Myanmar repatriated 300 Chinese nationals involved in scam centers through Thailand, with thousands more expected to follow. These scam compounds, run by criminal gangs, exploit trafficked workers for online fraud. China, Myanmar, and Thailand are cooperating to dismantle these operations. Repatriated individuals, labeled as "suspects" by China, were escorted by police. Thailand is collecting biometric data to prevent future misuse of its territory for such crimes.
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With Trump openly questioning America’s role in Ukraine, Britain and France rushed to assemble a coalition of European leaders, grandly dubbing their London summit “Securing Our Future.†The problem? Trump wasn’t buying it. And if Trump isn’t buying, no amount of European back-slapping is going to make the deal happen.
US President Donald Trump called China's AI model DeepSeek a wake-up call for American industries. He emphasised the need for the US to focus on AI innovation. This comes after Nvidia lost nearly $600 billion in market value. DeepSeek's success highlights the growing competition between the US and China in the AI sector.
Iran on Monday condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's call to "finish the job" against the Islamic republic as a breach of the UN Charter. On Sunday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Iran would never become a nuclear power, labelling the Islamic republic the "greatest" source of instability in the Middle East.
US temporarily blocked a guilty plea by Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, accused mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, avoiding a plea deal that would spare him the death penalty. Legal challenges and mishandling have prolonged the case. Defence Secretary Austin opposed the deal, and legal battles continue over the plea agreement's validity.
Bettina Anderson, Donald Trump Jr's girlfriend, shared photos from the inauguration week, proving her presence at various events despite rumors that she had already been snubbed by the family. Anderson was seen with Marla Maples, Donald Trump's ex-wife and Donald Trump Jr's stepmother at one of the inaugural events. "Backstage with this beauty ready to watch some dancing," Bettina Anderson wrote
During a press conference, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau became tearful as he highlighted his government's $10-a-day childcare policy. Some social media users mocked his emotional display, suggesting it was timed for the upcoming election, and criticized him for not showing similar emotions during other crises.
From January 1, Australians will face a 3.5% increase in passport application fees, making a new 10-year adult passport cost $412. Children's passports will be $208, and replacements $259. This follows a previous 15% tax addition, making Australian passports the world's most expensive. Critics argue it's a tax grab, but the government cites quality and security reasons.
Former Texas megachurch pastor Robert Preston Morris, 63, surrendered to Oklahoma authorities on charges of child sexual abuse. Morris was accused of committing lewd acts with a child from 1983 to 1987. Having resigned last year, Morris faces five counts, each carrying up to 20 years imprisonment. The case drew attention, given Morris' past political activities.
President-elect Donald Trump plans to create an 'External Revenue Service' to collect tariffs on foreign imports, reaffirming his commitment to imposing trade levies. Critics question the need for a new agency, given that Customs and Border Protection already handles tariff collection. Experts warn these tariffs may inflate consumer prices without generating substantial revenue.
California governor Gavin Newsom faced criticism following budget cuts of over $100 million from wildfire and forest resilience programs, despite ongoing devastating fires. Critics highlighted the timing of these cuts amid worsening wildfire conditions, while Newsom's administration defended increased spending on firefighting resources overall.