Trump overturns convictions for hundreds of rioters

Summary

Global News Podcast Summary BBC World Service – Episode: Trump Overturns Convictions for Hundreds of Rioters Release Date: January 21, 2025

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1. Donald Trump's Pardons for Capitol Rioters and Early Executive Actions

In a significant move shortly after reclaiming the White House, former President Donald Trump has initiated a series of pardons for his supporters involved in the January 6th Capitol riot. At the outset of his presidency, Trump declared, “[00:56] I'm going to the Oval Office and we'll be signing pardons for a lot of people. A lot of people.” These pardons have sparked widespread debate and condemnation across the political spectrum.

Impact of the Pardons: The swift action has left little time for the judicial process to unfold, raising questions about the long-term implications for the rule of law in the United States. Nancy Pelosi, former House Speaker, labeled the pardons as “shameful” [04:34], highlighting the deep divisions the decision has exacerbated.

Broad-Ranging Executive Orders: Beyond pardons, Trump has embarked on dismantling several of his predecessor Joe Biden's policies. This includes revoking the ban on new offshore oil and gas development [06:16], declaring a national energy emergency, and initiating the withdrawal of the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement [01:35]. Nevin Singh Khadkar, BBC’s correspondent in Washington, remarked, “[03:13] It has both houses, so he does have many of the levers of power,” indicating Trump's capacity to enact substantial policy shifts swiftly.

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2. International Reactions to Trump's Policies

Trump's rapid policy reversals have elicited strong reactions globally, affecting international relations and multilateral commitments.

World Health Organization (WHO) Withdrawal: The WHO has publicly requested Trump to reconsider his decision to exit the organization, emphasizing the U.S.'s foundational role and its status as a key funder [02:37]. This move has raised alarms about global public health cooperation.

Paris Climate Agreement Withdrawal: With the U.S. stepping back from the Paris Agreement amidst the hottest year on record [06:16], environmental experts like Robert Wilkie express concerns about the broader impact. “[06:49] The initial signals we're getting is they might do something like that,” he stated, referring to other major emitters potentially following suit by increasing fossil fuel production.

Global Security and Trade: Trump's emphasis on “unlocking the liquid gold” beneath U.S. soil aims to bolster the economy but has led to apprehension among international partners. The withdrawal from global climate initiatives, combined with a potential increase in American energy exports, threatens to disrupt established environmental and trade frameworks [08:19].

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3. Deadly Fire at Turkish Ski Resort

A tragic fire at the Grand Kartal hotel in Bolu, northwestern Turkey, resulted in the deaths of at least 66 people and injured 51 others [11:03]. The blaze, which ignited around 3:30 AM, quickly engulfed the 12-story building, exacerbated by wooden cladding. Emergency responders battled the flames for over ten hours before gaining control [11:48].

Victims and Investigation: The incident occurred during a peak holiday season, with 234 guests present. Initial reports indicated that some fatalities resulted from panic-induced actions, such as jumping from the building [12:44]. Authorities have launched a probe to determine the fire's exact cause and assess potential negligence by the hotel's management [11:48].

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4. Escalation in the Israel-Palestine Conflict

Tensions in the West Bank have intensified following a large-scale Israeli military operation aimed at counterterrorism in Jenin, resulting in six Palestinian deaths [14:16]. This operation followed increased attacks by Jewish settlers on Palestinian villages, activities that were emboldened by Trump's recent policy shifts.

Policy Reversals and Settler Support: President Trump's decision to lift sanctions on Israeli settlers marks a stark reversal from the Biden administration's stance, which sought to curb settler violence [15:48]. Yolande Nel, BBC's correspondent in Jerusalem, noted the approval from pro-settler factions but highlighted the Palestinian Authority's vehement condemnation [15:50].

Hostage and Prisoner Exchanges: Amidst the unrest, Hamas has announced an upcoming exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, expected to include the release of four Israeli women [17:06]. However, Trump's skepticism about the deal’s implementation adds uncertainty to the fragile situation [17:06].

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5. US-Afghanistan Prisoner Exchange

In a notable development, two American citizens held by the Taliban have been exchanged for an Afghan prisoner serving a life sentence in the U.S. on terrorism charges [15:50]. This agreement, finalized just before Trump's inauguration, underscores the complex dynamics between the U.S. and the Taliban.

Details of the Exchange: Ryan Corbett and William Wallace McKenty were freed in return for Khan Mohammed, captured during the U.S. military's engagement in Afghanistan [18:46]. The Taliban hailed the swap as a step towards normalizing relations, though it is unlikely to significantly alter the current strained interactions between Kabul and Washington [18:46].

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6. Transformation of Saudi Arabia’s Film Industry

Saudi Arabia has undergone a cultural metamorphosis, transitioning from a kingdom where cinemas were once banned to a burgeoning hub for the film industry. This shift is part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's (MBS) Vision 2030, aimed at diversifying the economy and expanding cultural influence [20:30].

Film Festival in Jeddah: At a recent film festival in Jeddah, Saudi-produced films gained international attention, with actress Maria Bahrawi being named one of the "Arab Stars of Tomorrow" [20:55]. However, this cultural opening is juxtaposed with ongoing human rights concerns, including strict regulations on film content and allegations of state-sponsored human rights abuses [22:08].

Investment and Human Rights: Significant funding from the Public Investment Fund (PIF) has fueled the entertainment sector's growth. Nonetheless, Human Rights Watch reports highlight that the PIF has been involved in facilitating human rights violations, raising ethical questions about the source of investment [23:47].

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7. Rediscovering a Polish Village’s Dark History

Eighty years after the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the Polish village of Boikow has unearthed its troubling past linked to the Nazi death marches [24:09]. Originally a German village known as Schoenvald, Boikow became a silent witness to the atrocities committed during the war.

Memorialization Efforts: Local efforts, spearheaded by individuals like German expat Cornelia Stehler, have led to the establishment of a new memorial in the Catholic cemetery, commemorating the victims who perished during the death marches [25:06]. This acknowledgment serves as a poignant reminder of the past, fostering a collective memory that had long been suppressed in the region [25:36].

Community Reflections: Residents and historians alike emphasize the importance of remembering such events to prevent the recurrence of similar atrocities. The memorial serves as a universal site for reflection, allowing people of all backgrounds to honor the victims appropriately [28:05].

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Conclusion

This episode of the Global News Podcast delves into the immediate and far-reaching consequences of Donald Trump's return to the White House, highlighting significant policy reversals and their global impact. Concurrently, the podcast sheds light on critical international tragedies and historical revelations, portraying a world in flux. From the harrowing fire in Turkey to the cultural renaissance in Saudi Arabia and the solemn remembrance in Poland, the episode offers a comprehensive overview of current events shaping our global landscape.

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For more detailed insights and updates, listeners are encouraged to tune into the full episode of the Global News Podcast.

Transcript

[Valerie Sanderson]

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the uk. Discover how to lead a better life in our age of confusion. Enjoy this BBC audiobook collection written and presented by best selling author Oliver Berkman, containing four useful guides to tackling some central ills of busyness, anger, the insistence on positivity and the decline of nuance.

[Oliver Berkman]

Our lives today can feel like miniature versions of this relentless churn of activity. We find we're rushing around more crazily than ever. Somewhere when we weren't looking, looking.

[Valerie Sanderson]

It's like busyness became a way of life. Start listening to Oliver Epidemics of Modern Life. Available to purchase wherever you get your audiobooks. This is the Global News podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Valerie Sanderson and at 1400 hours GMT on Tuesday 21st January, these are our main stories. He's back in the White House and not wasting time.

[Donald Trump]

I'm going to the Oval Office and we'll be signing pardons for a lot of people. A lot of people.

[Valerie Sanderson]

Donald Trump overturns the jail terms for hundreds of his supporters who stormed the Capitol four years ago. We look at what he's already done after just hours in office. So what impact could a second Trump term have on climate change, international trade and global security? Also in this podcast, a deadly fire in Turkey kills dozens of people. Israel launches a lethal anti terrorism raid in the west bank. And.

[Caroline Hawley]

This is original stones from the street where the prisoners was going with the wooden shoes.

[Valerie Sanderson]

Eighty years on from the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp, we discover the troubling history of one Polish village. The rest of the world has been reacting to President Trump's return to the White House and the slew of decisions already changing the relationship of the US with other countries and global institutions. The World Health organization has asked Mr. Trump to reconsider his plan to pull the US out. And there's widespread concern over the exit of America from the Paris climate Agreement. We'll have more on that shortly. At home. There's been condemnation of his decision to pardon those convicted of the January 6th attack on the US Capitol back in 2021. The US Capitol Police Chief has questioned what message it sends to police officers, but Mr. Trump made his views clear in the first hours of his presidency.

[Donald Trump]

And you know, tonight I'm going to be signing on the J6 hostages pardons to get them out. And as soon as I leave, I'm going to the Oval Office and we'll be signing pardons for a lot of people. A lot of people.

[Valerie Sanderson]

Mr. Trump had warned he'd be a dictator from day one. So I asked our correspondent in Washington, Caroline Hawley, if there's any surprise at the speed and wide range of the decisions he's made in his first hours back in the White House.

[Nevin Singh Khadkar]

This is exactly what he promised. He said he would have heads spinning. He truly has. He spoke yesterday of a tide of change that was coming. It's felt like a tsunami. It's been hard to catch up with over the last few hours. He said, as you said, that he would be dictator for a day. So a lot happened in the first hours of his presidency. It is only just becoming light here in Washington. So his first full day in office has not yet begun. But everything from those pardons of his supporters who were arrested for storming the US Capitol, I mean, that's obviously a huge thing here. Then the sweeping away, essentially, of Joe Biden's legacy, rescinding 78 measures brought in by him on energy, on diversity and inclusion, withdrawing from the Paris climate Change agreement, which he did before, course. But this comes after the hottest year on record. And then on immigration, I mean, that plays very, very well to his base because many people, many of his supporters, are concerned about illegal immigration. In fact, most of the population, according to the polls. But then we have to remember as well that more than 50% of the population didn't actually vote for him, even though he won the popular vote. And for them, what's happened over the last few hours is deeply alarming.

[Valerie Sanderson]

Has there been much condemnation so far?

[Nevin Singh Khadkar]

Well, there's been condemnation of the pardons from the former House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, who said it was shameful. There has been concern expressed about, for example, the decision to pull the US out of the World Health Organization. The World Health Organization saying that it is worried by that. The US Was a founder of it. It's a key funder. Certainly, many, many people around the world will be concerned. And I think China has expressed concern about the US Pulling out of the climate change. Donald Trump was yesterday saying, drill, baby, drill. We've got to kind of unlock the liquid gold underneath our feet. And with that will make the economy great again. Now, that plays well to his supporters, but that causes a lot of alarm around the world. And then the other thing to say is just he spoke so much yesterday, and that's in stark contrast to Joe Biden, who fairly rarely kind of spoke and certainly not off the cuff. So armies of fact checkers in newsrooms right across the country are trying to keep up with what he said are.

[Valerie Sanderson]

There any breaks on what President Trump can do?

[Nevin Singh Khadkar]

Well, one of the most controversial things he wanted to do is to deny citizenship to children born in the US of illegal immigrants. That's called birthright citizenship, and there that is enshrined in the Constitution. So there are breaks. You know, there will be legal fights over some of what he said, but the issue is that he has both houses, so he does have many of the levers of power. But certainly we would expect some of what he's done and said to be challenged in the courts.

[Valerie Sanderson]

Caroline Hawley in Washington. President Trump has declared a national energy emergency. One of his first executive orders is to revoke a ban imposed by his predecessor, Joe Biden, on new offshore oil and gas development along most of the country's coastlines, although it's still unclear whether he'll legally be able to do this. In another order, Mr. Trump has started the process of withdrawing the US from the Paris climate agreement. So how will this affect the rest of the world? I asked Nevin singh Khadkar, the BBC's environment correspondent.

[Robert Wilkie]

He's also said that the U.S. s oil and gas now will go all over the world. So that means it's not just a US Story. It is about what will happen in other parts of the world, not just because the US Will be sending it elsewhere, but also because other major emitters like China or India or others, what will they do? Will they unify and say, oh, we need to be more careful about emissions now, or will they follow suit? But the initial signals we're getting is they might do something like that. For example, China's oil production and gas production going up. They are struggling to bring down coal, even coal, the dirtiest of fuels. India has openly announced, you know, that their coal production will definitely go up. And they're also looking into oil and gas. As if all this was not enough, the prelude to this, just a few days before the Trump's declaration of energy emergency, major US Banks, they made this exodus from this net zero banking alliance, which was a major thing. And now we're seeing reports that even European banks are considering their membership in this alliance. Now, this will send a very, very difficult message all around. Contrast this with what we heard and we saw during CO28 in UAE when that climate conference ended with a very significant declaration that the world will transition away from fossil fuels. Last year, Baku, they stopped short of saying that, and now we are all seeing this.

[Valerie Sanderson]

And of course, Mr. Trump has already started the process, hasn't he, of withdrawing the US from the Paris climate agreement. What will that mean?

[Robert Wilkie]

So, again, you see, if all these other countries, other major images, let's say, you know, if they say, okay, the US Is out, so now we'll have to actually be more proactive and bolster our carbon reductions, then maybe, you know, it might be a different story. But again, will that Happen?

[Valerie Sanderson]

Naveen Sinkadka. Mr. Trump's Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, his top diplomat, is already confirmed in office, and the appointment of his defense secretary, Pete Hexseth, is likely to be rubber stamped soon. The President says he wants them to use American might to pursue U.S. interests around the globe. Robert Wilkie was the veterans Secretary in President Trump's first administration and now leads his transition team in the Pentagon. Mr. Wilkie explained to the BBC's Justin Webb what he thinks should happen next.

[Donald Trump]

We need to produce artillery shells. We need to produce precision guided munitions. We need more boats in the shipyards being built. That also includes nuclear submarines. And we need more aircraft coming off of the assembly line. Those are the things that we've neglected. So for our allies in NATO, I know the President will be asking them to do more.

[Caroline Hawley]

What should happen now?

[Valerie Sanderson]

What will happen, do you think, with Ukraine?

[Donald Trump]

I do think that the President will make the first call to Putin, and it'll probably go something along the lines of, if you don't stop, we'll give Zelensky everything he needs. The call going to Zelensky will probably be along the lines of, you haven't done enough to fully protect your country in the sense that you're not calling to the colors the largest segment of your population. You're leaving out the male population of your country, who provide the muscle and the strength.

[Valerie Sanderson]

What if Putin says, do you know what?

[Oliver Berkman]

I've taken the call, we've had the conversation, but I'm going to carry on.

[Donald Trump]

That is going to be something that Putin will have to think very, very strategically about, and I'll tell you why. Because one of those executive orders that is being signed as we speak will unleash American energy power. The spigots will be open. The flow of liquefied natural gas to Europe will begin. That will bankrupt the Russian economy. He's not going to be able to prosper.

[Caroline Hawley]

Do you believe that Donald Trump has.

[Oliver Berkman]

A unified theory of how he approaches the outside world?

[Donald Trump]

He has an instinctive view of America's role in the world. And if you look at the way he acted in his first term, it was based on actually a traditional notion of American deterrence. You build up power in a threatened area, you tell the bad actors do not move. If they do, you punish them.

[Valerie Sanderson]

Robert Wilkie Other news now the Turkish authorities say a fire at a ski resort hotel has killed at least 66 people and injured 51 others. The blaze broke out at the Grand Kartal hotel in northwestern Turkey's Bolu area. The fire comes at the start of a two week school holiday in Turkey when many families go on a skiing holiday. Emre Temel from BBC Turkish gave me the latest.

[Caroline Hawley]

51 people are injured. One of them are still at the intensive care. There have been 234 guests at the hotel. We also know that 17 wounded people were released from the hospital and the fire is controlled after 10 hours. We still don't know the cause of the fire. Investigators are trying to find out the cause of the fire. It broke out overnight around 3:30am at an hotel in the ski resort of Kartalkaya in Bodu province in northwestern Turkey. Bolu governor said that the fire erupted at the restaurant section at the fourth floor and spread the upper floors. It seems that it rapidly engulfed the 12 story building due to the wooden cladding on its exterior and Turkish Justice Ministry immediately launched a prop. They are expected to investigate the exact reason for the fire and any possible negligence by the hotel administration.

[Valerie Sanderson]

And what do we know about the people who were there because this is a very popular time, isn't it, for families to ski?

[Caroline Hawley]

Yes, the tragedy happened during the school semester break when the hotels in the region are packed. Initial death toll was announced at 10 and Turkish officials said two of them lost their lives because they panickedly jumped out of the hotel. But when they revised death toll they didn't tell how many of them lost their lives because of panic moods and how many of them were children. And there were terrible pictures. Footage showed people trying to escape from the hotel by tying the sheets and hanging them from the windows during the fire and Turkish authorities issued a broadcast ban over the incident.

[Valerie Sanderson]

Emirate Hemel still to come in this.

[Oliver Berkman]

Podcast Being part of such a program inspired me to continue sharing Saudi stories with the world.

[Valerie Sanderson]

Huge boxing bouts of football, World cup and now the Saudi authorities are welcoming movie stars and filmmakers. But there are strict conditions. Discover how to lead a better life in our age of confusion. Enjoy this BBC audiobook collection written and presented by best selling author Oliver Berkman. Containing four useful guides to tackling some central ills of modernity, busyness, anger, the insistence on positivity and the decline of nuance.

[Oliver Berkman]

Our lives today can feel like miniature Versions of this relentless churn of activity, we find we're rushing around more crazily than ever. Somewhere when we weren't looking.

[Valerie Sanderson]

It's like busyness became a way of life. Start listening to Oliver. Epidemics of Modern Life. Available to purchase wherever you get your audiobooks. Palestinian officials say six people have been killed in Jenin after Israel launched what it called a counter terrorism operation in the west bank city. The raid came hours after mass Jewish settlers launched attacks on two West Bank Palestinian villages. A little earlier, President Trump had lifted sanctions on Israeli settlers in the occupied territory. A Middle east correspondent, Yora Nel, is in Jerusalem.

[Yolande Nel]

This is expected to be a large scale Israeli military operation. Just a short statement that's been put out so far by the security forces saying this is a counterterrorism operation that has begun. Analysts saying that large numbers of troops, including special forces are now operating in the city. And we have seen social media videos of Israeli military vehicles in the heart of the city. This is quite a volatile place in the north of the West Bank. And this is where in recent weeks we have had Palestinian security forces really conducting a weeks long operation there to try to reassert control over the city, which is seen as a stronghold of armed militant groups. Now, Yelan, why did President Trump decide.

[Oliver Berkman]

To lift those sanctions on Israeli settlers.

[Yolande Nel]

And what message does this send? Well, this is a major reversal of a policy action by the Biden administration which came amid growing international frustration about Israel's failure to rein in rising settler violence. And it has been welcomed by the far right pro settler minister Bezalel Smotrich in a statement that he has just put out. And it is seen by, you know, settlers as being a positive sign. But of course, that the Palestinian Authority has been quick to condemn this. And I also spoke to the mayor of a town in the north of the west bank which just last night saw a ramp by masked men from nearby settlements, it seems, and 21 people at least, Palestinian medics say, have been injured in confrontations with many Palestinian homes, many Palestinian vehicles having been set on fire. You can see that in videos circulating in these two Palestinian villages. The mayor there told me in Al Funduk that this seemed to be a green light for settlers to carry out more violent attacks against Palestinians.

[Oliver Berkman]

And just quickly, can you give us.

[Yolande Nel]

The latest on the prisoner release? Yeah. So the latest we've had is from Hamas in a statement saying that this next exchange of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners is expected to go ahead on Saturday. That should be four Israeli women hostages being released. I have to say that that is in the background of a lot of the tens that have been going on in the west bank because we know that the settlers are angry about the idea of a sort of large scale Palestinian prisoner release. Under the hostage deal, there has been messages circulating on social media telling people to block entrances to villages and that kind of thing. As a result, there's also a lot of nervousness among Israelis and Palestinians about whether ultimately this deal will hold, with discussions due to start in two weeks time on an end to the war and bringing what is actually the majority of the remaining Israeli hostages home. And President Trump didn't allay fears when he was asked about whether this deal will be implemented on all stages, he said in the Oval Office last night, I am not confident. Talking to reporters.

[Valerie Sanderson]

Yolande Nel, speaking there to Leanna Byrne Two Americans held by the Taliban in Afghanistan have been exchanged for an Afghan serving a life sentence in the United States on drug trafficking and terrorism. Terrorism charges. A statement from the Taliban government in Kabul announced the agreement, which was concluded just before President Biden's term in office ended. The news emerged after Ryan Corbett and William Wallace McKenty were freed in exchange for Khan Mohammed. Our chief international correspondent Lisa Set reports.

[Lyse Doucet]

This deal was done just before Joe Biden handed over power to Donald Trump. The family of Ryan Corbett thanked both administrations, as well as Qatar for what they described as its vital role. Mr. Corbett had lived in Afghanistan for many years with his family and was detained by the Taliban when he returned on a business trip. There are few details about Mr. McEntee, whose family have asked for privacy. The swap also involved Khan Mohammed, who was taken captive on the battlefield in Afghanistan during the US's military engagement. The Taliban called the exchange the result of long and fruitful negotiations and said they hoped it would help help to normalize relations. Since they took power in 2021, they have not been formally recognized by any government. This step won't change relations between Kabul and Washington, but more negotiations may follow. Two other Americans are still in Afghanistan, and the Taliban are seeking the release of an Afghan who is one of the remaining prisoners at the US's Guantanamo Bay detention center. Just before he took office, President Trump threatened to cut aid to Afghanistan unless the Taliban return the military equipment they seized after the US pullout.

[Valerie Sanderson]

Lyse Doucet in just a few years, Saudi Arabia has gone from a kingdom where cinemas were banned to a rising star in the film industry. The BBC's Emily Wither has been to a film festival in Jeddah to hear From Saudis revelling in newfound freedoms and foreign filmmakers lured in by cash incentives. But some are questioning how best to do business in a place with a poor record on human rights.

[Oliver Berkman]

I've come to an event being hosted by the industry magazine Screen International. They're announcing their Arab stars of tomorrow. Opening up the kingdom and Cinemas here in 2018 was all part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, also known as MBS's Grand Vision 2030 to diversify the economy away from oil and expand the kingdom's cultural soft power through sports and entertainment.

[Yolande Nel]

And we have Maria Bahrawi wearing a.

[Oliver Berkman]

Bright purple off the shoulder dress. Saudi actress Maria Bahwari has just been named one to watch. This year she performed in the first Saudi film to make it to Cannes, one of the world's most prestigious film gatherings. Being part of such a program inspired me to continue sharing Saudi stories with the world and the presence of Saudi talent on the global stage. For so many years, there wasn't Saudi talent on the global stage like there is now. How does it feel to be representing women as well? Five years ago, this was an impossible dream for Saudi women.

[Valerie Sanderson]

My name is Ben Dalton. I'm senior reporter for UK and international at Screen International. There are international American, European filmmakers who are starting to engage with the country. Guy Ritchie is an example, is shooting films here. Will Smith has spoken about, you know, how he wants to work here and then down to the attendees at the festival. Several of them have said they would like to work here. There are still many people who don't feel that same way and who have perhaps concerns that are very legitimate.

[Oliver Berkman]

Walking through the exhibition hall, I can see stands for film distributors, sales agents. And what's really caught my eye is what's next to it. Saudi popcorn topped with za'atar and pomegranate molasses. Here with her own stand is Saudi producer Rasha El Mam. One of the main messages we always try to, you know, get across is that Saudi is not just a desert. There's so much landscape and diversity. We would like to invite everyone to come to Saudi to see it, scout, make a film here. What kind of films will be able to access these new funding streams? Will they have to reflect certain values? Are there going to be certain rules around who can get investment here? There are a few red lines that are not allowed to be shot in Saudi, like nudity, sexual scenes, and everyone who comes in, they get get the full brief about it. But you can also shoot in Saudi, not for Saudi, because you can use a soundstage. And shoot a flat in London. MBS had signaled in his vision 2030 an intent to rewrite the Kingdom's script. The subplot, though, has always been marred by allegations of a disregard for human rights and a harsh crackdown on dissent. The Kingdom tightly controls speech and remains one of the world's most prolific executioners. Much of the cash being pumped into the entertainment industry comes directly from the state's public investment fund, also known as pif. Human Rights Watch have raised concerns about that fund. In a new report, I spoke to one of the authors, Joey Shea.

[Emily Wither]

We found that the public investment fund, Saudi Arabia's nearly trillion dollar sovereign wealth fund, has facilitated human rights abuses and has benefited from human rights abuses. We also documented how Mohammed bin Salman himself has near unilateral control over what is a trillion dollars in Saudi public wealth.

[Valerie Sanderson]

That report by Emily Wither and you can hear more by searching for Business Daily wherever you get your BBC podcasts. Eighty years ago in January 1945, Soviet forces liberated the biggest Nazi concentration and extermination camp, Auschwitz Birkenau. But just a week before that, death marches took place when SS guards forced tens of thousands of prisoners further west away from the advancing Red Army. Amy Liebowitz lost some members of her family in the Holocaust and she's visited a Polish village which has only just discovered its own troubling history.

[Caroline Hawley]

We are standing now directly on the the stone which belongs to the street.

[Emily Wither]

In Boykov's main square by a large Catholic church. The local school teacher, Krzysztof Krushinski, is pointing to the cobblestones we're standing on.

[Caroline Hawley]

We collected the old stone and we put on this square, but we didn't know before that this is the silence witness of the death Marshall.

[Emily Wither]

With Soviet troops fast approaching the extermination camp, Auschwitz Birkenau, SS guards forced tens of thousands of prisoners out of the camp onto what became known as the death marches. One of them passed through this village.

[Caroline Hawley]

This is original stones from the street where the prisoners was going with the wooden shoes. And the people for sure from the village not only watched the death march, but they heard this terrible sound.

[Emily Wither]

And yet for decades, the story of the death march here was unknown to the residents of this Polish village, Boikow. One of those who revealed this history is a German woman, Cornelia Stehler. She says, I knew all my life that there were these death marches because my mother was five years old when she saw the death marches of the Auschwitz inmates. And she remembers the clacking of the Wooden shoes. Cornelia was born 20 years after the war. She has spent years unearthing her own family's history during the war and what happened here. What we know is that these death marchers, people that were too weak to walk, that collapsed, were directly shot. That people that needed to go pee and had to go into the snow in order to urinate were shot. The next day, the streets were lined with corpses and the farmers were covering these corpses with straw from the fields and then basically disposed of the corpses. So why has it taken a German woman to tell today's Polish inhabitants of Boycott about their history? Well, because until 1945, this village used to be in Germany and was the proud German village of Schoenvald. Cornelia's family used to live in Schoenvald. But days after the death march, like others, her family escaped further west, terrified of the advancing Soviet troops, and took their history with them. Now, 80 years later, thanks to the rediscovery of this history, the victims of the death march passing through the village are at last being commemorated with a new memorial inside the Catholic cemetery. It's important in general to know of things that happened, of people that were killed, inhumanely treated, tortured. And if we look away and it's like we're doing this a second time.

[Caroline Hawley]

This place is for everybody. The judicious can come and put the stone. The Catholic can come put the candle. The other people can put the flower.

[Valerie Sanderson]

And you can hear more from Amy Leibowitz on assignment. And that's it from us for now. But there'll be a new edition of the Global News Podcast later, and we'll be answering your questions about the second Trump presidency. Maybe you want to know more about executive orders and pardons or for us to explain Trump's plans for immigration. How will his threat of additional tariffs play out? And why might a President Trump administration leave the World Health Organization? Please send us your questions or voice notes. The email address is globalpodcastbc.co.uk. this edition was mixed by Paul Mason. The producer was David Lewis. The editor is Karen Martin. I'm Valerie Sanderson. Until next time, bye Bye.

[Oliver Berkman]

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 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.

[Yolande Nel]

A house and not feeling like they can leave.

[Oliver Berkman]

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. The 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 yet 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.

[Valerie Sanderson]

To bring it into the light and.

[Oliver Berkman]

Almost alchemize some of that evil stuff that went on and take back the power. World of Secrets Season 6 the Bad Guru Listen, wherever you get your podcast.