China Executes 11 Members of Notorious Myanmar Mafia Family
China executed 11 members of the Ming family, a notorious Myanmar-based mafia, on Thursday, January 29, 2026, for running a criminal syndicate worth more than $1 billion and killing 14 people, authorities said. The Ming family was one of the "four families" of northern Myanmar and operated a vast criminal network that included scam centers and illegal gambling dens in Laukkaing, Myanmar, according to Sky News.
The executed individuals included Ming Guoping, Ming Zhenzhen, Zhou Weichang, Wu Hongming, and Luao Jianzhang, all of whom were sentenced to death in September, Sky News reported. The Ming family had become known for kidnapping people to work in their scam centers.
France Approves Bill Ending Ambiguity Over 'Marital Duty' and Consent
In other news, the French National Assembly unanimously approved a bill on Wednesday that ends the concept of "marital duty," addressing concerns about its use to disregard sexual consent within marriages. Euronews reported that the cross-party bill, supported by over 120 MPs, reinforces the principle that consent is essential for any sexual act, even within marriage. The bill, spearheaded by MP Marie-Charlotte Garin and Horizons group president Paul Christophe, aims to definitively rule out legal interpretations that excused sexual acts within marriage without explicit consent. The text will now be examined by the Senate under an accelerated procedure, and if approved, could become law within the next few months.
Italy Faces Criticism Over "Land of Fires"
One year after the European Court of Human Rights condemned Italy for failing to protect citizens in Campania's "Land of Fires," the area continues to suffer from the effects of illegal toxic waste dumping. Euronews reported that the "Land of Fires," a vast area in southern Italy, has been devastated by decades of illegal toxic waste dumping and burning. The anniversary marks a year since the European Court of Human Rights condemned the Italian state for failing to protect its citizens living in the affected area.
Tesla to Discontinue Model S and Model X
Tesla will discontinue the Model S and Model X in the second quarter of 2026, according to Elon Musk. The Verge reported that Musk made the announcement during an earnings call with investors. No advance warning was given about the cancellations, making it an abrupt ending for Tesla's two original flagship EVs. Andrew J. Hawkins of The Verge noted that the discontinuation is intended to make room for robots.
FBI Seizes Online Criminal Site RAMP
The FBI seized RAMP, a predominantly Russian-language online bazaar that billed itself as the only place ransomware was allowed. Ars Technica reported that the agency took control of both the dark web and clear web sites of RAMP in an effort to combat the growing threat of ransomware targeting critical infrastructure and organizations worldwide. Visits to both sites on Wednesday displayed pages indicating the FBI had taken control of the RAMP domains. RAMP had been one of the few online crime forums operating with impunity following the takedown of other forums like XSS.
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