Chinese actor Wang Xing says he was trafficked to Myanmar

A 22-year-old Chinese actor who had gone missing near the Thailand–Myanmar border said he was a victim of human trafficking after being rescued from an area where online scam networks operate.

Wang Xing’s family had requested help from the Chinese embassy in Thailand after the actor went missing in northern Thailand’s Tak province bordering Myanmar. Thai authorities found him in Myanmar and brought him back for questioning, police said.

“From initial inquiry, we believe he was a victim of human trafficking,” police inspector general Thatchai Pitaneelaboot told local reporters on Wednesday. He was told there was a casting call in Thailand but was instead trained to scam other Chinese people, Mr Thatchai said, adding he was not assaulted or abused.

Mr Wang told the Thai police that a group of armed people sent him to a scam centre, where he found at least 50 others trapped like him, according to a video clip released by The Beijing News.

The actor said he realised he was not in Thailand when the “armed people pushed me into the car”.

“There were about 50 people in the building that I was in. There were more in another building, and people came from different countries,” he said, adding that he was forced to practice typing for two to three days under high pressure.

“I can’t sleep. I can’t eat. And I didn’t even have the time to pee,” Mr Wang added.

The Thai police inspector said Mr Wang told them has had worries about Thailand despite the experience and would visit again.

The case was widely discussed on Chinese social media and there were concerns it could dent Thailand’s hospitality and tourism industry, which is a key driver of Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy and for which China is the main source market.

“We have to manage this well so it does not impact Thai tourism,” Thai prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said.

Last year, Thailand welcomed 35.55 million foreign visitors, 6.74 million of them from China.

China’s foreign ministry said it was in touch with its embassies and would “continue to follow up on the progress of the incident”.

Southeast Asia, especially border towns in Thailand, Myanmar and Laos, has become a hub for telecom and other forms of cyber fraud, according to the UN, which says hundreds of thousands of people have been trafficked to work in scam centres.

Yoon will accept impeachment ruling even if it means end to presidency

Yoon Suk Yeol will respect the Constitutional Court’s ruling in his impeachment case even if it means an end to his presidency, the South Korean leader’s lawyer said.

Yoon Kab Keun also dismissed speculation that Mr Yoon, who is facing a second arrest warrant over last month’s botched martial law attempt, had fled the presidential palace in Seoul on Wednesday.

Mr Yoon is facing criminal charges of insurrection over his 3 December declaration of martial law that stunned South Korea and the world. The martial law decree, the country’s first in 40 years, ended after just six hours when the National Assembly voted to withdraw it, despite attempts by armed soldiers to prevent lawmakers from assembling.

The Constitutional Court is set to decide the validity of the impeachment. If the court rules it valid, Mr Yoon will be removed from office.

“So if the decision is ‘removal’, it cannot but be accepted,” Mr Yoon’s lawyer told a news conference.

The Constitutional Court’s ruling cannot be appealed.

Mr Yoon ignored the Constitutional Court’s request to file his legal briefs before hearings began on 27 December. His lawyers said he was willing to appear in person to argue his case.

Seok Dong Hyeon, another lawyer for Mr Yoon, said the suspended president saw attempts to arrest him as politically motivated and aimed at humiliating him in the public.

He cited media reports that police planned to deploy armoured vehicles and helicopters to get special units into the presidential palace to arrest Mr Yoon.

Mr Seok said the president and his advisers saw the unfolding situation as a war of ideology between those committed to a free democracy and those against it.

“If something goes wrong, what we’re saying is that it could become civil war,” Mr Seok said, without elaborating.

This comes as investigators prepare for a fresh showdown with Mr Yoon’s supporters and security guards after a second arrest warrant was issued to detain him.

The first warrant expired on Monday at midnight but was extended by the Seoul Western District Court at the request of the Corruption Investigation Office.

After the first warrant was issued, investigators tried to arrest Mr Yoon but were blocked by his security service and supporters from entering the presidential palace, triggering a six-hour standoff. They eventually suspended the attempt to arrest Mr Yoon, citing security fears.

The anti-corruption agency’s chief prosecutor has since pledged to make robust efforts to detain the president the second time around.

“We will thoroughly prepare for the execution of the warrant as if the second attempt is the last one,” Oh Dong Woon said at a parliamentary hearing on Tuesday.

Thousands of Mr Yoon’s supporters have been braving chilly weather to stage rallies on the streets around the presidential palace to protest his impeachment and potential arrest.

Mr Yoon the lawyer said the president felt concerned about the wellbeing of his supporters rallying outside the palace. “As you know, the weather is really cold these days and it isn’t going to be over in a short time. They are doing it all day long, even late at night, so he feels very sorry and thankful,” the lawyer said.

North Korea benefiting from troops fighting in Russia, US says

North Korea is “significantly benefiting” from its troops gaining battlefield experience fighting alongside Russian forces as it makes them more capable of waging war against rivals South Korea and Japan, a US official warned the UN.

Nearly 12,000 North Korean soldiers have been training in Russia and fighting to repel the Ukrainian incursion in the Kursk region, deputy US ambassador Dorothy Camille Shea told the UN Security Council, which was meeting to discuss Pyongyang’s launch of a new intermediate range hypersonic ballistic missile on Monday.

North Korea “is significantly benefiting from receiving Russian military equipment, technology and experience, rendering it more capable of waging war against its neighbours”, Ms Shea said.

“In turn, the DPRK will likely be eager to leverage these improvements to promote weapons sales and military training contracts globally,” she said, using the acronym for North Korea’s formal name of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

Washington last week claimed that more than 1,000 North Korean soldiers had been killed or wounded in the Kursk region.

The US and the UK have criticised North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for sending soldiers to a foreign country to fight its war.

The North’s alleged deployment of troops last year to aid the Russian war effort reinforced their diplomatic and military alliance. The two countries signed a comprehensive strategic defence treaty during Mr Putin’s state visit to Pyongyang last year that calls for each side to come to the other’s aid in case of an armed conflict.

South Korea’s UN ambassador, Joonkook Hwang, told the council that North Korean soldiers are “essentially slaves to Kim Jong Un, brainwashed to sacrifice their lives on faraway battlefields to raise money for his regime and secure advanced military technology from Russia”.

The North Korean ambassador justified the recent missile test and condemned the US for its involvement in Israel’s war on Gaza, accusing it of mass killings in the besieged Palestinian territory.

“When the civilian death toll exceeded 45,000 in Gaza, the United States embellished Israel’s nefarious mass killing atrocity as the right to self-defence,” Kim Song told the council.

“Meanwhile, it takes issue with the legitimate exercise of the right to self-defence of the DPRK.”

The US, the biggest arms supplier and diplomatic supporter of Israel, has been under fire as Israeli forces have relentlessly bombed and shelled Gaza for nearly 15 months, killing over 45,000 people and causing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. Israel says it is targeting Hamas, which carried out an attack in southern Israel in October 2023 that left nearly 1,200 people dead.

Russia’s UN ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, sided with North Korea, repeating their longstanding accusation that the US, South Korea and Japan were provoking North Korea with military exercises.

He also rejected as “wholly unsubstantiated” the US allegation that Russia intended to share satellite and space technology with Pyongyang.

“Such statements are the latest example of baseless conjecture which is geared towards smearing bilateral cooperation between the Russian Federation and the friendly nation of the DPRK,” said Mr Nebenzia.

Additional reporting by agencies.

Sydney teen reported to police over deepfake images of classmates

A Sydney teenager is under police investigation for allegedly creating explicit deepfake AI images of his female classmates and circulating them via fake social media accounts.

The New South Wales police said they launched an investigation after receiving a report on Monday that “inappropriate images were being produced and distributed online”.

NSW premier Chris Minns said such matters were taken “very seriously” by both the police and the department of education.

The NSW police, the eSafety Commissioner, and the department of education were working together on the case, local media reported.

The Department of Education condemned the act. “We do not tolerate such behaviour and will take the appropriate action,” a spokesperson said.

“Our highest priority is to ensure our students feel safe and any decision about this student’s future involvement in the school will be based on that. We are helping affected students with appropriate wellbeing support and will do so as long as required.”

Disciplinary action would be taken against the high school student and support was being provided to those impacted, authorities said.

NSW education minister Prue Car said on Thursday the incident was “abhorrent and will not be tolerated”.

“This has been a disgusting turn of events. We will leave that investigation of possible criminality to the police,” Car said.

She said the male student involved would face “serious disciplinary action.”

In a statement to the ABC, Australian eSafety commissioner Julie Inman Grant said: “It is important that Australia remains on the vanguard of protecting its citizens from harmful content and conduct and have a range of tools in our toolkit.”

Australia introduced the Criminal Code Amendment Deepfake Sexual Material Bill 2024 last June to criminalise non-consensual sharing of sexually explicit material, including deepfakes. The law introduced strict penalties for such offences.

Individuals sharing such content without consent could face up to six years in prison. Creating and sharing a deepfake without the consent of the affected person would amount to an aggravated offence, carrying a harsher penalty of up to seven years in prison.

Australian hiker found after two weeks survived on berries and muesli

A 23-year-old hiker who went missing for nearly two weeks in Australia’s Kosciuszko National Park has been found alive.

Hadi Nazari, who went missing on Boxing Day, stumbled across a group of walkers on the circuit walk near the Blue Lake at around 3.15pm local time on Wednesday, according to police.

Riverina police district commander Andrew Spliet told reporters: “The circumstances we believe at the moment are that he called out to some hikers who were in the area. He told them that he’d been lost in the bush and was thirsty.”

The walkers called emergency services, who winched Mr Nazari to safety. He was assessed by paramedics at the search base camp, located approximately 10km away from where the hikers first encountered him.

He was then taken to hospital for a full check-up before police conducted a full debrief to establish what happened to Mr Nazari and how he survived.

The medical student from Victoria was in “good health”, Mr Spliet confirmed.

Nazari told police he “found a hut up there in the mountains and there were two muesli bars there that he’s eaten,” and he accessed water via several creeks in the area.

Mr Spliet added: “That’s pretty much all that he’s had to consume over the last two weeks. So the further details about where he’s been and how he’s actually looked after himself are still yet to be determined.”

Mr Nazari was first reported missing on 26 December 2024 at 8.45pm local time. He was last seen at 2.30pm descending the Hannels Spur Trail at Geehi, between Khancoban and Thredbo, where he reportedly split from his friends to take some photographs.

He was expected to meet them at the Geehi camp, but when he failed to arrive the two friends began to search for him.

Police launched a search on 27 December, involving other agencies including state emergency services, fire and rescue services and a helicopter.

Searchers found rubbish and hiking poles believed to belong to him near the Kosciuszko River on 31 December. They found a campfire, lighter, camera and a camera bag near the Geehi River on 5 January.

Announcing Mr Nazari’s safety, Riverina Police district inspector Josh Broadfoot said: “This is an incredible outcome, after 13 long days he has been located. We want to thank our emergency services partner agencies, volunteers and members of the public for their assistance.

“We never gave up hope of finding him, and we are elated we can return him safely to his family.”

Indian farmer, 68, refuses hospital care as hunger strike hits 44 days

The health of an elderly, cancer-stricken farmer who is taking part in a hunger strike in north India has worsened after he rejected calls by the Narendra Modi government to end his protest.

Doctors have advised Jagjit Singh Dallewal, 68, who has been on a hunger strike for nearly a month and a half at a makeshift tent city in the Khanauri area of Punjab, be admitted to an intensive care unit after he collapsed on Saturday while addressing farmer protesters.

Mr Dallewal is one of the faces of a fresh round of farmer protests in north India seeking agricultural reforms and fair prices. The first round of protests in 2020-21 saw thousands of farmers camp on the national capital Delhi’s border for nearly a year, forcing the Modi government to repeal a set of contentious farm laws.

“His condition is extremely critical and serious. Doctors have requested shifting him to hospital but he has declined medical help saying farm reforms are more important than his body and life,” Abhimanyu Kohar, a young farmer leader who is helping monitor Mr Dallewal’s health, said.

Mr Dallewal, a leader of Sanyukt Kisan Morcha, a coalition of over 40 farmer unions, legally transferred his property to his family saying he was ready to die if the government did not heed their demands.

“He is unable to stand on his feet, his blood pressure reading is at 75/45,” Mr Kohar said. “We’ve been rubbing his feet constantly and keeping them elevated to ensure blood circulation.”

Mr Dallewal was diagnosed with prostate cancer four years ago.

“Mr Dallewal has, on multiple occasions, requested Mr Modi to heed the farmers’ request to guarantee a law on minimum support price, loan debt waiver, compensation for the families of farmers who have died by suicide and during the protests since 2020,” Mr Kohar said, mentioning some of the 13 demands made by the protesters.

The minimum support price guarantee – a standard rate set by the federal government for procurement of various crops – is one of the main demands of the farmers. The minimum support price mechanism is already in effect for a number of crops but the farmers want it expanded.

After reluctantly withdrawing the three contentious laws to end the first round of farmer protests in 2021, the Modi government promised to address the other demands of the farmers. It never did, farmer leaders allege, forcing them to return to the streets in late 2024.

The farmers launched a march to Delhi but were stopped outside the capital. They then set up makeshift camps along the national highways connecting Punjab to Delhi.

In December, Mr Dallewal published an open letter to the prime minister arguing that minimum crop prices were equivalent to the right to live for farmers.

“To stop the death of farmers, I have decided to sacrifice my life,” he wrote, pushing the government to pay attention.

Photos and videos shared with The Independent show the feeble farmer leader covered in blankets in his tent. Temperatures have dropped as low as 5C at night where his tent is pitched.

“The Indian prime minister has time to meet Indian actors, sportspersons and attend a billionaire’s wedding but not to come meet the farmers fighting for a minimum support price for feeding the country,” Mr Kohar said.

Alerted to Mr Dallewal’s deteriorating health, the Supreme Court sent a committee led by retired judge Nawab Singh to visit him on Monday.

Mr Singh told the farm leader the court was concerned about his condition and had been issuing orders to ensure his good health.

“It has been 42 days,” Mr Dallewal reportedly replied. “Nothing will happen to me, I have God by my side. But if the government could show some mercy to farmers.

“I do not need to observe a fast if the government fulfills our demands and I request you take up the issue with the government now to resolve this.”

South Korea set for showdown after fresh warrant issued for president

South Korean investigators are preparing for a fresh showdown with supporters of impeached president Yoon Suk Yeol after a second warrant was issued to detain him over his shortlived martial law declaration in December.

Both Mr Yoon’s supporters and opponents continued to brave freezing temperatures to stage rallies on the streets around the presidential palace in Seoul on Wednesday.

His supporters, carrying the national flag, chanted “Arrest Lee Jae Myung”, referring to the opposition leader, and “We oppose impeachment”.

The second arrest warrant for Mr Yoon came days after his supporters and security guards prevented investigators from entering the presidential palace to detain him on Friday.

The first warrant, issued after Mr Yoon repeatedly defied summons to appear for questioning. expired on Monday.

Oh Dong Woon, chief prosecutor of the anti-corruption agency leading the investigation against Mr Yoon, on Tuesday apologised for failing to execute the first warrant and vowed to “prepare thoroughly” the second time around with the understanding it could be the “last opportunity”.

Mr Yoon is under criminal investigation for insurrection over his 3 December declaration of martial law that stunned South Korea and the world. The Constitutional Court, meanwhile, is set to rule on the validity of his impeachment by the National Assembly for violating his oath. If the court rules the impeachment valid, Mr Yoon will be removed from office.

The president’s security service was seen this week fortifying his compound with barbed wire and barricades, and parking buses to block access to the hillside villa where Mr Yoon is believed to be holed up.

Mr Yoon’s lawyers on Monday filed complaints against Mr Oh and six other anti-corruption and police officers for orchestrating Friday’s detainment attempt, which they claimed was illegal. The lawyers said they planned to file complaints against about 150 anti-corruption and police investigators involved in the detention attempt.

Park Jong Joon, head of the presidential security service, hit back against criticism that they had become Mr Yoon’s private army, saying they had a legal obligation to protect the incumbent president.

Women on Cathay Pacific flight charged after scuffle over baby crying

Two women taking a Cathay Pacific Airways flight from Japan to Hong Kong have been charged after an argument over a “trivial” matter ended in a scuffle on the plane.

Tsui, 32, from Hong Kong and Zhang, 60, from mainland China were charged with disruptive behaviour after the flight landed at 9.34pm on Monday, police said. The flight had departed Sapporo in Japan at 5.12pm.

The altercation was reportedly sparked by a child’s crying and escalated into a scuffle that saw the women throwing a cushion and a water bottle at each other.

Ms Zhang grew agitated when a three-year-old child she was travelling with began to cry. Ms Tsui, who was seated a row behind, responded by throwing a water bottle at Ms Zhang.

“The two had a scuffle over trivial matters on flight CX581 at around 9.45pm on Monday and later threw items at each other,” a Hong Kong police spokesperson said on Tuesday.

“When police arrived, Tsui said her forehead was injured while Zhang complained that she had chest pain. But both refused to be hospitalised.”

A Cathay Pacific Airlines spokesperson said: “Our cabin crew immediately attempted to contain the situation and issued a verbal warning before notifying the police for assistance. The two passengers were subsequently escorted off the aircraft by the airport security staff and the police.”

In Hong Kong, the charge of disorderly conduct or disobeying safety instructions can invite a fine of up to HK$50,000 (£5,152) and a prison sentence of up to five years.

In July last year, a Ryanair flight from Agadir to London was forced to make an emergency landing in Marrakech, Morocco, after a violent brawl broke out. The flight was bound for Stansted airport when a violent altercation over seating arrangements erupted just 36 minutes into the four-hour flight.