US sends diplomats to Syria

Summary

Global News Podcast Summary BBC World Service – December 20, 2024

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The BBC World Service's "Global News Podcast" for December 20, 2024, delivers a comprehensive overview of pressing international issues ranging from diplomatic engagements in Syria to groundbreaking technological advancements. Hosted by Janak Jalil, the episode navigates through complex geopolitical landscapes, significant investigative reports, and intriguing developments in entertainment and science.

1. US Diplomatic Mission to Syria

In a landmark move, President Biden dispatched top US diplomats to Damascus to engage with Syria's new Islamist leadership, marking the first such visit in over a decade. Despite designating the Islamist rebel group HTS (Hayat Tahrir al-Sham) as a terrorist organization, the US aims to foster dialogue and seek commitments from HTS regarding inclusivity and protection for Syria's diverse ethnic and religious communities.

Key Discussions:

• Ahmed Al Shara's Promises: The leader of HTS, Ahmed Al Shara, has publicly advocated for lifting Western sanctions on Syria. However, skepticism remains about the genuineness of his commitments. Host 1 queries, "I think basically it's going to be that Ahmed Al Shara is going to do what he says... But is he going to do that?" (02:15).

• Historical Governance Concerns: Reflecting on HTS's previous governance in Idlib since 2016, Host 1 notes the group's authoritarian practices despite establishing functional ministries, citing instances where opponents were imprisoned and demonstrations occurred (02:25).

• Syrian Christian Perspective: Amash Nalbandian, head of the Christian Armenian Diocese of Damascus, expresses cautious optimism. He remarks, "We as bishops... want to be included and our voice be heard." (04:07). However, concerns about potential restrictions on women's rights and other civil liberties persist, influencing the broader Syrian populace's trust in the new regime.

2. Myanmar's Shifting Power Dynamics

Nearly four years post-coup, the Myanmar military's control has dwindled to less than a quarter of the nation. A BBC investigation, led by Rebecca Henchke, unveils a fragmented landscape where various resistance factions and ethnic armies command over 40% of Myanmar, complicating the military's stronghold.

Highlights:

• Rebel Strategies: Rebel commander Dewa discusses the transition from peaceful protests to armed resistance, emphasizing the strategic use of espionage within the military. "We have spies in the military who help us know the enemy's positions and plans," Dewa explains (08:23).

• Military's Aggressive Tactics: The Burmese regime intensifies efforts to reclaim lost territories, specifically targeting "watermelons" (spies loyal to the pro-democracy movement). Dewa voices the internal conflict, stating, "We are meant to protect civilians, but now we are killing our people." (10:24).

3. Renewed Search for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370

A decade after the mysterious disappearance of Flight MH370, Malaysian authorities have greenlit a fresh search operation. Transport Minister Anthony Loke confirmed that Ocean Infinity, a UK-based company, will spearhead the endeavor using a "no fine, no fee" model to explore a newly identified 15,000 square kilometer area in the southern Indian Ocean (11:49).

Insights:

• Persistence Driven by New Data: Asia Pacific regional editor Mickey Bristow elaborates on advancements in search technologies and refined crash site estimations that justify reopening the search (13:43).

• Emotional Drive: The unresolved fate of over 230 passengers fuels the determination to locate the wreckage, addressing both the families' demands and the lingering aviation mysteries surrounding the flight's deviation from its intended path (12:17).

4. Collapse of Credit Suisse: A Case of Complacency and Greed

The financial sector reels from the collapse of Credit Suisse, a banking giant whose downfall is attributed to systemic mismanagement and excessive risk-taking. A parliamentary inquiry revealed that the bank had lost $37 billion in the years leading up to its failure, during which top executives amassed over $44 billion in bonuses.

Detailed Analysis:

• Impact on Switzerland and Beyond: Geneva correspondent Imogen Folks underscores the potential global ramifications, likening the collapse to the 2008 financial crisis where the failure of a major bank had widespread effects (15:29).

• Public Sentiment: The Swiss populace's trust in their financial institutions has been severely undermined, especially considering previous bailouts like that of UBS in 2008. The consolidation of Credit Suisse into UBS places significant responsibility on the latter, highlighting vulnerabilities within Switzerland's financial regulatory framework (17:03).

5. North Korean Troops in the Ukraine Conflict

Russia has enlisted troops from North Korea to bolster its efforts in the Ukraine conflict, a strategy that has resulted in significant North Korean casualties. South Korea's National Intelligence Service reports at least 100 North Korean soldiers killed and another thousand wounded.

Defector Insights:

• Harsh Realities vs. Propaganda: Defectors reveal the dire conditions and inadequate training of North Korean soldiers, contradicting the regime's portrayal of their forces as elite warriors. "We spent most of our time practicing, aiming our weapons... only had one live shooting practice," admits Dewa (19:44).

• Limited Prospect for Defection: Despite efforts by former soldiers to encourage surrender, strict disciplinary measures and harsh penalties make defection nearly impossible. "In North Korea, becoming a prisoner is considered worse than death," Dewa asserts (21:16).

6. Breakthrough in Diamond Battery Technology

British scientists have pioneered the world's first diamond-based battery using carbon-14, a naturally occurring radioisotope. These "beta voltaic" diamonds promise ultra-long-lasting power sources capable of functioning in extreme environments, such as deep-sea or space applications.

Technical Highlights:

• Innovative Design: Yannick Verbelin from the University of Bristol explains, "A diamond, beta voltaic is essentially a type of solar cell that consists of a radioactive diamond that uses its own radioactivity to generate a tiny amount of electricity." (23:04).

• Future Prospects and Challenges: While the current production process is slow, ongoing research aims to scale the technology and enhance power output. Challenges remain in areas like collection and recycling, which scientists are actively addressing (24:51).

7. Mr. Beast's Controversial Game Show: Beast Games

Transitioning from YouTube stardom to mainstream television, Jimmy Donaldson, known as Mr. Beast, debuts "Beast Games" on Amazon Prime. The show mirrors elements of the fictional "Squid Game," featuring physical and mental challenges with a staggering $5 million cash prize.

Entertainment Report:

• Competitive and High-Stakes Environment: Reporter K.J. Matthews describes the intense nature of the challenges, which include tasks that test contestants' endurance and strategic thinking, often inciting social conflicts such as betrayals for personal gain (25:57).

• Production and Reception: Filmed in Las Vegas, the show's rigorous demands have led to allegations of mistreatment, including sleep deprivation and food scarcity. Despite these controversies, the allure of the substantial prize continues to attract participants and viewers alike (27:17).

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This episode of the Global News Podcast encapsulates a diverse array of global narratives, offering listeners in-depth analyses and firsthand accounts of unfolding events. From the intricacies of international diplomacy and military engagements to pioneering scientific innovations and the evolving landscape of entertainment, the podcast serves as a vital resource for understanding the complexities of our interconnected world.

Transcript

[Host 1]

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the uk.

[Janak Jalil]

This is the global news podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Janak jalil and at 14 hours GMT on Friday 20th December, these are our main stories. In the first such visit in more than a decade, US diplomats are in Syria for talks with its new Islamist rulers. Malaysia authorises a fresh attempt to find the wreckage of any MH370, the plane that mysteriously disappeared 10 years ago. A BBC investigation reveals that nearly four years after Myanmar's military sparked a civil war with a coup, it now controls less than a quarter of the country. Also in this podcast, welcome to V Scans, a new game show with a $5 million prize. But what's the catch? We begin in Syria. The Islamist rebels who toppled Syria's dictator this month are designated a terrorist group by the United States. But that hasn't stopped President Biden sending top US diplomats to Damascus to hold talks with Syria's new rulers, the first such visit in more than a decade. This comes as the leader of the Islamist rebels, Abu Mohammed Al Jelani, who now uses his birth name, Ahmed Al Shara, has urged Western countries to lift their sanctions on Syria. Turkey, which backs the Syrian rebels, has also called for the lifting of the sanctions. And its president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, says his country will help Syria draft a new constitution. Our Middle east regional editor, Mike Thompson, says the Americans are expected to ask the HTS leaders for commitments on inclusivity and protection for Syria's many ethnic and religious groups.

[Host 1]

I think basically it's going to be that Ahmed Al Sara is going to do what he says, because he's talked about having an inclusive government and protecting the rights of minorities, ethnic and religious groups. But is he going to do that? Particularly will he do that when he gets what he wants in terms of the government and recognition from the outside world?

[Janak Jalil]

I suppose a clue to what he will do, whether his actions will match his words, would be to see his record in Italy, where HTS have governed since 2016.

[Host 1]

Well, that's right, yes. I mean, it's not a bad record in many ways, because HTS set up various ministries there and they govern the place reasonably well, I think, in the eyes of many. But it was quite an authoritarian regime. Many opponents, critics, were imprisoned. There were demonstrations, some earlier this year against hts. And running an area like Idlib is very different from running an entire country like Syria, which is much, much, much more complicated and difficult, of course.

[Janak Jalil]

Our international editor, Jeremy Byrne, spoke to the leader of HTS Ahmed Al Shara. He was keen to point out that under his rule in Idlib, 60% of university graduates were women. So that's a positive sign.

[Host 1]

Yes, yes it is. And he's pushed that quite strongly that women's rights will be respected. But we had on Thursday a demonstration in Damascus. Senior official from HTS has said that women's biological and psychological nature makes them unfit for certain jobs. And that caused a lot of anger and a big demonstration on Thursday. And that wasn't the only issue. There were other civil rights issues as well.

[Janak Jalil]

Mike Thompson well, as he was referring to there, many in Syria are nervous about whether the country's new rulers will deliver on their promises of inclusivity and protection for Syria's diverse array of ethics, ethnic and religious groups and its women. One person who has raised these concerns directly with HTS is Amash Nalbandian, head of the Christian Armenian Diocese of Damascus. He spoke to Luke Jones a week.

[Amash Nalbandian]

Ago, the bishops here in Damascus. We met a representative from this new government who is in charge of religious denominations and communities. And we asked about our rights, our demands. And it was a huge and beautiful promises that everything will be good and we can have freedom of practicing our faith and rights.

[Host 1]

Do you trust them to follow through with those promises?

[Amash Nalbandian]

Actually, it is very early to say that. Honestly, I don't have trust yet. You know, we heard from our people and faithful that in many places some people from this new government or from this group demand that the woman should cover their head or the alcohol would be prohibited. So it is actually something that make huge concerns among the people. But we as bishops, leader of the churches, we say this is of course important, but we will not stay on these small things. We are are more concerned how would be written the new constitution. And in this high level negotiations, we want to be included and our voice be heard.

[Janak Jalil]

Yeah, there have been some reports of.

[Host 1]

Some minorities already leaving the country.

[Janak Jalil]

Is that happening?

[Amash Nalbandian]

As they took over in Aleppo, many families, Syrians, Christians and Armenians too, they left their homes to other cities and some of them took the way to Lebanon. But after we saw that is nothing dangerous, many of them, they returned to their homes and houses. I will say for the credit of this HTS group or new government, that we are living a kind of normalization that everyone is going to his job, to his store and we opened the schools. Just we are waiting how the international community will accept this. And if yes, we are going to try to have our position in this new society, in this new government.

[Janak Jalil]

Syrian Bishop Amash Nalbandian. A BBC investigation has revealed that the Burmese military now only has full control of less than a quarter quarter of the territory in Myanmar. Nearly four years after seizing power in a coup, a patchwork of resistance groups and ethnic armies now have full control over more than 40% of the country and the rest is mostly contested. For over a year, BBCI has been following one of the rebel units and has found that spies in the military are helping them. Rebecca Henchke reports.

[Rebecca Henchke]

In a jungle camp near the Thai Myanmar border, Pro Democracy rebel commander Dewa watches over his troops training.

[Dewa]

We rallied peacefully on the streets. They cracked down on us, so we tried to protect ourselves. Later, we thought armed struggle was the only way to counter those who were wielding weapons. That's why we fought back.

[Rebecca Henchke]

He's got a thin physique and wears studious glasses. Definitely doesn't look like the image of a rebel fighter. Later, Dewa lies in a hammock under some trees at the side of their makeshift camp and picks up his phone.

[Amash Nalbandian]

Hello?

[Rebecca Henchke]

One of his key weapons in the war. He's talking to a spy, a soldier. In the Yangon region, they're known as watermelons. Green on the outside, appearing to be loyal to the regime, but inside, red working for the pro Democracy uprising, watermelons are vital.

[Dewa]

Through them we know the enemy's positions, movements, strengths and plans and we prepare our military operations using that.

[Rebecca Henchke]

As well as ordinary troops, Daewoo also controls underground cells in Yangon that are carrying out targeted attacks against the regime. He makes another call. This time it's to one of his cells in Yangon. We're not given the details, but it's clear they're planning an assassination.

[Dewa]

We will do it. Inside the enemy's security parameters, the target is a colonel.

[Rebecca Henchke]

While the underground cell makes plans, Dewa is moving his ground unit. He's received a tip off from a watermelon about a security post near a strategically located bridge.

[Dewa]

We have been told about their capabilities, where their reinforcements will come from and which route they will use to withdraw.

[Rebecca Henchke]

Dewa deploys his men on the opposite side of the bridge over a fast flowing river. Sandbags are put in place and snipers position themselves. Come quickly and join the people. You have no way to escape their yell. At night, on the 10th day, they make a final push, using a drone to target the security post. He goes up in flames. He claimed to have killed more than 30 soldiers. The regime are aggressively trying to reclaim lost territory and are carrying out sweeps looking for watermelons. If caught, they would likely be killed. But this frontline watermelon says it's worth the risk for security reasons. His words are being voiced by an actor.

[Dewa]

We are meant to protect civilians, but now we are killing our people. It's no longer an army, it's a force that is terrorizing our people. I'm angry. My anger is bigger than my fear.

[Janak Jalil]

A spy for the rebels Ending that report by Rebecca Henschke the Burmese military did not respond to our request for an interview. Ten years ago, this announcement by Malaysia Airlines made headlines around the world.

[Amash Nalbandian]

Malaysia Airlines confirmed that this flight, MH370.

[Host 1]

Lost contact with Subang Air Traffic Control.

[Dewa]

At 2.40am this morning.

[Janak Jalil]

It was the start of one of the great mysteries in aviation, the disappearance of flight MH370. In March 2014, the plane, with more than 230 people on board, was on its way from Malaysia to China when it simply vanished from radar screens. While some debris from the aircraft did eventually wash up on islands in the Indian Ocean, the plane itself has never been found and the search was abandoned in 2018. But now the Malaysian authorities have authorised a fresh attempt to find out what happened. The Transport Minister, Anthony Loke, confirmed that a private company would carry out the search.

[Yannick Verbelin]

The Cabinet has agreed in principle to accept the proposal from Ocean Infinity United Kingdom to proceed with seabed search operations to locate the wreckage of Flight MH370 in a new area estimated at 15,000 square kilometers in the southern Indian Ocean. This Endeavour will be based on the no fine, no fee principle.

[Janak Jalil]

Our Asia Pacific regional editor, Mickey Bristow.

[Mickey Bristow]

Told us more was flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing overnight, regular five and a half hour flight. But shortly after takeoff, the plane veered. Instead of going northeast, it veered westwards over the Malay Peninsula and then contact was lost with it. Initially, the search focused around the area where it had been lost. But then it became clear that the plane had actually continued to fly thousands of kilometres off the route which it was intended to fly and had ended up in the Indian Ocean where. Where investigators believe it had crashed. Initially there was a search there, firstly by the governments of Malaysia, China and Australia. That was over a vast area, 120,000 kilometers that ended. There was then a second search by a company, Ocean Infinity, that didn't find anything. And so that stopped and the investigation appeared to have died down. And as you suggested, there a great aviation mystery because so many people on board, so little knowledge about what could have happened to the plane. Why was it over the Indian Ocean? Why did it get there. So those questions remained. That's perhaps why the investigation has been reopened.

[Janak Jalil]

I was going to ask you that because given that there's been such vast, extensive searches in the past that have gone on for years, why are they trying again to find this wreckage in this vast expanse of water?

[Mickey Bristow]

I think a couple of reasons. I think since the last search, there's been a lot of work done on actually trying to take the information we do know about the plane to try and pinpoint more accurately where indeed investigators think that it crashed. And if you listen there to the transport minister from Malaysia, he suggested that this new area was 15,000 square kilometers. It sounds a big area, but it's far smaller than the initial search area. So I think they feel now they've pinpointed the area where the plane crashed. Also, there's, as you can imagine, real pressure from the families to try and find out what went on. So the Malaysian government knows that. And now it's got this fresh information. I think it's keen to try and look once again to try and find this plane.

[Janak Jalil]

Mickey bristow, still to come in the podcast Diamonds, A Girl's Best Friend.

[Yannick Verbelin]

It just looks like a tiny piece of glass. So if you would see it on the street, you wouldn't even bother picking it up because it really does look unspectacular.

[Janak Jalil]

These ones may not sparkle, but they could revolutionize battery technology. You're listening to the global news podcast Complacency and Greed. That's the verdict of a formal inquiry into the collapse last year of the banking giant Credit Suisse. The parliamentary report said the company lost $37 billion in the years ahead of the fall, while top managers were paid performance bonuses of more than 44 billion dol. In the end, the Swiss government forced a takeover by the country's other big bank, ubs. Our Geneva correspondent Imogen folks, told us more about the collapse and the inquiry into it.

[Imogen Folks]

Regarding the collapse, Credit Suisse before the takeover had been in trouble. It was known it was in trouble or not doing well anyway, making losses for quite some time. But it appears that nobody outside of the the bank itself really, really understood how serious it was except the rest of the world, except the world's financial markets, which were going into free fall, if you remember in the days before this forced takeover. So much so the Swiss government had to meet over the weekend while the markets were closed and announced this forced takeover late on a Sunday night. So the report today, as you said in your introduction, mismanagement, very risky financial strategies overexposed to some dodgy financial deals and complacent management and it appears very greedy management with those big bonuses where the report does offer some support as it says that the government itself was not particularly at fault and that Switzerland's financial regulator, though it tried, was simply not strong enough to avert this. Cris.

[Janak Jalil]

But this seems to be something that happens over and over again. We had the big global financial crisis in 2007 and 2008 when the banks were heavily criticized for risky behavior and greed. And now it seems the same thing has happened again. I mean, how damaging could this potentially have been if the government hadn't intervened and forced this takeover?

[Imogen Folks]

I think we were talking, if you remember, of another financial meltdown like 2008. Let's not forget Credit Suisse is a huge bank, not just in Switzerland, but globally, has had its finger in many, many, many financial pies. And a big bank failing like that, as we saw with Lehman Brothers in 2008, affects the entire global financial system, which is why the government forced this takeover. I think I wouldn't underestimate the disillusionment of Swiss citizen about this because they had to stump up in 2008 for a bailout of the other big Swiss bank, UBS. They thought credit Suisse was the more staid and reliable one until, you know, spring of 2023, when again, a massive, massive spotlight on Switzerland for all the wrong reasons. You know, they have a reputation for reliability gone. And now two huge banks they were proud of, now just one. A lot of responsibility resting on UBS's shoulders, I think.

[Janak Jalil]

Imogen Folks in Geneva. Russia's meat grinder tactics in its war in Ukraine are estimated to have lost it tens of thousands of soldiers to try to boost its numbers and to end an embarrassing Ukrainian incursion into Russia's Kursk region. The Kremlin has since October brought in troops from the most isolated country in the world, North Korea. And it seems that they too are dying in large numbers. At least 100 North Korean soldiers have been killed and another thousand wounded fighting Ukrainian troops, according to South Korea's National Intelligence Service. Our Seoul correspondent Jean Mackenzie has spoken to three North Korean army defectors to get their insight into the soldiers forced to fight in Russia and what conditions are like for them.

[Jean Mackenzie]

In propaganda videos, soldiers from North Korea's elite special forces are seen wading through frozen rivers topless, smashing blocks of ice with their bare hands. The regime showcases them as the toughest of the tough. But according to Hanau, who served as a frontline soldier in the Demilitarized Zone, that's not the reality.

[Dewa]

After our training, nearly everyone ended up suffering from severe malnutrition, and we had to be sent to a recovery center to regain weight. Even the Special Forces soldiers looked weak and frail.

[Jean Mackenzie]

How much military training did you get?

[Dewa]

We spent most of our time practicing, aiming our weapons. We only had one live shooting practice.

[Jean Mackenzie]

I've come to meet another defector, Sung Hyun, who escaped fairly recently in 2019. He says that although the Special Forces do get some more advanced training, they're not frontline soldiers.

[Dewa]

The mission of these Special Forces is to infiltrate enemy lines and create chaos within enemy territory. They're trained to carry out very specialized tasks like assassinations.

[Jean Mackenzie]

How well do you think they're going to be able to adapt to fighting a war in Russia and Ukraine?

[Dewa]

They might lack fighting skills, but I think they'll be more willing to fight than the Russian troops. A lot of these soldiers will have wanted to go to Russia. Serving in the North Korean military is practically like being in a war zone. This gives them a chance to experience life abroad.

[Jean Mackenzie]

While it's unlikely these troops will turn the tide of this war, they give Vladimir Putin much needed manpower. And all the North Koreans I've spoken to say it would be a mistake to dismiss them as just cannon fodder. Their loyalty to Kim Jong Un will count for a lot. I ask Hannel what this means for Ukrainian and South Korean hopes that many of them will simply defect.

[Dewa]

I think the chances are close to zero. And if a soldier shows any sign of defection, it's likely they'll be shot immediately.

[Jean Mackenzie]

Because of this strict discipline, Son Kyung thinks it's unlikely many soldiers will even be captured.

[Dewa]

In North Korea, becoming a prisoner is considered worse than death. There is even a military song which says, save the last bullet to shoot yourself with.

[Jean Mackenzie]

But despite the risk, a group of former North Korean soldiers is hoping to persuade some to surrender. This is a message recorded by the defector, Lee Hyun Sung, who used to train Special Forces comrades. We've been deceived, he says. There is a new path ahead. Li hopes this message can be played to the men on the front line.

[Mickey Bristow]

I thought that the familiar voices, like my voice and other voices from North.

[Amash Nalbandian]

Korea, can impact their mindset. If they convince 10,000 North Korean soldiers, they can create a division between North Korea and Russia.

[Jean Mackenzie]

So talking about 10,000 soldiers defecting, that's very optimistic.

[Amash Nalbandian]

It is unlikely, but we have to keep trying.

[Janak Jalil]

That report by Jean MacKenzie. British scientists and engineers have successfully created the world's first battery made from diamonds grown in a laboratory. These, they believe, could each be a source of power for thousands of years and in extreme environments, such as deep under the ocean's surface or even outer space. Yannick Verbelin from the University of Bristol helped to develop the battery. And in case you think it's all sparkly, he says, its remarkable potential is belied by its very ordinary appearance.

[Yannick Verbelin]

It just looks like a tiny piece of glass that's a few millimeters in size and only 200 micrometers thick. So if you would see it on the street, you wouldn't even bother picking it up, because it really does look unspectacular. And the key is in this very unique radioisotope, carbon 14, which is actually a naturally occurring radioisotope. It's formed in the atmosphere. It's absorbed by plants, which we then eat. So we also contain some carbon 14, of course, in very small concentrations. Where it becomes interesting is that carbon can take many forms, but if you compress it under very high temperature, you can actually turn it into diamond. But if you start with radioactive carbon, such as carbon 14, then you can indeed create a radioactive diamond. So a diamond, beta voltaic is essentially a type of solar cell that consists of a radioactive diamond that uses its own radioactivity to generate a tiny amount of electricity. It is absolutely safe because diamond is one of the hardest naturally occurring materials on the planet. So Once the carbon 14 is locked in its diamond structure, it doesn't leak out. There is no chemicals inside of it. There is no electrolyte. It is actually a piece of diamond. Currently, we're just growing them very, very slowly with chemical vapor deposition, and it takes a long time, hours or days, depending on how large and how thick we want them to be. So one of the challenges now is to continue the journey and see how we can upscale the technology to make it available to more applications, to improve the power output, and also to tackle some challenges, such as, for example, collection, recycling, and so on.

[Janak Jalil]

Dr. Yannick Verbelin, a new television game show in the US is causing a stir, partly because of its likeness to the fictional South Korean game show depicted in the Netflix series Squid Game, and partly because of the prize on offering $5 million in cash. Welcome to Beast Games. We've got the most players, billions of dollars of cash prizes on top of the $5 million we're giving away. As you heard there, it's called Beast Games. And the man you're hearing is one of YouTube's biggest stars, Jimmy Donaldson, better known as Mr. Beast. This is Mr. Beast's mainstream TV debut with a show now streaming on as in Prime. It involves physical and mental tests, but also a certain amount of social conflict. Contestants, for example, are offered bribes to betray their teammates. Perhaps not surprisingly, it's been described as brutal and humiliating. And the company behind it is already facing a variety of lawsuits. As a Hollywood entertainment reporter, KJ Matthews, explained to Paul Moss, a lot of.

[K.J. Matthews]

People have been alleging that they've been sleep deprived, that they've been deprived of food, all sorts of crazy things. One of the challenges I watched was pretty easy, but it was basically stacking a lot of cubes on top of one another, and the cubes get bigger and bigger. And your job is to make sure you stack them and keep them up there for a certain set period of time. And if it should fall over, you're out of the game. So it kind of reminds you of even the way that they're dressed. They're all wearing uniforms. Some of them have a number on it. It could remind you of Netflix Squid Games. There's a lot of similarity to that. This is a little bit different. Obviously, nobody's getting shot. You know, this is a serious game, but, you know, the games are meant to really challenge them physically and mentally. Long hours. It was shot out in Las Vegas, out in the desert. So as you can imagine, you are going to have to perform tremendous physical tasks and mental tasks to even get close to winning $5 million when you're competing with a thousand other people.

[Host 1]

One of the themes of Squid Game was the way in which contestants are forced to work against each other at times leading to the other contestants dying. And in this series as well, I think contestants are being forced to betray each other to make sure other people don't win.

[K.J. Matthews]

Oh, yes. I call it that Real Housewives moment. You know, the bickering and the bantering that you see on these Real Housewives. Seeing a little bit of that in these Beast game series episodes. You see so many of the contestants going against one another, arguing with each other, saying, no, this is the best way to do it. You shouldn't do it this way. All of that makes it even more titillating and interesting.

[Host 1]

Now, Mr. Beast, who's hosting this program, he's only 26 years old, but I gather he's already made a vast amount of money out of his appearances on YouTube.

[K.J. Matthews]

Oh, yes, he's got more than 300 million subscribers on YouTube. And Forbes magazine has already ranked him as the highest paid YouTuber. And he has an estimated net worth of $500 million. So when you think about it, the fact that he may be getting somewhere around 100 million to be the host of this game series, it's not that much considering the fact that he's worth 500 million.

[Host 1]

So having described to us just how tough these contestants have to be to get through the series, are you thinking of applying?

[K.J. Matthews]

Yes. When I saw the 5 million, I thought to myself, what's the age requirement? What's the age limit for that? I'm sure I can do a couple crazy things on television for the 5 million. Why not?

[Janak Jalil]

Entertainment reporter K.J. matthews. 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 topics covered, you can send us an email. The address is globalpodcastbc.co.uk. this edition was produced by Harry Bly. It was mixed by Nora Houle. The editor is Karen Martin. I'm Janat Jalil. Until next time. Goodbye.

[Rebecca Henchke]

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.

[Host 1]

It felt a really safe and welcoming space. After the yoga classes, I felt amazing.

[Rebecca Henchke]

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.

[Host 1]

I don't have my passport. I don't have my phone. I don't have my bank cards. I have nothing.

[Janak Jalil]

The passport being taken, the being in a house and not feeling like they can leave.

[Rebecca Henchke]

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.

[Host 1]

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.

[Jean Mackenzie]

That whatever they were doing, even if.

[Host 1]

It seemed gross to me, was for some spiritual reason that I couldn't yet understand.

[Rebecca Henchke]

Revealing the hidden secrets of a global yoga network.

[Host 1]

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 it into the light and almost alchemize some of that evil stuff that went on and take back The.

[Rebecca Henchke]

Power World of Secrets Season 6 the Bad Guru Listen, wherever you get your podcasts, SA.