World
Trapped in Myanmar’s cyber-scam mills
Brang, from Kachin State, also fell foul of the traffickers. A university student before the pandemic, he joined nonviolent protests after the coup and travelled to Laukkai in October of 2021 at the invitation of a friend.
He arrived to learn that his friend had set him up with a scamming company but reluctantly accepted.
Only when he tried to quit, and his bosses told him that they had paid for him under a two-year contract, did he realise his friend had profited from the arrangement.
“I accepted this job because I felt bad freeloading at my friend’s house, but it turned out, I was sold,” said Brang. “I felt betrayed and stabbed in the back.”
By then, however, he was trapped. “I worked like a robot from 8am to 2am without rest. I wasn’t even allowed to leave the building,” he said.
Seated at a long table, he had to search for wealthy-looking women in their 30s and 40s on the Chinese social media and messaging application WeChat, comment on their posts using a translation application, and send them private message requests.
For each woman who accepted, Brang got 300 yuan ($42), and a bonus if the contact led to a scam. But if he did not net at least 10 women a day, he was “punished”.
Most days, only three or four women accepted Brang’s requests, and his bosses beat him in front of the other workers, who were forced to watch in silence as he was thrashed on the bottom. “It was harrowing. I ached when I sat down,” he said.
Brang estimates that he was beaten on 10 to 15 occasions before his company decided he would be more useful to them in a different role. Forced to wear the uniform of a military-affiliated militia, he became a bodyguard for the company’s bosses.
The job offered Brang a sense of the scale of Laukkai’s cyber-scamming industry, as well as the power of the Chinese gangs running it. “The whole of Laukkai was like their city or territory,” he said. “The Myanmar military and militia controlled Laukkai, but they didn’t seem to have that much authority, because the Chinese bosses had enormous amounts of money.”
Although he was no longer beaten, Brang seethed with resentment. Not only did he have to protect the same bosses who were holding him captive, but he was also working for a group associated with the military.
The last straw came when he was forced to beat another worker. Soon after, he requested a leave of absence from his boss, concocting a story that he needed to go home for his mother’s funeral. “I even cried in front of him so that he would let me go,” said Brang.
Months after returning home, he fled to Malaysia, where he joined an undocumented workforce from Myanmar that has swelled since the pandemic. He now fears being caught up in an immigration raid, while he is also struggling to cope with memories of his trafficking. “I’m still traumatised by what I’ve been through,” he said.
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Newly released video shows the moment a man allegedly plowed into the famed Brisbane Synagogue in Australia on Friday, before speeding off into the night.
The suspect, a 32-year-old Sunnybank man whose name has not been released, is charged with willful damage, serious vilification or hate crime, dangerous operation of a vehicle, possession of dangerous drugs and possession of utensils or pipes for use, according to Queensland Police.
Authorities said the attack happened just after 7:15 p.m. local time Friday, when a black Toyota Hilux utility truck struck and knocked down the gates of the synagogue, located on Margaret Street.
Footage shows the truck driving in front of the place of worship, and then suddenly stopping and backing up into the gates, knocking one side down.
The Brisbane Synagogue in Brisbane, Australia. (Google Maps)
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The driver could then be seen putting the vehicle back into drive and speeding away in the same direction.
Police quickly tracked down the car and took the driver into custody without incident.
No one was injured during the incident, officials said.
A general view of Brisbane City Skyline, Australia taken on Monday December 8, 2025. (Robbie Stephenson/PA Images via Getty Images)
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The suspect, who is believed to have acted alone, is scheduled to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Saturday.
Authorities said there is no ongoing threat to the community.
The incident came two months after a father and son allegedly carried out Australia’s deadliest terror attack, targeting a Jewish “Hanukkah by the Sea” celebration at Bondi Beach on Dec. 14.
People visit a floral tribute outside the Bondi Pavilion after a mass shooting at Bondi Beach, Dec. 19, in Sydney. (Steve Markham/AP Photo)
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Naveed Akram, 24, and his father, Sajid Akram, 50, are accused of killing 15 people and wounding dozens of others.
Sajid Akram was killed, and Naveed Akram was critically injured in a gun battle with police at the scene.
Naveed Akram is charged with one count of committing a terrorist act, 15 counts of murder, 40 counts of attempted murder and additional firearms and explosives offenses, according to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions’ website.
People attend a floral memorial in honour of the victims of a mass shooting that targeted a Hanukkah celebration on Sunday, at Bondi Beach, in Sydney, Australia, Dec. 16, 2025. (Flavio Brancaleone/Reuters)
BONDI BEACH SUSPECTS FILMED ANTISEMITIC VIDEO MANIFESTO, AUSTRALIAN INVESTIGATORS SAY
Weeks after the massacre, police clashed with anti-Israel demonstrators as Israeli President Isaac Herzog visited Australia.
At least 27 people were arrested, including 10 for allegedly assaulting officers, after violence broke out as authorities attempted to clear thousands of protesters gathered near Sydney’s Town Hall, according to officials.
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Herzog warned of rising antisemitism during the visit, calling it a global emergency, and defended Israel’s actions in Gaza when asked about the protests.
Fox News Digital’s Efrat Lachter and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
EU Commission Vice-President Dubravka Šuica is set to be grilled by member states at Monday’s Foreign Affairs Council, where she will brief ministers on her visit to the inauguration of Donald Trump’s Board of Peace.
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Šuica has been at the centre of controversy and faced criticism for attending the event in Washington as an observer. France’s foreign minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, said the European Commission lacked a mandate from member states to take part in the meeting.
The criticism stemming from the Commission overstepping its mandate on foreign policy, without the approval of the 27 member states.
The Board of Peace is an initiative launched by Trump aimed at finding solutions to international conflicts. However, several EU countries have criticised the project, arguing it could sideline the United Nations and grant Trump a lifelong presidency of the body.
Šuica, who is the Commissioner for the Mediterranean, will attend Monday’s Foreign Affairs Council to inform member states about her trip to Washington, sources familiar with the matter told Euronews.
Several EU countries are expected to raise whether the Commission made a mistake by attending and whether it had the legal mandate to do so. Alongside France, Belgium, Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, Sweden and Portugal have raised objections to Šuica’s participation in the Washington gathering.
On Monday, EU foreign ministers will also discuss the situations in Ukraine and the Middle East. They are set to host the Director-General of the Board of Peace for Gaza, Nickolay Mladenov, for discussions.
Speaking on Thursday, Commission spokesperson Paula Pinho defended Šuica’s participation, saying the EU needs to be at the table.
“Otherwise we will simply be a payer and not a player” in Gaza’s future recovery, the spokesperson said.
Fourteen EU countries took part in Thursday’s Board of Peace launch event in Washington. Bulgaria and Hungary joined as full members, while the other 12 EU countries attended as observers, represented by ministers or diplomats.
World
Leonardo DiCaprio, Emma Stone and ‘Hamnet’ Win at Irish Film and TV Awards With Indie Drama ‘Christy’ Taking Top Prize
Leonardo DiCaprio, Emma Stone and the independent Irish drama “Christy” were among the winners at the 2026 Irish Film and Television Awards, announced in Dublin on Friday.
The Brendan Canty-directed “Christy” (not to be confused with the Sydney Sweeney boxing drama of the same name) entered the night as the top-nominated title with 14 mentions and delivered in key races, winning best film, director and casting, along with editing and a supporting actor prize for Jamie Forde. The film follows a young man seeking independence after leaving the foster system.
Elsewhere in the film categories, “Hamnet” notched wins for best international film, lead actress for Oscar frontrunner Jessie Buckley, supporting actor for Paul Mescal and script for Maggie O’Farrell and Chloé Zhao. Other Oscar hopefuls that received notices in the international lead acting races ahead of Sunday’s BAFTA ceremony were Leonardo DiCaprio’s work as a former revolutionary in Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” and Emma Stone, for her work as an executive who may or may not be an alien, in Yorgos Lanthimos’ “Bugonia.”
At the same time, Éanna Hardwicke took lead actor for “Saipan” while the double-nominated Kerry Condon prevailed with a supporting actress prize for Joseph Kosinski’s “F1.”
On the television side, “Blue Lights” won best TV drama, while Ailbhe Keogan won script for “Trespasses.” Anthony Boyle took lead actor in drama for “House of Guinness,” and Lola Petticrew won lead actress for “Trespasses.” Chris Walley won supporting actor for “The Young Offenders,” and Alison Oliver was named supporting actress for “Task.” Louisa Harland won the Rising Star Award.
“Christy” and “Saipan” led the nominations heading into the ceremony, with “Saipan” earning 12. The ceremony also marked a record number of women nominated in directing categories, with seven across film and TV.
This year, Ciarán Hinds is set to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award.
The list of winners is below.
Best Film
- “Aontas”
- “Blue Moon”
- “Christy” (WINNER)
- “Four Mothers”
- “Saipan”
- “Steve”
Director – Film
- Lisa Barros D’Sa, Glenn Leyburn — “Saipan”
- Brendan Canty — “Christy” (WINNER)
- Myrid Carten — “A Want in Her”
- Lorcan Finnegan — “The Surfer”
- Ruán Magan — “Báite”
- Edwin Mullane, Adam O’Keeffe — “Horseshoe”
Script – Film
- Sarah Gordon, Damian McCann — “Aontas”
- Maggie O’Farrell, Chloé Zhao — “Hamnet” (WINNER)
- Alan O’Gorman — “Christy”
- Sheena Lambert — “Báite”
- Darren Thornton, Colin Thornton — “Four Mothers”
- Enda Walsh — “Die My Love”
Lead Actor – Film
- Steve Coogan — “Saipan”
- Daniel Day-Lewis — “Anemone”
- Colin Farrell — “Ballad of a Small Player”
- Éanna Hardwicke — “Saipan” (WINNER)
- Cillian Murphy — “Steve”
- Daniel Power — “Christy”
Lead Actress – Film
- Jessie Buckley — “Hamnet” (WINNER)
- Carolyn Bracken — “Horseshoe”
- Carrie Crowley — “Aontas”
- Fionnula Flanagan — “Four Mothers”
- Eleanor O’Brien — “Báite”
- Fiona Shaw — “Hot Milk”
Supporting Actor – Film
- Liam Cunningham — “Palestine 36”
- Jamie Forde — “Christy”
- Paul Mescal — “Hamnet” (WINNER)
- Diarmuid Noyes — “Christy”
- Seán T. Ó Meallaigh — “Aontas”
- Andrew Scott — “Blue Moon”
Supporting Actress – Film
- Brid Brennan — “Aontas”
- Kerry Condon — “F1” (WINNER)
- Kerry Condon — “Train Dreams”
- Sarah Greene — “Trad”
- Dearbhla Molloy — “Four Mothers”
- Emma Willis — “Christy”
International Film
- “Bugonia”
- “Hamnet” (WINNER)
- “One Battle After Another”
- “Palestine ’36”
- “Sentimental Value”
- “Sinners”
International Actor
- Leonardo DiCaprio — “One Battle After Another” (WINNER)
- Ethan Hawke — “Blue Moon”
- Michael B. Jordan — “Sinners”
- James McArdle — “Four Mothers”
- Sean Penn — “One Battle After Another”
- Jesse Plemons — “Bugonia”
International Actress
- Chase Infiniti — “One Battle After Another”
- Jennifer Lawrence — “Die My Love”
- Margaret Qualley — “Blue Moon”
- Renate Reinsve — “Sentimental Value”
- Emma Stone — “Bugonia” (WINNER)
- Teyana Taylor — “One Battle After Another”
George Morrison Feature Documentary
- “A Want in Her” (WINNER)
- “The Essence of Eva”
- “Listen To The Land Speak”
- “Sanatorium”
- “Testimony”
- “Útoipe Cheilteach”
Rebbreast Short Film Award
- “The Ban”
- “No Mean City”
- “No Time Wasters”
- “Nostalgie” (WINNER)
- “Punt”
- “Three Keenings”
Animated Short
- “Éiru”
- “Inside, The Valley Sings”
- “Rerooted”
- “Retirement Plan” (WINNER)
Cinematography
- “Bugonia” — Robbie Ryan
- “Christy” — Colm Hogan
- “Die My Love” — Seamus McGarvey (WINNER)
- “Saipan” — Piers McGrail
- “Severance” — Suzie Lavelle
Casting
- “Christy” — Amy Rowan (WINNER)
- “Four Mothers” — Louise Kiely
- “The Rainmaker” — Emma Gunnery
- “Ready Or Not” — Maureen Hughes
- “Saipan” — Aine O’Sullivan
Costume Design
- “Blue Moon” — Consolata Boyle (WINNER)
- “Christy” — Hannah Bury
- “Four Mothers” — Joan O’Cleary
- “Saipan” — Lara Campbell
- “Video Nasty” — Joanne O’Brien
Editing
- “Blue Lights” — Helen Sheridan
- “Christy” — Allyn Quigley (WINNER)
- “House of Guinness” — Ben Yeates
- “Saipan” — John Murphy, Gavin Buckley
- “The Surfer” — Tony Cranstoun
Make-up & hair
- “Blue Moon” — Linda Gannon, Liz Byrne
- “Christy” — Jennie Readman, Edwina Kelly
- “Saipan” — Polly McKay
- “Trespasses” — Natalie Reid (WINNER)
- “Wednesday” — Lynn Johnston
Original Music
- “Aontas” — Daithí Ó Drónaí
- “Báite” — Eimear Noone, Craig Stuart Garfinkle (WINNER)
- “Christy” — Daithí Ó Drónaí
- “Saipan” — David Holmes, Brian Irvine
- “Video Nasty” — Die Hexen
Production Design
- “Blue Moon” — Susie Cullen, Kevin Downey
- “Christy” — Martin Goulding
- “Saipan” — John Leslie
- “Wednesday” — Philip Murphy, Neville Gaynor (WINNER)
- “Video Nasty” — Tara O’Reilly
Sound
- “Anemone” — Steve Fanagan (WINNER)
- “Blue Moon” — Hugh Fox
- “Saipan” — Tim Harrison, Andrew Graham, Paul Maynes
- “The Surfer” — Aza Hand
- “Video Nasty” — Patrick Downey
VFX
- “Anemone” — Tom Fagan
- “Foundation” — Ed Bruce, Andrew Barry
- “House of Guinness” — Eoin O’Sullivan, David Sewell (WINNER)
- “One Battle After Another” — Ed Bruce, Amrei Bronnenmayer
Television Categories
Best TV Drama
- “Blue Lights” (WINNER)
- “Leonard and Hungry Paul”
- “Trespasses”
- “The Walsh Sisters”
- “Wednesday S2”
- “The Young Offenders”
Director — Drama
- Rachel Carey — “Obituary” (WINNER)
- Megan K. Fox — “Video Nasty”
- Oonagh Kearney — “The Au Pair”
- Mia Mullarkey — “Hidden Assets”
- Hugh O’Conor — “Showkids”
- Aisling Walsh — “Miss Austen”
Script Drama
- Peter Foott — “The Young Offenders”
- Ailbhe Keogan — “Trespasses” (WINNER)
- Declan Lawn, Adam Patterson — “Blue Lights”
- Cara Loftus — “Hidden Assets”
- Stefanie Preissner — “The Walsh Sisters”
- Hugh Travers — “Video Nasty”
Lead Actor – Drama
- Anthony Boyle — “House of Guinness” (WINNER)
- Pierce Brosnan — “MobLand”
- Domhnall Gleeson — “The Paper”
- Martin McCann — “Blue Lights”
- Aaron Monaghan — “Hidden Assets”
- Alex Murphy — “The Young Offenders”
Lead Actress – Drama
- Niamh Algar — “The Iris Affair”
- Caitriona Balfe — “Outlander”
- Siobhán Cullen — “Obituary”
- Louisa Harland — “The Walsh Sisters”
- Nora-Jane Noone — “Hidden Assets”
- Lola Petticrew — “Trespasses” (WINNER)
Supporting Actor – Drama
- Jack Gleeson — “House of Guinness”
- Cal O’Driscoll — “Video Nasty”
- Dónall Ó Héalai — “Hidden Assets”
- Fionn O’Shea — “House of Guinness”
- Aidan Quinn — “The Walsh Sisters”
- Chris Walley — “The Young Offenders” (WINNER)
Supporting Actress – Drama
- Cathy Belton — “Hidden Assets”
- Ruth Bradley — “Slow Horses”
- Katherine Devlin — “Blue Lights”
- Danielle Galligan — “House of Guinness”
- Alison Oliver — “Task” (WINNER)
- Genevieve O’Reilly — “Andor”
Rising Star Award
- Carolyn Bracken (Actor, “Horshoe,” “Oddity”)
- Brendan Canty (Director, “Christy,” “Gealtra”)
- Myrid Carten (Director, “A Want in Her”)
- Louisa Harland (Actor, “The Walsh Sisters,” “Derry Girls”) (WINNER)
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