United News of Bangladesh

A crackdown on online scam centers has left over 7,000 people stranded in a Myanmar border town, awaiting repatriation. The mass operation, coordinated by Thailand, Myanmar, and China, is putting a strain on Thailand’s resources and delaying the process, reports AP.  The crackdown follows Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s recent visit to Beijing, where she assured Chinese leader Xi Jinping that Thailand would act against scam networks exploiting people worldwide through fraudulent investment schemes, romance scams, and illegal gambling. Many victims were lured under false pretenses and forced into scam operations, often in conditions resembling slavery.  Thai, Myanmar, and Chinese officials plan to meet next week to discuss logistical challenges, as concerns grow over a potential humanitarian crisis. The goal is to set clear repatriation guidelines, Thai Defense Ministry spokesperson Thanathip Sawangsang said.  85 Bangladeshis among 598 immigrants detained in Myanmar In an effort to dismantle the scam centers, Thailand has also cut off electricity, internet, and gas to several Myanmar border areas, citing national security.  Amy Miller, Southeast Asia director of aid group Act of Mercy International, described the scale of the release as unprecedented. She acknowledged Thai authorities' efforts but noted that managing the situation requires international cooperation. “Housing, feeding, and processing such a large number is overwhelming for any government,” she said, urging home countries to take responsibility.  Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai on Tuesday acknowledged concerns over potential security risks if repatriation is delayed. Verification of identities remains a key challenge, a diplomatic source said.  Over half of those stranded are Chinese nationals. Last week, China repatriated more than 600 people via 16 chartered flights. Earlier this month, around 260 individuals from 20 countries, including Ethiopia, Brazil, and the Philippines, crossed into Thailand for processing. Over 100 remain in Thai custody.  Mae Sot, a key transit point for trafficking victims, is now at the center of repatriation efforts. Checkpoints along the route warn travelers in Thai, English, and Chinese about trafficking risks, while security forces conduct vehicle checks and verify identifications.

Malaysian immigration authorities apprehended 598 immigrants, including 85 Bangladeshis, during an enforcement operation at the Meru Market Complex in Klang on Saturday. Jafri Embok Taha, Deputy Director-General (Operations) of Immigration, stated that the operation, which began at 5:30 a.m., led to the arrest of 598 individuals out of 630 inspected. The detainees ranged in age from 17 to 57 years old. Some of the arrested individuals claimed to hold United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) cards to evade detention. China begins repatriation of over 1,000 online scam workers from Myanmar via Thailand The operation included 530 Myanmar nationals, 85 Bangladeshis, seven Indonesians, five Indians, and one Nepali. All detainees were transferred to the Semenyih Immigration Depot for further investigation and legal action. Violations discovered included the lack of identification documents, overstay, failure to comply with visa conditions, possession of unrecognized cards, and other breaches of the Immigration Act. The operation, which concluded around 7 a.m., was conducted by 153 officers from Immigration, the General Operations Force (GOF), MBDK, and the National Registration Department (JPN). Jafri added that some detainees used "guerrilla tactics" to avoid arrest. Immigration authorities will continue to conduct operations to identify, apprehend, prosecute, and deport foreign nationals who breach the Immigration Act, Passport Act 1966, Immigration Regulations 1963, and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007. Source: The Star

At least six elephants were killed when a passenger train hit a herd near a wildlife sanctuary in Sri Lanka, an official said on Thursday. Four baby elephants and two adults died in the collision near Minneriya, about 200 kilometers (124 miles) from the capital, Colombo. The area is renowned for its nature park and wildlife, said Hasini Sarathchandra, a spokesman for the government’s wildlife department. Local television channels showed the train engine and several compartments had derailed following the collision. No passenger was injured, said a railway official, who declined to be named as he was not authorized to speak to the media. Sarathchandra said the wildlife department has commenced an investigation into the incident. Minneriya National Park draws thousands of tourists each year hoping to see elephants in their wild habitats. It is part of the “elephant corridor" that connects Kaudulla and Wasgamuwa National parks. Train collisions involving elephants have increased in recent years in Sri Lanka, with wild elephants attempting to cross over railway tracks in search of food and water. They are increasingly vulnerable because of the loss and degradation of their natural habitat and many venture closer to human settlements in search of food. Some are killed by poachers or farmers angry over damage to their crops. According to government statistics, nine elephants died in 2024 after being knocked down by trains, compared with 24 in 2023. Though elephants are revered in the Indian Ocean island nation, they are endangered with their numbers dwindling from about 14,000 in the 19th century to 6,000 in 2011, according to the country’s first elephant census.

China has started repatriating over 1,000 of its nationals who were involved in online scam operations in eastern Myanmar. The workers were recently rescued and transferred across the border into Thailand before being flown back to China on chartered flights.  Authorities from Thailand, China, and Myanmar have been collaborating for weeks to dismantle these scam centres, which have defrauded people globally of billions through fraudulent investment schemes, fake romantic relationships, and illegal gambling activities, AP reports. It is estimated that hundreds of thousands of individuals, including many who were misled into accepting jobs under false pretences, have been exploited in similar operations across Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos.  Thai officials recently said that up to 10,000 individuals may be repatriated from Myanmar as part of the crackdown on these scam networks. To manage the large number of Chinese nationals—so far estimated at 1,041—Thailand has delegated most of the processing and investigations to Chinese authorities.  On Thursday, officials reported that groups of 50 workers were being escorted across a bridge from Myanmar’s Myawaddy to Mae Sot in Thailand. Upon arrival, they underwent biometric scans before being transported by bus to Mae Sot’s airport. There, China Southern Airlines flights departed for Jinghong, located in Yunnan province, as confirmed by flight tracking data.  China's Xi and Thailand's leader vow to crack down on scam networks that plague Southeast Asia Thailand is also coordinating the evacuation and processing of scam centre workers from other countries. Last week, approximately 260 individuals from 20 nations—many from Africa—were transferred from Myanmar into Thai custody. Thai PBS reported that the repatriation of non-Chinese workers will commence on Sunday.  During her recent visit to Beijing, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra assured Chinese President Xi Jinping that her country would intensify efforts to shut down scam networks. Just before her visit, Thai authorities cut off essential services such as electricity, internet, and gas to scam centre locations along the Myanmar border, citing national security concerns and the negative impact on Thailand’s reputation. 

Rekha Gupta, a first-time Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Shalimar Bagh, was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Delhi today in a grand ceremony attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior BJP leaders. Gupta’s appointment marks the party’s return to power in the national capital after 27 years. The 50-year-old leader secured a decisive victory in the February 5 Delhi Assembly elections, defeating Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate Bandana Kumari by over 29,000 votes. With her appointment, Gupta becomes the fourth woman Chief Minister of Delhi, following in the footsteps of Sushma Swaraj, Sheila Dikshit, and Atishi. Notably, she is also the only incumbent woman Chief Minister in any BJP-ruled state. Addressing the media before the swearing-in ceremony, Gupta expressed her gratitude towards the party leadership. “Prime Minister Modi’s vision and his encouragement for women’s leadership have made this possible. Guarded optimism in India as Trump, Modi outline plans to deepen defense partnership Choosing a middle-class woman for such a significant role is a big decision, and I deeply thank the top leadership for their trust in me,” she said. Gupta, a former Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) president and municipal councillor, was selected as the leader of the BJP legislative party on Wednesday evening. Subsequently, Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena invited her to form the new government. “Leader of the BJP Legislative Party in the Delhi Legislative Assembly, Smt Rekha Gupta, called on Hon’ble LG, Shri VK Saxena, at Raj Niwas and staked her claim to form the new Government of NCT of Delhi. Hon’ble LG accepted the claim and invited her to form the new government,” read a statement from the official X handle of the Lieutenant Governor’s office. The swearing-in ceremony saw a strong display of BJP’s political might, with Union Ministers and Chief Ministers from BJP-ruled states in attendance. Following the oath-taking, a crucial National Democratic Alliance (NDA) meeting is scheduled, which will be attended by Prime Minister Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and other key ministers. Gupta, who has campaigned under the tagline “Kaam hi Pehchaan” (my work is my identity), vowed to prioritise accountability and transparency in governance. “The previous corrupt government of Delhi will have to give an account of each rupee belonging to the people,” she asserted, while also extending an olive branch to her predecessor. “I would also like to thank him (Arvind Kejriwal) for his best wishes. I hope all of us work together towards the betterment of Delhi.” With a focus on governance, transparency, and development, Gupta’s tenure is set to mark a new chapter in Delhi’s political landscape. Source: Agencies

Militants in Pakistan overnight ambushed security forces who were responding to an earlier attack on aid trucks in the country's troubled northwest, leading to a shootout in which four troops were killed, officials said Tuesday. The ambush happened hours after authorities dispatched reinforcements to respond to Monday's attack on a convoy of aid trucks in which a driver and security official were killed in Kurram, a district in the restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Some security forces were also wounded in the overnight ambush in Kurram, where at least 130 people have died in recent months in clashes between rival Shiite and Sunni tribes, officials said. Several trucks that were heading to Parachinar, the main city in Kurram, were looted and burned, authorities said. Qaiser Abbas, a doctor at a hospital in Parachinar, said they received the bodies of four security forces Monday night from Kurram, where authorities noted a large-scale operation was being planned to try to apprehend the perpetrators of the attacks. Pakistan says at least 16 nationals died in migrant boat sinking near Libya No group has claimed responsibility for the latest attacks but suspicion is likely to fall on Sunni militants. Shiite Muslims dominate parts of Kurram, although they are a minority in the rest of Pakistan, which is majority Sunni. The area has a history of sectarian conflict, with militant Sunni groups previously targeting minority Shiites.

Malaysian authorities have detained 235 undocumented immigrants including Bangladeshis in a series of raids conducted by the state Immigration Department. Johor Immigration director Datuk Mohd Rusdi Mohd Darus said that 105 individuals were detained at a workers’ accommodation in Batu Pahat during a raid at approximately 1 am on Sunday, reports The Star. “The operation was based on public reports about foreigners residing in the workers’ enclave without valid work permits or documentation. A total of 329 individuals were screened, resulting in the detention of 98 men from Bangladesh, Indonesia, Myanmar, Pakistan, and India, along with seven Indonesian women,” he said in a statement on Monday. Additionally, 130 foreign nationals and two employers were apprehended in separate operations starting at midnight on Friday, he said. 260 trafficked foreigners rescued from Myanmar scam centers to be repatriated “We inspected 18 business premises, including factories and construction workers’ accommodations in Johor Baru, where 90 foreigners were taken into custody,” he added. Further raids in Batu Pahat, Mersing, Muar, and Segamat resulted in the detention of 40 foreign nationals and two local men for various offences, the report added. The detainees included individuals from China, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Myanmar, India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. Mohd Rusdi said that the arrested foreigners, aged between 18 and 55, were taken to the Pekan Nanas Immigration depot for further investigation under the Immigration Act.

Japanese officials said senior Afghan Taliban officials were in Japan for talks, as part of Tokyo's efforts to help Afghanistan build a more inclusive political system and protect human rights. It's their first known diplomatic trip outside the Central Asia-Middle East region since the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan in 2021. The unidentified Taliban senior officials were invited by grant-making organization Nippon Zaidan and were also set to talk with Japanese Foreign Ministry officials, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters Monday. The Taliban officials were invited to help them better understand the need “to have a broad perspective toward their future nation building and to widely accept humanitarian assistance from the international community for vulnerable people, Nippon Zaidan said in a statement. It declined to give details of the visitors and their schedule. Japan does not formally recognize the Taliban as Afghanistan's official government. Hayashi noted the visit was initiated by a private organization but complements the Japanese government's effort to work with the international community to call on the Taliban to make policy changes that protect human rights. China says US has 'gravely backpedaled' on Taiwan Restrictions the Taliban impose on women and girls are a major hurdle to the Taliban being recognized as the official government of Afghanistan. The trip was initially revealed by Latif Nazari, the Taliban's deputy economy minister, who posted on the X platform that “a high-level delegation” was heading to Japan and that the Taliban seek dignified engagement with the world as an active member of the international community.

DeepSeek, a Chinese artificial intelligence startup, has temporarily paused downloads of its chatbot apps in South Korea while it works with local authorities to address privacy concerns, South Korean officials said Monday. South Korea’s Personal Information Protection Commission said DeepSeek’s apps were removed from the local versions of Apple’s App Store and Google Play on Saturday evening and that the company agreed to work with the agency to strengthen privacy protections before relaunching the apps. The action does not affect users who have already downloaded DeepSeek on their phones or use it on personal computers. Nam Seok, director of the South Korean commission’s investigation division, advised South Korean users of DeepSeek to delete the app from their devices or avoid entering personal information into the tool until the issues are resolved. DeepSeek got worldwide attention last month when it claimed it built its popular chatbot at a fraction of the cost of those made by U.S. companies. The resulting frenzy upended markets and fueled debates over competition between the U.S. and China in developing AI technology. Many South Korean government agencies and companies have either blocked DeepSeek from their networks or prohibited employees from using the app for work, amid worries that the AI model was gathering too much sensitive information. The South Korean privacy commission, which began reviewing DeepSeek’s services last month, found that the company lacked transparency about third-party data transfers and potentially collected excessive personal information, Nam said. Nam said the commission did not have an estimate on the number of DeepSeek users in South Korea. A recent analysis by Wiseapp Retail found that DeepSeek was used by about 1.2 million smartphone users in South Korea during the fourth week of January, emerging as the second-most-popular AI model behind ChatGPT.

 A court in India's western Goa state on Monday sentenced a 31-year-old man to life in prison for raping and murdering an Irish woman at a popular tourist resort nearly eight years ago. The body of 28-year-old Danielle McLaughlin was found by a farmer on a beach popular with holidaymakers in Goa in March 2017. An autopsy showed that cerebral damage and constriction of the neck caused her death. Vikat Bhagat was found guilty of the crime on Friday. McLaughlin’s family in a statement had said they and her friends were “thankful to the public prosecutor and the investigating officer for justice.” Usually, rape victims cannot be named under Indian law. In this case, the victim’s family spoke to the media to raise awareness of her case. 10 dead, 19 hurt as car hits bus in India The crime highlighted persistent violence against women in India despite tougher laws against sexual assault imposed after the 2012 death of a young woman who was gang-raped on a bus in New Delhi. Goa is a popular backpacking destination in India. Millions of tourists visit its numerous beach resorts every year.