Here is a news article synthesizing the provided information:
Ethiopian Airlines Cancels Flights to Tigray Amid Renewed Conflict Fears; China Executes Myanmar Scam Mafia Members; Iran Gradually Restores Internet Access
Ethiopian Airlines cancelled passenger flights between Addis Ababa, the capital, and cities in the northern Tigray region, heightening fears of renewed conflict in the area. The cancellations, which occurred recently, followed reports of clashes in one area, according to the BBC. The airline cited "unplanned circumstances" in a text message to passengers, but neither the airline nor the government provided further comment. Airport staff in Mekelle, Tigray's main city, were reportedly told not to go to work.
The flight cancellations come as tensions grow over disputed issues related to a 2022 peace deal that aimed to end a brutal civil war in Tigray. The agreement now appears to be unraveling.
In other news, China executed 11 members of a Myanmar mafia family who operated scam centers along its north-eastern border. State media reported the executions, stating that the Ming family members were sentenced in September by a court in China's Zhejiang province for crimes including homicide, illegal detention, fraud, and operating gambling dens. The Mings were part of a network of clans that transformed Laukkaing, a previously impoverished town, into a hub for casinos and red-light districts. Their scam empire collapsed in 2023, leading to their detention and handover to Chinese authorities by ethnic militias. Dozens of members of the Ming mafia were sentenced in 2025.
Meanwhile, in Iran, some citizens are regaining internet access after nearly three weeks of a severe shutdown. The country initially cut off internet access on January 8, a move widely seen as an attempt to suppress information about a government crackdown on protesters. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that the internet was blocked in response to "terrorist operations." While some access has been restored, independent analysis suggests that much of the country remains effectively cut off from the outside world. The BBC Persian service reported that the restoration of internet access is tightly controlled, and not available to all of Iran's 92 million citizens.
Discussion
Join the conversation
Be the first to comment