Forced to work in Myanmar scam centres

Pascale Harter introduces stories from Sierra Leone, Myanmar, the United States, Canada and the Netherlands.

Chinese criminal gangs have established lucrative scam centres in Myanmar. Workers are lured from across the world to travel to neighbouring Thailand, with the promise of well-paid jobs – then find themselves trafficked into locked compounds across the border, where they face exploitation, violence and no way home. Olivia Acland followed one man's story.

An increasing number of Americans - especially young men - are converting to the Russian Orthodox Church, leaving the Catholic and Protestant traditions they were born into. Some say they're convinced by Russian Orthodoxy's stress on unabashed masculinity and traditional family values. Lucy Ash met some recent converts in Texas.

The diplomatic tensions between the US and Canada continue over Donald Trump's repeated desire to make Canada the 51st state. The issue was forefront in Canadian minds as King Charles went to Ottawa last week, with locals looking for signs of support for the country’s sovereignty. Royal correspondent Sean Coughlan watched the King walk a diplomatic tightrope.

More than a quarter of all journeys are made by bike in the Netherlands – which made it even more maddening for correspondent Anna Holligan, when she recently had her bike stolen in The Hague. She observes how her story drew out a softer side to the pragmatic Dutch.

Producer: Polly Hope
Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith
Production Coordinator: Katie Morrison

Image: Alleged scam centre workers and victims are pictured during a crackdown operation by the Karen Border Guard Force (BGF) on illicit activity at the KK Park business complex in Myanmar (Photo by STR/AFP via Getty Images)