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Mae Sot, a town on the Thai-Myanmar border in Tak province, is notorious as a hub for cross-border human trafficking and transnational organised crime run by Chinese mafia syndicates. Despite this, government action has been grossly inadequate to combat the problem. During a recent visit to Mae Sot to review anti-human trafficking efforts, Pol Lt Gen Prachuab Wongsuk, acting deputy national police chief, identified the town as the country's top hotspot for cross-border human trafficking, online scams, gambling, and other illegal activities. This is not surprising. Each year, thousands of victims from various countries are lured by fake high-paying job offers to work in Thailand, but are funnelled through Mae Sot to Myawaddy, Myanmar's border town opposite Mae Sot, to work for Chinese scam operations. According to victims, they are swept through immigration at Bangkok's international airports and driven through border checkpoints to Mae Sot without issue. Some are even flown directly to Mae Sot. Undeniably, local corruption is involved. Once in Myawaddy, the victims are imprisoned, their phones confiscated, they are forced into debt bondage, and are forced to scam people worldwide. Those who refuse or fail to meet quotas face torture, including beatings, electrocution, and other abuse. They must pay a ransom if they want to be released. While the Chinese operators carry out the torture, the facilities are guarded by the Karen Border Guard Force (BGF) and the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), two armed groups operating in Myanmar's Karen State. In addition to Thais, human trafficking victims come from various countries, including Laos, the Philippines, Iraq, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Morocco, Kenya, and others. On Oct 26, the Civil Society Network for Victim Assistance in Human Trafficking, a human rights NGO, sent an open letter to Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, calling for the immediate rescue of 110 victims and action to stop Chinese syndicates using Mae Sot to traffic people into Myanmar. The group also appealed to the BGF, DKBA, the Defence Ministry, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for rescue operations. Nothing has happened. Several embassies have contacted the network to help rescue their citizens held by Chinese mafia groups, pushing the number of human trafficking victims seeking help to over 500. Thailand can no longer ignore this issue. According to the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau, online scams run by these Chinese criminal networks cost Thailand at least 50 million baht every day. This not only harms the country's productivity but also worsens its struggling economy. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reported that East and Southeast Asia lost between $18–37 billion to online scams in 2023 -- around 648 billion to 1.3 trillion baht. Meanwhile, the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) estimated these syndicates globally stole nearly $64 billion a year, or about 2.28 trillion baht. Apart from economic damage, the criminal networks have co-opted political and business elites in host countries, worsening corruption, fueling money politics and undermining democratic principles. While the scam compounds operate in Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia, Thailand cannot deny its role as a transit hub for trafficking victims exploited by these Chinese syndicates. According to Usip, thousands of victims from 60 countries have been trafficked and enslaved in the Southeast Asian scam industry. This level of crime would not be possible if Thailand were more effective in stopping it. The acting deputy police chief recently visited a group of scam victims in Mae Sot on Nov 12. His team found a group of Chinese people who had arrived suspiciously, claiming they were tourists heading to Pattaya but had been unknowingly driven to Mae Sot by a taxi driver. The police freed all concerned, including the taxi driver, and announced to the media that they had rescued a group of Chinese people from human trafficking. Case closed. This is not just inefficiency; it's a dangerous failure of duty that allows human trafficking to continue unchecked. It's true that the power, reach, and advanced technology of the cyber fraud industry require international cooperation to stop and punish them. However, Thailand cannot ignore its responsibility to take legal action against crimes happening within its borders -- especially against corrupt officials and those involved in money laundering. Additionally, the government must address the telecommunications infrastructure enabling these online call centres. Thailand must stop being a silent partner in this transnational crime before more lives are destroyed.By HILLEL ITALIE NEW YORK (AP) — Even through a year of nonstop news about elections, climate change, protests and the price of eggs, there was still time to read books. U.S. sales held steady according to Circana, which tracks around 85% of the print market, with many choosing the relief of romance, fantasy and romantasy. Some picked up Taylor Swift’s tie-in book to her blockbuster tour, while others sought out literary fiction, celebrity memoirs, political exposes and a close and painful look at a generation hooked on smartphones. Here are 10 notable books published in 2024, in no particular order. Asking about the year’s hottest reads would basically yield a list of the biggest hits in romantasy, the blend of fantasy and romance that has proved so irresistible fans were snapping up expensive “special editions” with decorative covers and sprayed edges. Of the 25 top sellers of 2024, as compiled by Circana, six were by romantasy favorite Sarah J. Maas, including “House of Flame and Shadow,” the third of her “Crescent City” series. Millions read her latest installment about Bryce Quinlan and Hunter Athalar and traced the ever-growing ties of “Maasverse,” the overlapping worlds of “Crescent City” and her other series, “Throne of Glass” and “A Court of Thorns and Roses.” If romantasy is for escape, other books demand we confront. In the bestselling “The Anxious Generation,” social psychologist Jonathan Haidt looks into studies finding that the mental health of young people began to deteriorate in the 2010s, after decades of progress. According to Haidt, the main culprit is right before us: digital screens that have drawn kids away from “play-based” to “phone-based” childhoods. Although some critics challenged his findings, “The Anxious Generation” became a talking point and a catchphrase. Admirers ranged from Oprah Winfrey to Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee, who in a letter to state legislators advocated such “commonsense recommendations” from the book as banning phones in schools and keeping kids off social media until age 16. Bob Woodward books have been an election tradition for decades. “War,” the latest of his highly sourced Washington insider accounts, made news with its allegations that Donald Trump had been in frequent contact with Russian leader Vladimir Putin even while out of office and, while president, had sent Putin sophisticated COVID-19 test machines. Among Woodward’s other scoops: Putin seriously considered using nuclear weapons against Ukraine, and President Joe Biden blamed former President Barack Obama, under whom he served as vice president, for some of the problems with Russia. “Barack never took Putin seriously,” Woodward quoted Biden as saying. Former (and future) first lady Melania Trump, who gives few interviews and rarely discusses her private life, unexpectedly announced she was publishing a memoir: “Melania.” The publisher was unlikely for a former first lady — not one of the major New York houses, but Skyhorse, where authors include such controversial public figures as Woody Allen and Trump cabinet nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. And its success was at least a minor surprise. Melania Trump did little publicity for the book, and offered few revelations beyond posting a video expressing support for abortion rights — a break from one of the cornerstones of GOP policy. But “Melania” still sold hundreds of thousands of copies, many in the days following her husband’s election. Taylor Swift was more than a music story in 2024. Like “Melania,” the news about Taylor Swift’s self-published tie-in to her global tour isn’t so much the book itself, but that it exists. And how well it sold. As she did with the “Eras” concert film, Swift bypassed the established industry and worked directly with a distributor: Target offered “The Eras Tour Book” exclusively. According to Circana, the “Eras” book sold more than 800,000 copies just in its opening week, an astonishing number for a publication unavailable through Amazon.com and other traditional retailers. No new book in 2024 had a better debut. Midnight book parties are supposed to be for “Harry Potter” and other fantasy series, but this fall, more than 100 stores stayed open late to welcome one of the year’s literary events: Sally Rooney’s “Intermezzo.” The Irish author’s fourth novel centers on two brothers, their grief over the death of their father, their very different career paths and their very unsettled love lives. “Intermezzo” was also a book about chess: “You have to read a lot of opening theory — that’s the beginning of a game, the first moves,” one of the brothers explains. “And you’re learning all this for what? Just to get an okay position in the middle game and try to play some decent chess. Which most of the time I can’t do anyway.” Lisa Marie Presley had been working on a memoir at the time of her death , in 2023, and daughter Riley Keough had agreed to help her complete it. “From Here to the Great Unknown” is Lisa Marie’s account of her father, Elvis Presley, and the sagas of of her adult life, notably her marriage to Michael Jackson and the death of son Benjamin Keough. To the end, she was haunted by the loss of Elvis, just 42 when he collapsed and died at his Graceland home while young Lisa Marie was asleep. “She would listen to his music alone, if she was drunk, and cry,” Keough, during an interview with Winfrey, said of her mother. Meanwhile, Cher released the first of two planned memoirs titled “Cher” — no further introduction required. Covering her life from birth to the end of the 1970s, she focuses on her ill-fated marriage to Sonny Bono, remembering him as a gifted entertainer and businessman who helped her believe in herself while turning out to be unfaithful, erratic, controlling and so greedy that he kept all the couple’s earnings for himself. Unsure of whether to leave or stay, she consulted a very famous divorcee, Lucille Ball, who reportedly encouraged her: “F— him, you’re the one with the talent.” A trend in recent years is to take famous novels from the past, and remove words or passages that might offend modern readers; an edition of “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” cuts the racist language from Mark Twain’s original text. In the most celebrated literary work of 2024, Percival Everett found a different way to take on Twain’s classic — write it from the perspective of the enslaved Jim. “James,” winner of the National Book Award, is a recasting in many ways. Everett suggests to us that the real Jim was nothing like the deferential figure known to millions of readers, but a savvy and learned man who concealed his intelligence from the whites around him, and even from Twain himself. Salman Rushdie’s first National Book Award nomination was for a memoir he wished he had no reason to write. In “Knife,” he recounts in full detail the horrifying attempt on his life in 2022, when an attendee rushed the stage during a literary event in western New York and stabbed him repeatedly, leaving with him a blinded eye and lasting nerve damage, but with a spirit surprisingly intact. “If you had told me that this was going to happen and how would I deal with it, I would not have been very optimistic about my chances,” he told The Associated Press last spring. “I’m still myself, you know, and I don’t feel other than myself. But there’s a little iron in the soul, I think.”

Royal Stars

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Potiskum Local Government Chapter, has commended the Emir of Fika, Dr. Muhammad Ibn Abali Muhammad Idrisa, for his commitment to religious tolerance in his domain and Yobe State at large. Reverend Musa Zakar, CAN Chairman, Potiskum LGA chapter, gave the commendation during a Christmas courtesy visit to the Emir’s palace in Potiskum town, where he prayed for peace, security, stability, and development of the Emirate. In response, the Emir appreciated CAN’s efforts in promoting peace and resilience, emphasizing the need for daily prayer among various religious groups to address the country’s challenges. He demonstrated a strong commitment to humanity’s development, regardless of socio-economic, political, and religious differences. The CAN elders praised the Emir for promoting unity among religious organizations, showcasing the sterling quality expected of traditional institutions. They noted that the Emirate has demonstrated fairness to religious organizations, making the Emir’s Christmas gesture to Christians worthy of emulation. This commendation reflects the Emir’s dedication to peaceful coexistence and his commitment to unity, peace, and tranquility in Nigeria.Elon Musk’s budget crusade could cause a constitutional clash in Trump’s second term

Warren Gatland said he wanted to remain Wales coach despite a disastrous year in which his side have lost all 11 tests they have played, but admitted his future was uncertain in the wake of Saturday’s 45-12 loss to South Africa in Cardiff. Wales are the second tier one nation ever, after Italy four years ago, to lose all their tests in a single calendar year in the professional era, and have now extended their record winless run to 12 games. Gatland said he would not resign though and believes there is hope heading into the 2025 Six Nations that starts in late January. “We’ll just wait and see what happens in the next couple of days,” Gatland told reporters when quizzed about his future. “The last couple of weeks have been challenging and you’re only human. The negativity affects you. “We’ve got a good group of men working hard, it feels like we’re only going to get better. I feel like I’m in a no-win situation when I answer these questions. I do definitely want to be here and it’s (about) letting the dust settle. “We’ve questioned things we’ve done. You do that if you’re winning too. It’s seeing what happens over the next few days, chatting with the powers that be (in the Welsh Rugby Union) and family too.” South Africa scored seven tries to Wales’s two on Saturday but were more dominant than the scoreline suggested. Their errors, and some brave Welsh defence, kept down the score. “I’m not content with the result but I can’t question how hard the players tried,” Gatland said. “They (South Africa) are world champions. You know how powerful they are. Going away from this campaign, some of the players are aware there’s some conditioning work (to be done). Not everyone. “What they learned tonight is little things that quality sides take advantage of. We got caught a couple of times. Hopefully they’ll be better for that. I thought the effort and what the players put in, people should be proud of that.” Gatland said patience was required as he rebuilds the squad following the loss of several key players after last year’s Rugby World Cup in France. “That’s been a real challenge for us,” he said. “It takes time and it’s hard to replace overnight.” ReutersLionel Messi Fortnite Skin drops: Release time, prices, and exclusive bundle details

How Personality Shapes Innovation: A Deep Dive into Personality Types, Technology, and Elon Musk

The gaming world is on the cusp of a revolution, as Virtual Reality (VR) evolves beyond current expectations, promising experiences that blur the line between reality and imagination. Immersive Worlds Redefined The future of VR gaming is not just about donning a headset; it’s stepping into universes with unparalleled detail and interactivity. Upcoming advancements in haptic feedback technology aim to engage multiple senses, making virtual environments feel more tangible than ever. Gamers will soon grasp virtual objects and experience textures, weights, and even temperatures, creating an unprecedented level of immersion and redefining how games are played and experienced. Beyond Gaming: Educational and Therapeutic Journeys VR’s potential extends beyond entertainment, ushering in new ways to learn and heal. Future VR games may incorporate educational narratives, allowing users to explore history, science, and art interactively. In healthcare, therapeutic games are on the horizon, presenting innovative treatment avenues for mental health issues like anxiety and PTSD. This dual-purpose approach positions VR as a transformative tool, impacting broader aspects of life. Social Integration and Community Building The next-generation VR platforms will focus on enhancing social interactivity. Players can not only face off in competitive arenas but also collaborate across continents. The integration of seamless voice and gesture recognition technology will allow for more natural communication, fostering friendships and communities that transcend geographical barriers. In conclusion, as VR technology progresses, gaming will no longer be a solitary or flat-screen experience. It will become a gateway to endless possibilities, where reality and digital innovation entwine, setting the stage for the next era of human interaction and exploration. The Next Frontier: How Virtual Reality is Transforming More Than Just Gaming Virtual Reality (VR) is poised for transformative growth, promising a future rich with innovations that extend well beyond the realm of gaming. This article delves into the emerging aspects of VR that will redefine our digital experience. Pros and Cons of Emerging VR Technologies The advantages of VR are immense, especially as advancements are made in haptic feedback technology, which will offer users a more immersive experience with tactile interactions. Users will be able to feel every nuance of the virtual world, from the weight of a sword to the texture of a tree bark. However, challenges remain, such as the high cost of equipment, potential motion sickness for some users, and the technological demands that limit accessibility. Innovations in Educational and Therapeutic VR One of the most promising trends in VR is its application in education and therapy. Educational programs can leverage VR for virtual field trips and science simulations, providing students with experiences that textbooks simply cannot match. In therapy, VR is being explored as a tool to treat phobias, PTSD, and anxiety by creating safe, controlled environments for exposure therapy. For more information on integrating VR in education, you might visit Google VR . Emerging Trends in Social VR Experiences Social interaction in VR is set to be revolutionized with new technologies that enable more natural communication. This includes enhanced voice recognition and realistic gesture tracking, which support deeper engagement and interaction in virtual spaces. These innovations will foster global communities, enabling users to collaborate or compete in expansive virtual landscapes. Security and Privacy in VR Spaces As VR becomes more prevalent, the need for robust security and privacy measures is critical. Securing personal data and ensuring safe online environments are paramount. Developers are working to implement encryption and authentication measures to protect users in virtual spaces. The Future of VR: Sustainability and Predictions Looking ahead, developers are focusing on making VR more sustainable. This includes creating energy-efficient hardware and using eco-friendly materials. As technology advances, VR is predicted to become a staple in various sectors, beyond gaming, shaping the way we work, learn, and socialize. For the latest updates on VR technology advancements, explore Oculus . In summary, VR is evolving rapidly, opening doors to new applications and experiences that were previously unimaginable. Its impact will be felt across education, healthcare, social interaction, and more, marking the dawn of a new era where the virtual and real worlds seamlessly intertwine.Gophers looking for first period jump with Michigan coming to visit

NEW YORK , Dec. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors of Omnicom (NYSE: OMC) declared a quarterly dividend of 70 cents per outstanding share of the corporation's common stock. The dividend is payable on January 10, 2025 to Omnicom common shareholders of record at the close of business on December 20, 2024. About Omnicom Omnicom (NYSE: OMC) is a leading provider of data-inspired, creative marketing and sales solutions. Omnicom's iconic agency brands are home to the industry's most innovative communications specialists who are focused on driving intelligent business outcomes for their clients. The company offers a wide range of services in advertising, strategic media planning and buying, precision marketing, retail and digital commerce, branding, experiential, public relations, healthcare marketing and other specialty marketing services to over 5,000 clients in more than 70 countries. For more information, visit www.omnicomgroup.com . View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/omnicom-declares-dividend-302324450.html SOURCE Omnicom Group Inc.

Man City routed 4-0 by Tottenham in fifth-straight defeat as crisis deepens for Pep Guardiola

Best Bets for NCAA Basketball Picks Against the Spread for Sunday, November 24 Published 3:33 pm Saturday, November 23, 2024 By Data Skrive Sunday’s college basketball slate features top teams in action. Among the six games our computer model likes, in terms of picks against the spread, is the Villanova Wildcats squaring off against the Maryland Terrapins. Watch men’s college basketball, other live sports and more on Fubo. What is Fubo? Fubo is a streaming service that gives you access to your favorite live sports and shows on demand. Use our link to sign up for a free trial. Today’s NCAA Men’s Basketball Picks ATS Bet on this or any men’s college basketball matchup at BetMGM. Not all offers available in all states, please visit BetMGM for the latest promotions for your area. Must be 21+ to gamble, please wager responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, contact 1-800-GAMBLER .A Nation Mourns: Remembering Manmohan SinghBy Kemberley Washington, CPA, Bankrate.com (TNS) As the end of the year approaches, now’s the time to start preparing for filing your 2024 tax return in 2025. When it comes to tax strategies, generally Dec. 31 is the deadline to make changes that might lower your tax bill. One major exception is the deadline for contributing to a Roth or traditional IRA : You have until April 15, 2025, to make a contribution to a Roth or traditional IRA for tax year 2024. If you qualify for deductible IRA contributions , then a contribution to your traditional IRA can reduce your taxable income for 2024. Here are tips and strategies to prepare now for the 2025 tax-filing deadline. 1. Decide who will prepare your taxes If you had significant changes in your life in 2024 — maybe you got married or divorced, started your own business, or had to claim unemployment benefits — your taxes may be more complicated. As a result, you might need to hire a certified public accountant (CPA), enrolled agent (EA) or other tax professional to prepare and file your taxes. If you decide to hire someone, it’s best to start planning for that sooner rather than later. Waiting until the calendar flips to April could cost you. The average fee for a professional to prepare and file a simple Form 1040 tax return, with no itemized deductions, is about $220, according to a survey by the National Society of Accountants in 2020-2021, the most recent data available. But that amount rises quickly for more complex returns, and varies depending on where you live. For example, a Form 1040 with itemized deductions costs an average of $432 in states on the Pacific Coast, compared with $285 in New England. No matter where you live, prices usually rise as the tax deadline approaches, so it’s smart to start searching for a tax pro soon. 2. Find ways to file for free If you’re uncomfortable doing your taxes on your own and can’t afford a CPA, enrolled agent or other tax pro, or to pay for tax software , there are free options to consider. The IRS currently offers three ways to prepare your taxes for free: •With the IRS Free File program, the IRS partners with for-profit tax-software companies that offer free tax-prep software to eligible taxpayers so they can file their federal tax returns for free. Some taxpayers may also qualify for a free state tax filing, depending on the software provider. In January, the IRS will announce the income limit to qualify for the program for the 2025 tax season (for filing 2024 tax returns). For the 2024 tax season (2023 tax returns), taxpayers’ adjusted gross income (AGI) couldn’t exceed $79,000. •The IRS also offers its Direct File program, a free tool that allows you to file your federal income tax return directly with the IRS at no cost. The program supports simple tax returns and is available only in certain states. Check to see if you qualify here. •Another free-filing option is the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. IRS-certified volunteers offer free basic tax preparation in person to people who earn less than $67,000 a year, are disabled or whose English is limited. The IRS has an online location tool for hundreds of free tax preparation sites in the U.S. (the locator tool is updated from February through April). Some VITA sites also offer online tax-prep assistance. 3. Create an online IRS account Now is a good time to create an IRS online account. If you want to see your Form 1040 from last year, or you’re missing a prior year Form W-2 or mortgage interest statement, you can find your documents using this free tax tool. Another benefit of creating an IRS online account is that it allows you to quickly obtain your prior year’s tax information without sitting on the phone for hours with an IRS representative, says Carl Johnson, a certified public accountant in New Orleans. An IRS online account also lets you view your account balance and payment history for each year. You can also create a payment plan to settle your federal income tax debt within minutes. 4. Take your required minimum distributions (RMDs) If you’re 73 years old and have enjoyed watching your 401(k) or IRA grow tax-free without touching it, remember that the IRS is going to want its share each year. That means you’ll have to make withdrawals — and pay income tax. If you turned 73 in 2024, plan to take your required minimum distribution (RMD) at the latest by April 1, 2025. Read this IRS bulletin for more information. The amount of your RMDs is based on your age and the year-end values of your retirement accounts. 5. Think long-term: Consider converting an IRA to a Roth A Roth IRA has two big tax advantages over a traditional IRA : Qualified withdrawals are not considered income for federal (and usually state) tax purposes, and you don’t have to take distributions from a Roth every year once you reach age 73. Converting a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA may save you money in the long run. Just know that when you convert an IRA to a Roth, it’s considered taxable income, which will raise your tax bill for that year. Generally, it’s best to convert to a Roth IRA when you’re in a low-income year. 6. Protect yourself from tax scams and fraud As tax season approaches, many people start receiving phone calls, emails and texts from entities claiming to be the IRS. Be wary, and understand that these are scams. Typically, the IRS will mail you a notice before using any other method of communication to notify you concerning issues with your tax return. The IRS won’t reach out via social media or text messaging. Relatedly, the IRS warns taxpayers to be careful when choosing a tax preparer. Taking time to vet your tax preparer is crucial to protect yourself from tax scams and fraud. Before hiring a tax professional, search that person’s name in the IRS database of federal tax return preparers to avoid dishonest “professionals.” “Taxpayers should check the tax professional’s credentials,” Johnson says. Tax pros without credentials “may take questionable positions without any degree of scrutiny or fear of losing their access to the profession,” Johnson says. 7. Don’t ignore the IRS Taxpayers who don’t file a tax return and owe a tax bill, or who file but don’t pay their tax bill on time, risk severe penalties. The IRS can even seize assets if necessary. Respond quickly if the IRS has been sending you letters because it found an error on your return or claims you owe back taxes. Typically, the IRS will send you a notice if you have a balance due, changes were made to your tax return, or the agency needs additional information. “If you ignore a collection letter from the IRS, you may face wage garnishments, liens, bank levies, and other adverse action. And in some cases, the amount due may increase for failure to respond,” Johnson says. Keep in mind the IRS does offer installment plans and other payment plans. Make copies of your correspondence and use only the U.S. Postal Service, the postmark from which is your proof of timeliness when responding. But whatever you do, don’t ignore the IRS because this may cause more issues in the future. ©2024 Bankrate.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Russia missile suspected in Azerbaijani plane crash, Moscow warns against 'hypotheses'