The second season of the widely popular South Korean TV series Squid Games has been released. Taking inspiration from Squid Games, fraudsters in China are preying on indebted people with promises of prize money, debt restructuring and other schemes that are not always what is promised.
A report by the news agency Reuters on Wednesday (Dec 25) said that, unlike Squid Games, the Chinese players (those who are indebted) take on "isolation challenges" that do not risk their lives if they lose.
<h2>A look at the scam</h2>
News agency Reuters reported that in these isolation challenges- people pay hundreds of dollars to stay in a room for days, following prescribed rules in the hopes of winning as much as $140,000 (around 1 million yuan).&nbsp;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pentagon-releases-annual-report-on-chinas-military-developments-a-look-at-the-key-facts-785627" rel="dofollow">Pentagon releases annual report on China's military developments showing disturbing rise in nukes</a>
Courts found that some of the participants were being scammed, and regulators were warning people about dodgy debt relief claims.&nbsp;
Isolation challenges, often advertised on Douyin, as TikTok is known in China, have risen in popularity this year as the world's second-biggest economy slows.&nbsp;
The long list of rules in the challenges include toilet breaks not exceeding 15 minutes and bans on touching the alarm clock more than twice a day.
Many players cry foul when they do not survive their first day for infractions caught on surveillance cameras, which they dispute.
<h2>A warning by the NFRA</h2>
On Tuesday, the National Financial Regulatory Administration (NFRA) warned the public not to fall for "debt intermediaries" claiming to help people restructure their borrowings or improve their credit profiles.
Touting their services through phone, texts, flyers and ads on social media, such intermediaries claim they can help secure new loans or provide temporary funds, but the NFRA warned the services came with a high fee.
(With inputs from agencies)

Isolation challenges, often advertised on Douyin, as TikTok is known in China, have risen in popularity this year as the world's second-biggest economy slows. 

The second season of the widely popular South Korean TV series Squid Games has been released. Taking inspiration from Squid Games, fraudsters in China are preying on indebted people with promises of prize money, debt restructuring and other schemes that are not always what is promised. A report by the news agency Reuters on Wednesday (Dec 25) said that, unlike Squid Games, the Chinese players (those who are indebted) take on "isolation challenges" that do not risk their lives if they lose. A look at the scam News agency Reuters reported that in these isolation challenges- people pay hundreds of dollars to stay in a room for days, following prescribed rules in the hopes of winning as much as $140,000 (around 1 million yuan). Also read | Pentagon releases annual report on China's military developments showing disturbing rise in nukes Courts found that some of the participants were being scammed, and regulators were warning people about dodgy debt relief claims. Isolation challenges, often advertised on Douyin, as TikTok is known in China, have risen in popularity this year as the world's second-biggest economy slows. The long list of rules in the challenges include toilet breaks not exceeding 15 minutes and bans on touching the alarm clock more than twice a day. Many players cry foul when they do not survive their first day for infractions caught on surveillance cameras, which they dispute. A warning by the NFRA On Tuesday, the National Financial Regulatory Administration (NFRA) warned the public not to fall for "debt intermediaries" claiming to help people restructure their borrowings or improve their credit profiles. Touting their services through phone, texts, flyers and ads on social media, such intermediaries claim they can help secure new loans or provide temporary funds, but the NFRA warned the services came with a high fee. (With inputs from agencies)

Real-life Squid Games?: Fraudsters in China take cue from South Korean TV series to prey on indebted

One must have seen the Squid Games on Netflix now play it in real life six challenges will put your skills to the test in an immersive competition in Los Angeles. More details in this report.

Los Angeles: Inside 'Squid games: The Trials'

In the first missile test this year, North Korea has fired an unidentified projectile into the sea east of the peninsula. Now it is suspected to be a ballistic missile.

North Korea starts the year 2022 with a missile launch into the sea

Amid a year of controversy, the Hollywood Foreign Press, the body responsible for the annual Golden Globe Awards announced its nominees for the 2022 awards and tried to redeem itself with more representation- at least in the nomination list.&nbsp; 
 
Perhaps the biggest show this year- Korean drama 'Squid Games' earned two nominations in Best Drama TV series and Best Actor category. 'Ted Lasso', 'Succession' and 'Pose' too earned nominations.&nbsp; 
 
Jessica Chastain earned two nominations - in Best Actress Motion Picture Drama for 'The Eyes of Tammy Faye' and in a Limited Series category for 'Scenes From a Marriage.' In the same category, Kate Winslet too earned a nod for 'Mare of Easttown'.&nbsp; 
 
Lady Gaga predictably earned a nomination in Best Actress motion picture drama category for 'House Of Gucci' meanwhile Benedict Cumberbatch clenched a best actor nod for 'The Power of Dog'.&nbsp; 
 
Here is the full list of nominees for the 2022 Golden Globes. 
&nbsp;

Films

Best motion picture — drama 
“Belfast” 
“CODA” 
“Dune” 
“King Richard” 
“The Power of the Dog”

Director, Motion Picture: 
Steven Spielberg- 'West Side Story' 
Denis Villeneuve- 'Dune'&nbsp; 
Jane Campion- 'The Power of the Dog' 
Kenneth Branagh- 'Belfast' 
Maggie Gyllenhaal- 'The Lost Daughter'

Actress in a motion picture — drama 
Jessica Chastain (“The Eyes of Tammy Faye”) 
Olivia Colman (“The Lost Daughter”) 
Nicole Kidman (“Being the Ricardos”) 
Lady Gaga (“House of Gucci”) 
Kristen Stewart (“Spencer”)

Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama 
Benedict Cumberbatch- 'The Power of the Dog' 
Will Smith - 'King Richard' 
Denzel Washington-'The Tragedy of Macbeth' 
Mahershala Ali- 'Swan Song' 
Javier Bardem- 'Being the Ricardos'

Best motion picture — musical or comedy 
“Cyrano” 
“Don’t Look Up” 
“Licorice Pizza” 
“Tick, Tick…Boom!” 
“West Side Story”

Actor in a motion picture — musical or comedy 
Leonardo DiCaprio (“Don’t Look Up”) 
Peter Dinklage (“Cyrano”) 
Andrew Garfield (“Tick, Tick…Boom!”) 
Cooper Hoffman, “Licorice Pizza” 
Anthony Ramos, “In the Heights”

Actress in a motion picture — musical or comedy 
Marion Cotillard (“Annette”) 
Alana Haim (“Licorice Pizza”) 
Jennifer Lawrence (“Don’t Look Up”) 
Emma Stone (“Cruella”) 
Rachel Zegler (“West Side Story”)

Supporting actor in a motion picture 
Ben Affleck, “The Tender Bar” 
Jamie Dornan (“Belfast”) 
Ciarán Hinds (“Belfast”) 
Troy Kotsur (“CODA”) 
Kodi Smit-McPhee (“The Power of the Dog”)

Supporting actress in a motion picture 
Caitriona Balfe (“Belfast”) 
Ariana DeBose (“West Side Story”) 
Kirsten Dunst (“The Power of the Dog”) 
Aunjanue Ellis (“King Richard”) 
Ruth Negga (“Passing”)

Screenplay — motion picture 
“Being the Ricardos” 
“Belfast” 
“Don’t Look Up” 
“Licorice Pizza” 
“The Power of the Dog”

Motion picture — foreign language 
“Compartment No. 6” (Juho Kuosmanen, Finland) 
“Drive My Car” (Ryûsuke Hamaguchi, Japan) 
“The Hand of God” (Paolo Sorrentino, Italy) 
“A Hero” (Asghar Farhadi, Iran) 
“Parallel Mothers” (Pedro Almodovar, Spain)

Motion picture — animated 
“Encanto” 
“Flee” 
“Luca” 
“My Sunny Maad” 
“Raya and the Last Dragon”

Original score — motion picture 
“Dune” — Hans Zimmer 
“Encanto” — Germaine Franco 
“The French Dispatch” — Alexandre Desplat 
“Parallel Mothers” — Alberto Iglesias 
“The Power of the Dog” — Jonny Greenwood

Original song — motion picture 
“Be Alive” from “King Richard” (Beyoncé; written by Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, Dixson) 
“Dos Oruguitas” from “Encanto” (Sebastian Yatra; written by Lin-Manuel Miranda) 
“Down to Joy” from “Belfast” (written and performed by Van Morrison) 
“Here I Am (Singing My Way Home)” from “Respect” (Jennifer Hudson; written by Jamie Alexander Hartman, Hudson, Carole King) 
“No Time to Die” from “No Time to Die” (Billie Eilish; written by Eilish, Miles Ale, Finneas O’Connell)

Television

Television series — drama 
“Lupin” 
“The Morning Show” 
“Pose” 
“Squid Game” 
“Succession”

Actor in a Television Series, Drama 
Brian Cox- 'Succession' 
Jeremy Strong- 'Succession' 
Billy Porter- 'Pose' 
Omar Sy- 'Lupin' 
Lee Jung Jae- 'Squid Game'

Actress in a television series — drama 
Uzo Aduba, “In Treatment” 
Jennifer Aniston, “The Morning Show” 
Christine Baranaski, “The Good Fight” 
Elisabeth Moss, “The Handmaid’s Tale” 
Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, “Pose”

Television series — musical or comedy 
“The Great” 
“Hacks” 
“Only Murders in the Building” 
“Reservation Dogs” 
“Ted Lasso”

Actor in a television series — musical or comedy 
Anthony Anderson, “black-ish” 
Nicholas Hoult, “The Great” 
Steve Martin, “Only Murders in the Building” 
Martin Short, “Only Murders in the Building” 
Jason Sudeikis, “Ted Lasso”

Actress in a television series — musical or comedy 
Hannah Einbeinder, “Hacks” 
Elle Fanning, “The Great” 
Issa Rae, “Insecure” 
Tracee Ellis Ross, “black-ish” 
Jean Smart, “Hacks”

Limited series, anthology series or motion picture made for television 
“Dopesick” 
“Impeachment: American Crime Story” 
“Maid” 
“Mare of Easttown” 
“The Underground Railroad”

Actor in a limited series, anthology series or motion picture made for television 
Paul Bettany, “WandaVision” 
Oscar Isaac, “Scenes from a Marriage” 
Michael Keaton, “Dopesick” 
Ewan McGregor, “Halston” 
Tahar Rahim, “The Serpent”

Actress in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or a Motion Picture 
Jessica Chastain- 'Scenes From a Marriage' 
Cynthia Erivo- 'Genius: Aretha' 
Elizabeth Olsen- 'Wandavision' 
Margaret Qualley- 'Maid' 
Kate Winslet- 'Mare of Easttown'

Supporting actor — television 
Billy Crudup, “The Morning Show” 
Kieran Culkin, “Succession” 
Mark Duplass, “The Morning Show” 
Brett Goldstein, “Ted Lasso” 
O Yeong-Su, “Squid Game”

Supporting actress — television 
Jennifer Coolidge, “White Lotus” 
Kaitlyn Dever, “Dopesick” 
Andie MacDowell, “Maid” 
Sarah Snook, “Succession” 
Hannah Waddingham, “Ted Lasso”

 
&nbsp;

Amid a year of controversy, the Hollywood Foreign Press, the body responsible for the annual Golden Globe Awards announced its nominees for the 2022 awards and tried to redeem itself with more representation- at least in the nomination list.

Amid a year of controversy, the Hollywood Foreign Press, the body responsible for the annual Golden Globe Awards announced its nominees for the 2022 awards and tried to redeem itself with more representation- at least in the nomination list. Perhaps the biggest show this year- Korean drama 'Squid Games' earned two nominations in Best Drama TV series and Best Actor category. 'Ted Lasso', 'Succession' and 'Pose' too earned nominations. Jessica Chastain earned two nominations - in Best Actress Motion Picture Drama for 'The Eyes of Tammy Faye' and in a Limited Series category for 'Scenes From a Marriage.' In the same category, Kate Winslet too earned a nod for 'Mare of Easttown'. Lady Gaga predictably earned a nomination in Best Actress motion picture drama category for 'House Of Gucci' meanwhile Benedict Cumberbatch clenched a best actor nod for 'The Power of Dog'. Here is the full list of nominees for the 2022 Golden Globes. Films Best motion picture — drama “Belfast” “CODA” “Dune” “King Richard” “The Power of the Dog” Director, Motion Picture: Steven Spielberg- 'West Side Story' Denis Villeneuve- 'Dune' Jane Campion- 'The Power of the Dog' Kenneth Branagh- 'Belfast' Maggie Gyllenhaal- 'The Lost Daughter' Actress in a motion picture — drama Jessica Chastain (“The Eyes of Tammy Faye”) Olivia Colman (“The Lost Daughter”) Nicole Kidman (“Being the Ricardos”) Lady Gaga (“House of Gucci”) Kristen Stewart (“Spencer”) Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama Benedict Cumberbatch- 'The Power of the Dog' Will Smith - 'King Richard' Denzel Washington-'The Tragedy of Macbeth' Mahershala Ali- 'Swan Song' Javier Bardem- 'Being the Ricardos' Best motion picture — musical or comedy “Cyrano” “Don’t Look Up” “Licorice Pizza” “Tick, Tick…Boom!” “West Side Story” Actor in a motion picture — musical or comedy Leonardo DiCaprio (“Don’t Look Up”) Peter Dinklage (“Cyrano”) Andrew Garfield (“Tick, Tick…Boom!”) Cooper Hoffman, “Licorice Pizza” Anthony Ramos, “In the Heights” Actress in a motion picture — musical or comedy Marion Cotillard (“Annette”) Alana Haim (“Licorice Pizza”) Jennifer Lawrence (“Don’t Look Up”) Emma Stone (“Cruella”) Rachel Zegler (“West Side Story”) Supporting actor in a motion picture Ben Affleck, “The Tender Bar” Jamie Dornan (“Belfast”) Ciarán Hinds (“Belfast”) Troy Kotsur (“CODA”) Kodi Smit-McPhee (“The Power of the Dog”) Supporting actress in a motion picture Caitriona Balfe (“Belfast”) Ariana DeBose (“West Side Story”) Kirsten Dunst (“The Power of the Dog”) Aunjanue Ellis (“King Richard”) Ruth Negga (“Passing”) Screenplay — motion picture “Being the Ricardos” “Belfast” “Don’t Look Up” “Licorice Pizza” “The Power of the Dog” Motion picture — foreign language “Compartment No. 6” (Juho Kuosmanen, Finland) “Drive My Car” (Ryûsuke Hamaguchi, Japan) “The Hand of God” (Paolo Sorrentino, Italy) “A Hero” (Asghar Farhadi, Iran) “Parallel Mothers” (Pedro Almodovar, Spain) Motion picture — animated “Encanto” “Flee” “Luca” “My Sunny Maad” “Raya and the Last Dragon” Original score — motion picture “Dune” — Hans Zimmer “Encanto” — Germaine Franco “The French Dispatch” — Alexandre Desplat “Parallel Mothers” — Alberto Iglesias “The Power of the Dog” — Jonny Greenwood Original song — motion picture “Be Alive” from “King Richard” (Beyoncé; written by Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, Dixson) “Dos Oruguitas” from “Encanto” (Sebastian Yatra; written by Lin-Manuel Miranda) “Down to Joy” from “Belfast” (written and performed by Van Morrison) “Here I Am (Singing My Way Home)” from “Respect” (Jennifer Hudson; written by Jamie Alexander Hartman, Hudson, Carole King) “No Time to Die” from “No Time to Die” (Billie Eilish; written by Eilish, Miles Ale, Finneas O’Connell) Television Television series — drama “Lupin” “The Morning Show” “Pose” “Squid Game” “Succession” Actor in a Television Series, Drama Brian Cox- 'Succession' Jeremy Strong- 'Succession' Billy Porter- 'Pose' Omar Sy- 'Lupin' Lee Jung Jae- 'Squid Game' Actress in a television series — drama Uzo Aduba, “In Treatment” Jennifer Aniston, “The Morning Show” Christine Baranaski, “The Good Fight” Elisabeth Moss, “The Handmaid’s Tale” Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, “Pose” Television series — musical or comedy “The Great” “Hacks” “Only Murders in the Building” “Reservation Dogs” “Ted Lasso” Actor in a television series — musical or comedy Anthony Anderson, “black-ish” Nicholas Hoult, “The Great” Steve Martin, “Only Murders in the Building” Martin Short, “Only Murders in the Building” Jason Sudeikis, “Ted Lasso” Actress in a television series — musical or comedy Hannah Einbeinder, “Hacks” Elle Fanning, “The Great” Issa Rae, “Insecure” Tracee Ellis Ross, “black-ish” Jean Smart, “Hacks” Limited series, anthology series or motion picture made for television “Dopesick” “Impeachment: American Crime Story” “Maid” “Mare of Easttown” “The Underground Railroad” Actor in a limited series, anthology series or motion picture made for television Paul Bettany, “WandaVision” Oscar Isaac, “Scenes from a Marriage” Michael Keaton, “Dopesick” Ewan McGregor, “Halston” Tahar Rahim, “The Serpent” Actress in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or a Motion Picture Jessica Chastain- 'Scenes From a Marriage' Cynthia Erivo- 'Genius: Aretha' Elizabeth Olsen- 'Wandavision' Margaret Qualley- 'Maid' Kate Winslet- 'Mare of Easttown' Supporting actor — television Billy Crudup, “The Morning Show” Kieran Culkin, “Succession” Mark Duplass, “The Morning Show” Brett Goldstein, “Ted Lasso” O Yeong-Su, “Squid Game” Supporting actress — television Jennifer Coolidge, “White Lotus” Kaitlyn Dever, “Dopesick” Andie MacDowell, “Maid” Sarah Snook, “Succession” Hannah Waddingham, “Ted Lasso”

Golden Globe Awards 2022: The complete nomination list

#NorthKorea The Hermit Kingdom is facing an acute food crisis - its citizens are starving. The totalitarian state functions on bizarre rules laid down by #KimJongUn. Take one false step, and... Watch 'North Korea: The Real #SquidGame?' on #WIONWideangle

Wion Wideangle: North Korea: the real Squid Game?

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Real-life Squid Games?: Fraudsters in China take cue from South Korean TV series to prey on indebted

Los Angeles: Inside 'Squid games: The Trials'

North Korea starts the year 2022 with a missile launch into the sea

Golden Globe Awards 2022: The complete nomination list

Wion Wideangle: North Korea: the real Squid Game?