakthroughs.

Notable Quotes:

• John Preskill: “It can't really do anything useful yet. All they have is one well-protected qubit, the analog of a bit, and you can't do a computation with just one qubit.” [23:43]
• Celia Hatton: “We're clearly some way from this being commercially valuable...” [24:46]
• John Preskill: “I think 20 years is a reasonable estimate for substantial impact.” [25:20]

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Conclusion

The latest episode of the Global News Podcast covered a spectrum of global issues, from political turmoil in South Korea and Syria's fragile new governance to public health crises, environmental impacts on wildlife, rising antisemitism, human trafficking challenges, and breakthroughs in quantum computing. Through in-depth reporting and expert insights, the podcast provides listeners with a comprehensive understanding of these critical topics shaping our world.

For more detailed coverage, visit the BBC World Service.

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Produced by Judy Frankel | Mixed by Pat Sissons | Edited by Karen Martin
For feedback or comments, email [e-mail] or follow us on X @globalnewspod.

Transcript

[Celia Hatton]

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the Ukinas. En la parte superior de los hacientos para crear unexperiencia tresientos jamas hace cochado al guaci Rey mahina tumusica y tu forma de manejar descubrel total mentenuevo y rey mahinado. Nissan kicks a Nissan USA puntokom.

[Nick Miles]

This is the global news podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Nick Miles and at 14 hours GMT on Wednesday 11th December, these are our main stories. There's been a standoff in South Korea between security officers and the police at the President's office. The new Syrian leadership promises to guarantee the rights of all religious groups. Cases of dengue fever in Central and South America have surged to a record high. Also in this podcast, the trial has begun in Amsterdam of seven men accused of violent disorder against Israeli football fans last month.

[Celia Hatton]

And Alphabet shares are higher. After announcing a quantum computing breakthrough, unveiling its new chip Willow.

[Nick Miles]

Google says its new quantum computing chip is far faster than the world's best computers. But what practical use does it have? We start in South Korea, where for many hours police were locked in a standoff with security guards outside the presidential office in Seoul. They wanted to search the building to investigate President Yoon Suk Yol's declaration of martial law last week, but the guards refused to let them in. Outside the national assembly in Seoul, thousands of protesters cheered and waved glow sticks demanding the president is arrested, some holding signs that say dismantle the People Power Party. Well, the spokesman for the opposition Democratic Party, Jo Song Lai, told journalists that President Yoon and the officials helping him were breaking the law.

[Celia Hatton]

What the office of the President and the Secret Service are protecting right now is not a head of state, but an insurgent. Therefore, interfering with the police raid constitutes participation in the insurrection by protecting the insurgents.

[Nick Miles]

Celia Hatton got the latest from our correspondent in Seoul, Gene McKenzie.

[Gene McKenzie]

Today, police officers have tried to raid the President's office. They've been there to try and get hold of the minutes of the meetings, two crucial meetings that he held, one before he decided to impose martial law, in the minutes beforehand and then meetings he held in the very small period of time that martial law was in effect here back last Tuesday night. But it's been a bit of a standoff between the police and the president office security officials. So they were able to get into the presidential compound, but they haven't been able to conduct the searches that they wanted to. We've just Heard actually Celia, in the last few minutes that the officers have left the compound after about eight hours. They haven't been able to get the material they wanted. They apparently got some little fraction of information, but not what they were looking for. And the presidential office has been saying today that actually there are no minutes of these meetings. But this is reflective of a much bigger investigation or bigger set of investigations against the President that's ongoing. He's now being investigated from so many different angles. You've got a police investigation, prosecutors, corruption, officials are looking into him. The opposition have managed to get an independent investigation. So you really get the sense now that this legal sort of net is closing in on him.

[Celia Hatton]

Indeed, the pressure is mounting on all of those Yun and those around him who took part in declaring martial law. We're hearing the former Defense Minister try to kill himself.

[Gene McKenzie]

Yeah. So the former Defense Minister is the most senior high ranking official that has been implicated in this so far that's actually been arrested. He was in custody. Now he is seen as playing quite a key role in implementing this martial law. And he'd actually come out and taken responsibilities for some of the chaos that has ensued. He was in prison. Prison. And we heard from the Justice Ministry this morning that he had tried to take his own life. He was transferred to hospital and he is said to be fine now.

[Celia Hatton]

But yeah, what are the prospects, Jean, for an impeachment vote against the President? We saw last weekend an impeachment motion put forward by the opposition. It failed because the ruling party boycotted that vote. But does it look like it might have a chance of succeeding if the opposition tries again?

[Gene McKenzie]

Well, the opposition is trying again. They've put this motion forward today. So we now know that the next vote is going to happen at 5 o'clock here in Seoul on Saturday. So really a rerun of last week. Now, whether the ruling party will change their mind this time and decide to impeach the president, that is the huge question here. The opposition party needs eight members of the ruling party to cross the floor and to vote with them. Now we've had a couple of MPs come out over the past couple of days, the ruling party MPs and saying they are going to beach the President, but not enough to get this vote through. At the moment, the ruling party here is in total disarray. Honestly, it just doesn't know what to do next. I've been speaking to a couple of the lawmakers and they say it's just there is no kind of agreed position on what on earth they're going to do. The party is so divided right now. You have this faction who does not want to impeach the president. Right? They want to hold out. They want the president to resign himself. They think if they impeach him, they are committing political suicide. They're not going to be reelected themselves. The people in their party will not forgive them. That's where they're at. And that is why they don't want to impeach the president. But there are this handful coming around and thinking that impeachment is inevitable. Really. They see the public anger. They see the tens of thousands of people on the street, not just on Saturday, but every single night. And they realize that this is going to have to happen. But will enough of them get to that place by Saturday? That's what we don't know.

[Nick Miles]

Gene Mackenzie in Seoul. After the extraordinary events of recent days, there is a sense that Syrians are waiting with bated breath to see what comes now. One restaurant owner says he's hopeful for the future.

[Lina Sinjab]

We opened the shop because we wanted our lives back. We are happy that our country is safe again.

[Celia Hatton]

I am very optimistic.

[Lina Sinjab]

The country was full of injustice and oppression. That is over now.

[Nick Miles]

But another resident in the capital says she is concerned about what will happen next.

[Gene McKenzie]

Life without Assad is beautiful, but we don't feel enough safe yet. We need to be more safe.

[Lina Sinjab]

I just need the things to quiet down. The children are afraid from all those arms, bullets in the air.

[Nick Miles]

There have been more conciliatory words from Syria's new Prime Minister. Mohammed Al Bashir said the Islamist led alliance will guarantee the rights of all religious groups and called on the millions who fled the war to return home. I asked our correspondent in Damascus, Lina Sinjab, how people there were feeling.

[Lina Sinjab]

It's really a celebratory mood today. I've started the early hours of the morning going to the fruits and vegetable market and it's just like it's picking up. They're receiving all their products from rural areas, from the coastal side. A sign that the traffic is back normal into the city. And then we move to the old city in the Umayyad Mosque. You know, people are going in in big numbers, taking pictures in the bazaar. It's filled up with people. Visited the famous ice cream shop. We can hardly made our way in and out because how much people are out in the streets. And that's a sign that people are relaxed, people have confidence. As we were there, there were lots of rebels coming in and out and people were posing with P with them. You know, they're treating them as heroes, are as winners, and they're in really celebratory mood. And of course, you know, that's on a public level. But when I talk to other people, they are having the concerns about, you know, the Islamist agenda that these rebels are coming with. Especially the formation of this interim government happened from one sided, which is the group who won this war and toppled Assad, appointed them without consultation with other opposition. However, they're hoping that in the future, after this interim government is finished, it's time that there would be, you know, more consultation and inclusion of the Syrian society, women, Christians, minorities, different political groups. That's what they're hoping for and pushing for.

[Nick Miles]

And anecdotally there are concerns on the streets. One of the BBC correspondents was there, was told by an HTS soldier, look, I'm going to give you brotherly advice, wear a veil. So these concerns will perhaps come to the forefront of people's minds about freedoms in the new Syria.

[Lina Sinjab]

Well, I think these are really things to watch for because I also had a friend who was in an area and a couple of men with arms came up to that to her and said, you should wear a veil. And she went to the main checkpoint with HTS and complained and they said, sorry about that, and these are not with us. You need to give us time until we stop all the ones who are irregular holding up arms and making orders. And they went and talked to the men and pushed them away. So it's really early days. We've only been three days. We need to watch and see how they're doing. Their leadership is saying that they won't be forcing anyone about any different dress code, that the country would be inclusive of everyone, but the actions that will matter at the end.

[Nick Miles]

Lena Sinjab there's been a record outbreak of dengue fever in Central and South America. The Pan American Health Organization says the number of cases of the mosquito borne disease has nearly trebled this year, affecting 12.6 million people. And almost 8,000 people have died. Most cases of dengue are mild, but it can cause severe muscle and joint pain and a high temperature. Rob Young spoke to Professor Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College in Houston, Texas.

[Peter Hotez]

Those are the ones that are being counted, almost 13 million cases, probably a lot more. And we're looking at more than 20,000 severe cases and 8,000 deaths. This has been a general increase in what we call arbovirus infections, viruses transmitted by mosquitoes. It not only Includes dengue. But also there's been a rise in yellow fever, chikungunya virus infection. The reasons behind it are not entirely clear. It's believed that climate change is a big factor because mosquitoes, of course, like a warm climate and faster virus development. Another big factor, though, is deforestation and urbanization. So expanded areas where mosquitoes are coming into closer contact with people.

[Celia Hatton]

And what impact does dengue fever generally have on people? We know, we know there's a very high death toll from it over the last year, but what is the impact on most?

[Peter Hotez]

Well, it's a very unpleasant infection to have. One of the older names for it is called breakbone fever because of the joint pain and other myalgias associated with the virus. But in severe cases, that caus is hemorrhagic disease, bleeding, and then subsequently significant level of mortality in some patients. So children tend to be more vulnerable and interestingly, among adults, those with underlying diabetes and hypertension, kind of similar to what we learned about COVID as well.

[Celia Hatton]

Are there not enough vaccinations in the various countries that have been affected by this large rise in the number of dengue fever cases for people to be inoculated?

[Peter Hotez]

No. The problem is the dengue vaccines are still experimental. You know, there's several prototype vaccines that have been put forward by the big pharmaceutical companies. There's another one that hopefully will come online soon that will show even better protection. So for now, it relies heavily on mosquito control. And the problem with the mosquitoes that transmit dengue in the Americas, it's called the Aedes aegypti mosquito. It lives in close association with human habitats. So small containers of water in pots of water that are in the homes, around the home. So it's very labor intensive to control. So we're looking at alternative methods of vector control, mosquito control, including using genetically modified mosquitoes or modifying mosquitoes with a type of pathogen, a bacterial pathogen known as Wolbachia. And by the way, this is not going to stay contained in Brazil or in neighboring Colombia and Argentina. Interestingly, we're seeing an increase in dengue cases as well as other mosquito transmitted infections, even malaria. Now on the Gulf coast of the U.S. in South Texas and South Florida, and we're also seeing similar examples of this in Southern Europe as well. So I think this acceleration of climate change, urbanization, those two are working hand in glove to cause this significant rise.

[Nick Miles]

Peter Hotez. A new study has found that a male humpback whale travelled more than 13,000 kilometres in search of a mate. The Whale's epic journey began off the coast of Colombia and finished near Zanzibar in the Indian Ocean. It is one of the longest and most unusual migrations ever recorded and was confirmed by photographs taken by whale watchers. Helen Briggs has the details.

[Celia Hatton]

Humpback whales are known for having one of the longest migrations of any mammal migrating from their summer feeding grounds to breed in warmer waters closer to the equator. But international researchers say this adult male humpback had one of the longest and most unusual migrations ever recorded, visiting breeding grounds in both the Pacific and the Indian Ocean over the course of several years. They think this epic journey might be down to climate change, shrinking populations of krill, the tiny shrimp like creatures humpback whales feed on. Or it could be an ocean odyssey to find a mate. The researchers hope a citizen science project analyzing hundreds of thousands of photographs of whales through artificial intelligence will help give an answer. Whales can be identified through the individual shapes and pattern patterns of their tails, allowing their movement around the globe to be mapped.

[Nick Miles]

Helen Briggs, still to come.

[Celia Hatton]

I was shocked. I started to cry and begged her to let me go.

[Lina Sinjab]

I had to sleep with my makeup on.

[Celia Hatton]

And you always had to be in your underwear. Ready for any customer who will arrive.

[Nick Miles]

The growing impact of sex trafficking around the world. The trial has begun of seven men charged with violent disorder against Israeli football supporters in Amsterdam last month, before and after a match between Ajax and Maccabee Tel Aviv. The first five suspects are appearing in court on Wednesday. Two more will appear on Thursday. Our correspondent in Amsterdam, Anna Holigan, is following the case.

[Celia Hatton]

Just to remind you of the context. After the match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax in the Dutch capital Amsterdam, Israelis were chased and assaulted. The mayor said they were hit and run attacks. In many instances, they were carried out by men on scooters. So these targeted attacks you will probably remember because they ignited this international outcry and accusations of antisemitism. The day before that, Israeli football fans had been caught on camera tearing down a Palestinian flag. They'd also vandalized taxis, which are often driven here in the Netherlands by Arab immigrants. So that's the kind of background to all of this. And you mentioned five suspects appearing in court today. The first couple have already appeared. This is going to be a full day of hearings because each suspect is appearing individually before a panel of three judges.

[Nick Miles]

Now, there are consequences for the Netherlands with regards to the politics of all this and concerns about migration and the position of Arabs within society there. But what about the consequences for the men on trial that's exactly right.

[Celia Hatton]

So at the time, both Israeli officials and the Dutch government had urged the prosecution service here to treat these attacks on Israeli fans as terrorism. But actually, the prosecutors said there wasn't enough evidence that the perpetrators had intended to instill fear within the Jewish community. That's alluding to the idea that this was more about football violence. It was more a direct response to the violence carried out the night before by the Muccabi Tel Aviv fans. So in terms of these suspects, youngest of the seven has been the first to appear in court in Amsterdam. 19 year old. He has been named by the prosecution as Lucas D. They only give the first initial of surnames under Dutch law. He's accused of possessing heavy illegal fireworks near the Johan Cruyff arena, the stadium where the match was being played, and being a member of a Snapchat group that called for violence. He's also suspected of being part of a group that threw stones at police near the stadium. So prosecutors in that case have asked for judges to impose a sentence of six months with three suspended. Second suspect, he hasn't been named. 32 years old, he is charged also with public order offences and prosecutors have asked for him to be given two years. And we're expecting a verdict in the case of all seven suspects on the.

[Nick Miles]

24Th of December, Anna Holigen in Amsterdam. In another case of alleged antisemitism, Australian police say they're looking for two people suspected of painting anti Israeli graffiti in Sydney and setting a car on fire. It comes a few days after a suspected arson attack on a synagogue in Melbourne. Both incidents have been condemned by the Prime Minister as hate crimes. Our Australia correspondent Katie Watson reports from Sydney.

[Celia Hatton]

New South Wales Police say that in the early hours of Wednesday morning, they were called to an address in Wlara, which has a long established Jewish community. They found two vehicles, one on fire. Both had been graffitied with anti Israel slogans, as had the fence of two homes and a footpath. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the attack was an outrage and that there was no place for antisemitism in Australia. This is quite horrific. It is something that is, I think, quite shocking. And I think that what we're seeing needs to be a very clear message that's completely unacceptable. It needs to stop and people who are the perpetrators of these crimes need to be brought to justice. Meanwhile, police in Melbourne are still hunting for three people suspected of setting a synagogue on fire on Friday.

[Nick Miles]

Katie Watson in Sydney. Human trafficking thrives on chaos and instability. And given the number of conflicts and Climate induced disasters facing the world at the moment, trafficking is at record levels. The majority of people targeted are women and girls who are detained for the purpose of sexual exploitation. And thousands of these people are trafficked into Europe via Spain. BBC 100 Women series followed one elite unit of police detectives as they rescue women and help them rebuild their lives. Blanca Munoz reports.

[Blanca Munoz]

It all starts with a friendly voice on the phone offering you an opportunity when you need it the most. When you realize what's going on, it's too late. Life will never be the same. For Victoria. This moment came when she first saw the room where she would spend the next three years. It was a metal lock on the door that made her shiver.

[Celia Hatton]

I was shocked. I started to cry and begged her.

[Lina Sinjab]

To let me go.

[Blanca Munoz]

The trafficker who had lured Victoria to Spain from Colombia responded with two simple words. No way. Spain is both a transit country and often the final destination for thousands of victims, mainly from Latin America and Africa, who are trafficked into Europe. Instead of starting her promised job as a cleaner, Victoria was immediately forced into prostitution.

[Lina Sinjab]

I had to sleep with my makeup on.

[Celia Hatton]

And you always had to be in your underwear, ready for any customer who will arrive.

[Blanca Munoz]

Victoria lived with the fear that no one would come to save her. An elite team of mainly female investigators was already on her traffickers trail. At a secret location in the middle of the night, the police is preparing to raid a property where a gang is suspected to hide their victims. Cristina is part of an elite unit of Guardia Civil detectives who fight organized crime and rescue traffic victims.

[Celia Hatton]

It's minutes, seconds even before you can.

[Lina Sinjab]

Enter the property, but it feels like an eternity.

[Blanca Munoz]

The team's investigation shows that sex trafficking has gone further underground after the pandemic, with most victims now kept in private apartments supplied by criminal gangs. The state of these floods affects even experienced investigators like Christina.

[Gene McKenzie]

You are ready to throw away the.

[Celia Hatton]

Clothes you wear during a raid as you won't be able to wash the smell off. It's so distressing and the stench often makes you sick.

[Blanca Munoz]

Her deputy, Lydia, agrees.

[Lina Sinjab]

When you go inside these flats and.

[Celia Hatton]

See the conditions in which victims had to work and live for so long, it's terrifying.

[Blanca Munoz]

It was Christine and Lydia's team who rescued Victoria from one of these floods a few years ago. We can't give details of her rescue because as a protective witness, we need to conceal her identity. But Victoria remembers it was a sunny morning.

[Lina Sinjab]

I look at them, hug them and cry.

[Celia Hatton]

I go out on the street and breathe and I say, my God, thank you. I'm alive, I feel free. And that's the best feeling.

[Nick Miles]

That report was by Blanca Munoz and you can watch the BBC 100 Women documentary Raid on the Brothel Next Door on the BBC World Service YouTube channel from Saturday 14th December.

[Celia Hatton]

And finally, Alphabet shares are higher after announcing a quantum computing breakthrough, unveiling its new chip Willow, which can perform a milestone computing in just five minutes time that would take a classic supercomputer.

[Nick Miles]

Yes, Google's new quantum computing chip called Willow can solve problems in minutes that would take one of Today's fastest supercomputers 10, septillion years to complete. That's a 1 and 25 zeros. But what practical use does it have now? Rahul Tandon asked Professor of Theoretical Physics John Preskill.

[John Preskill]

Well, it can't really do anything useful yet. Really. All they have is one well protected qubit, the analog of a bit, and you can't do a computation with just one qubit. You'll have to have many. Now, they've also tried to run applications without using quantum error correction using this device. It has 105 qubits and they make the case that they can solve problems with the device far faster than we could with conventional computers. But these are not problems of any practical interest. They're problems which they chose to solve. Applications they ran just for the purpose of benchmarking the device. But their estimate is that to emulate what their quantum processor has done with the most powerful supercomputers that currently exist would take much longer than the age of the universe.

[Celia Hatton]

So from what you're saying, whilst this is important conceptually in terms of commercially, we're a long way from it being able to do things like that.

[John Preskill]

I think that's correct. I think the technology has gotten to the stage where it's quite interesting to scientists. We can explore the way complicated quantum systems behave in ways that we couldn't before, and that can lead to commercial applications down the road. But we're not sure how long it's going to take.

[Celia Hatton]

Go on, give us a guess. I mean, are we talking in the next 50 years?

[John Preskill]

Yeah, I would say 20 years is a reasonable estimate for substantial impact.

[Celia Hatton]

We're clearly some way from this being commercially valuable, but the fact that so many big companies like Google are investing in it does seem to show that they think at some point this could be worth a lot of money for them.

[John Preskill]

I think that's right. The big question is, what's the time scale? And the truth is we don't really know. But unless we make ambitious attempts to advance the technology, it's never going to happen. So it's a good thing that the companies and also various research groups, national labs and so on are investing in deeper understanding and better hardware for using this quantum technology that will make it happen faster.

[Celia Hatton]

Will it need a lot more power? Is that going to become an issue.

[Nick Miles]

Do you think, in terms of the.

[Celia Hatton]

Amount of electricity it will take?

[John Preskill]

It's a potential issue, but I don't think the power requirements will be nearly as large as for advances in AI, where the power we need is really extremely daunting.

[Nick Miles]

That was John Prescott and that's all from us for now. But there will be a new edition of the Global News Podcast later. If you want to comment on this podcast or the top topics covered in it, you can send us an email. The address is globalpodcastbc.co.uk you can also find us on X globalnewspod. This edition was produced by Judy Frankel and mixed by Pat Sissons. The editor is Karen Martin. I'm Nick Miles. And until next time, goodbye.

[Celia Hatton]

Yoga is more than just exercise. It's the spiritual practice that millions swear by. And in 2017, Miranda, a university tutor from London, joins a yoga school that promises profound transformation. It felt a really safe and welcoming space. After the yoga classes, I felt amazing. But soon that calm, welcoming atmosphere leads to something far darker. A journey that leads to allegations of grooming, trafficking and exploitation across international borders. I don't have my passport. I don't have my phone. I don't have my bank cards. I have nothing. The passport being taken, the being in a house and not feeling like they can leave. World of secrets is where untold stories are unveiled and hidden realities are exposed. In this new series, we're confronting the dark side of the wellness industry, where the hope of a spiritual breakthrough gives way to disturbing accusations. You just get sucked in so gradually and it's done so skillfully that you don't realize. And it's like this secret that's there. I wanted to believe that, you know, that whatever they were doing, even if it seemed gross to me, was for some spiritual reason that I couldn't understand. Revealing the hidden secrets of a global yoga network. I feel that I have no other choice. The only thing I can do is to speak about this and to put my reputation and everything else on the line. I want truth and justice and for other people to not be hurt, for things to be different in the future, to bring us into the light and almost alchemize some of that evil stuff that went on and take back the.

[Peter Hotez]

Power.

[Celia Hatton]

World of Secrets. Season six, the Bad Guru. Listen, wherever you get your podcasts.