China sentences infamous Myanmar scam mafia members to death

A Chinese court has sentenced five top members of an infamous Myanmar mafia to death as Beijing continues its crackdown on scam operations in South East Asia.

In all 21 Bai family members and associates were convicted of fraud, homicide, injury and other crimes, said a state media report published on the court website.

The family is among a handful of mafias that rose to power in the 2000s and transformed the impoverished backwater town of Laukkaing into a lucrative hub of casinos and red-light districts.

In recent years they pivoted to scams in which thousands of trafficked workers, many of them Chinese, are trapped, abused and forced to defraud others in criminal operations worth billions.

Mafia boss Bai Suocheng and his son Bai Yingcang were among the five men sentenced to death by the Shenzhen Intermediate People’s Court. Yang Liqiang, Hu Xiaojiang and Chen Guangyi were the other three.

Two members of the Bai family mafia were handed suspended death sentences. Five were sentenced to life imprisonment, while nine others were handed jail sentences ranging from three to 20 years.

The Bais, who controlled their own militia, established 41 compounds to house their cyberscam activities and casinos, authorities said.

These criminal activities involved more than 29 billion Chinese yuan ($4.1bn; £3.1bn). They also led to the deaths of six Chinese citizens, the suicide of one and multiple injuries, state media reported.

The harsh penalties handed down by the court are part of China’s campaign to eradicate the vast scam networks in South East Asia – and send a stern warning to other criminal syndicates.

In September, a Chinese court sentenced 11 members of the Ming family   – another prominent Laukkaing clan – to death.

These families rose to power in the 2000s with the help of Min Aung Hlaing – who now leads Myanmar’s military government. He had wanted to prop up allies in Laukkaing after ousting its former warlord.

Among the clans, the Bais were “absolutely number one”, Bai Yingcang previously told state media.

“At that time, our Bai family was the most powerful in both the political and military circles,” he said in a documentary about the Bai family, aired on Chinese state media in July.

In the same documentary, a worker at one of their scam centres recalled the abuse he had endured there: besides being beaten, he had his fingernails yanked out with pliers and two of his fingers severed with a kitchen knife.

(BBC)

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Nalin Weerawardene takes charge as OIC, Police Sports

Former Sri Lanka basketball player Nalin Weerawardene has taken over the reins as Officer-in-Charge of Police Sports, bringing with him a wealth of experience both on and off the court.

A proud product of Isipathana College, Weerawardene made his mark in the game as a dynamic player who donned national colours and led the Police basketball team with distinction. His name became synonymous with grit, discipline and sportsmanship — hallmarks of the game’s golden era.

Having joined the Sri Lanka Police in 1992 as a sub-inspector, Weerawardene has, over three decades of service, worn many hats and faced countless challenges — from maintaining law and order to uplifting men and women in uniform through sport.

He represented Sri Lanka in numerous international tournaments, carrying the nation’s hopes on his shoulders with quiet confidence and trademark determination. Even after hanging up his boots, he continued to give back to the game, serving on the National Selection Committee and presently sitting on the Disciplinary Committee of the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation — a role he carries out with his usual sense of fairness.

Armed with a Master’s in Social Sciences from the University of Colombo and a Degree in Criminology from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Weerawardene blends academic insight with practical experience — a rare combination that serves him well in his new role.

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The Colombo Consumer Price Index

(CCPI, 2021=100) based headline inflation (year-on-year, Y-o-Y) accelerated further in October 2025 indicating a continued convergence towards the inflation target. Accordingly, headline inflation (Y-o-Y) increased to 2.1% in October 2025 from 1.5% in September 2025, in line with the Central Bank’s near-term projections.

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Gypsies create a night to remember …

Yes, it certainly turned out to be an electrifying night with Sri Lanka’s most beloved band, Gypsies, performing live at the Centre Concord, in San Francisco, California.

It all happened on Friday, 17th October, 2025, and doing the needful for readers of The Island is the now famous Mahesha Manjuka Warusawitharana who checked out the UB40 concert in San Francisco, on 26th September, 2025, and shared her excitement with our readers.

The ‘Dance with Gypsies’ concert, in San Francisco, was an unforgettable musical celebration that brought the vibrant spirit of Sri Lanka to California, says Mahesha, adding that the event was impeccably organised by Lucky Ace Productions.

Before arriving in San Francisco, the Gypsies had already thrilled audiences in Chicago, New York, and Texas, making the Bay Area stop one of the highlights of their US tour.

After the San Francisco performance, they continued on to Los Angeles before flying back to Sri Lanka, concluding a truly successful series of shows that drew enthusiastic crowds eager to experience the legendary band’s energy and charm.

From the moment the band took the stage, at the Centre Concord, the atmosphere was electrifying, with Piyal, Shenal, and the rest of the Gypsies, delivering an exceptional performance, keeping the audience dancing and singing late into the night.

Their setlist featured many fan favourites, including ‘Pitikotapan None,’ ‘Sumihiri Pane,’ ‘Lunu Dehi,’ ‘Thatha Mata Anapu Tokka,’ ‘Kurumitto’ and ‘Amathakakaranna Epa,’ and the crowd couldn’t resist joining in during the energetic baila numbers that have made the Gypsies household names for decades.

Heartfelt memories to cherish for Mahesha (right) and her cousin

Says Mahesha: “A particularly memorable moment came when the band performed ‘Dias Ge Nangi,’ as my cousin took to the dance floor and captivated everyone with her graceful moves.”

The concert began around 7:30 p.m. and continued until midnight, with fans enjoying refreshing drinks and an array of authentic Sri Lankan cuisine at the venue—adding a true taste of home to the experience.

The evening evoked deep nostalgia and pride among the Sri Lankan audience.

The warmth of the band’s interaction with fans was another highlight; after the show, Piyal personally came to the lobby, chatted with attendees, and posed for photos, leaving everyone with heartfelt memories to cherish.

Mahesha went on to say that the ‘Dance with Gypsies’ concert was more than just a performance – “it was a joyful reunion with culture, rhythm, and community and for those who attended, it will be remembered as one of the most spirited and emotional nights of the year.”

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Environment Ministry launches Hotline (1995) to tackle forest crimes

The Ministry of Environment has announced the launch of a new hotline (1995) enabling the public to report incidents of environmental destruction and damage to Sri Lanka’s forest reserves. The hotline will be operational from today (03).

The initiative aims to strengthen forest and wildlife protection efforts and to curb illegal activities, such as logging, encroachment, and poaching across the country.

According to the Ministry, the 1995 hotline will serve as a direct channel for citizens to support conservation authorities by providing real-time information on forest-related offences.

Under the new system, security forces and officers of the Department of Wildlife Conservation will respond immediately to complaints received through the hotline, launching on-site operations in the affected areas.

Officials said the data collected through 1995 will be centralised and analysed to map forest crime patterns and identify high-risk zones. The information will also be used to formulate targeted strategies to prevent and suppress environmental crimes more effectively.

“The introduction of this hotline is a step toward empowering citizens to take part in safeguarding Sri Lanka’s forests,” a Ministry spokesperson said.

“Every report matters, from illegal tree felling to wildlife trafficking, and our teams are ready to act swiftly.”

The Environment Ministry expects the initiative to enhance coordination among enforcement agencies while promoting public participation in environmental protection.

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Deepti, Shafali star as India savour World Cup glory

This had been India’s World Cup all along. As hosts. As the emerging global powerhouse of women’s cricket. As the team that has pushed the sport’s hegemonic force harder than any other, defeating it twice in semi-finals. As the team whose time had been too long in coming.

On Sunday, India made it their World Cup by winning it Shafali Verma capped an extraordinary week with an extraordinary display in the final: 87 off 78 balls to set up a total of 298 for 7, and two unexpected wickets of characteristic cheek at a crucial juncture in a chase that threatened more than once to turn into a nailbiter. Deepti Sharma, a world-class offspinner who has raised her batting to a new level this year, backed up a run-a-ball half-century with a five-wicket haul that combined old-school overspin with new-age defensive skills. India won by 52 runs, and that margin disguised how much tension this final contained.

Brief scores:
India Women  298 for 6  in 50 overs (Smriti Mandhana 45, Shafali Verma 87, Deepti Sharma 58, Richa Ghosh 34; Ayabonga Khaka 3-58)  beat South Africa Women  246 in 45.3 overs (Laura Wolvaardt 101, Annerie Dercksen 35;  Deepti Sharma 5-39, Shafali Verma 2-36) by 52 runs

[Cricinfo]

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Thailand’s Queen Mother Sirikit

Forty three of the world’s 194 recognized countries, I read, are monarchies ruled by a king or queen, which adds up to 22% of the total number of countries. These include constitutional monarchies where a monarch is head of state but power is limited by a constitution, while a smaller number are absolute monarchies where a monarch has not much to do with government but has extensive power.

Thailand is such a country where the king and queen are almost deified and only one step below the Buddha as shown in pictures hung in public institutions, shops and restaurants. The UK, Canada and Japan are examples of the first kind mentioned, while Brunei, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the Vatican City and Thailand have rulers. A third category exists: Commonwealth Realms where Charles III of Britain is also head of state for 14 countries known as Commonwealth Realms which include Australia and Belize.

In the 1980s on a guided tour of Bangkok we realized how much in respect, nay awe, King Bhumibol Adulyadei and Queen Sirikit were held. You could hardly speak of them. He was Rama IX and she a most glamorous and elegant royal lady dressed in Thai silks or western dress.

Queen Sirikit

The Queen Mother died on Friday October 24 in a hospital in Bangkok from a blood infection since the 17^th. She had stayed away from the public eye with declining health issues. She suffered a minor stroke in 2012. The last public photograph was of her 88^th birthday with her four children beside her.

Born Sirikit Kitiyakara on 12 August 1932 to a noble Bangkok family, she grew up mostly overseas, her father an ambassador. After WWII she was in France where her father represented Thailand as its ambassador. There she first met young King Bhumibol, who was studying in Europe. The two struck up a friendship, she 15 and he in his late teens. Her comment later was that she first disliked him as he had kept her waiting from five to seven pm at their first meeting.

Their friendship developed to love when the prince was injured as he drove his car and nearly lost the sight in one eye. She visited him in hospital and helped care for him. They married in 1950, just prior to his coronation as King of Thailand where he vowed to rule “with righteousness for the benefit and happiness of the Thai people.”

They had three daughters and one son, who now is King Maha Vajiralongkorn. King Bhumibol died in 2016.The eldest, Princess Ubol Ratana, was married to an American after graduating from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and lived in California. They separated in 2007 and now she is engaged in royal duties back home. The second daughter is Maha Chakri Sirindhorn who remains unmarried and devotes herself to further study. The third daughter – Princess Chulabhorn – has a degree in organic chemistry and is married to a Thai commoner.

In the late 1970s the royal couple’s focus shifted to domestic development and so King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit visited Thai villages often travelling to remote areas, addressing poverty, drug addiction and unrest, The queen was admired for her hands on approach and was named ‘Green Queen’, launching environmental projects such as ’Forest loves Water’ and wildlife breeding centers to promote conservation and protection of endangered species. In 1976, she founded the SUPPORT Foundation to teach rural Thais traditional crafts such as silk weaving, pottery and jewelry making.

Though naturally overshadowed by the king, Queen Sirikit was deeply respected and loved. Over the years however, her role also drew scrutiny as Thailand went through political turmoil. She was once in a while accused of siding with protesters, especially when she attended the funeral of a demonstrator killed in a clash with the police. Criticism was that it was politically symbolic.

Elegant, sophisticated and elite, she was approachable and a powerful figure of service and tradition, a royal whose goal seemed to be to bridge the gap between urban elites and rural people. She sincerely followed this principle. Her birthday August 12 was declared Mothers’ Day in Thailand – a national holiday.

Thus the loss of another Asian woman, powerful yet humane.

(Ref: Article in the Guardian titled: Sirikit, Glamorous Queen of Thailand, who wielded power, dies at 93 by Seth Mydans .”As the wife of King Bhumibol Aludyadei, she travelled the world charming government leaders and the public)

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